iCandy - 70th edition

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Boy Oh Boy do I have Beach Brain today! Could it be due to the gorgeous Spring weather we are having here today in Atlanta? or because we are trying to get our Summer, beach family weekends set into our schedule? or could it be due to my addiction to the Real Housewives of NYC, where they are always in Hamptons?

I've never been to Nantucket or The Hamptons, so I think I'll put that on my list of beaches I'd like to spend a weekend. I've always dreamed about what it would be like to have my own little beach cottage getaway. I imagine how the salt air would smell as we drove up the driveway for the weekend, or how I'd decorate it (the cute little pantry boxes listed below would sit on my porch to welcome me) or how we would roast marshmallows over an open beach fire at night. Although my taste is more modern, I LOVE the idea of shabby chic for my beach cottage, even if it is a bit 10 years ago, who cares? Oh..... I'm so having a bad case of day dreaming going on today!!

iCANDY has had a few beach themes throughout the years, click here to see the last one. I hope you love this new beachy roundup as much as I do. ENJOY!

1. Antique Shelf - Vintage Chic Furniture, NY $125.00
2. Nantucket Breeze Print - Kim's Cottage Art, $12.95
3. Flower Serving Bowl - One Clay Bead, NC $47.00
4. Pantry Boxes - The Broken House, NJ $21.98
5. Spring Balsam Fir Sachets - Sewn Natural, Canada $22.00
6. Beach Umbrella Photograph - Alice B. Gardens, MI $12.00

A Day At The Beach!

As you make your beach plans this summer, be appreciative of elbow room where ever you may land. Oh, and make sure you rethink any summer vacation to Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea. Can you believe these pictures? First of many questions that come to mind.... where do you take a pit stop? Thanks mom for sending me this:)

iCANDY - 38th Edition

Directions: For optimum viewing pleasure, click on collage

This week's iCANDY is all about the beach! The family and I will be heading South to the Florida Panhandle for the long Memorial Day weekend and I can't wait. Here are some super cute seaside inspired items from some super talented fellow Etsy sellers. Enjoy!

1. Mermaid's Treasure Chest Locket - Story Tales, Ormond Beach, FL $42.00
2. Sand Dollar Drawstring Bag - Three By Sea, Clearwater, FL $16.00
3. Drilled Sea Glass - A Kkricket, Anchorage, AK $5.00
4. Market Tote - Sky Box, Seattle, WA $10.00
5. Wall Decal - Leen The Graphics Queen, Wilmington, NC $15.00
6. Summer Fun Lampshade - Sassy Shades, Edmonds, WA $79.50

Where have I been this week?

Well it's been quite a crazy week over here at the workshop. I have taken this entire week off from my {day} job in order to spend some much needed time on items for my new InkSpot Workshop website, to be unveiled in the very near future. The items on my checklist have included making some new designs, redoing most of my pictures and adding item content to the website itself.

In the middle of being extremely productive all week, our poor 12 year old dog Jake, fell ill. In 10 short days he lost weight, kept throwing up and the vet just could not figure it out. Had to take him to the Beverly Hills of all vet specialists yesterday and poor guy had a stone in his gallbladder, which required immediate surgery and a nice fat bill of $3,500. Jake is recovering nicely in his Beverly Hills hotel and will return to us in a few days:)

Here's a sneak peak at some un-retouched pictures. I've been experimenting with new designs, new props and camera. What do you think?

This is the doctor's eye chart of a form I have to fill out for each and every product I will be selling in my shop. It is tedious and is making my neck hurt but will be worth it in the long run. A big THANK YOU goes out to Sara Tams, who is the person responsible for getting me into this whole mess:) I love her website, with it's user friendly interface and have hired the same design group. She graciously spent at least an hour on the phone with me Tuesday, walking me through every detail I needed to know. So nice to finally put a voice to a face.

My reward!! This is my destination starting tomorrow! Hubby and I will be dropping off our toddler at Nana and Grandpa Michael's in the FL Panhandle and heading over to this spot of paradise ALONE!

Can't you just hear the waves?

Ciao for now, will be back next week. Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!!

beaches

Although we received only a little snow over the weekend, it was just enough to make me think about the beach. Truth is... I think about the beach ALL the time. In fact we got married on St. John (USVI) just over 4 years ago and spent our honeymoon on Tortola, British Virgin Islands. It was during that time I started my little sand collection project. I wanted to have souvenir sand from all the beaches we visit as a married couple. Our little collection has steadily grown and is on display for us to enjoy in our living room. I bought these bottles at the Container Store.

It's so interesting to see the differences in the sand from all the various beaches. The finest, sugar like sand is from the Florida Panhandle, while Maui, is home to the coarsest and darkest.

Summer Highlights

The reality that summer is over is made obvious by the leaves already starting to pile up in my backyard. So sad, it went by in a flash. I felt the urge to organize my pictures while there was just a little summer left. Here are some high lights of our super fast summer;)

Ah! drinking juice and fishing with your best bud! That's paradise to a couple of 2 year olds.

Nothing says it's summer like chalk drawings on the driveway and on your feet!

Exploring Atlanta Zoo!

Nana is so silly!

walking hand-in-hand with Grandpa Michael

A wonderful visit from our Dutch friends. I told them we'd take them to a "swanky" restaurant. Forgetting English is not their first language, they had to google "swanky" to see what I meant:) We had such a nice time with them and of course took them to The World of Coke, what every good Atlantain does with their out of town guests.

Special visit from cousin Dillon and the whole gang!!!

A friendly game of backyard boccie ball - grandma and grandpa were the winners! Not that we are a competitive family or anything like that:)

Look out Uncle James, Nathan is moving in on your turf!

Everyone is in on the action

Such boys

The handsome Altiery Men


In Ohio with sweet Allison

Pretty fun to be eating watermelon at the pool and even cooler is the fact this is where mommy took her swimming lessons when she was my age.

Old friends reunite over dinner and drinks. I just love summer time in Ohio!

Last trip of the summer, Labor Day in the Florida Pan Handle. Before the hurricane!

My daddy is the BEST!

Aahhh....Relaxing Weekend At The Beach!

There is nothing like spending a relaxing Memorial Day weekend at the beach to renew your soul, belly size and {in my case} creative juices.

My son is quite lucky to have both sets of grandparents living in Florida. This past holiday weekend was spent on the white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle with Nana and Grandpa and the weather could not have been better.

Like most families where toddlers are members, everything is more interesting, tastier and messier at Nana's house.

My mother makes the most amazing chocolate dipped coconut macaroons you have ever tasted, just ask this little quality control manager. We affectionately call these little pieces-o-gold "Nanceroons" since her name is Nancy. I have been trying to talk her into opening her own Etsy shop where she could sell them, even created the storefront.

Sadly, for the general public who is now left with tasteless macaroons, she has decided she "likes" her retired life just the way it is. Can you imagine?

If you would like to experience the Nanceroon taste sensation, send her a "convo" through Etsy and tell her to stop the MADNESS! Enough with her long walks on the beach with her beloved and doing whatever she wants - whenever she wants. Get in the kitchen and bake up some Nanceroons, her public awaits her!

EAR BANDITS are a must have for any child who has had tubes put into their ears. After countless ear infections this past winter, we had the simple procedure done in December. Once the tubes are in place, it's important that water does not get into the ears. What? how in the heck is that supposed to happen when you have an active child who loves the water? Then I found Ear Bandits. They allowed this cutie to enjoy the beach instead of sitting on the sidelines. It's a simple 2 piece system consisting of little silicone pieces you squish into the ears, like molding clay. Then this rather stylish headband keeps them in place. They come in several sizes and are sold in many places.

What's a vacation without a little creative inspiration? Since my active mind never seems to stop, I get inspired for new card designs by just about anything colorfully appealing. In this case my mom's rug in her Florida room, I just love the sherbet colors stripes and dots all together.

Compulsively, I pulled out my laptop and started banging away and suddenly I have what is now known as my Pixie Stix collection.

First up is the "All Occasion" or you could say All Purpose card collection and you can get this cute set at my store, Inkspot Workshop. You get 12 cards, 3 of each greeting; Congratulations, Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary and Thank You. Now you won't be caught off guard when you need a card in a jiffy!

Next are these juicy little cuties! They make stylish personalized notecards or thank you's.

In fact they came out so darn cute {if I don't say so myself} they would make truly memorable Save The Date cards.

Thought I'd leave you with this special picture of Nathan sharing a tender moment with his Nana.

Hope you all had a chance to enjoy your families over the holiday weekend and took a moment to give remembrance to those who have made it possible for us to live our lives FREELY!