JetSet Coco

Beachy Blues

Pelican on the Santa Monica Pier

I've only been back in NYC less than one day from my ten day hiatus in San Diego, but I'm already lamenting the loss of my ocean view, the murmur of ocean waves, and the serenity of daily walks on the beach. The painfully strong wind of New York leaves me longing for the calming ocean breeze, and the grey snowy sky is no substitute for the ever sunny, blue skies and mild San Diego weather. Being back in NYC is a slap in the face reality check of how good I had it in California. I was so spoiled with the beach every day, from hikes in Torrey Pines to strolls on the beach below my house to beach cruising in Venice, that now living without the beach seems unreal. Hopefully these beach photos I took will help me get through the next couple miserably cold months on the East Coast.

Beach stairs below my house

Views on Torrey Pines hike

Beach cruising through Venice beach

Dreaming of a Beach Cottage Christmas

With my parents still living in their beach home conveniently located across the street from the beautiful beach in Carlsbad, I am fortunate to have a refuge from the unbearably frigid east coast winters each Christmas. While the decor is continually changing in my home, I was pleasantly surprised to see the quirky decorations my mom displayed this year. Ditching the traditional reds and greens of Christmas, my crafty mom chose a neutral seashell palette accented in hot pinks, aqua, and blues to create the perfect beach cottage shabby chic appeal. I must have gotten my style sense from her!

Our tree, mainly adorned with seashell ornaments

Home made floral arrangements

Home made shell wreath

Original painting by the talented Diane O'Connell

Oshkosh Takes On Atlanta

In a time of penny pinching and despair, my beloved company Oshkosh B'Gosh held nothing back when they flew all of our employees to Atlanta, Georgia for an unforgettable holiday party to cap off 2009. The trip consisted of a tour of Atlanta, an incredible cocktail party at Atlanta's famous aquarium, a night stay at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort Atlanta, and a luncheon of to die for southern comfort food at a posh rooftop venue overlooking the city. The holiday party at the aquarium was amazing, with a martini bar, Wolfgang Puck catered dinner and raw bar, and behind scenes tours of the exhibits at the aquarium to keep us occupied. To say the least, I was stunned by Oshkosh's southern hospitality in Atlanta.

Mouthwatering dessert display at the luncheon

Hot cocoa bar

View of Atlanta from the rooftop

Holiday party at the Aquarium

Shark encounter

Stingrays at the Aquarium

Behind the scenes tour of the whale shark exhibit

Four Seasons Atlanta Bar

Floral arrangements in the hotel

Hotel Lobby

My spacious suite

Chaise lounge in my room

Stunning chandeliers throughout the hotel

Winter Wonderland in NYC

Nothing is more whimsical than NYC when it's lit up and bedazzled for the holidays. From the enchanting windows lining Fifth Avenue to Santa's bustling village in Bryant Park to Rockefeller Center's iconic Christmas tree and skating rink, the city is the perfect place to discover true holiday cheer. This year, the blizzard brought an even more picturesque white Christmas than the city normally has. It was absolutely perfect, despite the cold!