What’s in my End of Summer Beach Bag?

We are headed into the final stages of summer and I've stocked my beach bag with my favorites to ensure a truly enjoyable sun-filled weekend. I'm intent on squeezing every bit of summer and sun out of September.

It's been a good summer, but super short, or so it feels, with soem personal stuff go awry but that's life, or the circle of life as my maman says. 

So get some sun this weekend, that Hurricane Harvey better pass us by.

Drink: Nerium Sticks- This dietary supplement powder is formulated with an exclusive Youth Factor™ enzyme blend, antioxidant-rich Complex™ NAA blend, a pH adjuster, and hearty servings of fruits and vegetables.  Together, these ingredients help boost your body into its optimal state of wellbeing – and promote a healthier look and feel from the inside out. Mix with water and shake it up. Perfect on the beach and ice cold in a thermos.

Snack: Frontier Snacks- Founded upon a brotherly bet, the brand was created when brothers, Matt and Nate, challenged each other to make the best and healthiest snack they could out of ingredients they could find in their pantry. No junk, no refined sugars, only real ingredients you can see and taste. Frontier Snacks is a delicious crunchy snack.

Ips Snacks- For young and old Ips Snacks is the ideal snack for anyone. Made with Whey Protein, each 1oz bag of Ips contains as much protein as a serving of an egg. Coming in four different flavors Ips Snacks caters to everyone’s taste buds whether you want a mouth full of barbecue, the kick of peppery, the tanginess of cheddar or the sweet taste of cinnamon, Ips Chips has something for everyone in addition to being a healthy protein filled snack. The brand is dedicated to offering great tasting, but still healthy and satisfying snacks that offer consumers the much needed protein they need to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. 

Eye Care: These are no ordinary pair of sunglasses. They are created by a nurse to ‘nurse’ our bad eye days, when puffy tired eyes steal our fun for the day … Freeze Frames are like no other eye care product as they zone in on the areas that cause the inflammation. I recently had a funeral to attend and wanted to hide my eyes, and the freeze frames cooled my puffy eyes and helped my head.

Notes: Smitten on Paper- This notepad is what I need for taking notes for my blog on the run! Love this little notepad- plus..Marie Antionette, yes please!

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Protect: CapHat - Developed and designed in Australia, the UV infused CapHat is a simple protector that fits right over any cycling helmet or baseball cap. It's adjustable for full coverage around the back of the head or the sides of the face. It can even be dipped in water for the ultimate cooling effect! 

Sunglasses: How many times have you lost or sat on your sunglasses or readers? Too many to count, right?! SunBox Shop's unique approach to buying sunglasses will change your life. Subscription based and ​sold in two to 12-pack sets in a customized leather box, each pair of sunglasses or readers fit any style and budget. 

Perfect for the apres-beach Happy Hour. Just The Wine drops adjusts the level of the sulfates in the wine, neutralizing your drink, reduces the chances for a headache. Each drop is tasteless and can reduces sulfites by as much as 80%. Just The Wine travels perfectly in your handbag on a night out or your carry-on. Affordably priced at $5.95 per bottle, you can easily keep several bottles handy just when you need it.

Summer Eats on Seven Mile Island

One of the best things about this blog is food- sampling and reviewing it. I recently was in Avalon and Stone Harbor, New Jersey, two fabulous beach communities along the southern Jersey Shore, with ample places eat, stay, play, and shop.

After Memorial Day it does get a bit quiet and many restaurants offer a fabulous event- Restaurant Week! If there’s one thing that I know, it’s food. 

Recently, I decided to enjoy the fabulous offers of Restaurant Week here on the island, and I was greatly pleased. 7 Mile Restaurant Week was held June 3-12 with over 30 restaurants with unique offerings for the week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I began with lunch at the Windrift where my friend Di and I enjoyed salads, chicken tenders, French onion soup, and guacamole. 

The ‘drift view adds so much to the lunch experience, and people were just getting into the swing of things as more patrons arrived for drinks and apps.

After a walk along the beach in the afternoon, the next logical step was dinner time! We decided to dine at the Whitebrier, a place my friend hadn’t been to yet. 

We sat outside, and with the sun setting over the gardens in the courtyard, it was beautiful.

There’s a new chef, Derek Clayton, at the WB, and he put his own spin on things- which I enjoyed. We began with sushi, and that hasn’t changed- fresh, flavorful, and fun, the WB’s sushi is a menu people always come back to enjoy. 

Next, the chef brought out cheddar and ale soup with barely grain salad. Both of these sounded a bit heavy for me, but in the spirit of adventure, I jumped right in and was happily surprised. 

The soup- encompassing sharp cheddar with the local 7 Mile IPA and homemade sourdough croutons was just enough for a cool summer evening- having the IPA cut through the cheddar with a slightly bitter, mild, bite gave it a really smooth flavor.

Then we tried out the barley grain salad. Since I’m trying to eat more whole foods, this fit right in. 

Served chilled, the pearled barley tower with fresh veggies and a lemony mustardy sauce was exactly enough- the way an appetizer should be.

Dinner entrees were bangers and mash, moules frites, or Scottish salmon. 

Di and I went for the salmon, which was incredibly flavorful over a beer- blanc reduction, which is a hoppy twist on the classic burre blanc sauce. 

Beer and butter happily melded with quinoa, squash, and kale (all healthy things I wasn’t sure I’d dig) but I did. 

And the salmon was perfectly prepared- light and flaky and delicious.

The moules frites incorporated Prince Edward Island mussels doused with beer broth and fries- another ingenious flavorful combination of slightly bitter beer, hearty russet potato fries, and sweet PEI mussels. 

We didn’t try the bangers and mash, but had I had any room left, I would have ordered them too because they sounded amazing.

I loved the beer theme with all the entrees, and the chef said they are adding a few of these to the menu for the summer, like the Scottish salmon.

Finally, it was time for dessert and coffee- and the Guinness stout chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream was the absolute perfect way to end the night. 

Less sweet with a smooth dark chocolate taste that was just enough sweetness.

After all this, my friend Lor invited us out for drinks and munchies at the Chair, (Bobby Dee’s Rock ‘n Chair) but alas, I was too full, and after just one drink off we went home.

But, I always wake up early, and at 7am, I was at my favorite summer breakfast place- Stone Harbor’s Bread and Cheese Cupboard. 

“Welcome to a new season!” I announced to the ladies as I walked through the door! 

Summer yay- and my favorite early morning treat for my early morning ritual- walking to the Cupboard for ham & provolone rolls and coffee (and don’t miss their amazing sticky buns- best on the island), then walking to the 96^th street beach to watch the sun come up and see the dolphins frolicking in the salt water. 

It’s always a perfect morning.

That night was dinner at Marabella’s, Italian was on the menu. 

Beginning with cheesy delightful mozzarella sticks- one of my favorite apps, and this fried mozz was delectable.

Then we moved on to salads, and Di made sure her pasta was gluten free, and Matt, the chef and a friend, came out to chat with us and ensure it was exactly up to par for her. 

I had linguine and clam sauce, and it was amazing- fresh salty clams, buttery sauce over silky linguine.

Dessert was coffee and in-house-made cannoli of course- sweet and creamy studded with chocolate chips.

Now that the season is in full summer mode- definitely check out all the fabulous restaurants the island has to offer- from stuffed hoagies at Seven Mile Island Deli on 31^st and Dune, to Green Cuisine for salads and quiche on 96^th, sushi at the Whitebrier on 20^th, crepes at Crespella Gourmet Creperie on 96^th, linguine and clams at  Marabella’s on Third Avenue, French Toast at Brian’s Waffle House at 24^th and Dune, Sax for and the freshest seafood at Oceanside.

Story and photos by engchik with additional reporting by DL Cooney. Thanks to the Whitebrier and Marabella's.

Thank you to Jen K!