I’m pretty sure that three day weekends are my most favorite thing. Especially the holiday ones, the ones where everyone is off work, enjoying the extended weekend.

It is a little bit of a bummer though that today marks the unofficial end of summer. Warm temperatures are here to stay, at least for a few more weeks, but days at the {pool, lake, beach} are coming to a close and those long evenings outside will soon come in. So for today’s Required Reading, instead of giving you a pile of shopping links (I love those too though and these gals – here and here – have a big pile of sale links if you’re looking for ’em), I’ve compiled a list of my favorite links of the summer.

Image: Maison Gray

Here’s 15 links to help you stretch your summer out (I think I’ll be book marking this to come back to in the dead of winter).

* The best of summer layering from my ultimate blog crush, Alicia {Cheetah is the New Black}

* Summertime is the best time for slouchy casual wear. Anna {See Jane} kills it with this borrowed from the boys look.

* Eventually Nikki {My Style Diaries} will convince me to move to Newport Beach and rename this site Newp What Wear. Until then, I’ll just live vicariously through her California cool life and dream of evening beach strolls looking like this.

* Beth {seersucker + saddles} is the queen of preppy summer style. This classic stripe number nails it (and won’t be passe next year).

* Neons + tassels + DIY = thank you Grace {stripes and sequins}

* I’m not pregnant but when (or if) I am again, I’ll be taking lots and lots of style tips from Anh {9 to 5 Chic} and hoping that I look even half as chic. Seriously, she made pregnancy look oh so fab.

* Over the summer we’ve started to focus on redoing some areas of our house and this kitchen makeover from Rachel {Pencil Shavings Studio} has me ready to add lots of color.

* My gal Alex celebrated {Lex What Wear’s} first anniversary/birthday. Couldn’t have been more proud of my pal and so excited to see what year two has in store for her.

* Met Mandy {Waiting on Martha} earlier this summer and have been obsessed with her style, site and shop ever since. Her office is the definition of ‘to die for.’

* You won’t find me in a crop top but if I my body looked like Ashley’s {SideSmile Style} I just might give it a try. Love her take on jeans and a white top.

* Two things I love: Katie {Pearls and Twirls} and a white blazer in the same post.

* That time Jessica {My Style Vita} and Cathy {Poor Little It Girl} threw an amazing Sunday Brunch.

* Over the summer I got Beyonce tickets. And then I saw this and the countdown has been on. December 12th can’t come soon enough.

* Stole this casual color look from Nicole {Frankie Hearts Fashion} and will probably continue to rock it well into fall.

* Other than the fact that I love her matter of fact voice and killer style,  Christina {Profresh Style} nails it with this post on blogging.

Enjoy your Labor Day pals!