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Archive for August, 2013

A La Crema Kind of Saturday

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

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Last weekend, we had a friend come visit from Charlotte who hadn’t been here since Spring Break in college, so naturally she wanted to visit parts of the area, with a lesser interest on guys.  So we decided to make the roughly 35 minute trek from Destin to Rosemary beach via the infamous route 30-A (which will be featured in future posts).

Though we haven’t been fortunate enough to have any encounters, it’s rumored that the unincorporated town is a favorite of Hollywood stars and starlets. As you make your way into town you will notice the clean, crisp look of a European inspired village, with awe-inspiring architecture and cobblestone streets. Small shops with living quarters above them line both sides of the main strip that runs perpendicular to 30-A.

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Coastal Pillows by Betsy Drake

Monday, August 26th, 2013

The North Carolina coast is heralded for its beauty and diversity.  From the Inner Coastal Waterway to the Outer Banks, North Carolina has much to offer anyone looking to relax or to be inspired.  For artist Betsy Drake, that was precisely what she found.  Born and raised in North Carolina, Mrs. Drake settled in the Eastern part of the state where she owned a large high-end furniture and interior design business.  She also maintained a studio on the Inner Coastal Waterway as a get-away and source of inspiration.  There, Mrs. Drake and her husband, R.B. Hamilton, created art depicting the Coastal life.

Betsy Drake Oyster Boat Nautical PillowBetsy Drake White Pelican Coastal Pillow (more…)

Coastal Outdoor Patio Rugs

Friday, August 23rd, 2013

We are delighted to feature Fab Habitat as one of our partners at Beach Décor Shop.  This unique company is the essence of global citizenship as they produce their home décor products from recycled plastics inspired by artisan designs.  Their commitment to sustainability and fair trade practices is perfectly encapsulated in their logo.

Fab Habitat

Venice Turquoise Indoor Outdoor Rug

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The Story of the Pineapple, A Symbol of Hospitality & Warmth

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Even among native people of the Caribbean and South American regions the pineapple was viewed as a welcoming symbol among them. This beautiful fruit with its coarse skin and crowning leaves that yielded a remarkably sweet taste earned it a special place at meals and came to symbolize a meaning that transcended all cultures throughout history. The Pineapple is universally regarded as — welcome.

Pineapple Welcome Sign    Pineapple Welcome Flag

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A Blast from the Past in Destin, FL

Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

They say that only two things in life are inevitable, and we all know what they are. I always thought the popular saying should include a third inevitability; with time, things will change. There’s no denying that today, we go through life at a pace that’s unlike any other in our history, and unlike many others in the world. That is, except two weeks out of every year, when we can slow down, relax and enjoy…. Enjoy family. Enjoy friends. Enjoy a cold drink on a beach, or topside.

Even when we have the chance to get away from it all to our favorite beach, moments of zen are interspersed with bumper to bumper traffic on the way to dinner, mega-entertainment complexes and beach front high rise condos. Don’t get me wrong, I’d take sitting in traffic on the way to dinner at the beach any day over a typical evening commute! Every once in awhile we get a glimpse into (or reminder of if you’re experienced enough) the ‘glory days’. Even less often, we are lucky enough to catch such a glimpse of the coastal life of yesteryear’s.

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