outdoor living

Although summer is winding down here in the States, I know those of you living in warmer climates will be spending lots of time enjoying the outdoors, for a while longer. So here is a little outdoor living inspiration for you. I'm hoping to be to returning to Australia, in a few months, to be with my fiance, when it will be summer there, --and nice and hot! (Too hot, really!)

savoring summer

To enhance your enjoyment of this last hurrah of summer...Here is a recipe for mojitos (found here).


Mojito

Ingredients

• Ice
• 6 ounces light rum
• 12 mint sprigs, or spearmint, 8 roughly broken apart
• 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• Club soda
• 4 slices lime

Directions

Place ice in beverage shaker then add in the rum, 8 broken up mint sprigs, lime juice and sugar. Shake well and serve over ice in a high ball glass. Top off each glass with a splash of club soda.

Garnish each with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint

Light a fire

There is something oh-so-cozy about sitting around a fire outdoors. I'm craving a fire bowl for the garden, for a spot to warm up, while enjoying a cool evening under the stars.

take me away...

When I saw the Spartan Daybed from Restoration Hardware (top image), I swooned--I mean, seriously, almost felt dizzy with oh-my-god-I-want-that feelings.

Just picture yourself curled up inside that curvaceous form, nestling in pillows, shaded just enough from the glare of the sun, soothed by the sound of waves lapping along the shore. And, for evening, imagine sitting by the fire table, with candles all around, in their perfect bronze lanterns, while you sip a glass of sangria.

Sounds good to me! A reminder that summer will arrive...soon, soon...

(just allow me this daydream, if only for a moment!)

Here is the link to the store's garden section:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/category/index.jsp;jsessionid=Z1HQ435FS3LFTLAWCQKSBHVMCYKBMH20?navAction=jump&navCount=0&categoryId=cat1693039

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