Friday, November 14, 2014

2014 Nassau County Holiday Event Guide!

The Holiday season is here and our beautiful county has plenty of Holiday festivities to fill your calander each week! Know of a Holiday event that is not listed below and takes place in Nassau County? Email us at hellocolie.ashley@gmail.com with your event info and if available a link to a website or facebook page/event with info on your event! You can email us with non Holiday events as well and they will be added to our weekly 'What's Up Amelia?' events list! 





The S.S. Amelia Gingerbread Pirate Ship arrives at the Ritz (Wednesday November 26th to December 29th) : The world's largest gingerbread ship baked right here on Amelia Island!






Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Tuesday December 9th) : Hot cocoa bar $5, Sandy candy and cinnamon ornaments $5-$20

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Wednesday December 10th) :  Animal Encounter complimentary, cupcake decorating $5

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Thursday December 11th) : Make your own eggnog $5, Holiday tye dye $5-$20

Amelia Island Tasting or Mixology Tour (Thursday December 11th) 

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Friday December 12th) : Complimentary live entertainment, snow, and golf swing analysis. Archery Demos $5, gingerbread decorating $5, and candle decorating $5-$20. 

Santa's Coming to Let's Roll (Friday December 12th)

Parents' Night Out at Villa Villekulla Toy Store (Friday December 12th)

Jack Daniel's Bottle Engraving and Tasting (Friday December 12th)

Callahan Cruise (Saturday December 13th)

 Second Saturday's Artrageous Artwalk (Saturday December 13th)

Colie's Clothing + Gifts Open Late (Saturday December 13th) 

The 2014 Lighted Christmas Parade Downtown (Saturday December 13th) : Join the festivities downtown for a wonderful parade of lights! Select local downtown merchants will be open late for your shopping pleasure! Shop a wide variety of unique merchandise and find that perfect present or stocking stuffer! 

10th Annual Yule Holiday Festival and Parade (Saturday December 13th)

Winter Wonderland Carnaval in Fernandina Beach (Saturday December 13th)

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Saturday December 13th) : Live entertainment, snow, and letters to Santa all complimentary. Cookie Decorating $5 and build your own snow globe $5-$20.

Movie in the Park by FBHS Cheerleaders (Saturday December 13th)


Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Monday December 15th) : Segway Demos, complimentary. Make Chocolate Bark $5

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Tuesday December 16th) : Hot cocoa bar $5, Sandy candy and cinnamon ornaments $5-$20

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Wednesday December 17th) :  Animal Encounter complimentary, cupcake decorating $5

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Thursday December 18th) : Make your own eggnog $5, Holiday tye dye $5-$20

Amelia Island Tasting or Mixology Tour (Thursday December 18th) 

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Friday December 19th) : Complimentary live entertainment, snow, and golf swing analysis. Archery Demos $5, gingerbread decorating $5, and candle decorating $5-$20. 


North Florida Dance Challenge of the Holidays at the Ritz (December 19th and 20th) 

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Saturday December 20th) : Live entertainment, snow, and letters to Santa all complimentary. Cookie Decorating $5 and build your own snow globe $5-$20.

Verandah Feast of Seven Fishes (Monday December 22nd) : An Italian-American tradition available from Dec 22 to Jan 2nd. 


Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Monday December 22nd) : Segway Demos, complimentary. Make Chocolate Bark $5

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Tuesday December 23rd) : Hot cocoa bar $5, Sandy candy and cinnamon ornaments $5-$20

Christmas Eve : Wednesday December 24th

Christmas Day : Thursday December 25th

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Friday December 26th) : Complimentary live entertainment, snow, and golf swing analysis. Archery Demos $5, gingerbread decorating $5, and candle decorating $5-$20. 

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Saturday December 27th) : Live entertainment, snow, and letters to Santa all complimentary. Cookie Decorating $5 and build your own snow globe $5-$20.


Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Monday December 29th) : Segway Demos, complimentary. Make Chocolate Bark $5

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Tuesday December 30th) : Hot cocoa bar $5, Sandy candy and cinnamon ornaments $5-$20

Santa's Workshop at OAIP (Wednesday December 31st) :  Animal Encounter complimentary, cupcake decorating $5


Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

Restaurants Open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

COMING SOON!


Again if we have missed any events you may email them to hellocolie.ashley@gmail.com! For events outside nassau county check out the Jax Moms Blog and Mamamelia.com

Happy Thanksgiving - Merry Christmas - Happy New Year!

xoxo
Ashley



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Monday, October 20, 2014

What's Up Amelia?

There's plenty of local fun going on this week! Every event is a link, simply click on the event to find out more! 

Amelia Island Sunset taken by Marisa at Kayak Amelia on The River Cruise

Monday October the 20th
Tuesday October the 21st
Wednesday October the 22nd
Thursday October the 23rd
Friday October the 24th
Dinner at The Galley

Saturday October the 25th
Sunday October the 26th
Monday October the 27th
Wild Horse on Cumberland Island during The River Cruise

Special and Notable events! 

The Northeast Florida Fair is going on now through the 26th at the fairgrounds in Callahan! 

There is a yummy new business on the Island, Amelia Island Tasting Tours! Their first tour is this coming Thursday, October the 23rd! Make sure you snag a space for the Downtown Tasting Tour or Mixology Tour because space is limited and going fast! Click here to reserve your spot!

Visit the pumpkin patch at Trinity United Methodist Church on the corner of 8th + Ash! It's open Mon-Sat 11am - 7pm through October 25th! 

This month marks 1 year since I opened my little boutique Colie's in Downtown Amelia Island! We will be celebrating at the shop all day Saturday, October 25th! Be sure to stop in for some treats and deals! 50% off select jewelry, 30% - 50% off a wide selection of clothing!  11am - 8pm


Be sure to use hashtag #exploreamelia when you share your adventures on Amelia Island with friends and family on social media!

xoxo - Ashley
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Saturday, October 18, 2014

Go Local : Fall Favorites


It's finally Fall in Florida and it feels pretty amazing outside right now! The Downtown shops have taken note and are stuffed with cozy and cute fall items! Here are some of my favorites! Clicking on the store name will take you to the store's facebook page where you can find their location Downtown and store hours!

Lemongrass

Lemongrass has an amazing selection of women's boots and fall sandals! Their selection of men's apparel is on trend with new styles perfect for the cooler fall weather!

Harbor Wear

Show your local love for where you live with a sweater from Harbor Wear! They have hoodies in every color you could wish for! Don't let the tourist show you up, show everyone you're proud to be an Amelia Island local!

Lori + Lulu

Lori + Lulu has everything you need to make a glamourous transition into Fall! This gorgeous cape is sure to keep you warm on chilly nights and the detail in these beaded bracelets is stunning!

The Book Loft

My pick from The Book Loft is their wonderful local book "The Seasons of Cumberland Island." Their fall window display is also one of my favorites!


Kayak Amelia's Gift Shop

With Christmas shopping right around the corner nothing is more perfect than these Urban Market Bags from Kayak Amelia's Gift Shop Downtown! They come in packs of 3 or 6 in perfect colors for Fall! Just right for toting home all those groceries for Holiday parties!


Colie's Clothing + Gifts

Colie's has plenty of cozy scarves and sweaters to wrap up in this Fall! From cozy infinity scarves to large wrap around scarves Colie's has you covered! Our new line of all natural soy candles smell amazing! The pumpkin harvest is a personal fav! It is a different take on the pumpkin scent with strong buttery notes and just a hint of spice!

No matter what you are looking for this Fall you're sure to find something you love at one of our Downtown merchants! So Go Local! Get out and explore Downtown! While you're out exploring don't forget to snap a pic of your favorite places and share it on social media using hashtag #exploreamelia 
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

What's Up Amelia?

UPDATE! 11-14-14 The 'What's Up Amelia?' post are so popular that I have given them their own tab at the top of the blog! Every week all you have to do is click the What's Up Amelia tab above to see what's going on each week on our beautiful Island!


 Our little town has so much to offer each and every weekend! From networking with businesses to a sunset cruise to fun events for the kiddos, you're sure to find something exciting to do this weekend on Amelia Island! If you know of an event that is not listed please leave a comment below so we can add it! If you have a future event that you would like to be added in our next "What's Up Amelia" post email us at hellocolie.ashley@gmail.com
Click on a event for times, location, cost, and more info on that specific event! 
Thursday October 16th
Friday October the 17th

Sunday October 19th

 OTHER FUN STUFF!

Thursday the 16th of October kicks off the Northeast Florida Fair at the fairgrounds in Callahan! Click here for more info! 

Sign up now for Amelia Island's newest dining event, Amelia Island Tasting Tours! Taste your way around Downtown like never before!

"At Amelia Island Tasting Tours, our focus is to create an incredible experience for each and every one of our tour guests, whether you are a local who wants to enjoy an experience in beautiful downtown Fernandina Beach or a visitor looking to find the best restaurants that the locals love. We want to showcase our wonderful bars and restaurants, as we are passionate that downtown Fernandina has a mix of terrific local places found nowhere else. In addition, we want our tour guests to be able to meet the wonderful owners, staff, and mixologists that are passionate about their craft. Amelia Island has such character and charm, and with Amelia Island Tasting Tours, you will experience all of it! " - from Amelia Island Tasting Tours

A lot of local bars and restaurants also have live music on the weekends so be sure to look up your favorite spot and see what they have going on! The weather is perfect this weekend so get out there and #exploreamelia! 
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Thursday, October 2, 2014

Shop Local This Weekend : Get Game Day Ready Downtown!

It's October and that means football season is in full swing! The shops of Downtown Amelia Island have everything you need to be Game Day ready! From clothing + accessories to household decor, koozies + drink wear, and much more! 


Check out the fun tailgating merch from these fab downtown merchants! Click on the store name to follow them on Facebook!


1. Southern Touch Gifts & Home Decor located at 301 Centre Street : They have it all! From Auburn home decor to Gator scarves!


2. Kayak Amelia's Gift Shop located at 4 N 2nd Street.: These Hydro Flask from Kayak Amelia will keep you're beer cold the whole game!


3. The Pineapple Patch located at 201 Centre Street : Pineapple Patch carries women's and children's clothing and accessories! My favorite is this adorable Florida Gator top! 


4. Wadsworth's located at 204 Centre Street : Wadsworths has fun Game Day apparel for men and women! My Fav is the adorable Jadelynn Brooke t-shirt and koozies! 


5. Pajama Life located at 12 S 2nd Street : Watch the game in comfort with some PJ Pants from Pajama Life! Even your beer will be comfy and cold with one of these cool football koozies! 



6. Colie's Clothing + Gifts located at 4 N 2nd Street : Get some on trend Game Day apparel, as well as jewelry and bows at Colie's! 


Where should you eat this weekend?

Hola! Cuban Cafe
Pop in for a cup of Cafe Con Leche and my personal favorite the Pan Con Lechon! A yummy sandwich piled with flavorful shredded, roasted pork and a garlic mojo sauce! They also offer a delicious assortment of sweet and savory pastries!


And they cater! Have a event or large tailgate? Just call Hola!


Don't forget!!! Tonight is Sounds on Centre from 6pm - 8pm!

Thanks for checking out my first "Shop Local This Weekend" post! I'll be popping in and out of all our lovely local stores finding new things to post! If you are Downtown this weekend be sure to pop in all the other wonderful shops not mentioned above! I won't be including every store every week, but I sure will try to get different stores in every other week! What's your favorite store in Downtown Fernandina? Let us know in the comments below and tell us why!

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Colie's Video of the Week : Shake it Off

Here's a little mid week pick me up! This daddy + daughter duo is just too adorable!



Hope this made you smile on this rainy Florida Wednesday! I get a good laugh at watching funny video's with the girls across the hall at Kayak Amelia so I've decided to share my favs with you every Wednesday, because on Wednesday everyone needs a good laugh!


xoxo - Ashley
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Thursday, September 4, 2014

How to Make a Shareable Search Photo


I have had several adoptees show interest in taking their search to social media. While this method does not work for everyone it is definitely an avenue to consider when looking for you're birth family. This post will give you info on the app I used to make my search photo, other apps that are free, how to start a free blog for your search, and link your search photo to your blog! 


Most of you have seen my search photo above. It was simple, readable, inviting, and most importantly shareable! 

I used the Rhonna Designs App to make both of the above photos. You can download this app in the Apple App Store or Google Play from this link. The Rhonna app is only $1.99 and well worth it! 


This is what the app looks like when you open it on your iphone. You will either need to select a very good, clear picture of you from your phone or scan one, email it to yourself, and save it to your phone! Once you have your picture on your phone, open the app and select the first box at the bottom with the camera roll.



When you select the camera roll option all the pictures on your phone will open in the app as shown in the first screen. Select the album your picture is saved to and it will open all the pictures in that album as shown in the second screen. Find the picture you want to use and when you select it, it will then show up as the third screen shot does of me at my Birthday. You have the option to choose formats other an a square, however most pictures on social media show up best in the square format so I would just stick with that! 


Before you hit the crop button in the top right corner you need to adjust your picture so there is adequate room for your information. You can do so by 'pinching' the screen to zoom in and move to the left or right. Above is what the zoomed in version of my picture looks like. As you can see I have zoomed in on my face and moved the pic to the left. After you have done this you can select the 'crop' button at the top! 



After selecting the 'crop' button you will be taken to a new screen where you can add graphics and words! The first button on the top left with the 'T' is where you can select a font. The second button with the little 'sun' icon I guess you can call it is where you can select graphics. This is the first button you should choose because before you add info to your photo you need to add a white box to the right! 



When you select the graphic icon your design packs will show up on the left. Scroll down till you see the one with the triangle pyramid, the 'insta geo' pack and select it! When you select the 'insta geo' graphic pack a bar will then show up across the bottom with all the graphics in that pack! The first option is that grey box and when you select it, it shows up as a white box as pictured above! Then all you need to do is make the square bigger using the little pink dot on the bottom right of the square and position it to the right of your photo! Now you are ready to add your info! 


Now to add the text. Select the box with the 'T' at the top. When you do this a bar will pop up on the side with font selections. Be sure to choose a font that is easily readable but not harsh, like you are yelling at someone. Each box on the right has several font options so select a box and when you do the font options in that box will pop up on the bottom.



When you select a font box from the right all the fonts in that box pop up along the bottom as well as a box on the screen that says "Double Tap To Edit." So you do just that! The first thing I do is change the color to black so I can see it. To do this just select the color you want at the bottom right above the font choices. You can then select the font you want and move your text around by touching and dragging it, or make it bigger/smaller with the yellow dot at the bottom corner of the text. Double tap the text and your keyboard will pop up for you to edit your text! BE SURE to choose a font and color that is easily readable! When you are done editing your photo simply save it to your camera roll and email it to yourself! 


Now that you have your search photo create a free blog with blogger.com. If you have a google account already then you are one step ahead! Why should you post your photo to a blog first you ask? This is so you can share it through a link! If you simply upload the photo to facebook it's just going to drift around facebook being shared who knows how many times and will never stopped being shared no matter what. If you post your photo in a blog not only can you write a little something up for people to read when they come to your blog from the link you post, but when you find who you are looking for you can edit your post to say that you are done searching and eventually people will stop sharing! You can also keep track of how many hits your post gets when you do it this way! When people share the link on facebook your search photo with all you info will appear as well as the link to your blog! See my original search post here.

Click here to see the Blogger Getting Started Guide.

The following are not apps that I have used so I can not speak for how well they will work but these are some free photo editing apps: 

Just a little something to end on here. Make sure you choose a nice clear picture of yourself. If you don't like any current pictures of yourself choose a cute baby picture! When you are making your photo think "If I saw this would I share it on my wall?" You have to make something that people will want to share to get the best results! 

Watch for my next blog about what to include in your search photo and more importantly what NOT to include! I know we are all eager to find whoever we are looking for but over sharing with the world can be bad! There will also be a post on where to share your search link - how I got a little crafty and targeted where I shared my link! 

To receive updates from hellocolie follow on google friend connect or by email, both located in the left sidebar! You can also follow on instagram and twitter: @hellocolie_

I hop this helps some of you! Please feel free to ask questions in the comments below!
xoxo - Ashley

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