The Bubble Room....in a league of its own.

Do you ever have plans to go away for the weekend...and a big part of your plan is to actually make no plans? To enjoy whatever comes your way....and take it easy? Well that was the intention for my Sanibel weekend in August. 

I purposely chose to not schedule too much of anything for my husband and I.  All I really wanted to do was three things:  

1) Shelling on the beach 

2) Trip to Cayo Costa for what else - more shelling on the beach 

3) Dinner at the famous Bubble Room on Captiva Island  

The Shelling part: Mission Accomplished.  So with that, I figured our last night was the best option for a visit to The Bubble Room.  Well, as luck would have it - things didn't turn out that way as the wait was too long (they don't accept reservations) and I had to get up early the next morning....so we didn't get the chance to go (for dinner, that is). We went to the Old Captiva House instead - which was quite nice (and a favorite of Anne Morrow Lindbergh). It's kind of like an "old Florida' style restaurant. The food & service was great.  

I was determined that I wanted to share photos of this interesting little historic restaurant on Captiva Island...so I shot these early in the morning leaving the island.  

If you have been to The Bubble Room - I hope this brings back some great memories - and if you haven't - this is a must visit if you ever make a trip over to the Gulf Coast.

A vibrant rainbow of colors.....  

There's alot going on here...

A very pretty waiting area....

Apparently, the restaurant is so popular ...

it has it's own souvenir shop.

So I am hoping that this post help's my friends.... Laurie from Heaven's Walk and Debbie from the LakeHouse keep the excitement going on the countdown for their spring trip to Sanibel!!!

The Rest we take....

Photo from Atlanta Bartlett

"Sometimes the most important thing 

in a whole day is the rest we take

between two deep breaths"

                                                           

                                                                                  Etty Hillesum

Here's to a joyful and abundant Tuesday!!

The Wave - In pursuit of Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean

Close to my house there is a wonderful book store that I love to spend time in...just browsing.  Being an avid reader - this is a great place to visit, because it is one of those old fashion style neighborhood bookstores that has a little cafe, has story reading for children and carries all the interesting new bestsellers - but also hard to find, one of a kind books that are collectibles.

So today I picked up a new book, that I had recently read the reviews on in The New York Times Sunday Book Review - called The Wave, by Susan Casey, the Editor in Chief of O Magazine.

In researching for the book, she followed a group of world-class surfers who were determined to ride a 100-wave.  She spent five years in Maui writing it and as soon as I opened it  and checked out the photos - I knew I wanted to read this book.  

From learning about "The Ring of Fire"......

The Pacific Basin's volcano dotted perimeter

 that is responsible for 80% of all tsunamis

To learning about the world's largest tsunami that occurred 

on July 9, 1958 in Lituya Bay, Alaska.  

Where a record breaking wave was recorded at 1,740 feet tall.  

Millions of trees were completely stripped of their bark.....

....To finding out that there is such a thing as rogue waves and that there are people addicted to the thrill of riding one.  Since its impossible to paddle fast enough to ride a 70 foot wave, surfers use a technique called tow surfing.  This is where one person, on a jet ski tows a surfer holding onto water ski ropes, at 30 miles per hour; once they get into position, the surfer let's go and rides a wave otherwise too big and too fast to catch by conventional methods. 

"Waves are not measured

 in feet and inches, 

but in increments of fear."

                                                         Big Wave Surfer Buzzy Trent 

                                                    An excerpt from The Wave

1960's Mermaid of the Sea.....

I have recently acquired an obsession for vintage Haeger Pottery.  I first learned of this fabulous brand, which began in 1871 and just celebrated it's 139th anniversary - at a little local thrift shop where I discovered this amazing piece....

.....that I fell in love with - because I thought it was the perfect vessel to display my glass floats that I wrote about on one of my first posts (here).  This piece and some of my other coastal collectibles were  featured on the awesome blog - Completely Coastal which you can read about here.  I was so proud of this as I feel this blog is really one of the very best coastal blogs out there.

My glass floats from Glass Float Junkie displayed
 on the coffee table in my family room....They are wonderful
shades of green and blue, a few are frosted
and some still have their original netting.
There are 7 medium size and 3 smaller ones that
 are the size of golf balls.

The shape  reminded me of a really large, flowing shell.  And from there, this acquisition began my quest to find more of the pieces.  I learned this design came from the "Gold Tweed" collection - which was a line introduced in the early 1960's and it seems the seashell and coastal theme was a very popular subject - which of course, makes it a great fit with the coastal style of my home.

So here is my newest Haeger collectible ..... displaying a collection of coral I collected on the beach in Punta Mita, Mexico.  I am in love with her.....

Isn't she lovely? Especially the ponytail.

I am linking this post up to:

Show and Tell Friday with My Romantic Home

Yard Salen Party with Debbiedoos

Weekend Wrap up Party with Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Nite Special with Funky Junk Interiors
Thrifty Treasures with Southern Hospitality

Tickled Pink...in a pinkalicious kind of way.....

In celebration of my love of the color pink, this is my second post called Tickled Pink (I am certain, not my last). And I could not think of a better subject than this lovely cake made by Bella from Bella's Rose Cottage.  

I first learned of Bella's blog from my friend Diana of Nana Diana takes a Break and with with my first click, I was captivated by the lovely photos and wonderful posts..... BUT what really caught my eye was a vision of pink fluffy loveliness....on the left hand side of her blog.  

Taking a closer look - I realized it was a cake....not just any cake - but a cake  that all other cakes should be measured by - the cake that should be declared:

"The most beautiful cake in the world"

If there was such an award, I believe this masterpiece would win it. Just look it at.... not only is it the perfect shade of frosty pink and adorned with gorgeous  flowers; pink panda strawberry blooms, clusters of pink roses and wisps of cat mint.  It looks so fresh & lovely.  

Not too sweet - just smooth, creamy, yummy -  a perfect taste.  

I just gaze at this and dream - what is the inside like?  Is it a chocolate layer cake, or creamy vanilla with strawberries?  Or does it have a little bit of whipped cream inside?.......yum.

It just yells out "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"...

And because it's so beautiful, I think it is deserving of a very special stand to display it's loveliness...almost like the perfect accessory to complete your outfit. 


And since we all know it is simply impossible to limit yourself to just one accessory, "she" deserves to have the pick of the best...so here are the ones I selected (all with pink of course) that are worthy of her beauty.....

Square Pink cake stand from Confections in Glass Etsy Shop

Ceramic Dogwood Cake stand from Whitney Smith Etsy Shop

Soft pink and white cake stand from Confections in Glass Etsy Shop

Depression era vintage pink cake stand from Ugly Santa Etsy Shop

Pink Milk Glass cake stand from Barking Sands Vintage

Pink Upcycled cake stand from Curious Coffee Etsy Shop

Large Paris in rose pink cake stand from Ferguson Pottery Etsy Shop

I couldn't resist supersizing these photos for one last look at her loveliness.....

So which cake stand do you think she deserves?

.....Thank you Bella for creating such a 

wonderful masterpiece and for allowing

 me to share "her" on my blog.

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun-shiny day......

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day 

Today started off with such a beautiful morning....

and I needed to get some excercise....

So my husband and I decided to go kayaking.....

here is his under the Tiki Hut..

.......And this blue one is mine.  

Once I get off my kayak lift - this is the view to my right......

All of a sudden I saw this boat at the end of my canal - 

going out to the ocean, which is right around 

the corner from my house. 

This is the view at the other end of my canal....

Taking in the scenery along the way.....

I paddled around gazing at all the beautiful homes...

Back at my house....

The tide was low...thankfully, I lowered the lift enough....

Time for a refreshing swim.....


Day's like today are why I have 
such a love of the sea......


Have a fabulous Monday.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery......

Have you ever had an "all of sudden" out of nowhere thought - and wonder why you didn't think of it sooner?  Or in this case - all of a sudden remember seeing some else's fabulous idea and wonder why you didn't copy it sooner?

One of my favorite home accessories is this beautiful French Blue tray that I purchased from My Shabby Chateau's Etsy Shop.  I recently did a post (that you can read here) about this terrific shop and one of the photographs I featured was this lovely tray that I pretty much left empty - because I didn't want to cover the label inside.

See what I mean - this label is just so tres chic!  

So last week, when I was proofing the post about My Shabby Chateau - just as I hit the "Publish Post" button, it came to me, on exactly how to use this tray and still be able to admire the label I adore.

What's the saying..."Imitation is the highest form of flattery"?  Well, this is a perfect example.

One of my favorite blogs is Secret Garden Cottage.  Jo has such amazing decorating style and I love the look she has created in her home.  When I'm searching for ideas and inspiration, I spend time on her blog looking at the photos of her gorgeous home and garden.  She recently did a post on how she displayed her Sanibel seashells....and all I can say is, once again, as you can see from the photos below - she put together a lovely array that was creative and distinctive.

Beside the shell's, isn't this hutch just fabulous????

All of a sudden, voilà - my french blue tray combined with my 4 vintage milk bottles that I bought at a thrift shop and 1 Starbucks frappuccino bottle courtesy of Jo (that I'm quite certain will someday be a vintage piece) has now been transformed into a magnificent display of seashells. And I can still admire the beautiful label!!!

So thank you Jo, for showing me a new way to display my seashells...and for your fabulous style & creativity, as it now has a presence in my home.....

For now - its on the console in my family room - but I am thinking I may have to find a better spot...

Hope this inspires you to remember a fabulous idea you've seen on one of your favorite blogs....and bring it into your home! 

I'm linking this up to:
Show and Tell Friday with My Romantic Home
Weekend Wrap Up Party with Tatertots and Jello
Yard Salen Party with Debbiedoos
Saturday Nite Special with Funky Junk Interiors
Make it for Monday with Cottage Instincts