Toast to a Coastal Lifestyle

Growing up in New Jersey, with summers spent in Wildwood and Seaside Heights, I thought I knew the beach.  And make no mistake, there is still nothing quite like spending the day on Jersey’s white sand beaches, swimming in the warm Atlantic ocean, and capping it all off with a walk on the boardwalk while eating saltwater taffy and a slice of pizza.

But.

When I was in my 20s, I took my first trip to California with a darling friend who’d lived there.  The minute — and I mean the minute — my feet touched California soil, I felt at home.  Home in a way my actual home had never quite felt.  Within weeks, I’d quit my job and moved to the West Coast, where I fell in love with Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Monterey, San Diego, and all the extraordinary coastline in between. 

It also became the touchstone for me to travel further, to other coastal and more tropical experiences — like Costa Rica, Mexico, Cozumel, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.  I was drawn the the water, the air, the feeling that only warm natural beauty brings.

Now, let’s be clear — you do not need to live near the water to lead or enjoy a coastal lifestyle.  Sure, the water helps.  But really, a coastal lifestyle is all about bringing natural elements into your space, creating a vibe that gives you the same tranquility as an ocean or tropical view.  Whether it’s California, the Jersey Shore, Mexico, Hawaii, or the Great Lakes of the Midwest, it’s all evocative of the same thing.  Lush plants, rich woods, cool imagery and organic textiles — that’s the vibe.  And when you kick those organic elements up a notch up with something glam like brass, lucite, crystal or faux fur, you create something new and even more special.  In my opinion, at least.

This is the journey I began the minute I set foot in California.  And it’s the journey I hope to continue with you, as I create, share, and enjoy beautiful things.  Obviously, I’m focused on the lifestyle, but a big part of any lifestyle is the collection of moments that happens in the midst of that life — weddings, birthdays, all specials events. 

Much of the work I create brings organic beauty and minimalist style into the stationery elements you might use to share your own life.  I hope you’ll follow along.

~ Marleine