My dear friend Jazz Girl gave two girlfriends and I a gift card for the Beau Rivage. It was a lovely present. The hardest part was selecting a weekend that we were all available to use the gift card.  I will not bore you with the details of how long  it took us to select a date but my card was burning a hole in my jewelry box.

Jazz Girl, Princess, Annie Oakley and I were ready for our overnight adventure including bonus slumber party. When was the last time you went to a slumber party?  My dancing shoes and I were packed and ready to go to start 24 hours Coastal Mississippi.

24 Hours Coastal Mississippi-Shopping

On our first stop for the “24 hours in Coastal Mississippi”, Jazz Girl and I decided to head to Ocean Springs. Ocean Springs is a quaint little town filled with lots of places to shop, eat and share a libation. We walked around Ocean Springs and found a lovely assortment of shops and restaurants.

One of my favorite stores in Ocean Springs is On The Menu Kitchen Store. An adorable shop in a cute yellow house filled with all the items that you would expect to find. The shop has a huge assortment of  everything. The dishes are perfect for a Coastal community with plenty of different options ranging in styles and different types of place settings.

For a Kitchen Gadget Girl, it is a shop made in heaven with pots, pans, napkins, glasses, baking pans of all shapes and sizes, specialty seasonings or fancy peppers and every kind of utensil. Stop by and say hello, if you need it they probably have it. Tell them Mimi sent you!

Jazz Girl and I wandered around until we were hungry. There are plenty of quaint places to have lunch or dinner and a cocktail. FYI, shopping makes you very thirsty. In the South, it is very important to stay hydrated. None of us want any more wrinkles that we must have.

24 Hours Coastal Mississippi Book a Sunset Paddle

After lunch, we discovered Paddles Up shop which rents and sells Bote Paddle Boards.  You may try them out before you buy. In this shop or online you will find things that you would expect a surf shop to sell. And they have skate boards for all of you youngsters.

If you have not attempted to Paddle, you are missing out.  Peace and total calm comes over me on the water.  It is super easy to do if you know how to swim and can stand on one leg without falling over. You may fall , but it is just water. If you wait until July or August to paddle, you will be happy to fall in. After you fall in the first time, the fear of falling goes away.

We continued our wandering through the city. Jazz Girl and I also scored on a great pair of suede pirate boots. It was the “Summer-is-here-my-shop-is-too-small-to-store-until-Winter-Sale”. I am not sure that I needed a pair of Pirate Boots but they were too sexy and too cheap to pass up. And Winter is Coming!

Once the pirate boot purchase after-glow wore off, it was time to cash in our gift card at the Beau Rivage. Our pals Princess and Annie Oakley were waiting for us at the luscious pool. The pool at the Beau is a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

24 Hours Coastal Mississippi- Soak Up the Sun

Tons of lounge chairs, bronzed beauties male and female, enough cocktails to look past the cellulite. I will confess to having a bit of swimsuit anxiety before I head to a pool. Then it quickly goes away when I see the variety of shapes and sizes hanging out near the pool. And when I say hanging out, I  don’t mean symbolically.

Great place to lay by the pool with my friends and chat about anything or nothing. We had everything that we needed at our fingertips and only a flag raise away if it was empty. Ice cold grapes and watermelon chunks make a great poolside treat.

The breezes coming off the water were heavenly, perfect amount of heat and cool. Our Princess does not sunbathe normally, even she managed to stay with us to enjoy the sunshine and laughter. Did  I mention the cocktails?

After we soaked up enough sunshine and cocktails we retired to our rooms for a shower before dinner. By that time, I was only so many hours in to my 24 hour excursion but I was drained. I graciously allowed Jazz Girl to shower first so that I could close my eyes for 15 minutes until it was my turn.

24 Hours Coastal Missisippi- Dining With Friends

Energized, dressed and ready to go we all hopped into a cab for a trip across the street to eat at Mary Mahoney’s. Silly as that sounds, the traffic in front of the Beau is busy and we were sporting high heels. Remember, we had to save our strength for later dining with friends is always a fun night out.

Everyone ordered to their heart’s content, Escargot, Double Cut Pork Chops, Lamb and Filet. I believe that we may have ordered an adult beverage or two. One of the managers came by  after our meal and Annie Oakley asked for a joke. Wow, I think he may have shared a dozen or so. Remember to ask for the floor show with your meal.

After a lovely meal, we retired to our home away from home at the Beau Rivage. We finished up our evening with drinks and dancing at the Bar. The band was not as good as I had remembered but we managed to “shake our groove thing” anyway.

The next morning, coffee was what I wanted but I could only manage to grab my book. I really didn’t want to get out of bed because I was reading about a blogger in Paris who had a young child and managed a quick affair. Paris is always on my list but that other stuff sounded like way too much trouble!

Annie Oakley must have known I was in need of coffee and she summoned me from afar. I grabbed my swimsuit and headed for my medicine. We all eventually made it to the pool again. Working down our “24 hours Coastal Mississippi” and we were still at it.

24 Hours Food, Fun and Sun

Annie Oakley relaxed poolside and enjoyed the sights and sounds around her. Princess had a date with the Salon but joined us later sporting lovely locks. Jazz Girl and I sat by the side of the pool watching the people in the water. We were only brave enough to barely dip our toe in.

The breeze was so lovely that the water temperature was too cold for us. A Brazilian woman convinced me to get in the pool. “Es no cold, dunk you’re shoulders”. I dunked my shoulders but it was pretty damn cold. Apparently only a couple of us were willing to brave the arctic water.

I joined her in the walk back and forth across the pool moving my arms as she was moving. Lord, knows I could use the exercise. I enjoyed my conversation with her as she spoke about the Country that she loved, Brazil. Walking in water and moving my arms  all the while wondering how many calories of that frozen drink I had burned? It wasn’t looking good.

My new friend,  a resident of Orlando for fifteen years  and a lover of the United States. Luckily, her Mother, daughter and granddaughter lived near her. She told me how much they all loved living in the United States. Proudly she admitted that she was a Trump supporter.

My new friend lamented on the sad state that her country was in, covered in decline, increased crime and widespread corruption. During the course of our pool walk, she confessed her fears that she may never return. The Brazil of her birth would have to be enjoyed in her heart and memory. We said our goodbyes and I joined my crew hiding under the umbrellas.

We were a happy but tired bunch.  Beau Rivage is a great spot to spend the morning and enjoy the sun. We people watched large and in 3-d living color. As I baked in the sun, I reflected on my conversations with the Brazilian woman. Life, love and home is where you make it.

Our group had tried for a later checkout but it was a no go. We made arrangements to leave our luggage with the front desk. We were all hanging out at the pool all afternoon  and then heading home in our suits. Time well spent with good friends is a precious gift and worth more than diamonds. Squeezing an entire 24 hours in Coastal Mississippi.

In 24 hours we managed a lot of different things. Easily we could have added in gambling of any type and spa appointments for hours on end.  We enjoyed the 24 hours that we spent together. In summary hurry, book your 24 hours Coastal Mississippi trip!

The post 24 Hours Coastal Mississippi appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Because recipes of this type will transport well, it is good to include in your summer entertaining whether it includes beach, picnic, vacation, hiking, camping, SUP, fishing, tubing, or July 4th plans. Since many of us try to jam all the things we love into every day while the summer sun is high in the sky.

Take along New Fresh Potato Salad Recipe

The fun days of summer include all of the things that we love. While your making plans for the day, include something new for you and  yours to do. It will add to the bonding of your group and keep everyone interested.

Step outside of your comfort zone and plan to learn a new activity.  Because it is good for us on so many levels to learn and attempt something different. Maybe even if we are not good at the new activity, it’s better that we attempt to learn and demonstrate a “can do attitude”. While repetition is comforting or easy it may also turn into boring. Monotony is not fun and  it’s unhealthy to our overall growth. Teenagers and young adults detest boring. Engage your inner child and just do it.

List of Activities to keep Family Engaged at Beach

Here are a couple of suggestions for your family:

1. Kayak or Paddle board rentals or lessons
2. Contest for Beach shells prettiest, largest, ugliest and unusual
3. Go Deep Sea Fishing– Charter a boat or join one of the party boats.
4. Rent Jet Skis or go Parasailing
5. Plan an evening of cards, board games or charades. Balderdash’s word game is my personal favorite. I promise you will laugh like never before.
6. Plan a beach scavenger hunt and split up into teams.  This site has a multitude of options for you depending on the age of your family or create your own list.  This type of activity is good for all age groups.

   

7. Divide your group in half and have a cooking competition. Plus this will split up the work duties in the kitchen.
8. Plan wine walk on the beach and watch the sun set on the water
9. At dinner, have everyone tell a favorite childhood memory or favorite story about their parents. Best story wins.

On any family vacation I would add in a good supply of your favorite libations. At some point, libations will be needed and wine is always good for what ails you. Yet, if you are more inclined to a cocktail, try one of my favorites.

Favorite Cocktails and Sorbet

Summer Rebellion Watermelon Martini

Good Intentions and Vodka Infused Kumquats

Country eggs raised in a Condo (sorbet drenched in vodka)

Most of all, time spent with family should be wrapped in love, surrounded with good food, drenched in fun and memories to last a lifetime. Unless your from that “one perfect family” members may challenge us like no other. Develop a couple of new choices to keep your crew busy and entertained. Especially important, bring along a dose of patience, kindness and remember to pack the libations. In conclusion, don’t forget the New Fresh Potato Salad Recipe for your time at the beach.

Alexa Shout Out to DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince for “Summertime”.
Take me to the beach, please.

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Even I, limit how much of “it” I will cram into my Sunday. Which is probably  part of the reason that I so love this day of the week. Somehow saying “I am not available to take part” on a Sunday, is easier for us to manage than other days. We don’t want to miss out on the fun. Is it possible that our Monday through Saturday could use a bit of a break?

Surprisingly, as a social butterfly it is hard to miss out on the many options available  to watch, participate or celebrate. Consequently, all of  us,  could probably use a little more down time. No doubt, defining down time is certainly different for each of us. What does your downtime list consist of and should I add  it to mine?

Hence, downtime for me consists of several of my favorite things which change from time to time. Items consist of solitary and social things to share:

Mimi’s Downtime
Reading a delicious book
Porch time with loved ones
Chasing sunsets
Creating a dish to share

Paddle boarding any time
Lazy day on the beach
Quiet time with Grill-Man
Laughing with friends in a casual setting
Vegging in front of the TV for a movie

In conclusion, my suggestion for this Sunday is to rest. Next Sunday,  will be a  totally different story. Planning a large meal?

The following items will make a tasty addition to any gathering:

A Vegetable Medley of Fresh Flavor

Easiest Meal Ever with Roast, Potatoes and Carrots

A Savory Cake of Bread, Sausage and Cheese

Black Pepper Cabbage

Chocolate Mint Brownie Bites

Love the family and Oh my, That Pecan Pie

Chocolate with Strawberries and Cream

Shout out to Alexa for Blur’s Sunday Sunday! Enjoy y’all, it will be Monday soon.

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