G'day fellow table-dressing-lovers. Call me an obsessive, if you must, but I lurve it – such a great thing to do when I get a bit of time, to busy myself quietly at the table, gathering up a few simple things that I already have from around the cottage…and just fiddling (well I did do a lot of laundry yesterday I earned like heaps of time to myself).
And people there is BLUE in the cottage, rock on, get the hooters out, the white police may be called but I wanted to add some beachy blue. It all started with a visit to Jill at Bailiwick Designs who featured a lovely post on blues and aquas and then Cindy's vintage blue, sigh and so when I surfed on into the beach shop the other day to banish the Recession Blues and spied the blue with no less, the putty I was so having it!
I thought it would go pretty nicely with a simple white tablecloth and regular old white dishes and plain glasses – the best thing about casual beach decor is it's sooo easy to team it with basics that cost you nothing and it still looks pretty good, no cut glass crystal on that table for sure.
So I bought a few sets of the placemats, napkin rings (a cluster of pale shells, love them) and the napkins – one set to giveaway right here on the blog.
Dressing the table is a great, easy and economical way to add alittle smile to your weekend and make life beautiful (for more ways to pretty up your life, go see Melissa at The Inspired Room)
You'll find lots more wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch and if ya need, a little bit of errrrm, help in the old entertaining department, hook up with Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer, she'll whip you into shape for sure…
And yep I will ship ANYWHERE in the world, it's good here ya know, old Australia Post…
All you have to do is comment on any post all this week – you can leave one comment, two or 102. The more you leave the more times I'll enter you.
Quite simple and it'll make me smile which is what this is all about. You don't need a blog just make sure you leave me your email.
If you want to link to me I'll scoop up those comments and double em up baby (you can use the code below) – and go see Brenda's blog Cozy Little Home, where she conquered the html witch and slotted my badge right there in the sidelines *smile (just copy the code and pop it in the html section)
<href=http://abeachcottage.com><img alt="swing by the Beach Cottage Giveaway" src=http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo10/abeachcottage/beachbutton.jpg border="0" />
Or you can…
Follow me on Twitter and give my giveaway a little tweet tweet….
Sign up to my feed, let me know (there's a code word) and I'll add your name soooo many times
That is it. Done deal. Nice and Easy.
I've decided that I am the Recession Misery Buster, (is it just me or are you, too, sick and tired to the back teeth of the doom and gloom everywhere) so for every week in May I'll be giving away a little something, ooh and I have a treat for you next week…so make sure ya come back (and no it's not from a sponsor, no back-handers here – it is of course via my wonderful good taste and natural style hahaha!…and from the grueling work of these fair hands and cash in this back pocket)
If you fancy joining in, my next fantabulous Beach Cottage Recession Buster May Giveaway will be on Monday – just let me know in the comments on this post, or send me a message at abeachcottage@gmail.com if you're interested in joining in and I'll get a linky going or stick your giveaway in my sidebar.
And now…sorry I can't go without talking about the washing...
Firstly thank you for commenting, I am frantically writing names on bits of paper…secondly I am quite taken aback about areas not allowing washing, how terribly awful, does that mean you have to keep your washing inside, as in by law?
I mean I grew up in a place where people compete to get their laundry out first, my mum, like Jo has Washing Line OCD, she hangs things in themes by garment, in height order…she texts me from England for God's sake and tells me it's a good washing day!
I just cannot get my head round clotheslines not being mainstream…but ain't that the beauty of blogging?
oh and p.s. yup those white chairs are looking a little grubby, a real little person likes to sit there and do his homework every night, calling to his mum for the answers, wiping boy-gunge all around… spose I'll be washing some more this weekend…
Like the idea of using starfish in the table setting – I should try this, as I do have some star fish in the house.
Hope you have a lovely mother’s day on Sunday Sarah!
Sarah, you have no idea how completely honored I am that you stopped by to welcome me to the world of blogging! I have been lurking around your beautiful blog for months and months, admiring everything you do in your lovely white beach cottage. Maybe you noticed you are listed on my sidebar under my favorite inspirational people.
Thank you so much for visiting me and your sweet, encouraging words.
* I SIMPLY adore the SIMPLICITY and soooooothing RESTRAINT you’ve shown here… absolutely wonderful! Many thanks, from a born n’ bred California gal, who lives in Arizona! * Best, Linda *
i love the beach and i definitely am inspired by the beach when i decorate, especially my living room (pale blue couches, white tables with wicker baskets) and my bathroom (bottles of seaglass and sand). your table looks perfectly beachy! casual and elegant all at once.
Hello I linked to you on twitter and I twittered about your contest.
By the way you have a lovely blog.
God Bless,
Mrs.Garcia(carlitaGAR@bellsouth.net)
This is heavenly! Please add my entry to the drawing. This would be a delight for a beach birthday party I am throwing in a few weeks. I’m a non-blogger, but I’ll spread the word to my blogger friends.
I am now following you on Twitter and did a “tweet tweet” to your blog! I also went to your feed. I love your site – looking forward to coming back!
Thank you for the chance to win.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com
Greetings from Egypt… this is the first time I have come across your blog and it is just delightful. Pop over to mine anytime and see how exactly polar opposite it is…;o}. But I would love a pair of those delightful shell serviette holders. Your table is just gorgeous. I am always looking for ideas. Sadly, here in the land of sun and dust, there are few opportunities to acquire such fabulous trinkets so I would appreciate you sending them all the way here if you like. I will be back for more.
Beautiful. I think the beachy blue is just perfect My beach house has all sorts of beachy shades and I can hardly wait until I can get out this spring and find some treasures that I can whiten/brighten to cheer the place up.
I love the beach table setting. Transitioning my daughters room into a more beach theme as she’s gotten older. She loves the beach and these would be great on my new to me table.
Beautiful tablescapes, I learned well from your blog and the pictures you post, I get compliments from most of my tablescapes now.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m following your link over from Cindy’s blog…and I’m so glad that I did! This is my very first visit to your place and I am finding it quite delightful! I just love your pretty coastal tablescape…love the whites with just a touch of blue and brown!!! Gorgeous!!!
I really do like those pretty napkins and would love for you to add my name to your giveaway pot…Ohhh, crossing my fingers…crossing my toes…and I’m even crossing my eyes!!! Hehe!!! Thanks so much!!!
((((Major sigh)))))! SO LOVELY! Want to make a jaunt across the pond (well, I know that’s a LONG jaunt)… and redo my Cape Cod cottage?! It’s going to be summer here soon! =) lol
hugs!
-Beachy
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Well G’day Beach Cottage ladies. Of course some of you guessed correctly, no flies on Beach Cottage gals are there? A Summer House window dressing, beach vintage style. One that I got very wrong. I’ll keep this short and sweet The vintage crochet patchwork curtain? Love. Pure love. But, put it this [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Like the idea of using starfish in the table setting – I should try this, as I do have some star fish in the house.
Hope you have a lovely mother’s day on Sunday Sarah!
So nice … simple, romantic, and laid-back the kind of stuff that makes me go dreaming. I love the accents…candles, shells ….
Oh How I would love to win this! Great giveaway! Ill be reading your blog now, just found it though Life at Cherry Tree Corner,
Love your blog!
I just love your blog! That table is so my style!
Sarah, you have no idea how completely honored I am that you stopped by to welcome me to the world of blogging! I have been lurking around your beautiful blog for months and months, admiring everything you do in your lovely white beach cottage. Maybe you noticed you are listed on my sidebar under my favorite inspirational people.
Thank you so much for visiting me and your sweet, encouraging words.
Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss
* I SIMPLY adore the SIMPLICITY and soooooothing RESTRAINT you’ve shown here… absolutely wonderful! Many thanks, from a born n’ bred California gal, who lives in Arizona! * Best, Linda *
Beautiful table scape!
loving the new blue you….
I love your tablescape.
Have a beautiful Mother’s Day
i love the beach and i definitely am inspired by the beach when i decorate, especially my living room (pale blue couches, white tables with wicker baskets) and my bathroom (bottles of seaglass and sand). your table looks perfectly beachy! casual and elegant all at once.
sign me up, please!
xo
Hello I linked to you on twitter and I twittered about your contest.
By the way you have a lovely blog.
God Bless,
Mrs.Garcia(carlitaGAR@bellsouth.net)
Love your blog! So refreshing. Makes me want to live at the beach! Hoping to win the give-away too!
gotta love that blue, lookin’ good Sarah
Lyn xxx
what a lovely table scape! it is so dreamy and clean…so fresh…i love.
I’ve got your giveaway button on my blog…so count me in twice! Thank you~
What a great giveaway! The table looks soooo lovely! Thanks!
This is heavenly! Please add my entry to the drawing. This would be a delight for a beach birthday party I am throwing in a few weeks. I’m a non-blogger, but I’ll spread the word to my blogger friends.
Oh, what a beautiful blog you have! Please enter my name in your giveaway. Thanks so much, Joanne ~~ glamourgirljoanne@yahoo.com
I follow on Twitter and I tweeted!
http://tweetchat.com/room/SigJeans
Thank you for the chance to win your ultra cool table accessories! I love the colors.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com
I am now following you on Twitter and did a “tweet tweet” to your blog! I also went to your feed. I love your site – looking forward to coming back!
Thank you for the chance to win.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com
Tease all you want about your “wonderful good taste and natural style”… strolling around your blog, it’s obvious you have both! Happy Mother’s Day
Greetings from Egypt… this is the first time I have come across your blog and it is just delightful. Pop over to mine anytime and see how exactly polar opposite it is…;o}. But I would love a pair of those delightful shell serviette holders. Your table is just gorgeous. I am always looking for ideas. Sadly, here in the land of sun and dust, there are few opportunities to acquire such fabulous trinkets so I would appreciate you sending them all the way here if you like. I will be back for more.
Your tablescape is beautiful. I adore your blog and so wish I lived by the sea. ?
Beautiful. I think the beachy blue is just perfect
My beach house has all sorts of beachy shades 
and I can hardly wait until I can get out this spring and find some treasures that I can whiten/brighten to cheer the place up.
I so love you blog, it’s very peaceful
Hello !
) Love your scape
You “talk” funny….lol ! You probably think I talk funny too
and the colors are so nice !
Hugs ~ Kammy
I love the beach table setting. Transitioning my daughters room into a more beach theme as she’s gotten older. She loves the beach and these would be great on my new to me table.
It’s always fun to see what you are doing on your blog and this table is so inviting. thanks for visiting my blog too.
That’s beautiful and so is your blog!
Oh! Blue is my favorite… and I love shells! Wish I lived by the beach, but I do get to enjoy going once a year at least!
Love your blog — found it via Cindy’s blog and giveaway. Please enter my name in your own giveaway. Thanks, Joanne ~~ glamourgirljoanne@yahoo.com
I love your blog and your giveaway!!! Please count me in:)
**smiles**
Carol
Your beachy things are just making so anxious to get to the beach. As soon as we get this daughter married off….
Your giveaway is divine!
Beautiful tablescapes, I learned well from your blog and the pictures you post, I get compliments from most of my tablescapes now.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Sarah…
I’m following your link over from Cindy’s blog…and I’m so glad that I did! This is my very first visit to your place and I am finding it quite delightful! I just love your pretty coastal tablescape…love the whites with just a touch of blue and brown!!! Gorgeous!!!
I really do like those pretty napkins and would love for you to add my name to your giveaway pot…Ohhh, crossing my fingers…crossing my toes…and I’m even crossing my eyes!!! Hehe!!! Thanks so much!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
oh my what an awesome idea for a giveaway! I’d love to be entered.
I a really loving your blog, off to read some more, and I subscribed to your feed.
Beautiful tablescape!! Love your blog!
Hugs!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Butterfly Whispers
This is very nicely arranged! It looks great!
((((Major sigh)))))! SO LOVELY! Want to make a jaunt across the pond (well, I know that’s a LONG jaunt)… and redo my Cape Cod cottage?! It’s going to be summer here soon! =) lol
hugs!
-Beachy
I’d love to have a beach cottage. How refreshing.
JDSG
visionquest2020@msn.com