By The Beach Coastie

08/20/2026

PCOS-friendly pizza experiment = SUCCESS 👩‍🍳🍕😋

I wanted pizza, but I also wanted something packed with fiber, protein, and veggies, so I decided to experiment.

I sautéed one onion, one bell pepper, and a package of mushrooms, then added:

🫘 2 cans of Great Northern beans
🌿 McCormick Garlic, Herb, Black Pepper & Sea Salt seasoning
🍅 Newman’s Own organic tomato & basil sauce, no sugar added
🧀 Low-fat mozzarella

Baked it all together until hot, bubbly, and cheesy.

Is it technically pizza? The Pizza Police may have questions. 😂
Do I care? Absolutely not. It’s GOOD.

I’m learning that eating well doesn’t have to mean sad, restrictive food. Sometimes it just means getting creative with foods I already love and finding combinations that taste good and leave me satisfied.

08/20/2026

The Eddie Bounce: Beach Edition 🐾🌊

Some dogs bark. Eddie launches each announcement with his entire front end.

At fourteen, he may prefer shorter beach walks—but when he has something to say, the paws leave the sand and the whole Oregon Coast hears about it. 🤣

I’m not sure whether he was singing to the ocean, filing a complaint or addressing his fan club. Whatever the message was, he delivered it with conviction.

Please hold your applause until all four paws have returned to the ground. ☺️🐾🌊💜

08/20/2026

After a tough couple of days, it felt good to sit with my feet in the sand and let the ocean do what it does.

I watched the waves. Claire watched for unauthorized dogs. We all have our responsibilities. 🤣🐾

Nothing complicated—just a little fresh air, sandy feet and gratitude for living close enough to the ocean to find my way back when I need it.

Where gratitude meets the tide 🌊💜

08/17/2026

Where Gratitude Meets the Tide 🌊💜

Sometimes the best coastal adventures are the ones where we simply sit down.

Eddie stood guard while I dug my feet into the sand and watched the waves. At fourteen, he understands the value of a short walk, a sunny resting place and keeping his person within easy supervision. ☺️🐾

We didn’t need to go far or do anything remarkable. We just sat beside the ocean together—and I’m deeply grateful for every ordinary moment that feels this special.
🌊💜

08/15/2026

Just By The Beach Coastie 🌺🐢🌊💜

For a little while today, I was simply By The Beach Coastie—the one who loves the ocean and the beach as a whole.

I wasn’t thinking about my CoastWatch mile. I wasn’t counting dead common murres or investigating the wrack line. Even Arts and Crafts Julie resisted the urge to go beachcombing.

I sat in the sand and watched the surfers meet the waves.

Stewardship is part of how I love this coast, but today reminded me that I’m also allowed to receive what the ocean gives: a place to sit, breathe, watch and simply be grateful that I’m here.

Where gratitude meets the tide 🌊💜

08/15/2026

Low-Tide Beach Committee🐶🐶🌊💜

The tide was out when we came home from Lincoln City, so the pups and I took advantage of the extra beach.

It was only a short walk—just enough time for Claire and Eddie to inspect the sand, sniff the coastal correspondence and pose for the official Low-Tide Beach Committee portrait. Their expressions suggest my performance review is still pending. 🤣🐾

I’m grateful for these small, unplanned outings. We didn’t need to go far or stay long. We just needed a little sand beneath our feet and paws.

Where gratitude meets the tide 🌊💜

08/09/2026

Julie’s “J’ai la pêche” Salad 🍑

Part of what I’m enjoying about studying French is learning some of the idioms. J’ai la pêche literally translates to “I have the peach,” but when someone says it in French, it means “I have energy” or “I feel great.”

Peaches are plentiful right now, so I picked some up at the Salishan Artisan Faire along with some lemon cucumbers. This salad has quickly become one of my favorites:

Salad
Green leaf lettuce
Cubed baked chicken (I prefer thighs, but breasts would work)
Cubed peaches
Sliced lemon cucumber
Slivered almonds
Crumbled blue cheese (feta would work; I just like blue cheese)
Pickled onions (I prefer them to raw onions)

Dressing
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp pickled onion juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste

Bon appétit!

Where gratitude meets the tide 🌊💜

08/05/2026

Smokey evening on the Central Oregon Coast 🌊💜

07/19/2026

07/18/2026

A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined sharing a photo of my gray hair.

Today, I smiled when I looked in the mirror.

For years I colored my hair because I thought I was supposed to. Today I realized something unexpected…the first thing I noticed wasn’t the gray. It was the brightness. It reminded me of trying to achieve that sun-kissed look with Sun-In back in the ’80s.

As a daily swimmer, I won’t miss the lingering smell of toner or the extra maintenance. Those are nice bonuses.

But the biggest change isn’t in my hair.

It’s in me.

I’m learning that authenticity feels lighter than trying to meet someone else’s expectations.

Here’s to healthy curls, salty air, morning swims, and embracing every silver strand.

J’assume mes cheveux gris. 🇫🇷🌊💜