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I love the rituals involved with Christmas, even if perhaps, every year the reality of all that goes on, does at times make one rather weary of the whole affair.
This year I started a new ritual – beachcombing for decs – a ritual that for one I certainly wish I had started before and secondly one that meant I spent much loved time with the littlest member of the Beach Cottage.
The last few weeks, as I've said before we've found ourselves, on a weekday evening about 5 o' clock, at a beach we don't usually go to, for training for one of the other kiddos. Leaving the little one and I a full hour to stroll along and see what the sea's washed up.
We found lots of shells of course, bits of old driftwood washed to a light grey, seaweed and ocean things, just right for Christmas Au Natrel.
I piled it up outside and left it in the sun
And although I love the sparkle of white lights and twinkly things that go hand-in-hand with Christmas, there's a part of me that hankers after that pine clad, alpine cabin, so I suppose these rustic beauties from nature round here are the seaside, Beach Cottage version of that cabin-dusted-with-white postcard.
And I suppose more, things brought in, from where we live, goes with me now, and our new life here. Not so much needing the brightness and warmth from the cold as our Christmas decorating did before but more embracing celebrating in a different way.
So yesterday, the first day for a while that I've had any time to sit around wasting time, I sat with these tumbled things from the sea adding ribbon and although I would have at one time eschewed the idea of beach things at Christmas as a complete novelty, what I ended up with and subsequently tied on the tree, felt right.
Like a new tradition.
OK, I'm going for a walk, it's Christmas Carols tonight so should be fun, oh and that's a green tree you can see in the pics…yep, there's a story!
Mixing the natural treasures from the shore along with traditional ornaments will be perfect for your beach cottage at Christmas Sarah. Love the rick-rack braid to tie the shells on the tree.
Sarah,
I love the blog today! Of course, I love it EVERYDAY! I went back to last December 1 and was reading about the Christmas thongs…I,too, grew up calling them ‘thongs’…my daughters have called them flip-flops and really think it is funny to call them ‘thongs’! The first time my girls said they were buying ‘thongs’ I wondered why they didn’t come home with shoes! Oh well, just shows my age! Have a great time decorating your cottage for Christmas…and I liked your white tree, but a green one can fit just as well in the ‘beach theme’!
Hugs across the pond,
Deb P
Decorating with found objects is so eco-chic. I love it. And I think your finds are gorgeous. You’re living my dream with a cottage on the ocean. Maybe someday. In the meantime, I’ll just keep living vicariously through you! Thanks for a great site.
XO Piper
I’ve been using seaside treasures from our many walks on the beaches to decorate Sea Cottage for Christmas for three years now. I think the whites of shells and driftwood give a sense of calm wintry comfort to our home…and yours too.
So a green tree? I loved your white one from last year. Do you still have it?
I sooooooo love the picture under the sea photo THe lanterns ar great (I have some white ones on my Christmas table) and I must confess that I am a bit jealous on your grayish driftwood
Hi Sarah!
Well it was just meant to be that I popped over today! I’ve been struggling with how to decorate our new home…with all of this WHITE!
In Alabama we lived in a little cottage…everything vintage…red cozy sofa…lots of black toile.
Our Christmas decorations were just lovely…so magical in that little cottage.
This past weekend I pulled them all out.
Most of the decorations are vintage…but with red and green and lots of silver and glitter.
My big decision:
Do I want to bring all of that color into my white and grey?
Or…do I want to just pack it all back up and save it.
I would really adore for the tree to just be the major sparkle…and then tie white bows onto fir branches and place vintage balls in shells and such.
I love what you are doing with your decor…collecting those little gems off the beach is just my style! I love driftwood!
Can’t wait to see it all placed!
And would love to see your tree.
I subscribed as a reader today so now I can follow you daily!
I have long loved this beautiful blog!
XXOOXX
woops…sorry so long!
All your decorations look lovely! It seems quite bizarre to be decorating in such wonderful heat and sunlight – I am sure that it all looks quite different! Just grey, damp, and short days here – as you well remember, I am sure.
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
Sarah, you might be longing pine, but you are definitely blooming where you are planted. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Goodness – lots of treasure there, lovely colours! Hope there is some left at the beach for the little creatures to use in their houses!
What a fun new tradition! It’s been a year full of brand new ideas, discoveries and you make them all beautiful!
Mixing the natural treasures from the shore along with traditional ornaments will be perfect for your beach cottage at Christmas Sarah. Love the rick-rack braid to tie the shells on the tree.
Happy decorating this week dear.
What a great new tradition!
Lovely finds, Sarah! 
Smiles,
Rachel
What a fun time to spend with the littlest kiddo. Some one on one time is perfect – making such wonderful lifelong memories.
Alison
Sarah,
I love the blog today! Of course, I love it EVERYDAY! I went back to last December 1 and was reading about the Christmas thongs…I,too, grew up calling them ‘thongs’…my daughters have called them flip-flops and really think it is funny to call them ‘thongs’! The first time my girls said they were buying ‘thongs’ I wondered why they didn’t come home with shoes! Oh well, just shows my age! Have a great time decorating your cottage for Christmas…and I liked your white tree, but a green one can fit just as well in the ‘beach theme’!
Hugs across the pond,
Deb P
I think you should enlarge and frame that stunning picture of the waves.
Decorating with found objects is so eco-chic. I love it. And I think your finds are gorgeous. You’re living my dream with a cottage on the ocean. Maybe someday. In the meantime, I’ll just keep living vicariously through you! Thanks for a great site.
XO Piper
Hi Laura,
Thanks so much for linking to 2nd Time Around!
I love your blog…haven’t visited in awhile…everything looks so professional!
Your beach finds are wonderful, and look so ‘wintery’!
I’ve been using seaside treasures from our many walks on the beaches to decorate Sea Cottage for Christmas for three years now. I think the whites of shells and driftwood give a sense of calm wintry comfort to our home…and yours too.
So a green tree? I loved your white one from last year. Do you still have it?
I sooooooo love the picture under the sea photo THe lanterns ar great (I have some white ones on my Christmas table) and I must confess that I am a bit jealous on your grayish driftwood
Hi Sarah!
Well it was just meant to be that I popped over today! I’ve been struggling with how to decorate our new home…with all of this WHITE!
In Alabama we lived in a little cottage…everything vintage…red cozy sofa…lots of black toile.
Our Christmas decorations were just lovely…so magical in that little cottage.
This past weekend I pulled them all out.
Most of the decorations are vintage…but with red and green and lots of silver and glitter.
My big decision:
Do I want to bring all of that color into my white and grey?
Or…do I want to just pack it all back up and save it.
I would really adore for the tree to just be the major sparkle…and then tie white bows onto fir branches and place vintage balls in shells and such.
I love what you are doing with your decor…collecting those little gems off the beach is just my style! I love driftwood!
Can’t wait to see it all placed!
And would love to see your tree.
I subscribed as a reader today so now I can follow you daily!
I have long loved this beautiful blog!
XXOOXX
woops…sorry so long!
Merry Christmas Sarah!
Love your tree, it’s beaut mate!
All your decorations look lovely! It seems quite bizarre to be decorating in such wonderful heat and sunlight – I am sure that it all looks quite different! Just grey, damp, and short days here – as you well remember, I am sure.
Pomona x