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Ahhhhh. Summer. It’s finally here -
long days, long nights, no need for shoes, socks, nothing. You get the idea.
 Summer
is the perfect time to spend almost every waking moment outside, no? Alright,
perhaps not every moment but at least most. And it’s the perfect time for
parties. Entertaining outside is fabulous if you have the right ingredients. In
Cape May where the cool breezes make for a lovely temperature, outdoor living is
a must. So, how do you bring Cool Cape May into your
backyard fiesta? I went shopping this weekend to figure it out.
Outdoor furniture is also a must when you have your friends over. There are so
many cool designs out there now, so I went over to Jefferson Street and into
Wanderlust. From the moment you walk in this store, you want to bring owners Bob
and Brandy White over to your house and say, “help me, please.” That can’t just
be me, can it? Bob and Brandy have a great eye for amazing beachy things that
are beyond cool. The thing that made me swoon the most was the single cabana in
the middle showroom. It reminded me instantly of the art deco Delano Hotel in
Miami Beach, where they have cabanas lining both sides of the pool. This small
one person cabana has windows and
 everything
(!) Set up either this or the double cabana and have an instant little chic spot
for two people to chat or for one to get away and chill for a bit. I also had my
eye on another unusual seating option. The swinging hammock screams “sit down
now” and looks like it will reduce your blood pressure within about 10 seconds
of sitting in it. The hammock comes in loads of patterns but they each maintain
the same way cool beach vibe.
Whatever furniture you have, you don’t want those
awful white drink rings to infiltrate the party so coasters and cocktail napkins
are a must. I didn’t have to go far in Wanderlust to find some inspired options.
I found two that I absolutely must have. Seriously, how fantastic are these
flexible cork Hawaiian shirt coasters?
I also found these disposable cocktail napkins. I just love the lime green color
with the flowers and the little monkey listening to the girl playing the
ukulele. Very hula.
The last thing that is totally mandatory are lights. If the party
continues into the wee hours, you’re going to need some lights to keep everyone
h onest
or something like that. You don’t want lights that are going to overpower and
make people squint – you just need them to set a nice, glow around so try these
lanterns from Wanderlust. They are giant, fun, and colorful. All you need is a
few of them strung under your upstairs deck and you’re set. If you’d rather
string some under an umbrella, choose a smaller variety. Wanderlust has many
styles of both.
So, you have the basics, now all you need is some food, drinks, friends, and
cool tunes to make your outdoor entertaining a steamy, sultry, summery success. |
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Flip Flop Candles
From Wanderlust |
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If you have a pool (any
kind) it is totally essential to have floating candles.
At least this is what my friend told me when I started
to wonder out loud if it was safe. “It’s filled with
water,” she said, “what could happen?” So after,
thinking about this for a minute, I decided to go with
her cavalier attitude and embrace it. After all, how can
I resist these incredibly cutesy sandal candles? I can
not, I tell you. Bring a set or two with you to a pool
party as a hostess gift or buy some for yourself if you
are lucky enough to have your own. |
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Thermos
from Wanderlust |
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I’m not really sure who uses
thermoses but if they were all as retro-cool as these, I
think everyone should start. These colored and patterned
metal ones are way summery and off-beat cool. I’m really
digging the 70s looking stripes. They are big too, so if
you want to bring one or two to the beach, they can keep
you and your friends hydrated all day. The tough part is
choosing which one to bring home. |
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Hypnotic Martini Glasses from Sea
Level |
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You will buy these martini glasses. You
will take them home. It may seem like you are going under some sort
of spell when you look at these swirly painted glasses, especially
if you turn them so the lines appear to move. And you thought the
drink alone would make you a bit dizzy… Go with me here because
other than being a parlor trick, these glasses are hand painted
whimsy that are fun and essential for entertaining.
And besides…you will buy them… |
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Punks from Madame's Port |
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In
New Jersey,
since our unofficial state bird seems to be the mosquito (has anyone
noticed how mutantly big they seem to be lately?) a bug deterrent of
some sort is as mandatory as a good, refreshing cocktail. I think I
may have stumbled upon the best – Lemongrass punk sticks from
Madame’s Port. If you’ve eaten at Gecko’s restaurant in Carpenter’s
Square Mall, you’ve probably smelled the smokey scent wafting
through the air. They use the punks on the |
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patio to keep bugs away from the food.
Good thing. The smell is aromatic without being too punchy, icky,
and generally displeasing. Pick up a few packs, push the sticks into
your plant containers and light ‘em up when guests start to arrive.
Or when the bugs do. |
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So, did you enjoy shopping in Cape May? Who knew you could get the same
shopping buzz sitting at home in front of your computer with your jammies on? Well, perhaps you did know that Smarty pants, but did
you know that you can stop back on this page every week and find the
latest cool stuff from
Cape May stores? Well, you can so if you
can’t be here on Cape Island, the next best thing is to bring the
island to you and your home. Life is a beach, after all, no?
Next Week...Make your bedroom a beach haven
See
what we went shopping for last week! |
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