How To Clean Your Sea Glass

Cleaning sea glass is actually pretty straightforward - after all, the ocean has done a great deal of the work for you. Sea glass has been smoothed and polished and its sharp edges rounded by the tumbling effect of the sea. Really, once the fragments of glass have washed ashore, it is all but finished.

Still, there is some work left for you to do. If you want to take these pieces of beach glass and transform them literally into art, then you have some work ahead of you. It's not hard - but each step needs to be followed. The results will please you, making future efforts all the easier.

Start with water. Get a bucket or two and fill them with warm water to which a mild detergent or soap has been added. Carefully and thoroughly wash each piece of glass. This well cut down on the salty smell left by the sea. Any particles of sand or sea weed will also be removed by this process.

Next, return the glass to a clean jar or other container in which fresh water has been poured. You want to let the glass simply soak for an hour or more. After the glass has soaked - removing any last residues of soap - then bring it out and place them in a colander. Strain under cold running water for at least a full minute and preferably more.

Next, lay each piece of sea glass on a soft piece of cloth. Old flannel shirts work well, as do cotton sheets or other cloths that are smooth and gentle to the touch. Solid colors are best - if you use a cloth with too many colors, you might lose sight of each glass.

Let each piece of sea glass dry.

Once it has dried out you are ready to work over each piece by hand. Brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dip it in warm soapy water and then scrub the glass. Be sure you get both sides and also pay particular attention to the edges. Be careful not to scrape the glass or otherwise mark it up.

Rinse the cleaned pieces. Then, dry off each piece. Polish it carefully until it gleams and glistens.

And you are finished! You can move the sea glass to whatever container or shelf where you store it.
Be sure to give it a quick clean from time to time - you can get the dust off, and really let it shine!

Christmas At The Beach Video

Why play in the snow when you can play in the sand?

Coca-Cola Christmas: Arctic Beach Party

This is such a cute Christmas commercial!

Shrimp Cocktail with Lemon Dipping Sauce

This recipe would make a great appetizer for your Thanksgiving feast!

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds pre-cooked shelled extra-large shrimp

Spicy Lemon Pepper Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, salt free
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Whisk thoroughly. Pour into small serving bowl. Serve chilled shrimp with dipping sauce on the side.

Courtesy of Food Network

How To Choose The Right Accessories For Your Beach Home

No matter whether you live in your beach home full time, visit it a few times a year, or stay there during a season, you want it to have a particular "vibe." The decor of a beach home ought to provide a relaxed, secure feeling that isn't overly formal yet speaks to elegance.


The extras, the accessories, can deliver exactly the feeling you need. A rustic baker's rack or a wire wine rack in exactly the right spot can offer the most ideal additional touch. On your deck or balcony, you can take pleasure in the sights and sounds of the beach by candlelight, and the ideal candle holder would enhance the experience.

You could add complimentary pieces to your beach house, once you have discovered the ideal look for your beach home. If you have that perfect wine rack, you can continue the theme with metalwork wall panels and a gorgeous fireplace screen. All of these decorations are open, airy and relaxed just as your time at the beach must be.

You will also have to pay attention to the small details in the bathrooms and the bedrooms also. From cabinets to towel hooks, you want your beach house to evoke a particular feeling of relaxed elegance. The key to getting that feeling is making sure you have the right accessories throughout.

Consider a gift bath set for the guest room. It is a lovely added touch, looks beautiful and is certain to make your guests happy. The right shower curtain or medicine chest in a bathroom could change the feeling of the room from one of utilitarianism to one of luxury and ease. After a day at the beach you need a place to rest and relax your tired muscles, wash away the sand and salt and have a moment of quiet.

Evoking a relaxing atmosphere which is reflective of your tastes and character could be challenging, but is well worth the effort. While filling a room with big pieces of furniture might look like the main challenge, don't forget the details. Tables, vases, wine racks, wall hangings, and other small details make all the difference when it comes to decor. When you choose carefully, the small accessories could bring pleasure for years.

Protect Our Beaches - Support Ocean Conservation

The protection of the ocean and the seas is an important effort that is being undertaken by many environmental groups. Ocean conservation is critical because the environment has been subjected to many centuries of man made pollution. The water ways of the earth have suffered as the human race has expanded.

Mankind relies on the ocean for much of its food but some people hunt ocean creatures not for food but for sport. Some believe that the creatures in the ocean should only be hunted for food and should not be killed simply because a so called sportsman wants a trophy fish. The oceans have been subjected to the whim of man for centuries.

There are many steps that people as individuals can take to help conserve the oceans and seas. People who scuba dive should learn scuba techniques that are in line with a healthy environment. For instance, scuba divers should not intentionally or unintentionally break coral reefs.

Many ocean creatures depend on the coral for food and protection. Once a coral reef is destroyed there is a good chance that it will not grow back. One of the biggest problems the ocean environment is facing is the deterioration of coral reefs.

The tuna industry uses large nets to catch the fish that makes up the industry's profits. But the nets catch more than tuna the nets also catch dolphins and other protected ocean life. The tuna fishing boat workers are supposed to check their nets and release any ocean creature that is not a tuna. But the tuna boats are in a hurry to make their profits and in many cases ocean life such as dolphins are processed with the tuna.

Offshore oil spills can destroy the marine environment because oil kills all ocean life. The world relies on oil and because there is a great amount of oil off the shore of many countries, the need for oil outweighs the risk of an oil spill. The fact is however, that one human error can lead to a ocean environmental disaster that will cause years of damage to the delicate ocean ecosystems.

Oil leaking from an oil rig in the ocean will destroy all life in the area of the spill. The oil that washes on shore will kill the ecosystems along the shore. The oil will kill marine life such as birds, dolphins, seals, and other life that will come into contact with the oil spill. There are many groups involved in ocean conservation that need the help and support of the public at large.

Pina Ghoulada

I am definitely in the Halloween spirit, can you tell? I found the coolest Halloween recipe for my favorite tropical drink from Martha Stewart. I'm in heaven! I'll definitely be trying this one out.

From MarthaStewart.com:

A frothy drink is tempting enough, but one served in a red-rimmed glass is particularly enticing to monsters who drink blood. Corn syrup with food coloring tinges the classic pina colada with a devilish sweetness. Dip the rim of each glass into the red mixture, spinning slowly to coat. Turn glasses upright; the red liquid will drip slightly, then set. Pour drinks, and serve. Drinkers' lips may be stained pink -- much like those of a sated vampire.

FOR THE "BLOOD"

• 3 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoons red food coloring

**(I actually think grenadine would probably work just as well for this if you're ok with the touch of cherry flavor in your drink)

FOR THE DRINK

• 20 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 can (15 ounces) cream of coconut
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup orange juice
• 10 ounces good-quality rum