Guest Blogger: Jessica from Jessica Jane Handmade

Jessica is a talented artist and pretty much all around fantastic, creative blogger. I can always count on her blog for a delicious recipe, amazing art, and details about the beautiful simplicities of life like jam and flowers. 


Hello all! I am pleased to be the guest blogger today on Good Good! On the world wide web, I am known as Jessica Jane. In real life, only my aunt calls me by my full name, most people call me Jessi, but you, you can call me whatever you want.

When Marisa asked me to guest on her blog, I gladly said yes! What do I love most about summer? I like Summer, but, Summer is actually my least favorite season of the year. Not that I hate it or anything, but if I had to make a list summer would be last. I am a natural redhead, I don't tan, I hate sweating, and have to carry SPF 500 at all times. Did I mention I loathe the smell and feeling of sunscreen?

Despite my pessimistic attitude in that last paragraph, summer is pretty awesome, and I did come up with some of my favorite memories/things about summer.

1. Helping my grandma in her garden and picking fresh raspberries as a reward. At the time this seemed like a chore, but looking back on it, I wish I could go back and do it all over again. (Has anyone ever tried white raspberries? So good!)

raspberries by Julia Bereciartu

2. Going out on the boat and fishing. I grew up on Lake Erie in Ohio, so fishing was a part of life. I used to be a wuss, and made everyone else worm the hook for me. My husband is a devoted fisherman and now we use fake worms and the such.

daisy boats by Lisa Solomon

3. Amusement parks, particularly Cedar Point. (Also an attraction on Lake Erie) There was never a summer I didn't go. My favorite ride is still the Raptor, and the Ferris wheel. You can get such an awesome view of the lake and islands up at the top.

up so high by Katy/ArtfulMagpie

4. And last but not least, what is summer without ice cream? I don't want summer if I can't have a soft serve ice cream cone with sprinkles and crunch coat! I would hate to be lactose intolerant.

ice cream by Claire Helene

What's your favorite ice cream treat? Do you go with a Sundae, flurry, milkshake? I'd love to hear!

Thanks for inviting me over to your blog Marisa!! Now, I'm off to find the nearest soft serve ice cream place, and get a head start on summer. XO-Jessica Jane

Guest Blogger: Melanie from You Are My Fave

You Are My Fave was one of the first blogs I started reading way back when! It is pretty much made of awesome. Melanie has a wicked eye for fun party paraphernalia and her constant 30 Rock references will always keep me coming back for more. 


It's impossible to not like summer. In fact, if you tell me you prefer winter over summer, I'll have some serious thinking to do before I decide if we can still be friends. Just think about the happiness summer brings:

1. Bare legs and bike rides! Right now, I would rather be cold then put on tights.

the bicycle muse

2. Fresh produce and gardens! I could bite into a fresh garden tomato just like an apple.

sunday suppers

3. Outdoor parties! Twinkle lights, warm evenings, and all your guests are happy because they're actually getting their daily vitamin D.

style me pretty

4. Popsicles and other cold treats! I eat these year round but they taste better in the summer.

butterflyfood

Guest Blogger: Rachel from Elephantine

I discovered Rachel's beautiful blog Elephantine a little while ago when she was kind enough to feature one of my illustrations (isn't the traffic sources info fun?) Her blog somehow manages to feel fresh and cozy all at once. Lately, I've really been enjoying the videos of her baking endeavors. Pure eye candy.


Hello, friends of Marisa! I'm thrilled to be guest blogging here today. My name is Rachel and I have my own little blog and I also make jewelry. This summer is a special one for me, and here's why.....

....I'm getting married right in the middle of it. I'm looking forward to seeing all those hours of planning finally unfold into something memorable and lovely... I can't wait.

I'm also looking forward to stashing my sneakers in the very back of my closet and pulling out all my flats instead. I bought these sparkly ones from J. Crew this winter, and haven't gotten a chance to break them in yet.

Creative writing is one of my passions, but I never give myself enough time to do it. I have a good feeling about this summer being the one I finally develop a consistent writing habit.

...and last but not least, I'm excited to learn more French... and daydream about traveling to Paris.

Guest Blogger: Janis from Pinecone Camp

I'm so glad that Janis wanted to be a part of my guest blog series and (even better!) she included a bunch of her beautiful photos. Janis is a blogger and amazing photographer hailing from my fair home city of Vancouver. Her blog is constantly full of eye candy and I always look forward to her Baked segment each week.

Hello. Janis here, from Pinecone Camp. The lovely and talented Marisa, asked if I'd do a little post on some summery things I'm looking forward to. Easy to do, as it's pouring rain here today. Marisa, I hope you've recuperated after completing your thesis. Congratulations!

I can't wait to go camping at some of the beautiful BC Parks. We've been going to one in particular, Monck Park, for years. I can smell the pine now. Sigh.

Hanging out at the Vancouver beaches, 

lounging in a beach chair by Gallant and Jones.

Nothing says summer like cherries, or froot loops

(I only eat them in the summer, in a snack pack size, at camp)!

I still love the P.N.E., the annual fair in Vancouver.

It's a bit of a tradition and a habit that I can't seem to break.

I want some mini donuts now.

Love the Koi and water lilies at

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden in Chinatown.

Please hurry summer.

Thanks for having me Marisa!

Guest Blogger: Mireille from Oh Bonjour

When I told my sister about the guest blogger series I was planning, she of course wanted to be a part of it (who wouldn't?) Mireille blogs over at Oh Bonjour occasionally and her header never fails to make me laugh (she made it when I first got my tablet). 


Hey all! This is Mireille (Marisa's super cool sister) writing and here is my top reasons why I cannot WAIT for summer to arrive! Just the thought of it makes me ache for warm sun, cool popsicles, and lazy days.

1) I can't wait to cook/bake/eat/spend all of my time with food. I lived in a dorm for the first year of university this year and did not have any cooking facilities (although I have gotten quite creative with a microwave.) So over the year I have accrued a hefty sized (and I mean hefty) list of things I can't wait to make this summer. Here is just a sampling:

Red Velvet cheesecake, chipotle butternut squash, raspberry lemonade bars

2) Time to read! Right beside my list of things to cook is my list of books to read which has been growing just as rapidly throughout the year. Is there anything better than reading a good book outside while basking in the warmth of the sun?

Here are a few reads on my list for this summer:

• Freakonomics (I took econ this year so maybe I'll actually understand some of it!)
• Girl with the Dragon Tattoo & series (I started but never finished)
• The Fry Chronicles (Stephen Fry's autobiography)
• Bossypants (Tina Fey's new book)

3) Traveling! (Always messed me up whether there was one "L" or two in that) As I'm sure you may know this lovely blogger (my sister) is graduating this year. They grow up so fast these days don't they? For the occasion my parents and I will be driving out from the west coast to the ceremony!

I wish this was my ride.

4) Family fun. Accompanying our trek to the East coast will be the tour de family along the way. I'm so excited to see everyone again (including my sister!)

You are the Ben to my Jerry.

Thanks for letting me do this post and here's to an excellent summer!

Cheers,

Mireille

Guest Blogger: Natalie from The SoHo

Natalie was kind enough to think of including me in her guest blog series last year while she was moving across the country and I'm glad she agreed to do the same for me today! The SoHo is a blog full of beautiful home details, delicious food (when I go to New York, I am seriously eating all the donuts), and lovely snippets of NYC life.

Hi, I'm Natalie of The SoHo. I love cooking, photography and finding pretty things. I'm so glad Marisa invited me to guest post. She did the same for me last fall with a testament to her love for Vancouver and Milwaukee, so I'm happy to return the favor.

After a drawn-out, unusually snowy winter here in New York, my heart is beating faster just thinking of what summer will bring. Here are a few things I'm already daydreaming about:

peaches soaked in white wine, the most satisfying and simple summer dessert

Revlon's Craving Coral, my go-to summer nail polish color
-- best showcased in a pair of peep toe wedges

three solid months of delicious 

experimentation with the ice cream maker

traveling -- I'm in two weddings this summer, I'll be squeezing in a visit to Seattle, and then there are all the spontaneous weekend getaways that make summer so fantastic

Guest Blogger: Krystal from Village

I'm so happy that Krystal agreed to be part of my guest blog series. She is always such a sweetheart with the comments she leaves on Good Good and her super cool style and blog always make me wish I lived in Switzerland. I am also a fan of her sense of humour.

Hi Good Good readers...I'm Krystal (from Village) and I am excited to be here sharing what I am looking forward to this summer while giving Marisa a much needed break (but not for too long, ok?)! My first summer living in Switzerland last year was magical and I'm excited to do it all again this year! From nights out in Luzern with friends to breathing fresh swiss mountain air high in the alps on a hike (and yes, I do hear those ricola horns sometimes) - I'm ready to do it all again. Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to:

Thanks for having me Marisa!  

Guest Blogger: Breenuh from Scattered Thoughts by Breenuh

Breenuh has been busy with graduation just like me! Lucky for me, she found time to squeeze this guest blog post into her busy schedule. In another universe, if we had gone to the same school, I'm pretty sure we would have been friends. I always find something interesting on her blog like a delicious recipe, cool challenge, or list (if you couldn't tell by this series, I am a fan of lists). After reading this post, I sure do want to try a Pimm's and Lemonade.

Hello, I’m Breenuh from [scattered thoughts by breenuh], and I’m so honored to be guest posting for Marisa, after all of her hard work on her thesis. I can’t wait until we can see her project!

Spring has sprung here in California, and I’m excited to start seeing hints of summer. Here are a few of my favorite things that summer brings:

[Summery drinks]

I love the refreshing feeling a cool drink brings in the summer. Some of my favorite sunny day drinks include: cucumber water, iced tea, rose wine, hard cider, and sangria. I make iced tea with 4 bags of black tea and two of blueberry or other fruity herbal tea – it’s the perfect blend! Pictured above is England’s favorite summer drink, called a “Pimm’s and Lemonade”. Pimm’s is a gin-based liqueur flavored with fruit and spices, and ‘lemonade’ is actually lemon soda (similar to lemon-lime sodas, like 7up). This drink includes ice, Pimm’s, lemonade, and yummy flavor-enhancers, in this case mint, cucumber, strawberries and orange slices. It’s such a great mix of light and sweet that you may not remember it has alcohol until you’ve drunk a pitcher full! 

 

[Farmers markets]

While here in Sacramento we have a few year-round farmers markets, the majority get started in May. Who doesn’t love hand-picking local produce, tasting local honey, and eating a roll of handmade bread? The best part is buying a random fruit or veggie that you’ve never heard of before and finding recipes to experiment with. /image 

[Bike rides]

There is nothing better than riding to a nearby coffee shop or farmers market with the wind in your hair. I would so much rather cycle somewhere than coop myself up in a car, and summer weather is the perfect time! /image

[Picnics/Reading in the park]

One place I like to cycle to is the park. I’ll bring a blanket, a book, and some nibbles and just waste my day away in the shade. My boyfriend and I love doing this together, and now that he’s in England and I’m in the US, I miss our picnics the most. When I lived in the UK, I could bring a cold cider, too, which was amazing. I can’t wait to start spending my free days lounging on the cool grass with a good read… Ahhh.

[Day trips to the beach]

If I ever decide to move somewhere that is more than a three-hour drive from the beach, please get me psychiatrically evaluated immediately. The sand (or pebbles), the waves, and the sun have the ability to take away any and all stress that I may have. I love just deciding one day that I need a trip to the beach – and then doing it. In fact, I may just hit the sand that sometime soon… Pictured above is a pebble beach in Portsmouth, a town in southern England. The boyfriend and I stopped here on the way to a friend’s wedding last summer.

Thanks for reading, and thanks, Marisa, for inviting me on your blog! Now I can’t wait for summer!

<3

Guest Blogger: Meagan from Mo Pie, Please

I am very pleased to be kicking off this series with a list from Meagan. She is one of the wonderful bloggers over at Mo Pie, Please and among other things, we share a love of period dramas, bright colours, and Zach Galifianakis. Oh man, it's only the first post of this series and I'm already jealous of that lake view.

Hi everyone! This is Meagan from Mo Pie, Please and I am thrilled to be here today to share with you my favorite things about summer!

Summer is truly one of the best seasons and I can't wait for it to arrive.  I start looking forward to summer in January or so, when I can no longer handle the freezing cold Chicago temps!  So in my opinion, it couldn't come fast enough.

My birthday is at the tail end of spring (May 30) so I've always looked forward to it and starting off the summer season with a bang!  Every year we do something fun to celebrate and it's usually the first "summery" thing of the season.  This year we'll hopefully be in Clearwater, FL for my birthday, soaking up the sun and swimming in the ocean.  If that's not something to look forward to, then I don't know what is!

{image}

Another one of my favorite things about summer is dusk.  I've always loved the feeling of the sun going down when there is a hot summer night ahead of me.  Growing up, we had a fabulous backyard that we took advantage of night after night.  We would sit out on the back patio and watch the fireflies twinkle in the distance.  I love seeing fireflies come out right at dusk and even though I hate bugs, I love the sounds of crickets chirping as well.  There's just something so peaceful about it all, and I can't wait to have a backyard of my own to enjoy the sounds of summer.

{image}

My husband's grandpa lives on Kentucky Lake so we make the drive at least once a summer to go spend the weekend on a boat with his family.  I look forward to it every year and can't wait until we move and we're 4 hours closer so we don't have to give up an entire day to get there.  The weekends spent down there are always fun, full of Miller Lite and boat cruising. 

 I have such fond memories of the lake growing up - my brother had a jet-ski that we took to the gross lake outside of Wichita practically every weekend as soon as it was warm enough.  We would camp out, too.  So being able to go to a lake house is right up my alley and I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

{photo by me}

Last, the best thing about summer is the clothes (or lack thereof).  Nothing beats being able to put on a flowy dress, strap on some cute sandals and wear your most stylish shades.  During the warmer months, I practically live in either sandals or Toms, so I'm happy to have already procured a new pair of both, of which I was able to break in while I was in Wichita recently!  So in case you were wondering, here is what my summer look wishes to be....

Summer by Meaganpie featuring sole sandals

People Tree checkered dress, $108
Sole sandal, $50
Messenger bag, $100
Michelle Lane browning necklace, $207
Ray Ban aviator shade, $99

Summer2 by Meaganpie featuring slip on shoes

A P C long sleeve top, $150
All Saints short, $75
TOMS slip on shoes, $44
Sunglasses vintage shade, $154

Thanks, Marisa, for asking me to do this post - I had so much fun!  I can't wait for summer to arrive, but I'm ready to enjoy spring while it's here!