Classic Florida Summer Staples

Last week was the first official day of summer so I thought I would do a little post on the essentials for a Florida summer. If you don't live here, you can also recreate them (things like sandals & Lilly are not location specific). These are just a few of the most important items I use during the summer. In each section I have links to my original post but at the very end there are a ton of other options you can click through to shop. I didn't include a swim suit (because I thought that was a given) or sunscreen (also a given) but if you think I forgot something let me know below-xoxo darling, Hayden.

Okay, y'all, your skin is incredibly important. I realize swim shirts aren't the sexiest look for the beach, but they do an amazing job of protecting your skin. Covering up your skin is better than sunscreen at the beach because you are exposed to the elements that can wash the sunscreen away. Plus, this isn't 10 years ago when the only swim shirts you could get were Body Glove meant for surfers. LandsEnd makes some super cute ones (so does J. Crew) so please protect your skin. I have this one in pink & one that is white with navy blue stripes. 

Also, a huge straw tote bag is a must for beach trips and days lounging by the pool. You can find the DIY for the one above here, or just go get you a cute one.

If you live in Florida you probably have at least one pair of Jack Rogers sandals because they are classic and perfect. If Jackie O wore them in Palm Beach they are kind of a necessity for a Florida gal. But if you aren't into the Jacks style, there are tons of other options. You'll need them for your countless days at the pool or laying by the beach. I, kid you not, buy sandals from Target in bulk for the summer months because I break them (get 'em on sale for $7 and buy three boxes).

This is another one of those Florida gal deals (notice the Jacks in this photo as well...), Lilly Pulitzer was founded just across the state from where I live and has been a constant in my life since I knew what fashion was. Some people are not into the ultra-bright, floral prints and I get that but they are who I am inside I think. It's funny because I don't like any other florals unless they come from Lilly so I clearly have a certain type. You can also get very understated Lilly, they make navy blue, white and other solid color dresses as well as things like above. Also, I think one of the best LP investments you can make is one of the polo shirts because they are the sport style that have wicking fabric, essential in summer.

If you have been following HT for any amount of time, you know I have a stripe obsession. But I feel in summer they are even more acceptable. I literally have two navy + white stripe dresses I switch between plus striped shirts...I haven't branched into striped shorts/pants yet...but maybe. This specific dress is incredibly comfortable and super easy to throw on for a brunch, as a beach cover up or for a trip to the mall. I like to call this kind of dress the trash bag dress because it's fairly shapeless but super comfortable...if that isn't summer I don't know what is.

This is another image of Lilly, but it doesn't matter where the shorts come from. Any type of cute short is your biggest summer essential? Because shorts are the most widely accepted in the summer? And its so hot why would you wear anything else? You can dress them down (t-shirts + shorts) or dress them up like I did above. Seriously, get out all of your cute shorts or go buy yourself some.

We all work in the summer and have I mentioned yet that summer is hot? So the best way to combat that heat while working is sleeveless tops. This one is my absolute favorite because the scalloping details are just too cute. Pair your tops with skirts or a capri style work pant and you will look adorable, professional and summer ready. 

This goes back to my, your skin is important comment. HATS. HATS. HATS. Protect your scalp and your head, you do not want to get skin cancer on your face. I am a big fan of any type of hat, from boaters to baseball caps to the classic beach floppy hat. I have tons of them because I can't stop buying hats...I think I might have an addiction but I don't really care. Hat club for life, am I right? This is a side note, but beach cover-ups are also a great way to protect your skin when you aren't in the water! 

Everyone needs a go to comfy outfit. There is one for every season, but my favorite for summer is a comfy top, chino shorts and comfortable shoes. The shirt from above was 2 pounds at Primark (I do not like that store, but I love the shirt), I have about a hundred (that is exaggerating highly) pairs of those shorts from Kohls and those are my old Tretorn sneakers (which I would recommend). This summer I'm rocking my pale pink Adidas and the same shorts...lets be real the same shirt too. It's all about being comfortable, right?

 

101 in 1001 Update #1

Phew, this one has been a lot of fun. But also, a little difficult. I have been trying to use this summer as a way to knockout some of my list, and it has been working! I am also going to try to do more 101 updates this go around, so y'all can see how much {or how little progress} these lists make. 101s are a great way to get out of your comfort zone & challenge yourself but they can also be overwhelming and stressful. I hope that through you seeing me do this a second time around you'll get a better understanding of the lists and how to make the most effective/best one for yourself. Let me know what you think-xoxo darling, Hayden.

4. Read 55 Books - I'm 3 down in this challenge and I've actually found this one a little difficult. I love reading but recently I haven't been crazy about it. So I'm mandating myself to read for 30 minutes a night. We'll see how it goes. 
8. See 3 More Live Music Shows - I saw Chance back in May but currently have no plans to see anyone this summer so this goal is taking a step back. I knew it would, I'm in Florida for the summer and I typically don't see live music here. When I get back to Austin in the fall I plan on tackling this one more head-on.  11. Try 20 New Restaurants - I'm over halfway done with this one and haven't had a bad meal yet! 
12. Do Three More HT Travel Guides - Okay, so I love writing these and y'all seem to love reading them. Seriously, on the reader survey you asked for more and some of my friends have been asking me if I have them for certain cities. So I am really committing myself to creating a bigger travel section on my blog. It (and food) are my favorite subjects so I am thrilled y'all want to hear more. In a few weeks I am launching Haute Table's first ever Travel Week and I will be including my very long guide to Paris. It's been three separate trips and a lot of time later but I am trying to make it as thorough as possible and give everyone the best insight. In the back pages of HT I have a London Guide, Boone, NC Guide, Scotland Guide and possibly a Sarasota Guide if I do enough while I live here. If there is a place you want to know about, let me know and I will write one! 

15. Try 5 New Cocktails - I haven't done a whole lot of drinking (aside from craft beer) since I got home, I would never drink & drive and I am always driving in Sarasota so this one has stalled a little. 
51. Try 5 New Breweries - Speaking of drinking, I did visit five different breweries while being back in Florida (+ more) and I am loving all of them, seriously, get behind the craft beer movement. 
52. Brush Up on Geography - It's a process.
60. Get a Pair of Nude Heels - This was a long awaited moment for me, but my mom and I finally went to DSW and did it. I am thrilled with the selection. I prefer slingbacks to regular pumps because I have the weirdest shaped heels so that was a check & they are peep-toe! 
74. Switch to Gmail - I finally did it! I know, this makes me seem like a grandma but I am very attached to my email, I've had the same email address since I was in elementary school. And I have used my email since then, it is my go to way of communication so it was very nerve wracking for me to switch accounts after all of these years. But I did it! Honestly, this was like conquering a fear. I even had a mini stress attack while I sat in Starbucks and did it, but now it's done! After switching, I had to go through and delete everything, my inbox had over 2000 emails {this is why you delete} and then I started officially changing my email address so that the emails won't just be forwarded from my old account anymore. This goal is officially crossed off but I am still hiking mountains trying to get everything right again. Changing your life (I'm exaggerating but you get it) after approx. 15 years is hard. 

97. Try 5 new foods - Crawfish is good y'all!  100. Put $10 into savings for every goal accomplished - So far so good...I'm looking forward to having the extra money (not really extra) at the end of this list. Maybe I'll take it and cross off the last goal...buy something big for myself?

Week Re-Cap

It's been a lovely week here in Sarasota. I had a lot on my plate at work {which is really nice} and my parents came up for the weekend and we spent our time in Tampa. This week I am working on a lot of databases and then going home for a long weekend {I'm so excited}. I am switching to my new prescription of glasses/contacts and I have a feeling I will be down for the count for a while...but it'll get better {and I'll be able to see more clearly again!}. What are y'all up to? -xoxo darling, Hayden

Fridays spent by the pool reading a good book with

 friends are the way to go...

 Saturday morning at Emerson Point hiking.

Snead Island

My family loves history so we frequently seek out Indian Mounds.

Some of the best Cuban food I've ever had.

Saturday night at Cigar City.

 Sunday afternoon we drove through the Hyde Park area of 

Tampa looking at the cute bungalows.

 Lunch at Bartaco in Hyde Park Village...

 ...they had Topo, which made my day.

I finally got to try Sprinkles' version of the classic Funfetti and was not disappointed. 

My Favorites - Hannah French

Y'all have seen Hannah all over Haute Table, Instagram and everything else in my life. And if you have read the blog for a long time, you have seen this post about all of my favorite things. So I thought as a way to get to know Hannah better, she could fill out her favorites. She blogs over at Pardon My French, it's adorable, y'all should check it out. And if you think you would be Hannah's #bestie, let me know below-xoxo darling, Hayden.

My Favorites - Hannah French, Pardon my French

I Don't Care What They Say:

• Dirty Dancing is a CLASSIC that should be cherished for ever and ever
• Dipping pizza in ketchup is acceptable (especially frozen pizza)
• Putting ice in milk is not acceptable
• Dessert should be eaten before AND after dinner
• There’s always more than meets the eye  

My Drinks:

• Lemonade on a hot summer day

My Shoes: 

• White converse (even though mine aren’t anywhere near white anymore)
• Target sandals
• Rain boots (because jumping in puddles is my favorite rainy day pastime)

My Foods:

• Ice cream and half-baked cookie dough
• Potatoes (mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes, french fries, scalloped potatoes, cheesy potatoes, baked potatoes)
• Fried okra (especially my mimi’s)
• My mom’s homemade chocolate cake
• Donuts (I don’t discriminate -- I’ll take any donut as long as fruit isn’t involved)
• Blue Bell Ice Cream
• Kraft Mac n’ Cheese
• Fudgy-gooey brownie goodness

My Remedies:

• Urgent Care

I Love{d} Reading:

• “Where’d You Go Bernadette”
• The Royal We
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
• I'll Give You the Sun
• Eleanor & Park

I Love{d} Watching: 

• The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• 10 Things I Hate About You
• Riverdale  
• Hot Rod  

I Wish I Lived In:

• A magical place where I could wake up and my hair would be done perfectly without me ever even having to think about it (I like doing my hair just as much as I like scrubbing a toilet -- hint: I don’t like it)

I Hoard:

• Clothes
• Photos
• Souvenirs (keychains, magnets, ticket stubs, etc)

Things I Want To Own:

• A large, playground style swing set (priorities, people)
• The entire Veronica Mars box set

I Am Addicted To: 

• Bad Kid Jokes (they’re the FRIGGIN’ best)

The First Thing I Do In The Morning Is: 

• Check my phone (like the social media addict I am)

I Use:

• Erin Condren Life Planners (because where would I be without them)
• The Dollar Shave Club (convenient, cheap and high quality)  

I Miss: 

• Junior’s New York Cheesecake (honestly heavenly)

I Admire:

• Those who dedicate their lives to helping others
• Social Justice Advocates
• Educators working towards Educational Equity

I Respect:

• Those who follow their hearts and work with passion

What Wows Me:

• The fact that I am one of billions of people on one planet in a universe full of billions and billions and billions of other planets and stars and probably other human creatures
• The fact that people deny Climate Change (it’s real, y’all)

Quotes of the Week

None of these images are mine, you can  find them on this Pinterest board.

Articles I'm Reading

1. When I visited Birmingham I loved it, but these weren't the spots I visited...now I have to go back // 36 Hours in Birmingham, Ala. // The New York Times
2. I love GMG and this was such an inspiring post, makes me want to throw a breakfast party soon // Market Breakfast Table in France Contributor Series // Gal Meets Glam
3. I love this; this makes me so happy // Why Restaurants' Kitschy Roadside Attractions Are Making a Comeback // Eater
4. Such a cool article // A Feast of Historic Food Photography // The New Yorker
5. Ahhhh, breakfast is my favorite meal {for all meals}!!! Breakfast Klub was featured in my guide too // 51 Breakfast Destinations in America // Fortune
6. My parents got me hooked on FLW when I was little so this made me a little nostalgic // An illustrated guide to Frank Lloyd Wright // Curbed

Introducing: In Case You Missed It

This will be a little sidebar beneath Articles that has links to my favorite posts from the previous week, in case you missed them. Let me know your thoughts-xoxo darling, Hayden

I showed one of my all time favorite outfits: Scalloped B&W

Here are the products I use all the time: Beauty Products

And what I'm wearing for the Fourth: Fourth of July Outfit

Beauty Products

After reading y’all’s comments on my reader survey it was very clear you wanted beauty posts...I am not super sure why...I will willingly admit I am terrible at beauty. The only thing I think I have room to talk about is my hair. But alas, y’all want this so here is my first beauty post, hopefully I will find more to talk about and I would love your suggestions.

I have the same makeup routine everyday of my life. The only thing that truly changes is if I put foundation on, sometimes I will just do my eye makeup. I have had this exact routine since I went off to college and bought my first set of Clinique...I’ve never looked back. Their products are my absolute favorite when it comes to skincare and mascara. Everything else I buy at Ulta with a coupon because beauty is not a huge priority for me.

To make it more complete I also included my soap/shampoo/hair mousse. I have been using the soap since middle school when I saw a really cool commercial for the cucumber one and went out to buy it at Target.

I hope y’all like this and it is what you’re looking for. If not or if you want more of this content please reach out, I would love to hear from you-xoxo darling, Hayden.

Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Wash, TRESemme Flawless Curls Shampoo, Makeup Remover Wipes, Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub with Sea Kelp, Nioxin 3D Styling Bodifying Foam, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild, Clinique High Impact Extreme Mascara, Clinique Even Better Compact Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15, Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Icon, Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Black

Fourth of July Outfit

It is insane that it is already going to be July and that I am coming up with my Fourth outfit, but here we are! My dad spotted this dress in Target and it is perfect for the day, I love the little curly details along the edges. It is super comfortable, made out of stretch-y tee-shirt material and overall pretty flattering. The bag is also Target {clearly a theme} that I am thinking about DIY-ing...we shall see. What do y'all think? -xoxo darling, Hayden

Location: Fort Myers, Florida

 

Lilly Through the Years

So I have a small confession to make...I was lazy this week. Like super duper lazy. To the point where I have very few {as in one} photo for the usual Week Re-Cap post that happens on Wednesdays. So...what to do? Well I don't know if you know this, but today is National Wear Your Lilly Day, a way the preppy community ushers in summer. So I thought, what better way to celebrate, than to show some of my favorite shots of Lilly over the years on Haute Table. Do you have any old Lil photos? -xoxo darling, Hayden

My favorite scarf of all time {via}.

 Those shorts are perfect for summer {via}.

 One of my all time favorite patterns {via}.

Hannah's birthday present to me {via}. 

A more recent look with those shorts {via}.

I love the dressing room at the Lilly in Fort Myers {via}.

 The bags make the perfect decor {via}.

Always in love with the planners and that book was a great read {via}. 

Scalloped B&W

I am living for this shirt, I am obsessed with scallops {as y'all know} but I am not a huge fan of black...but somehow this works for me! I love it! It's on sale at Target, check the sale racks for $7 Victoria Beckham {seriously}. What do you guys think? -xoxo darling, Hayde

Location: The Pink Wall, downtown Fort Myers

Quotes of the Week

None of these images are mine, you can  find them on this Pinterest board.

Articles I'm Reading

1. I will be visiting all of these in the fall // The Perfect Hill Country Pie Road Trip // Eater Austin
2. Loving this dress and clutch // Pink and Orange // Prep Avenue
3. W.O.W. // The 11 best botanical gardens in the United States // Curbed
4. These facts are great from Mackenzie // Endless Rose Tiered Top + 10 Random Facts About Me // Design Darling
5. This outfit is too cute // A Summer Look // College Prepster
6. Love this story, her team is amazing // A girl says her short hair got her soccer team disqualified // The Washington Post

What's In My Beach Bag

Oh my goodness it is finally sunny in southwest Florida. We have been having torrential downpours for about five days, to the point where we couldn’t see out of our office windows. It. was. insane. But that is over and yesterday I was able to go to the pool for the first time since moving to Sarasota for the summer! And I cannot wait to head out to the beach in a few days to catch up on sun and read some of the latest books. Below are the things currently residing in my beach bag-xoxo darling, Hayden.

Bag, Wallet, Book, Towel, Waterbottle, Sunscreen, Sunglasses

Dressing Up

Happy Thursday! I am so excited for the weekend. I will be driving home to spend Father’s Day with my family attending a lot of craft beer related functions and I am pumped! Anyways, this dress is very cute, seriously, so cute. You can’t see in these photos but the back of the dress has a bow at the collar and old school buttons like you would expect on a Victorian era dress. The top is navy and the bottom is orange, perfect if you go to UT, Virginia, Auburn, Syracuse, etc. I am planning to wear it to work for a presentation or something like that but you could wear it to anything. What do y’all think? -xoxo darling, Hayden

Location: Downtown Fort Myers, Florida

P.S. I couldn't find this dress on ShopStyle but I have been to multiple

 Targets recently and they have this dress on the sale rack! So head to your 

closest Target for a look. 

Week Re-Cap

As I write this I am sitting in the best Statbucks in Florida...that might be an overstatement but I am loving the Starbucks near my office. They have this really long low table that I can work at and I love it. This week has been pretty amazing! My internship is going really well, my parents visited Sarasota this weekend and I had some exciting news. The first piece of news is that I recieved an award for one of my photos this past semester. The second was a culmination -- for the longest time I have hoped and wished a big brand would acknowledge Haute Table...and TARGET did. They saw my photo from this post and published it to their AwesomeShop...they also now follow me on Instagram. I am dead. How are y'all? Is it raining all over your respective towns this week too? Let me know-xoxo darling, Hayden.

P.S. My reader survey is still open, so please take it! I have already started crafting posts based on what people have said thus far! 

 This is my award for my photo from this story.

 The BBQ burger at Shakespeare's. So good.

 JDubs Brewery in Sarasota.

Possibly my new favorite dessert place? Based purely on the name...

Still cannot get over how sweet my employers are.

Feeling Like a Poinciana Tree

First, this top is on sale, less than $20! It is super comfortable and perfect for the summer as it is light & breezy. Plus I kind of love the color...let's be real despite the fact it isn't burnt orange I will still wear it to Texas evens. It is also the color of the flowers on the Poinciana Tree, something that has been blooming all over Fort Myers. These jeans fit me like a glove...in the best way possible and this style of Jack Rogers are so cute. When I shot this look the weather was absolutely beautiful in southwest Florida, but all of last week it was horrible. At one point my office couldn't see out of our windows...it was raining that hard. Hopefully wherever y'all are it is absolutely beautiful-xoxo darling, Hayden.

Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Quotes of the Week

None of these images are mine, you can  find them on this Pinterest board.

Articles I'm Reading

1. Amazing // Best Pippa Middleton Wedding Hats // Town & Country
2. Love these tips // Ways to Add Temporay Pattern to Any Party // Sugar & Cloth
3. These are necessary in my life // The Best Espadrilles for Summer 2017 // Man Repeller
4. YAAAS // 10 Stops You Can't Miss on Your I-95 Road Trip // Oyster
5. Throwback // Cosmic Brownie Cake // Studio DIY
6. I want to go to all of these // 100 Places Where You Can Experience Retro Los Angeles // Los Angeles Magazine

Haute Table Reader Survey

Hey darlings! I have been seeing a few bloggers I follow publishing reader surveys to see what their readers like/dislike about their blogs so I thought it would be a fun way for me to interact with y'all. I am also lacking some inspiration currently so anything y'all are looking for would be super helpful.  You can follow the link here, and just fill out whatever you are comfortable with.  Thank you so much for your help-xoxo darling, Hayden

{via}

Pink Beckham

If I am being honest, the next few weeks will mainly be Victoria Beckham for Target because y'all, the stuff was so cute. And now it is all on sale. Your Targets may have different items but please go check them out {stuff is $7!}. I love the bright pink top because it is so summer in Florida and pairing it with any color shorts {kelly green, aqua, navy, khaki} is super cute. What do y'all think? -xoxo darling, Hayden

{Location: Riverside Community Center}

Week Re-Cap

What an interesting week it has been! I started my summer internship - this is the first time I am consistently working 9-5, 5 days a week and I have to say I like the schedule I am keeping currently. I've also started working out? I use a question mark because this is new to me, I haven't gone to a gym since freshman year of college and it feels weird to be back. I'm mainly doing it because I have access to the fitness center at my apartment and because I haven't yet met anyone in Sarasota so I can get a little bored. If y'all have any suggestions on workouts to do on a treadmill, let me know, it is very new to me. I think that is about it for now...what have y'all been up to? -xoxo darling, Hayden

 One of my favorite stops in FM, Sun Harvest.

 This was an interesting Friday night...I'm not sure how 

I feel about my favorite game being turned into a musical.

 Norman Love gelato is some of the best gelato. 

 My latest read...

 A pre-first day of internship dinner at the Columbia in Sarasota.

 So excited to be working at Miles this summer! {That is a chalkboard!}

I took myself out to Panera as a congrats for finishing your first day of the 

internship on Monday and just had to get this cookie.

Scallop Intern

Happy Tuesday darlings! I started my new internship yesterday wearing this outfit, and I must say it gave me a lot of confidence. This summer I will be living in Sarasota, FL and working for Miles Media in their digital content for Brand USA team. This exeperience is something that I don't think I could get anywhere else and I am so looking forward to see what the summer brings. If y'all have any recomendations for Sarasota {or the surrounding area} please reach out. 

Also, do y'all like when I pre-face or talk a little on my outfit posts? Because for the longest time I haven't said anything but maybe I should start? Let me know-xoxo darling, Hayden

{I couldn't find the regular size for the top on ShopStyle,  but some Targets still have them! The other items are similar to what I am wearing.  Location: Langford Kingston Home in Fort Myers}

Quotes of the Week

 

None of these images are mine, you can  find them on this Pinterest board.

Articles I'm Reading

1. Such an interesting read // How Fonts Are Fueling the Culture Wars // Backchannel
2. Loving this dress // Hand Embroidered Dress // Madison Mathews
3. I want to go to there // The Lilly Pulitzer Suite // Classy Girls Wear Pearls
4. Wanderlusting over trains // America's Best Train Journeys // USA Today
5. These look so good // Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream Cookie Bars // Cupcakes & Cashmere 
6. How cute is Julia // Gingham Mini Dress // Gal Meets Glam

The Benefits of Witch Hazel

By, Amy Marie

Happy Friday! I cannot believe it is already June, however I am very ready for summer break from school At the beginning of the year I made a goal for myself that I wanted to start using more natural beauty products. As my current beauty products emptied I would switch them out for a cruelty free natural alternative. During this process I discovered Witch Hazel. I had heard about it before from the beauty blogger community, but had never tried. Today I thought I would share the benefit of using Witch Hazel, because it can be used for a lot of things. Also it is very affordable. A 16 fluid oz bottle is $3 from walmart! It can be found in the pharmacy section.

1. Acne: Gently apply Witch Hazel to irritated spots to reduce irritation. Witch Hazel will unblock pores and smooth skin.
2. Fight signs of aging: Witch Hazel is amazing for your skin. It can reduce the appearance of dark spots, sun damage, eye puffiness, and varicose veins. Gently apply Witch Hazel to the affected areas.
3. Insect bites: Witch Hazel can reduce irritation from insect bites.
4. Itchy scalp: Apply a couple drops of Witch Hazel to your shampoo to relieve a dry scalp.
5. Sunburn: Soothe your skin with Witch Hazel after a day in the sun.

I hope you find these tips helpful. I use Witch Hazel every night before bed. I have replaced the use of a night cream with Witch Hazel. I wash my face, then apply Witch Hazel using a cotton pad. I have noticed a difference in the smoothness of my skin and have see less acne irritation. See you next week!

P.S. Check out my post on Amy's blog about what to drink this summer.