About The Little Beach Cottage

Welcome to my little slice of paradise, The Little Beach Cottage. It has been my dream, since the first time my tiny toes encountered sand and sea to have my own Little Beach Cottage. There is nothing more serene than gorgeous white sand and stunning aqua water.

My blog encompasses all things "beachy", including seaside decorating, vintage beach decor, collectibles, arts and crafts, tasty recipes, beach fashion, and much more.

I will also be your source for all the activities, festivals, concerts and special events that are upcoming in the Laguna Beach/Panama City Beach area in the beautiful Florida Panhandle, including the new Pier Park.

I hope you enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy the magnificent place I now call home!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Christmas Beach Decor - Collection 1

Thank you for joining me for the first installment of Christmas Beach Decor.  Iknow it is a bit early, but Christmas will be here before you know it!  Come browse around with me as I choose some affordable goodies to decorate your home or cottage in preparation for our favorite holiday of the year...




















Natural Pearl Nautilus Shell with Aqua Ribbon

www.seashellcollection.etsy.com    $19.00

A beautiful pearlized finish with contrasting Aqua makes a beautiful combination for an ornament or slide a little mistletoe on top and hang in a doorway.


















Beach Decor Shell Ball Nautical Christmas Ornament

www.beachgrasscottage.etsy.com    $13.00

This little Gem can be used in a table setting on a lovely silver tray or an ornament to hang from your tree.  Imagine it....cream, aqua, silver, mmmmm.

















Shabby Cottage Beach Chic Aqua Sign

www.lisascraftiques.etsy.com    $20.00

A precious little sign to hang on your fence post or door!
















The Beach House Soap Set in Aqua Blue

www.pinkparchmentsoaps.etsy.com    $8.75

How cute would these be in the guest bath displayed in a vintage clear glass bowl?


















Beach House Wine Stopper

www.theallureofjules.etsy.com    $32.00

Use this beautiful custom stopper on an amber wine bottle and leave it out for all to see.  What a glorious color combination; it is sure to draw the eye into a lovely vignette.

















Photo Notebook/Sketchbook/Journal

www.studiohaus.etsy.com    $6.00

What a perfect Christmas Guest Book!  Just get a beautiful blue ribbon, tie a silver jingle bell to one end and glue it to the back, at the left edge, to use as a place marker!  Write on the top pink strip, in permanent silver ink, "Christmas Guests" and you have a one of a kind special item for Christmas.















Shabby Rustic Book Bundles


www.AlexisBrookeLane.etsy.com    $5.00


So beachy!  You could re-wrap with a pretty seafoam ribbon and attach a starfish, small shell ornaments or even jingle bells to the knot.  After Christmas, use the jute and have an every day beach decoration.


I hope you enjoyed this first installment, as there will be more to come with many ways to incorporate every day items into your Christmas Decor and all the little baubles to decorate your home and tree.  Until next time....


Holley

Quote of the Day, September 7th

“I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.”

-- Anna Quindlen

Monday, September 5, 2011

Five All Time Greatest Tailgating or Tailboating Burger Recipes

Hey all you tailgaters and tailboaters out there, make a gourmet impression on your friends and family with these fantastic burger recipes.  They are fairly easy to prepare and cook and they are completely unforgettable!  Load up the boat or your vehicle and have a ton of fun!  Get some specialty beer to go with your gourmet burgers and the party is on!  Be sure to boat and drive responsibly.

The Great Fajita Burger



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1.27 oz. packet Lawry's Fajitas Seasoning
  • 1/4 Cup melted butter
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 purple onion or Vidalia sweet onion
  • 2 green, yellow or orange bell peppers
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 hamburger buns

Directions

  • Combine fajita seasoning and butter until incorporated. Add ground beef into a bowl and mix in fajita butter until throughout. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.
  • Prepare onions and peppers at home: Slice onion and peppers into strips and discard pepper seeds. Saute in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned. Cool and place in a foil pouch. Reheat by placing pouch on the grill at the tailgating site.
  • Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top with reheated onions and peppers and serve on a bun. Makes 4 servings
Chutney and Cheese Ploughman's Pub Burger













Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 4 oz. Stilton cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • 4 tablespoons prepared chutney, such as Major Grey brand, or Branston pickle
  • 8 buttered, grilled Italian bread slices or 4 hamburger buns

Directions

  • Add ground beef into a bowl and mix in cheese, salt and peppers until throughout. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.
  • Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top each with 1 tablespoon chutney, and serve sandwiched between 2 sliced of grilled bread or on hamburger buns. Makes 4 servings
Zesty Parmesan Piccata Burgers













Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallots
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 1 Teaspoon minced garlic 
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • Thin slices of Parmesan cheese for topping
  • 4 buttered, grilled ciabatta buns or hamburger buns

Directions

  • Mix together ground beef, shallots, capers, garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until thoroughly combined. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.
  • Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top shaved Parmesan slices and serve on a bun. Makes 4 servings 
Mediterranean Burgers with Sun Dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise













Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef 
  • 3 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup pitted, finely chopped Kalamata olives
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • 4 grilled onion rolls
  • Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise
  • 1 Cup mayonnaise
  • 4 sun-dried tomatoes (hydrated)
  • 1 tablespoon minced basil leaves

Directions

  • Add ground beef into a bowl and mix in cheese, olives, salt and peppers until throughout. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.
  • To make Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise, Add mayonnaise and sun-dried tomatoes into blender and process until smooth. Stir in basil leaves and transfer into an airtight container. Note: Keep mayo in the cooler on hot tailgating days for maximum freshness.
  • Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top with Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise and serve on onion rolls. Makes 4 servings

Panama City Beach Festival of the Arts - September 17th - 18th

Mark your calendar everyone for September 17th  and 18th from 10 am to 6 pm.  The Palms Conference Center is hosting the Festival of the Arts, an arts and crafts show and sale. The event will include paintings of all types, sculptures, varying types of crafts that can include wood workings, puzzles, jewelry and more.

The address is:

Palms Conference Center
9104 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407


If you are interested in displaying your own artwork, please visit www.pcbartshow.com where you may download a vendor application.  They will be accepting applications through September 15th.  This is a juried art show, but anyone that meets category qualifications can participate.

Come on out and enjoy the show while supporting your local arts council.  Hope to see you there!

Quote of the Day - September 4th, 2011

"My soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Spicy Specialty Beer Mustard

This is a recipe for a fantastic and intensely spicy mustard that will go perfectly with all your summer cookout fare and well into the tailgating season.  It is the perfect compliment to hotdogs, polish sausage, grilled hamburgers and much more.  You are only limited by your imagination!

 In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup each of black and yellow mustard seeds with 1 1/2 cups malt vinegar and 1 1/2 cups dark beer; refrigerate overnight.  In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup dark beer with 5 tablespoons honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons allspice and 3/4 teaspoon turmeric and bring to a boil.  When cool, puree in a blender with the mustard seed mixture and 1 cup ground dried mustard.  Refrigerate overnight before serving.

It is a bit labor intensive, but well worth it.  This is truly a gourmet, homemade, bowl of mustard scrumptiousness.







Sunday, September 4, 2011

Coastal Living Shore Thing Look for Less

One of the primary things that I enjoy in the interior design world is being capable of producing a high end look for less.  Coastal Living Magazine is one of absolute favorite publications, but it is geared toward the high end market.  I hope you find this post useful and know that you can achieve the high end look for much less.

The first set of items are three blue glass vases:

1.  Buy it:  www.twoscompany.com, $25.00 each, Set of 3 $75.00







                            











www.carohope.etsy.com, $30.00 for set of four















The Buy it bottles are $25.00 each for a total of $75.00 for a set of three. The etsy bottles are vintage Wheaton, $30.00 for the set of four, or $7.50 each. This is an overall savings of $45.00.  What a deal for genuine Wheaton vintage bottles.  They are just as beautiful and will make a lovely display.



The second item is a Sea Urchin Teapot:

2.  Buy it: www.tiffany.com, Bone China Sea Urchin Teapot, $250.00




          
www.beyondjordanstudio.etsy.com, Handmade Porcelain Urchin Teapot, $98.00


                











Both teapots are simply gorgeous, but the Tiffany teapot in Bone China runs $250.00 and the BeyondJordanStudio handmade porcelain version, absolutely gorgeous sells for $98.00 for a difference of $152.00.  Again, a fantastic look for less.

With just these two items, you could realize a total savings of $197.00.  It is possible to get the look for less, it just requires a little research, patience and of course, the thrill of the hunt!

I am always up for a challenge, so if you have any Look for Less questions or beach interior design questions, just send me a comment and I will be more than happy to assist in any way that I can!

Happy shopping and I look forward to helping each and everyone!

Holley