Hooray for Summer! Such a fun time of year for us in
Newport Beach and Mammoth Lakes, California.
Here are some gifts to make you and/or your hostess smile.
How cute is this well-made bag from
Vineyard Vines with
details like the stitching and checked liner???
Our son has a summer job at the local store.
You should have this to kick off your summer so keep reading.
You can find more cute tote bags from Etsy at Sixth Street Design School here.
A hostess gift is really nice when it is personalized.
These melamine trays are fun by the pool and there are lots of other cute patterns.
We gave these frosted plastic cups with the shell to our
friends for letting us stay in their Awesome Beach Penthouse.
Fine Stationary has some great personalized paper guest napkins.
You can also find a good selection at The Stationary Studio.
How about these pretty napkins for a colorful dinner outside? Or…
I always love fresh dishtowels.
My cousin, a recent house guest, gave us these delicious teas from Starbucks.
When I am at garage sales or flea markets, I look for silver spoons
… to wrap with tea or jam, like delicious French Bonne Maman,
available at many grocery stores.
Take a box of chocolates…especially if it is local brand that your host doesn’t have. This box of
See’s candies only looked like this for about 30 seconds after we opened it (thank you, Billy).
This pitcher from Anthropologie would be a sweet present to give filled with
fresh lemons and a recipe card…
NOW FOR THE FUN SUMMER GIVE-WAY…
Not complicated, just
follow me via Facebook, email subscription
or Google
and tell me you are with a comment below…
for a chance to win this Vineyard Vines tote.
Make sure I have your email address.
Happy Summer everyone and
thanks for reading!
PS. If you get this on Facebook or email and do not know how to comment, click on the
# COMMENTS below and leave an anonymous message with your email address!
My sister said Mitt Romney is giving these away too…he copied me.
Participating in
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Party Time @ It’s So Very Cheri , Inspiration Friday At the Picket Fence
Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You
Love the tote! I subscribe to your posts in email.
you know me…big fan of yours!! love the tote super cute!! xo nancy elizabeth
Already a follower … love your blog. LOVE the tote!!
Mary
Hi!
I adore your blog and follow by google! I love the beach tote!!!!
Happy weekend!
Danalynkylie@gmail.com
Really cute tote! I would love to bring it to Lake Tahoe! dwink@charter.net
Love your blog, and of course the bag…. Love seeing my home away from home…. My Mom grew up on Balboa Island… Still have family in Newport…. Miss it!
jwohlrab@yahoo.com
XO… Julie
I am in LOVE with this tote!!! love the details and the checkered lining fabric!!! I alos love your blog, found you from Emily Clark's blog… Just added you to my Google reader, so I can follow, and liked you on facebook too!!!
my email: julieaspear AT gmail DOT com… thanks also for the links in this post for the fabric napkins and dishtowels. beautiful!!!
thanks!!!
Julie
I follow you on fb and email
kval126@gmail.com
Hi! I follow on fb and email! Love the bag. But I really love your bathroom makeover. Gorgeous! Thanks 🙂
Followed you on FB! Love your site:) Happy Summer! Ava
ava.whalen@hotmail.com
I subscribe to you by email. love your blog 🙂
I'm a Google follower–thanks for the chance. Pop over to Monkey Grass Hill. I'm doing a Novica giveaway.
I follow you on FB and email! 🙂 Thanks for all the great summer hostess ideas/gifts. Love summer! 🙂
(careyotto@gmail.com)
Love the totes!! I am a google follower for quite awhile.
I have been reading your blog for some time, but just became a new follower
I have been reading your blog for some time, but just became a new follower
I am a google follower. Love the bag!
I follow on email and on facebook! Love your blog.
Mary Ann….I am following you on Facebook, email, Google and everywhere. I wanted to thank you for your tip on Dorett Fabric in Fountain Valley. I found a beautiful Waverly print last summer for my master bedroom duvet. Love it! I am an OC girl now living in Temecula. If you ever out this way 🙂
I subscribe by email to your blog!
Love the bag! Wouldn't mind winning one from Mitt either!!! 🙂
All the best!
I just became a subscriber. I love the tote. Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win!
-Rachel
I'm following you by email.
Melissa Tichy
Teamtichy@sbcglobal.net
I follow you via Google Friend Connect! Cute giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by today.
I am hosting a fabulous giveaway, too. So, come by and enter if you like!
http://www.mixandchic.com/2012/06/giveaway-win-25-pounds-gift-certificate.html
Jessie
http://www.mixandchic.com
Cute stuff, great ideas! I follow you on Google Reader!
Love the tote, thanks for the chance to win. I follow you using google reader.
lori.dorrington@yahoo.com
Excellent information. Your site definitely explains essential concepts to its readers. Thanks for continuing to write such wonderful articles.
Following here! What a great give-a-way! I saw this in the store and wanted it so badly! Thanks! Christie at robbthomas@rhtc.net
I just recently found your blog and spent one evening reading every one of them. Thanks for the great hostess gift ideas and chance for the giveaway!! Sue
szarzana65378@comcast.net
Love the bag, won't it look great hanging on my arm during my cruise this fall 😉
Following by email & can't wait!
What a great idea to collect silver antique spoons to give away with gifts. Its a pretty touch to the gift. Your so creative! Great bag, perfect for summer.
Love the colorful napkins!
What fabulous ideas – those colourful napkins are adorable!
Paula x
Love this bag!!! Your blog is great 🙂
I follow via GFC (lyndsey127) and like on Facebook (Lyndsey Aaron)
xoxo,
Lyndsey
lyndsey127@.com
http://www.theeyelinermanifesto.blogspot.com
Love your blog. mkerstner@gmail.com
Love the Vineyard bag!!! What a fun way to carry swimming gear! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful decorating ideas! Always read your e-mail first! Happy Summer!
Jane
janekessinger@hotmail.com
Love your blog.
Connie
rishworthc@culligankc.com
Thanks for sharing your clever and classic hostess gift ideas! (Oh my gosh, I just remembered I was invited for coffee in the morning, a tad late for anything monogrammed, but a towel or tea would be nice!) A google follower. 🙂
Love this bag! So cute. Love your blog as well. I follow on google.
I covet anything from vineyard vines…they do not have any stores here in Canada…I would love to win this beach bag too Cheers Frances
Love Vineyard Vines! My dad lives in MV and I live in San Diego so I would get a ton of use out of this bag.
Christie
Chistienapier@yahoo.com
PS – and am following you via Google Reader
I'm a new follower. I found you via Cote de Texas.I love the frosted cups. What a great idea for sprucing up something so mundane.
sunmumsie at yahoo.com
Great giveaway! (and blog)
I follow you via email
(eb91990@aol.com)
I follow on my Google homepage! Love the blog!
Christine
ckeches@gmail.com
I LOVE your blog! I follow on Google Reader and can't get enough of the classic/casual style, it fits me to a tee 🙂 And that beach tote is adorable!
I love those napkins! Bright, cheery, great patterns. Sure to take even the everyday table out of the mundane!
Nice beach bag!
I follow via Google Friend Connect.
I am so happy to have so many great comments and chances to win!!!
I I follow you on Facebook and have your blog on my FlipBoard on my iPad.
Cherylt7atcoxdotnet
I follow daily. I would love to win this bag!!
So many fabulous ideas!! Bookmarking this post…and hellooooo you so had me at See's ( can literally devour the entire box…..)
I follow you via email and google……I loved your gift ideas and would love to win the adorable beach bag….we are heading to the beach in a couple of weeks….it would come in really handy!!!!!!
Andrea
AndeM1@hotmail.com
I follow you..all over!
Great giveaway for the summer!
Thanks for the neat giveaway. That beach bag would work well on the Atlantic coast. I could see me taking it out to Tybee.
Thanks again, I follow on GFC. Ginger
You had me at your name – classic, casual and home, three words I LOVE to describe my style. I became a follower a while ago. We have a beach condo in San Diego and I find lots of inspiration from your posts. Thank you! The beach bag is perfect!!
Great giveaway! I follow you on Google!
I love your blog…it's the first one I look for in my Google Reader. Since you're only a little ways south of me…since I'm in Long Beach, I love visiting familiar sites on your blog and finding new ones!! Thank for the opportunity…
Teri
Fitzfam5@hotmail.com
I follow you on Google! Thanks for the opportunity!
Love your blog, Mary Anne. I always look forward to an email from you!! Thanks for the fun bag giveaway 🙂
Elizabeth
Briecorp@aol.com
I happily follow you via Google, Mary Ann! Thanks for hosting this lovely giveaway and for all the wonderful hostess ideas! Love those pretty cloth napkins from Gracious Home.
I follow you with GFC. Thanks for the giveaway.
Lisa
Great giveaway – count me in!!! I follow you via email and on Facebook 🙂
sally.puckett@yahoo.com
Love love love that vineyard vines beach bag! Madeline just sent them her resume to work at the one in Westport or Greenwich. I remember you mentioned that Tommy wanted to work there this summer…I guess everything worked out. Madeline is going to FI with her friends…I'll have to have her stalk him!! haha
Love those monogrammed cups too! And what a great idea to add a silver spoon from a flea market to a jar of jam for a little hostess gift…you think of everything.
xo
annie
Love all of these great ideas!!!
I am a follower and a fan! Love this bag. Please count me in! X Sharon
I am a follower through email and GFC!! Thanks for sharing the awesome gift ideas and thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Hi Mary Anne oh yes I am a follower!! What a perfect Giveaway and I would use this lovely tote!! A lot!!
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Artist Series 2012
I grew up in Southern California and your blog makes me feel right at home! I love your home. It really is perfect.
I follow you via email. Thanks for the chance to win a lovely giveaway!
Sherene
thejube78@yahoo.com
I love the beach bag! I follow you by email subscription and love your house and decorating style. Sharon
slbolderson@hotmail.com
I love this tote! I follow via Google Reader.
danibrooke42 at gmail dot com
Hey Mary Ann, love that beach bag – beautiful colours! Also, Bonne Maman jam is the only jam I buy because it had the highest fruit percentage than any other jam on the shelf!!!
Sharon
xxxx
Happy Summer!!! Facebook Follower and Vineyard Vines fan too!
corrierinaldi@verizon.net
Love this tote! Leaving for the beach in the next hour and wish I had seen it sooner. I am a follower by email.
kelleygardner@optimum.net
Love your blog! I am a follower on Facebook, which is how I found out about your give away! My husband & I just moved to San Diego from Chicago about a year ago, I would love to win this tote to take to the beach this summer! Thanks!
emily.m.barrette@gmail.com
Love your blog! I check it out all the time. We love Vineyard vines too! We liked you on facebook.
Thanks,
landba@verizon.net
I subscribe to your blog via email! Thanks for the chance to win this cute bag—
camorrison5@gmail.com
Hi Mary Ann,
This post was timely, we need a few hostess gift ideas for upcoming events. They all look like something I would like to have. The tote is great.
I follow you already and will follow you on facebook as well.
Karen
klbunch@gmail.com
I am a follower of your blog. Love that darling beach tote. It would be the perfect beach accessory!
Andrea
andreamac9@hotmail.com
okay….
i love the tote!!
have a sweet weekend.
xoxo
Wonderful summer items. I am a follower of your blog, and i enjoy it very much.Love the cute beach bag too. Would love to win it!!
You know I follow you…everywhere! No, I'm not a stalker! You have found some pretty gifts that just about anyone would love to have. The fabric napkins are gorgeous!
Mary Ann, Love this tote! My email is gaylelowrey@gmail.com. Love the plastic cup idea 🙂 Hope you are having a great summer. Gayle
Love this tote, and I live at the beach — Virginia Beach! Joni F. at hjwkfitz@verizon.net. I follow you on Facebook!
Hi Mary Ann,
Love, Love this tote. Huge fan of the beach and your blog (follow you via email) I wish we had a Vineyard Vines in Canada … but sadly we don't 🙁
Keep up the inspirational blog I love your ideas! Thanks!
I think I should of entered my email address (here it is) to the post above.
Love that tote! I follow you thru e-mail.
Wonderful list! I'm a long time follower and that bag is just perfection. I would love to win.
abby
Great hostess gift ideas.
I'd love to win the cute bag. Yes, I'm a follower.
Pam
It's so cute! I "liked" you on facebook! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Great gift ideas. Thanks for posting. ~CJ
How CUTE is that bag?! I love it! What a fun giveaway (and thanks for all the gift ideas…sometimes I get stuck in a rut with that!)
Follower on here and Facebook!
More than the mulberries at gmail dot com
Would love to have that great looking tote for summer. My email address is: jan_walton@sbcglobal.net
Jan
LOVE getting your posts to my inbox! Thanks so much for such a fun, beautiful and inspirational blog!
I follow on google! I hope I win, its a cute bag!
following on email!
Such fun gifts to take to the "hostess of the mostest", or to even give a little gift to myself! I follow you on Facebook and email! That way I never miss my favorite blog! The scotch mellows are one of my fav's too…but then I have many favorites! Having grown up with a See's candy store in town….they are truly the BEST chocolates!
Beautiful things here MaryAnn. Love that Anthropologie pitcher, I've had my eye on it for quite awhile. Now following on fb!
I love that tote !! Fantastic give away!! I follow you 🙂 Marcy
Good morning Mary Ann…great post as always! So many cute summer things! Love the beach bag…so fun and practical.
Not only do I follow your blog, I am practically a stalker of your blog, checking in daily to see what's new!
Have a great day…
Love that tote! Love Vineyard Vines anything! My email is jenmastalski@yahoo.com Enjoy your weekend!
Mary Ann , I follow you on google and email. You are delightful! Thanks for the chance. XO
I look forward to every new blog posting. I love your design style and am constantly inspired by your ideas. I subscribe by email. Sonyaseyle@live.com
P.S. love that bag
Love that bag! I follow you via an email subscription and I like you on FB!!!
vlanewalker@aol.com
What a great bag!!! I am in need of a new Beach Bag and this is a GREAT one!! I follow you on Facebook.
Trinkwons@yahoo.com
I like you on fb and subscribe by email!
intheloop13 at gmail dot com
HI!
I just happened to stubble upon your blog, what super timing!!!
I am your newest follower 🙂 LOVE that bag, but don't think I would "only" use it for the beach, too cute not to carry around 🙂
Pick me, pick me! … ok, too obnoxious? sorry…
Mary Ann,
Great ideas for hostess gifts! Love the tote, what a great give away! I am a follower by email. LRS4AMANDA@aol.com
Linda
Hi Mary Ann, I am always looking for good hostess gift ideas and these are excellent. Vineyard Vines bags are wonderful to use with all their pockets and the pretty lining, and I have started seeing them in college stores with the school colors and symbols! I am a happy follower on google and by email so I hope I have double the luck 🙂 ! Linda
Such thoughtful ways to say thank you. The tote is adorable. I am a follower by email. Thanks for the chance to win.
w beducian @ gmaildotcom
The tote is adorable! Thanks for the chance. I have been following your blog for awhile and LOVE it.
Thanks again.
tery_hodges@yahoo.com
HI. I love your blog. Thanks for entering me in the contest!
Marilyn
netter@tir.com
Oh, my…that tote is too cute! I would love to have one…I'm an email follower. Thanks, Tina 🙂
tinab158 at hotmail dot com
I'm a follower on Google. Love your blog and would love to win the beach bag!
Hi Mary Ann, I love this tote, too! I'll bet your son is attracting lots of female customers to the local Vineyard Vines. I'm going today to look for pretty napkins, so thanks for the inspiration and fun ideas. P.S. I've used pretty napkins before, layered diagonally over a flat rod, to make a sweet little valance in our beach house kitchen window. Maybe its time to update!
its me, your Atlanta e-design client! laszcz@mindpsring.com — I'm following by email.
Love the tote! I subscribe to your posts in email.
Just found your blog and became a subscriber yesterday. I'm so enjoying your style and love these vineyard vines tote!
I follow you via google reader! Love Vineyard Vines!
Love that tote. Actually love anything Vinyard. I'm not a FB person, but I am a follower of your blog. Please put my name in the hat.
Thanks.
Hello,
They just opened a Vinyard Vines near us…love going because we usually only get to visit once a year during our summer vacation. Cute tote…facebook follower.
Thanks for sharing and love the Anthropologie pitcher too. Will check out.
Have a great summer!
Claudia
Follow by Facebook and google.
Mary Ann, this tote is a fabulous giveaway! Love Vineyard Vines.
I love this post, and will go back and follow the links. Always great referrals, and we can never find too many great hostess gift ideas.
Happy Saturday.
Teresa
xoxo