Top 10: Best Beaches in the US

Its day 3 of my top 10 lists and today we are discussing the top best beaches in the US. I dont want you to think that I'm just making this stuff up. I put a lot of research into todays blog. I researched articles and came up with a good list that offers something for the beach bum to the ritzier beach goddess. I have beach fever so here goes.

10. Newport Beach, CA: This wasnt chosen just because it was the backdrop for The O.C. although it did keep popping up in my mind. I've been to Newport, its one of the few beaches on this list that I have visited. Yes its pretentious and the only place I've ever seen a Maserati dealership. But the beach is gorgeous and the people are too. There is a lot to do in Newport. They have an entire "island" of fashion. Its not an actual island just in the traffic engineering variety. It is one of the wealthiest zip codes in the US but if you ever find yourself in Southern California, its a nice day trip that won't cost you much money.

9. Pawley's Island, SC: Another beach I've actually been too. What would this list be if I (a native South Carolinian) didnt mention this jewel of our fair coast. I HATE Myrtle Beach and all that it stands for. MB is a dirty and commercialized place that lacks the charm it once had. Pawleys is about 30 miles from MB and is much quieter. Pawley's has great little fish camps to eat at. They are famous for their hammocks. Any place that is known for making a great hammock is okay with me. This is a perfect destination for a beach bum



8. Half Moon Bay, CA: Now I dont surf. I tried it once and it really freaked me out. However, I LOVE to watch others surf. Half Moon Bay is strictly on the list because it serves only one purpose. Surfing. There doesnt seem to be a lot to do in this area. It is one of those places where you go for the scenery and nature. It is just south of San Francisco and continues that hippie lifestyle menality. I can imagine myself and a group of friends camping on the beach and having a bonfire. Just look at this beautiful photo.



7. Martha's Vineyard: Most of my readers have the same sense of style as I do so it wont be hard to sell them on Shep and Ian's lifestyle over at Vineyard Vines. Growing up in the South I used to dream of what it would be like to vacation on the Cape. Getting up early and riding your bike into town for breakfast. Going for a sail and going to one of the many parties that I'm sure occur in that tight knit community.

6. South Beach, FL: Want a place where there is always something to do? Do you need a vacation on a beach diverse in culture? South Beach is for you. South Beach is the only beach on the list that has excitement 24 hours a day. It is the Vegas of beaches. I also love the Art Deco Architecture.



5. Folly Beach, SC: Back to what you beach bums want. Looking for a place where shoes are always optional? Where you can bike or walk to restaurants and you are encouraged to take your dog everywhere?? Folly Beach is perfect for you. 30 minutes outside of Charleston is the quaint island of Folly. Oh yea, they have surfers too.

4. Sea Island, GA: Switching gears again to the most pretentious and exclusive island in the South. I give you Sea Island, host to the 2004 G8 summit. Sea Island is the greenest place I've ever been. It is home to The Cloister resort. The entire island is gated and the resort basically services the entire island. Tennis, Golf, Swimming, and fine dining are what make this place unique. It is all inclusive and you can hermit yourself up in one of the many beach villas that dont look like beach houses at all. Here is a photo of the cloister.



3. Palm Beach, FL: Need I say more than this is the home and inspiration to our dear friend Lilly Pulitzer. The glitz and glam of Palm Beach make it a destination by the wealthy. Its in the 90s year round here and the water is clear and blue. If you can afford to shack up here for a few days or months I'm very jealous.

2. Carmel, CA: Back to the west coast. Located near Monterey, this beach has a rich history. It also boasts some of the most unusual architecture including the fairy tale cottages. The arts and crafts movement became popular here at the turn of the century. There is an Arts and Crafts club, an ampitheater that hosts many performances, and a Symphony. This is probably the most artistic beach community in the US.

1. Kapalua, HI: If Conde Nast says this is the best beach in the World and the Best beach in the US by the Travel Channel then it must be a great beach. Located on the island of Maui Kapalua is known for its golf and beaches. There is something for everyone here. The wealthy can stay at the Ritz, the more modest folk (myself) can stay at one of the many other affordable hotels. There is snorkeling in a beautiful reef, golf, a spa, and of course volcanoes.

Top 10: Things not to eat on first date

I've decided to start having a weekly theme. This week's theme is top 10 lists. So far I have the top 10 things not to eat on a first date (todays post), Top 10 best love scenes in a movie, Top 10 best beaches in US (I'm still researching this), Top 10 summer road trips, Top 10 things to do when you're bored and Top 10 ways cut costs.

Top 10 things NOT to eat on a first date

10. Mexican food: this type of food, especially the beans may leave you running for the bathroom before the night even gets good.
9. Corn on the Cob: It WILL get stuck in your teeth and unless you want to run to the bathroom to floss I wouldnt suggest a first date smooch.

8. Onion anything: Same as above, do you really want to smell like an onion for the rest of the night.

7. Indian food: going along with smelling stinky Dont go to an Indian restaurant. Well I guess you will both smell like it but see #10 for reference of possible outcomes of this mistake.


6. A Steak: What if this guy is a vegetarian? You dont know, its the first date. I think steak is the most offensive food to vegetarians. I have an aunt who is vegetarian and she can barely hold down her dinner when someone at the table eats steak. Another reason, what if he is a meat and potatoes guy and you order your steak well done, he might be insulted. Also, if you order it rare he might be grossed out. Its a lose lose unless you know for a fact that his family owns a ranch. In which case you should go with the Angus Filet cooked Med. Rare.

5. Anything with French Fries: Do you really want to use your fingers on a first date? All restaurants have alternatives so show that you are somewhat healthy and get a salad with that burger. If you're at McDonalds you should cancel the date before you walk in the door, just saying.

4. Big Burgers or Sandwiches: Imagine this, you order a club sandwich that is so high you can barely fit it in your mouth. But you're gonna try anyways arent you?? very lady like...
3. Depending on where your date takes you I wouldnt suggest ordering something that comes with utensils you arent familiar with. Such as: Lobster, Crab, Snail, Sushi, Oysters....when the waitress brings you a special knife, spoon, or fork you better know how to use it or you're gonna look like a tool. If you order something that you werent aware had a special utensil excuse yourself to the restroom and grab someone from the wait staff and ask how to use what you were given (I had someone once do this to me when i was a waitress). 2. Dessert: unless its his idea dont bring it up. You dont want to seem like a glutton.

1. The number one thing you should never eat on a first date is WINGS!! Now I dont know the pseron in this photo. It wasnt hard to find a photo of a girl enjoying wings. Do you really want to look like THIS when you first meet someone??? I didnt think so. Wings are the WORST choice you could make on a first date

All of this being said, I love to eat. When I'm eating one meal I'm thinking about what I'll eat for the next meal. However, my mother sent me to cotillion when I was younger and I was taught proper etiquette. I didnt put this in the list but you should never order anything too expensive. I think this is a given but I just wanted to list it incase you are going on your first date and have no clue what to do.

In closing you are pretty much safe ordering a Chicken salad (hold the onions). Good luck and happy dating.

Twitting

I'm officially twittering. I didnt want to join because I have this theory that the past tense of "tweet" is "twat" and I didnt want to be a part of that. My roomate, Katie (I talk about her a lot just so Laura can keep up with her life) twatted about my blog today. She said I blog about funny things...apparently like the word Twat. You can follow me if you'd like but i promise its not that entertaining. http://twitter.com/CoastalBelle I am however enjoying following celebrities. I love that Ashton Kutcher and Jimmy Fallon actually write their own tweets. I also follow Ellen (my unemployment ray of sunshine), and Barack Obama, I dont think either of them Twitter for themselves.

I had the thought last night, how does one become the official white house twitter(er)?? Can you get a degree in Social networking? I looked into and you can http://mashable.com/2009/03/30/masters-degree-social-media/ Maybe its time for a second masters degree. How cool would it be to say: "Barack Obama is eating a Reuben and then headed to the Jon"?

I would probably be fired my first week for giving TMI. I'm bad about giving too many details. Just ask my friends. When I tell a story I now have to say: "Do you want the abridged version or all the dirty details?" So I want to know what it takes to become the official social media liaison for a celebrity. Does anyone know a celebrity that will hire me to handle their facebook, myspace, twitter and blog accounts?

my playlist for working it

I HATE to work out. I mean really truly HATE it with a passion. It really has to be disguised for me to enjoy it. I've never been able to hop on a treadmill and walk for an hour. I never will be that person. I do enjoy classes like Zumba, hip hop dance, kickboxing, or striperobics. Yes you read that right. Those dont feel like exercise to me and the time passes so quickly. Especially Zumba which is my new favorite. I even got my instructor to let me burn her CD to my ipod.

Now that I'm sitting at home all day I have to force myself to get up and do something to stay active. It was raining the other day and I literally laid on the couch and watched movies all day. I could do this everyday so I needed incentive. I've decided that my silver lining in the unemployment cloud is that I will be skinny and tan. I went to the beach this past weekend and have a nice base tan going. We also rode bikes a lot over the weekend which has jump started my weight loss goals. I have a thyroid disorder and when I take my medicine like I should it actually makes my metabolism pretty fast and I can lose weight easily so I can not use that as an excuse for being overweight.

I dont know how many of you share my mindset that exercise is torture. I thought I'd share my saving grace today. There were no classes when I went to the gym and I had to use the equipment for the entire 45min workout that I had planned for myself. My ipod got me through and at times I enjoyed myself. here is my playlist that I'd like to share. Maybe it will help some of you just push on through. You can click the links to open the song but make sure you do it in a new window.

1. Kiss the Bride- Elton John
2. Single Ladies- Beyonce
3. Girls- Beastie Boys
4. Stripper- Sohodolls
5. Rock and Roll- Eric Hutchinson
6. I just Wanna make love to you- Etta James
7. I got my mind set on you- George Harrison
8. Sweat- Inner Circle
9. Bring you Down- Left Front Tire
10. Rock- Lexicon
11. Scotty Doesnt know- Lustra
12. Give it up- Pepper (This song is dirty, dont listen with kids around)
13. Make it Funky- Will.I.Am

You might be asking yourself why songs like "stripper" and "I just want to make love to you" are on here. Well there are some hotties at the gym and I think I should feel sexy when I'm sweating up a storm. I kept catching myself dancing on the treadmill. At one point I was shaking my butt. Whatever works right.

my Murtaugh List

I'm not sure why I havent posted in such a long time. I'm unemployed, I have all the time in the world to bore you with my lame days. I guess I'm doing you all a favor. I've been catching up on some tv lately and this morning I watched last week's episode of How I met Your Mother. The episode was about Ted making a"Murtaugh list". It is the list of things that he is too old to do. Here is his list http://www.buddytv.com/articles/how-i-met-your-mother/how-i-met-your-mother-the-murt-27484.aspx?pollid=2001827&answer=2006321#poll2001827

And here is mine:

1. Shop at Abercrombie, Hollister or American Eagle

2. Have a job making minimum wage

3. Sleep on the floor

4. Hang out in a parking lot with my friends

5. Roll down the windows and blast music that I think is cool (according to my roommate I'm too old for this, its still up in the air)

6. Think Zac Efron is hot

7. Go to kid movies without a kid in tow (thank God for my niece)

8. Ask my mom to buy my gas before I go on a trip

9. Eat whatever I want (it makes me sick now)

10. AIM

11. Slip and slide (it hurts when i do it now)

12. attempt somersaults or any other cheerleading move

I'm spent this Lent

LameO title I know. I have to vent though. For lent this year I decided for the sake of my wallet I would give up shopping. To make it worse for the sake of my waistline and wallet I'd give up eating out. AM I STUPID???? This is so hard!

On Friday I had coffee with one of my church friends who informed me that is okay to cheat on Sundays. Well that is great news because my family has brunch together every Sunday. I decided that since we werent going to brunch on Sunday that I would cheat on Saturday night instead. I went to Tubby's tankhouse (a seafood restaurant with a great bar) and had some crab legs. Then we sang karaoke. I cant believe I have already cheated I feel terrible.

I havent shopped though, I think I can do it becuase I've done so well so far. I havent even been tempted. I can go to the grocery store and buy whatever I want. I can also by necessities but nothing I dont NEED. I can go out for drinks and I can buy a milkshake (I consider it a snack not a meal).

So far I have saved $50 from the meals I would have eaten in the last week. I have also lost 2 lbs. I've been dieting anyways so I dont know if that number is an effect of my lent sacrifices. What did everyone else give up for lent and how are you doing?

Gen Y vs. Millenials

I was really struggling on what to write about tonight. I asked my niece what she wanted for her birthday next week and she said "Some fun non educational nintendo DS games". She is turning 10 and for some reason doesnt like Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, or High School Musical. I think that "tween" starts early these days. I'm gonna take all of you back to the 80s. For those of you in your 20s this might strike a cord. This isnt the generic list that everyone else posts, this is MY list. Things that were hip in SC in the 80s.

My favorite toy when I was a kid were Nerfuls. I dont know how many of you had nerfuls but if you did. I had the entire nerful village, this entire village. The coolest thing about them was that you could link their little green roads together and they had cars and they could drive into each others houses and hang out. Okay I know (LOSER cough).
I grew up in a neighborhood full of boys so I played a lot of sports. Most of my favorite toys were my bikes and balls. I had a collection of bouncy balls also. 25cents would buy you a small bouncy ball at Eckerd and for 50 cents you could get a big one (about the size of a golf ball). I went to Best Buy last week and bought a small bouncy ball (25cents for a small one, inflation had no effect on this industry). I have been bouncing it around my office and it is a real stress reliever. I'm sure I look like a goober with my pink bouncy ball but I dont care. I'm gonna throw some in my niece's birthday bag she might enjoy them.

Now to touch on this generation's dislike for teen stars. I dont think all little girls are like this but all of the 10 year olds that I know only like 1 star, Taylor Swift. She is the bees knees to them. They hate Miley Cyrus and think Zac Efron is gross and old. When I was 10 I was obsessed with boys especially the ones who graced the pages of my Tiger Beat and Big Bopper. Here were my favorites.

In case you have forgotten from Left: Jonathan Taylor thomas, Andrew Keegan, Devon Sawa, Jonathan Brandis. I'm not sure what happened to these guys. Brandis passed away a few years ago but the other 3 havent been seen since Devon Sawa in Slackers (2002). I guess Zac Efron and the Jonas brothers are the "it" boys of this generation. They all have one thing in common, Great hair!!

Last but not least, I cant compare the generations without discussing TV. We had cartoons like the Smurfs (today's cartoons cant touch this), Ren and Stimpy (the Spongebob of our time), my personal favs Gummi Bears and Darkwing Duck. We had SNICK which gave us Pete and Pete, Clarissa Explains it All and my fav- Are you Afraid of the Dark? Today they have iCarly which is pretty cute, The suite life of Zack and Cody and Thats so Raven. We also had Saved by the bell which nothing on tv today can compare to.

Thanks for listening to my long rant, to think I had nothing to blog about. What were your favorite memories from the late 80s early 90s???