I Need a Vacation {Part Two}

Did I mention how effing HOT it was during our week at the beach? Like a legit heat wave, you guys. It was so damn humid, it was almost hard to breathe. I love summer and I'm a beach baby but it was brutal the entire time. Day, night, early morning - it didn't matter. Gross. Moving on...

Monday was another relaxing one for us. We bought a beach umbrella and hung out on the beach all day. I read Mindy Kaling's book in about two hours (a quick read for sure but really cute!). Geoff and I ate dinner at Phillips Seafood, which has several locations in OCM and had been around forever. I had snow crab legs and Geoff ordered the lobster, which he was super excited about.

 

After dinner we stopped by FishTails on 22nd Street and sipped on grapefruit crushes while watching the sun set. I am ALL about sitting on the water and relaxing with a cocktail. It was another early night for us; we wanted to hit the beach the next day and save all our energy for the following evening!

Tuesday afternoon, we trekked back up to Rehoboth to visit our friends Jenn and her bf Dan. Geoff and I both used to work with Jenn several years ago and then she and Dan decided to move to the beach (ughhh I'm so jealous!). We hadn't seen Jenn since our wedding almost a year ago so we were super excited to hang out with them!

First up was Fins Fish House and Raw Bar, where we grabbed apps and beers. Of course we had to have oyster shooters, too! A fresh raw oyster, cocktail sauce and beer in a shot glass? Yummy! (Geoff refused. He said it would come right back up.)

We stopped by the Stoney Lonin, which is where our rehearsal dinner was last year. We stopped by a restaurant called Salt Air, where I got a champagne cocktail (St. Germaine, lime, soda, and champagne). I also tried to get Jenn and Dan to convince Geoff to move to Rehoboth. Not sure it worked, but maybe the seed has been planted? Who knows, I was feeling pretty tipsy by then.

 

 

Me and my Jenn-love!

Thennnnn we decided we should totally go to the Starboard. While we waited for a cab, we stopped in the Purple Parrot for another drink. 

I was definitely feeling good by the time we got into Dewey, as evidenced by this extremely classy shot of me lighting a cig. Yikes. Must have been the multiple Fireball shots we were taking?

 

Back to Jenn and Dan's we went for late night beer pong and "Blurred Lines" on repeat. Overall a successful outing with our friends! Love those guys...wish we could see them more often! ahem...

 



Our last vacation recap is coming up next. Stay tuned! 

I Need a Vacation {Part One}

Is it possible to need a vacation from your vacation?! We had an amazing time at the beach and we are (still) exhausted. Let's dig in!

Saturday, Geoff and I loaded up my car and hit the road, iced coffee in hand (a necessity, in my opinion). Once we made the slow crawl through the Delaware beaches, we arrived in Ocean City MD. Our hotel was on 59th Street, where we stocked the fridge with the essentials (aka BOOZE) and unpacked (kind of).

We had plans for dinner in Rehoboth with my aunt and uncle, my cousin and her boyfriend. So back in the car we went! We ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Summer House. Yum!!

After dinner we made the short drive into Dewey and decided to go to northbeach, which sits on the bay and has amazing sunset views. We had a round of Dewey Devils (a slushy mix of 151 rum and light rum, blackberry brandy, orange juice, strawberries and cream). Then once my aunt and uncle left, things got a little crazy. Red Bull and vodka, Fireball shots... I remember dancing the Wobble and being very excited when "Blurred Lines" came on.

 

Me + my cousin

After northbeach, we made our way down to the Lighthouse. My poor husband was exhausted and nearly falling asleep standing up, so naturally I decided he should have a Red Bull & vodka, as well. Solid idea, really. This photo is the last one I have of him before he turned into SloppyPants.

Apparently I make Geoff take pictures of me when I've been drinking. Here are the two least embarrassing photos. Looking goooood. It was soon after these were taken that we headed home, thankfully. Yikes.

Surprisingly I didn't feel like total shit the next morning. Geoff and I hauled ass back to OCM for a relaxing day on the beach. Knowing that we had lots of plans for the end of the week, we spent a low-key Sunday night on the boardwalk and watched dueling pianos (awesome!) at one of our fave Ocean City spots, Shenanigans.

Next up on our vacay recaps: more relaxation in Ocean City, then a night of bar-hopping in Rehoboth!

Beach Love + Yummy Drink Recipes

I really love the beach, in case you couldn't tell. If it was up to me, we would move there permanently. *coughGeoffcough*

Geoff and I officially stayed at his parents' timeshare in Ocean City Maryland for our vacation. However, we made several trips back up to the Delaware shore to visit family and friends over the course of the week. So before I dig into our vacay recaps, I thought I'd tell you just a little about the beaches we love in Delaware and save the stuff about OCM for later. Ready? Let's go!

Here is Delaware...well, the bottom part of it anyway. We live towards the top, about an hour and a half from the nearest major beach town. Starting with Lewes, they are all lined up in a row - Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick. Then you cross over the Maryland state line and you're in Ocean City MD. We are really lucky to have access to the shore like this.

While each beach town is great in its own way, we frequent Rehoboth (family fun with great nightlife) and Dewey (24/7 party town) the most.

Rehoboth holds a special place in my heart because it is where Geoff and I got married last year. We decided on Rehoboth because it has a bit of everything - a fun boardwalk, tons of amazing restaurants and bars, a wide beach with sweet waves, cute little shops... exactly what you would want a beach town to be. It is nearly impossible to be bored there. My parents used to bring my brother and I to Rehoboth all the time when we were little, so it's great for families. At the same time, Rehoboth has fine dining and a pretty great nightlife, so it's awesome for groups and couples, too. 

Dewey is an entirely different beast altogether. People say Dewey is "a way of life" or a "lifestyle" and it's true. Put simply, you go there to drink your face off. 

  

Most of Dewey's bars have been there for years and they are Delaware beach institutions: The Lighthouse, Rusty Rudder, Que Pasa, North Beach, Bottle and Cork, and my personal favorite, The Starboard.

As an example of Dewey Beach life, a typical Saturday for me in Dewey goes something like this: Head to the Starboard around 9am for breakfast, hit their EPIC Bloody Mary bar, order a magnum or two of champagne, pass the champs around to everyone in the bar (never let the bottle touch your lips!). Have an Orange Crush around 10:30, take a few shots...shwasted by 11. In the morning. Back to your Dewey house for a nap and a shower. Maybe stop by the Lighthouse for a few drinks on the bay. Then Jam session (a line-up of several popular live cover bands) at the Bottle and Cork starts at 5:00, after which you go to North Beach and the Rudder for drunken debauchery.  

Ahhh, love love love!

The Starboard (Source)

Dewey also introduced me to my favorite summer beverage: the Grapefruit Crush (which I've mentioned before on le blog) and it's delicious counterpart, the Orange Crush. Recipes for both are below. You're welcome.

Grapefruit Crush

 1/2 grapefruit, juiced

1.5 oz Absolut Ruby Red vodka

Splash of triple sec

Splash of Sprite

Pour all ingredients over a glass filled with ice. Insert straw and drink.

Orange Crush

1 orange, juiced

1.5 oz Svedka Orange

Splash of triple sec

Splash of Sprite

Pour all ingredients over a glass filled with ice. Insert straw and drink.

Driving down to the beach, all I can think about is getting my hands on one of these bevvies. The KEY to these drinks is the fresh squeezed fruit juice and you should squeeze fresh juice each time. Trust me.

On a more serious note, Dewey (and the Starboard in particular) are pretty special to me because my uncle Phillip co-owned the Starboard in the 80s. He passed away a few months before our wedding. The Starboard kindly threw a bash in his honor in June 2012. Seeing his favorite place filled with all his old beach friends brought tears to my eyes. So...yeah. Maybe I'll do a post about it sometime.

As a born and raised Delawarian, I'm partial to Delaware beaches. Last week, however, Geoff's parents were gracious enough to let us use their timeshare in Ocean City MD and we had a blast...

So stay tuned for our upcoming vacation recaps! Part One includes a trip to Dewey and dueling pianos on the Ocean City boardwalk...

Retail Therapy

A vacation calls for new clothes, in my opinion.

I've been dying for this Target maxi skirt but they haven't had it in the store every time I've gone. So cute and comfy; I'll probably wear it with a black tank AND it was less than $20.



Target


I also adore this hammered chain link bracelet from F21 - only $6.80! 

Forever 21

It's hard to tear myself out of Barnes and Noble without buying the whole store. I grabbed Mindy Kaling's book and a few magazines. Then I spotted this super-cute beach tote that was only $9.95 with any purchase! Ughhh love the pink and lime green!

 

 

Excited to wear all my new goodies at the beach next week! Come on, Saturday!!

Two Days and Counting...

Do you ever just need a break?

 

 

Life has been so hectic lately. I feel like the Energizer Bunny - going and going - fueled only by a ton of coffee and Red Bull. Even the Energizer Bunny needs new batteries after a while. Or a nap.

 

That is why I could not be more excited for our upcoming vacation! Starting this Saturday I will be on beach time for a full week. Hello sleeping in, lounging in the sun, drinking too many cocktails, trashy magazines, afternoon naps, delicious dinners, time with my husband, fun with our friends, rest and relaxation!

 

Oh and it's also my birthday next Thursday, too.

 

So I'm pretty much counting down the hours until the weekend. The beach is my happy place and this vacay can not come soon enough!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

Dear Charlotte,

 

Happy Birthday to you,

I can't believe you're already two!

 

It seems like just yesterday I was being awoken at 6am with the news that your mom was in labor. Uncle Geoff and I rushed to the hospital so I could be in the delivery room for your birth. As you can see, Aunt Jenna was a big help.

 

What? It was like 6:30 in the morning.

After a while, you decided you were ready to be born and you came squirting into the world, purple and covered in goo. It was kinda weird but also the coolest experience of my life.

 

Proud Auntie right here.
 

It has been amazing watching you grow into a little person.

 

You are so smart and so funny. You make me laugh constantly.

 

I love your selfies.

 

Most of all, I love your little voice calling me "An Nenna" (Aunt Jenna) and Uncle Geoff "Efffff." You are growing up so fast.

 Happy Birthday, baby! An Nenna loves you!!

 

**

 

And of course, Happy Fourth of July!

 



Wedding Day Morning

Waking up on your wedding day is pretty surreal. I was overwhelmed with every emotion imaginable. Everything I did seemed to be significant in some way. Even when I got out of bed and started looking around for a mimosa.

My mom, my sisters and I headed down the boardwalk in search of coffee and breakfast even though I wasn't hungry at all. The sky was majorly overcast but I forced myself to remain calm. Beach weather is always unpredictable and we had hours before the ceremony was supposed to start. We got back to the hotel with coffee in hand and things started happening quickly.

I showered, put on my white Bride robe and sat down to get beautified, orange juice and champagne in hand. Some of my girls stopped in while I was getting ready to chat and have a drink, which helped calm my nerves. The photog and videographer arrived and started doing their thing. I tried to tune them out as much as possible and STAY IN THE MOMENT, but it's weird having people constantly taking pictures and video of you during one of the most exciting and emotional days of your life.

Once hair and makeup were done, Geoff's brother Greg (the best man) stopped by to drop off a gift from Geoff.

Funny tidbit: One night we were out drinking before the big day and I drunkenly asked him what he was buying me for our wedding day. "I have to buy you something?" "Well, no, but I got you something." "Okay, what do you want?" "I want the Kate Spade necklace. You know, the Mrs. necklace."

Source

So that's what he bought me. I didn't even pretend to act surprised when I opened it but it was still very sweet and emotional.

 

Then it was time for a shot, which was disgusting, and finally putting on my wedding gown. Eeeek!

Next up: The Wedding Dress and Final Touches