My Coastal Inspiration

Although roads traveled throughout life bring me to where I am today, my true inspiration begins with my Grammy.  I grew up in New Jersey, close to the Jersey Shore.  I spent many summers and weekends at my Grandparent's house resulting in trips with my cousins to the Jersey Shore and days sailing with family.  We did the usual things you do while at the shore as kids, hunt for sea glass and shells, dig in the sand and ride the waves on our boogie boards.  At night you could find us playing tag down at the beach, going out for Italian Ice or down at the Point Pleasant boardwalk.  Before moving to Key West, not much had changed, except now I got to share those experiences with my son. 

It is more than just those visits to the shore with my Grammy and cousins that have inspired me.  Today I am passionate about planning events and being a gracious host, maintaining a comfortable and cozy home for my family and cooking.  I can thank Grammy for all those attributes.  She has always made being a gracious host look so easy from a Thursday night impromptu dinner to our famous Christmas Eve celebration.  Even today she pulls it off and it seems so effortless.  I can only hope with a little hard work to be half the hostess that she is, but she has definitely instilled me with the passion to entertain. 

I can also take inspiration from her clean yet casual and comfortable style as well.  Her home always looked clean (she knows all the tricks of the trade) and fresh with a blue and white cottage kind of style.  I always feel cozy and at home when I am their house. 

My grandmother is also a wonderful baker and an exceptional cook.  It could be natural, years of practice, working at a bakery, or feeding 6 kids and 12 grandkids for so many years.  If she shares a recipe or some advice on cooking or even household advice you better be listening because I can guarantee that you will use it sometime in the future. 

I am sure there is so much more that she has inspired me with but these are the things that I am reminded of most.  She still never ceases to amaze me and will continue to inspire me to work hard and be successful.  I can say that I am proud of who it makes me today.