Rehoboth Beach Getaway

Hi and happy Friday readers! This past weekend I took a girls trip out to Rehoboth, DE to go to the beach! I've been feeling pretty down lately and I think that I just needed a healthy dose of "vitamin sea". We packed up the car and headed about 3 hours East to get just that!

We arrived around 10:30AM and found the cutest coffee shop called Dreamer for a mid-morning snack. I got a cold-pressed juice and was basically transported to heaven! This had a tropical juice-stand feel with a feminine twist. I absolutely loved their coffee cups and couldn't leave without a photo!

 

This beach was absolutely packed! I am used to the SC/GA/FL coasts, and have never seen a beach so full of people. We lucked out and found the perfect spot, rented chairs and umbrellas, and got settled. I was very nervous about frying since I haven't spent a ton of time in the sun this summer and was careful to reapply my sunscreen frequently! Thankfully, I made it out with a light tan and no burns! Wahoo! We read, chatted, tanned, went swimming, took walks, and pulled out some rusty gymnastics skills in some clear spots far down the beach. It seriously was a blast!

For dinner, we ate at a cute little restaurant called Fins. We had delicious cocktails and even tried oyster shooters before dinner. Once we got to our table, we had a delicious feast of raw oysters and entrees. I had grilled fish tacos that were the Bomb.com! I have never enjoyed fish tacos that much in my whole life. If you ever head to Rehoboth, I recommend them!!!

Who can pass up a cute pineapple photo opp?! Not me!

For breakfast, we headed back to Dreamer for juices and bagels to eat on the beach. I listened to my church sermon from my iPhone (I love technology!!) and was totally at peace on the beach. I was completely overwhelmed with contentment and gratitude for everything that I do have in my life. It's amazing how good preaching can really change your outlook. I snapped the below photo in hopes of capturing my feelings and to serve as a reminder that I can find peace if I try.

I'm already dreaming of being back with my toes in the sand!

A little confession/peek into my life.. I absolutely love salt water taffy! I hadn't tried it before going to Savannah for the first time in middle school and I've been hooked ever since! It's almost a curse though, because nothing compares to fresh taffy! Whenever I go to the beach, I always try to find a candy shop that makes their own and stock up. I keep a little candy bowl on my coffee table and like to keep it stocked with these pretties.

 I couldn't leave without a bag of fresh sweets!

I'm so thankful that this trip was able to happen! I already can't wait for the next one, I hope it's soon!

Have you taken a girls trip? What is your favorite trip? Are you going to squeeze in one last trip before the end of summer?

Beach Weekend Essentials

Hey y'all! I hope this week is going well for you. Can you believe it's already August?! I'm freaking out a little bit. This year has been a wild one and I am just in shock that it's already the 8th month of 2015. This past weekend, I took some of my own advice and headed out for a spontaneous trip to the beach with a few girlfriends. I had the most rejuvenating time! We packed up the car and drove to Delaware for what was supposed to be a day trip, but we ended up finding a hotel vacancy and turned it into a little weekend getaway. More to come about my trip on Friday- be sure to check back! We had packed contingency bags just in case we were able to find a room but to say we were ill-prepared is an understatement! While you definitely need fewer items for a one night stay, there are a few things you shouldn't forget. To help you avoid my same issue, I wanted to put together a list of essentials for a quick beach getaway!

Well-packed beach bag. A beach bag is the first essential for a beach trip- for obvious reasons! You need a bag that you're ok putting on the sand and won't be upset if sand gets in. A few things I don't want to be caught on the beach without are sunscreen, chapstick (with SPF), a snack, headphones, a sunhat, and a coverup! Here are a few cute ones out there:

Towel. I'm a fan of the over-sized towels or beach blankets out there! It's nice to spread out. Also, if you're going with a group it helps you to claim more space on the beach. This is super helpful on some of the more crowded beaches.

Reusable water bottle. These are great for the beach- especially if it's insulated! That way, you are able to get some refreshing sips of water while you're out in the heat. There are usually water fountains to refill at, or if your beach has nearby restaurants you can full up at their drink stations! There are so many cute bottles out there, I couldn't help but share a few!

Beach read. I've been making reading more of a priority, and the beach is absolutely one of my favorite places to read! I'm not sure that there is better place. The sounds of the beach in the background, the warm sunshine... total relaxation! I'm usually able to get through my books quickly because I'm undisturbed when sitting out on the sand! Check out some of my reads as of late here.

Flip flops. It's so useful to have a pair of rubber flip flops when visiting the beach! I usually don't like to bring expensive shoes just in case they get wet or messed up another way! Sand can be cruel.

Thankfully, I had most of these packed. I did forget my water bottle and was seriously regretting it every time I had to pay $5 for water! But you've gotta stay hydrated on the beach. Hopefully you'll be perfectly prepared for your next getaway, and I hope it's soon!

What are your beach essentials? Did I miss anything?

6 Ways To Rock This Summer

Hello hello! Y'all. Can you believe that it's finally SUMMER?! No more threats of snow or waddling around under layers wrapped in down puffer jackets! Hallelujah! I'm loving it so far. I've spent plenty of time at the pool- reading and listening to Serial (more to come with both of those topics in the near future..). It's my picture-perfect way to pass my free time. For me, summer has taken on a new persona in my adult life. Even though I went to school during my summers in college, it was still MY summer. I had plenty of time to do what I wanted with whomever I wanted basically whenever I wanted. I definitely miss those days. But I have learned to capitalize on my new relationship with summertime and wanted to share a few ways you can rock your summer!

Take a day trip.  Living up in metro-DC means that I have a ton of attractions within a short driving distance. Last summer, I tried to make the most of my weekends and visit some cities within 1-3 hours of me. I'm not native to this area, so everywhere is a new beautiful experience for me. Annapolis, Baltimore, National Harbor, Fredericksburg.. I am hoping to grow my list this year as well! Pack up a cooler, make a new playlist, grab your friends, and hit the road! Even if you're revisiting a city, you can definitely find a new perspective!

Throw a pool party. Pool parties aren't just for 13th birthdays anymore. Skip the balloons, streamers, and cake (actually, I say keep the cake..)- add good friends, a wireless speaker, and blended fruity cocktails to a pool deck then stir. That is the recipe for a perfect pool party in my book!

Create your own summer reading list. Now, the words "summer reading list" may send a wave of fear through your body, but I promise it's more enjoyable when you make your own. Do a little research of popular reads and create your own list to enjoy in your down time. No deadlines or reports due at the end!

Explore your surroundings. No matter how long you've lived at your current residence, neighborhoods are constantly changing. Try a new restaurant, take a bike ride in a new park, go hiking on a new-to-you trail. Finding new things to do in your immediate area not only allows you to fall more in love with your present hometown, but may also help you discover a new hobby!

Grill out/picnic. No summer is complete without a good cook out. There's just something so special about eating your grilled (or any, really) meal outside. I think it actually might taste better- and we all could use some more fresh air. My apartment complex has community grills around the property and I am determined to try one out this summer! Wish me luck!

Attend local free events. Many towns and cities offer free or donation-based events to their residents over the summer! There are several blogs and Facebook groups dedicated to publicity for these and I encourage you to find one near you. Whether it be attending an outdoor movie, a fitness class, or a baseball game- there's no reason to miss out!

Hopefully these ideas will help inspire you to make the most of your summer. I know I plan on doing each of these things at least once before Fall comes around. Did I miss any good ideas? Please share your thoughts in a comment!

How will you rock this summer? What are your favorite summertime activities?