Happy Thursday, friends!
I’m very much hoping that by the time you read this post, I have gone overnight from the west coast to the east coast and am home on Nantucket.
Since I’ve journeyed coast to coast over the last few hours, I thought it was the PERFECT time to (finally!) do today’s post on the 17 WAYS I WANT TO BE “COASTAL”.
This blog post is a wink and a nod to one I did two years ago called 17 WAYS I WANT TO BE “EUROPEAN” 🙂 .
What the heck am I talking about?
Well, I don’t know about you, but for me, when I travel and explore other places (like Europe!), I experience things there that I love so much that I want to take them back home with me and implement them into my daily life.
Who says we can’t take a little “European life” and bring it into our homes in Texas? I think it’s absolutely lovely when people bring little bits of something they love back with them after a trip.
Well, as much as I love bringing the “Europe” into my daily life, I also really, really love bringing a little “coastal” into it too.
This post is for my fellow Nancy Meyers/Coastal Grandmothers out there who feel this way too 🙂 .
As you know, I am fortunate enough that for a portion of the year, I get to live a little “coastal” lifestyle.
But I don’t want to have a dash of coastal just a few months out of the year, I want it year around.
I made a list (of course!) of 17 WAYS I WANT TO BE COASTAL…even in McKinney, TX 😉 .
These are all lighthearted thoughts and ideas. I love to be inspired, and I know many of you do too.
I’ll share my list and then goodness, I hope you share yours too!
Here we go…
#1: WEAR NEUTRALS
Whether I’m watching a Nancy Meyers’ movie or out and about on Nantucket, neutrals seem to be the color palette of choice. Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give gives me such coastal girl vibes. A white turtleneck and white jeans on the beach? Yes, please!
#2: GET A LITTLE DIRTY
With sand. Or soil. Or paint. Or whatever it is.
I have shared this before here on my blog, but I used to detest (dare I say HATE) sand. My type-A, super tidy personality just couldn’t deal with the sand. It permeates everything. It’s hard to get rid of. A little seems to go a long way. Coastal living means it’s okay to have a little on you or your space. Or a little soil from the garden. Or paint from a project. Or whatever. I don’t think coastal life is “super type-A and perfectly clean”.
#3: WEAR A HAT
A straw hat, a baseball hat…just something to keep that sunshine off our faces.
#4: VISIT A FARMER’S MARKET
When I think about coastal places, I always think about fresh herbs, fruits and veggies. I think about big totes to carry what you find, chatting with vendors, and shopping outdoors. If you dress for it and bring your tote, even a trip to Trader Joe’s could put you in the coastal girl state of mind.
#5: LIGHT A BEACHY SCENT
Every spring, I swap my woodsy, vanilla candles for lighter, brighter, beachy scents. It’s such an easy little swap but man, it certainly can transport you to a different destination. I also swap out my hand soaps in the kitchen and bathroom to lighter, beachy-ier scents too. So simple and crazy affective.
#6: WEAR A BEACHY SCENT
You know I love perfumes. It’s always my favorite beauty product to apply each day. In the spring and summer, I always change out my fall/winter scents for saltier/beachy-ier versions. Even if I can’t be at the beach, I can smell like it.
#7: DINE OUTDOORS
A coastal girl enjoys her meals outside, no? Even coffee and the paper just feels so much nicer if you’re enjoying it on the patio.
#8: RIDE A BIKE
I always, always, always tell myself I’m going to bike more when I get back to McKinney and unless the weather is just perfect, I always fail to do it but dang, it’s hard to find a coastal movie without a bike riding leading lady. When I don’t bike, I do love to roll the windows down in my car when I’m puttering around town. There is just something about fresh air that makes going from A to B so much better.
#9: WEAR A LONG DRESS
I always feel like I’ve added a dash of “coastal” when I put on a long dress or skirt (with sandals!).
#10: ADD SOME RAFFIA
What an easy addition to add some coastal into the every day! A raffia tote or bracelet, a hat or earrings, and of course, sandals. A little raffia always takes you right to the coast.
#11: READ SOMETHING LIGHT
When I think of coastal living, I think of “light” books to read. A good beach book can transport you even in the middle of winter.
#12: DRINK ROSE
Is there even another drink one enjoys while on the coast? A glass with dinner and bam, you’re practically eating beachside.
#13: PUT OUT FRESH FLOWERS
I told you guys years and years ago that I once mentioned to Andrew that I loved how Nancy Meyers always had fresh flowers on the kitchen counters in her movies. Since that day, he’s always made sure we have flowers on ours. He just gets them at the grocery store. They’re always seasonal and inexpensive, but goodness, they make me happy.
#14: USE WHITE LINENS AND TOWELS
Years ago, I swapped out all of our bedding for white. It feels fresh, it’s easy to clean and bleach, it’s not only got a coastal vibe, but it looks like a hotel room too. I used to have dark purple bath towels. That is very “un-Nancy Meyers”. Now, we only use white. Love.
#15: ADD SOME SHELLS
Real or faux, they’re easy to add around the house and in your outfits! I love adding my seashell earrings or necklace. That plus a little salty perfume, and I’m instantly living a little coastal.
#16: WEAR BLUE
Blue is the perfect complement to your neutrals.
#17: WORK IN YOUR GARDEN
Whether your garden consists of a pot on the patio or a full on yard, a little outdoor gardening always makes me feel like I’m one step closer to that coastal life.
And those are 17 WAYS I WANT TO BE “COASTAL” 🙂 .
Also, just as a reminder, I have a few other little inspirational/motivational coastal things for you too…
I find all of these movies relaxing and up lifting. They all include great soundtracks, beautifully decorated homes, strong female leads and friendship. Not all of these might be “coastal grandmother” by definition, but they all check the boxes for me that put me in the summery/coastal-y mood.
Book Club
Book Club 2
Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride 2
First Wives’ Club
It’s Complicated
Mamma Mia!
Something Borrowed
Something’s Gotta Give
The Intern
Under the Tuscan Sun
This list could have been crazy long, but I stopped at these. I would say that if you love any of these books, read others by the same author. Each of these authors writes great summery…kind of coastal-y…reads.
The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
The Magic of Sea Glass by Jenny Hale
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Out of the Blue by Jenny Hale
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley
“Coastal Grandmother” stations on Spotify are my go-to this time of year!. It’s the perfect background music for work, cleaning up the house, folding laundry…it’s just fabulous! As you can see, there are many, many options!
Okay, it’s your turn to share! What do you do to add a little “coastal” into your life? There is no detail too big or small. I would LOVE a few more suggestions! Please comment and share!
I hope you all have the BEST day! I’ll see you tomorrow. xx
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