ALL POSTS TAGGED "[beach]"

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I’ve found myself lost in one too many summer daydreams lately. As soon as warm weather arrives, I start yearning for the sand and water. Unfortunately, I wait and take my beach vacays once the dog days of summer have subsided a bit. When are you packing up and heading to the coast? Try not to make me too jealous.

Mood Board Monday: Vintage SummerVogue | Dream to Life | Blend Fabrics | via Miss Moss | Scott Lowe |  via T Magazine | via Flickr | Etsy

Come back every Monday for an inspirational mood board. Miss a day? See all the posts here.

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If there’s one thing my frequent estate/garage sale forays has taught me,  it’s that no one need ever pay full price for a candle. Ten bucks for a pillar candle? What?! I can’t remember the last time I shelled out more than $1 for one. The only downside to purchasing secondhand candles is that they’re often dented, scratched or are a color that won’t work with your decor. No worries, a little hot glue and twine will cover up a world of sins.

I recently picked up some bargain candles at an estate sale in Knoxville before heading down to my sister’s work-in-progress beach house. I had some jute twine and furniture webbing left over from other projects so I decided to give these 3 thrifted candles a quick beachy makeover — et voila:  coastal twine-wrapped candles

Pretty, huh? I paid $2 for the 3 candles and, as I said, all the other materials I already had on hand — but, if I had to buy them, this would be a $10-$15 project.  They fit right in with our other beachy bargains:coastal twine-wrapped candles

I know people will ask about fire safety for obvious reasons — twine and upholstery webbing are flammable. First, as with any candle, you shouldn’t leave it burning without supervision — but — I’ve done variations of this project (covering pillar candles in paper, ribbon, bark and even paint) many times and never had a problem. The key is to choose a pillar candle wide enough that the wick burns down the center leaving a wax shell. Don’t try this technique on a narrow pillar or taper candle.

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I’m taking a quick break from spooky Halloween cocktails (don’t worry, they will be back next week!) to share an amazing drink that I got to enjoy on my beach vacation this week. The Bushwacker is a beachside favorite due to its cool, chocolate-milkshake-like consistency that the sit-back-and-relax imbibers tend to embrace. Whether you are enjoying this frosty beverage on the coast or in your living room while dreaming about sandy beaches, it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Just be careful you don’t forget that this delicious concoction contains quite a bit of alcohol. They taste like they are simply sweet treats – make sure you don’t get bushwacked!

Bushwacker

Bushwacker (from Food.com)

Ingredients
1/2 ounce rum (Cruzan is the best, but use whatever brand you have)
1/2 ounce vodka (any brand)
1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream (or a similar off-brand name)
1/2 ounce Kahlua (or a coffee flavored off-brand name)
1/2 ounce amaretto liqueur (any brand)
1/2 ounce chococo chocolate-flavored liqueur
1/2 ounce Frangelico (I recommend it) (optional)
1/2 ounce creme de coconut (a MUST – “Coco Lopez” is best)
1 cup crushed ice (more or less to make the proper consistency)
3 dashes of grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon whipped cream
1 maraschino cherry

Directions
Put everything, except nutmeg, whipped cream and cherries in a blender and use enough ice that when blended will be the consistency of a milkshake. Blend, pour into glasses, and top with whipped cream, a cherry, and a couple of dashes of grated nutmeg.

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I’m gearing up for summer, but I’ve noticed there’s not much glamour at the beach these days, am I right? On one hand, I have one of those great ruched-to-high-heaven vintage swimsuits — the kind that Marilyn Monroe used to wear — aaaand on the other, I carry a ratty old beach towel I’ve had since probably the late ’80s. If I carried this Maslin & Co zebra hide towel with me, I’m sure I’d look the part.

zebra hide towel

I’m teasing myself a little because this is one of those items I’ve filed under the “you can’t really afford this, but it sure is pretty to look at, isn’t it?” category. (This kind of fierceness does not come cheap.) But I just adore the way it looks like a zebra hide rug and that little leather carrying strap is too chic. My half-birthday is June 11, in case anyone cares. Ahem.

[Via: ELLE Décor]

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I don’t know about you, but I get a rush and a huge sense of accomplishment when I put the finishing touches on a chic DIY project I’ve taken on. Whether it’s repurposing something old or creating something new from scratch, I’m all about utilizing my creativity…and my glue gun. If you crave that same sense of satisfaction from making something fabulous for your home, you’ll love our new series: Project of the Week. Every Wednesday, we’ll feature stylish, fun and easy how-tos, from furniture and decor projects to handmade crafts and gifts. The perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend or pass the time on a dreary rainy day. Our inaugural project – a nautical-themed lamp.

DIY-Project-Handmade-Nautical-Lamp-HGTV-DesignHappens

I love this easy-to-make and inexpensive homage to summer and all the sea-inspired associations that go with it. Simply update a bland and not-so-pretty lamp in your home with natural hemp to create this nautical, beach-cottage accessory. Coordinate with seashells and other treasures…and voila — you’ve got a chic vignette.

HGTV.com’s got you covered with a materials list and step-by-step instructions for this nautical-themed lamp. And be sure to let us know about your finished project. I’d love to see how your lamp turns out and how you make it your own!

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Since Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick-off of summer, I’ve had beaches – and everything they entail: houses, boats,wicker – on my mind a lot lately.

beach cottage entry

Dreaming of beach homes and their whitewashed beauty led me to A Beach Cottage, a lovely house blog from Down Under. The entryway of the house features a vintage oar coat rack, loads of summery whites and beautiful hardwoods. The subtle tans and blues round it out to create a stylized, yet serene and welcoming space.

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Its Friday Freebies time!  This week we move indoors and the crew at Partylite came to us with another awesome set.  Check out their Coast Lights collection featuring the PartyLite Coastal Lights Hurricane.  This new twist on the nautical look will add a sophisticated flair to any home. Craftsmanship and style take center stage and define this one-of-a-kind, hand-blown glass hurricane.  Inside the Hurrican is Partylite’s Round Mottled Layered Pillar in Seaside Mist.  But that’s not all! Partylite has been just as excited as our blog readers over Friday Freebies they’re also providing one lucky winner with the Coast Lights Oyster Shell, Coastal Lights Nautilus Shell, and a dozen Calm Waters tealights to go with it all.

coastallights

All you have to do is comment on this week’s question with a valid email address before Monday Night @ Midnight Eastern.  We’ll pick a random winner from all of our comments. Its that simple!

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Get ready for the beach with some fun items. I discovered these plastic rockers at our beach rental a few years ago. I love them, and as soon as I have the perfect spot I am ordering one.

rocking-chair

If you are having a large family reunion or destination wedding, create your own personalized sunscreen for the event. Be sure and pick up a Wet Swim Suit Bag. It allows you to store your damp swimsuit for the trip home without getting any of your other items wet. Check out this great beach chair. It is lightweight, and dries quickly.


beach-chair

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  • Delicious Memorial Day Popsicles

  • Nominee 1: Funky beach cottage in Venice, California.

  • Nominee 3: Charming Cottage in Kansas City, Kan. >>

  • Nominee 6: Private island paradise in Bokeelia, Florida.