Salt Life Review

Salt Life Signature Decal

What is Salt Life, you may be asking?

Salt Life, as defined by the Urban Dictionary, is:

“Salt Life ~ Originally a sticker on the back of cars used to denote a surfer, bodyboarder, or general beach bum whose  life centered around the ocean or related beach going activities.”


Recently I reviewed apparel by Southern Fried Cotton, carried in the clothing department of the store I work for.  Since our store is located in a coastal community, we cater to ocean and beach related clothing, popular in our area.  Salt Life is another Southern and Coastal Company which manufactures the type of clothing we carry.

 

Origin of Salt Life

The Salt Life brand has come to represent the ocean and the many activities centered around it. It appeals to those who enjoy an active lifestyle surrounding surfing, fishing, diving and days spent on the beach.

Salt Life was begun in 2003 by four men who, besides being friends, were also passionate about the ocean and all it has to offer.  These four 'watermen' are from Jacksonville Beach, Florida and thus that is where their company is located. Salt Life is more than just a Logo ~ it represents a style of life that is ocean and beach related.

Explore the Salt Life in TeeShirts, Hats, Decals and Lots More...

 

Cut Salt Marlin Life T-Shirt

Popular with fans of ocean fishing is the Salt Life Marlin Tee Shirts. They come in a variety of colors, and are found in different designs such as the Sun Tee (marlin leaping with sun behind it), Palm Tee (showing a palm tree on the beach and the marlin leaping in the ocean), and Marlin Waves (colorful design of a marlin leaping out of a large ocean wave). 

The Ocean Life tee shirt line represents all there is to love about the ocean ~ the surfing, swimming, fishing and fun beach life.

There are fishing theme T-shirts with the “Life in the Cast Lane” sayings and designs such as hook, line & sinker that fishermen love.  There are skull themes and anchor images, turtles and many others.

Sea La Vie Ladies T-Shirt @ Salt Life

Especially for the ladies, there are scoop neck Tees with clever sayings that remind one of the  ocean and coast, such as “Sea La Vie”, “Seahorse Daze”, and “Living Salty Turtle”.
 

Salt Life also has a wide variety of hats for these seaside activities.  Live the Salt Life is one of their favorite mottos.  This 'Anchor' hat is a favorite for your beach-going activities.

 

Salty Crab Decal @ Salt Life

And, of course, there are stickers and decals, such as the one seen in the Introduction image and this Salty Crab decal.  Check out all the Salt Life images of fishing poles and fish, sea turtles, palm trees, Salty crab and more. 

Salt Life also carries clothing for kids, a line of shorts for men & women, and other beach gear such as beach towels, flags and coolers.

Everything that is a reminder of your favorite oceanside sport or beach activity.  Check them all out on the Salt Life website.

 

Salt Life Food Shack

In addition to their clothing and gear designs, Salt Life also has restaurants called 'Food Shacks'. Currently, these restaurants are located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, St. Augustine Beach, Florida and Fernandina Beach, Florida, with plans to open more. They are known for their eclectic seafood menu and are lively hangouts for the beach-going crowd.

Enjoy Local Fried Shrimp and Beer Can Chicken, salads and tacos and Fresh Rolled Sushi, fresh fish and salt water favorites.  Check the Jacksonville Beach menu here for these and many other selections, all available in their casual yet trendy open-air space located near the beach. Their motto is “Pull up a stool. Eat. Drink. And be Salty.” 

Roatan Marine Park

The Salt Life Company 'gives back' in an effort to protect the oceans they love and preserve the seas and coral reefs for future generations. They have teamed with Roatan Marine Park to protect the waters and reefs in Roatan, Honduras. Check out the Roatan Marine Park website to see how they are working to provide a sustainable marine environment that can provide fisheries and tourism without harming the ecosystem.

Summary

 

Salt Life Signature Turtle Decal

Everyone enjoys the Salt Life, whether it's participating in water sports or simply having a 'beach day'. The Salt Life clothing and gear is perfect for anyone, seaman or land lovers,  wanting a trip to the beach. The Salt Life Food Shacks specialize in tasty seafood.

Live the Salt Life!

Quick Links:
 
Salt Life Website
Salt Life Food Shack
Salt Life Tees, Gear & More on Amazon





*Salt Life Review by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Fancy Feast Wet Cat Food Reviewed

Convenient Way To Purchase Food For Your Cat

Cat image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Let's talk about an option to feed our cats today by reviewing Fancy Feast wet cat food. My older kitty is kind of persnickety about what she will eat and what she will not. Why is it that cats seem more finicky about their food than dogs do? Every cat that has ever owned me, has had a definite opinion about what they want to eat. 

For many years, I fed my cat dry cat food and it was just fine. As she has aged, she started having problems with constipation and it was suggested that I switch her to wet food. That switch has helped tremendously! 

In the wild, cats love to dine on mice, bless their souls! It turns out that they instinctively know that a mouse provides a pretty balanced diet when it comes to a cat's health. As disgusting as it might sound to us humans, the mouse provides the right amount of meat, liquid and calcium for the feline digestive system. House cats (our pets) don't usually get to control their diets with mouse morsels like their feral cousins do. Our giving them only dry food may not meet their moisture requirements in their diets.

In my attempt to ease my own kitty's digestive troubles, I tried a few different kinds of wet cat food. She seemed to like the Fancy Feast meals the best. Once I had determined that, I started ordering it online because it is so darned convenient!

Fancy Feast Poultry And Beef Wet Food

I love that there is a nice variety to choose from and that I can offer her something different each day. Typically, I will order a box like the one above and then the next time choose maybe the seafood collection or a different collection. My kitty seems to prefer the classic pate meals but there are options of grilled and ones with gravy, too.

The ability of having the cat food delivered to my door is wonderful! I find that I shop more and more that way for all sorts of products, not just my cat food. It is convenient, economical and I don't have to worry about having run out of food for my cat or the humans in the house. Don't you just love it?

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Buttery Pasta and Shrimp Recipe Review

Our Favorite Seafood Meal

Having lived in coastal communities a number of times over the years, from the California Central Coast to the Gulf Coast of Florida to (today) Coastal Georgia, seafood dishes are popular favorites in our household. 

While living on the California Central Coast in 1980, I came across a shrimp recipe put out in a little cookbook leaflet by Land O Lakes, using real butter (yum) in the recipes. This shrimp/pasta buttery combination has become a standard for company dinners and has also become a family favorite for Christmas Eve dinner every year.

Ingredients

Ingredients, prepped and ready

• 3 cups cooked spaghetti, (7 oz. Uncooked)
• 1/4 cup Sweet Cream Butter
•  1 cup chopped green pepper, (1 medium)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 (12 oz.) packages frozen cocktail shrimp (or fresh shrimp as noted below)
• 1-1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Oregano leaves
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper
• 2 cups cubed fresh tomatoes
• Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese 

*Cooks' Note: 

The recipe calls for frozen cocktail size shrimp, which is fine, but living near the coast where fresh seafood is available I naturally substitute fresh shrimp for the cocktail shrimp.

I take about one pound of medium shrimp, peeled & deveined, cut them in half most times, and sauté them separately in a bit of butter & garlic before adding them to the pot of vegetables simmering in the butter & seasonings. I've also added fresh sliced mushrooms to the original vegetables of chopped onions and green pepper in the recipe. As you can see, your own preferences are easy to substitute in this dish.

Instructions

Angel Hair Pasta - Cooked

• Cook spaghetti; set aside.  I used angel hair pasta in this recipe, but you can use any pasta that you desire.

Sautéing the vegetables in real butter

• In a 3 qt. Saucepan melt butter over medium heat (5-7 minutes).

• Add remaining ingredients, except tomatoes and spaghetti. Stir to blend.

• Cook over medium heat (5-7 minutes).
• Add cooked spaghetti; stir to blend.
• Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally until spaghetti is heated through (3-5 minutes).
• Remove from heat; add chopped tomatoes. Cover; let stand 1 minute or until tomatoes are heated through.
• To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Pasta dish with garlic toast & coleslaw

Serve this buttery pasta and shrimp dish with slices of garlic bread or Texas Toast, and either a salad or coleslaw, and you have a very delicious and satisfying meal anytime you crave shrimp & pasta.

Land O' Lakes Chicken and Seafood Cookbook

Land O Lakes Chicken & Seafood Cookbook

The buttery pasta with shrimp recipe featured in this review can also be found in this cookbook of recipes for chicken and seafood made using real butter. I've used my copy for years!





This 44-page booklet from 1980 has recipes for both chicken and a variety of seafood, all using delicious butter.

Shrimp Lovers Recipes

 

Forrest Gump knows ways to eat shrimp - shrimp kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, shrimp cocktail...

Looking for more shrimp recipes, you'll find them here! 

Over 75 Shrimp Recipes from Forrest Gump

 


For other delicious recipes, shrimp and otherwise, check out ReviewThisReviews Recipes for a variety of yummy dishes from our contributors.




+Images are personal photographs by (c) Wednesday Elf

(c) Wednesday Elf. Article originally written in October 2013 on another site.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Recipe Review - Drunken Mussels

Do you love seafood but find it intimidating to cook shellfish at home? Do you love mussels and wish you knew what to do with them? Chef John gives us an easy and delicious Drunken Mussel recipe. So easy that even I was able to make at home successfully.

Mussel FAQs for Beginners

What in the world are Mussels?
Mussels are "bivalve mollusks" with an elongated shell. In other words, a sort of clam but with a long shell instead of a round shell. 

Where do they come from?
They are found in freshwater lakes and streams as well as saltwater and intertidal areas. 

They are pretty ugly, why would you eat a mussel?
Mussles are also considered a healthy food because they are low in fat, high in lean protein, and contain a variety of nutrients. These nutrients include Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, iron, and Omega-3 fatty acids.  Besides that, they are pretty tasty.

How would I cook a mussel?
They can be prepared in a wide variety of ways: baked, fried, smoked, broiled, and steamed. 

I love mussels, especially steamed in wine sauce. But I have never been brave enough to make my own.  I have had friends over the years who have made them as I watched, but I was still intimated and hadn't tried on my own.

When I found Chef John and his Food Wishes site, I knew that I had to try making mussels at home.  You see, not only was his Drunken Mussel recipe easy with few ingredients, he included a step-by-step video that was easy enough for me to follow.

My Mussels Now and in the Future

I successfully filled my favorite stock pot with Chef John's steamed mussels in lemon, garlic, and wine sauce - his Drunken Mussels. That first attempt was so easy and tasty that I made the next batch with my own additions:

Old Bay Seasoning

• 1 lb. browned sage sausage
• I replaced the red pepper flakes with a generous sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning
• 1 lb. of jumbo shrimp

I was thrilled to find that mussels are extremely easy to make at home. As long as you make sure the shells are scrubbed with a small, stiff brush, remove any "beards" that may be hanging from the shell, and don't wander away from the kitchen while they are steaming, delicious drunken mussels are very easy to make. If you like mussels but haven't made them at home, I hope you give this recipe a try. I think you will find it to be as delicious as I did. 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Maryland: A Festive Destination

With the recently passed Artscape Festival and the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim taking place now, I am reminded of the amazing cultural events and festivals that are held in this area. 

When I decided to move here, from rural Indiana, the decision to be near an urban area was in large part due to my desire to have easy access to large cultural events.  I have to tell you that I have not been disappointed. Late summer and autumn is my favorite time of year to attend these festivals.

Costume seen at Maryland's Renaissance Festival

Artscape has just passed. It is held annually and is advertised as “America’s largest free arts festival…”.  I have absolutely no reason to doubt that it is indeed the largest. It is an amazing festival. The food, music, shows, and tent after tent filled with artwork is a sight to see.    

While located in Virginia, not in Maryland, many Marylanders attend the Chincoteague Pony Swim – the annual event that was made famous by Marguerite Henry's book Misty of Chincoteague.  This year the pony round up occurred on July 26 and 27^th and the Pony Swim will take place on Wednesday July 30^th.  

Maryland’s Renaissance Festival is an amazing event. There is live jousting, a storyline each year that involves characters in costume, food, and entertainment.  So much of the entertainment, food, and crafts are based in that time period.  It is definitely a great way to spend a day or two.

SunFest is held in Ocean City September 18 thru 20^th this year. It is the 40^th anniversary of the event. I love SunFest since it occurs after the typical end of tourist season on Labor Day.  This festival stretches summer to it’s limit and yet the weather is typically still beautiful weather for the beach. There are crafts, kites, food, and the usual things to see and do while at the beach. 

Sept 6 and 7^th 2014 are the dates for the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point. Sandy Point is a beach park that is located at the food of the Bay Bridge. This is a festival that features seafood in a state that boasts about it’s local crabs. Need I say any more?   

I think my very favorite festival is the National AppleHarvest Festival. Again, not located in Maryland but located not far across the Pennsylvania state line, the National Apple Harvest Festival is an event that I look forward to year after year.  I love wandering around the small county fairgrounds; eating, listening to music, and browsing all of the things there are to browse. The smells and the flavors are all things apple and smoked. The antique tractors and the car show is worth the price of admission alone. 

This is just a minute sample of festivals in this area.  There are music festivals, the Preakness, ethnic festivals, and so much more.  If you enjoy festivals, this is the place to be.

Image Credit: Images are mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights Reserved (Click on photo for larger view)

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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