Coastal Chic – Embracing 2024’s Hottest Color of the Year
Guess what’s making waves in 2024? Coastal colors are taking the interior design world by storm! Homeowners are trading in neutrals for whiter, brighter tones, and the blues – oh, they are predicted to be huge this year! In fact, many manufacturers have declared shades of blue as their Color of the Year, and it’s no surprise. These coastal colors bring a soothing, sophisticated, and calming vibe that’s perfect for transforming your space into a coastal haven.
Savoring Love by the Sea: Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner
As you know, a Valentine’s Day dinner can be the perfect way to express your feelings. Why not celebrate the occasion of love with an intimate romantic meal for two? Entice your taste buds by setting the mood for an unforgettable evening.
Every year, I start the search for ideas about Valentine’s Day and eagerly look for new ways to include creativity and meaning. Ultimately, there is a special joy in discovering innovative ways to turn this day into a fun celebration. Following, here are FIVE WAYS ways that you can take your celebration to the next level and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Thankfully, we’ve also included some wonderful recipes at the end too. 🙂
Cruise Lovers: Here’s How to Choose Their Perfect Gift
We all want to find that perfect gift for the loved ones during the holidays. Here are the top ten essentials to delight the cruise lovers on your list!
Island Art: It’s From Her Heart and Soul
Island art emerging from the Bahamas is truly rousing. For Alice Lambert, it’s more than a hobby. It’s “part of her being,” and it is beautiful.
Bringing Coastal Vibes Home: How to Master Coastal Entertaining Anywhere
Coastal entertaining is for those who cherish the coast, whether they are lucky enough to live near it or not. This type of entertaining aims to replicate the relaxed, carefree, and natural ambiance of coastal living in your own environment.
Call of the Ocean – Vacation Time
Sometimes I just NEED the beach.
Seeing the coast relaxes my mind and heals my soul. There’s just something about it – something calming about the ocean.
In our area, most people we know go to the same beach – Destin, Orange, Rosemary – somewhere around the corridor of 30A. Many of our friends are drawn back to the same place year after year – and it becomes a tradition and a way to connect with extended family and friends.
I grew up going to those same beaches, in the summers and around Easter. We enjoyed it and made cherished memories with our family. As a college student, we visited Florida beaches and had a great time with friends.
Good Comes from a Hurricane – She Can Paint!
We recently introduced you to our friend Norvell, the accomplished sea glass jewelry guru. Through her, we have met another incredible talent. It is just another example of how the coastal lifestyle does something to you, something amazing. We want to introduce Lisa Sylvester Sausen, who also lives in the Bahamas. Sadly, her home was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 as well. They remained on the island for as long as possible, but despite her wishes, her husband insisted they flee in the middle of the night. The storm had stalled and just kept growing. It turned out to be a wise decision…
Along with everyone else on the island, Lisa and her husband began to rebuild. After helping with mold and debris removal, Lisa realized she could best help her “MacGyver” type husband by getting out of his way. Overall, they were without electricity for 456 days, so she started painting.
Coastal Scents: The Vacation Collection by Bella Vela
Are you one of those people who opens and sniffs all the candles while standing in line to check out? I am.
There are some pleasant smells, but none just exactly “it.” I put them back, disappointed.
I want to walk into my home and be immediately welcomed by a beautiful scent – something fragrant, yet clean. I want to be greeted by the scent of being stretched out on an island somewhere, anywhere. Is this too much to ask? You know the scent. There’s a little floral sweetness to it, and maybe orange? Coconut? Definitely some sea.
Well, I found it and I’m happy to share. You can thank me later.
Top 10 Coastal Books for Summer: Great Beach Reads
There’s just something about a good summer read… Whether you are camped out on the beach or lying next to a kiddie pool in your own backyard, a book just feels like vacation. We think the best “beach books” have the power to transport you to idyllic coastal towns, enchanting islands, or even far away lands.
We’ve been busy trying to find the best books for summer, and we hope you like our list, which includes a variety of genres and unique locations. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new authors and discover some hidden gems along the way. We hope the characters in the books below become your friends as you are immersed in the wonderful stories.
Introducing South Pause Island Girl – Sea Glass Jewelry
I could hardly wait to introduce you to my friend, Norvell. Known as “South Pause Island Girl” on Tik Tok, she makes exquisite jewelry from Bahamian sea glass. From Virginia originally, she is fortunate enough to have a home on Guana Cay, part of the Abacos Islands in the Bahamas. We LOVE catching her “lives” online every morning as she shares the breathtaking views of the sun rising from her wraparound porch while enjoying her coffee. (She’s also been known to share the gorgeous sunsets with a cocktail and a concert right there on her deck!)