Christmas Light Displays -Coastal Towns USA

Christmas light displays as unique as the towns themselves! Seaside, Oregon, for example, pays homage to the starfish that you can admire along the coast there during low tide.


South Beach Miami wraps its palm trees.


Residents in Venice Beach, CA, celebrate their canals.


Long Islanders show off their oldest lighthouse (in the State of New York), the Montauk Point Lighthouse.


Ancient buildings magically glow during Nights of Lights in our nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, FL.


Fellow blogger friend Rainey from The Project Table got to see this Victorian beauty and its Christmas light display in person, the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, and she's got a ghost story to tell too that she shares here.


One of Los Angeles County’s notable coastal attractions, the Manhattan Beach Pier, all decked out.


Additionally, many coastal towns also have Christmas parades of lighted boats, this one was captured floating around the harbor in Charleston, SC.


The holiday traditions in Newport Beach, CA, not only include the oldest Christmas Boat Parade in the U.S., but also until this year the tallest Christmas tree (over 100 feet) at Fashion Island, an open-air shopping center. You can learn why the tree is smaller this year here.


And I'm sure it won't surprise you that in Maine you'll find a Christmas tree made entirely of lobster traps, located in Rockland.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of towns and all the different Christmas light displays, I'm taking this week off and will be back here with a new post next Monday. So sea you then, and thank you so much for your visit!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

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Save on Crafts

Save on Crafts is an awesome store that not only carries an abundance of Craft Supplies, but many decorative items that you can use to create coastal ambiance in your home.

Beautiful Vases and Apothecary Jars in all shapes and sizes, as well as Bottles and Jars, including the adorable Mini Jars above, all perfect to show off your beach treasures.


Then, Decorative Fish Netting that you can use for the table or wall..., and I hope to find some great inspirational shots to show you later...


... delicious things such as decorative Cupcake Holders (for more foodie things, check out the Fun with Food category at my other blog A Beach Lovers Place)...


... and of course a great selection of Seashells and Beach Glass, including Shell Balls.

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Two More Winners!

After announcing Kendall from Finesse your Nest as the winner of the Outer Banks Trading Group Giveaway here, I learned that Deanna is giving away ALL three prizes. So I got to draw two more winners!!


Second prize is this set of beautiful Coastal Pillows! And it goes to Emmie from Aspirations of a Southern Housewife, and the Grill Set will be sent to Lisa from Pickles and Cheese. Congratulations to both of you! And THANK YOU Deanna for this generous giveaway! And if you didn't win, there will be another chance next year! In the meantime, you can learn more about the products and the people behind them at the Outer Banks Trading Group Blog. Sign up as a follower and grab Deanna's button -she would love to exchange links with you!

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Blue Christmas

I'm not having a blue Christmas, not this year, but it sure is beautiful. Blue like the sea..., it seems to soothe the senses and calm the mind. Just a few picks and tunes to celebrate the season. And as always, images are linked to their source.

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And the Winner Is...

And the winner of the Outer Banks Trading Group giveaway is commenter #13, which is Kendall from Finesse your Nest. Congratulations Kendall!


She might spend her prize of $50 on one of the Surf Rugs -her boys have a surfing themed bathroom!

Thank you all for participating! And make sure you stay tuned..., there will be another awesome giveaway in January 2010!

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Gift Wrap It Coastal Style -Ideas with Shells, Sanddollars, Seaglass and more

A few gift wrap ideas for sea lovers! Sanddollars are easy to tie on and make perfect tags too, created by Francoise from Chez Fifi for a photo shoot.


One shell is all you need to give it a beachy touch.


Again, a lovely sanddollar is incorporated here, and a piece of coral.


An elegant starfish completes this all white gift wrap theme.


Gifts personalized with kraft paper, burlap ribbon, raffia, Spanish moss, palm berries, and shells.


More rafia ribbon and a couple of Cowrie shells.


And it doesn't have to be paper. This gift wrap bag is made with fabric and can be re-used.


An artistic sea shell gift tag by Lisa Hannah makes this gift special.


And if you use a gift box you can create a beachy lid by gluing on seaglass or anything else you'd like.

Happy Gift Wrapping!

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My Coastal Christmas

Last Year this mini Christmas tree was outside, this year it greets us when we come in from the entryway (I'll give you the scoop on the door art piece in a future post -just in case you wondered).


A close up of my signature seashell light, also featured here: Coastal Christmas Decor -Are Your Lights On?


This lounging area is part of the kitchen. Here a peek of the brand new granite counter top that was installed last Wednesday. The kitchen is almost finished now! And check out the two stars by the window...


... they were on sale at the Christmas Tree Shop for $1.99 each.


This picture doesn't do our living room Christmas tree justice! The tree is minimal, yes, but all the sea shell lights glow very nicely and create a festive coastal ambiance...


... see!

Shared with: Christmas Tour of Homes + Oh Christmas Tree.

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Outer Banks Trading Group

Outer Banks Trading Group is definitely an online store that you want to keep in mind -and you can still enter their awesome Holiday Giveaway!
They have a wonderful assortment of Home Accents, and a vast collection of great beach themed and nautical rugs like these fun small indoor/outdoor mats.


And if you're looking for beachy or nautical pillows, there are more than four hundred to choose from!


Outer Banks Trading Group also sells nautical art and represents many talented artists, such as dear fellow blogger Laura Trevey from Watercolors + Bright, Bold, and Beautiful.


And another favorite of mine from this online store, designer Donna Elle's starfish and sea shell finials that I've featured here: Seashell Inspired Window Treatments.

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Coastal Christmas Decor -Are Your Lights On?

May I assume that all your Christmas decor is up and the lights are on? Here are just a few coastal Christmas decorations that I think are gorgeous. I love the unified color theme and the simplicity of this display, seen on Cyndie Jerome Design.


Then a fabulous handmade beach garland by The Self Confessed Lamp Tramp.


Clever! Shells in a wire basket surrounded by Christmas lights from Coastal Living.


This is the header image over @ Cheryl's Shell. It makes me want to have a snow white Christmas tree!


A mantel that's decked out with shells and sea life, via Homegoods.


Then one of Cindy's trees from My Romantic Home, decorated with shells and dried hydrangeas. Love it!


And a close up of my mini tree in the kitchen. Just like Last Year, I stuck a few moon shells over the lights -the easiest Homemade Christmas Ornament I can think of!

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