My New Year's Resolution.....

....is not to make a New Year's Resolution, at least not one of any importance. We humans do it every year, we are going to lose weight, get in shape, find a mate, live on a budget, get organized...the list is long. The new beginning signaled by the New Year motivates us to be a new person, at least for a couple of days or maybe even weeks. Then life smacks us in the face and BAM, back to eating chocolate in our comfortable state of utter chaos. 

I quit making resolutions in my 30's, it was too depressing. 

I will ignore Jessica Simpson and her Weight Watchers ads, the annoying guy from eHarmony who is dying to find my perfect match, and all of those super fun to read organizing bloggers. (There has to be an organizing gene that some people are born with).

So this year I will set some realistic goals….read more books, play less Candy Crush, embrace my messy garage and spend more time at the beach!

Tailgate'n Party

Support Marine Discovery Center on January 11th with their annual Tailgate'n Party! This is the center's biggest fundraiser of the year and is always a great time! For $30.00 you can enjoy some tasty food from local restaurants, door prizes, raffles and a silent auction...oh and football with friends!

Tickets can be purchased online here.

Local Blood Drives

A wonderful way to give back and help others is with a blood donation. It is fast, easy and painless. (If I can do it anyone can) If you are interested in finding out where to go to donate blood the schedule for NSB and Port Orange area is here. Put in your zip code, hit search and the closest locations with dates appear. You can choose your desired location and make an appointment. The next local NSB Blood Drive is January 2nd at Bert Fish.

Wake Up Cafe

Good Morning & Happy Friday! There is a new breakfast//lunch place in town! I kept hearing how good it was so I took advantage of the no rush first day of break scenario and had breakfast there this morning. I did not want to embarrass myself so I did not lick the plate, but I wanted to. It was fabulous. I love grits, the grits were the bomb. I also had Eggs Florentine, which is poached eggs with sauteed spinach and asparagus served on an English Muffin with Hollandaise Sauce. It was fantastic! I understand the Spanish Skillet is incredible too, I will be trying that next time.

The service was excellent and imagine my surprise when I ran into my daughter's Spanish teacher from the high school, she and her husband own the place and they are the nicest people around. The atmosphere is very nice, all new and clean, great colors. I highly recommend it!

Wake Up Cafe is right next to Off The Hook in the Publix Plaza on beach side. For some of you that know me this means I can basically eat at all my favorite restaurants in one plaza...Steakhouse, Off The Hook and now breakfast at Wake Up Cafe. Best part, I don't have to cross the bridge!

Have a great Friday!

Pet Photos with Santa

Get your pets photo take with Santa this Saturday, December 21st at the Edgewater Animal Shelter. The shelter is located at 605 Mango Drive in Edgewater. Call them at 386-957-3994 with questions or to make a reservation.

NSB Caps Spaghetti Dinner

The annual NSB Caps Spaghetti Dinner is January 25th at the New Smyrna Beach High School Cafeteria. The cost is $5.00 in advance and $6.00 on the day of the dinner. This annual dinner is the big fundraiser for Caps.

Since 1995 NSB Caps has given out over 300 scholarships worth over 500,000 to local students.

Come out to the school from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm and enjoy some good food, entertainment, and more to support our local students.

Here is the Facebook Event Page

For updates Text NSBCAPS to 72727 on your mobile phone.

Pirate & Princess Party

Barracuda's Bar & Grille is the place to be on Sunday, December 29th. From 9:30 am - 11:30 am there will be a special. Pirates will make hats, princesses will fashion their very own crowns, there will be food, storytelling, and lots of activities for your little pirates and princesses.

Reservations are suggested but not necessary - call 386-957-3931 for more information or reservations.

No Name Saloon Christmas Service

The No Name Saloon is holding a Christmas Service on their outside stage at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 22nd. They will have free hot chocolate, and everything you need to roast hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire. Family friendly Christmas fun! Bring a lawn chair or blankets. They are also hosting a FREE Christmas feasts on Christmas night for those that may want to take advantage of some good food and friends. 

Dancing Lights in Port Orange

Spread Some Cheer

December is so busy with Christmas and school break that sometimes we forget that there are so many people in our community that could use a little extra help. Every month (not just December) we should do something to help someone else. Happily, I have some great ways for you to do that this month.

Edgewater Fire-Rescue, in conjunction with the Edgewater Fire-Rescue Association, is active in providing food and toys to children and families during the holiday season through the Operation Santa program.

Donations of new clothes, gift cards for teens, new, unwrapped toys, personal care items and non-perishable food are being accepted at:

Station 55, 1605 South Ridgewood Avenue

Station 57, 2628 Hibiscus Drive

City Hall, 104 North Riverside Drive.

Monetary donations are accepted as well – checks can be made Edgewater Fire-Rescue Association (EFRA). Donations of food, toys and money will be accepted without deadline. All of these items will be distributed to people in the Edgewater area. 

In New Smyrna Beach the Police Department is spreading cheer with their 24^th annual “Operation Christmas Cheer.” You can help this effort by dropping off toys, canned goods and clothing to any of the following locations:

New Smyrna Beach City Hall, 210 Sams Avenue

New Smyrna Beach Police Department, 246 Industrial Park Avenue

New Smyrna Beach Fire Department,  500 E. 3rd Avenue

Stavro's Pizza, 800 N. Dixie Freeway

They will collect donations through December 20^th and then distribute throughout our community to those in need. If you have any questions, please contact Event organizer, Lieutenant Donna Lavallee at

dlavallee@cityofnsb.com or 386-424-2243.

Allen Chapel AME Church in conjunction with the Historic West New Smyrna Beach Community are also holding a toy drive for those that need a little extra help. Drop off donations of toys or gift cards at these locations:

Allen Chapel at 344 Sheldon St,

Babe James Community Center, 201 N. Myrtle Ave

Swanky Chic Salon, 105 N Orange Ave,

Borderline Salon 394 North Causeway

Saltyfeet Media Headquarters, 1376 Turnbull Bay Rd

Kokomo’s Salon, 521 Canal St

Thank you! These local initiatives help those right here in our community! 

NSBHS Band Events

Our awesome Barracuda Band has a ton of things going on. If you have never heard them they are great!

The Jazz band is performing at Light Up Flagler, they will be in front of the Beacon Restaurant.
 

The Marching Band will be marching and playing in the NSB Christmas Parade on Sat. Dec 7th starting at 4:00 pm and in the Edgewater/Oak Hill Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec 14th at 10:00 am

The Concert Band will perform their Winter Concert Program at 7:00 pm  on Wednesday, December 18th in the High School Auditorium  Tickets will be available in advance and at the door $3 for students & children & $5 for adults.  

The Band also is accepting advertising sponsorship ads printed to be printed in the winter concert program They start as low as $10 for 10 word message, 1/8 page for $25, 1/4 page for $50, 1/2 page for $75 and a full page for $100 and all are tax deductible.  

The Band also has a silent auction during the concert to raise money, if you would like to donate to this auction or advertise in the program contact Sandra Oliver @ 386-216-3311 or email her.

Around Town - Weekend Events

Click on any of the links for full information on these events!

Light Up Flagler is Friday night on Flagler!

The First Friday Market is going on on Friday night at Hawks Park in Edgewater.

The Christmas Parade is this weekend in NSB, starts at 4:00 pm on Flagler and runs over the North Causeway to Canal Street. The Boat Parade follows that at 6:00 pm. It starts in Edgewater and runs down to Riverside Park.

The Christmas Carol is playing at The Little Theatre in NSB.

Norwood's Annual Food & Wine Festival is this weekend.

The Ed Root Memorial 5K is Saturday at the Coronado Civic Center-223 Flagler Ave

The First Saturday Art Stroll is along Canal from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Enjoy your weekend!

Winter Baseball Camp

If you have a baseball player in the house that is in Middle or High School Molina Impact Training is holding Winter Camp during Christmas Break. Information on the camp:

Molina Impact Training will be conducting its annual Winter Baseball Camp at New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex during the Volusia County Schools' holiday break.  Instruction will cover proper stretching, throwing, fielding, base running, hitting and conditioning techniques.

  

Players age 9 to 14 will have two, four hour instructional sessions at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex and the cost is $80 per player.

  

High school age players will have two, three hour instructional sessions at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex and the cost is $50 per player.

  

Space is limited! Register now!

  

Sessions will break down into the following age groups:

High School Players (Ages 15 to 18)

Freshman & Sophomores: Friday, 12/20 and Saturday, 12/21 from 9:00am to 12:00pm

Juniors & Seniors: Friday, 12/20 and Saturday, 12/21 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

 Ages 9 to 14

Sunday, 12/22 and Monday, 12/23 from 9:00am to 1:00pm

Texas Rangers First Base Coach and Catching Instructor, Bengie Molina, will be in attendance on Saturday, 12/21 and Sunday, 12/22. 

Registration Options

Call Molina Impact Training at (386) 788-7778

  

Email MolinaImpactTraining@gmail.com with player name, age group, and contact information.

  

 Click Here For a Printable Flyer

Lakeside Food Truck Sensation

Light Up Flagler

Light Up Flagler is this Friday night! The merchants of Flagler Avenue light up the street, there is entertainment, food, and many of the merchants have sales, wine tastings and other fun things going on for you to enjoy as you stroll the avenue! One of my favorites!

Breakfast with Santa

Beeef O'Brady's is hosting an extra special Breakfast with Santa on December 14th. The breakfast is from 7:30 am until 11:30 am, there will be a Breakfast Buffet, hot chocolate, crafts and a photo booth so you can take your own pictures of the kiddies. Of course Santa Claus will be there to hang out with the kids and listen to their Christmas wishes!

The cost is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. A portion of each ticket will be donated to Read Patillo, New Smyrna Beach Dance Club and the Boys and Girls Club of NSB and Edgewater. What a fun event that will give back to our community!!

Simple & Fresh Open House

Run to the Sun

The annual Run to the Sun is tomorrow morning in NSB. Get full details here...it is not to late to participate. You can register at the run. 

Small Business Saturday

Coastal Christmas Market

Start your Holiday shopping at the Coastal Christmas Market on Canal Street this Saturday. There will be tons of shopping opportunities, food, kids activities, a train to ride around on, live entertainment and of course Santa will be in Christmas Park.

For a complete list of the entertainment check out the Christmas on Canal Street website.

Santa in Christmas Park

Santa will be rolling into town this Friday and will be hanging out in Christmas Park at various times during the Christmas season. His first visit will be during Spark the Spirit this Friday night from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Other dates include:

Saturday, November 30th  11:00 am-4:00 pm
Friday, December 6th - 5:00 pm-8:00 pm
Saturday, December 7th - 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Friday, December 13th - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Saturday, December 14th - 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Friday, December 20th - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Saturday, December 21st - 1:00 pm-4:00 pm

Spark the Spirit

Kick off the Christmas season with Spark the Spirit this Friday on Canal Street. There will be a tree lighting ceremony, the window display judging, and live entertainment. The stores and restaurants will be open late for shopping and dinner. Christmas Park will be decorated, there are several places to take Christmas pictures and you might even catch a glimpse of Santa while you are there!

Samsula Tractor Parade-2013

It is time for the best parade of the year! The Samsula Tractor Parade is December 14th! It starts at 3:00 pm from the SNPJ Lodge in Samsula (421 Samsula Rd) and proceeds down Samsula Rd to SR 44. If you have never been to the parade it is well worth it to take a ride out there and watch it. Great fun!

Here is the Facebook Event Page.

Bert Fish Tree Lighting

Join Bert Fish on December 6th for a celebration! There will be refreshments, the Showdolls will perform, the lights will be lit at 6pm. Santa and our favorite, the NSB Cuda Mascot will also drop by for a visit! They are also doing a toy drive so come and enjoy some Holiday cheer and bring a new unwrapped toy for a child who may not get one otherwise!

Thanksgiving On The Town

Several local places are open and offering to do the cooking for you!

30th Street Pub & Eatery will be serving a Thanksgiving Buffet from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm. The cost is $14.95 per person.

Norwood's Seafood is also open, they will offer a traditional Roast Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Call for priority seating 386-428-4621.


New Smyrna Steakhouse is open and will be serving Thanksgiving as well as their regular menu.

The Garlic is open for lunch as well as dinner:

 As I hear of others that are open I will post! Have a great week!