Travelista « Covet Living

I’ll be the first to admit: I have a may-juh addiction to magazines. Home decor, trashy celeb gossip (duh, my favorite), fashion, more celeb gossip. I’ve always got a fresh stack at home and between all of the magz and my DVR’d episodes of “Real Housewives of Timbuktu” and “The Hills” (I’m not proud), it’s a wonder I ever get a book read.

But the ONE magazine I absolutely love, the one that transports me into daydream land each time I read it, is Coastal Living Magazine. Every time I pick up this magazine I feel a sort of peacefulness wash over. Not to mention the rooms are sigh-worthy (I WILL live in a house by the beach someday. I WILL live in a house by the beach someday.)

Check out those hurricane candle holders filled with shells (above). This look is easy to get. Just head over to Target or Pier 1 and look for a cheap holder. I have a few in my apartment which I filled with rocks and purdy shells.

I’ll go ahead and take that fluffy duvet cover with the pillow, as well as the seafoam shag blankie with lime fringe. While we’re at it, go ahead and throw in the Lab. Cool.

Rifling through this month’s issue, I noticed a piece called The Best Seafood Dives, categorized by different dishes (Best Fried Clams, Best Fish Tacos).

I started reading and to my pleasant surprise, the magazine had gotten it so right. It wasn’t a list of commercial faves by tourists – these were some real, down and dirty gems. On the list were three of my FAVORITE seafood places to grab some grub:

1) South Beach Bar & Grill in Ocean Beach (San Diego), CA

Their fish tacos are SO. FREAKING. GOOD. And simple – with some salsa, sour cream/Ranch-type sauce and cabbage. *Cute side note: This is where my old friend from college, Tim, and I reacquainted and he ordered me the famed lobster tacos. A year and a half later I would say yes to his marriage proposal. Coincidence? Unlikely.

2) Star Fish Co in Cortez, FL

For years my parents have lived in sunny Florida, and some of our happiest times together have been at this truly hidden gem. It’s so small and shack-style. Only now are tourists starting to trickle in. Commercial fishermen pull up their boats dockside and bring in their catches of the day, to be served to you minutes later. Though I love the shrimp scampi and hush puppies, according to my brother Sam, the soft shell crab sandwich is the way to go.

3) Reel Inn in Malibu, CA

If my man and I are in LA and looking for a chill spot to eat, we drive up the coast to the ‘Bu and dine here. Located across the street from the beach, this casual place is sweet, with picnic tables to lounge on while breathing in the salt air. It’s also pretty inexpensive (a rarity in Malibu). And you literally get to pick your piece of fish out of the case, so you know it’s super fresh.

For my landlocked homies as well as my lucky friends on the coast, check out this month’s mag for a few breezy minutes of coastal daydreamin’.

xoxo,

(via the incredibly talented lovelies at Joielala – thanks Taryn!)

So a few times in the three decades leading up to this point in my life, there’ve been quite a few moments when I feel so happy, I could almost pinch myself. Life at that very moment just seems sooooo good, and I don’t want the moment to end.

Like…

During Christmas, when I’m surrounded by the people I love the most in the whole wide world – for a whopping two week vacation!

Or, through an amazing twist of fate, when my job leads me to a country I’ve only seen on TV before. Hello, Roma’s Trevi Fountain! Let’s make a wish, shall we?

OR, while I’m away on a vacation in a tropical location with people I love… CUE SONG: Beach in Hawaii

(via)

Such was the case for Memorial Day weekend a couple weeks ago. Meant to be a nice, long weekend in paradise spent with both my BF (who had QUITE a few tricks up his sleeve – more on that later)…

…and my ever-sassy counterpart Jonathan…

…the paradise that is the island of Maui became even more meaningful to all of us.

Because our collective karma is obviously WAY intact, the three of us managed to stay at the magnificent Grand Wailea for free. Don’t ask how… we’re just good like that.

The waterfall upon entering the grounds.

The lobby of the hotel.

And the lush gardens with exotic plants and flowers everywhere you turn.

For four days, armed with magazines, pineapple drinks and sun block (which yours truly didn’t quite utilize as often as she should’ve), the three of us baked by the pool…

… and enjoyed the grotto/swim-up bar (shout-out to Richard, THE most easygoing, sunshine-y hotel swim-up bar bartender one could ever ask for).

We ate fresh seafood at restaurants like the famed Mama’s Fish House. It is TOTALLY worth the hype. Amen to macadamia nut-encrusted Mahi Mahi.

And we spent some quality time in the hotel’s yummy spa.

It seemed like quite the vacation, right? Oh, but that wasn’t ALL that happened on this four day jaunt to the Islands. Oh, no.

You see, said BF had known about this trip for a few months. He wasn’t going to let the weekend pass with just the usual spa treatments, pool lounging and other standard luxurious activities. He needed to ratch it all up a bit. Make this vacation one to truly be remembered forever.