WEEKEND PHOTOS - KAUAI TRAVEL LOG

View of Hanalei Bay from Princeville. (above)

This week, one "Weekend Photo" will not be enough.

I got back from Kaua'i late Tuesday night after a week long visit there with TE.  My first visit to Hawaii ever.  What a fantastic time!

So much to see, so many naturally beautiful scenes...unscripted, not manufactured, a tropical paradise island showing off its natural design!

White Plumeria flower on the very green grass. (above)

TE hanging on while sitting next to me as we took our ride over the green island of Kauai in a helicopter with "no doors"! (above)

The "cathedrals" rock formation on the Na'Pali coast of Kauai. (above)

Spotted some mysteriously beautiful caves along the coast during our 5 hour catamaran ride. (above)

Sunset at Poipu beach was mesmerizing! (above)

To read about our amazing helicopter ride, click here.

Thank you to TE for taking me to Hawaii! :-)  It was truly a spectacular holiday!

For those of you who can't get away this summer on vacation (I know how that is, not being able to take vacation, as this was my first real week long vacation in years), I hope these pictures transport you to this island paradise for a few minutes, you enjoy and can exhale a bit.

Happy Saturday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  I had quite a few of my own "I Love Lucy" moments on the trip...including me screaming my lungs out during a dip in the helicopter ride -- the other couple in the helicopter, TE and the pilot were all fine with a little drop in altitude...I on the other hand let out a scream as if I had actually been pushed out of the helicopter.  Also, there were all of the histrionics of me getting into the pool or the ocean - I need swimming waters to be about 85 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer (at least)...the waters in Hawaii were anywhere between 79 and 82 degrees...so each time I got into the water I first put a toe in, then rubbed water all over my body, then inched my way into the water while careful dripping water over my stomach and arms,  shivering the whole time and clacking "it's so cold, so cold, sooo cold" - meanwhile not one other person (the normal people) we saw was doing this routine but me, they all thought the water was warm enough...TE just patiently smiled each time.

P.P.S.  Hope you have a happy weekend.

P.P.P.S.  Follow me @COCOCOZY on Twitter! You can see additional photos from Hawaii on my twitter feed and also see the surprising dessert someone made for one of my work colleagues for her birthday!!!


Photos: Coco of COCOCOZY

BEACH COTTAGE COOL!

I love this little beach house featured in this month's House Beautiful.   A house apparently transformed from an ordinary stucco into an open and airy space fitting for seaside living.  The house re-imagined by designer Peter Dunham.  He used lots of natural materials as accents throughout the home - wicker, rush, abaca and rope.  Fresh, bright, cheerful and accessible.  I wouldn't mind cozying up here!

What do you think of this cute cottage?  Anything you like here.  I love the entry with the fretwork banister and I love the breakfast dining area with the banquette seating.

Happy New Year!

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Still in Beaver Creek.  My computer is not working again.  Have photos I will share with you when I get back today!

P.P.S.  Hope you had a fantastic New Year!

KEEPING ON THEME - A SEA INSPIRED APARTMENT!

Wooden sign with a swimmer from a 1930's motel hangs on a Benjamin Moore Sea Foam painted wall in a modern NYC apartment. (above)

I saw this apartment featured on the New York Times website. A city apartment with ocean front theme. Lots of vintage kitsch beach inspired pieces placed here and there. The seaside decor is not overwhelming...just subtle reminders throughout the house. The interior design theme is emphasized by the blues and the sea foam paint on the walls in this urban apartment.

Take a look.

A concrete sailor was probably made in the early 20th century as a garden ornament. (above)

A wooden tray of glass fisherman floats sits on the window sill above the breakfast nook banquette in the small kitchen. (above)

What do you think of this apartment. Do you like the idea of keeping with one theme throughout a home's decor...or do you prefer an eclectic mix of ideas?

Please do tell.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Running off to an early morning meeting. Late! Help. Gotta run.

WEEKEND PHOTO!

Took this "No Cell Phones" sign photo at the Cliffside Beach Club in Nantucket last weekend.

Would be nice if we could all try abiding by this rule for a few hours everyday. Right?

Happy Saturday! Happy weekend!

xo
Coco

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY

TIME TO RELAX - NANTUCKET DAYS!

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

"The scene" at the Cliffside Beach Club in Nantucket...lots of relaxing going on! (above)

Arrived in Nantucket yesterday. Bliss.

Visiting with best of friend FF and her husband CCF, fantastic CF, and adorable godson CGF.

The minute I got off the plane I went into to deep relaxation mode. Hence there was no COCOCOZY post yesterday.

It is spectacular here.

I got on a small prop plane from Boston to Nantucket early morning yesterday after taking the red eye. At the Cape Air counter before you get on the plane while checking in, they always ask you your body weight.  Arrrghhhhhh.  If they feel like you are not telling the truth, they will weigh you on the luggage scale.  Total potential humiliation...to be asked in public to stand on a luggage scale to be weighed!

So when the woman at the Cape Air ticket counter asked how much I weighed, I paused and my eyes became slits, her eyes then became slits, then I cocked my head like saying "Really?", then she cocked her head like saying, "Really." , then I cut my eyes at her again, then she cut her eyes at me again.  We were in a body weight q&a silent stand off.  Then I started to think...this isn't fair. A few weeks ago I was skinnier. Then I had a little bit of an off week so I was maybe 2 or 3 (or maybe 4) pounds heavier than usual.  I wondered whether I should I go with my ideal summer weight or my actual summer weight? Then the lady behind the counter said impatiently, "Miss...ma'am? Your body weight please". In that moment I had to make a quick decision, so I just split the difference between my ideal body weight and my actual weight and then held my breath in hopes she would not send me to the luggage scale. There was a pause on her end and then she said "Okay, here is your boarding pass." Wooohoooo...phew...

So once I got to Nantucket and all body weight issues were behind me, FF picked me up at the airport.  We started off with a quick drive through town, headed over to the Galley for lunch and orange fizzy drinks (something they took off the menu but since we remembered it from a few years ago, they put it back on for us), then headed straight for the beach and the Cliffside Beach Club. At the beach club, my biggest concern was that we couldn't seem to get our sand castle higher than three stories - it was a real problem. :-) Then we went to the pool to watch 7 year old CGF swim laps, then nap time, then a store party thrown by FF's friend AB at a new store called Dakota...some fun summer shopping. I even met a COCOCOZY reader at the party...she's from Boston. Then FF, CF and I went to dinner at the Straight Wharf Restaurant while CCF and CGF stayed home. Delish. Lots of cute people milling around.  Then late night watching Olympics back at the house.  Ahhh...gorgeous day. What a day. Relax.

Here are a few photos from Nantucket so far.

The plane ride to Nantucket...I sat right behind the pilot in a small prop plane. (above and below)

The all wood shower and locker area at the Cliffside Beach Club...love it...so quaint and beach chic. (above and below)

Orange fizzy drinks at the Galley in Nantucket. (above)

Summer sun dresses at new store Dakota in Nantucket. (above)

So am in Nantucket for just a few days.  So I must cram everything into a 48 hours! Am off to do Nantucket type stuff now.

Today we're going fishing...literally and figuratively speaking...must go figure out my fishing outfit!  What shall I wear?

Happy Friday!  Gone Fishing.

xo
Coco

All photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

NANTUCKET REVISITED!

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY (me)! (above)

The above photo is one of my favorites.  I took it 3 years ago in Nantucket.  A bike, a rock wall, and a lighthouse in the distance.  One of those perfect moments...I've been thinking a lot about Nantucket lately.

You might be wondering why I'm zeroed in on this small island off the Massachusettes coast...well...let's see.  in August I'll be heading to Nantucket to visit best of friend FF, her husband CCF and their son (my godson) CGF...they get a house in Nantucket every summer.   I am so looking forward to seeing FF and her family and also looking forward to sitting at the Bayside Beach Club sipping orange fizzy drinks!  I'll take as many photos as I can to share...there is so much to see and do on that little tiny island.

Here are a few more photos I took a few years ago in Nantucket...

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY! (above)

Photo by Coco of COCOCOZY! (above)

I am so excited about visiting Nantucket again!  I can't wait.

With Nantucket fresh on my mind, I was browsing through the latest Architectural Digest and it featured some fab photos of the former head of Chanel's house on Nantucket...see below...a remodel of a historic shingle style home.  I like.  See below.

Oh Nantucket!

What do you think of this house?  I like the wicker in living room for some reason.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Also, can't wait to visit The Lion's Paw in Nantucket...Debbie Fraker, the store's owner, has a fabulous selection of COCOCOZY pillows in her store!

P.P.S.  Now will have to figure out a whole Nantucket wardrobe look too!  Help...need to beef up my preppy beach chic attire!

FASHION FORWARD: LIVING IN SUMMER PASTELS!

I like this coastal living room. Bright, cheerful, great ocean views. Am not normally a pastels girl...but I like the way the pastel colors work in this living space...I also might this summer even venture into a few pastels in my wardrobe.

J Crew - Boardwalk Tote - on sale $49.50; regular $59.50 (Tote bag in mint and cream stripe)(above)

J Brand - Mid Rise Capri in Coral - $169 (Skinny cropped coral colored jeans)(above)

Net a Porter - Alaia Leather T Bar Pumps - $1450 (stone color platform t-strap shoes)(above)

Barneys - Etro Straw Fedora - on sale $129; regular $`180 (Straw hat in light blue) (above)

Do you like pastels for the home or in fashion? How would you style a room or a wardrobe with pastels? If you love pastels, tell us why and where you use them!

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Best of friend AM and her family are gone.  I miss them.  Was so happy to have spent a week with them...even though I was working all of the time.

P.P.S.  On Saturday night, I went to the best party ever...it was thrown as a birthday party for Kristi Bender of Wendy Schwartz Design.  Kristi's husband threw the party for her.  It was at her fabulous home here in Los Angeles and it was the best party ever!  There was a DJ, great music, a shiny white dance floor in the middle of the privet enclosed backyard, glittering decorations, a special cocktail called the Kristi Bender, a hot dog stand with vegetarian, turkey and custom beef hot dogs, great lighting throughout and all of the french doors of the house were tossed open so guests could enjoy the beautiful outdoor and indoor spaces.  It was spectacular!  I only had my blackberry with me but I tweeted a few photos on COCOCOZY Twitter.  Wish I had taken my camera.  So many great entertaining ideas!  Maybe I can convince Kristi to do a guest post! My friends AG and HW were there and so was Kristi's nice friend CL.  I also ran into Kristi's business partner Wendy Schwartz and her husband...they were so nice to chat with.  Also saw Alexandra and Billy Kimball there and was able to have a quick chat with them too - Alexandra looked quite stylish.  Oh did I mention, Kristi looked fantastic in a dress that a friend of hers made for her... it was gorgeous. Okay...need to get Kristi to do a post on her bday party.  I hope she has pictures.


Photo: Country Living Magazine

SEE THIS HOUSE: AN ALL AMERICAN $8.5 MILLION HAMPTONS HOME!

The official start of summer is drawing near. Am on the late freight as I try to think about summer plans. I know I have to be in Atlanta and New York for trade shows to present the COCOCOZY textiles collection again in July and August; and I plan on going to for a quick 2 day trip to Nantucket (I hope) and am noodling with the idea of going to Marrakesh in June with my sis DS and my mother (although highly unlikely due to my work schedule and my COCOCOZY schedule). All this to say...for the 2nd summer in a row, I'll probably most likely be dreaming of a proper vacation - a week off or more off to relax and kick back with friends and family in some fantatic place.

So since I know I'll be in dream mode...I think I'll continue my summer dreaming in the Hamptons! Here's another Hamptons multi million dollar home that could possibly suffice as my hypothetical beach vacation home!

The home is listed by Sotheby's International Realty, this traditional shingle style home has 8,000 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 7.5 baths on 1.6 acres of land right near the desired Parsonage Pond.  Cathedral beamed ceilings in the living room.  Heated pool and pool house.

Please decide if this is the type of place of beach house you'd like to go to in the summer.  Notice the patriotic 4th of July themed living room!  Check out today's SEE THIS HOUSE!

This house may not be my first choice...but if someone chose to give me this house...I would snap it up before they could blink. What do you think? Do you like this summer home or do you dislike?  What do you think of the red, white and blue Americana patriotic decor?  Would this be the type of place where you'd spend a week in the summer or would you much rather go someplace else (or stay home)? Please, I want to hear about your dream summer week off!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

KIDS' ROOMS - BED OPTIONS!

A traditional wood sleigh bed with pink bedding in a cute little girl's room. A good classic bed selection because can easily transition this bed into this little girl's teens with just a change of bedding. (above)

Kids need cute bedrooms too!  Love a well dressed room for a boy or girl and the centerpiece of that room is the bed!  So what to do when picking out a bed for a child's room?  Here are some bed ideas!

A lime green upholstered headboard is the perfect accent in this sporty boy's room. (above)

Bunk beds in white...love the drawers. (above)

An all in one option twin bed with drawers and a bookshelf attached! (above)

These girs have it lucky...full size pink and green upholstered beds in a shared bedroom. (above)

Which of these rooms do you like most for a child (a question for moms and future moms).  I like the idea of shared rooms...so the bunks or the pink and green bedroom work for me (until I was about 9, I shared a room with my sis DS and it was so much fun).  Do you like or do you think a kids room should be more basic (considering they may grow out of it)?  Do tell.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was in Puerto Vallarta this weekend for the wedding of TG and AG.  AG is my good good friend and I wouldn't have missed her wedding for anything.  It was absolutely lovely.  It was so sweet to see my good friend walk down the aisle and marry the man she loves!  Very romantic.  She got married on a bluff right on the water right at sunset.  It was so amazingly wonderful.  Congrats to AG and her new hubby TG!

A floral pom pom attached to a fabric wrapped arch at AG'S (formerly AZ) amazing Puerto Vallarta wedding. (above)

P.P.S.  At the wedding weekend,  I also got to catch up with all my girl friends from around the country including HW, CJ, KD, AL, WH, AS and more.  The weather was gorgeous.  Spent a lot of time at the pool.  No computer with me by the way...it was a nice vacation!

P.P.P.S.  Oh forgot to mention...on the rehearsal dinner night, the bride and groom decided that everyone should do karaoke.  So I had the bright idea that we should perform...so I convinced good friend CJ and the groom's sister who I've known for years to do a rendition of Queen's Boheman Rhapsody...first of all wrong song choice completely...we sounded like three cats in a bag. Out of tune...singing the wrong lyrics...stopping during the middle of the performance and just standing there looking out over the crowd of about 100. During the musical interlude...we broke out into our own impromptu song about the bride and groom...then we would go back to our massacre of the song.    That song is extremely long by the way...so close to 6 minutes after first popping onto the stage...the 3 of us took a bow and ran off.  Our performance was described as "unique" and "interesting" and one woman's husband said nicely, "there was a lot of room for improvement"...another woman said, "Well at least you girls looked cute." Yup. Oh did I mention the groom taped the whole debacle on his iPhone!  Ay yi yi!  Must track down the groom when he gets back and delete that immediately!


Photos: The Glow; David Scott; Sherrill Canet; Agus Interiors; Erinn V Designs