Infusing grandeur into otherwise drab Mondays with five things/ideas/events for the week:

I.  No one captures summer quite like famed photographer Gray Malin. Whether he’s posting aerial shots of seaside communities around the world or Instagrams of his signature sprinkle-rimmed airplane cocktails, Gray’s pictures are consistently flawless. The second I learned of his first coffee table book BEACHES I knew it would be the perfect addition to the seating area of my showroom. Filled with glossy pages of photographs spanning six continents, Gray offers both travel and luxe lifestyle tips to his readers. Pick up your own copy and a few for hostess gifts this season.

II.  My baby brother is getting married this month!! I am beyond excited to welcome my new sister-in-law into the family, and to stand by my brother’s side while he says his vows. That said, when I got an email from the bride-to-be’s parents this morning letting me know that they deleted the spot reserved for my date (since I don’t have one), I was caught a bit off-guard. Running a company, chairing two charity galas back-to-back, and doing pro bono work for foster kids doesn’t leave a lot of time for dating - still, I couldn’t help but cringe while reading the email. Which made my friend Tony’s article that popped up on The Chronicle’s Facebook newsfeed this morning the best part of my day. In Mr. Bravo’s Guide to Braving Summer Wedding Season Single he provides ten steps to ensure stag guests have the most fun possible. Total lifesaver.

III.  While we’re talking about weddings, I’m completely obsessed with luxury wedding invite company Bliss & Bone’s newly launched wedding website line. The designs are just as gorgeous as their paper products, and ten times more contemporary than similar offerings from the standard Knot.com. I can’t decide whether I like “Black Fern” or “Shadow” more, but given my aforementioned single status, I have a little time to pick between the two…

IV.  Other than my family’s home in Lake Tahoe, Healdsburg is my favorite summer destination in Northern California. Slightly less crowded than its wine country counterpart Napa, and equally breathtaking, trips to the region always leave me feeling both inspired and refreshed. If you haven’t been, or need motivation to plan another getaway, check out Haute Living’s guide to the area How to Spend 48 Perfect Hours in Healdsburg including a recommendation for the culinary mecca SHED.

V.  The high temperatures over the weekend left me craving light meals this week. Bored with my fish and salad staples, I began perusing my blog late last night for recipes that I haven’t pulled out in a while. Summer Corn Salad fits the bill perfectly - and though not exactly healthy given the bacon component, it’s easily one of the most refreshing and delicious dishes I’ve posted - and incredibly easy to make.

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt