TAKE ME BACK…

While Winter 2016 isn’t as unbearable as some in recent memory (I’m looking at you 2015), it’s still not sunny and 80°. I’m still not in shorts and a flowy tank top or sun dress or a bikini-although the actual thought of being in a bikini right now in my pale, post holiday body makes me physically ill (note to self: PUT DOWN THE CHEEZ-ITS). Getting dressed in the morning in the summer vs the winter is a completely different situation. In the summer, for work, I throw a dress over my head and run out the door. My hair is naturally wavy and somehow looks less homeless, more surfer girl in the summer. Winter…I don’t leave the house without wearing at least 3 layers. And this is before I add on my giant amorphous coat. My hair is always in a ponytail or a bun because let’s be real: given 15 extra minutes in the morning I will choose sleep over hair every.single.time. Or scroll through Instagram until I get back to the last post I saw before I went to sleep. It’s a toss up, really.

I recently went through pictures from Summer 2015 and thought I’d post as a reminder that vast gray, bleak wasteland that is winter does have an expiration date. And it’s in exactly 154 days. In no particular order, here are the things I miss most about the summer:

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Long lazy bike rides to empty beaches

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How tan I was (disclaimer: I haaaate hot dog leg pics, particularly pics of my hot dog legs, but you guys I WAS SO TAN)

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Wearing a sleeveless dress without hating life

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Maxi.Firepit.Sandals.Pedicure.Come back to me.

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Frozen cocktails without immediately feeling like I needed mittens

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Sweet, buttery lobster rolls ::insert Homer Simpson drool here::

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Seasonal Restaurants. Beer just doesn’t taste as good unless you’re on the water.

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Some of the best sunsets ever

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Taking pictures in the water without feeling like my toes will fall off

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Everything about summer storms (that smell of rain right before though…)

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Rainbows after the aforementioned summer storm

 

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That holy-crap-the-sky-just-exploded way summer days end
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how mermaids whet their whistle…spiked seltzer!

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I’m always on the hunt for a new cocktail, preferably one that is low cal and yummy. Enter Spiked Seltzer. I had first seen Spiked Seltzer on Instagram a few months back and fell in love with the packaging. The cans are tall, sleek and slender (kind of how I would like my body. Too bad pizza keeps getting in the way.), with their trademark mermaid on the front (were you wondering how it got my attention? There’s your answer!). I was in my local beer distributor and they carried it, so I snapped it up.

There are four flavors each named for its origin: Valencia Orange, Indian River Grapefruit, West Indies Lime and Cape Cod Cranberry. Each flavor is bursting with refreshing citrus flavor, but none are overly sweet. Developed by Nick Shields, Spiked Seltzer is brewed in Connecticut. Each flavor is made with all natural ingredients, is gluten-free, has a 6% alcohol content, 5 grams of carbs per can and is 140 calories. The best part of not having any unnecessary sugar or preservatives? No hangover!  The Spiked Seltzer website even suggests that it even makes a nice mixer and comes complete with cocktail recipes: Spiked Seltzer Cocktails

It’s a flavorful, guilt free cocktail that is best served chilled over ice with your toes in the sand.

#GettothePoint

 

Jon and I decided to go out to dinner this past Friday night. After much debate of “Where do you wanna go?” and “I don’t care”. I remembered hearing about the Point Lookout Alehouse in Point Lookout, NY. As I always do, I stalked the menu online before going and saw two of the greatest words that could have ever been put together there on a page. Words that when paired evoke my saliva glands (are those a thing?) and sheer, unadulterated happiness. Are you ready? Are you sure?? Here goes: Lobster Guacamole. Succulent, juicy chunks of lobster, dispersed in a sea of creamy green avocado goodness. I mean, who wouldn’t want that?? So I threw on my favorite (and only) Lilly for Target dress that I scored on Ebay (apparently it helps to fit into a child’s XL because it’s much cheaper than the women’s size) and got myself dolled up for a date night.

Point Lookout should be a 10 minute (if that) drive from our home. So why were we in the car for about 40 minutes. No, this is not a riddle. It is because Point Lookout has ZERO parking for non residents. Jon was dangerously close to turning the car around and ordering takeout and making it a Netflix night. Seriously, we almost got into a fight with a not so nice 80 year old woman. It was that bad, you guys.

We finally found parking (SUCCESS!) and got to the Ale House. The manager was a lovely gentleman wearing madras pants who complimented my ever so summery dress (points for you sir!) who told us our table would be ready shortly. The restaurant is quaint on the outside, with big doors that open up onto the sidewalk with Adirondack chairs for patrons to sit in and have a few cocktails prior to dinner. The interior is an inviting pub with a large mahogany bar that was jam packed when we arrived. The waitstaff is outfitted in black tank tops that say “The Point” in front, and 15 MPH on the back, a nod to PLO’s speed limit. We ordered beer (a Montauk Session for me-YUM-and a Bud Light for my driver…I mean husband). After about 6 minutes, we were escorted to our high top right next to the doors where we could have the best of both worlds. Sitting halfway outside on a beautiful balmy summer night and watching the Yankee game (not really my idea of a good time, but compromise is key right?). We were given our menus (like I even needed a menu! 2 words: Lobster Guac. Or one word: LobGuac. Give it to me. Give it to me now!!!!).

I scanned the menu. It wasn’t there. No. NO. This could not be! I read it back and front 3 times. It. Wasn’t. There. Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe it was a special. I asked our server who delivered the news to me the way she had delivered it to hundreds (ok probably not) of patrons who had the same hopes and dreams of LobGuac as I did. The menu online isn’t updated and there was no Lobster Guac anymore. Horror. Devastation. Grief. Sadness.

After my initial depression, I picked up the pieces of my dignity and we ordered baked clams as an app and I ordered a full broiled lobster for my meal (when I am sad I eat. DON’T JUDGE ME). Jon ordered the NY Strip Steak because apparently we are ballers and order surf and turf on what was supposed to be a not super expensive night out. Oops.

The clams were delicious and super filling to the point where I only finished one side of my lobster (hooray leftovers!). The steak was yummy as well and the mashed potatoes were to die for. The staff was very attentive and very welcoming, food was fab and the beer selection on tap is nothing to sniff at. Overall, we had a great experience and had a great little date night but I am still dreaming of Lobster Guacamole. LobGuac, you are my white whale and one day you will be mine!!!!!

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My Lilly for Target date night look. No I did not wait on that insane line. It was an Ebay steal! It’s a girl’s XL and was going for about $50 less than the women’s shift dress and fits like a 4-6.

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My ginormous broiled lobster that served as the following night’s dinner

 

 

 

 

Just do it!

No, this is not a post or a blog about how much I love Nike. Many moons ago, I had the idea to start up a blog. It’s taken several years and several almost-started-blogs later (seriously, I am the not so proud owner of 3 blogs that have never seen the light of day) but here I am.

Why has it taken so long for me to get my ish together and do this? A few reasons, actually. The biggest culprit would be fear of failure. I’ll admit, taking criticism has not always been my strong suit. I may or may not have been known for getting a bit weepy after certain meetings in the corporate world where my work was criticized (another not so proud moment-I’m giving you a lot of these and it’s only my first post!). Another issue was what to blog about. I have many different interests, and consider myself a fairly well rounded person and I couldn’t narrow it down (Fun fact: I tied with another girl in junior high for Most Well Rounded individual. Does that make me half a rounded person?) so I had no idea what direction to steer the blog in. Well dear readers, I’ve finally (wo)manned up and decided start writing. What will you see here? Oh a little of this, a little of that. I love (in no particular order): the beach (more on this later), travel, pop culture, interior design, cooking, fashion, DIYing and bargain hunting.

I am concluding my very first post with one of my most favorite quotes by Erin Hanson.

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Take a chance. You never know what could happen.

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