coastal alley s a l e

happy sunday...

hello beautiful

Hello Beautiful! 

Well, I wanted to share this pretty picture with you all so you can think happy thoughts on this gorgeous Saturday! Ahhh I'm drooling... I love everything about this home!   

E N Y O Y

back to school

Salem, Massachusetts - August 2019

{Taylor 13 and Ryan 11}

It's crazy to think I have a 6th grader and an 8th grader. WOW... Kind of mind blowing! Yes, you do blink and in an instant they're getting so big... But I'm really trying to savor as many moments and make as many memories I can by traveling with them all over! The memories I have made with my kids are beyond priceless. I will never forget our adventures and look forward to many more to come... Even when they're in college and married with their own families! My adventures with my kids will never stop! I actually have to laugh when people say, "oh my I only have 10 more summers left with my kids!" Guess what friends I traveled so much with my parents during and even after college. They took us everywhere and still do! You have a choice... So make it with your kids! Included them forever! I know I sure will...  

     

did you know... happy labor day!

Did you know... The first Labor Day celebration was in 1882. It was a parade planned by the Central Labor Union in New York, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Oregon, however, was the first state to pass a law making Labor Day a holiday in 1887.

But it wasn't a legal holiday everywhere... The Encyclopedia Britannica says the massive Pullman Strike happened in the summer of 1894, when workers boycotted the railroads to fight for safe conditions, normal schedules, and living wages. To honor the labor movement after this, President Grover Cleveland officially declared Labor Day a national holiday, according to History.com.

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of every September.It falls on a different date every year, just like Easter and Thanksgiving. The very first Labor Day celebration was on September 5. This year, it is on September 2.

The holiday is meant to honor the nearly 160 million working Americans. The United States Census found that 159.8 million people made up the American labor force, as of May 2017. The most popular jobs among them? Retail salespeople and cashiers.

 

happy sunday...

write this down

truth

I wanted to start my Tuesday off with a little t r u t h... Hey a little truth or as I like to call it in my head... Confession {get it off my chest} Tuesday. By the way you would fall over if you knew all the stuff I would like to talk about with you guys {yikes}!  I'll spare you... But, I do have a serious Blue and White pottery issue, obsession, love affair or fondness! HaHa I guess I could have a worse issue... But I swear every time I design a home I must add them. They add so much strength and character to a home. My mission is to be able to sell my blue and white pottery to everyone. I want you all to enjoy my happiness {obsession} as well! 

Happy Tuesday... Whats's Truth? 

monday {menu}

{recipe from... here}

Italian Sausage Soup with White Beans and Spinach

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound mild Italian sausage casing removed
• 1 large vidalia oniondiced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning Blend I use Spice Islands
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 15.5 ounce can cannelloni beans rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup small cut pastaI use DeLallo Ditallini
• 2 cups baby spinach
• Grated parmesan cheese for serving

iNSTRUCTIONS

1. Place a large pot or dutch oven over med-high heat and add the sausage, breaking it up in to small pieces with a fork as it browns. Continue cooking until the sausage is no longer pink. Transfer the sausage to a bowl with a slotted spoon and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat.
2. Return the pot to the stove and add the onions. Cook the onions until translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic, cooking for one minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the Italian seasoning and 1/4 cup of chicken stock to deglaze the pan being sure to scrape up any brown bits with a wooden spoon.
4. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, sausage and remaining stock. Add the pasta and bring the soup to a boil. Cook for 6-7 minute or until the pasta is al dente.
5. Stir in the spinach. Serve immediately topped with parmesan cheese.

happy sunday...

catch up

Hi you all... Happy Saturday! I'm trying to play catch up from our historical summer trip, Ryan starting school last Monday, Taylor having oral surgery last Thursday and work. Good times! On a positive note i'm going forward and just staying calm. Checking of my to-do list!  But, the one thing I really want to let you all know about is our n e x t Coastal Alley S A L E date!  Yesterday I received a package of goodies that we purchased while traveling back east. I always love buying one of a kind items to sell at our Coastal Alley S A L E. Oh just wait... We have some fabulous finds! Keep you posted on the date! Happy Saturday everyone! Any fun plans on your agenda?

happy sunday...

happy sunday...

for you {grateful}

These are for you all! I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for all the time you have spent reading my blog and sticking around. I know I'm not the best speller or I don't put out lengthy content and sometimes I go silent on you. I know I'm frustrating at times.... But one thing I know when you stop me at a restaurant or at the market to say thank you for being real I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside! I am real! I've been through some yucky stuff and definitely some great stuff! If I didn't have you all to express myself and tell you whats up, I don't know where I would be. I flip flop on my blog direction and you all have been with me. I go towards style, then I go to truth telling and venting in my life and then back to my regularly scheduled program of Interior Design! Thank you all so much for sticking  around!  Please make a comment... Please tell me how crazy I am! I would love to hear from you all! Plus, what do you want to see more of? I'm trying to get better... But truly from the bottom of my heart I'm grateful for you all! Thank you!

wake up kiddos

How fun would it be to have sleep overs in this bunk room! I'm in! Talk about endless giggles, pillow fights and even flashlight wars! Ahhh to be a kid again! So fun to stay up late and enjoy friends and the moment! 

The color of the bunkbeds are perfect. Mixed with soft gold touches... Not too girly and not too masculine! Absolute perfection Circa Interiors! 

tuesday {truth}

Last Friday afternoon tragedy hit our little beach town.  The crazy part is that it was caused by a natural accident. A beautiful family was sitting at the beach like many other families and friends... Enjoying the glorious sand and surf... When all of a sudden the bluff came crumbled down onto the beach! The impact was so big, fast and hard it killed a mother, grandmother and an aunt all from the same family. Oh my gosh! Because we do live in a small town word flies fast and you start putting all the dots together and realize you have a slight connection to the deceased and your heart aches even more! I woke up on Saturday night at 3:00 in the morning sick. So Sick that I had to walk to the bathroom to throw up. I couldn't stop thinking of the children. They're so young and innocent... Those beautiful little angels lost 3 loving and involved woman in their lives. And worst of all they had to watch as the rescue team perform CPR on all of them.  That hits me hard! How do you erase that memory from their minds. My first thought goes to... How could God do that? How could he do that to a family all at once... Why? Its awful! Anger sets in! Its not fair! Then I try to quickly ask myself... Ok God you took them for a reason... Why? To show us how to be kind, How to love in a family! How families stick together and grow together!  I have to believe God has a plan... It's crazy to even say, but he just has too! He wants us all to see what love really is and to show it to all around you. Life really is so precious... Stop what you're doing and say. I love you to who ever you can. Family, friends, your kids, your mom, dad... Show love to all! Stop fighting and hug! I pray for all that has lost a loved one. It truly hurts... The pain does stop, but you never forget. Lets all take a moment and say a pray for the family... Pray for guidance and strength to go on. 

monday {menu}

Cold Brew Peach Iced Tea

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add the peaches to the bottom of a pitcher and muddle with a wooden spoon just enough to smash them.
2. Add the slices of orange zest, mint, sweetener of choice, tea bags, water and mix until combined.
3. Cover and place in the fridge for 6-12 hours.
4. Remove the tea bags and serve over ice.

---

NOTES

Use a vegetable peeler to make slices of the orange peel.

Add 3 tsp of maple syrup or cane sugar to the iced tea, but if you prefer a sweeter iced tea simply add more.

Prepare the iced tea the night before and let it sit in the fridge overnight. If you prefer a clear iced tea, strain the tea and discard the peaches.

happy sunday...

book #6 {august 2019}

A Country Road, A tree 

By Jo Baker

I'm going in blind with this book... Why not!  Sometimes you just need to go forward in the dark without anyone saying read this, do this, try this... So here's my August Book suggestion. I wish us all luck!  I'm kind of excited to see what this ones all about... No joke I know nothing about this book, Nothing! 

wake up wednesday

I absolutely l o v e d  working with this client in La Jolla! Her love for color was absolutely inspiring and beyond contagious. At every meeting she would say, Go B I G or Go H O M E! Well, we sure went B I G! I don't know about you but, but these images of her bedroom radiate happiness to me! I definitely would love to wake up in a happy room like this!  Remember... Don't be afraid to bring out colors and mix patterns. If you coordinate and blend everything it all will work out wonderfully!  

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!