Need last minute food, drink, and outfit inspiration for the holiday weekend? Here's a link roundup of every 4th of July post:

from top left, clockwise: seersucker shorts / apple pie cocktail / red, white, & blue trifle / maxi dress / patterned skirts & chambray shirts / homemade freeze pops / orzo salad / nautical stripes

The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and the 4th of July is just a few days away! All week on the blog I will be posting outfit of the day (#ootd) ideas, as well as food and drink recipes so that you are ready to celebrate the 4th of July in style!

A maxi dress is an easy outfit choice for the summer. It is a hassle-free, single-item outfit that keeps you cool and keeps the mosquitos off your legs. Choose a two-tone printed dress (such as navy and white) and add a bright necklace (like the red necklace shown in the photo) for a patriotic color palette that doesn't make you look like you are wearing an American flag. If you like this look, here are similar pieces you can buy now: maxi dress / red necklace / birkenstocks

Superbowl or Puppy Bowl? Regardless of which one you choose to watch next Sunday, you will need a casual party outfit that is comfortable enough for a long afternoon of lounging on the couch and gorging on game day food. I suggested a simple (and machine-washable!) outfit last year, but this year I'm in the mood for something a little more festive.

This season I keep stumbling across sweaters featuring dogs and the Puppy Bowl is the perfect time to show your love of canines. Boden has a terrier sweater (as well as slippers available in the pink puppy print) and LOFT has an adorable schnauzer sweater. Layer under a cozy down vest and pair with denim and your favorite ankle boots. For a finishing touch, add a fun piece of dog-themed jewelry.

A game day outfit doesn't have to include a team jersey, especially if you are only watching to see the commercials. Take a unique approach and use the leather of the football as your inspiration. Start with a brown leather jacket and brown riding boots. Then play on the word "jersey" and slip on a jersey dress in your favorite color or pattern. Lastly, don't forget a pair of thick tights or leggings to stay warm (it is February after all)! You'll have a football inspired look that is chic and cozy.

P.S. Do you need a great chili recipe to round out your game day menu? Try this one!

It's almost Thanksgiving, the holiday where you have to balance looking nice with being comfortable enough to have extra helpings of everything. For those of you who are newer to the blog, here's a quick recap of my Thanksgiving dressing tips (for more details, check out last year's post):

• Choose stretchy fabrics, like ponte or jersey knit. You'll be comfortable all day long, whether you are watching football on the couch, cooking furiously in the kitchen, or chatting at the dinner table until the wee hours of the morning.
• Go light on the accessories. Scarves can trail through the gravy, belts might need to be let out a notch after dinner, and heavy bracelets can dig into your wrists during a long meal.
• Rely on bright colors and fun patterns to add a dash of style to your look. Choose something bold for a festive outfit.
• Flared or a-line dresses are great because they create an hourglass shape and let you leave the shapewear at home!
• If you prefer to wear pants, look for a side-zip ankle pant to minimize zipper discomfort after eating a large meal.

Now you know what to wear for Thanksgiving, but there are plenty of other pieces that need to fall into place so that you can have a fun holiday with friends, family, and food. Before you make your last run to the grocery store, take a look at this post where I tell you the secret to an amazing pumpkin pie. The best part is that it is so simple that it only requires a small edit to your grocery list!

Do you have overnight guests staying at your house this Thanksgiving? Put a small stack of paperback books in their room so they have a go-to pile of suggestions when they need a little quiet time. Check out this post for my recommendations.

You spend a lot of time planning out the perfect menu for Thanksgiving, so shouldn't the cocktail list be just as special? Using the flavors of Thanksgiving--nutmeg, ginger, and thyme--I have created three easy and delicious cocktails for all parts of the day. If you have a designated bar area, write the specialty cocktails on a small chalkboard so all your guests know what's available. Check out this post for all the recipes.

When your group is looking for entertainment post-football and pre-dinner, pull out a board game. The three games I suggest in this post are easy to learn, fun to play, and won't take all night. If you have a group of people who don't normally play board games, assign someone in your group to carefully read the rule book ahead of time. That person will be in charge of explaining the games and clarifying the rules as necessary. This will ensure that you spend the time actually playing and not just learning to play.

What other tips and tricks do you have for making your Thanksgiving festive? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Book club is such a glorious idea. You get to spend time with your friends, eat great snacks and drink one too many glasses of wine, and there is a specific topic to discuss so you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving someone out of the conversation. Today on bread & flowers I posted a review of Emma Straub's new novel, The Vacationers, which is a great book club read. Of course, that means actually attending book club and I can tell you from experience that it is easy to let a short hiatus when everyone is busy turn into an indefinite break. But once you figure out all the logistics and take the time to read the book, there is one last hurdle to jump--what to wear to book club.

The issue is that although book club is a casual affair, it is still a social excursion so you don't want to look sloppy. Even if you are meeting in someone's home, you should still dress as if this were taking place at a coffee shop or bar so leave the yoga pants at home. However, the flip side of that is that you don't want to overdress because then you appear to have taken a wrong turn and ended up in someone's living room by mistake. Luckily, there is a very simple option that will work all year round and is probably already in your closet. Behold the knit wrap dress. 

A knit wrap dress is flattering for pretty much every body type and is just as comfortable as the yoga pants I have forbidden you from wearing to book club. They are available in any color and pattern imaginable, as well as every price point. The fact that it is a dress makes it feel like you put more effort into your outfit than you actually did, but the fabric is relaxed enough that you won't look like you are dressed for the wrong occasion. 

You might be thinking, "Why can't I just wear a nice pair of jeans and t-shirt? After all, no one else looks nice for book club." It doesn't matter if everyone else shows up in their pajamas because you should take pride in how your present yourself. Plus, if you don't want style advice then you are probably reading the wrong blog. I love jeans and tees as much as the next person, but to reach the same level of "stylishly casual" would require much more accessorizing. By suggesting a knit wrap dress I am actually simplifying your outfit. 

One of the things I often hear is that people are worried that if they dress nicely for casual events, other people will make disparaging comments. When you start improving how you dress on a day to day basis, it is not uncommon to feel a bit like a fraud at first. When you are wearing a blazer with your jeans at the grocery store, you might feel the urge to tell the woman behind you in line who is wearing sweatpants that you're only dressed up because you have to go somewhere later (even if that isn't true). I can't guarantee that there won't be a couple jerks who ask you why you are trying so hard, but I have found that many more people will be supportive. We all want to look our best and sometimes the only thing in the way of that is that we have no idea how to go about it. So when you go to book club in an adorable and well-fitting knit wrap dress, embrace how great you look and feel with a genuine smile and chances are the only response you will get is positive.