Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Feeling Chatty, Let's Catch Up) ☀️🍉👑🐶🍦🍓🎉

All things summer - outdoor hosting, charm necklaces, jellies, Carrie Bradshaw, Bananagrams, upcoming trips and new project teases!

Hi, hello and happy summer! I’m heavily focused on GIRLHOOD and HAVING SOME GOD DAMN FUN this summer. While I’m not a big fan of the beach, I am learning that I do love me some heat. As a perpetually cold person, I prefer to keep the temperature around me at nice “hot car.” Bathe me in an uncomfortable level of hotness and I am one happy gal. These past few weeks have been wonderful for that.

I am enjoying my summer thus far - because I’ve put a strong emphasis on ensuring so. What all am I doing? Well I’m glad you asked…

We are using and abusing our new patio set up. Last summer, we did some hardscaping and had a pergola installed. A few months ago, we replaced all of the furniture out there to make it more comfortable AND functional for hosting hoards of people. Now, we’re not throwing any bangers on the patio - our speed is smaller groups - but our new arrangement allows for 10 or so to gather comfortably, be merry and most importantly be fed. Sometimes feeding friends means grilling fish and veg and other times it means phoning it in with our favorite local pizza. It’s all about balance.

For our recent hosting on the 4th, I made this DELICIOUS and EASY icebox cake from Halfbaked Harvest who is a food goddess in my eyes. Now, I made the cake because it claimed to be easy (it was) and had so few ingredients that even a lazy baker like myself could pull it off. It was scrumptious - and fun tip, I wrapped the leftovers as individual sammies in parchment paper and twine to have for later. We plan on pulling those out of the freezer this weekend when we host some friends visiting from Boston.

In an effort to amp up our hosting abilities (since these friends have stayed with us before), we bought a projector and outdoor movie screen. This has been on my list for a while, but frankly I just hadn’t had the free time to laze outside and take in a film. We’ve been BUSY with home renovations and this summer signifies that wrap-up. We’re out of the woods and ready to lay on the lawn! Our property has a good amount of yard but a chunk of that is on a slight hill. Oddly enough, it’s the perfect set up for an outdoor movie. I used to visit outdoor theaters as a kid so there’s a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this plan. Now I just need an inaugural movie to start this new summer tradition. Drop any movie suggestions in the comments below - think 90’s classics!

The following weekend, we are putting our patio to good use and hosting yet again. This time we’ve invited my mom’s side of the family over for some joint birthday celebrations. It’s a little terrifying. You see, they’re full-blown Italians - and I’m not sure I need to say more than that…but I will. They talk at increasingly loud volumes and have impeccable palettes (two qualities I didn’t inherit) so the pressure is on. It’s my first time hosting them all in my “new house” that I’ve actually lived in for 7 years. While that sounds nuts, if you’ve been around since the beginning you know where the home started - there was no hosting to be had. We were surviving not thriving. Anyway, they’re intense but truly wonderfully chaotic and impossibly supportive. It’ll be just fine…as long as my uncles have access to multiple screens for SPORTS.

After that, we’re off to South Carolina for our first big trip of the summer. Alex’s oldest British half-brother is flying in with his impossibly cute kiddos. They speak of the quintessential English things like “porridge". We’re spending some time in Hilton Head, followed by Charleston and a smidge of Savannah. Yes, there will be a trip guide coming - Charleston is one of my favorite travel designations so I am absolutely giddy to share my must-see haunts.

I’ve been in the mode lately of focusing on family and friendships - something that sadly wasn’t as big of a priority when we were eye balls deep in restoring our home and building a business. Don’t get me wrong, we showed up…but perhaps weren’t always as “present” as we would’ve liked to be.

On the note of friendships, the wildest thing happened to be the other month. My besties from 6th grade - who I had not seen since that time - messaged me on Instagram and after 22 years, we met up for breakfast. We caught up for 3 hours and it was l like no time had passed at all. Next up, we’re taking a little day trip to NYC to visit The Met’s Sleeping Beauties exhibit. Life can be pretty wild sometimes.

For other friendships, I’ve started STALKING everything Kat from Stone Cooper does. I am plain OBSESSED with vintage jewelry - in particular her creations and darling charm necklaces. She puts together the most winning combinations. I’ve purchased 4 from her so far, in various themes - seashells, summer fruit, spicy cowboy and a more random snakes meet icecream! I plan to wear them until the end of time, but particularly in the summer with this dress that I’ve now acquired in 3 colors - “just-barely-not-true-petite-height girlies” RUN to get your hands on this affordable frock. If you’re a true 90’s baby, pair it with some jellies. I sure as hell am!

Besides jewelry and dresses, I’ve been buying my fair share of art lately. It’s my favorite thing to hunt down - whether it’s from a local flea/art market or directly commissioned from the artist - I FUCKING LOVE BUYING ART. Some girls dream of designer handbags, for me it’s always been art. I just love lining my walls with beautiful pieces and am starting to source higher-end pieces as investments - because what better for my dogs to inherit than large format artwork!? My home is like my own little art gallery that I’ve curated over the years. I am a forever-editor, so as I continue to grow my collection, I will surely shed some pieces in the curation process. Stay tuned for an art sale of sorts!

When I’m not frolicking outdoors or buying art, you can find me inside doing one of two things - playing Bananagrams or watching Sex & The City. I’ve become hooked on both. If you’ve never played Bananagrams but are a fan of word games like Wordle and Scrabble, I highly suggest you grab a yellow bag! This game is addicting and I simply cannot get over the brilliant packaging. It’s a good game to bring on the go too - easily toss it into your summer tote and head to the beach (if you must).

As for Sex & The City, I mainly watch it for Carrie’s fashion. No, really! She’s resurfaced as a style icon this summer and I am here for it. As many self-centered women do, I’ve been playing the game of “which character is ME” and in season 3, I’ve sadly come to the conclusion that I am Miranda. It’s a bit of a disappointment for me, given that she is my least favorite of the bunch. She’s not warm, but she is very realistic so maybe there’s my silver lining. Going into my binge-watching session, I assumed (like everyone else) that I was a Carrie. I so WANTED to be a Carrie but frankly Carrie is a hot mess and a tragic case of someone who is unable to get out of their own way. I’m no Carrie, but I can still dream of dressing like her. And Aidan.

At the risk of this all sounding like ramblings from a mad woman, I shall continue. Perhaps Carrie has inspired me to write. Humor me for a little longer then I promise to divulge a little more about our adventures in interior design.

Besides friendships, family and some good old-fashioned fun, another priority for me this summer is wellness. While I’m not religious, I have recently been envious of the tradition of Sunday morning church. It seems like such a lovely way to start the week - with intention and a routine. I had spent some time seeking a similar outlet and landed on hot yoga. Some sweat the lord, I sweat in downward dog. I’ve been going to my local studio, Bulldog Yoga, who’s slogan is “yoga for people who hate yoga.” It’s fast-paced, base-bumping and that hot hot heat I like. It’s my church.

One passion of mine that has never wavered is rescuing animals. Earlier this summer, we had the absolute pleasure of fostering the teeniest pup Banjo! Jo was such a delight to have with us for a few weeks and luckily a lovely family snatched her right up as soon as she became available for adoption. I’m all about turning ideas into action - and am excited to TEASE that we have a rewarding design project in the works that will benefit an animal rescue organization we hold near and dear to our hearts. More on that later this fall!

If you’ve hung in this long, you deserve a reward. Let’s talk interior design.

Recently, we revealed our first commercial project, Book Hounds! This candy-colored escape is located in the historic town of St. Michaels. The store boasts a curated assortment of reading material, a welcoming atmosphere for dogs and a swirl of vibrant colors to surround you as you enter. It’s on the main drag, close to many wonderful meal options (we recommend The Ruse at The Wildset), including an icecream shop next door (that we’d DIE to design).

Before closing our office for the 4th, we photographed an incredible project in Rittenhouse. This 1800’s Victorian had seen some tragic renovations in the past that detracted you from the character and charm. After some floor plan finagling we designed a home that is way for functional for the young family. This wouldn’t be a true MGI project if we stopped there - rest assured that function meets FUN! We infused incredible colors and patterns into the home, to pair well with the homeowners’ collection of amazing artworks. We can’t wait to share this reveal with you all soon.

While the summer holds so much excitement, we are also looking forward to the fall. We’ll be sharing more of our new Chestnut Hill studio with you all, rolling out our rebrand and - on a personal note - traveling to Spain and Portugal for the first time.

I am just so pumped that you all have decided to join us on this journey. Sometimes small business life is sticking to the design stuff and other times it is slicing my brain open to spill out what else is happening inside there, inspiring me.

Thanks for being a part of it all, and following along on our Instagram!