A Beach House Dream

Please Follow Me to my new Location

2009-06-23T11:09:00.012-04:00

A Beach House Dream is being continued at A Beach Lovers Place.
I hope to see you there! And everybody is now on my blogroll there..., so if you would, please update your link as well. Thanks!

The old Man and his Shell House

2009-06-18T23:11:00.004-04:00

"Paco started to cover the walls of his house with shells, 40 years ago then just couldn't stop." I love that kind of creativity; innocent, just because you have to.

You can see more of Paco's shell house @ My Castle in Spain:
Paco in la casa de las conchas, the shell house in Albuñuelas

Participating in: Hooked on Fridays

Sailboat turned Homestead

2009-06-17T00:05:00.001-04:00

On her outing to Olympia (WA) Lisa @ Coastal Nest discovered this sailboat turned homestead. So you can have it all! Wind in your sails and grass between your toes.

Participating in: Outdoor Wednesday

Greek Salad

2009-06-16T00:10:00.003-04:00

Inspired by Bloggers who Love Greece and my desire for an authentic Greek salad I'm sharing the link to The Preppy Patio's Greek Salad Recipe. After all, the girl used to live in Athens! And did you know that the Greek Salad is also known as Horiatiki, or village salad?

Participating in: Tasty Tuesday + Tempt my Tummy Tuesday

Cupcake Contest + Shell Sweets

No Boundaries

2009-06-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Tomas del Amo: Mokulua Islands, Hawaii
"I could no longer identify the boundaries of my body, I felt enormous and expansive. I felt at one with all the energy that was, and it was beautiful."
These are the words of Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist who had suffered a stroke. No boundaries, all expansive; that's what I see when I look over the ocean. Beautiful.

Jill's book: A Stroke of Insight

Cupcakes Contest

2009-06-12T01:05:00.011-04:00

One of the many cupcakes participating in Martha Stewart's Cutest Cupcakes Contest 2009. Not my creation. I'm not a baker, only someone who thinks pastries are beautiful.

Participating in: Foodie Friday

Ready for a Beach Picnic?

2009-06-11T00:10:00.000-04:00

"Beach dinners must be exceedingly portable and simple. Not only do we have to get it to the beach, we also have to be able to pack up in a hurry if a thunderstorm should develop," says Chef Mom.

Does this beach "tablescape" meet the requirements? I don't think so, but it sure looks fabulous. And to my own surprise, I have actually never had a beach picnic!

Participating in: Tablescape Thursday

Say it with Nautical Signal Flags

2009-06-10T00:01:00.003-04:00

via Completely Coastal Nautical Decor -Loving Life at Sea
I love the idea of spelling out a message with nautical signal flags. A "Welcome", a "Happy Birthday", or whatever the occasion is.

Every flag stands for a letter and you can translate your message here, find letters and meaning here, and shop for nautical signal flags @ Ebay.

Participating in: Works for me Wednesday

Let the Outdoors in

2009-06-08T00:40:00.003-04:00

This is Dena Kaye's winter getaway on St. Barth, but it didn't look like this when she bought it.

The living room had little relationship to the beautiful outdoors. So she knocked down the walls. And what a difference!

"Not interfering with views is decorating 101"
Scott Salvator in 750 Designer Secrets
Dena Kaye's Remodel Story

Participating in Metamorphosis Monday

Tropical Pink

2009-06-06T01:57:00.006-04:00

It's hard to believe that Estee Lauder (1908 - 2004) lived her life indoors, even at her seasonal escape in Palm Beach. "She didn’t like the wind to mess up her hair," says daughter in law Evelyn, senior Vice President of Estee Lauder.

Read the story of the remodel here:
Evelyn and Leonard Lauder Gently Update Their Family Retreat

Evelyn Lauder promoting her new book In Great Taste three years ago at Saks in NYC. Royalties from the sale will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation -pink being the color of breast cancer awareness.

Participating in: Pink Saturday

More than she Dreamed

2009-06-04T22:20:00.005-04:00

I just love a good dream come true story.

Mary Lou Jackson had always dreamed of buying a house on Cape Cod, and each time she jogged through the River Street neighborhood in Yarmouth, MA she wanted one just a little bit more; then in 2006 she and her husband finally bought their home, and Mary Lou together with Designer Christine Walsh transformed it into a beachy summer retreat. But that of course is not all.

The project went so well that the two women teamed up to start a business called Cici & Lu Interiors, a coastal living design firm. She got so much more than she dreamed! And that is beautiful to me.

You can read the full story at Cape Cod Island Homes: Enchanted Summer

Participating in Hooked on Fridays + A Beautiful Life Friday

The Sea Lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco

2009-06-03T00:20:00.001-04:00

Christopher Rennie: Sea Lions by Pier 39
The sea lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. They just turned up one day, a few years ago, loved it and stayed! And now they are protected by law. Have you found your perfect spot?

Participating in: Watery Wednesday + Outdoor Wednesday

Leave Perfection at the Door

2009-06-01T10:40:00.011-04:00

"The quintessential cottage is relaxed, inviting, and encourages occupants to leave perfection at the door," says Jennifer Sperry from Cape Cod Life. Sounds good to me.

Shell Sweets

2009-05-29T09:55:00.002-04:00

Seashells that are rich, moist and buttery, made by Marysol. And she shares the recipe (of course). I'm hooked.

Participating in: Hooked on Fridays. And I just learned about Foodie Friday too!

Enjoying the Outdoors

2009-05-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

I hope that you all have an intimate space outside to relax and enjoy nature, no matter where you live.

This is Twanette Tharp's home on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. You can read her story here: A Life on the Water

Participating in: Outdoor Wednesday

Betsy Wyeth's Dream

2009-05-25T13:10:00.018-04:00

Betsy Wyeth had always dreamed of living on an island. Islands are self-contained and she loves them because they are so detached that no one can easily intrude.

And to make a long story short. Betsy owns two islands in Maine, Benner Island and Allen Island, where she has been living with her famous artist husband Andrew Wyeth who passed on in his sleep earlier this year at the age of 91.

You can read her story here: Betsy Wyeth’s Magical Benner Island, off the Coast of Maine.

Andrew Wyeth
And Betsy surely wasn't alone with her attraction to solitude. This is what Andrew Wyeth said about his painting style: "I think anything like that -which is contemplative, silent, shows a person alone -people always feel is sad. Is it because we've lost the art of being alone?" From The Washington Times. Read his story here: He paints no more.

I could definitely live on a secluded island, at least for a while.
What about you?

For the Love of Swimming -an Infinity Pool perhaps

2009-05-21T21:29:00.000-04:00

I love swimming and I miss it.

And even though I have never been in an infinity pool I imagine it to be perfect -you get the feeling of being part of the ocean yet you're away from jelly fish.

Participating in: Hooked on Fridays

A Miami Condo

2009-05-18T11:30:00.007-04:00

"The wraparound balcony gives one the feeling of being on a ship", says architect and owner of this Miami Condo Alexander Gorlin. I wouldn't mind that feeling at all!

Walkin' to the Beach for a Walk on the Beach

2009-05-13T11:30:00.004-04:00

This is where Renee Finberg goes for her morning walk, just down the street from where she lives in Boca Raton, Florida. A fabulous beach within walking distance, my dream.

Grey Gardens Secret Garden

2009-05-11T11:30:00.002-04:00

I know, Grey Gardens has been widely covered throughout the blogshpere and beyond.

But have you seen this picture: Grey Gardens Secret Garden? The perfect place to rest after a walk on the beach.

Bathroom with a View

2009-05-08T00:08:00.002-04:00

A dream come true! I'm in love with this bathroom.

But for now I'm happy with a picture perfect view.

Participating in: Hooked on Fridays

A simple Dining Room Meditarrenan Style

2009-05-07T09:32:00.007-04:00

A Room in Nice on the French RivieraYou know the saying, "Less is More". I think less is less, and I like it!

Trust

2009-05-06T00:10:00.001-04:00

"For over twenty-five years I have let my dreams live within me.
I have let fear hold me back from trying because I was too afraid to fail..." Allegra @ Christan and Allegra

How to make a Dream come true

Participating in:
Wordless Wednesday - Outdoor Wednesday - Watery Wednesday

A very small Seaside Cottage

2009-05-05T07:00:00.009-04:00

Songwriter Lvingston Taylor calls his Small Seaside Cottage on Marthas Vineyard The Camp. It's where he spends the summer, working in silence, listening inside or in his words to his muse.

Did I mention 300-square-foot small! But not to worry. His real house is just up the hill and five times the size.

Beaufort SC House Giveaway

2009-05-04T11:00:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Ms. Tee from Delightful Home I might be pinching myself soon to remind me that I'm no longer dreaming and that I won Southern Living's House Giveaway, roaming around historic Beaufort, SC on Port Royal Island, in the shade of moss-covered oaks, surrounded by water and a whole lot of charm. And just in case, if you’ve seen the Prince of Tides or Forrest Gump, you’ve seen Beaufort.

Resources -Homes and Real Estate

2009-05-03T00:59:00.008-04:00

Real Estate:
Beach House Finds
Berg Properties
Boston Globe Real Estate
Great Homes and Destinations NY Times
Imagine Lifestyles
Live South
Lookiloos
Materialicous
Miami RE
New York Times Real Estate
Real Estalker
Real LI
Sothebys Realty
South Beach Condo Blog
The Luxist
The Wall Street Journal
Tiny House Blog
Trendir
Zillows

How to make a Dream come true

2009-05-02T16:52:00.011-04:00

Most of us have never allowed ourselves to want what we truly want, because we can't see how it's going to manifest.

How to make a dream come true:
Decide what you want. Believe you can have it. Believe you deserve it and believe it's possible for you. And then close your eyes every day for several minutes, and visualize having what you already want, feeling the feelings of already having it. Come out of that and focus on what you're grateful for already, and really enjoy it. Then go into your day and release it to the Universe.
Jack Canfield in The Secret

Inspirational Books:

A Simple Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams

Learning to Manifest Your Desires

The Power of Intention