Weekly Wrap-up – Camp and Cottage Style

Hello friends! Welcome to my weekly wrap-up called the Sunday Soda Sip – where I share random thoughts, along with tips, tricks, and inspiration from around the web. This is the shopping, decorating, and flood edition. So grab your drink and let’s chat and sip.

This week I spent in California visiting my family. Before leaving, I went out to the garden to drench everything with water. I noticed that one of my early tomato plants had a red and ready fruit, ready to be plucked.

Since we would be gone all week, I decided to pull it and bring it to my daughter. She was watching the dog. I present to you, the first tomato of the season! For some reason, I always find that exciting. It’s the simple things really.

Camps and Cottages Style

If you love high-end camp or cottage style (with a hint of coastal) you would looooooove this little shop. Located in Laguna Beach, California near all the action. If you are ever in the area, it is a MUST STOP IN kind of place.

Owner Molly Hyde English has been around for a while and knows her stuff! Actually, I think I first started following her work over 20 years ago. Remember the good old days, prior to Instagram? When you found a designer whose style you loved, then you had to stalk them. You had to buy every book or magazine that they were featured in to see their style.

Molly is one of those rare people whose shop has been around awhile. She remembers customers and talks to everyone. Her little shop is exquisite and she has great personal style too!

Although I am a rabid fan of hers on Instagram, she was gracious and kind enough to remember me. She even know a bit of my story (daughter lives here, mom recently passed, etc.). As a former retail shop owner myself, it always feels good to support kind and authentic people in business. Give her an Instagram follow if you like her style.

The books by Molly Hyde English

Molly has had three books published. Of course, I have them all! The first is titled same as her shop Camps and Cottages. It outlines her impeccable style of old blending in new.

“Vintage Cottages” – I keep my copy of this one up north, so I can curl up in the hammock and look at cute vintage cottages that have people curling up in a hammock. Hahahahaha, real life imitating art, ya know? This book is the cutest!

“Contemporary Cottages” – This book shows fabulous modern cottages, with beach views that go on forever, and gives wonderful inspiration for decorating in this comfy style at the next level. Simply stunning.

The shop called Camps and Cottages

Molly’s shop is soooo inspiring and feels like the kind of place you want to just hang out in all day.

It’s right on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in Laguna Beach, and there is a great little antique shop next door that I love. I once purchased the most amazing, large handpainted ironstone platter there that I adore!

Back to Molly. Okay, run right over to her Instagram page and check out her style. It’s sooooo good.

Think vintage flags, textured linen couches, vintage baskets (swoon!), reclaimed wood tables, down-filled pillows, bespoke rustic lamps, vintage finds, all in a classic palette of red, white, and blue (emphasis on the blue and white).

She has gorgeous vintage art, which you know is my weakness, and every time I go I want to win the lotto and buy it all! Unfortunately I am always restricted by what I can carry back on the plane, but luckily she always seems to have something small that I need.

Camp Garden Style

Since I was all about inspiration on my downtime this week, when I wasn’t hanging out with family, I was clearly shopping. I popped over to this small outdoor, hmmmm…let’s call it a mall. It’s called CAMP in Costa Mesa, California and it has some eateries and small shops.

You know you are in for a treat when you pull into the parking lot and each space has an inspiring word to already get you thinking.

Next, you are greeted by wonderful walkways, that lead to darling small shops. I loved this plant shop, made from a vintage camper.

There was a hammock, covered picnic area mimicking camp tents, little corners to tuck into and ponder life, and live plants that fit the climate.

I walked by this and thought it was a tree, but upon closer inspection, noticed it was wood posts with a growing vine. I thought this was such a fun idea which could easily be incorporated in your garden at home.

A Quick Salad

Whenever we go home to California, we always have our favorite places we have to stop and eat. In n’ Out Burger here we come! But I do try to eat healthy sometimes.

I love this salad from our fave, quick stop Mediterranean food place. It’s an easy one to create at home, with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta chunks, barely any lettuce (my fave part), with a Greek dressing. I added an extra sprinkle of feta crumbles.

Since I have lots of tomatoes in my garden, I will need a trip to Trader Joe’s for some feta and other goodies.

Inspiration from the web

This week as I was reading some of my favorite sites, I saw some amazing things you might want to check out.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to make sourdough, learn about the starter.

When farmhouse style is what you like, check out how she displays items.

If you love southern style, swoon at this portfolio.

Do you have vintage? she will show you how to style shelves like a pro.

What will this new week bring to you?

Okay friends, I hope that you have an amazing week. I’d love to hear what you are doing and what inspires you. Tell me in the comments.

One last little thing…my granddaughters and I added the fairy garden items temporarily to their (new to them) backyard. They will be building a pool and redoing the landscaping next year, so we will move it later. But for now you can see it from the back patio.

Have a great week! Thanks for joining me today for Sunday Soda Sip. I’d love to have you join me more often, follow along on these platforms.

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