Shore Things

Readers sometimes ask what exactly it is we do at Coastal Living. Contrary to popular belief, we're not actually sitting on the beach with laptops and margaritas. True, there always seems to be fully-loaded pina coladas coming out of the test kitchen, and you might see lounge chairs, outdoor shower heads, or random coastal paraphernalia strewn about the office, waiting to get tested by a staffer, then photographed. Many of us travel to cool locales to write and photograph our stories, plus the homes department combs through trade shows to find the best decor. Our trusty copy and production departments work hard to get all of our best finds out to you in picture-perfect, legible form. You could say we are a well-oiled, coastal machine. (I guess that makes us a ship then, or an offshore oil drill).

Once in while, we are asked to go on television. Then, the sand seriously hits the fan. Most of us panic. There is fear in our eyes. Some hide under our desks. After all, most of us are trained as writers, editors, artists, and production folks, a life typically lived behind the camera. But, whatever we can do to get our great stories out to our readers, we will do it, even if that means stepping in front of a live lens that catches us scratching our noses and instantly televises it to millions of viewers.

So, get some popcorn and take a peek at some of forays into television and video!

Check out Elizabeth Beeler, our savvy Homes Editor, discussing our newest special edition, Color it Coastal, on ABC News.

Julia Rutland, our Senior Food Editor, is an expert at everything involving seafood and is often a judge on Food Network's Seafood Challenge. Here, she shows us how to shuck and cook delicious oysters.

The camera loves Kay Fuston, the captain of our ship, who appeared on The Today Show to show off the best hammocks for your backyard.

They dragged me out from under my desk yesterday to show off an incredible coastal garden in the San Francisco Bay Area featured in our May issue.

When I unearth clips of other staffers who are hiding them from me, I will post them for your pure entertainment. So check back at this blog post often!

Here's a behind-the-scenes photo of Lisa Quinn, the House Doctor, from yesterday's live shooting of ABC's View from the Bay.

Note: That building located across the San Francisco Bay is one of California's maximum-security state prisons, San Quentin. To the right (out of frame) is famous Alcatraz Island, former home of notorious bad boy, Truman Capote. What's up with prisons having the most prized coastal real estate?

Our department is well versed when it comes to safety.  During office drills, our production assistant and I sport DayGlo vests to validate our extensive training (really).  Still, our staff has been known to throw caution to wind and run with whatever happens to be in-hand when enthusiastic shouts echo from the film room.  Seasoned staffers know that any hesitation will leave you in the back of the room, jumping on tip-toes (sans scissors--hopefully), trying to get a glimpse of the coveted slideshow.

The most memorable stampede was ignited by our Jan/Feb 2008 cover shot.  The water’s vivid blue-green layers of Caribbean color brought more oohs and aahs than David and Posh Beckham.  And if you’re wondering, the photo was not enhanced…the photographer truly captured Mother Nature at her finest.

If you have captured a serendipitous moment on film, we would love to see it!  Be sure to check out our annual Capture the Coast photo contest.  With continued safety in mind, you should be seated to view the grand prize trip; the photos of this Belize resort (pictured above) will knock you off your feet! 

If you're like me (so pale that we belong under a rock), then hanging out on the coast requires proper sunscreen. And even if you bronze up faster than a roast turkey, you still need protection.

There are different types of sunscreens out there, those that use chemical blocks and those that use physical ones, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I prefer to use the most natural products possible, so I'm always on the lookout for new products. (I'm one of those people who stand in the aisles and read every ingredient listed on the label.)

My latest find is MelanSol sun protection products. It combines mineral reflective UV filters (physical blockers), but also uses pure natural ingredients and super antioxidants, like Bio-Melanin, extracted from fruit of the date palm, green tea, and vitamin E. The combination of mineral sunscreen and antioxidants helps prevent free radicals from long-term aging, plus together they have greater protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays than sunscreen alone, according to The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The best part is that MelanSol doesn't smell like you spilled a pina colada all over yourself. Its natural oils, including those from lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, oregano, and thyme, impart an herbaceous scent that reminds me of sunning on the Mediterranean coast.

I may be whiter than pork belly, but I do like to get out from under the rock once in a while. Available at MelanSol.us

Since 2005, Jeld-Wen’s Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative has helped to save landmark beacons in need of repair. To date, the leading windows and doors manufacturer has outfitted the Umpqua River Lighthouse (Oregon), Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (Maryland), and Wind Point Lighthouse (Wisconsin) with custom, window/door technology that not only gives the structure a fresh look, but also strengthens it against harsh coastal conditions.

What's your favorite lighthouse? Visit jeld-wen.com/lighthouse now until May 18th to nominate it for Jeld-Wen’s 2008 makeover. The public will vote on the top nominees later this summer.

Want to get away from your day job for a week and help the Surfrider Foundation preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches?

Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation are granting someone the chance to take a break from the daily grind and learn the basics of environmental activism from experts in the field.

As part of their Beach Rescue Project, Barefoot Wine is 'footing the bill' for a talented beach enthusiast to spend a week working with the Surfrider Foundation.

Here's what the winning applicant will receive:
• Hands-on experience in ocean water quality and organized beach cleanups
• Instruction in grassroots awareness campaigns
• VIP status at a national surfing competition
• Financial compensation
• All-expense paid trip to California, including airfare, beachside housing, and ground transportation

Entries will be judged by the staff at the SurfRider Foundation based on past environmental experience, relevant skills and proven dedication to the cause.

To enter, visit http://www.barefootwine.com/BeachRescue, download the application, and read the Official Rules of the contest.

Cowabunga Dude!

When packing sun protection this summer, don’t forget a little something for fido. These breathable mesh glasses ($10) from Doggles allow 270 degrees of vision, filter 50 to 60 percent of UV rays, and come in sizes ranging from XS to Large. Sounds perfect for my little Chihuahua who loves to bask in the sunshine. For more coastal dog products, click here.

I suspect that many of our print readers have noticed, and perhaps our online friends too, that Coastal Living is dog-friendly. We love dogs here and most staffers have one or more canine family members. While we often "press" them into service for photo shoots (see previous post), they do not seem to mind and my favorite pup (shown here) is actually still enjoying his Big Kahuna chew toy that he modeled for a web story on dog products.

Our staff photographer's Golden Retriever, notorious for chewing, destroyed his within a week and loved every minute of it.

On the rare occasion that we need talent for photo shoots, we often find them lurking in our own backyards. Our families—or more often our pets—are more than willing to help us out. Take a look at some of our very own stars.

My 3-year-old Chihuahua, Ginger, models a pet travel tote in a recent issue and a pet bed that was featured on our Web site. (You’d be amazed at how still she is if you promise her treats.)

Staff photographer Jean Allsopp’s beloved dog, Marley, sits patiently for her picture inside this pet carrier. Incidentally, we had a difficult time during production making Marley’s fur white without a greenish tint to it.

Features writer Susan Kim and Chef Jeremy Emmerson try Hog Island Oyster Company’s tasty treasures in a photo we used for our High Five Staff Favorite’s column.

Market Editor Sarah Johnson displayed a bright orange beach bag on the opening page to a Weekend Living Special Section.

The things I do for Coastal Living.

To write the Texas Round-up for our April Coastal Communities column, I headed west for a whirlwind tour of the Lone Star State's expansive shoreline. Among the week's many adventures, I stood atop a high-rise condo with no windows or barriers between me and the Gulf of Mexico, ate my first soft-shell crab, and spotted oryx and blackbucks (antelope more commonly found in Africa and India). But none of these marvelous (and occasionally frightening) experiences can top being gored by a Texas Longhorn (I always knew I was an Aggie fan ...).

That's right, GORED! Some around the office may say that's an exaggeration, and frankly they'd be right. But I did have quite a bruise. Though you couldn't really see that either ... It all happened while staying at the fabulous Falcon Point Ranch. (By the way, that's not an exaggeration—it was great!)

Normally guests wouldn't be mingling with the longhorns, but our host, ranch owner Bill Ball, invited me and our lovely Southwest regional sales manager, Dawn Bar, to partake in some feeding and petting of the enormous animals. As you can see from the photo, it wasn't much of a match since I'm basically eye-level with the cows, and before long I was pinned against a fence, praying they wouldn't make any sudden moves that might take me out.

Soon though, I got the hang of the feeding thing, and while I did have one entire-hand-in-cow's-mouth experience, things were going well. That was until I ran out of cow pellets. As I casually made my way back to the cow-encircled vehicle, I was "hooked" by a longhorn. I'd like to pause here and point out that the term "hooked" is much akin to "friendly fire" in that there was nothing hook-like taking place. Plainly, I was gored by a longhorn named Yoda, who was angry that I had run out of food. Luckily, I stood my ground (meaning, I didn't fall completely over), and was able to enjoy the rest of the trip.

Though it was a decidedly strange experience, this incident reminded me that one of my favorite things about this job is experiencing the many and varied coastlines we cover. I never anticipated feeding a cow while overlooking a sparkling bay that opens into the ocean. But next time, I'm only feeding the ones without horns ...

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