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Ruff Life

DIY: Four bracelets to make this summer

Fishtail Braid Friendship Bracelets

 

DIY Macrame Bracelet

Fishtail Braided Anchor Bracelet

 

DIY Wrap Bangles

I'll let you in on a silly little secret: I'm a little intimidated by braiding (and knitting and sewing and just about anything that requires good hand-eye coordination or spatial visualization ability or any talent with crafts whatsoever). I've never actually mastered anything more complex than your typical, run of the mill hair braid, and I'm not even super great at that (my mother never sent me to summer camp, okay?). It's fine, really. I have many lovely qualities. Also, freckles, which everyone knows are a fine substitute for talent. 

But lately I've been running across all these great, super summery bracelet projects, and I have a whole whack of bangles from Torrid that are too big for me now, and I think I might be ready to tackle the braiding and macrame that everyone else learned when they were twelve. I've decided to put my lack of talent aside and take on my favorites: Sparkles & Sequins Fishtail Braid Friendship Bracelet, Honestly WTF's DIY Macrame Bracelet, Swellmayde's Fishtail Braided Anchor Bracelet, and Honestly WTF's DIY Wrap Bangles. I know they're only bracelets, but I'm having a bit of a Jessie Spano moment already. I'm so remedial that I might need to hire a camp crafts tutor. That's a thing, right? 

Live Like a Local: The Birchwood, Downtown St. Pete

Having been lucky enough to have grown up in St. Petersburg, I've seen The Birchwood take on several different forms, from hotel to apartments to a private club with a modern speakeasy theme. It was originally constructed in 1924 as the Lantern Lane Apartments, the largest apartment homes in St. Petersburg of their day, and the only apartments along Beach Drive facing Tampa Bay at the time. The Spanish Mission-style building is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, and its transformation to The Birchwood saw it taking on a renovation of historically accurate dimensions, plus the addition of two floors. The historic building now houses a boutique hotel (The Birchwood), a restaurant, Birch & Vine, and The Canopy Rooftop Lounge.

A gorgeous ivy wall just outside the restaurant. Surprise, it's totally faux!

Locals have begun to flock to Birch & Vine for great food, which is sourced locally whenever possible. I've been singing the praises of their sweet and spicy sweet potato fries since shortly after they opened, and for good reason - they're drizzled with local honey and spiced with a house mix comprised of what I can only assume is magic and fairy dust. They are that good. The House Cheeseburger is made with Niman Ranch beef, aged cheddar, house-made pickle, and grain mustard-ketchup, and is a meal unto itself.

You can wait until after lunch, or bypass the restaurant entirely and head straight up to The Canopy, where a more casual menu and full bar can be found, along with an absolutely splendid view of Tampa Bay, Beach Drive, and its adjacent parks. There, you can kick back in a private cabana, or relax on a couch in front of the fire pit.

Either way, you'll want to sip something special from the bar, like the Asian Mojito or Vintage Blackberry Mint Julep, if you please, or a vodka cranberry, if you like to keep it simple.

Be sure to share the view with a charming dining companion...

or two!

Cantaloupe Ginger Juice

It's as easy as can be, and perfect for a summer morning. Cut a cantaloupe in half, cut off the rind and slice it up, break off a big knob of ginger and throw it all into your juicer, and you've got a lovely, delicious juice packed with beta-carotene, vitamin B1, B5, B6, potassium, folic acid, and niacin. Swap your ginger with mint, depending on your mood. You might be tempted to add other fruits or veggies (and if so, go for it!), but cantaloupe juice is so sweet, mild, and easily overwhelmed by other flavors that I find it stands best on its own.