Coastal Chic

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Coastal Xhic





Homeowner and designer Laura Fisher transforms her family beachside cottage
 in Canada from bold and busy to simple and refined. 

The muted palette of white, grey, beige and dusty blue enhances the cottage’s relaxed, elegant style. The oak floors suit the coastal casual setting with their light wood tone reminiscent of driftwood. I love the chic fireplace design, it adds a sophistcated touch to this stylish beach house. The cottage faces the water and features large windows that let the light flood in and connects the house to it's spectacular surroundings.  

Melissah xox

Images via Style At Home, mood board by Coastal Style

Check out my other blogs Scrapbook and Country Style Chic


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Friday Favorites

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It's Friday! What a week! It was mega hot here on the NJ Shore. We had to hit the pause button on painting the deck, and not just due to the temp. We also had rain the entire week. Like not straight rain, just daily threats of thunderstorms. The t-storms would inevitably show up in the afternoons...so that meant if you had painted all morning, all of your work would be ruined come evening. But with or without the threats of rain...I still woulda hit the pause button. I can't stand heat! I'm no masochist. Stuff can wait. I have never been good with heat and in my younger years I'd put myself in dopey predicaments. I can recall going to the first Warped Tour in Asbury Park, and during Quicksand's set I suffered heat stroke...totally went blind. Really, my eyes were wide open and I only saw black. It was me, Aaron, and his brother Jamie...we used to go to tons of shows back then. They dragged me to the nearest spot of shade and I pretty much dumped a bottle of water over my head. It took a few minutes for the world to come back into my eyes. Dopey me had been standing in the direct sun ALL DAY. And I may or may not have been wearing giant overalls and some Doc Martens that I covered in red glitter! so what? it was the 90's. 

Where was I going with all of that?? Ah, just that it's been a hot week and I'm sure there will be a less hot week coming soon...and thats when we'll squeeze in the rest of the deck stuff. In the meantime we've been catching up an other projects. 

Ok now, Friday Favorites. Before you think that crib up top means that I've got babies on the mind...think not...strictly chihuahuas over here. This pic is about that fantastic wallpaper!!! So striking and sweet at the same time. You know we love a good dose of black! And the tiny floral brings the sweet. Like the perpetual sweet/rock n' roll of Betsey Johnson.



And speaking of black...I love these free printable chalkboard tags! Great for any occasion! Love the kraft paper, the pale pink, the black and white baker's twine. These pics look like they were torn right from the pages of our upcoming book. Which really does look like this...we're making revisions to the second lasers now. (yeah, that was a bit of publishing jargon)


These nails!...yes! yes yes! So fabulous!  So summery...they're beachy, yet fancy..like Miami ( ha! not that I've ever been to Miami!)...but I so think beaches and then nightlife when I see these nails. 



Yeah, kill me now... Strawberry Banana Milkshake Cake! Yes! That is what I said! Look at this beautliful beautiful thing! Let's think about it's name again, I can just taste it! Let's go buy all of the ingredients and get baking shall we!? AHH! I could die!


This could seriously mean anything. The Future could be minutes, days, years... It could be as simple as cleaning out your fridge, or taking a walk to begin a new nightly ritual, or starting a new collection. Or maybe getting into better eating, or starting a family album...


Ohhh this image! What an ideal summer day looks like! Not sweltering...sunny...maybe a few breezes. Lemonade. I'll take it!


Love this tutorial! Using a t-shirt to make a plant hanger! Eco Friendly...so easy and so so fun! Aaron and I will def be making some of these!  


And last but certainly not least... this sweet little cottage kitchen! I imagine a front lawn of white pebbles...(it's a Shore thing that just works for me). That scalloped trim perfectly frames this space and takes it to another level.

Ok, off to do some mixed media canvases with Aaron. No plans, just a table full of supplies, blank canvases, and Air Conditioning!!

xo, Jenny...and Aaron


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Walk 15 Minutes After EVERY MEAL!

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I recommend to most of my clients, especially diabetics, to try to move after you eat, even if it’s just a walk to get the mail, but more activity like walking, biking, or lifting weights is even better. After you eat there is a raise in blood sugar levels, and the muscles act like sponges (when active) to soak up excess blood sugar that is streaming around your blood.
A study released in early June, sponsored by the National Institutes on Aging, found that a fifteen minute walk after every meal significantly reduces the risk of developing diabetes. The study’s lead author, Loretta DiPietro stated:

"You eat a meal. You wait a half-hour and then you go for a 15-minute walk, and it has proven effective in controlling blood sugar levels, but you have to do it every day after every meal. This amount of walking is not a prescription for weight loss or cardiovascular fitness — it's a prescription for controlling blood sugar.”

The results of the study emphasized the importance of timing of the exercise throughout the day for controlling blood sugar. The researchers found that splitting up walking into three 15 minute bouts after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, was significantly better for reducing (3 hr) post-dinner glucose compared to when the participants walked for 45 minutes straight in either morning of afternoon, and much more significant compared to their days of inactivity.

My recommendations: This study further emphasizes the importance of “sit less, move more!” Instead of eating lunch and going back to your desk for 3 hours, try to get outside for a quick walk. As mentioned by the study’s lead author, do not think these walks after your meals count as your exercise for the day. Walking throughout the day should be normal activity and not counted in your “exercise” plan. You must do additional cardiovascular exercise on top of those little walks to improve your cardiovascular health. If you don’t have more than those 15 minutes to get in activity, you better make it a super brisk walk or even a run- no dilly dallying when you are low on time! Remember, walking is good for lowering post-meal blood sugar, but effective EXERCISE for cardiovascular health should be challenging and uncomfortable.

References: 1) Loretta DiPietro, Andrei Gribok, Michelle S. Stevens, Larry F. Hamm, and William Rumpler. Three 15-min Bouts of Moderate Postmeal Walking Significantly Improves 24-h Glycemic Control in Older People at Risk for Impaired Glucose Tolerance. Diabetes Care

2) http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/12/diabetes-walk-after-meals/2408753/



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