See The Beauty In Sea Glass

Colorful Sea Glass

Of the many items people look for while at the beach, sea glass happens to be a favorite of mine. I remember picking up a piece and asking my mother what it was. She said, "Glass". You can imagine my surprise. All I had ever known was that glass was sharp and not a toy. But sea glass was different, it was special.

Sea glass is made from glass items tumbling in the ocean. It's this tumbling process that makes the harsh edges smooth. A piece of glass obtains its frosty look from being hydrated and dehydrated multiple times over the years. The exact length of time to create sea glass is unknown, however experts have said it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years.

Red Sea Glass

The colors of sea glass vary. The color is decided by the item's original origin.  Generally sea glass comes from bottles, and jars, as well as windows and plates. The most common color is clear, however green and brown are popular as well. These colors are popular because they are the colors companies used for sodas, beer, and juice bottles. Glass beverage containers were popular decades ago before plastic came on the scene. Some of the rarer colors are purple, pink, gray and the rarest of all red. These colors stem from the late 19th century and early 20th century. While there is not a significant value to sea glass, if you happen to find a piece of this color and of great age, there is a chance it may be worth something.

Sea Glass Pendant from Tears Of The Sea

While there may be no real dollar value to sea glass, it does not mean it is not worth anything. There are several ways you can use sea glass. Decorating mirrors, picture frames, tables, candles, lamps... the options are endless. My favorite is making jewelry. Sea glass is able to create beautiful pieces of jewelry that are classic and timeless. Don't worry if you aren't creative enough to make your own; there are places where you can purchase these items professionally made.

You often hear the saying "finding a diamond in the rough". I feel this saying applies to sea glass. You are able to find endless amounts of sea shells at the beach. Sea glass is not as available. It is a beautiful thing to see what nature can do to a man made object. If you are lucky to come across one of these treasures, enjoy it, for it is truly something special.

Combine 4th of July Celebrations With Beachy Decorating Ideas

The Fourth of July is one of the most fun holidays of the year, and is one of the things that makes summer so special. The picnics and barbecues, the parades, the music, and of course, the fireworks, are part of what make this nationwide celebration so exciting. What would be even better would be combining two great American traditions: The 4th of July and The Beach. With the upcoming holiday, it's even more of a reason to pack up and head to the shore!

Get together family and friends and celebrate the Fourth at your favorite local beach. Most beaches have a picnic area where you can set up for the day. Make it a potluck Bar-B-Que and everyone can bring their favorite dish to share. Don't forget the dessert!

There will be a ton of activities going on to entertain the kids. You can play volleyball, horseshoes, or even set up a craft area for the kids to make patriotic favors, not to mention the beautiful ocean to take a swim in. At the end of the day, the beach is the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. There is nothing prettier than watching fireworks go off over the ocean at night.

Not near a beach? No problem. You can still have a little of the beach with you as you celebrate the holiday from home. This is such cute idea for table decorations. Take any old bottle you have lying around the house or can pick up at the thrift store. Then, using cardboard and fabric, or poster board, create 4th of July pennants for your bottles. Put a small amount of sand at the bottom of the bottle for the sign to stick in. If you have them, add a few seashells in as well. If you're going to be decorating various tables with this 4th of July centerpiece, make each pennant a little different. Add glitter, ribbon, and other embellishments, and give each pennant a different message. You can also use this idea with glass bowls or planting pots as well. Don't have the time to make signs? Replace the signs with red, white and blue candles. If you look hard around your local craft stores you may even be able to find red and blue color sand to use for an instant patriotic look.

Whatever you decide to do this holiday, remember to stay safe. It's always wonderful to celebrate being an American. Have a great holiday with your family and friends! Be sure to share your plans and decorating ideas with us.

Hands Across The Sand - June 25, 2011

On June 25th 2011, the official Hands Across the Sand events will take place. Hands Across the Sand is a movement about protection of the air we breath, the water that sustains us, our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife and fishing industries. Promoting a clean energy future now is the path to a sustaining ouR planet.

On February 13 2010, the first Hands Across the Sand took place statewide in Florida. They protested the efforts of Florida Legislature and Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling on and near the shores of Florida. On June 26th 2010, Hands Across the Sand went national and global in response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A website went up, and events were put together in a matter of just a few weeks before the official gathering. It became the largest gathering of people united against the expanding of offshore drilling in the world.

What exactly are you supposed to do on June 25th? Head to your local public beach at 11:00am. Join hands at 12:00 noon for 15 minutes, forming lines in the sand, then leaving only your footprints behind. Afterwards, enjoy a day at the beach and all the beauty it has to offer.

Hands Across the Sand wants to bring together like minded individuals and organizations with the conviction to organize a Global movement to promote a clean energy future for our earth. The gatherings will bring citizens of the world to our beaches and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand.

If you are looking to participate in your area, go to www.handsacrossthesand.com for events in your area and more information. Also check out the Surfrider for additional information.

It's National Flip Flop Day!

Did you know that today is National Flip Flop Day? Neither did I, until this morning.

Apparently, National Flip Flop Day was started 5 years ago in 2007 by Tropical Smoothie Cafe. They termed it "a celebration encouraging their customers to kick off summer, and their shoes, by wearing a pair of flip flops." Well, of course, I encourage you to do that too!!

In honor of this wonderful "holiday", I'd like to share with you some great flip flop inspired decor items to bring a little sunshine into your home this summer.

International Surfing Day - June 20, 2011

There is a unspoken unity among surfers all over the world. On Monday, June 20th 2011, they will come together to celebrate International Surfing Day. It is a day for surfers and beach lovers alike to celebrate the art of surfing and the surf life mentality.

In 2005, the very first International Surfing day consisted of 16 events in the United States and one even in Venezuela. Now seven years later, International Surfing Day has over 200 different event locations worldwide. International Surfing Day was established by Surfing Magazine and the Surfrider Foundation.

Often this day is celebrated by holding surfing contests, doing beach cleanups, movie screenings, taking surf lessons, having bar-b-ques and enjoying the beauty of the ocean. It is a day to show your appreciation for the ocean and all it gives to you. This year Billabong and Chipotle restaurants are getting in on the act too. If you are one of the first 25 people to bring in a bag of plastic bottles to a participating Chipotle location you will receive a pair of recycled board shorts!

You can head over to International Surfing Day website www.intlsurfingday.com for all the information on the day. Look for events on your area, as well as see what the rest of the world is doing in celebration of this day. Also check out The Surfrider Foundation's web site www.surfrider.org. They will also have information on this day, as well as other events that go on throughout the year. Who says you can only celebrate the ocean once a year?

One thing is true, we ALL share the ocean. It's time to come together and celebrate the glorious ocean - the one thing that unites us all.

The Art Of Seashell Hunting

Seashell collecting is a popular pastime for all ages. I have wonderful childhood memories of collecting shells with my grandparents every summer. It was always an adventure when I was on the hunt for the most interesting shells I could find. Now that I'm older I want to share that experience with my family.  But what many people don't realize is there is much more to seashells that just simply collecting. Here are a few tips when starting out with seashell collecting.

First and foremost check out the rules concerning shell collecting in the areas that you are interested in. Some places don't allow collecting or allow it only during certain times of year. Some require permits. The last thing you want to do is start out your adventure with a sour note!

Beachcombing is the most common method of collecting seashells, look for bubbling holes in the wet sand. The best time to find them is low tide. One important tip when collecting seashells is to find a quiet beach with few crowds. Walking along the beach after a storm is a great time to collect seashells.

Depending on the location of your beach, you will most likely find some form of a scallop shell. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. Sand dollars are personal favorite of mine, however they aren't as common as the scallop. Conch shells are also popular. It is often said that if you put the shell to your ear you can hear the roar of the ocean. Some of the most beautiful conchs are found in the Bahamas. Pretty much at any beach you will find a clam shell of some sort. Like most shells they too come in a variety of sizes and colors. One thing is true: no two seashells are alike!

Once you've obtained a good size collection, you can use your new treasures for all sorts of things! Seashells can be the starting point for a great craft project for children. Make a sea shell wind chime, use a piece of driftwood as the base, string the seashells and cut them at different lengths while hanging them on the driftwood. Afterwards hang on your porch or somewhere outside where everyone can see. It will be a great reminder of the summer you had at the beach.

There are other ways to use your seashells are great beach decor. Glue shells onto a old picture frame, and bring it back to life. Use the shells to make a wooden sign, suck as "Tiki Hut"? or "On Beach Time" or even your child's name and have them hang it on their bedroom door. You can also decorate candles or make a collage. Get into the holiday spirit and make ornaments. You can make a different one for each family member. The possibilities are endless for what you can do with your newly found treasures!

Share some of your findings with us. Send pictures or comment on other craft ideas as well.

Key Lime Pie Martini

Happy Friday everyone! I'm already ready for Happy Hour today and it's only lunchtime.

My husband bought me a key lime tree last weekend so I can't wait to try this cocktail from About.com. Sounds to die for!

If you like Key Lime Pie, or if you have never tried it and the name just sounds intriguing, you have got to try this Martini. The really interesting aspect is the graham cracker rim which soothes the intensity of the flavors of the drink.


Ingredients:

• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 2 1/2 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz lime cordial
• 1/2 lime
• crushed graham crackers for rimming

Directions

1. Rim a chilled cocktail glass with finely crushed graham crackers.
2. Pour the vodka, triple sec, pineapple juice and lime cordial into a cocktail shaker with ice.
3. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the shaker.
4. Shake well.
5. Strain into the cocktail glass.