The simple joys that summertime energizes us, inspires our curiosity and reminds us to live in the moment and take it all in! July means blissful blue skies, leisurely mornings, warm summer breezes, vibrant blue hydrangeas, juicy ripe berries, refreshing dips in the water, beach days, dining under the stars and dreamy sunsets. So here’s our reminder: Let’s focus on slowing down our pace to enjoy all the little carefree moments that come with the long, quintessential summer days. 

What we love about summer days

July evokes the feeling of summertime that we love so much. Is it our carefree childhood memories of school vacation, freedom from a set schedule, warm sunny days, special time with family and friends or just the feeling of anticipation of what's to come?

We think it has something to do with all those special things..our summer traditions—family vacations, time at the beach, roasting marshmallows, cook-outs, fireworks, exploring a new places, outdoor movies, sand castles, catching fireflies, ice cream cones, nature hikes and just the freedom to enjoy well deserved leisure time with our loved ones that brings us so much joy this season.

Be Stress Free this Summer

Summer inspires us to plan outdoor gatherings and seasonal menus. Whether you enjoy a sunset beach dinner, a barbecue on the patio, a clambake, or a picnic in a field or vineyard… let’s set our sights on savoring a long, lovely summer full of sharing joyful moments with family and friends in relaxed, spontaneous ways.

As you know by now, at plj we’re committed to celebrating joyful moments anytime they arise—both carefully planned for minimum stress and spontaneous for maximum surprise and joie de vivre. Here are a few tips to help you be organized in advance for whatever beach and picnic fun comes your way:

Organize your seasonal outdoor tableware—Make sure you’ve got linens, plates, cutlery, beverage glassware, candles, baskets, servingware, and table decor. Outdoor dining will happen more often and with less hassle if everything is gathered together and ready to go!

-Pack a picnic basket—Include blankets, simple, sturdy tableware (plates, napkins, beverage glasses, linens, serving utensils and cutlery) fire-making supplies (wood, lighter, paper or other kindling, small shovel), s’mores supplies (roasting sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars), serving baskets, cheese/cutting board, knife, bottle opener, cooler, garbage bags, hand sanitizer, paper towels, flashlight, bug repellant, and sweatshirts for those chilly starred nights. For ambiance and entertainment, consider games, speakers, and lanterns or flameless candles. A set of folding chairs and a table aren’t essential but can make a beach day or impromptu picnic even more comfortable.

-Set aside a beach bag—Pack fouta towels, beach mats, refillable water bottles, beach hats, books, beach toys, and sunscreen—so everything is packed and ready!

-Stock your pantry— Keep items you plan to use often on hand during the summer months: mixers, beverages, baking supplies for summer treats, popsicle molds, and birthday party supplies. Make jam with your fresh berries (a delicious addition to a cheese and charcuterie board), or flash-freeze freshly picked fruit in containers so it’s readily available for a special summer cobbler or pie. Think about stocking any other non-perishable staples you need so that an impromptu barbecue won’t require an extra trip to the store for essentials.

-Prioritize fun family time—School’s out, so make the most of the long days together and set sail, spend an afternoon at the beach, take a bike ride or a hike, or plan a getaway. Whether it’s visiting a new destination, splashing in the pool, or walking along the shore—take advantage of every opportunity July offers to enjoy outdoor summer fun and make magical new memories with your family. 

-Schedule time to just be—Remember that no matter how long the days seem right now… time goes by fast and routines, work, schedules will be back before you know it. So leave some free time in your schedule just relax, no agenda. Cherish the moment, read, or sit in a beautiful peaceful place doing absolutely nothing. This might turn out to be the most productive thing you do all day, in terms of your well-being. Taking good care of yourself is important too!

Get Ready to Sparkle

Plein Air Plenitude

Although we’d love to relish the summertime feeling all year long, we know this season flies by. So let’s take advantage of every opportunity for outdoor fare. Let your creativity take over here. Coffee or breakfast at the beach, simple sandwiches and zesty snacks and fruit for a lunchtime picnic basket, or a moonlit dinner extravaganza… There are so many ways to make the most of the long days and gentle nights we love this time of year.

Visit our epicure for plenty of refreshing, in-season faves for all your summer festivities: blueberry smoothies, mini clambake packs, make-ahead corn chowder, fruit cobbler, a star-spangled snack board, and ice cream sandwiches made with our dark chocolate chip and sea salt cookies are surefire ways to please a crowd. 

Toss nasturtiums into your salads for their color bursts and brightly spicy notes, sprinkle fresh lavender buds in your lemonade pitcher or make ice cubes with edible flowers, and craft your cocktails with fresh fruit frozen cubes or strawberry and blueberry simple syrup—all super easy ideas to evoke a classic summer vibe. 

The 4th of July—Celebrate Independence Day with a red, white, and blue-themed cocktail party or a seasonal garden dinner, or by the sea with a festive beach picnic. Gather friends and family for a clambake or plan a barbecue with sides that bring in the summer spirit. Wherever the venue, we have lots of inspiration for your patriotic themed sips and bites on our Epicure— a watermelon, blueberry, and feta salad, a Caprese pasta salad, a red, white, and blue no-mayo potato salad, and a fresh berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream that everyone adores!

Dancing in the Moonlight 

With hot summer days, let’s take advantage of how beautiful it is to spend time outdoors enjoying the long balmy summer evenings. 

Midsummer Soirée:  Organize a twilight party with seasonal nibbles—one of our favorite summer traditions. This is the perfect opportunity for an outdoor pizza-making party or an apéro dînatoire in the garden.There are so many simple and inspiring ways to spend time together and enjoy these special summer moments.

Outdoor Movie Night: There is something magical about an outdoors evening screening of a movie that all ages can enjoy. This classic summer pastime is a great idea for a birthday celebration for both adults and children. Here’s our checklist: prepare popcorn in individual serving bags or boxes, candies in vintage jars, small water bottles, comfy cushions or chairs that suit your outdoor “cinema,” some outdoor battery-lit lanterns, and an outdoor movie screen (this can be a slide projector screen or simply a sheet hung on a big enough wall). Personalize the details according to your own style(our favorite part!) Everyone loves homemade ice cream sandwiches or waffle cones filled with local ice cream. With the children delighted by the movie, the main attraction for grownups might be as simple as a few delicious amuse-bouches, chilled rosé, and quiet conversation with friends. Be sure to keep everyone comfy with our lightweight summer blankets or wrap if a chill sets in on a summer evening.  

To the Moon : This month’s full moon, known as the Buck Moon, will be visible on July10th.  Mark your calendars and plan an evening toast (remember the little joys too)  This moon is named for the way buck deer shed their old antlers and sprout new ones, a majestic symbol of renewal to which we’ll be happy to raise our glasses. 

Just a quick note about natural ways for keeping mosquitoes away from outdoor evening activities—try mixing a spray bottle with lavender, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils and water and spraying on your outdoor surfaces. Also, a mixture of apple cider vinegar with water or boiling fresh rosemary in water are all scents that mosquitoes and flies don’t seem to like so we think it's worth giving these remedies a try.

July Design Notes

We’re all about the summer flowers—At plj in July,  it’s hydrangeas, hydrangeas, hydrangeas… Any hue will do, but we can’t get enough of these bombshells in blue. Stunning as part of a patriotic theme arrangement, they are also simply charming for seaside or garden gatherings. Hydrangeas pair well with a few fragrant sprigs of lavender and greens in your bouquets.  If you love flowers, this is your season of joy, with so many bright blooms to choose from for your beautiful table arrangements—dahlias, delphinium, cosmos, and daylilies, we could go on....

Set a summer table—Think simple and seasonal with your table design. We love blue and white patterns during high summer, accented by an assortment of containers bursting with July blooms. We’ve added new blue and white stripes and ruffled linens to our home collection this summer.  With Independence Day in the air, show your patriotic flair with red/white/blue ribbons, stars and stripes, mini-flags, or decorative tableware. Integrate a little coastal charm with our woven table accents and baskets. Seasonal fruit displays, olive wood trays, and fragrant lavender, potted flowers or herbs—mix and match these possibilities to create a carefree summer style that’s all your own!

Carefree Summer Style

Summer break is finally here! Dream-soft scarves and our organic cotton travel sets are in stock and ready to go wherever your travels may take you—featuring a lightweight travel blanket and eye mask in a handy pouch for slipping into your carry-on bag. For staying closer to home, we’ve got plenty of accents to add a fresh sparkle to all your gatherings—cotton printed and timeless linen napkins and hand towels, and favorite kitchen must-haves like a white marble cheese and charcuterie board and summer scented candles—along with loads of olive wood and woven table accessories and planters.

Light and airy summer white beach pants, shorts and cover-up are back in stock, woven bags, oversized raffia beach totes, and white gauzy cotton tops and florals are in style for us this summer, and we’ve also got you covered for lip balm, lavender sleep essentials, eye pillows, essence-scented salts, oils, and mists in our our wellness collection. Shop our finds here

Summer is Served 

July means fresh summer produce is everywhere. Supporting local farmers and eating market-fresh seasonal fruits and veggies is never easier than at this time of year. Aside from being simply delicious, making a commitment to eat fresh, local, and minimally processed foods is better for you, your family, and your community. 

And if you find yourself craving fresh, juicy fruits and vegetables more than usual, there’s a good reason for that: we need extra hydration in summer heat and consuming hydrating foods such as cut fruit, cruditées, and smoothies, is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Children and adults sometimes forget to drink enough water when they’re busy with summer activities or spending more time outdoors. Keeping whole-fruit snacks on hand can help them stay hydrated, too. Full of both fiber and vitamins, they are healthier than sugary juices and over-processed treats. A cold pitcher of water infused with mint and a squeeze of lemon can make refreshment more fun than plain water too. Take special care of older adults during these hot summer days and encourage them to fill a large water bottle each day to keep track of their fluid intake to prevent dehydration. We’re making lots of freshly frozen fruit sorbets this summer too, so be sure to follow along on IG for our latest inspirations.

On the Menu in July:

Berry Smoothies

Blueberry Muffins

Whole Fruit Popsicles

Blueberry White Balsamic Salad Dressing

Watermelon, Blueberry, and Feta Flag Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad

Mini Clambake Foil Packs

Summer Corn Chowder

Bouillabaisse

Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Pizza  

Grilled Kebabs

Grilled Summer Vegetables

Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri

Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Cake

Berry Cobbler 

Sea-Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

Waffle Cones

Peach Frosé

 Summer Breeze  

High summer more than any other time of year reminds us to relax, relish the moment, and savor the carefree feeling of long days and starry nights. Take this opportunity to really appreciate time spent with those you love. We like to let the simplicity of a perfect summer day remind us that gatherings don't have to be perfect or elaborate—even the simplest shared joys can become sweet memories that stay with us. This July the essence of summer is all about living in the moment and reveling in our leisure time so we can be truly present for the love and joy we’re blessed with.