sfgirlbybay » beach

guest post: ab chao.

my illustrious guest blogger — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:45:31 +0000

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I am AB Chao, and I am delighted to be here guest posting for Miss Victoria, who is off gallivanting somewhere fabulous. Meanwhile, here I am, fresh from my week-long beach vacation, and I am real sad that I am not still sitting somewhere that, at the end of the day, leaves me with sand in my underpants.

To make myself feel better, and for edification for your next beach vacation, I present to you my list of your important beach needs. Seriously: pack these items, buy a case of beer when you arrive at your destination, and sit back until you’re golden brown.

Beach pic of Seaside, Florida.

1. Beer cozies. Some of you call them koozies, and my husband calls them “drink diapers,” but whatever you call them, they are necessary for keeping your beer cold and your hands dry.

2. A good cooler. We ourselves have a vintage Coleman much like the one pictured. Its side handles make it easy to carry. Someone smart among you, please invent a cooler with gigantic wheels that will roll through the sand. Also, please make it motorized. Thank you.

3. The L.L. Bean tote. It comes in sizes ranging from “holds goggles” to “holds a raft,” and, bonus! Free monogramming.

4. A comfy and light cover-up. Perfect for the beach, a boat ride, or a dinner out, a cover-up is key. Mark & Estel make particularly good ones — I wore mine every single day of my vacay.

5. Who doesn’t love a beach hat? It shields your eyes and face from the blinding sun, and a cowboy hat looks especially pretty with your beach hair.

6. Rainbow sandals. The brand must be Rainbow, y’all. Imitations are unacceptable. Do YOUR flops offer a lifetime guarantee? I thought not. I have had mine for over ten years, and they are still going strong.

7. A good chair. We were lucky enough to have cheery-colored Adirondack chairs at the beach house we rented, but you can get a canvas or nylon one just about anywhere. Don’t be sitting on the sand with your cute cover-up and beer cozy. That ain’t right.

Thank you so much for letting me be here with y’all. And thank you, sweet Victoria, for having me! Now go get yourselves somewhere with an ocean view.

separated at birth.

victoria — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:00:19 +0000

donna reed and grain surboards.

i’d like to at least pretend that warm summer days are soon upon us (those of us in san francisco know that june really means lots and lots of chilly fog). so i thought we’d hit the surf, or sit poolside in this sunny version of separated at birth. we can at least fantasize about getting that coppertone tan.

the parker palm springs and marilyn monroe.

tuesday weld and lonny.

houzz and mom’s basement.

fbrinsley and natalie wood.

sally field (aka gidget) and the selby.

natalie wood and traditional home.

sweet sassafras and paola navone via design boom.

best of: down by the seashore.

victoria — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:00:10 +0000

via idathue.

i think all the rain this weekend in san francisco has got me seeking sunshine. and, after spending some glorious days in the warm weather down in palm springs, i was ready for a little more, but this time in the guise of some time down by the seashore. who doesn’t relish some time away alone, tucked in cozily at a beach cottage? here’s an idea of what i’d like my beach cottage to look like – comfy, with a fresh, clean vintage-modern twist.

via //fine little day//.

via Trisha Brink Design.

via dottie angel.

via green wellies.

via catmil.

via ouno design.

via _cassia_.

via bliss.

via //fine little day//.

via sunshinesyrie.

via skona hem.

via james merrell.

via tovemichelle12.

via jodymeza.

via hidden in france.

oh, and happy, happy friday.

victoria — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:00:09 +0000

summer’s winding down here in san francisco, the fog is back, and those last few days of warmth are fading. i’m planning on savoring every last bit. i hope you do, too. see ya monday.

* photos courtesy of *cinnamon; Tamara Lichtenstein; and missy prince.

oh, and happy, happy friday.

victoria — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:00:18 +0000

summer may be winding down for some of you around the states, but for those of us in san francisco, it’s just beginning. and, it’s about bloody time! have a great weekend everyone. see ya on monday!

*photos courtesy of ffls haul; alicia bock; mme.bookling; and coquinete.

n.e.e.t. finds for your nest.

n.e.e.t. magazine — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Hi Stephanie from N.E.E.T. here – my N.E.E.T. finds for today are a coastal collection inspired by the sea.

Clockwise from top left: Large Starfish Beach Find Bottle $198 – anthropologie, Across the Dunes Lino Print $64 – fiona carver, seashell Embellished Letter $29 – seashell collection, beach Hut and Beach Life Cushions £52.50 each – angel-lifestyle, this Way to the Beach Metal Sign £7.99 cloth-ears, light My Fire Hurricane Oil Lamp $50 – uncommon goods, yellow Deckchair $425 – Damien Hirst at artware editions, by the Sea 8 x 8 Print $25 – cassia beck, red Coral and Starfish Brushed Nickel Drawer Pulls $8 each – monkey shines; knot Door Stop $35 – jayson home and garden.

tuesday’s girl: little surfer.

victoria — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:00:19 +0000

via mikael olsson.

it was super warm and sunny here this weekend and everyone was running around the city barely clothed. we san Franciscans tend to do that – the second the fog lifts and there’s even a spot of sunshine, out come the flip flops, the skimpy dresses and sunscreen. i thought for this tuesday’s girl we’d look at the carefree chic of surfer style. i think it’s more of mindset and mental attitude than anything, and perhaps we all have an inner gidget lurking in there somewhere.

sfgirlbybay; henrik halvarsson; and also henrik halvarsson.

marcus ohlsson.

amy butler and sfgirlbybay.

choka; girlhula; choka; and imdb.

wild goose chase.

imdb.

roxy girl.

liz lantz photography for choka.

Lou O’ Bedlam.

tdrae; imdb; John_Wilkinson; and sfgirlbybay.

somethings hiding in.

roxy girl.

*n*o*o*r*.

down by the seashore.

victoria — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:00:45 +0000

via idathue.

via //fine little day//.

via Trisha Brink Design.

via dottie angel.

via green wellies.

via catmil.

via ouno design.

via _cassia_.

via bliss.

via //fine little day//.

via sunshinesyrie.

via skona hem.

via james merrell.

via tovemichelle12.

via jodymeza.

via hidden in france.

oh, and happy, happy friday.

victoria — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:00:22 +0000

i hope y’all are enjoying these last few lingering days of summer. time to treasure them, until the next season is soon upon us.

as my friend and assistant, katie told me the other day, “Relax the best way that you can, and enjoy this fleeting moment for whatever it is, exactly the way it is right now.”

[ *beautiful polaroid photo courtesy of angies. ]

friends & neighbors: la • de • da.

victoria — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:30:49 +0000

i keep discovering these wonderful contributions to the sfgirlbybay flickr group pool from a fabulous photographer, CHRISTY MCDONALD, so i thought it was about time i checked out her beautiful blog, la • de • da. christy is an amazing berkeley-based photographer who specializes in children’s portraiture, but with these last days of summer winding down, i just felt compelled to share these gorgeous beachy images of hers. for more of Christy’s work check out both her blog, la • de • da and her online photography portfolio, christy [m] photo. thanks for the beautiful contributions, christy!