CATCHING UP: BEHIND THE BLOG

Hello, Shorelies! I can't tell you how good it feels to be sitting here writing to you all on this Monday night after a long day at work. I know I should have gotten this out in the morning, but the AM rush took over leaving me without the peace and quiet I needed to get down to beachy business with y'all.

I've had an incredible few weeks to enjoy with Brian and our pup, Jack, and to settle into my new day job which has been very exciting and a tad overwhelming at the same time. I try to keep Shorely separate from my day job life but just to fill you in on where I currently stand professionally, I left my job in the corporate world a few months back because I just needed to get out and do something different with my Monday-Fridays, 9-5. PHEW!!! It was a long time coming, 6.5 years to be exact, but it needed to be the right time and when that never came (because is there ever a right time, for anything?), it was time to take a risk and leave.  I thought about pursuing Shorely full-time and really, really growing it into something bigger but I'll be completely honest, that scares me a little bit lot. I kind of like having a "day job" separate from my passion that I can rely on financially to help our family get started in a comfortable way. Other than those I love and my health, there is nothing I value more than having this passion of mine where I can spread beachy love and goodness with my readers, customers, and clients on a daily basis and as soon as this turns into a livelihood, it changes, and not knowing whether that will be a good or a bad thing terrifies me.

SO after all that, I decided something part-time would be the perfect solution for right now and it found me about a month and a half ago. A private school in a near-by town was looking for someone to work about 20 hours a week and it was a perfect mesh. I LOVE working in a school! What a nice change from the corporate world, I can't even begin to explain how much more it suits me. The teachers and staff are all so nice and caring, and the kiddies will arrive next week. I've met such wonderful people and I can't wait to settle into my role (once the craziness of school starting and learning how to tackle all my responsibilities subsides) and enjoy it.

To continue on with the behind-the-blog theme I took some photos around our house the other day:

new gallery wall:

I'm still waiting for the perfect sign to hang above the type tray - I think I have something in mind I saw on Etsy... All the frames are IKEA, the type tray is vintage and filled with shells, and the High Tide or Low Tide Poster is sold in my shop :)

vintage apothecary bottles with shells placed on top, and a vintage mirror

our beach bag and hat rack, with some pretty shells and a cute little animal reflecting in the mirror :) 

beach gear really makes the perfect art...

Mom are you done yet? I want to go play!!

I hope I didn't bore you with all the goings-on in the life of yours truly - I'm so happy to be back :) 

Live Well. Love Much. Go to the Beach.

xo

MORGAN POINT LIGHTHOUSE

What a great weekend had with friends in the charming historic seaside town of Noank, Connecticut at the Morgan Point Lighthouse. A colleague of Brian invited us up to his in-law's family home that is the restored Morgan Point Lighthouse... little did he know about a little blog called Shorely Chic :)

The lighthouse was built in 1868 and bought by our friend's father in 1991 in a completely dilapidated state. Since then, the lighthouse has has been transformed into a warm home filled with the most extensive nautical collection outside of a museum I've ever seen.

Let's go for a little tour, shall we?

the piece above is from the Titanic! 

how cool, right??

 

climbing up to the top

picture perfect weather and boats galore...

most of the bedrooms and living area were in the house to the left

possibly the best lobster roll I've ever had

And the charming town which really made you feel like you were stepping back in time:

We had such a beautiful weekend! Thank you to Ian and Debbie for being such gracious hosts and having us at this Connecticut gem!

Pancakes & Kayaks...

Good Morning, Lovelies! Hope you all had lovely weekends! This was the first weekend in a while Brian and I  had at home and to ourselves and it was really lovely - relaxing and fun. On Sunday, after eating these:

Blueberry pancakes 

 We bought a kayak!! Totally spontaneous but we had been wanting one for quite some time now and there was a sale going on at one of our local sports stores so we bit the bullet :)  

Brian with our new babe on an island off Rowayton, CT

Also on Sunday, I had an amazing photo shoot at the home of the founders of Hat Attack-Buji Baja, Bill & BJ Gedney, and their daughter, Cooper. They have an amazing Bohemian Chic beach house right on the water and invited me to take some pictures for the blog. Here's a little teaser for now:

I can't wait to show you the rest! 

I also came up with a few new stationery designs and mailed out some packages:

Here's the new flamingo and chevron card:

on sale here :) 

And here are the sweet little packages they come in:

So that was my weekend - how was yours??

Happy Memorial Day & Blogfest 2012 Overview

Happy Memorial Day weekend!! Today (or after work) we can officially kick back and say, "Summer is Here!" I can't wait to get that Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc in my hand and feel the sand on my toes tomorrow. We have friends visiting from out town and have lots of fun outdoor plans (hoping for a little sun here on the east coast!).

It's been an amazing week with lots of Etsy sales with the SummerLove promotion going on, and spending the first few days in the Big Apple for Kravet's ultra inspiring Blogfest 2012. I have so many posts conjured up in this overactive brain of mine which will be posted overtime, but for now, I'd love to share some of the the highlights and instagram love with you.

We arrived on Monday afternoon to the Kips Bay Showhouse on the Upper West Side. The Kravet family was there to welcome us as well as Margaret Russel, Editor in Chief of Architectural Digest, who led a champagne toast to Blogfest and we were off to tour of the rooms. I was too busy chatting it up with bloggers I haven't seen in a while, and some I had just met for the first time, so my picture flow from this event is weak (bad blogger!!) Oh, and Thom Felicia was there as well, I always love to see him - he's uber charming.

On Tuesday morning we had a lovely breakfast at the penthouse of the Hearst Tower (photo provided by blogger friend Elizabeth of Pretty Pink Tulips). 

Just to be walking the halls of the building where House Beautiful, Veranda and Traditional Home are published was motivating, and then to be able to listen to the various points of views from the Editor in Chiefs was really inspiring!

Nate Turner and his gang of New Wave Designers. I LOVED this panel and have so many interesting and inspiring stories to tell you.  

Next we hit the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept Showhouse:

My favorite room and bathroom was designed by Lee Kleinhelter who owns the well known Pieces, Inc store in Atlanta, GA. I can't WAIT to do a full blog post on her :)

  

Yes, I will!

We got to listed to Ann Maine interview famed designer Alexa Hampton, who is an absolute fire cracker. My favorite line was when she said she would "slap anyone who said that traditional was dowdy" - I totally agree.

And finally, there's me with Laura Trevey of Bright, Bold & Beautiful. I ADORE Laura's blog and her so much, and was thrilled that she gave me a few of my favorite prints!

So it was certainly a busy week, but a very fun and inspiring one to get through. I highly encourage all design/lifestyle bloggers to attend blogfest if you can. The opportunitues are endless and the inspiration is highly intoxicating. A HUGE thank you to the Kravet family for hosting such an amazing conference - I look forward to attending for years to come!

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! See you here on Monday :)