Nautical Dinner Party

It's the last week of school for my kids and it's starting to feel like summer is right around the corner.

I guess I'm on the post every three month schedule?

Last weekend we had a dinner party for some dear friends we rarely get to see anymore.

I wanted to make the evening feel special, so I pulled out my nautical/beach inspired decor to set the table.

I made Seared Sea Scallops in Saffron Cream Sauce for the appetizer and they were delicious.  

Just click on the link for the recipe.

Thank you Paula from Bell'alimento 

I recently started working at Anthropology and I scored the coral table cloth the first week 

I started my new job.

I had coveted it for a long time before I started working there and it just happened to go on sale the week I started.  

It was meant to mine.

  

I picked up the placemats at Homegoods last year.

I found the square dinner plates at Target years ago.

The glass floats are from Marshalls.

The octopus tray in the background is from Homegoods.

It was a great evening with friends, yummy food, and good wine.

Hope your summer is off to a fun start.

Thanks for checking it out.

You might also enjoy other beach inspired projects;

Look What I Dragged Home

Goodbye Deer Booty, Hello Sea Monster

The CSI Project

Look What I Dragged Home

Hi friends, I haven't been blogging much lately.  I've been traveling, enjoying the summer with the kids, and working out more.

I've managed to complete some small projects and here is my latest.

New decor for my front door that I made with stuff I already had and some found seaweed.

I play beach volleyball and often find things that the surf washes in and drag them home with me.

 

Hear are a few of my previous finds.

I found this old lost buoy last Winter.
I cleaned off the stinky barnacles and added some rope to it.

I drug this water logged 9' piece of driftwood home and put it in my front yard.  This was really fun putting in my car, but totally worth it.  I kept checking my rear view mirror all the way home to make sure nothing crawled out of it.

Here is another piece of drift wood I painted and made into a jewelry organizer for my daughter's room.

Here is my latest find. 
While cleaning off our court from washed up seaweed I found this dried up piece.  I liked it's shape.
Trash to some people, door ornamentation for me.  I added two faux sea fans to the back, hot glued a starfish to the front, and added a rope hanger.
In case you were wondering, no it doesn't smell at all. 



You never know what you'll find for free from nature?



Dragged anything home from the beach lately?
Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are.

Thanks for checking it out.

My Favorite Flip Flops

Flip flops are part of the Southern California uniform.  We wear them year round here. 
I play volleyball at the beach in January and still wear my flip flops to and from the beach.   

OK, when it gets cold I do switch to my Uggs.

This is the court I play doubles at a 2-3 times a week.

My favorite flip flops are Havaianas. 

They are a little pricier than most flip flops, but worth it my opinion.  They originated in 1962 form Brazil using a secret rubber formula. I love them because they come in a SLIM sizes as well as regular widths.   I have a size 10 shoe, but my feet are narrow.

Most flip flops and strappy shoes are too wide for me. 
Costco carried Havaianas this year for $18.99 with a crystal on them, but I can't find them on their website?   I'm kicking myself that I only bought one pair. 

You can pick up flip flops for a couple bucks these days, but I LIVE in mine so I justify the higher price.  Havaianas' rubber is very soft and comfy. 
They last a long time and I never get blisters from them.

  This pair is $148 because it has Swarovski Crystals on them.   These are out of my budget and even if they were in my budget, not sure I would spend that much on flip flops especially because I'm going to get them sandy.  

You don't have to pay that much for them.
  
Nordstroms $38

Nordstroms $24

I found some last year at Loehmann's for $12 and I bought 3 pairs. 
The problem is my daughters keep stealing them. 
We all have the same size feet.

What's your favorite summer foot wear?

Thanks for checking it out.