I was on a beach

then I woke up and realized it was all a dream. This freezing weather has made me wish I was elsewhere - preferably on a beach in Mexico.

Despite the fact I live in a Kansas suburb, I've always gravitated toward beachy decor. I love lots of windows, light colors and the overall look of 'coastal' houses. A movie that I love, mostly because of the setting, is "Something's Gotta Give." The house, located in the Hamptons, has everything I love about coastal decor and it's amazing. I found this great Web site geared specifically toward movie houses - it's a good resource if you're looking to decorate your house a certain way. The Something's Gotta Give house is on it - it's been a great resource for reference and has shown me that not everything has to match. Another useful link showing decor is on this set decorator's Web site.

I'm visiting my grandparents in Sunny La Jolla, CA later this month and hoping to soak up as much coastal influence as possible. It doesn't hurt that my grandmother Connie, is a wonderfully talented interior designer. I'll brag for a moment and say her work has been featured in Veranda and other well-known interior design magazines. Look for a post of my La Jolla photos in February.