bald point

I'm almost certain that most of life's small annoyances and even some of life's great tragedies can be remedied with a trip to the beach.  Now I'm not sure that there's a scientific reason for this phenomenon, but I chalk it up to the combination of cold salt water, warm breezes, and the sweet sound of waves crashing against the shore and birds calling out to each other.

I'm sure a case can be made for every beach in North America, but you haven't truly experienced the beach until you've been to Bald Point, right here in Florida.  There's really something magical about a pristine white beach, free from the high rises and beer pong tournaments one usually finds in this part of Florida.  The hour long drive from Tallahassee takes you past all the sights that make this state such an oxymoron - first you pass government buildings and law offices, then Walmarts, Dollar Stores, and Piggly Wigglys, then onto long stretches of road with an over-abundance of bail bonds offices and tattoo shops and oyster bars streaking past the car windows.  An endless parade of fire stations, and Ace Hardware stores, and gas stations, until finally, nature takes control of the environment and for several miles its nothing but pine trees and palm trees and scrubby oak trees mixed in with open Savannahs of tall grass and alligators, as far as the eye can see.  Then a bridge, and a small marked road, and a ten minute drive past rental houses and fishing boats and boiled peanut stands, until finally, the State Park sign appears in the distance.  The beach itself is relatively small, but littered with ancient palmettos, and great masses of exposed pine tree roots, and enormous sand dunes, and wild, untouched beauty.

So I say it again - if you haven't been to Bald Point, you haven't truly experienced the beach as it was meant to be experienced.  But enough of my ramblings!

My sweet mama and I got up late this morning and decided there was no time like the present to pack a lunch and head down to the coast.  One hour later we staked out our spot, dove into our lunch (three bean salad, potato salad, deviled eggs, green olives, watermelon, and baby Cokes), and spent a glorious afternoon exploring our surroundings.

 

            

 

 

There really is something magical about the beach.

xoxo,
Eliza

~ summertime ~

As the days grow shorter and summertime draws to a close, the Florida weather is creeping closer to 90 degrees/farther from 100, the air is slowly dehumidifying, and the beach trips are becoming fewer and farther between.  But as any true Floridian knows, summertime is not officially over until Halloween, even though last minute costume changes might be necessary due to overnight temperature plunges.  To celebrate my return to the U.S., the beautiful weather, and my total lack of coursework for this semester, a beach trip was most definitely in order.

I wore a vintage two-tone bathing suit that I picked up from a little shop in the UK.

It was a beautifully clear day, with only a few clouds in the sky and only a few people on the beach.  We ate quinoa salad and potato chips, read, took naps, and then headed over to Apalachicola to snoop in the shops and meet friendly people.  It was a perfect day and a even more perfect way to postpone fall as long as possible.

I'm ready to do it all again.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ life's a beach ~

Going to the beach never gets old, but sometimes you need to shake things up a bit and go to a different beach!  That's what we did yesterday as a pre-mother's day escape from everyday life...

{Bald Point}

When I've been in the sun for more than twenty minutes, the freckles start popping up.  But every year they show up in a different place - a sure sign of summer!

             

{my new favorite photography book}

{my gorgeous mama}

{driftwood + shadow}

{doing my best bathing beauty pose!}

I hope everyone has had a sunny weekend.  Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ flying down to rio ~

Not only is Flying Down to Rio my favorite film from the 1930s, but it's filled to the brim with amazing style inspiration.  That's why when I saw an emerald green 30s bathing suit hanging on the wall of an antique store, I couldn't resist dreaming of wearing it while frolicking on the beach in Rio de Janeiro!  So naturally, it came home with me.

To find a flawless woolen bathing suit is one thing, but one that FITS?!  This is definitely the new star of my collection!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ summer in january ~

This past Friday I received a pretty blue package in the mail....

My beautiful new Esther Williams bathing suit from Modcloth!  I ripped open the package in the car on the way to rehearsal and then had to wait four hours until I was home and could try it on - it fits like a glove!  I cannot wait until the first beach trip of the summer.

Now if only warm weather was right around the corner....

xoxo,

Eliza

~ little things ~

I can't wait until summer.  I know, I know...it's only day three of this semester.  But it also happens to be wickedly cold here, which makes me want 100 degree weather, beach trips, a glass of lemonade with a little umbrella, and adorable bathing suits even more.  But until then, here are some little things I'm loving about life.

01. a beautiful sunset that makes me believe this cold weather will end eventually

02. some beautifully dressed beach goers 

03.  trying out some summer hairstyles in the hopes that Mother Nature will take the hint

04. scoring my dream bathing suit during Modcloth's huge sale

{I can't wait until it arrives!!!!}

05. and finally, some motivation to study

Stay warm wherever you are!  And remember, soon we will all be complaining about how hot it is.

xoxo,

Eliza