Jersey Shore Journal

Jersey Shore Journal - Life and Times at the Jersey Shore

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year Mes Amis!



Wishing you the best for 2011! I can't wait! Here are some of my resolutions and a few of my poems. If you have any prayer requests please email me and I will pray on your behalf. Our God is so good.

Love and peace, Jennifer aka Gigi

Eat Healthier

Exercise more

Learn Italian

Organize my closets, attic and garage

Publish my poems

Try not to yell, although if you ask me I would tell you I never yell.

Pray more

Organize my genealogy

Find a patron. Oh right I already have one, my saint of a husband

Save my money for a trip to Italy

A New Start

I will look for the good in people.

I will walk quietly.

I will nag less.

I will go barefoot more often.

I will visit the ocean.

I will hug more.

I will let you be who you want to be.

I will praise you more.

I will visit my neighbors.

I will bake a pie.

I will buy fresh daisies.

I will worry less.

I will listen when you speak and not interrupt.

I will say I love you to my loved ones.

I will make a new friend.

I will remember how good it feels to sing your praise.

Advice

Hold on

Be patient

Don’t faint

Hold steady

Sit still

Trust

Stay calm

Count to ten

Wait

Pray

Hang tough

Dig deep

Don’t quit

Try again

Press onward.

copyright 2011

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You!

This is the Designer Show House in Cape May. It was on the House Tour this Christmas.
Everything was done in blue...very charming. There were carolers (see video)at The Mainstay, Cape May's 1st Bed and Breakfast and also check out the quaint horse and carriage rides (see below)






I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You! Jennifer aka Gigi







Monday, December 27, 2010

The most wonderful time of the year


How do you like my new Scottish Nutcracker? And how about my new pjs?




I hope your Christmas was bright and cheery. We had a great day and then the Jersey Shore got hit with 2 feet of snow! The snow is over now and everyone is digging out.


This is a plateful of delicious bars from our Canadian relatives. They are so creamy and rich. Left almond bars, toffee cheesecake bars, Nanaimo bars and caramel and cherry bars.


Cupcake tower for our daughter in law's birthday. She was born on Christmas Day!



the Grandpops with Grace



The plaid dresses and smiles....



Our son's family

Have a Safe, Happy and Healthy New Year! Jennifer aka Gigi

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Beauty of Christmas


Christmas is almost here....excitement is in the air...
The most expensive tree in Adu dhabi, 131 ornaments- gold, diamonds, sapphires, stones!


the table is set for dinner...
beaux mondes designs

vicki archer @ french essence...we just settled down for a long winter's nap...


the ladies are getting ready for the party...from the Trendy Fashionista

beaux mondes designs table


A quiet Christmas at the beach...





It's Christmas time in the city...


a seashore Christmas




your path is lit...



the stockings are hung by the chimney with care...


and dont forget the reason for the season
our savior, Christ the Lord

Friday, December 17, 2010

Christmas! The Nutcracker, Candlelight HouseTour


Adorable outfits






This weekend we went on the Christmas Candlelight House Tour in Cape May with our daughter's in laws. We had a lot of fun and we had lunch at the Lobster House and dinner at the Washington Inn.

Shopping in Cape May

The Bandstand

Carriage Rides

Houses on the tour
The Mission Inn


Carolers at the Mainstay Bed and Breakfast
Fancy Mantle

The Lobster House- Gerry, Jen, Gordon, Bonnie

Below
Christmas in the City- Philadelphia

The Ritz


Phila City Hall - Amy and her dad, Gerry


RJ & Amy


The Nutcracker Suite



My grand daughter was a mouse in the The Nutcracker Ballet by the Radomile Academy of Dance at The Haverford School outside of Philly. The performance was magnificent and of course you've never seen a cuter mouse!


We went into Philly to see C S Lewis's The Great Divorce, a one-man-show with Anthony Lawton in a little theater. The actor did such a great job on all the parts.

I got a hold of a book “The Home Has a Heart”

I read as a young mother. In the book Thyra Bjorn, the daughter of a Swedish Pastor, goes thru the year with stories, holiday traditions and recipes. She says,

“How much God has entrusted to us. What will we leave behind of strength and value? To start the New Year is to be given a second chance to build stronger ties and deeper understanding. God is the greatest gift at Christmas. He gave us his baby son, to shine in this dark world to give us hope.” What encouraging words still today!

2010 was a wonderful year spending time with our family and fun times at the beach and boardwalk. It is so rewarding to see our kids and their spouses doing so well in their fields and being stay at home moms. They all inspire us.

I had fun making Peanut Brittle this year. The recipe is so easy and it tastes great!

Dion’s Peanut Brittle (Paula Deen’s cousin)

1 ¾ c. unsalted skinless peanuts

1 ½ c. sugar

½ c. light corn syrup

Pinch of salt

2 T. butter

1 ½ t. baking soda

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine peanuts, sugar, corn syrup, 2 T. water and salt. Cook stirring constantly for 10 – 15 min, until golden tan.

Stir in butter. When melted, add baking soda. Pour onto baking sheet and spread. Cool for 30 min. Break into pieces (I used a small hammer) Store in airtight container.

We had our first snow fall and everything looked so festive in the cold winter's night. I hope you have a wonderful time this year with your family and friends. I pray especially for those who are not well that God will send you his healing power and for those of you who are mourning the loss of a loved one, remember we will see them again and go on, making the most of each day. We have so much to be thankful for.

We hope that 2011 is filled with many blessings and we would hold on to important time honored traditions and remember that relationships are what is most important. Cheers to all my blog friends around the world- You make my life richer!

and to all a good night! xoxo Jennifer aka Gigi