Summertime Fun

This summer is flying by and Bead Fest is right around the corner.  I still have a TON of beads to make in order to have inventory for the show.  

However, it sure has been nice to have time with the family.  I will take last minute crazy preparations in order to have days like these 

(art by Rochelle Carr)

https://rochellecarr.wordpress.com/

Last week we spent a day at a water park with my Mom.  Justin had to work, but it was nice to have some quality time with my mom and the kids.

It was a long day, and it was a blast!

The next day the kids and I all went to Crystal Cave with both my parents.  That was really cool, and you can read more about it here if you want.

After two day trips, I was REALLY feeling behind in the studio- though my soul was refreshed for sure.

So then the hubs (aka Justin) says to me, lets do a day trip to the shore this weekend.

Ummmm.......ok.  

You see, its hard for us to plan vacations with him being self employed.  This is the busy time of year and he needs to work when the work is there.  So, we do a lot of last minute things.

So, yesterday we went to LBI (long beach island NJ) for the day.  We got up early and were on the road before 9.  

We hiked the rocks at the lighthouse, we at lunch by the bay, we had hours and hours of perfect ocean time, had a nice dinner, walked around bay village, got ice cream and came home.  The day was packed, but it was nothing short of perfect.

This is the end of the jetty at the lighthouse- right off Barnagat Inlet

Lunch by the bay

The ocean was gorgeous.  I even went in !!!  It was deep right off the beach and then got shallow further out, so I could literally swim, right off the beach, which was nice for me, cause I don't go out far.  This picture is zoomed, they are out pretty far in it

 Hubs and I in our happy place

 I scream you Scream- we LOVE Iceberg Ice Cream (in Brant Beach?)  BEST ice cream on the island- all homemade.  There is always a line, but it is sooo worth it.

So now, I am back to the grindstone.  

I have set some goals for myself this week.  I want to make at least three ovens full of polymer beads and get ONE bronze firing started if not finished.................................by Thursday.

IF I meet my goal, I will celebrate by marking down some newer and favorite jewelry and doing a summer destash event on Facebook.  I will also list some items in my shop and do a sale in there for those not on Facebook.  So fingers crossed.  I need to make beads or I will be selling HUGS at Bead Fest.

Like I said, there are worse reasons I could be behind.  I have had the best time with the kids and I am glad we had the chance for some REALLY fun day trips.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!

A Weekend to Revitalize

Well, it's officially one week since I left for Long Beach Island, to enjoy some R&R with the hubs, and do my sea glass festival.  I love that island, and enjoyed my time away from the chaos, just relaxing.

 

We got down there around 11am Friday, unpacked and had some lunch at a favorite place.  Then, it was off to the beach.  Since we stayed in the shore house we usually rent, we could walk to the beach easily, its two houses from it!

 

 

It doesn't get much better then this.  Me and my hubs, with the whole beach to ourselves.

 

 

The weather was perfect, and we had a great night, nice dinner, light rain and breeze to lull us to sleep.

 

Saturday we set up for the sea glass festival, and it was a lot of fun!  Though we really didn't have the turn out from years prior, its always nice to hang out with fellow sea glass and beach lovers.

 

Cheryl, of Things a Drift, the shop that hosts the show, tried to get into the Guinness Book of World Records with the most people blowing the conch horn at one time.  We are still waiting to hear if we made it!  How cool would that be?  It was really fun!  Here is Justin practicing, he is great at it.

 

Here is my set up.  Pretty much the same as usual.

 

 

Sunday was a very slow day business wise, but it was relaxing.  Justin and his cousin hit Chowda- Fest all day, and then the three of us hung out that night and all day Monday. 

 

Monday was gorgeous.  We spent all day outside.  After sleeping in, and a nice breakfast, we hit Barnagat Light to hike to the end of the island.

 

 

 

 The boys climbed Old Barney, but not I!  I took in the scenery.  Just look at that sky.  NOTHING better then a cool clear day at LBI. 

I loved this bench- isn't that so sweet?

At the end of the island- where the bay meets the sea, we got to see these little guys.  They were so fun to watch.

 Then we went home and had some snacks for lunch, packed the cars, and we were off to the other end of the island- Holgate, or Shell Beach, as my kids call it.

And this here is why the kids call it shell beach.  It went on like this for a mile.

We found lots of sea glass!

And this old tree was decorated with shells on the dunes.  I had to add one, I just loved it.

'till we left the beach it was dinnertime.  We didn't get home until after 8pm, but I still got to hug my babies and tuck them in.  One of the best parts of going away, is missing them so!!!!!  This week I did alot of snuggling them.  And coming home Monday night, I got thrown right into homework, school, hockey, ect......OH, and clothes and shoe shopping cause nothing fits them, AGAIN!  But I loved it.  Being away, and coming home.

Thanks to my dear family for caring for my kids while we were away.  Thanks to my Dad for making sure they got off to school Monday too.  You guys rock, and I am so thankful for you.