Vicarious Livin’ thru Coastal 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,