Happy Weekend

.............. sail away poolside this weekend

Let's Dine Out

Don't let the summer come to an end without celebrating it's beauty with dinner on the dock.

or by the pool...........

or by the river bank..........

and maybe on your boat..............

Celebrate summer in all her glory before she tucks herself away for the winter.

I do, I do

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If you have ever thought of exchanging wedding vows in the romantic spots by the water there are a few things to consider before you send out the invitations. Weddings by the waters edge offers many options : a family cottage : on a boat or cruise ship : at a beach location close to your home : and one of the most popular choices, a destination wedding to a beach resort.

All inclusive five star resorts offer some of the best options for couples tying the knot at the waters edge. On a trip last year to Excellence Resort in Punta Cana we witnessed at least one couple exchange vows each day during our two week stay. The weddings varied from the simple ceremony with the bride, groom and witnesses on the beach, to the elaborate wedding celebration with a total of 60 guests at the resort.

Excellence Resort - Punta Cana                                    whisper of the waves

While beach location weddings first started out as something casual with couples opting to say 'I do' by the shoreline, many brides are now looking for something more defined. Resorts are grabbing the opportunity to host wedding groups, but not all of them have the facilities to accommodate the modern day brides needs. Look for a resort that offers five star facilities specific for weddings and who have a high review rating.

Wedding party carriage at Excellence Resort Punta Cana

If you want the fun and happy mood of a beach destination yet yearn for some of the traditional settings, choose a resort that offers multiple options such as:

* a beach pagoda or platformed area for the ceremony {instead of standing on the hot sand}
* wood walkways to get you to the alter without kicking up too much sand
* a pagoda in the resort garden area
* guest seating area that offers some shade or market umbrella's
* a rain day option that still offers a view - lanai or open covered area that will give guests the ocean view {even if the surf is raging in the background}
* a beach wedding location in the sand and at the shore ........... if that's your thing
* a semi-private or private dining area for your wedding dinner - even if it's a small party of 4
* resorts who rope off the beach wedding area in advance to give the wedding party the opportunity for 'open privacy' get full marks from me.

formal wear on the beach is not required                           via beachweddingpackages

Beach weddings are the opportunity to relax and still have a great celebration.
Here are some tips for couples heading to the waves at the water .......

* eliminate the veil and long train dress from your shopping list. Beach weddings are in an ultra hot setting with sand blowing, you won't regret a flowing and breezy style.
* groom and groomsmen should wear casual light coloured pants and cotton tops - add a cotton blazer if you really feel the need. Shorts on the groom and groomsmen look dressy only if the men are wearing Bermuda shorts, a dress shirt and fresh coloured ties - very Hampton style. Wear deck shoes without socks instead of flip-flops.
* and for the ladies.......  flip-flops are named because of the noise they make. This is not a romantic or elegant statement to make while walking up the aisle. Instead chose an elegant strap sandal or a little foot jewellery to adorn your toes.
* bride and maids - paint your toes a bright colour. This brings a finished look to your beach walk and will look cleaner once your toes dip into the sand and surf.
* everyone - especially the boys......... get a pedicure, your tootsies will be on full display and photographed.
* it is usually breezy at the beach so make sure your hair is styled and secured so that it is not blowing around your face.
* because of the casual nature of the event it is even more important that all attendants were the same head-to-toe.
* consider holding your ceremony as the sun is setting
* before you 'put a ring on it' - put a thin ribbon on the ring, then if it is dropped in a moment of nervousness, it will not be lost in the sand.

don't forget to paint your toes a pretty colour

Make it comfortable for everyone : ask your resort host to provide.......

* seats for all of the guests - I prefer the bench style seating in the sand.
* many resorts have formal chairs with covers - ask instead to leave the chairs natural and adorn them with colourful ties, flowers or fans. Make it your own.
* attractive umbrella's and/or fans for guests will keep them comfortable in the heat
* a microphone and speakers is needed so that all guests can hear the ceremony over the sound of the waves and for the music interlude.
* ask the resort to rake the sand just prior to your guests arrival - suggest they get creative with a design between the rows and aisles.

Bench fasteners will make sure your fans do not blow away.

use natural elements                      via Erin Hart

create a ceremony area                via Erin Hart

rake the sand                                   

Make it unique and your own:

* consider meeting each other walking along the surfs edge and then walk together up to a ceremony area. After all, marriage is about meeting each other half way. Marrying at the waters edge is the reason you've chosen a beach destination, so make it memorable for you as a couple. This also offers guests and a photographer great opportunities for pictures.
* celebrate the colour and playfulness of the islands - decorate with brights.
* the party will continue on when the sun goes down, in addition to torches and candles add some fireworks on the beach.
* request that all of the guests wear a specific colour ........ that all of your attendants are wearing as well {all white is my favourite for a beach wedding}.
* small items like wedding favours and decor items that fold flat in luggage can be easily taken to your destination wedding to make it personalized.
* take a moment at the shore after your vows and set something to sail or skips a few stones while sharing a wish together.

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personalize your beach wedding - prepare in advance

personalize items can easily be transported to the destination

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Celebrate your love and union with a beach destination wedding

                       ............. and listen to the whisper of the waves.

Beauty at the Beach

source unkown

We all want to look our best while we are at the beach. Walking out in your bathing suit can be a vulnerable time for many people. So when the waves call you to the shore or the edge of the dock, you don't have to jump into the water to escape the roving eyes.

Not everyone can look this great in a retro one piece swim suit. Esther Williams always looked fit and lean, partly because swimming was her workout.
Hmmm, something for everyone to consider.

Your bathing suit style is dictated by many things....... age, figure, confidence, sense of spirit. I've worn one piece swimsuits, string bikini's, tankini's, and currently now wear modest two piece bathing suits.

I wear my swimsuits at the pool or beach, i don't walk around in them without a cover up. I'm comfortable in a two piece and know that as long as i keep fit i can wear one, which is a good reason to stay fit. But I've been thinking that a stylish one piece needs to make it back into my swimwear wardrobe. So the search is on.

There are so many images of Marilyn in bathing suits or less, and there is no doubt that her curves set the world on fire. I like this picture of her partly because of the style of the one piece swim suit and because she isn't really posing for the shot.

via tumblr

 love the shoes and full hair & makeup

Swimsuits like the ones in the picture above had form and support. One of the things i don't like about one piece suits is that they are either too flimsy or are too rigid. It's been several years since i've shopped for a one piece suit so i'm hoping that the search will bring something stylish and comfortable.

Swim suit styles began to change and suddenly women were wearing little skirts, ruffles and belts on their suits.
I once had a neighbour who wore a swimsuit that had a little skirt attached. She didn't want her derriere to show so the skirt feature was to cover it up. It must have given her confidence because she would walk from one yard to the next chatting up the neighbours wearing her little skirt bathing suit.

 

One thing that i've learned over time when buying a swim suit, is to make sure it fits like a glove when it's new. Not tight, but also not with any give. The suit is going to give when it gets wet and my theory - when you sit your fanny in it in the blazing sun it gives more.  Having a saggy looking bottom isn't a good look on a bathing suit.

Think of your swimwear as if it is fine lingerie. Take care of it and wash the swim suit with a mild soap after you swim [on vacation the hotel shampoo is perfect for this].
I travel with 5 or 6 swimsuits for a beach vacation. I like the variety and usually change my suit twice a day [with a quick shower in between].

My quest for a stylish, comfortable and 'a little bit sassy' one piece swimsuit is on. But i'm not giving up on my two piece collection, so i need to keep swimming to stay in shape.

Let's face it, we are not heading down a runway in stiletto's and angel wings, so  looking great when the waves come splashing up is all about your level of confidence.

inspiration from the sea

Water covers approximately 70% of the earth's surface, whether that is in a liquid form, a solid form [ice], or in an invisible form [water vapor in the air]. Water on earth goes through various cycles of evaporation, condensation an precipitation usually reaching the sea.

mykonos greece                                                                  source whisper of the waves

is it no wonder that we are so frequently drawn to find tranquility in the water. Travelers are drawn to sea-side resorts to honour the waves, breath in the ocean air and soak up the colourful atmosphere that the ocean encourages.

mykonos greece                                                    source whisper of the waves

for so many of us, when we decide to 'get away' it usually is near water. The lake. The ocean. On a cruise. It offers a tranquility like no other........... the sound of the waves.

and when we head towards the water we gather treasures that help to revive the spirit with just a glance ..... back to the shell, the sand, the driftwood. And sometimes in means simply creating your own seaside decor..............

seaside spa                                                    martha stewart

seaside bath                                              martha stewart

colours of the sea                                      seattle home mag

canadian house and home

beach grass cottage via etsy

let yourself be inspired and bring a little bit of the sea into your life.

our chairs

A good friend who has a special gift for being able to see things that others cannot see [she's psychic], told me that she saw two chairs sitting at the end of the dock. One is for me. one is for mister. We would be sitting on those chairs holding hands together many years from now. I had just met mister and didn't see how that could possibly be true.

.......... i had an artist friend put this picture of 'our chairs' together in a setting that i described to him. I gave the framed picture to mister as a gift. We are looking forward to the years ahead sitting on the dock together.

I don't know how i realized that the picture of our chairs would be adirondack, maybe it is the memories from my grandparents yard so many years ago, maybe it's the perfect fit that this style of chair offers.

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In 1903, Thomas Lee designed the first version of the adirondack chair while on vacation near the adirondack mountains [new york state]. Lee offered Harry Bunnell, a carpenter friend who was in need of work, the job of producing the chairs. Two years later, Bunnell filed for and received the patent for the now famous style of chairs. Bunnell went on to produce and profit from the adirondack chair designs for the next twenty years.

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The muskoka chair received it's name from the muskoka lakes cottage region in ontario - north of toronto. When you boat along the lake and see a rainbow of colourful muskoka chairs on the docks brightening the waters edge.

uwharrie

Some of the chairs come joined at the hip with a slat table linking the two chairs. some have attached or removable foot stools. The slope and comfort of the seats makes the chairs comfortable, but the wider the arm the better the chair for resting your arms and your summer bevy.

pottery barn

relaxing in a sea of lavender...........

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