Every year as summer rolls round and the California sky is a bright clear blue and I obsess over planning a beach holiday that involves pristine turquoise water,  I find myself drawn to the cool yet warm blues that are found in the best of summer. I love teeny tiny turquoise rings worn with a stack of gold rings or a turquoise bracelet worn with a mix of gold textures. Here are some of my favourite turquoise picks around now.

This week's DIY comes courtesy of one of my favourite DIY bloggers. Geneva, of A Pair And A Spare, tackled this deceptively easy yet strikingly stylish bag. I love straw bags for food shopping trips, picnics and beach trips. I also love bold pops of neon so this DIY is certainly one for me to try. Now I just need to get my hands on the perfect straw bag to spray.

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How can you look at a picture like this and not feel immediately inspired to eat a deliciously decadent lobster salad? I can't. The first time we cooked lobster ourselves at home was for Christmas a couple of years ago. I grew up in England where a turkey dinner is what goes down on Christmas Day but since moving to San Francisco, and wholeheartedly embracing Thanksgiving (a very similar turkey dinner), the thought of two elaborate turkey meals a month apart quickly lost it's appeal. We've pretty much settled on a seafood feast for Christmas Day as our tradition which keeps us happy.

So back to lobster cooking. We bought them live and yep, they're a dark greyish blue when they're alive (Disney lied). One of the huge perks of working in the restaurant industry was when I had a question I could ask one of the many excellent Chefs in the kitchen what to do. Keep them in the fridge/pop them in the freezer for a while before cooking to slow down their nervous system and make the whole process more humane. And then be thoroughly distrubed by the sight of a lobster trying to claw it's way out of the pot.

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Even with an ordeal like that, I would happily do it again to get this salad on a place in front of me. Sometimes with pinterest, the image doesn't link to a recipe so I just improvise. Romaine, avocado, lots of juicy lobster meat and I'd flip the script a little with a raspberry vinaigrette.

Summertime means beach time and one of my favourite parts of beach wear is the plethora of kaftans and coverups to choose from. Over the years I've collected quite a few true loves but that doesn't stop me falling in love all over again every single summer. The best coverups are the ones that can multi-task as a cute top of dress with a tank and denim shorts. Here are some of my favourites around right now.

I've spoken about my great love for Aurelie Bidermann's lace cuffs before. I recently came across this fun DIY that shows you how to try out making your own for a mere fraction of the price.

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Here's a photo of the end result via pinterest and you can hop over here to follow the instructions.

I'm always looking for new ways to switch up mealtimes and a leisurely, decadent breakfast at weekends has to be one of my all time favourite ways to start a Saturday or Sunday. Quite often, we'll be out for brunch but when we do stay home, I'm happy to try out new recipes every single week. I'm naturally drawn to more simple recipes so when I came across this on pinterest, I knew it was right up my street.

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It only takes a few minutes to put it all together and you can vary it in so many different ways, with various fruits, various berries and various grains and or granola.

I found the image on pinterest but here's a link to the original source.

I recently came across Big Appetites. A series of fine art photos by Christopher Boffoli. The series presents a series of tiny detailed figures in food environments referencing cultural fascination with all things tiny as well as the American enthusiasm for excess, especially in the realm of food. View the full collection here.

Something about the humorous use in fine art of these tiny figurines reminded me of Lisa Swerling's Glass Cathedrals.

With a holiday coming up next month I don't really seem to daydream about much else. It's also that time of year when everywhere I look it's all about summer holidays. In San Francisco, the weather is notoriously unpredictable over the typical summer months (but we usually luck out with an Indian Summer in September/October). Maybe it's the years of school, when come July, even if you weren't jetting off anywhere exciting, it was time for the longest holiday of the year. My birthday is in May and we usually try and make a trip at some point in May or June and as always, I'm as excited as a school girl about our upcoming trip.

Flying in stylish comfort goes a long way so here's my suggestion on a versatile outfit to fly in.

Saint Laurent Safari Jacket. A lightweight jacket is ideal to keep you warm in the airport and on-board but easy enough to tuck in your bag once you land in sunnier climes.
Zoe Karssen Tshirt $75. Super soft and stays remarkably crease free, this is the ideal tshirt for pretty much anything.
Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour. The perfect carry-on size, roomy enough for all the essentials and small enough to be tucked under the seat in front for take off and landing.
Ray Ban Aviators $155. On the advice of a woman I know with the most luminous skin ever, I never wear makeup when I fly. Cover up tired eyes with your most fantastic sunnies.
Monsoon Scarf $38. This beautiful print scarf can also serve double duty when you land as an accessory to tame your locks.
Steve Madden. I have these. I love these. Flat shoes with covered toes are a must for me when flying. Keep those tootsies safe and warm.
J Brand Skinny Jeans. Any skinny jeans with a serious dose of stretch always make flying a super comfortable experience.
Kaol Mints. Small in size but these pearly mints pack a serious punch. My absolute favourites.
Frends Layla Headphones. Standard issue always have awful sound quality so whether you're watching something or just listening to your favourites, make the experience infinitely more enjoyable with your own vehicle for sound.
Beaded iPad Clutch $82. I love the ethnic inspired beading on this iPad clutch. Keeps your iPad safe while travelling and also doubles as the go-with-everything clutch you need for evenings out once you land.

While we've been enjoying distinctly summer like weather in San Francisco, I've been on the hunt for the ideal summer tote. I know I definitely do not need a new handbag but there's something about the relaxed style of a buttery soft tote in a gorgeous shade of beige that's just calling my name. The classic carryall shape with a flat base, roomy interior that easy to carry on your shoulder or in your hands, that is always so easy to dress up or down. Perfect for picnic, perfect for day trips, perfect for trips to the beach, here are three of my favourites around right now.

I mentioned my love of C Wonder last summer when I stumbled upon them the day they opened in New York. I was immediately drawn to the colourful preppy style but little did I know it was a company founded by Tory Burch's ex-husband. Coincidentally similar in style?

Reed Krakoff Track Leather Tote
Michael by Michael Kors Jet Set Tote
C Wonder Stripes Tote