Girlfriends.

There is honestly nothing better in the world than having amazing girlfriends. 

I don't use the word "blessed" a lot, but when it comes to the women in my life, that's the best way to describe how I feel about them. Totally, 100% blessed that they are in my life. I have some of the best friends a girl/woman could ask for, and I'm thankful for each and every one of them. 

It always made me sad that I didn't have a sister. Someone that would be that ONE female for me. It was those damn Sweet Valley High books that made me long for an identical twin and all that closeness that came with it. I'm a girls-girl. I love to share, gossip, freak out and analyze celebrity news. I love to over think out loud and spew and vent. Things women really can't do with (most) men... 

Over the past few months I've had an influx of amazing girl time. Laughing, crying, dancing, eating, trips...I'm really one hell of a lucky girl. I've bonded in unexpected ways with new women and spent fabulous hours with lifelong friends. I owe my sanity to the girlfriends I have in my life - online and in real life. 

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be posting a lot about girlfriends... what I've learned, what we've done and sharing things that make you just happy to be a woman. 

Do you have a special girlfriend story you would like to share? email me at beth @ hipmamab.com... 

#JerseyLove: #Imagelogger Edition

Last week was a big week. Not only did I get to experience "The Shore," but the nice people over at Samsung also sent me this beautiful new NX300 SMART camera to test drive for the summer. As part of Samsung's "Imagelogger" program, I will snapping pictures and uploading them directly via this AMAZING WiFi enabled, 20.3 megapixel, Smart digital SLR. 

I know I take a lot of pictures, and many of them with my iPhone purely for the ease of being able to share online quickly. That's why I have been totally giddy over the NX300 SMART camera - because much like a smart phone, I can now upload images directly to Facebook, Picassa or YouTube when I have a WiFi connection. When I'm away from a good hotspot, I simply send the image to my phone via the free Samsung camera app.

Insanity, huh? And best of all? NO MORE LOST CONNECTION CORDS!

Last week in Jersey was my first week with the camera. With anything shiny and new, there is a learning curve before everything is perfect, but straight out the gate I'm already enamored with this camera.

 

Over the next few months I will be sharing images taken with the NX300 SMART camera on Twitter, Facebook and weekly here on my blog. If you want to follow along and check out some of the images the other Imageloggers are taking - just follow the hashtag: #Imagelogger. 

*DISCLOSURE: Samsung gave me the new NX300 to participate in this program. All opinions and photographs are my own. 

I Heart New Jersey.

There is no other place like the Jersey shore. That I am now sure of. We all think of it as the home of "G.T.L" and drunk girls with big hair, but it's not. Its an amazing strip of coastline where the foliage is lush and green and the beaches are white and flanked with boardwalks. 

The people are some of the nicest I've ever met. While I was a tad disappointed in the lack of big hair, I was thrilled when one guy said "Oh, forgettaboutit." (I may or may not have actually squealed and asked him to say it again, then I probably said "Awesome" or "rad" - so we were totally even).

Over the next few days I'm going to be posting about my trip, some images and some memories. My goal? TO GET YOU TO THE SHORE. 

Here's the thing - we were there for one reason, to let the world know that Jersey may have been hit by Hurricane Sandy, but they are not down. They are there, alive and and in many places all rebuilt and ready for summer. But more than ever they need the summer crowds. 

The stores, hotels and mom and pop shops are still there - they've fixed up and stocked up. But if the tourists stay away this summer, they may not be there next year. 

If you need a little convincing, check out this video of the good time I had on Steel Pier. 

BIG HUGE SHOUT OUT and LOTS OF LOVE to the #JerseyLove FABULOUS sponsors Caesar's Atlantic City and D6 Surfskimmers. With out thier support, none of this would have been possible. 

Check out all the other #JerseyLove: