25. Go for a nostalgic ride on the 138-year-old Central Park Carousel, made of 58 hand-carved, hand-painted, nearly life-size bucking broncos and two decorative chariots. It perfectly accommodates children of all ages, including the ones who never grew up.
24. Catch a classic flick, like “The Goodbye Girl” and “Bonnie and Clyde,” at Bryant Park’s summer film festival every Monday, now through August. I always look to old movies, like these classic eight films, for inspiration in terms of style, fashion, décor, and, of course, jewelry.
23. Throw a party and entertain with your vintage dishware. This is your chance to showcase the amazing pieces you’ve inherited or collected over time. When I have people over, I love to take out my old teapots, glassware, and plates.
22. Follow these five simple rules for taking memorable photos of your family while on vacation or just relaxing at home.
21. Send someone you love a postcard with a handwritten note. It’s so rare for people to put a pen to paper and snail mail a letter these days that when they do, it’s really a sweet and sentimental gesture. The postcard itself becomes a great keepsake that allows you to fondly reminisce the past.
20. Host a picnic featuring heirloom recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients from local markets. Consider asking your guests to help you create the unique menu where each person shares a dish they have either inherited or turned into their specialty over time.
19. Hang your sheets out to dry. The sweet smell of air-dried fabric is a pleasant reminder that it’s summer even when you’re indoors.
18. Order a refreshing cocktail at the legendary Bemelmans Bar located in The Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan. Named after the creator of the world-famous children’s book series Madeline, this historic upscale bar features a beautiful hand-painted, large-scale mural on its 80-year-old walls.
17. Catch butterflies in a net during the day or fireflies in an old jelly jar at night. Then let them go and watch them fly away flapping their beautiful wings or flashing their bright lights seemingly with renewed vigor.
16. Enjoy a classic hot dog at New York’s Coney Island (pictured above), where many say the famous summer snack was born in the 1870s.
15. Go for a leisurely stroll along the High Line (pictured above), a 1.45-mile greenway lined with wildflowers and native shrubs, sleek sculptures, wooden benches and chaises overlooking the Hudson River in New York.
14. Share your best summer memories with family and friends using a digital frame or portable slide projector, both of which beautifully set the stage for all your vivid photo stories.
13. Sit outside and paint a picture with your kids using crayons, ribbons, glitter or whatever you have handy. Thenframe your kids’ artwork and hang it on a wall in your hallway, bedroom, even bathroom—anywhere you can enjoy it every single day. Whenever you look at it, you will remember that special day you shared together.
12. Forget Facebook, just for a moment, and pick up the phone or set up a lunch date with an old friend to catch up. Seeing, hearing, and being able to reach over and hug someone is so important. You don’t want to lose that personal touch.
11. Enjoy some al fresco entertainment such as free music and dance on the plazas at Lincoln Center as part of its 40th annual “Out of Doors” summer series, starting July 28th through August 15th.
10. Play catch with your dog and take pictures of the wonderful everyday moment. Because our pets are part of our family, it’s important to include these furry or feathered companions in our family photos. It marks a time in your life when they made you so happy.
9. Do a little spring cleaning in the summer. I love to sit down and sift through piles of papers, drawers, and closets. Each time I do this, I inevitably wind up reminiscing about a photo, button, drawing, or old camp letter that instantly sends me back to a moment in time when my kids, now adults, were little.
8. Collect seashells at the local beach, then later use them to create pretty tabletop décor by placing them throughout the table or at the center on a bit of sand. Or better yet, use the seashells in place of a plate: my mom once used these large clam shells she had thoroughly cleaned to serve a French scallop appetizer. They were such a crowd-pleaser that she continued to use them for years and probably still has them today.
7. Book a last-minute flight (sign up for Travelocity’s weekly newsletter Travelzoo to find the best deals) to my favorite historic cities: Florence (meet local artisans), London (see the longest-running stage production in the world) or Paris (taste melt-in-your-mouth macaroons).
6. Be bold with your summer jewelry. Costume jewelry can add just a bit of fun to any look. I almost always get compliments when I pair this beautiful, long vintage black, plastic necklace that I bought in London with my gold layered necklaces.
5. Sit outside with a stack of your favorite magazines. Every Sunday afternoon, I spend hours ripping out beautiful or inspiring articles about fashion or whatever catches my eye.
4. Change your camera setting to black & white. Losing the color can also eliminate distractions, like the subjects’ clothes or the day’s weather, and keep focus on the particular moment captured. Also, don’t stop clicking. Photos of your family blinking, talking, crying, sneezing, turning around or walking away often make some of the most amusing and nostalgic memories.
3. Learn how to use the iPad!
2. Jazz up your summer look with a colorful Pucci scarf, stylish Repetto flats, a pair of flattering Ray-Ban sunglasses, or any of these great vintage fashion finds on eBay.
1. Create a space that you want to live in. Your home is like no other. Why not fill it with reminders, at every turn, that this is so? Check out my book Living with What You Love for ways to add warmth and love to rooms by celebrating what you cherish most—be it family, pets, jewelry, books, or travel.
Published on July 24, 2010
While there are many sites today dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and style, here at MRK Style we approach these subjects through a collector’s lens. Through exploring how people relate to Art, Family, Fashion, Food, Film and Travel—essentially life’s various, everyday obsessions—we reflect on how we all live with the things we love. 
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