Everything Coastal: November 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

15 Ideas for Thanksgiving at the Beach

It's always a bit of a challenge to bring a coastal feel to your Thanksgiving celebration, especially when all of the retail stores and decorating magazines show a more "traditional" look, but as you all know when you live at the beach some of the "traditional" looks don't really apply.

For instance, where we live in Northern California, we are famous for our pumpkins, (and our dungeness crab!) but there really is no such thing as fall colored leaves, so you have to be a little creative when putting together a look that reflects our coast. Seashell candle holders, fish net, etc....

Here are 15 ideas that we've been collecting that we think have used some cool inspiration for a beach themed tablescape for a Thanksgiving dinner party.

1. From Coastal Living Magazine: Photo: Jim Franco , Styling: Amber Furst and Linda Hirst

Love the large koi centerpiece and candlesticks combined with gold and beaded place mats from Kim Seybert. Gorgeous!

2. Why not plan the party outside on the beach? This would be so fun, would just need to make sure that your table setting was not in danger of blowing away! Love the little succulent pots for the place settings - everyone could take theirs home as a tiny thank-you gift.

Cool idea found in Sunset Magazine

3. Natural colors and textures of the beach... so pretty, and so simple. Love the feathers - could possibly use found feathers from your local coast?

Source: Ciao Newport Beach

4. Dress up your linen napkins with flora from your neighborhood, and maybe a shell or two! Think rosemary springs, or cypress or maybe even palm fronds? So easy to be creative with this idea.

Source: Abeachcottage.com

5. Blue Willow, is always a great choice for the coast. So fun to mix and match with other colors and motifs -

Source: Celebrating Every Day Life

6. Use your seashell dishes - a good reminder that they are not just for summer!

Source: From Wendy at H20Bungalow

7. Coastal Blues and Autumn Yellow are the perfect partners to create a pretty Thanksgiving Table

Source: Sand and Sisal

8. Just add starfish, and keep it colorful!

Source: Starfish Cottage

9. Make sure to use what's right in your back yard.... and don't forget the candlelight

Source - Everything Coastal - Caron's Beach House

10. Why just stick with orange pumpkins? Try a new color - blue

Source: Jennifer Rizzo

11. Why not Turquoise? So pretty!

Source: Completely Coastal

12. Aqua tints added to traditional "corn" to create a beachy feel. Mermaid Corn!

Source and Directions: Breezy Designs

13. Combine Orange and Aqua -

Source

14. Sand, Shells and Orange Candles - absolutely says Fall and Harvest! Would be super easy to create this look. Personally, I would use my vintage aqua blue mason jars to give it an extra "beachy" feel.

15. Love love love Justina Blakeney - Her brunch centerpiece of tropical fruit is not only gorgeous, but your guests could even snack on it!

Source - The Jungalow

Would love to know what you think! How do you decorate for your stretch of the coast? Would be fun to see some tropical ideas!

Friday, November 11, 2016

A Mom's Navy Tiger Cruise

Taking a quick break from blogging and writing about coastal decorating and lifestyle ideas to give you all a little glimpse into life at sea with the US Navy. Because our country is honoring Veterans today, I thought it would be appropriate.

My son, Alex is currently serving aboard the USS Harpers Ferry LSD49, and I was incredibly privileged to be invited on a "Tiger's Cruise" this past August. His ship is part of the "Amphibious Navy",

What's a Tiger's Cruise? The sailors, and officers stationed aboard the ship are allowed (and encouraged!) to invite a non-spouse (parent/sibling/grand parent/friend) to be a passenger on board the ship as they steam back into their home port of San Diego. Kind of a big deal, since the ship had been all over the Pacific Ocean for seven, almost eight months - away from families and friends.

What an incredible experience for me! Not only to understand how our active duty men and women serve our country, but to also have a real appreciation for all who have served before them. This is not an easy job.

First things first - catch a Hovercraft at Camp Pendleton for a 5 (nautical) mile ride out into the ocean. (please don't make fun of my hair - lol!) It was cold and super noisy. All of the crew and the Tiger's had to wear ear plugs - an absolute necessity. Kind of awesome tho!

The USS Harpers Ferry LSD49 is part of the "Amphibious Navy", Hovercraft and other small land ships park right inside the ship. Helicopter's can land on top, and the bay inside the ship is full of jeeps, and tank-like vehicles. Pretty incredible! While they were at sea serving our country on this tour, there were just over 330 US Navy personnel and over 400 US Marines on board. For seven months.... (just think about that for a minute)

Then to finally see Alex after so many months at sea! Very very happy mom -

I was assigned a middle bunk in the women's birthing, and got to do "Navy" stuff with Alex and his shipmates for 24 hours. Had a great time! Except for trying to get into the bunk - that was sort of embarrassing. I could not figure out how to contort my over 50+ body into the bunk, and completely missed how to jump in, and fell flat on the floor. Huge black and blue bruise - but great story!

Had breakfast, lunch and dinner in the ship's mess. Incredible to me, how this tiny dining room and kitchen managed to feed over 700+ people every single day!

(pic borrowed from the ship's Facebook Page)

All dressed in their "white" ready to man the rails coming into San Diego. Mom got a little bit choked up.....

Very proud mom.

Thank you to all who have served, and who continue to serve our great nation.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Green Tropic Bedroom - 6 Steps to Get the Look

Ah.... so refreshing. A touch of soft green shades combined with tropical florals and palms, what could be better than this for creating an oasis at your home?