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Down the Shore

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If you don’t live in New Jersey, you may have never heard the phrase “down the shore.” It’s a phrase that we, North Jersey-ans, use when we are traveling south to the Jersey Shore points. Going “down the shore” every summer has been a tradition in my family for years and years, since long before I was born. Of course the tradition continued after I was born and as such my family went down the shore every summer of my childhood. Without a doubt, many of my most incredible, magical memories are rooted in those trips.

It has always been a dream of mine to continue the tradition with my own family. We took Roman down last summer but he was only a few months old and I didn’t feel comfortable taking him out on the beach then. So, this year was really his first “true” trip to the seashore. Sadly most of my family no longer makes the trip every year, and for those that do, it’s not easy to coordinate travel dates. This time around it ended up being just me, Matthew, and Roman. Even though it would have been nice to have family around us, it was a really special and beautiful trip for the three of us and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Here are a few of my favourite photographs from our little getaway.

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^^^ On our first night, we ate at one of my fave restaurants — Spicy’s Cantina — their shrimp & lobster quesadillas are fantastic and I look forward to having one all year. We ate out for 99% of our meals while we were away and Roman was an angel every.single.time. Waitress after waitress commented on how adorable and well-behaved he is. Sometimes I really have to pinch myself because I can hardly believe how lucky I am with this boy of mine. ^^^

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^^^ These beach shots are all from my iPhone/Instagram account. I’ve invested a lot of money in my big camera and thought it better to leave it safely behind — away from the sand & sea. ^^^

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^^^ The Seaside Heights boardwalk is hands down one of the best places in the world. Rides, games, food, fun, and a stunning view of the ocean. It pretty much represents everything that is beautiful about summertime. ^^^

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^^^ Our beach rental was two blocks from the beach (which faces east) and one block from the bay (facing west). On our first night, I snuck away from M. & R. just before sunset to check out the view from the bay. When I got to the end of our street, I stumbled upon a field of wildflowers… at sunset… Talk about breathtaking! ^^^

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^^^ This carousel was built in 1910 and has called Seaside Heights its home since 1932. It is one of only a few remaining hand-carved wooden carousels left in the country. Unfortunately, the family that owns it is going to be auctioning it off in September because of financial issues. It breaks my heart because it was such a special part of my childhood. Still, I’m glad I got to take Roman for a ride on it at least once before it is gone. ^^^

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^^^ There was a great playground up the street at the bay beach. Roman had a blast, of course. ^^^

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^^^ Boardwalk food — the most delicious, most unhealthy food in the world. We splurged and splurged the whole trip long. You’ve just got to do it when you’re at the Jersey shore. Fresh cut french fries covered in cheese and fresh squeezed lemonade with lots of sugar are two of my guiltiest pleasures. ^^^

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^^^ Gratefully we had amazing weather and got out on the beach every day. The sand & the sea knocked Roman out like nothing else. It made nap times a cinch. ^^^

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^^^ Roman loves fish and water so we decided to make a trip over to the Point Pleasant Aquarium late one afternoon. It was his first aquarium and he was equally parts thrilled & terrified of the sharks. His expressions were priceless. ^^^

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^^^ There were little monkeys behind the glass in this enclosure. Monkeys are his absolute favourite (he’s obsessed with Curious George) and he is waving hello to one of the monkeys in this shot. So cute. ^^^

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^^^ On our last morning, we stopped at the Park Bakery before we hit the road. The bakery has been around since 1947 and it’s seriously one of the best bakeries in the world. My mom loves their crumbcakes so we picked up a couple for her and some sweet treats for us for our trip home. ^^^

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I am so grateful that we had such an amazing trip. It was really sad to drive away toward home, but we left with full hearts and the most beautiful memories that we could have hoped for… and of course we were happy to come home to our sweet Bella girl!


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  • · ·

    Are You Oblivious, Aware, or Getting It?

    This is a guest post from my friend, Andy Feld.

    ———–

    As I travel and meet new people all over our country, it seems most everyone falls into one of the three areas mentioned in this month’s title. What am I talking about? It’s the societal evolutionary change which is now in progress, although admittedly sometimes imperceptible. It is easy to see that violence rarely leads to anything but more violence. Overt materialism, absent integrity, brings happiness and abundance to very few. Additionally, centuries of male dominated insensitive energy added to a populace unwilling to take responsibility has us at a precarious tipping point.

    So, do you sense what I say is true? Are you oblivious to these changes in the air, or are you ahead of the curve and already taking the steps necessary to not only survive, but thrive in the years to come? Frankly, I am often greeted by individuals with long faces who tell me they will be happy again when things get back to ‘normal’. Normal for many means simply getting back to a life dominated by financial gain and the purchase of new things, but those days may be long gone. Banks are not lending money, our population is increasingly unemployed or aging and dependent, houses are not selling, there seems to be an oversupply of everything and worldwide competition is greater than ever. What if today is the way things will be for the next 20-30 years or longer? What are you going to do to be happy, prosperous, and emotionally abundant?

    Make no mistake, everything is changing and just about everyone is affected. Personally, my income does not approach what I once earned as a corporate CEO, my car is not as new and shiny as it once may have been, and I visit fewer restaurants, but my life has never been more pleasant. Would you agree that now is the time to not only re-evaluate, but also re-create our lives? If so, you are GETTING IT loud and clear, but if not, let’s look into what we can do about it.

    1. We are all One, connected with a common thread of spirit. When I say WE, I mean ALL humans, animals, plant life, earth, and stars. We all are of the same source energy, and understanding and respecting this Oneness is a key to thriving in our new age. Allowing all else to be, with love and respect, and without judgment of unique individual differences will open our portals to Universal Light. One cannot mistreat another human, the earth, our vegetation, and the animals without also mistreating oneself. We are all connected and what we put forth to others is what will always come back to us.

    2. Listen to our heart, our Inner Radar as I call it in my books, without the fear of judgment from others. We are all unique and different, and learning to reach within and hear that guidance we all individually brought forth to this lifetime allows us to grow and prosper in alignment with our life’s purpose. There is no better way to accomplish this than a regular practice of meditation and contemplation.

    3. Understanding the process for manifesting our life’s dreams. It takes quite a bit of practice and self-discipline, and you may be getting tired of hearing me speak about it, but we are the product of our thoughts, emotions, words, and actions. Very little we desire will manifest without the alignment of these four elements. Believe in this, practice and have faith and you will embrace your life like never before.

    4. Learn to appreciate all that you have. From hot running water, to clothes in your closet, and food in the refrigerator, most of us have so much to be thankful for yet rarely acknowledge. The beauty of nature, our relationships, our health and the list should go on and on. Write it down and truly rejoice in how many ways you are blessed.

    5. Diligently work on balancing your male and female attributes. We are all a combination of both masculine and feminine, and the more we keep these two in balance the more we vibrate with the earth.

    Yes, everything is changing. First, become aware and then jump on board, but it will always be the choice of the individual. No one, other than you is responsible for your rescue.

    Whether it is a business, an organization, or individual, the time for changing the status quo in right now. How to go about it in this new environment is what I speak about and teach. I would love the opportunity to work with you or your group.

    With much love and appreciation,
    Andy

    ———-

    Andy lives in Morrison, Colorado outside Denver. He travels the country as a frequent speaker on life inspiration and business sales. He is also a regular guest on radio programs across the United States and on local TV.

    You can read more about Andy at his website, Simple Happy, and you can find his books on Amazon at the following links.

18 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh, SO many amazing photos! Wonderful post. I especially love those photos of Roman in the restaurant at the beginning of the trip! And I am seriously always in love with the photos you post of you and Roman together, they are seriously precious.

    1. Thanks so much, Gillian! We had a great time. I honestly didn’t take my camera out nearly as much as I usually do — was trying to enjoy the moments more, but I love the memories that I did capture. <3

  2. Seaside Heights!!!! I love seeing posts about the Jersey Shore and being so proud to live here 🙂 These photos are so beautiful, I especially like the photos of him sleeping! I bring my real camera on the beach itself but I only bring my phone to the water to take photos haha So happy you guys had a great vacation! I’ll be at the beach for the week in 7 days!!!! But of course I go “down the shore” a few times a week 🙂

  3. This post seriously took me back to my childhood, going down the shore to stay at my grandmas condo in Seaside Park. Your pictures are beautiful!Your little boy is so precious and you rocked that bathing suit!! xo

  4. I LOVE the wildflower shots!!! As a “down the shore” visiting Jersey girl, this post makes me smile!! Lovely, lovely pics, Dena!

  5. I have never visited Jersey Shore, but I love that you are continuing this fun summer tradition with your own son!

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