Life of the Ocean - The Fascinating Starfish

My second favorite sea creatures next to the Sea Horse are the Starfish. Did you know that sea stars (commonly called starfish) are not fish? They don't have gills, scales or tails like fish do, and definitely don't move like fish do (although they do move, sometimes pretty quickly). There are also about 1,800 species of sea stars. Bet you did not know that some starfish have 40 arms? It may surprise you to learn that a starfish has an "eye" at the end of each arm. So a starfish with five arms also has five eyes! Starfish are also one of the most recognizable marine creatures. They are related to sea urchins, sand dollars and sea cucumbers. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Sharon~

Coastal Inspired Entries ~*~ A Must have!

My husband and I love walking our dogs around our neighborhood in the evenings. We get to check out (by stealth mode) our neighbors front door choices. Living in a beach city allows peoples imaginations to soar in color and to pick out some pretty cool glass inserts as well. Most of our neighbors entries are fairly small. No wrap-around porch, just a simple walk up and landing, so the door itself has to grab you to come in!

How about those glass inserts.

Clear - Blah
Crackled - Double Blah
How about a bamboo pattern? or a custom stained glass coastal design. Now were talkin'. Go outside your comfort level. Be different. be the envy of your neighborhood

 We all know about curb appeal. But what about door appeal. This is where you can be creative! No more putting your street number on the top right side by the door and mailbox. Put it down low. Add a bright entry mat or rug. If you have the room add small planters, an andirondack chair or how about a nice coastal wreath.

There are a million colors of paint out there. Don't settle for just plain ole' white. Be bold, be daring. Think of it as buying that pair of shoes that are just a bit different than all your other's or that new hairstyle your hair dresser dared you to try. This is just paint. You don't like it you can paint over it. That is the beauty of it. You will be amazed at how changing your front door color and entry will do to improve the "curb appeal" to your house!

Happy Painting!

Sharon :0)

HURRAY for the GIVEAWAY WINNER!

and the GIVEAWAY WINNER is.................

CAROL BASS

from Las Vegas , Nevada

Congratulations Carol on being the winner of a set of 2 Suzani Sea Horse Pillow Covers!

Just another Day in Paradise

San Clemente, CA Pier

Every day is a Beach DAY! Get the sand in your toes.            

Carpe Diem!

Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving....we must sail,
sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it, but sail we must, and not drift nor lie at anchor.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Whales are coming, The Whales are coming!

41st Annual Festival of Whales
March 3 - 4 & 10 - 11

(888) 440-4309 or (949) 496-1045
All Events are Weather Permitting

The incredible 5000-mile migration of the majestic California Gray Whale from Alaska to Mexico begins in December and continues through March. During this peak season, 40 - 50 whales pass by Dana Point each day, using the Dana Point Headland’s 200-foot cliffs near the harbor as a landmark to check their migration path. Dana Point offers the BEST whale watching along the California Coast - don’t miss it! There’s a whale watching excursion for everyone.

If you’re interested in getting a glimpse of these majestic leviathans from land, be sure to visit the Headlands Conservation Park. The Park includes a public trail system, over three miles in length, and links all the parks and open space areas of the Headlands. The system includes pedestrian trails, coastal and beach access, scenic overlooks and the Nature Interpretive Center. The parks and trails can be reached either off of Green Lantern or at Dana Strand Rd., limited parking is available along these streets or at the Nature Interpretive Center parking lot. The trails are open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. The Nature Interpretive Center is located adjacent to the Headlands Conservation Park, at the terminus of Street of the Green Lantern. The facility includes educational, management and operational space designed as a visitor center for the open space parks. Center Hours: 10 am - 4 pm. From Dana Point Harbor visitors may take the FREE shuttle to the Ocean Institute and then proceed up Cove Road to the Park. It’s a good work out for those looking for a little adventure and some spectacular views! Click here for whale watching excursions!

Outdoor Living

Summer is right around the corner! So put your ski's away and all those heavy coats. I am pulling out all stop's and adding Coastal Brights and Seashore Blues for Outdoor living and I think you should too this summer!

TRINA TURK - SOLEIL LA in AQUA

TRINA TURK - SOLEIL LA in DRIFTWOOD

WAVERLY - CORAL in AQUA

WAVERLY SUN N' SHADE - LOVELY LATTICE in LAGOON

WAVERLY - JEWEL OF THE SEAHORSES in AQUAMARINE

CALICO CORNERS - OCTOPODA in TURQUOISE

TROPIX - CAMINADE TERACE in TANGERINE ORANGE

TRINA TURK - SOLEIL LA in AQUA

TRINA TURK - ARCHES PRINT BAMBOO in VIVID YELLOW

Driftwood Art

 Mantel with Driftwood

You are going to think I am crazy but I love collecting Driftwood. I love using it as a display piece. The textures and color look great with Seaside style decor. Place it in a wire basket, bundle it up with jute on a fireplace mantel or hearth. Or create something with it! I came across this Etsy seller  ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/GiftsandStars )recently and was amazed at what else Driftwood can be used to create!

The TORTUGA

You Rock my World Sailboat

Beach Bus

Driftwood Wall Hanging w/ Beach Glass & Shells

So get down to the beach, collect some driftwood and start creating!

happy hunting,

Sharon :0)

"NEW" on ETSY

Check out what's new in my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaliforniaLivinHome

BEACH GLAM: Tigerlily in Mango Raspberry

Coastal Contemporary: Geo in Grey

Seaside Style: Peridot Stripe in Blues & Green

~*~ BLUE MONDAY ~*~

Let the blue sky meet the blue sea and all is blue for a time. (Moncy Barbour)

The Color Blue

 Years ago in college I took a required class called, Color Theory”.  We learned all about the psychology of colors and what they meant and how they were used through history. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore blue for protection against evil and in ancient Rome, public servants wore blue. In ancient Greece the preference comes from an old belief of man, that the sky-blue shade had the power to keep Evil away. The radiation of the color composed an invisible shield, which prevented the approach of bad spirits.

Today, Blue is the overwhelming "favorite color." Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable, and committed.  Blue invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming. However, not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic -- an engaging color that expresses exhilaration. Some shades or the overuse of blue may come across as cold or uncaring

Blue is also the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women. Why is the sky blue? It has one of the shortest wavelengths. Violet is the shortest!

Food for Thought

 While blue is one of the most popular colors it is one of the least appetizing. Blue food is rare in nature. Food researchers say that when humans searched for food, they learned to avoid toxic or spoiled objects, which were often blue, black, or purple. When food dyed blue is served to study subjects, they lose appetite.

Just thought you would like to know!

Sunday , The day of Rest~

The Garge Sale was a success and a good time was had by all here in our tiny enclave. We rolled up the doors earlier than expected ( 7am ) and pulled out all our goodies and the race was on! For the Shopper's that is. 

Need a Surf Board anyone?

Kai, Meaghan, and Jenn. Jenn you are Selling today not Buying!

Slim picken's 1-1/2 hrs. later. GOOD!

Mr. Wonderful! My better half, Andrew. Without him none of this would be possible.

~*~

My husband has his garage back and we are a house half full. It feel's good. No it feel's great!  

It's Garage SALE Day!

We are having a Garage Sale today. It looks a bit gloomy outside but I am not worried. The sign's are up (put them up last evening) and the arrows all point to the right house (I hope). Everything has been placed on tables and tagged (I hate to have to bend over at and look at something at my age! LOL.) We are ready! I will be posting pictures tomorrow. Wish me success....I need to get rid of all this stuff!!!!!!!

FUN FACTS FRIDAY : The Story of Sea Glass ~ Mermaid Tear's

Sea Glass, Beach Glass or Mermaid Tears is created when glass items have been disposed of in the oceans by man or by sunken ships and vessels. Once it is in the ocean they are smoothed by the actions of the waves, sand and stone to create these lovely little pieces of sea glass gems. Sea glass washes up on nearly every beach on earth.  Sea glass has been a part of history since early civilization.  According to authors C.S. Lambert and Pat Hanbery, "Rich cargoes of ceramic and glass lie on the ocean's bottom, the result of shipwrecks, piracy and foul weather.  Doesn’t that make you envision Black Beard or Captain Jack Sparrow dumping there empty bottles of Rum overboard?

 The color of sea glass is determined by its original source. Most sea glass comes from bottles, but it can also come from jars, plates, windows, ceramics or sea pottery ( "sea china" or "sea porcelain" or "beach pottery") see image below of a piece my husband Andrew collected while diving on a sunken World War II Japanese ship in the Pacific many years ago!

A few of my husband's finds

The most common colors of sea glass are kelly green; brown, blue and purple (clear). These colors come from bottles used by companies that sell beer, juices, and soft drinks.

So the next time you’re strolling along the beach don’t be surprised if you look down and there washed up on the beach is a Mermaids Tear.

Timeless Coastal Charm

My husbands family has always collected clocks which rubbed off on him than me. When we moved recently we were surprised at all the clocks we had collected over the years. We have wall clocks, mantel clocks even one called a beehive clock. We have German clocks, American clocks and English clocks. We had so many clocks it would be impossible to display them all. Oh contrare! Using clocks as decor is very popular among designers and design enthusiasts because they are so dramatic and charming. Whether it is an over sized clock or a grouping of smaller clocks, they create great focal points. They also make a huge design statement. Clocks are very versatile because they can be incorporated in many decor styles. 

Here is our little German "Beehive" Clock.

Show the REDONDO BEACH Firefighter's some LOVE today!

Redondo Beach firefighters are hoping their video "We Cook Our Food in a Hopeless Place" will go viral and help them win a $25,000 kitchen remodel for Fire Station No. 1.

Check it out and VOTE today!!!!

Click here for the article (redondobeach.patch.com) | Click here to vote (rescueremodel.com)

February 14th



Happy Valentine's Day

BEACH HOUSE BASICS - TEXTURES

Grass Cloth Wallpaper

A beach house is a great place to have fun with textures. With a mix of textures and materials, you can get away with not having a lot of color. You find textures on your walls, floors, fabrics, furniture as well as accessories. They are all around you. Textures can be Grass cloth wallpaper on the walls or Sisal rugs on your floor.

Sisal Rug

Coral


Accessories with texture could be Coral or Sea fans displayed on a mantel or side table. Flea market found Furniture with years of paint and chipping has texture as well as all kinds of fabrics. I love the dimension it gives a room to have an eclectic mix. I am not a matchy-matchy gal. I don’t believe in having 2 bedside tables matching or a couch and a chair in the same fabric. I like to mix it up! I mix wood tones, light with dark and would even throw in a painted piece as well. I color outside the lines and that is what makes decorating fun.

Sea Fans

Chippy Flea market Finds

We buy what we like. It does not have to meet anyone’s expectations except our own and that is why I love Beach House style because the look is casual, without being stuffy. It is a look that say’s to your guests, “take your shoes off, relax and stay awhile”.

Orange & Blue ~ Seaside Style

I love going to the beach. But most of all I love the Seaside beach style that is inside my home. I love the clean and airy Ivory that I used on my walls paired with soft White trims and ceilings. Don’t get me wrong I also love color. My turquoise bathroom with white accents makes taking a bath a Mediterranean vacation. Splashes or Pops of colors are fun too. Pair Aqua Blues and Oranges. Paint a few furniture pieces for pops of color as well. Whatever type of home you have, you can create a coastal feel.

Here are a few pic's I LOVE!

Seafaring Style

 Problem:            
You have a large unused bookcase or built-in that you have no idea how to decorate.

Solution:

Like a colorful tie with a suit, your personal treasures can lend personality to your bookcases when mixed with books.

My husband had a lot of treasures he collected over the years but most of them were gently wrapped and stored away in boxes.  They went with us from house to house (still packed and in the dark) until we finally landed in our beach house a few months ago.

Upon opening the boxes just recently, our memory was also in the dark about what exactly was in each one. We had only written Andrews/FRAGILE for the description. As we opened each box, fond memories of treasures collected years earlier flooded our anticipation to open the next than the next.  After about the third box we came upon the treasured Old Saki bottles.



These were found on a sunken Japanese World War II ship in the Pacific Ocean in the lagoon of Kwajalein which is in the Marshall Islands. Andrew had gone there to visit a college friend (about 26 years ago) and found them while diving.

We then opened the box of his collection of nautical books, my Dad’s handmade Anchor bookends (a gift to Andrew years earlier) along with more nautical antiques and family heirlooms. All these precious memories were for his new “Man Cave”. This was his personal space.  A place where only men dare to go (just kidding it just sounded funny) a room just for him and me on occasion.  

As we unboxed the rest of the goodies, Andrew recalled when and where he had acquired them, in what exotic location they were found and how deep the waters were to dive and get them. 

                  They had finally reached shore.

                                                   Home, where memories are displayed~