Deal Of The Day - White Sand Blue Sea Key Holder

White Sand Blue Sea Key Holder

• Regular Price $29.99
• Today Only $24.99

These brand new, redesigned key holders are made of wood and tile. Each holds up to 3 sets of keys and include a wonderful beachy quote:

May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your toes

* Measures: 5.5"w x 11.5"h x 2"d

Deal Of The Day - Tiki Bar Raised Art

Tiki Bar Raised Art

• Regular Price $24.95
• Today Only $19.95

This Hawaiian-inspired artwork features a raised art design on a wooden plaque. "Meet Me At the Tiki Bar" says it all. Measures: 10.5" x 10.5".

Deal Of The Day - Driftwood Shutter Mirror

Driftwood Shutter Mirror

• Regular Price $69.95
• Today Only $59.95

This incredible shutter mirror features a distressed driftwood finish. Can be used in any room of your house to add a bit of nature to your coastal home! Measures 7 1/2" H x 23 1/2" L x 5 1/2" D.

Deal Of The Day Is Back - Flip Flop Handpainted Wine Glasses

Flip Flop Handpainted Wine Glasses

• Regular Price $56.95
• Today Only $48.95

This set of 4 assorted wine glasses features hand painted flip flops in all colors and styles. Such a fun addition to your beach theme decor!

• Each holds 16 oz
• Measures 8.5" high
• Sold as a set of 4

End Of Summer Blues? Make The Most Of What's Left

While the leaves haven't changed colors yet, it's still true that summer is ending in only a matter of weeks. Kids will start going back to school and you will begin a new daily routine. Summer living will definitely be over. But before you pack away those flip flops and swimsuits, here are a few last "must do's" before you let your summer officially end.

Throw one last summer bash for Labor Day. Visit family or gather the neighbors together for a small bar-b-que. It will be a great chance for the kids to get out some leftover energy and have fun before they will be glued to their desks five days a week. Everyone can look back on the memories they made that summer and share stories with one another. Have left over decorations, paper plates and other goodies from previous summer parties? Use up all of these great luau, patriotic and other summer-inspired decoartions and party ware and make it a mixed summer celebration. It can be like one big end of summer party all rolled into one. It would be a great way to use up those extra items, and not to mention you won't have to worry about storing them all year long.

Spend some quality time with your kids by creating mementos from your summer break. Work on a scrapbook together using all the photos you took of the different things your family did together over the summer. Everyone can make their own page of their favorite time and make sure to get dad involved too! Create shadowboxes from using items the kids kept from your big summer trip. If you went to the beach gather the seashells they collected and some sand. Let the kids come up with a cool design. You could also create a collage. Say you went camping; pick out a few of your favorite photos, maybe the brochure from your campsite or some of the places you visited. Have the kids write down their favorite memory from the trip and stick that on the collage too. Creating these projects will be great quality time with the family and you'll get to look back on all the wonderful memories you made.

While remembering the summer and all the fun you had is great, you still have to deal with the reality that it's time to get back into the groove of things. Be prepared. Get all the supplies you and your children need for the upcoming school year. Perhaps get a large family calendar that you can put everyone's schedules on, as the extra activities will be quickly building up. Being prepared ahead of time will help save you from a few headaches and mishaps in the future.

Summers come and ago every year. Be thankful you had another fun-filled one with your family and friends. Stay positive for the new school year, as there may be a few bumps along the way. Remember even though the summer may be officially over, the sun will still be shinning.

Easy Seaside Shrimp Spread

My mother used to make this recipe and it is so easy and so delicious!

Ingredients:

• 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 2 6-oz. cans tiny shrimp, drained
• 1 t. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 onion, finely chopped or grated
• carrot and celery sticks or snack crackers

Directions:

With an electric mixer on low, beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in onions and Worcestershire. Mash shrimp with a fork; combine with cream cheese mixture and mix well. Serve with vegetables or crackers. Makes about 2-1/2 cups.

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.