Please Follow Me to my new Location

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

"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

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

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

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

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?

"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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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.