A Day at the Fair Marks the End of Summer

Nothing screams the end of summer quite like the arrival of the Maryland State Fair to the Timonium Fairgrounds.

But where else can you experience horse racing, pig racing, concerts, rides, games, and fried Berger Cookies.  Yum!

You can see this ferris wheel from down the street.

 We had to try these fried Berger Cookies and oh my gosh, they were sooo good!

And no trip to the fair is complete without a funnel cake!

We had such a great time.

Oh yea, how could I forget the cows!

Hope everyone had a nice long weekend.  Was your weekend full of the beach or just a relaxing bar-b-q?

Need a Break?

Have you ever needed a break in the middle of the work day?  I mean sometimes it is a long day and when 12 o'clock comes around I need to get out.  It is nice to have that time to run some errands or to just recollect for the remainder of the day.

I took a nice break during lunch last week.  The other day turned into a picnic lunch.  It was so refreshing to just get outside and enjoy the day.  To feel a little sun and relax is just what I needed. 

It is important to take time out of your day to just relax and enjoy.  I loved that lunch break and I hope to get some more picnics in before the summer weather turns to fall. 

What do you do to relax during the day?

Do you feel like getting away during your break?

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Happy Birthday MTS!   

Nothing Beats a Day at the Beach

Or in my case 5 days at the beach.  Sorry I have been missing on the blog lately, but I was on vacation.  It feels so good to say the word vacation. 

I can honestly say that the beach is where I belong.  In my college years during the summers I used to set alarms to get up and head to the pool or beach, now I set an alarm to head into work.  What is going on here? (I guess its a grown up thing)

So anyway, this past week I packed up my bags and headed to the beach.

Traveling over the Bay Bridge felt great, just to get over to the eastern shore was so exciting.

I was so ready to get to the beach (Ocean City) and put my feet in the sand.  Now Ocean City is not my normal beach trip, but right now anywhere is sand and sea works for me!

We walked the Ocean City, Md boardwalk one night.  That is one spot for great people watching!

But all I wanted to do was put my chair in the sand, relax and read my book.  Nothing is better!  Just to sit and do nothing felt so great.  No work, no problems.

But all good vacations seem to come to end, at least for now.  So when leaving OC, I drove up through Bethany Beach, Delaware.  Bethany is one of my favorite places, I spent 21 summers there growing up and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Bye totem pole, bye beach.

So with that I head back home and back over the bridge.

And now the hardest part was today.  Heading back to work on a Monday.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and had safe travels. I really can't get over the fact that it is July already.  Does anyone know where this summer is going and why so fast? And what do you all think about the larger pictures?

Memorial Day Weekend Recap

Events

I hope everyone had a great long Memorial Day weekend and safe travels.  I can't believe May is almost over!  I can tell you that I enjoyed my weekend.

I didn't go away or travel over my weekend.  I stayed right here in Baltimore.

Friday was a very long work day (that happens when there is a day off involved).  I was invited to the baseball game, but missed it.

But that's ok, Friday turned into a low key stay in night.  

Saturday was parent-filled.  The morning was spent around the house and then my parents picked me up to run some errands and grab lunch.  I love spending time with my parents, especially when Hubs is working.  

Later that day the Hubs and I headed to HomeGoods and grabbed some dinner. 

Finds at HomeGoods:

How great are these mailboxes.  I think I need one!

I left it at the store, but I have been thinking about it.  I may have to go back and see if it is still there.

After we left we stopped at Sonic for half price Milkshakes.

They have some of the best Milkshakes.  

And during the summer they have half price shakes after 8 p.m.

Sunday was spent in downtown Baltimore.  We were invited to a Memorial Day grill out.  

Red, White, and Blue was encouraged, so of course I added to it with accessories.

Crab included in celebrating Memorial Day.

On Monday I enjoyed the wonderful weather in the morning.  It was so nice to sit out and spend some time with my mom and do a little light reading.

It felt so good to feel the sun!  I can't wait for more time like that this summer.

That night ended with grilling out at the in-laws.

All and all a wonderful weekend.

What did you all do this past weekend?

Did you travel or stay home?

Bald Head Island

PLACES

The last couple summers I have been vacationing on Bald Head Island.  I will admit that I was new to this place.  My family and I always spent our summers in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  But I was lucky enough to be invited to go on vacation with my now husband's family while we were dating.  I fell in love.

After you step off the ferry and head to the house, you already have a feeling of relaxation.

It is such a peaceful, fun, and wonderful place to vacation.

You can spend all day on the beach. From days tanning and reading the great "Beach Read" to evening beach strolls.

I love the fact that there are no cars on the island and that we ride around in golf carts.

Simple is a word that comes to mind when visiting BHI.

Old Baldy is the island's light house and can be seen from where you arrive on the island. 

There are so many places to go on the island.  Golf, Paddle Boarding, shopping, sailing, and surf are just some of the things you can do.

But all vacations come to an end.  All of our things are packed up waiting for the tram to pick us up for the ferry.

I can't wait to get back there this summer.  Until then BHI.

I have to say it is one of my places I love going over the summer.

Do you have a vacation spot that is your favorite?

Where do you vacation?

Where is Summer?

HER

So with all this snow talk it makes me wonder, "Where is summer?"  Winter is not my favorite time of the year so with that being said I am ready for the summer months. 

What I Like About Summer:

1) It stays light out.  

You feel like you have more time to do things.  I don't know about you, but I love the feeling of having more time, especially after work. 

2) Clothes.  

Summer clothes are so much more fun.  I am over sweaters, sorry!  I am ready to pull out the bright colors and wear some dresses.

And white pants!

3) Flip-flops.  

I want to wear flip-flops or sandals.  I am tired of boots and closed toed shoes.

So with that, here is one more picture. Just to get the summer feeling.

I can just park my beach chair right there and sit and read all day.

Hope this warmed up your day.  Are you ready for summer?

Plantation Shutters

HOME

 Plantation shutters are great window treatments for any home.  These shutters are perfect because they create a light and airy feeling to open up any room.  Plus they look nice opened or closed.  You really can't go wrong with a crisp white shutter.
Plantation shutters seem to be very popular for homes because they allow a good amount of light when opened and create a simple clean look.  Not to mention they are easy to take care of and clean.

Now there are many different shutter styles.  There are different sizes of the shutters, divider locations, half shutter or full size, and the hinges are all things to pay attention to when choosing your shutters.  Custom-built design shutters are usually what people prefer to make a uniform look in their homes.  It is better to have someone come into your home and look at the windows and have them professionally installed.  You will not regret having a professional measuring and installing.

Now these shutters seem to add a relaxing feel to a room.  I just love the way these look from the inside and out.  I feel like I am at the beach when I see them, but really they go well in any home from beach to city.  They add a clean, crisp look to the room and allow you to adjust the amount of light that enters.

 Originally these shutters where popular in the south and severed their purpose of providing light while letting the breeze through.  Their function of light control was the reason behind these shutters.  If you are looking for new window treatments and are not sure what to get, take a look at plantation shutters.  I have enjoyed having mine.

 Have them installed and let the light and relaxing feeling enter into your room.  These shutters are worth looking into for you next room, you will not be disappointed.

BMore Summers

  EVENTS

Summers in Baltimore usually consist of going to the beach, picking crabs, roof top decks downtown, and baseball.  Nights are filled with sitting around a table picking crabs and sometimes the baseball game is playing in the background.  Just the other night I was invited to a birthday party that of course included Natty Boh, crabs, and baseball, Baltimore at its finest.  
The taste of Natty Boh with the smell of Old Bay is the perfect summer evening combination.

 

 

I couldn’t ask for anything more during those summer nights.  Relax, sit back and enjoy the rest of what little summer we have left.  September is right around the corner!