The California Edit – Vacation Edition

Welcome to The California Edit, a twice-monthly roundup of the things that inspire me most right now. From beautiful interiors and coastal decor, to effortless California style and entertaining finds, this is where I share the best of Golden State living.

This week I’m packing for our upcoming vacation to Maui so I’m sharing some of the finds that will be going with me. While I try not to overpack, I do like to make sure I have what I need for some quality time by the pool or at the beach. Even if you don’t have a trip to Hawaii planned anytime soon, I hope this edit inspires you to plan for your own getaway, even if it’s a staycation in your own backyard.

In Today’s Edit

On today’s edit, I’ve got some poolside essentials, a cool pair of water-resistant sandals, my favorite store for all things beachy, and an incredible beach cottage for sale in San Diego, plus – how to decorate your home for summer using trays.

Inspiring Spaces

A Charming San Diego Beach Cottage

This home for sale in Point Loma, California is everything you could possibly want in a beach cottage. This 1929 storybook cottage has gardens, a lap pool, completely updated interiors and even a guest cottage. It’s a home perfectly designed for the indoor/outdoor lifestyle that’s so common in San Diego. All photo credits: San Diego MLS.

The interiors are light and bright with a vaulted ceiling in the main living area.

The kitchen is gorgeous too!

I absolutely love the tiled wall in the primary bath. I would spend a lot of time in that bathtub!

The backyard space is small but very thoughtfully designed. Every square foot has been maximized. There’s even a good-sized lap pool and hot tub.

The home also has a detached guest cottage that is just as charming inside and out.

If you want to see more photos of this listing, you can find them here. The address is 4319 Del Mar Ave, San Diego, CA 92107. List price is $2,950,000. If you have a couple million dollars lying around and you decide to buy this home, please invite me over! 😍

For the Home

SoHa Living

Whenever we visit Hawaii I always make it a point to visit my favorite store SoHa Living. With over a dozen stores located throughout the islands (plus a new one in the San Diego area!) SoHa Living carries home goods and decor ranging from kitchen linens, to home scents, to pillows, art and more. When I want to bring back a souvenir that reminds me of an island vacation, I opt for one of their diffusers or candles in a tropical Hawaiian scent. This pikake-scented candle comes wrapped in a cute raffia bag. It would make a thoughtful “thank-you” gift for your house or pet sitter too.

One of the first things I purchased there years ago was this burlap resort tote. I bring it with me on every Hawaiian vacation. There are several different styles to choose from featuring popular tourist destinations on the islands. I may have to add the new San Diego one to my rotation!

Getting Dressed

Bathing Suits

Tommy Bahama

Bathing suits are one of life’s more challenging things to shop for if you are a woman. Especially once you’re middle-aged! By now, I know what types of suits I’m most comfortable in and what styles I prefer.

I usually bring at least 2-3 suits to Hawaii so that I can rotate between them and always have a dry one to wear. (Nothing worse than trying to wiggle into a cold, wet bathing suit!)

For quality suits that don’t look dowdy, I like to shop at Tommy Bahama. This year I opted for a new strapless tankini and a one-piece. This is the Tropic Isles Tankini. Love the pretty colors and tropical floral pattern.

The one-piece suit is in a brand-new pattern called Leo Aloha. I love the colors and the bead detail on the straps. I also bought the matching cover-up. I prefer cover-ups that are made from swim fabric because they dry fast. Plus, this one is easy to put on and take off.

Tommy Bahama is a bit pricey, but in my opinion their quality makes the price worth it. And, if you time your purchases right, you can earn $50 gift certificates to use on future purchases. My husband and I both like their clothing, so one or the other of us can always make good use of the certificates.

Water-Resistant Sandals

Dolce Vita Julio Jelly Sandal

I’ve found that you don’t need very many shoes in Hawaii. It’s a pretty casual place. In fact, you can get away with just some sandals, a pair of “slippahs” (flip-flops) and some athletic shoes for walks, runs or hikes. This year I opted for some water-resistant jelly sandals from Dolce Vita. I haven’t owned a pair of jelly shoes before, so I was a little skeptical. Turns out, these are very comfortable right out of the box. They have a normal footbed so they feel like a typical slide. The foot bed is also nicely cushioned, which makes them good for longer walks and sight-seeing. They do run a little short, so I would size up if you’re between sizes. These will be great for both the pool and dinners out.

Sun Protection Products

Reef-Safe Products

Visitors to Hawaii should be respectful of the environment and follow all rules and recommendations when it comes to protecting wildlife. This includes when swimming or snorkeling in the ocean. We bring reef-safe sunscreen brands that are free from oxybenzone and octynoxate. This is because these chemicals can lead to coral bleaching, which refers to the white color that corals turn when they die.

With millions of visitors to the islands each year, the amount of sunscreen that ends up in local waters is not insignificant. Therefore, it’s important not to add even more toxins to the water when there are safer alternatives available. Plus, as of 2021, it’s illegal to sell sunscreen with those chemicals in them in the State of Hawaii.

For more information about this subject, check out this article on The Hawaii Vacation Guide. You can also reference my other post with information on this subject here.

Coola Sunscreen

For a tropical-scented safer sunscreen, Coola brand offers lots of great alternative products that are cruelty-free and contain many organic ingredients.

Coral Isles

For a cheaper alternative, Coral Isles makes a reef-safe sunscreen that is water resistant with SPF 50.

Decorating for Summer With Trays

In case you missed it, one of my latest posts has some great tips for using trays in your summer home decor. I use trays all over our home as an easy way to update our home for the seasons. You can access that post here.

Thanks for being here!

I hope you have a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend! Stay safe! Thank you to all who served and sacrificed for our country. We owe you a debt of gratitude.

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