Be Colorful Coastal

Latest Loves June 2022

 

With all the remodeling and refresh projects going on here in our Florida home I have been doing a lot of shopping locally and online and discovering some wonderful finds. 

 

 

I fell hard for this cabinet hardware to use in the powder room. The doors to the vanity cabinet arrived and they weren't exactly what I was expecting but I hope the hardware will still work because I love this chinoiserie style.

 

For one of the guest bathrooms, I was having a hard time deciding between installing a ceiling fan or a light fixture. But when I found this pretty chandy for less than $100 I knew my choice was made.

 

And while all of that construction has been going on, we've been spending more time away from the dust and out on the lanai. We've loved our comfy oversized furniture out there but these outdoor-rated -poofs give each of us a great place to put our feet up.

 

Do you ever wonder what to do with the extra pillows that you have for your guests? I had ours stored on closet shelves. Uncovered, I worried they would get dusty but the big black garbage bag look wasn't cutting it. Then I found these attractive and flexible storage covers. They work perfectly, even for king-size pillows and I feel all "Home Edit" or Marie Kondo when I open the closet doors and see everything all neat and organized. I like them so well that I am ordering another one for our seasonal comforter.

 

And my latest love this month is this fun camera card case that attaches to my camera strap so even if I am away from home and my camera card is still in the back of my computer, I will have the backup available right with my camera. I love it and it feels good to support small businesses.

 

 

Our projects here at the house are slowly winding down and I am anxious to share pics and videos of them with you.

I love your feedback and the photos you send me of your home updates too.

Thank you for your input and for following Be Colorful Coastal.

 

Latest Loves April 2023

 

It has been a while since I did a Latest Loves post here on Be Colorful Coastal, but to stay in the loop just scroll down to see a blast of my recent favorite things.

 

For starters, this is a fun read that you won't regret adding to your TBR stack.

Plus, this book is on sale this week in ebook form on Amazon for only $1.99!

 

 

What an unexpected delight. I was reading this novel on an airplane and found myself in that awkward moment of realizing I was gut laughing out loud and attracting a raised eyebrow or two from my fellow passengers. But as humorous as this book is, it also has a message about grief and moving forward. I was surprised by the layers in this book. It is more than just a funny story about a gay uncle whose young niece and nephew move in with him for the summer. At first glance, the guncle is hoping to help them move through their loss but as it turns out they are also able to help him finally find some closure and recovery too. In three words: I loved it.

Five stars.

available here

 

Next, I want to share (and brag) about the over-the-top clever idea my daughter came up with

 with to celebrate our granddaughter's third birthday...

Welcome to Mastering 3,

otherwise known as a Master's golf tournament birthday party.

 

 

The attention to detail is incredible and made this event so much fun.

She had the golf-inspired centerpiece shown above for the table and this one for the buffet island.

 

 

The Master's colors with a little pink and the number three thrown in on repeat were delightful.

I am so impressed by these adorable and delicious Master's themed cookies that she made herself. She didn't get that skill from her mama.

Our little three-year-old doesn't like cake but loves donuts so these green-sprinkled mini donuts were the perfect addition.

 

 

My daughter even researched the foods that are served at the tournament and incorporated them into the menu.

I love the green sandwich bags and the egg salad and pimento cheese labels. It was another one of those fun and something extra details that made this party so unique.

Click here for more of her incredible inspo.

 

 

What inspired me design-wise this month?

Two different images jumped out at me recently. This first one has the vibes and colors of our empty-nester home up north.

 

 

discovered here

I love that rug, the design colors, the black shiplap wall, the chandy, and that cocktail table/ottoman.

I am embracing that they didn't find the need to add books or a tray of tchotchkes to it. 

 

This next image inspires me for our Florida home. I already have a piece of art above our fireplace that was my jumping-off point for our living room but I am swooning over the green bases under the modern chinoiserie planters and the layered effect of those Asian-influenced sconces. The dashes of colors that were pulled from the artwork are design genius. I'm a total fangirl of this look.

discovered here

 

But what is a home without some accessories to trick it out?

This winter we received a couple of these eco-friendly Geometry brand kitchen towels from our daughter and son-in-law and although I loved the fun colorful designs, I didn't really appreciate them until we actually put the tea towels to use. They are super absorbent and dry quickly. All of the Geometry products are sustainable and made from recycled materials and according to the website, each kitchen towel is equal to 3.5 recycled water bottles.

 

 

Not only are they functional but their designs are contemporary and add an element of style to a humble product. How appropriate are these two patterns for our Florida home? 

 

You can purchase them here.

 

I have been struggling with how to add some additional ambient lighting to our lanai where we have a limited number of outlets. Recently these stunning rechargeable battery-powered lamps showed up in my Instagram feed. How DO they know? LOL.  I was hesitant to order them because I was worried they might have that hideous cool white glow but no, they add a wonderfully soft and adjustable warm-hued glow. I like them so much that I am thinking about adding two more in either gold or black to the inside of our home.

 

 

Solariko rechargeable cordless lamps. Available here.

 

Those of you that follow Be Colorful Coastal know my obsession with throw pillows. Etsy shops have become my go-to when I am looking for new pillow covers and that is where I found my latest little lovely.

 

This shop does such a nice job of finishing. I really like a corded edge like this one has.

available here

 

 

Then there were the style influences that inspired me.

This gold tote from Tom Ford made my Handbags That Take My Breath Away Pinterest board. 

 

available here

 

And this more down-to-earth option was an actual add-to-cart purchase.

I loved the color and the fact that they are a budget-friendly summer option.

find them here.

 

Another recent great find is this firming facial cleanser from boscia. I have used and liked other products from this company in the past but this is my newest fave.

 

 

It smells nice and has a cooling sensation. You can feel it firming but it isn't drying.

available here

 

My latest love nail color?

It has to be Zoya's Lola. It is a perfect happy shade for Spring.

 

available here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastest Loves: From January 2022

 

 

 

This year I'm going to do it.

I wanted a New Year's resolution that was realistic and attainable. This year I started small. I decided I'm going to drink more water and this pretty little number has dialed up the fun in achieving my daily goal. I feel encouraged every time I pick it up. You can find yours here.

 

 

 

And here is my second Latest Love-

Right before Covid, my daughter gifted me an LED/UV nail lamp so I could do my own gel nails at home. We didn't know it then but what a timely gift that was! I really liked the lamp and the freedom to do my own nails, but I struggled with the topcoat.  No matter what I did, short of wiping it with alcohol, even after multiple rounds under the lamp, it still felt sticky. Recently I found this amazing no-wipe top coat and I am a total fan-girl. Seriously, it is dry to the touch after one minute under the lamp.

 

 

 

 

 

 MAKARTT Top Coat

 

I seldom add anything foodie-leaning to my Latest Loves posts because I'm not a cook.  I do, though, like eating and I am always up for discovering easy ways to add some flavor and flair to my meals. This seasoning is one of my new favorites to add to rice, fish, and burgers. The Everglades website suggests adding it to grits. That sounds amazing!

We bought ours here.

 

Then there was this fun find...

Are you old enough to remember dickies? They were these turtle neck or sometimes button-down-looking numbers that you could tuck into a v-neck sweater, dress, or any top and they created the illusion that you were wearing another layer underneath but without all the bulk. I had them as a kid and I'd forgotten about them until these shirt extenders showed up in my Instagram feed and reminded me of those dickies from my past.

They are called shirt extenders. I call them #cheaters. My thighs look better because you can't see them. LOL

 

 

If you are anything like me, I'm guessing you have a few sweatshirts or sweaters that are just a wee bit too short to wear with some of your more revealing leggings. And sometimes a longer length just looks more flattering with those skinny jeans too. That's when these shirt extenders are a godsend. I was going to donate some of my shorter tops but now, after adding these extenders, they are back in regular rotation. The extenders come in both a button front and t-shirt hemline look. I found mine here.

 

I usually like to add a book to my Latest Loves too. 

So, what have I been reading? Well, true confession, I ordered the wrong book for book club. I had the right title but the wrong author and I erroneously downloaded Anthem by Ayn Rand.

The first chapter was so beyond weird I had some serious doubts about the woman that I thought had chosen this book for the group, but I kept reading.  For me, the book's only redeeming quality was that it was short. I was about to throw in the towel on this one but then, a couple of chapters in, I started to be intrigued

 

 

.

 

 

I did a little research and even though the book could easily have been written today, it was actually written in the 1930s by a Russian woman that had come to the United States after WWI.  The tale takes place at some unspecified time in the future but during a dark age. The theme is individualism vs. collectivism. The social system in the book is one that puts the public sector above all. The collective good over the individual. In this culture, there aren't names, only numbers. There is no I, no he, no she, only them and we. No relationships. No preferences.  For me, even though this book was written eighty-five years ago, it sounds eerily familiar to the woke agenda and much like a culture that the liberal elite of the twenty-first century appears to want us to achieve. If you consider yourself extremely woke, a far-left liberal, and a follower of AOC, this isn't the book for you. If you are a cheerleader for individual rights and freedoms then this book is incredibly timely and has some real potential for a group discussion. 

 

 

 

I purchased mine through Apple books but it is available in numerous formats.

The book I am supposed to be reading and just started is Anthem by Noah Hawley.

 

The jury is still out on this one. I will keep you posted.

 

Last, but not least, I can't do a Latest Loves post without featuring at least one design element, so I am sharing this barn door with you. I wish I had seen or thought of this look before we finished our downsized home up north. This door would have been perfect leading into our laundry room. As soon as we moved I regretted that I hadn't incorporated a barn door in that space. This week I saw this one, in black, and with the glass insert that would allow light into our hallway. It would have been spot-on-perfect (Insert sigh here).  I love it. Don't you? 

It is available here.

 

With January and the resets that come with it in the rearview mirror, I am looking forward to getting back to writing more frequently and with some fresh content as we begin some new projects here in our Florida home.

 

Latest Loves: March 2021

Decorating for Spring begins at the front door.

When I discovered this delightfully colorful and Easter-inspired door candy I knew I wanted to share it here on my Latest Loves post for March.

Love. It. #GOATSpringwreath

You can buy it here. 

 

And speaking of door candy, I use to have this "Why Hello" sign on the door from the garage into my art studio in our Linden home but I had to leave it behind when we sold the house. 

 

 

I bought the original sign at Hobby Lobby but couldn't find it again so I was thrilled to find this similar and downloadable version last week on Etsy. I can't wait to pull this greeting together and have it hanging on the back door of our new downsized home up north.

 

 

get it here.

 

Shifting now from home decor to manicures... 

I use to routinely go to the salon for manicures but then, somewhere along the way, it seemed that what had once been a pampering luxury became a have-to something that I needed to fit into my schedule. 

During COVID I was happy to just have my natural nails but I did sometimes miss the look of a pulled-together polished manicure.  I started painting my own nails using gel polishes and an LED light with mixed results. Sometimes I would get a great salon-looking manicure and then the next time the polish bubbled or it would only last for a few days. Recently I tried these sticker nail polish strips from Color Street and I have to say they are pretty incredible.

 

Color Street polish strips for nails

 

They can be rather tricky to work with the first time or two. There is a definite learning curve to applying them. I would recommend starting out with one of the glitter styles of polish strips because they seem to be more forgiving than the solid colors in case you mess up. There are some great YouTube videos with tips to help you learn how to apply them easier and I would suggest reviewing a couple of them before jumping in and going it alone.

After doing this three times now, I think I finally have the application process mastered and I have to say that this polish really does last an easy ten days to two weeks. Plus, they are so much easier to remove than gel polish. With a little extra effort, you can get two manicures out of each package so that brings them down to about $5.00 a manicure!

 

 

This sports bra is another latest love for me.

I bought it in white to layer under low-cut tank tops and loved it so much that I ordered it again in two other colors. Order your usual size. They run true to size and I ordered the one with the built-in bra. Is it designed for a high-intensity workout? Well, I wear a D cup so for me, probably not. But for everyday wear, it is amazingly comfortable and supportive.

 

 

 

Then I ordered this air-fryer.

The kids were coming for a visit and I thought it would be perfect for Crew's chicken nuggets and fish sticks. It was. But surprise! Now we are using it too. Fries, turkey breast, fish, and bacon; they all cook up beautifully and healthier in this little wonder.

 

 

 

What have I been watching lately?

I've been watching and loving this.

 

 

I wasn't a fan right away. In the first episode Georgia, the mom, was just too extra and frankly annoying and appeared to be a southern belle cliche. But as I am winding my way through the season, I am realizing that the initial portrayal of her is just a facade she puts up to hide her fears, frustrations, and sadness. Her character is definitely multi-dimensional and intriguing.

The show is almost always compared to Gilmore Girls and there are some obvious similarities but this show is definitely saucier and saltier than its predecessor and is seemingly unfiltered.  Ginny and Georgia isn't some cheap clone. The writing here is sharp and the characters are charismatic. Max, Ginny's BFF, is one of my faves along with her brother Marcus. If you watched Schitt's Creek you will recognize Jennifer Robinson, who played Jocelyn as Ellen, the wine-guzzling, sometimes pot-smoking,  stressed-out mom, neighbor, and close friend of Georgia. 

Pay attention when you watch this one! It is full of constant rapid-fire dialog. There are so many great one-liners and you don't want to miss them.

I'm not going to be white and bougie even if you put me in a cable-knit sweater.

~Ginny Miller in Ginny & Georgia, Season 1 Episode 1 

 

And I just finished reading this.

 

 

This novel consists of several stories told by different women throughout the book; women that don't have much in common other than where they live and the time in which they are living. But their individual narratives and events merge to bring the central story full circle.

The setting of this book, Western Texas, and the time period, 1976, are both so key that they feel like two more integral characters in this story about rape, justice, injustice, bigotry, feminism, marriage, and loss.

This isn't a feel-good book, probably because it is more reflective of real life, and real-life isn't easy. But it is extremely well written and one that you will remember long after you have turned its last page.

 

 

 

So there you have it. My Latest Loves, the things that inspired me, made my life easier, made me feel prettier, made me laugh, made me cry, and entertained and enlightened me. Enjoy!

Wishing you a Happy Holy Week,

 

Latest Loves February 2021

 

 

After working at pulling together our downsized home up north for the past year, I decided that it was time to bring in some fresh touches to our Florida home. I haven't done anything major...yet, but that might be coming soon. For now, I have just added some accessories like these fabulous monogrammed towels from The Happy Crabbers.

 

 

 

 

Apparently, I've been a bit monogram obsessed lately because I also purchased, from Three Threads SC, two of these monogrammed bath mats for our master bath.

 

 

This time I went with grey to tie in with our bath towels.

 

 

During my web shopping, I stumbled upon this fun site and fell in love with this colorful chinoiserie pillow.

 

As for the bigger projects, this might be the year that we remodel the two guest bathrooms and update the powder room. So, among my latest loves is 

This blue wallpaper for our powder room.

 

 

and I am embracing the movement and pearl look of this tile 

for the shower walls in the guest bathrooms. I think, though, that I would like to do this in a rectangular tile going vertically.

 

 

Shifting gears, after a bit of a scare that turned out to be nothing, I have vowed to be more vigilant about applying sunscreen. I have used this one for the past year and really like how it goes on and doesn't feel greasy or cause breakouts. Caring is sharing.

 

 

 

Another recent win was this bamboo stroller blanket I purchased for our little Greer. It is so soft and lightweight but the double layer makes it just a bit more substantial and the 47" square size makes it very versatile.

 

 

And it looked so sweet paired with this crib sheet and this one too.

I hope you found something here to love or to be inspired by. Have a happy weekend.

 

Latest Loves April 2020

 

 

Cheers to the end of April 2020 because that can only mean that we are four weeks closer to being on the other side of this whole pandemic thing. 

 

 

The boredom does set in from time to time but being at home has had its upsides.  I've found more time to read and absolutely LOVED this book.

 

 

I gut laughed so many times. It is sharp, witty, and was a great distraction. In fact, I loved it so much that I put everything this author has written on my Want To Read shelf at Good Reads.

 

Staying home has meant more time for television.  My husband and I are both obsessed with this show.

 

 

And more time at home also equals more time to be inspired. I discovered and swooned over this colorful coastal home while scrolling through my Instagram feed. 

 

 

 I also ran across this site and realized that my blog, which I write and typically view from my desktop, wasn't formatting well on a mobile device.  I was embarrassed when I saw that it was actually really hard to read. Shame on me for not looking into this sooner. I apologize to all of you readers that were trying to navigate my posts on your phone. I'll try harder.

 

 

 

I also found things for the littles in my world like this printable Summer Reading Chart that would be great for Crew. You can find and print out your own here.

 

Then there has been the whole re-evaluating my wardrobe lately.  Quarantining has been all about feeling relaxed and embracing my sports bras.  I added this one to my cart recently and I'm so glad I did. Not only is it comfortable but I love the colors and the crisscrossed back.

 

 

This budget-friendly maxi dress also showed up on my porch.

 

 

A big thank you to my UPS driver.  Again, it is easy, laid back, and comfy but has a bit of retro glam going for it too. #winner #latestlove

 

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm ready for this to pass but I wonder if someday I will be craving just one of these slower, closer-to-home days and the time I had to do almost nothing at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest Loves From January 2020

 

 

modern brass towel bar

 

 

 

The BEST Rug Grippers Ever

 

 

 

Chic make-up table or computer desk

 

 

Thoughtful Reading

 

Florida  Vibes Handbag

 

Latest Loves: July 2019

 

Yes, that kid. He isn't just a latest love, he is a piece of my heart, but there were some other latest loves this month too...

A cutting-edge influencer,  fierce AND affordable sunglasses, a game-changing styling tool, a new way to wash your face, a favorite artist, a little something dirty, and the next thing I want to add to our home. These are my latest loves and I can't wait to share them here today with you on Be Colorful Coastal.

 

 

 

Be inspired by her too!

 

 

 

Meet my favorite influencer. For fashion input, definitely, but she is also my go-to for design inspiration and confirmation, foodie ideas, and photography hints.

She introduced me to the Goodr brand of sunnies last year and I was an immediate fan-gal. Who wouldn't be? A great price point, style-forward, and seemingly indestructible sunglasses. I loved my pair from last summer so much  I bought these this year.

 

 

Next up, I discovered this A-MAZ-ING styling tool. The teeth retract so no more caught-in-my-hair and now frying the ends episodes.

Tell me I'm not the only one that has had this happen.

 

available here.

More of Charlie Lasansky's work here. 

 

 

Click here to see why I love these pillows

I saw them on Instagram. They are done by Modern Monogramming. I'd love to have them just like these but in green and with Naples embroidered across the bottom.

 

MakeUp BreakUp 

 

You can see past latest loves by clicking the following links. 

Latest Loves - June

Latest Loves - May

Latest Loves - April

Latest Loves March

Latest Loves - February

Latest Loves- January

 

Latest Loves: June 2019

via Atlantic-Pacific

 

Hello, summer! How amazing would that retro polka dot look from Carolina Herrera be for a summer wedding? I'm loving it, but this budget-friendly find could be a great reality- adjusted option.

hat here.

skirt here.

 

The texture and knotted fringe of this rug are also speaking to me and it doesn't hurt that it is on sale for the 4th of July.

 

I lost a piece of my heart to this whimsical umbrella stand that would be a cheery addition to any entry or I also see it burgeoning with a colorful bouquet of flowers. Again, ON SALE!

 

As we are looking ahead to a move out of our old family home up north I am thinking of ways to give our new downsized house those head-turning elements of style like these modern house numbers.

Sometimes it seems as if I keep seeing the same things over and over on the design blogs, so when I saw these old world, lace curtain inspired shutters I was totally intrigued. I liked how they were mixed with more ubiquitous plantation shutters because a whole house of this look would probably be too much. You can see the entire home tour here.

 

This vignette from Jane Coslick's color-infused Chu Cottage just makes me happy. Her ebullient design never fails to inspire me and this time it is the mix of colors and that periwinkle and flamingo fabric. I'm totally smitten.

 

 

And finally, because I seem to embrace all design styles, I am shifting from the elegantly coastal look I like for our home in Florida to a more rustic farmhouse look up north. These swivel stools made my heart skip a beat and will make a nice contrast to some of the more modern touches I have brought into the space.

I've taken a bit of break from blogging this past month so now I have so many posts in my head that I need to get to, but seeing that it is already the first of a new month, I figured I needed to start back with my June's Latest Loves. If you missed some of the earlier posts in this series you can find them here.

Latest Loves: May

Latest Loves: April

Latest Loves: March

Latest Loves: February

Latest Loves: January

And please visit again as I reveal our new front doors, both here and up north, our choices for exterior paint colors, hints for a successful move, kitchen updates, and kitchen organizational ideas. When things work for me I just like sharing them and it feels so good to hear from you that you found something here to inspire, resolve an issue, or just discovered something new. Thanks for visiting.

Latest Loves: May 2019

We spent the first two weeks of May in Florida but we were up north the second half of this month to make the final tweaks to our new downsizing house and to spend the Memorial Day weekend with two of our three kids. It has been cold and wet up here but there was a break in the storms for some golf, Crew's first attempts at batting practice, and a walk through Brucemore. The evenings were family movie time and Crew's latest "on repeat" movie is The Sandlot. Somehow, I had missed that one but the kids remembered all the best one-liners. It was a great family movie to watch with a four-year-old and it is easy to see why this one is such a hit with Crew.

So what are the Latest Loves for May? Well for starters, I received this book for Mom's Day and I am OBSESSED! It is the perfect book for someone who is moving or just loves to open a drawer, closet, or refrigerator and be greeted with organization and order that is not only functional but also beautiful.

I also discovered this new-to-me favorite designer. Her colorful rooms are BEYOND. Love them.

And speaking of design here is a great home tour. I especially liked this look for a boy's room.

I don't have the furniture arrangements figured out for our next house but these beauties sure have the right vibe for the living room. 

I also was a bit smitten with this bedding.

How perfect would this be in Florida? 

Then there was this blouse. I love it tucked in or left out. Either way, it is a head-turner. 

I already have that purse. So I'm feeling an "add to cart" moment for this fun top too. 

Thanks for swinging by Be Colorful Coastal. I'd love to see you sign up for email posts or follow me @be.colorful.coastal on Instagram or the Be Colorful Coastal Facebook page.

Latest Loves March 2019

Usually, I am saying that the past month flew by, but it seems like the first of this month was eons ago. A lot has been happening. I have made a couple of trips back to the Midwest during March for the family. We are also winding down the interior remodel of our new downsizing house, getting the bigger home ready to put on the market, and checking off a couple of less significant house projects here in Florida. Whew! I was busy, but not too busy to discover a few new latest loves that I want to share here on Be Colorful Coastal.

So what are these Latest Loves?

Well, while visiting friends in Sanibel, I discovered this statement wallpaper in a new island cafe and you know I like a statement. I love the sheer size of those leaves. How pretty would this be on just one large wall? 

similar here.

 

 

 

On Liz's recommendation, I purchased what I think is, hands down, the best booster seat ever. Even though I bought it a while ago, I still love it and I'm always recommending it. 

 I love that it isn't obnoxious looking, it is stable and easy to clean, and best of all? It folds away and will fit in a drawer or base cabinet. At less than $30, it is a Mimi must have.

 

 

This inviting restaurant is my latest favorite place to enjoy a relaxing lunch and a glass of wine in South West Florida. 

 

 

You might have missed my post about getting a new front door. Yes, I'm so excited to show it to you but we are still waiting for hardware. In the meantime, I dressed up the entrance with this great looking and affordable outdoor rug.

 

 I am totally embracing this moisturizer with a whole myriad of peptides and squalane ( I guess that is kind of a big deal). All I know is that I love how it makes my skin feel tauter and it doesn't leave me feeling greasy or shiny.

 

When these kept showing up on repeat in my social media I was intrigued and finally caved and bought a set. I have to say they launder beautifully and the zipper closure keeps them from sliding off of the pillow. 

So what wondrous discoveries await in April? Sign up for email updates (just enter your email in the box in the left column of this blog, right above Catagories) so you are sure to find out and not miss a post in the meantime.

 

 

 

Latest Loves February 2019

 

The work on our "downsizing house" is continuing to move forward. Because of some family issues, I have been up north quite a bit since Christmas but this has given me a better opportunity to watch as the changes and selections we have made come to fruition. I am really pleased with the doors that we chose, the black hardware, and the Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist wall color. 

The winter up here has been horrendous and I thought February would never end, but then all of a sudden it did ( February, but apparently not winter) and I realized I hadn't posted my Latest Loves - February Edition. Better late than never right?  What am I a fangirl of lately? 

Well, first I fell in love with these stylish placemats They would be great anywhere but I can definitely see them with tropical or coastal table tops. I loved them, even more, when I saw them paired with these pretty Spring dishes.

We had an amazing Valentine's Day dinner with some friends at their house on the 14th. While we were there I noticed they had this stellar roll-up stainless steel grate/mat from Franke.

It's just so great having cool friends that introduce me to products and ideas that I didn't even know existed ( insert smiley face) This mat idea is so smart and functional I had to order one for our kitchen. 

I was only in Florida for about two weeks in February and this isn't even peak mosquito season but the few mosquitoes that are there always seem to find me. I feel like I've tried every bug spray out there but this one is the best one I have tried yet and without that obnoxious bug spray odor.

With all of this remodeling, we have been doing I feel like the only things I have been purchasing are faucets and light fixtures. My head has been in remodeling world but this great new handbag definitely turned my head toward the fashion side of things.

 

I also wanted to share that I really enjoyed watching this Bombshell documentary on Netflix with my mom.

 

I never knew much about this actress, let alone that her invention of Frequency Hopping, which allowed radio signals to be moved from one frequency to another during World War II to protect ships from German submarines, would ultimately become the core or foundation of today's GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Wow! Sorry, Al Gore. You didn't invent the internet. Hedy beat you to it.

And last but not least, how fun is this preppy striped chest of drawers? LOVE. IT. So affordable! Find it here.

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Latest Loves - January 2019

Like so many of us, I jumped on the Marie Kondo bandwagon this month. I. LOVE. Organizing! And what better time to go all in than in January?

 

I happened to be up north longer than usual this year and it was so ridiculously cold there that I only ventured out when absolutely necessary. In my down time, I started my own version of the KonMarie method and decided to start going through all of our books. I am proud to say that I found 140 books that no longer "sparked joy" for me and it felt so uplifting to let go and donate them. Among my books, I found this little treasure that I made during an art day about ten years ago with a couple of my besties.

 

 

It was fun to look through it again but then I took a few photos of it, thanked it, and moved on. So what are some of my favorite things right now? Not the big things but the little day to day things. It was an easy list to pull together and I do like the idea of making it a regular feature here on Be Colorful Coastal.

 

You know how this works. Just click on the highlighted links, some of which are Amazon affiliated links, to discover more about each of these loves that you might not know about yet... 

So what are my Latest Loves for January? Well, I am obsessed with this Revlon Volumizing Hairdryer/brush. I have fine thin hair and this definitely gives me more volume. It must be a popular item. I bought my first one from Ulta in December and liked it so much that I decided to buy one for Florida and I had to wait a week before it was back in stock.

While looking for Christmas gifts, I found this clothing site. All of their items are so stylish and fresh looking and a lot of them are exclusive to this site. I especially love their scarves.

How pretty is this handpainted pillow? I really want to try making this.

You can find the tutorial here.

I bought this toy for Crew and it has been a huge hit.  Ages 4-12.

This final Latest Love was a gift from my daughter. Thank you, Liz. Because I go back and forth between Iowa and Florida almost monthly, it was hard, no, impossible to stay on schedule with manicures. This LED/UV Nail Lamp allows me to do a lasting manicure myself at home which saves me time and $$$. I've tried it with various brands of gel polishes that I already had and the results have been long lasting and fantastic. 

I think these Latest Loves posts will be a fun additional feature here on the blog. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you found something new and tempting.