Cape May

Greetings from the Jersey shore! 

We’ve been down here since last Saturday, after a long journey down, and we’ve been soaking in all the sun, sand, and surf we can hold. Cape May is definitely our favorite place to relax as a family, despite beach vacations with babies being less than relaxing at times. I think we’re finally getting into a good groove before we head over the bridge to spend next week with Stephen’s family in Wildwood Crest.

I don’t think I’ve ever done a post on the stuff I like to check out while I’m down here. So, I’ll include a quick list of my top picks for you here. One thing I have yet to do, but I’m hoping to next week, is get a loaf from Enfin Farm’s “bread lady” in West Cape May. You have to arrive early and wait in line . . . but apparently her loaves are unique (sage + polenta, anyone?) and absolutely delicious. Here’s a well-written article I found about her.

Food + Drinks

Panico’s Bistro

Cape May Brewing Company

Cape May Peanut Butter Company

Good Earth Organic Eatery

Kohr’s Brothers Frozen Custard

Uncle Bill's

Shopping

Cheeks (FLAX! I found a pair of flax pants for $10 on a super sale)

Cape May Running Company 

Whale’s Tale

Givens Circle

Beaches

Cove Beach is my favorite

Poverty Beach is Stephen’s favorite

Sunset Beach is Ada’s favorite

Higbee Beach is also fun for walking around

Entertainment 

Climbing the lighthouse

Listening to live music in the Washington Street Mall

Playing games at Congress Hall’s family carnival

Heading out to Cold Spring Village to steep in Colonial times

Listening to ghost stories about the different haunts 

Trekking to DE on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry

Walking the streets and looking at all the victorian houses

On our last day here, we started out by heading to the beach for a swim. Ada is currently relaxing with the iPad while Eloise naps and Stephen does a few loads of laundry. We’re planning to head back out to the Cape May Brewery this afternoon and to grab lunch at the taco joint next door. We also have some free tickets to the aviation museum, so we may check that out, too.

Hmmm, what else? Oh, this year we became better acquainted with Cape May Point. It’s a quiet residential community at the very tip of New Jersey. We went to the beach there a few mornings. It’s a bit steep, but nice and quiet. There’s a sweet church near the beach where you can park for free. Very quiet and off the beaten path.

Some of you may wonder why we don’t vacation anywhere else. I mean, we come here year after year after year. I grew up going all over the place with my family because my dad had lots of business trips. I don’t know. There’s something about Cape May that pulls us back year after year. I like having a familiarity, not having to learn the lay of the land. Each year, we dig a bit deeper into the community and learn about new places and things we’d like to try . . . but we still fall back on all the old favorites.

My highlight this year was taking a trolley ghost tour out to the lighthouse at night. The tour itself was actually not that great. The stories were too brief and not well timed. But when we climbed the lighthouse in the dark of night and reached the top -- I loved feeling the cool breeze and hearing the waves beneath me while everything was black. Well, except for the beam from the lighthouse. It’s still working, after all.

I’m hoping to jump on here next week to write a bit more. We’ll have some family help, so downtime may happen more than it did this week. Here we are in the middle of July. I turn 34 late this month. I can’t really believe it. But things are good. This is our big trip of the year, so I’m going to sign off and go enjoy. See you soon! And wish you were here!

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Fitness + Stuff

I posted a photo of myself on Instagram yesterday after I had completed a tough 28-minute workout. You see, I started the BBG program by Kayla Itsines way back in early October. I should be on week 10, but I got through week two, and that's when Eloise's sleep started falling apart. Between that, many kid sicknesses, and my own bronchitis (that's been lingering almost three weeks), I've not been doing much running. Or working out, in general.

(I still need to do a post on our basement gym!)

I feel tired, weak, and my clothes are tighter than I'd like. And I even mean my LuLaRoe leggings. Seriously. Now that my coughing is getting (slightly) better, I'm trying to get back into the groove -- slowly, but surely. I started with week 1, workout 1 of BBG yesterday. It kicked my butt! I ended the day with a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. It was a win for me, fitness-wise.

Today I am hoping to run 3-4 miles. We'll see. The cold air hasn't been agreeing with me. If not, we dusted off the old spinning bike, so I could see myself doing some static cycling while watching an episode of Fixer Upper. Tomorrow, I'll do BBG workout number 2. Many of you asked for my opinions on the program, but I'd like to wait until I've been doing it longer.

In short: I think it's really effective. I love the format, the length, and the overall goal of strength, etc.


Switching gears: We have booked our summer vacation as of this morning!

We'll be staying at this little house in Cape May right near the downtown. It's the same place we stayed in way back in 2015. Instead of being smack in the middle of my two-week wait this time around (ending with two stark negative pregnancy tests taken at the house -- boo), we'll have sweet Eloise with us. She'll be 13 months by then. That's wild to even think about.

We will also be spending time with Stephen's family the following week in nearby Wildwood Crest. It's like the best of both worlds, especially for the girls. Ada absolutely loves the beaches. I merely mentioned Cape May this morning, and she was listing off a long list of things she wants to do. Top of the list? Riding her scooter on the sidewalks straight to the ocean.


Last for today: We are certainly decking the halls! I will be sure to share how we're getting festive over here soon. If you're still in the beginning stages of decorating and cozy-ing up, be sure to check out my post from last year on the matter. You can also see an awful photo of me wearing hair extensions and too much eyebrow pencil. Yikes.

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'll be back this week with my final gift-giving list (for the ladies), a Christmas bucket-list, and maybe even a new crock pot recipe. I also recently went to Aldi and -- whoa -- they have SO MUCH new stuff I want to tell you about. Veggie burgers, in particular. Very good.

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7 Week Old at the Beach?

To go or not to go . . . that is the question.

Truth: We don't have scads of money just waiting around to use on a vacation. But we're tired, people. Tired of the same old scenery. I'm particularly tired since I've woken up in our house and spent the bulk of my days/nights here basically every day since last August (yay for coaching taking up all weekends!). I mean, I am thankful, too. Thankful to have a nice place to live and food to eat and all that jazz.

I just crave that feeling of "Ahhhhhh -- vacation!" and I'm looking for it anywhere I can get it before the next year of sports madness begins. (Yes. This is a first-world problem.)

I started scoping out nearby lake spots for a quickie weekend vacation. Most are booked up at this point and require more than just a couple days stay to reserve. Then we thought we'd go to my parents' place for a "vacation" of sorts in my hometown while they're away in Maine. That idea is still on the table. But then yesterday my fingers wandered over to VRBO and I was looking up rentals in Cape May -- aka our favorite place on Earth. All I could find was a lonely basement apartment. It's actually remotely affordable and looks clean enough (recently renovated) to get the job done. And it would allow us to stay only 5 nights, which is all we have since Stephen has a summer class he's taking.

Hmm.

Hmmmmm.


Stephen is less than enthused about the idea of vacationing with a (at that point) 7-almost-8-week old. Do you guys think it's crazy? I'm not so sure. We're having to wean Ada off her naps before school starts in September. So -- in a way -- this trip would be unencumbered. We'd be free to explore around whenever it made sense without having to stop back for the mid-day rest. And did I mention I want to do this trip, in part, especially for her? She's had such a rough time since the baby came home and the ocean is her favorite thing ever. I'd be like a special thing to do before she's off to kindergarten all day.

Yeah, our expectations would need to be adjusted. Yeah, we'd have to change the hours we'd spend on the beach. Yeah, there will be blood, er, I mean crying. At night. In the day. In the hours in between. But it'd be the same old stuff we're dealing with now . . . with the ocean as the backdrop. With the breeze wafting by and sand getting into any and all crevasses. With the sweet, er, pungent smell of sea soaking into our t-shirts. All the goodness that could carry us through till next summer rolls around.

Who here has taken a vacation with a 2-month-old (or thereabouts) baby? We have absolutely no experience. We did take a 7-month-old baby for three nights to a hippie music festival. Camping, no less. So, I mean -- it's GOT to be easier than that? Or what if it rains and we're stuck in a basement apartment the whole time? My inner pessimist is coming out. Gah...

Please tell me the good, bad, ugly. (And anything we might not be considering.)

Please make this decision for me!

Should we just dive in?

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Our Weekend

One last vacation recap post for you guys. Our trip was amazing and restorative. Since we don’t normally vacation for two weeks (let alone ever!), we tried to pack in a lot of experiences that will last us the whole year.

We enjoyed an evening picnic on the beach. It was loads of fun for us (and the seagulls). Stephen and I trekked back to the Cape May Brewery with his brother and my SIL. I think my favorite brew is the cranberry shandy. Oh, and I went paddleboarding! It was a windy day, but I managed to stand up most of the time and not fall into the water.

The big development this year was Ada’s boogie boarding love. She went on wave after wave after wave. Of course, she ended up falling into the waves several times. At first she would cry about it. Toward the end of vacation, she was just dusting herself off and squealing “AGAIN!"


My favorite restaurant in Cape May is Panico’s. My favorite in Wildwood Crest is Poppi’s. They’re both Italian joints that have amazing pizza and salads and BURRATA. My absolute favorite. I hope to try and make some burrata by the end of the summer.


This year we opted to stay around town to dodge the usual mass exodus from all the shore towns. And we’re so glad we did. The Cape May Lighthouse park was having a little Christmas in July celebration. We climbed the 199 stairs to the top of the lighthouse and took in some amazing views.

I’m not going to lie, getting up to the top was not my favorite activity. It was really hot + stuffy, there were lots of people, and the space was tiny. I would love to go back sometime when it’s cooler and there isn’t a festival going on.


Oh, and Ada got to visit with Santa!


Yup. Vacation was pretty great.


But after two weeks, we were surely ready to come home. Without even planning it, Stephen and I got up with the same mission yesterday: Organize EVERYTHING in the house. We totally transformed Ada’s room. We’re working on the office today. I can’t wait to share some photos of what we’re doing. This is also all thanks to our annual Ikea trip (it’s a halfway stop between where we live and where we were vacationing).

This week I’ve got a great pistachio pesto recipe coming your way. I’ll probably also ramble on a bit about turning 32 (tomorrow!). I also have some fall homesteading plans I want to share. So, check back with me. Vacation is over . . . and I’m so ready to return to regular life.

Happy Monday!

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Blackout Curtains on Vacation

I just want to start this post off by saying THANK YOU. Thank you for reading my blog, for checking out the recipes, and for all your kind and thoughtful comments. I had been a bit burned out on blogging recently. I didn’t write about it much, but I started a new freelancing gig earlier in the spring, and I’ve been writing day in and day out. Learning to balance it all has been rocky, but I think I’m finally hitting my groove.

But that’s why I’ve been quiet while on vacation. We decided to take this ultimate vacation because this year has been rough. I think it’s just what we all needed to start fresh, and even though we still have some time left . . . I’m looking forward to getting back, getting organized, and starting fresh in so many regards.

Here’s what we’ve been up to!

We’ve been traveling in the Cape May area for years, and we got several emails asking for more specifics on where we go, what we do, where we stay, etc. I’m hoping to pull together a little guide sometime soon because we finally feel like we’ve become pros.

Oh, and I have a bunch of tips I’m planning to share for having a successful vacation with kids. My number one? BRING BLACKOUT CURTAINS! We always bring them when we travel, and Ada’s been sleeping (naps + bedtime) like a champ. It makes a huge difference when we’re changing so much else about her schedule.

What’s your best tip for traveling with kiddos? 

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My Little Extrovert

Ada loves people.

And I mean LOVES, like, everyone. Anyone. Even this mannequin. Being on vacation has brought out her extroverted side more than ever. Like, WOW. In fact, it’s like she doesn’t have a shy bone in her body. Not only that, but she gets so revved up and excited from being around new places and faces. It gets her out-of-this-world happy.

And this mama is exhausted. Each time we go to the beach, the minute we get there, I see her dart off. It isn’t toward the ocean. It isn’t to dig in the sand. Nope. She’s headed toward kids. The boys over there. The girls over here. That unsuspecting baby. I am actually in awe of her social fearlessness. She’s the one in the group that’s always like “C’mon, guys, let’s PLAY!” Then she’ll lead her friends onto the playground or on some other adventure.

This is so totally not my personality, so I’m working hard to give her what her little soul craves. A lot of people are surprised when they learn I’m an introvert because I can hide it quite well. I actually do enjoy talking with and being around people . . . to an extent. When I schedule it. But when they’re not my close friends, I usually feel like I need to take a nap after all that smalltalk. OK. It even happens when it’s my friends. You introverts get it. Being around people can zap energy.

Ada’s quest to meet #allthepeople makes me feel like I’ve gone a week without sleep. But I’m also so proud of her. And I love watching the little girl she’s turning into.

I guess it doesn’t help that virtually all the families down here seem to have three or four kids. Of course that’s an exaggeration, but surprisingly not a large one. Maybe we’re just surrounded by unusually fertile women. Ada has asked me so many times on this trip when a baby will be joining our family, and I’m sad to say that this first cycle back at TTC seems to have been a bust.


Do you have a little extrovert?

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Our Weekend // Beach Ed.

We’re at the beach! Our annual vacation kicked off Saturday with a 6.5 hour drive to Cape May, NJ. It shouldn’t take nearly that long -- but wow did we run into some horrendous traffic. This was our first long car trip where Ada didn’t have some complete meltdown, and I think our van might have something to do with it. All that space sure came in handy when we were packing, too.

Here’s what’s going on:

We feel so fortunate to be on vacation. We don’t do it often, so when we do get away -- it feels absolutely amazing. And this is silly, but I look forward to visiting the ocean each year because my allergies completely disappear! In fact, my sinuses clear up and I usually feel amazing. Less stress, too. Might have something to do with my 5-mile beach run this morning.

Sigh. If I only had $1,000,000 to move here.

OK. Here’s something I just have to share with you. I hate being in the sun. So, spending days on the beach can be hard because I’m basically sunburn-phobic. I looked around on Amazon before our trip and found this absolutely amazing umbrella called the ezShade Umbrella.

Check it out:


The shade area is SO BIG and GLORIOUS. The umbrella also blocks out 99 percent of UVA + UVB rays. And if you don’t want or need a whole new umbrella, they also just sell the sunshield. You attach it to the umbrella with velcro and anchor the bottom with sand. Then as the sun moves throughout the day, you just remove and move with it. It also gives major privacy (like -- I wish I had it when I was nursing!). Seriously cannot say enough good things.

You might also spy our Allen Bike Trailer/Jogger in the background. This is the first time we’ve brought it to the beach, and we’re so excited to try it out and bike around. Right now we’re just using the stroller function, but it’s nice to have the double duty. It’s also great at hauling some of our beach gear.

I’ll hop on soon to share a fun vacation recipe with you. For now, check out some of the articles I’ve written for other sites. I share these only to give you some fun reading material -- I don’t get paid per click or anything like that.

15 Awesomely Fun Toys You Can DIY
10 Cool Companies That Pay You To Refer Friends
7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying Your First House
8 Ways To Eliminate Ants Without An Exterminator
10 Cool Ice Cream Cakes For Your Next Celebration
A Week Of Camping Is Only $160 At These National Parks
More of my articles on Wise Bread . . .
11 Natural Ways To Induce Labor
Does Evening Primrose Oil Safely Induce Labor?
5 Signs You Should Take A Pregnancy Test

Happy Monday!

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Last Week in Workouts

There are few things better than running barefoot on the beach.

Here's last week in workouts:

M: 4 miles
T: Rest
W: 4 miles
R: 6 miles at 8:30/mile
F: 4 miles at 8:15/mile w/ intervals
S: 5K (8:40, 8:10, 7:40) + 6 mile beach walk
S: 9 mile long run, barefoot on beach + 25 minutes Pilates

TOTAL: 30.1 miles running, lots of walking around Cape May

I'm really proud of how I stuck to my training this week despite being away from home. I think this might be the first time EVER that I got in all my miles while on vacation. And to add to it, I did other active stuff, too. That 6-mile beach walk was to get Ada to sleep the day we didn't have a place to land during her nap.

Worked like a charm! (And yes, I hate the sun. SPF shirt + wide-brimmed hat for me!)


You might notice Pilates in the mix -- a workout I've done only maybe twice in my life -- we're in Wildwood Crest this week with family, and my future sister-in-law Kate is a certified instructor. I am hoping she can whip my core into shape by the end of the week. Or at least get a start. (PS: You can take classes from her too!)

I'm taking today off to let my calves recover from all those barefoot miles in the sand yesterday. Ouch. Honestly, I didn't realize I had gone quite that far until I had to turn around. Oops. Accidental longer run. I needed to do one, so I guess it was the best way!

How'd your last week's workouts go?

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A Cool Day

Yesterday's temperatures didn't rise much above 70 degrees and the weather featured thick cloud cover, a steady wind + occasional spitting rain. I thought it was absolutely perfect -- and it's the kind of day I secretly wish for whenever I'm at the shore. I'm not one to lounge on the beach all day -- I'd rather be out exploring, which is harder to do when it's hot, humid, and super sunny.

After a cool 6-mile run followed by a peanut butter pancake breakfast, I did some research and found Higbee Beach near West Cape May. It's a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. The preservation area includes a few miles of sandy trails that wind through dense vegetation and a semi-secluded beach where dogs are welcome + gigantic ferry boats pass by every once in a while.

A toddler's heaven.

It's sometimes always more fun to go beyond the usual attractions while on vacation. After Ada's nap yesterday, we got some local flavor by heading to the Cape May Brewing Company in North Cape May. Again, a bit of a drive . . . but when we got there, it was packed with people.

Good beer -- and on the way we saw a couple wineries in the area, too!


We'll definitely be back to Higbee and the brewery before the vacation is over. And I'd love to book a trip on the ferry and head over to nearby Delaware. Possibly even to Dogfish Head for a brew. Fares are a bit steep, though, and we're hitting the half-way point on our trip, so time will be limited and I'm sure we won't be able to hit everything we want to see. One day at a time.

Onto Friday! Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll be celebrating my 30th birthday on Sunday and I hear another stormy day is in the forecast!

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Running + Vacation

We're on vacation, which I wrote a bit about (from a family perspective) today on Writing Chapter Three. Since this blog is more exercise + food focused, you'll be getting that highlights reel over here. And what's more of an issue on vacation than fitting in exercise?

As much as the beach is a runner's wonderland, when you're juggling two running schedules + a toddler, things can get tricky. Here's some ways we're both sticking it out and enjoying a good sweat session each day.

// 1: Stephen runs in the AM, I run in the PM. It may sound like I'm getting the short end of the stick, but I'm an afternoon runner anyway. Since I'm still working mornings while on vacation, it's better to split stuff up this way. Plus, the shady streets of Cape May + ocean breeze get things comfortable again after the mid-day heat by 5:30 or so -- squeeze it in before dinner.

// 2: We brought our jogging stroller. And we both plan to use it for more than strolling. Since we aren't down here with family (yet), we realize it might be best some days to get in a run together. The BOB (we have the Revolution SE) took most of the storage space in our tiny Kia, but packing light to make room was well worth it.

// 3: We're being active otherwise. I may not totally meet my 30 mile goal this week, but with all the additional walking to the beach and town we're doing, I'm moving my body more each day.

// 4: I'm skipping long runs. Stephen isn't, but whenever I'm on vacation, I'm just not in the mood to run double digits. Plus, dehydration is an issue since it's so much warmer/sunnier than we're used to. Instead, I opt to run more days of the week at up the mileage a few of those days versus loading it on one day. Instead of a week that's got a 4, 3, 4, 6, 12 . . . I do something like 4, 5, 4, 6, 8, 2.

// 5: I push through. Sure, there's a lot of other stuff I'd rather be doing (like eating mounds of pizza or lounging at the beach), but there's time for all of that. Taking a half hour to hour out of the day to exercise is important. And it's a great way to explore the new scenery.

// 6: I pay attention to hydration. I didn't write about it, but I had some type of sun poisoning or dehydration issue at the shore last summer. It may have had to do with running + breastfeeding + being at the beach all day, but this year, I'm paying better attention. Drinking water with chia seeds. Avoiding peak heat/sun times. Etc.

How do you keep up with running (or other exercise) while on vacation?

Other running-related stuff I've written recently for WalkJogRun:

Simple No-Bake Energy Bars
To Get Faster, Run Slower
Running in the Heat: A Northern Girl's Tricks
Keeping Baby Occupied On the Run

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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We're Baaaaaack!

I wanted to post these photos last night, but pre-pregnant Ashley and pregnant Ashley are totally different travelers. The plan was to leave on Thursday afternoon to spend the night with my brother in Philly.

Packing usually goes a little something like this:

• I start grabbing clothes and towels/etc. right before bed the night before we intend to leave.
• I make a small hefty pile of stuff I need to wash the next morning (before work at 5AM).
• I make a list of non-cloth items we need to bring and gather as much as possible.

Basically, I don't have the energy to pack this way anymore. So, at 10:30 PM on Wednesday, I called my brother to say we'd be skipping Philly and heading straight to Cape May on Friday morning. It worked out SO MUCH better!

We left town at around 6AM, stopping several times for food/etc. And when we got to NJ, Stephen hunted down a Wawa . . .


After 6 hours, we were there. It was hot. And we headed straight to the beach, only to find we needed to purchase tags (we've paid tons for parking before, but never to just set foot on sand) for $5/each per day. Yikes!


We ended up scoring a 3-day pass for $10 each . . . but still! Ugh!


To be honest, I didn't take many photos on this trip. Usually I take hundreds . . . but for whatever reason (intense relaxation), I took around 35 total.

Here are my favorite horizontals:


And verticals:


This one ISN'T a favorite . . . but I'm rocking my preggo bathing suit (well, the top is new from Target):


SOME THINGS:

• I found my new all-time favorite Italian restaurant. Panico's Bistro on Broadway, if you're ever in the area. I'm hoping to go back for my birthday on the 28th.
• Stephen's favorite remains the same -- The Lobster House (Raw Bar), right as you enter town. It has the freshest market price stuff you can find down there.
• We both ate pancakes for breakfast every single day at Uncle Bill's Pancake House. Stephen's choice: Potato. Mine? Peanut butter chocolate chip.
• 4th of July fireworks on the beach are always best.
• Tolls are expensive, and we spent nearly $40 on them going to/from our hotel.
• Car trips while pregnant aren't fun. But frequent stops help.
• Online hotel reviews are pretty reliable. We got one of the last reasonably priced rooms available in the area, but it was dirty (as many had warned) and we slept on towels the entire time.
• Wearing a hat and sunglasses, slathering on SPF 60+, and staying underneath a beach umbrella is the only way to not get a burn. And it's glorious to come home without peeling skin for once.

So, yeah. We ate, Stephen drank, we ran, and we walked . . . a lot. We even bumped into a fellow blogger -- Amber from Busy, Bold, Blessed -- while scoping out new beach chairs at the grocery store! The temps were absolutely perfect -- in the 80s with little humidity (well, most days).

And the best part? We're headed back in 2.5 weeks (for our anual family trip to Wildwood Crest). The countdown begins now!


Stay tuned for part II of our trip recap, which will be on (never home)maker, baby! later today. And if you missed it, we posted our first big change to the nursery -- the chalkboard wall!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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