Colorful SoCal Cottage

Coastal Living colorful SoCal cottage in Oxnard. Small but charming!

Pottery Barn Kids nautical new arrivals

Boat preppy stripe tote, $20-45

Preppy club navy family totes, $59-69

Natucket totes, $45

Classic boat beach towel, $26

Nantucket boat beach wrap, $29

Primary preppy icon tote, $45

Nantucket kitty beach towel, $26 | Nantucket flamingo beach towel, $26 | Nantucket alligator beach towel, $26 | Nantucket shark beach towel, $26 | Nantucket puppy beach towel, $26

Nantucket whale tunic, $30

Nantucket hats and diaper covers, $14.50 each

Boat tabletop plate and tumbler, $4.50-6.50

Rue21 Nautical Spring Wardrobe for under $100

I am continuing my nautical look for less series with Rue21.  For under $100 you can get two adorable dresses, two tops, two pairs of shoes, and a cute bracelet. You can easily mix and match with what you already have in your closet. For example, both tops would look great with shorts or jeans you have.
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1. Anchored down raglan top, $13 (available in two colors)
2. Nautical bow skater dress, $17
3. Tossed anchor skate shoe, $13
4. Tassel charm rope bracelet, $5 (available in three colors)
5. Tossed anchor oxford sneaker, $13 (also available in navy)
6. Seaside anchor button down top, $15 (also available in navy)
7. Anchors aweigh dress, $18

= $94

Cruising to Mexico

This weekend I am going on a short cruise with friends for a friend's birthday. I have only been on one other cruise but I LOVED it! I did a three week Mediterranean cruise with my sister after I graduated college/before she started medical school. You can see the posts on that cruise here. I am excited to sit by the pool (I think they even show movies by the pool at night!) and relax with friends.

My dream packing list:

1. Sweater for cool nights/AC inside: Intarsia sailboat sweater, J.Crew Factory, $45
2. Cute cover up: Captiva cover up, Lilly Pulitzer, $118
3. Easy day (and night) dress: Easy day dress, Boden, $108
4. Striped dress: Blue chalk stripe tee shirt dress, Tuckernuck, $75
5. Top to go with shorts or jeans: Textured pattern top, Old Navy, $30
6. Nautical swim suit: Coastal spirit scoopneck one piece, Lands' End, $89 (available in long and plus sizes too!)
7. Exercise/lounge pants (jogging track around the ship maybe?): Butter me up lobster yoga pants, Devon Maryn, $85
8. Fun book: I just picked up We Were Liars at Target

Besides the basics, what else do you like to bring on cruises?

New Year's/Justin Timberlake in Las Vegas

Almost a month later I am finally doing my trip recap. The week between Christmas and New Year's was very busy. My sister and brother in law went out of town for their anniversary. I stayed over at their house to watch the boys.

I get the best smiles when they can see themselves on the screen

The whale sweater! This guy is ONE now!

Then I headed up to Las Vegas for two days with my other sister, dad, and stepmom. Justin Timberlake ended his tour with two nights in Las Vegas. I've seen him live multiple times and each show is better than the last. The best meal of the trip was lunch at Javier's at Aria. Really delicious margaritas and guacamole.

We stayed at the MGM again. I wish I could live there. Really. The theater/library room is awesome. We watched Gone Girl and I took a nap on the couch before the concert.

All of the Christmas/holiday decorations were still up.

The huge tree in the atrium

I love this Lands' End jacket! It was COLD in Las Vegas and I stayed warm and cozy.

Blurry photo my dad took of me and my sister before the concert

Festive gold glitter tipped matches (may have snuck these guys home-they are too pretty to waste!)

I only brought my iphone so my photos from the concert aren't great. I don't know how people get such amazing iphone photos from concerts! We had floor seats and I was in heaven! This was the best way to start 2015.

Nautical Outfit Ideas for the Whole Family

These sets have varying degrees of "nautical" (simple sailor stripes to overboard with anchors ;)


From L to R: Gap dress, Le Top sailboat set, Le Top romper, J.Crew shirt


From L to R: Maison Scotch tank, Gap shorts, Mini Boden tee, Old Navy shorts, Mini Boden long sleeve tee, Old Navy shorts, J.Crew tee, Vineyard Vines shorts


From L to R: Asos swim shorts, Old Navy sea horse tankini, Vineyard Vines whale bikini

Nautical Valentine's Day Gift Round Up from Daytrip Society

Daytrip Society is your one stop shop for all things nautical. I just wish I could shop in person! Road trip to Maine in the spring maybe? The store displays are too cute:

Valentine's Day gifts for everyone on your list!

Alaina Marie Bait Bag Clutch Made in Maine, $60

Whale Love Kids Basball T designed by Daytrip Society, $22

Ombre Pink Whale Puzzle, $23

Recycled Lobster Trap Rope Heart Made in Kennebunkport, Maine, $12

Maine Lobster Buoy Pillow in Red/2 White Stripes, $38

Solid Cotton Knit Hat, $19

Girls Maine lobster shift dress, $49

Destination Nautical: Santa Barbara

I've been to Santa Barbara many times as a child with my family and then in college to visit a high school friend. I haven't been back in several years-I am definitely ready for my next trip! Here's what I have on my itinerary for 36 hours in Santa Barbara. 

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

To do
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum | This is where reader Tiffany had her wedding reception! See photos of her nautical wedding here
Urban Wine Trail | Over 20 wineries, most within walking distance of downtown. Deep Sea Tasting Room sounds pretty nautical to me!
Santa Barbara Courthouse
Lil' Toot, water taxi | "Running from noon until sunset every half hour, Santa Barbara’s original waterfront taxi shuttles both visitors and locals continuously between the Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf"

Lil' Toot

Eat
c'est cheese | My next trip I will be checking this place out. I would eat cheese and crackers, cheese and bread, or just straight up cheese for every meal if I could!
Freebirds | Before there was Chipotle there was Freebirds. You will not be disappointed!
Brophy Brothers
Beachbreak Cafe | chocolate chip pancakes. Enough said.

Stay
Splurge: Beach cottage (as seen in Coastal Living) | Harbor View Inn
Save: Blue Sands Motel | Castillo Inn at the Beach

Beach cottage

Charming Charlie Nautical Spring Wardrobe for $130

Charming Charlie has so many nautical new arrivals! You can see the new nautical here and the sea life collection here. These are my favorite picks to mix and match to create the perfect nautical spring wardrobe for under $130. I ordered the leggings and sandals and hope they both fit!

Nautical trapeze shift, $35 | Ahoy, style leggings, $18

$25 High tide charm bracelet, $10 | Elegant anchor blouse, $29

Knot-ical infinity scarf, $10 | Lillian thong sandals, $25

Total: $127

GIVEAWAY Nautical Needlepoint Pillow from Huger Embroidery

Huger Embroidery, a design company based in Richmond, Virginia, creates custom pieces of artwork using embroidery. Using colorful fabric and thread, designs can be embroidered onto linens, pillows, and other entertaining and keepsake pieces. The owner, Sarah Gibson Wiley, owned an interior design firm for 28 years and now creates preppy, original pieces of embroidered art.

These pillows were designed in a collaboration with Peter Blair prints. Peter Blair is another Richmond-based company that makes fashionable men’s ties.

Sarah sells her items through her online shop. She also does custom work, you can email (sarah@hugerembroidery.com) or call (804.304.8808).

The winner can choose between two different color pillows, each with a sailboat design. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Some of  Sarah's custom work:

Sarah in her studio

a Rafflecopter giveaway