Food editor Julia Rutland will soon be heading to Studio B. for a photo shoot with Peggy Markel.

Peggy's Moroccan Experience cooking classes have scheduled an impressive—and mouthwatering—array of dishes, from Moroccan spices and oils to chicken tagine, spicy meatballs, and eggs in a tangy tomato sauce. And don't forget the pomegranate aperitif!

Classes run September 5–6, 2009, so to meet Julia on the sunny Florida Gulf coast and cook with Peggy, register now at Studio B!

If you've picked up our July/August issue (and if you haven't, get crackin'!), you may have read Dorothea Benton Frank's essay about her passion for the coast, specifically Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Dottie is a prolific author, and during the editing process we just fell in love with her wit and wisdom. In short, as we say in the South, she's a hoot!

So I was excited when this announcement arrived in my inbox this morning:

For the interview site and call-in number, click here.

To order Return to Sullivan's Island, click here.

And to read a Coastal Living exclusive sneak peek—the first chapter of Dottie's new book—click here.

We're wrapping up the July/August issue here at Coastal HQ, so I've been surrounded by summertime cheer inside while the stubborn gray skies linger outside. Here are some pretty things I'm keeping around in an effort to hang onto that sunny feeling!

Graphic Terry Chaise Cushion Covers; potterybarn.com. Rock Lobster Intarsia Cardigan; betseyjohnson.com. Wood Outdoor Umbrella + Stand; westelm.com. Our Most Buzz-worth Margarita (featured in the June 2009 issue, on newsstands now!). Enjoy Your Meal Silverware Napkins; plumparty.com. Wire Basket; crateandbarrel.com. Grid Pattern Dinner Plate; target.com.

Lately it seems that April showers bring May showers, which means my kicky outdoor Cinco de Mayo fiesta has been replaced by plans to visit my favorite local indoor Mexican restaurant for some south of the border eats and mariachi tunes. But next year, weather permitting, I will be prepared: I've already made my shopping list. Pretty paper poms set the stage—they're handmade, so they add a colorful pop without being the predictable strings of chile pepper–shaped lights. Lots of Web sites offer tips for making your own, but a) I'm not that crafty, b) I have a low tolerance for frustration, and c) I think, because they're only $30 for a set of seven, I can safely leave the paperwork to the experts without buyer's remorse.

I don't know what it is (too much continuous coverage of Octomom?), but I have developed an octopus craving of late. Everywhere I turn, there's something adorable or stylish I am itching to get my hands on.

If I had a sleek, all-white beach house, I'd put one of these on a lacquered side table. Each one is made to order, so the only problem would be deciding among the lovely colors (full disclosure: I covet the brown one).