Oceanside Living. Blissful, salty breezes blowing continually, rich breaths of humid air, the rushing resonance of waves crashing, and endless horizons full of sun-kissed pigments.
Designing your modern home alongside the oceanfront with ensure you pave your way to a blissful existence. Amidst peaceful elements, you are creating a lifestyle of tranquility and simplicity. Away from the noise of urban zones, you will embrace the sounds, smells, and sensations of nature.
Explore with us these exquisite modern homes, designed to welcome all of the natural beauty of the surrounding seascapes.
We are in the midst of the hottest part of the summer in Central Texas; your body is working hard, and it’s essential to replenish all the vital nutrients it needs!
Omega fatty acids can help lower the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, fight against depression, dementia, and arthritis. It’s important to remember that our body cannot produce them on its own; you have to consume them in food, or take supplements. The best source of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, is in fish.
High intakes of dietary nitrate, like that found in arugula, have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance. This is great when your body is working extra hard during the heat! Consuming 2 cups of arugula will provide an intake of 20 percent of vitamin A, over 50 percent of vitamin K, 8 percent of vitamin C, folate, and calcium needs for your day.
Did you know that Avocados contain more potassium than a banana? Avocados are packed with essential nutrients, and ideally should be consumed daily!
In avocados, you will find:
Vitamin K: 26% of the daily value (DV)
Folate: 20% of the DV
Vitamin C: 17% of the DV
Potassium: 14% of the DV
Vitamin B5: 14% of the DV
Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
Vitamin E: 10% of the DV
Avocados also contains magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorous and vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).
Safe to say, in this yummy medley, you will be consuming a meal of superfoods.
Ingredients You’ll Need
4 (5- to 6-ounce) wild caught salmon filets
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups baby arugula
1 ripe Hass avocado, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
The Dressing
2 tablespoons fresh juice from 1 lemon.
Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 cloves of minced garlic
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon fresh dill
Instructions
Begin by prepping your dressing so that the ingredients may have time to meld together. Mince your fresh garlic, and mix into the olive oil, lemon juice, and dijon mustard. Add in the fresh dill, cayenne pepper, fresh ground black pepper, and Himalayan salt.
Place freshly sliced smoked salmon in a bowl, and pour the dressing over, set aside, and allow the fish to marinate.
You may leave the arugula in whole leaves, or slice into smaller bites. Dice the fresh avocado into cubes, and mix into the greens. Add in the salmon, and pour the remainder of the dressing over the ingredients, stirring together.
It’s time to relish in the heat, using this time to detox, and soak up the nutrients of the sun. Transform your outdoor space into a garden oasis, with sleek modern style. Cook healthy food over an open flame, and create unique craft cocktails to sip by the poolside!
Check out some inspiring looks for beautiful outdoor spaces, and our top picks to begin grilling season in style!
Upcycling, or creative repurposing, is the process of transforming used and discarded materials into products or projects for better environmental use and better quality.
By upcycling, you prevent wasting potentially useful materials, therefore reducing the consumption of new raw materials when creating new products. Reducing the use of new raw materials can result in a reduction of energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and even greenhouse gas emissions. The major environmental impact of glass production is the atmospheric emissions from melting activities. The combustion of natural gas or fuel oil, and the decomposition of raw materials during the melting, lead to the emission of carbon dioxide.
Glass bottles are already a brilliantly constructed work of art. Both their smooth, oblong shape, and array of colors make them a prime candidate for upcycling in your own home. When they go in the recycling bin, or often the trash, it is common for them to shatter and become useless for anything other than being melted down. It’s a shame to let such a beautiful sculpture go to waste! Imagine the possibilities of using beautiful blue hues of glass, or serene greens to create a privacy wall, outdoor shower, garden bed, or simple a lantern to hang a candle.
Check out these immensely creative and extraordinay applications of glass upcycling. Some are more complex and require a bit more knowledge of construction, and some that can be simply constructed in a weekend!
Just in time for summer, our luxurious Poolside Collection was inspired by long, lavish days spent by the pool at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
The dreamy “Pink Palace” is the ultimate beacon of timeless allure in Los Angeles, and has been the place to see and be seen for over a century. With an unforgettable fusion of vintage glamour and modern luxury, we hope to sweep you away with the same soft hues. Adorn your outdoor spaces with elegance and style, make every area of your environment inviting. Surround yourself with fresh fruit and flowers, modern bohemian patterns, and a dreamy summer color palette. Setting your table and outdoor spaces with intention will ensure you’re sent into the season with panache.
Enjoy taking a tour through our new summer collection, and feel inspired to create your outdoor oasis this summer!
Summertime is here, and it feels so good. It’s the season to spend time alongside water, beneath the sun, and in the shade of trees.
Setup that hammock you bought last season, and cover it in throw pillows. Host a cookout in the backyard, or the neighborhood park. When the weather is warm, it is the time to bring people together to share a meal, cool cocktails, or simply relax beside the water.
Step away from your computer or television, and learn a new sport or outdoor activity.Change your lifestyle to be one centered around wellness and fitness, so that you will feel healthy and renewed. Finally take those tennis lessons, or get a membership at the new rock climbing gym in town. Get yourself out of the house and undertake a new project or adventure, even if it is in your backyard!
Just in time for summer, we have some gorgeous new designs for you to be surrounded by soothing shades, to make you feel cool and light.
Austin has an international reputation for its rich and vibrant culture. With hundreds of live music venues, thousands of restaurants, and endless adventure destinations in the outdoors, you will never have a day in Austin without excitement and activity!
Ranked as one of the fittest cities in the United States, and with 300+ days of sunshine and an average temperature of 68 degrees, being active in Austin comes naturally. Austin offers an abundance of outdoor activities from cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, yoga, kayaking, rock climbing, and more!
Austin is known for its creativity and freedom of expression. Home some world-class museums like the Blanton, with the nation’s largest University-owned collection on exhibit, Austin attracts an international appetite for the arts. Austin is a place to explore the work of designers, painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, filmmakers, dancers and musicians, year round, in a variety of venues.
Modern design and decor are now a part of the aesthetic culture in Austin, and there are an array of cafes, restaurants, hotels, and bars so beautiful, that they are a place to see, and be seen. If you have an eye for unique architecture and interior design, you will enjoy these eclectically modern hotels!
Following health-conscious recipes filled with nutrient packed foods will contribute to the energy of your body and your mind. Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland, in fact, some of the tastiest flavors can be combined to create exotic fusions. Eat clean to feel clean!
This island delicacy may appear complex and slightly intimidating to create, but it really is quite simple! The contents are fresh and raw, and require little preparation.
Ingredients You’ll Need
8-12 ounces of Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna, Salmon, or Tofu
1 cup of Steamed Jasmine or Brown Rice
1 Cucumber, Thinly Sliced
1 Avocado, Diced
3 stalks of Green Onions, Thinly Sliced
2 tablespoons Minced Shallot
2 radishes, Thinly Sliced
1/2 cup of Shredded Carrots
Fresh Minced Cilantro and Basil
2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
Freshly Grated Ginger (to taste)
The Dressing
Soy Sauce or Tamari (Gluten Free)
Rice Wine Vinegar
Sesame Oil
Shichimi Togarashi*
Dijon Mustard
Cayenne Pepper
*Shichimi Togarashi is a mix of spices and herbs including Sansho (Sichuan pepper), dried citrus peel, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, ginger, garlic, shiso (Japanese basil), and nori (pressed seaweed). Most of these ingredients might already be in your pantry, but the rests should be available at your local Asian food supply.
Begin steaming your rice of choice; I personally prefer jasmine sticky rice for taste, but brown rice has a bit more fiber. Whether you choose white or brown rice, you will still be consuming almost exactly the same number of calories, carbs, protein, and fat.
Shred carrots into a jar. Whisk together shredded ginger, and rice wine vinegar and pour into carrots. Shake and refrigerate one hour to pickle carrots.
Cut the Ahi Tuna, Salmon, or Tofu neatly into 1/2-inch cubes, and place into a bowl.
Stir in soy sauce or Tamari, sesame oil, Dijon mustard, rice wine vinegar, cayenne pepper, minced shallots and garlic, and chopped green onions. Refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
Fill the bottom of your bowl with your rice of choice, and top with freshly minced cilantro and basil, diced avocado, the pickled carrots, grated ginger, and thinly sliced cucumbers and radishes.
Scoop the tuna, salmon, or tofu on top, and garnish with Shichimi Togarashi and green onions.
A lady’s purse is her mysterious source of power, and one could never presume to guess the contents.
A common assumption would be that a woman’s purse only contains cosmetics, but I tend to keep an array of items that will keep me prepared for any number of adventures! Here are some of the items you will often find in my handbag on any given day!
Therapeutic Oils
Young Living Breathe Again is a pure distilled essential oil blend containing four types of Eucalyptus oils, Rose Hip oil, Peppermint oil, Blue Cypress oil, Copaiba oil, and Myrtle oil. You may roll the oil on your face, neck, and chest, or simply hold beneath your nose and inhale. Not only does the blissful aroma leave you feeling clear and refreshed, it has immense medicinal effects, supporting respiratory health and lung function. This oil blend is a must-have if you live in an area with allergens like mold or pollen are prominent.
Papaya Enzymes promote healthy digestion and help your body absorb the nutrients from the food you consume. Chlorophyll is an antioxidant superfood that fights cancer, improves liver detoxification, speeds up wound healing, improves digestion and weight control, and maintains healthy complexion! This yummy chewable supplement will keep you looking and feeling great, and is wonderful to have on hand if you find yourself often eating exotic cuisine.
My Bushnell Legacy Binoculars are basically my best friend. I don’t often leave home without them. If you’re a bird lady like me, or simply enjoying site-seeing, you should consider keeping a pair of travel size binoculars in your handbag! If you can’t always bring your camera along, holding your mobile phone lens up to the lens of the binoculars will do a fine job of capturing far off wonders!
The Rare Resplendent Quetzal, Coban, Guatemala
(I took these photos with my iPhone and binoculars!)
Tikal, Peten, Guatemala
Phone Tripod
The Joby Phone Tripod helps me take amazing videos and pictures wherever I go! Whether I want to film a yoga sequence, or am backpacking alone and don’t have a companion to snap a photograph, the Joby easily clips in my iPhone for great footage! This little tripod is small, flexible, and lightweight, hugging onto nearly any surface.
As a writer, photographer, designer, and absolute music and film fanatic, it’s essential for me to have a way to transfer data at all times! For conducting business this keychain flash drive is key, but it can also come in handy if you meet a new friend at a coffeeshop and want to exchange some tunes or films!
Nemat Indian Jasmine Oil is my favorite fragrance to wear. Jasmine is sweet, spicy, earthy, and sensual. When used in aromatherapy, jasmine has an incredible array of medicinal benefits such as acting as an antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, sedative, and aids in reducing anxiety.
Palo Santo emits resonant aromas of citrusy sweet, earthy tones, making it a sublime enhancement for any environment. Native to Mexico, Central and South America, Palo Santo has been utilized ceremonially for ritual cleansing, purifying, prayer, and healing for thousands of years.
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 is essential to my daily beauty routine if I find myself out and about under the sun. I often wear a sun hat, but this amazing lightweight cream will protect the delicate skin on your face, and give it a warm glow! I find that most sunscreens clog the pores on my face making me breakout if left on my skin for several hours. That makes it quite difficult to choose between protecting my skin from harmful UV rays, or keeping my skin free and clear of oils and chemicals that will cause blemishes. This NARS product is very mild, and has had no adverse effects on my face so far!
Lip Balm
“Unicorn Pee” in Exquisite Mint Cupcake. Sooth your lips with sweet tingling natural ingredients including cocoa butter, jojoba oil, organic coconut oil, organic peppermint, organic sunflower oil, beeswax, and organic vanilla flavor.
This extra long, braided rope iPhone charger is really a life saver. When working remotely from a cafe, you can’t always find a seat located close to a power outlet. Additionally, in most bedrooms, you will often find the position of the bed is not conveniently located in relation to a power source. Having the extra long, durable cable gives you freedom and flexibility to keep your mobile device nearby while charging.
Ever since my beloved Grandmother first bought me a Smithsonian Appointment Book, I haven’t found another that I enjoy more! The Smithsonian Appointment Book gives you daily, monthly, and yearly details for capturing your plans, and features photographs of fine art, world maps, and many other useful tools for connoisseurs of travel and culture.
This smooth, dreamy handbag was handcrafted by artisans in Panajachel, a village alongside Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. It is both feminine, and subtle, versatile enough for business, travel, and casual outings. It’s spacious enough to fit your laptop, books, and all of your daily needs!
Austin, the capital of Texas since 1839, is the fasted growing city in the United States. An urban zone immersed in natural beauty, Austin sits amidst lush rolling hills, and numerous lakes and rivers. The culture is thriving with a diverse range of music, performing arts, film, technology, fine foods, and athleticism.
Despite widespread stereotypes of Texas, Austin is in the heart of the hill country, with rich landscapes of forests and waterways. Downtown Austin is perched alongside Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River that runs through Central Texas. There is a 15 mile hike and bike trail that traces the lengths of the reservoir and some adjacent roads and parks, inspiring an athletically abundant culture of jogging, biking, and dog walking throughout each day. With delightful weather most of the year, you will not often see Lady Bird lake empty of kayakers, paddle boarders, and the local rowing club. You can even catch local bands playing a concert atop the water from rafts, canoes, or tubes for the Midsummer Serenade Series.
You will find natural monuments such as the renowned Barton Springs Pool, an enclosed bit of natural spring that attracts thousands each week. The 3-acre lake is spring fed, and the water averages 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round. There is an 8 mile stretch of protected land along Barton Creek with hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, rock climbing routes, and pristine wilderness that begins in Zilker Park near downtown, heading into Westlake Hills.
Austin is home to a large population of musicians, some known around the world. With an international reputation for being the “Live Music Capital of the World,” there wont be a day or night in Austin without a vast number concerts in an array of genres. Most restaurants and nearly all the bars in Austin have the capacity to be a live music venue at some capacity.
There are now a good number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Austin, and since the influx of technology and developmental companies in the 1990s, this high-tech town has been recently nicknamed the “Silicon Hills.” Conventions and festivals such as South by Southwest bring millions of techies to Austin for events and seminars each year.
There is a rapidly growing foodie culture in Austin that has made it a hotspot for innovative and delectable selections of cuisine. Chefs from every corner of the world have created their dream kitchens that attract appetites from far and wide.
A long standing local motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” refers to the movement and desire to protect small, unique, and local businesses from being overrun by large corporations. The eclectic aesthetic of Austin manifests in its restaurants, cafes, and hotels. From the classically eccentric old-Austin flavor, to the newer sleek and modern tastes, you wont find a corner of Austin that doesn’t catch your eye.
Check out some of our favorite selections of places to stay, and spots to eat!
