Serendipity Bed and Breakfast, Ocean City, NJ

Serendipity B&B participates in B&B's for Vets

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

For the past 2 years B&B's have offered a free room to retired or active duty veterans on 11/10 so they wake up on Veteran's Day in a beautiful B&B and are served a wonderful breakfast! This is the second year that Serendipity is participating. I wish I had more rooms to be able to offer to the number of people who called after I filled. If you are retired or active duty, keep this in mind for next year! Here is the press release regarding this program.

SERENDIPITY BED AND BREAKFAST TO HONOR VETS WITH FREE ROOMS ON VETERANS DAY

Ocean City, NJ – Serendipity Bed and Breakfast will join hundreds of inns and B&Bs throughout the U.S. and Canada in honoring active and retired veterans with free rooms in recognition of Veteran’s Day. In a campaign called B&Bs for Vets, Serendipity B&B will join inns and B&Bs in opening their doors with complimentary stays for vets on November 10, 2011 so they can wake up on Veteran’s Day to a wonderful breakfast after a great night’s sleep in a B&B. Serendipity B&B has offered four rooms which were rapidly booked.
“We are proud to join innkeepers across the USA and Canada in honoring active and retired military and veterans by offering complimentary rooms,” said Karen Morella, Owner/Innkeeper. “We are thrilled that thousands of vets and their families will wake up on 11-11-11 in a B&B, like ours. It’s one small way we can thank those serving in the military and their families for the important work they do” finished Morella.
The B&Bs for Vets program started in 2008 when Kathleen Penek, co-owner of the Gillum House and a handful of other innkeepers in West Virginia opened their doors to veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. The program grew in popularity among innkeepers, and last year Serendipity B&B joined more than 900 inns in the US and Canada by offering free rooms to vets. This year, the Professional Association of Innkeepers International will coordinate the B&Bs for Vets program as a way to help veterans learn about today’s B&B experience.
Although Serendipity B&B is filled there are many other B&B’s and Inns which still have rooms available. Proof of military service will be requested. To see a complete list of participating inns and B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, visit www.bnbsforvets.org.
About Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast has been a B&B for 21 years, the last 6 years with Karen Morella as the Innkeeper. Serendipity B&B is open year-round and is located only ½ blocks from Ocean City, NJ’s famed beach and boardwalk. In addition to serving a regular diet breakfast, Morella also will accommodate vegan, lactose-intolerant and gluten-free diets with advance notice. A recent addition is the Serendipity Tea House which is open year-round also but requiring reservations.
About Better Way to Stay
The Better Way To Stay project is a grassroots campaign sponsored by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (www.innkeeping.org). The campaign is dedicated to helping travelers discover today’s inns and B&B experience through programs and social network campaigns geared to enhancing the travel experience.

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendiitynj

Irene's Evacuation

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Evacuation is a scary word. I never thought about having to evacuate - never thought I would be "one of those people". Thanks to Irene I had the opportunity to know the word evacuate very well. I hope none of you get to know it that well. On Thursday I was busy. The governor had just issued the mandatory evacuation notice to all the barrier islands in Cape May County. That meant I had to tell the people already staying here, that they had to leave Friday morning. I also had to contact all the people coming in for the weekend - and I was filled - that due to Irene we would be closed. Between trying to reschedule and refunding those who could not reschedule, took my mind off the evacuation. Friday was spent putting away everything that was outside that could blow away - beach chairs, chairs and tables on the porch, outside furniture in back, all the flower window boxes, chimes and the list seemed to go on and on. I had Karl, the young man who cleans for me this summer, come and do all the rooms. So I also had laundry to do. I wanted everything done so I could come back and not have to worry about cleaning the rooms because who knew what other cleaning I was going to have to do. Eventually all that was done, the people had left and the only thing remaining for me to do was pack a bag. One of the hardest things I have had to do was pull out of my driveway. I took another look at my home, not knowing what I would find when I returned, hoping that any damage would be minimal. As I drove off and across the bridge I just asked God to take care of me and my home.
I was very fortunate that my son and his wife had offered me a place to stay. They live about an hour away. Surprisingly both the parkway and the AC expressway had very little traffic. I did take advantage of the forced time off and did some shopping on Saturday. What a novelty - shopping on a Saturday morning in August! I also tried to sleep in. I know I had been hoping to be able to sleep in soon, but I meant the end of September, not August.
Listening to the weather reports was tough. You kept watching and hoping they would talk about Ocean City so you could see what was going on. Fortunately I had a friend whose crazy brother had stayed in Ocean City so I did get a few second hand reports. The best report I received was Sunday morning around 8:15 am. Irene had passed, there was hardly any flooding and best of all - Serendipity looked intact! No flooding outside on 9th St and the power had not gone off all during the storm! This meant that my sump pumps had probably been running all night and hopefully were able to keep the water from getting to my furnace and hot water heater.
Coming over the bridge into Ocean city was a fantastic feeling! I was back home and everything looked the same - except there were no people around on an August weekend :) As I pulled into my driveway I could see from the debris on the driveway how far the water had come in. It probably came up to the first step on my porch. During a recent rain storm it came that high. I walked into Serendipity and checked from the attic to the cellar. Except for water in the basement - which is a normal occurrence during a storm - everything looked just the way I left it! Thank you God for sparing Serendipity and Ocean City! How wonderful to come back and everything was fine. I am very lucky!
My next trip was to the boardwalk and beach. I fully expected to see the beach all eroded. But it looked just like it did the day I left. The waves were rough but there was a nice slope to the beach. On the boardwalk stores were removing the plywood they had put up to secure their windows. Litterers was open for business! There were some people strolling on the boardwalk and riding bikes. Although it was a bit rainy and very windy, it was a beautiful day to be in Ocean City. And later on that day the wind died down and the sun came out. Time to put out the porch furniture, the beach chairs, hang the chimes and put the flower boxes back. Time to welcome guests back to Serendipity and Ocean City!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Guests become Friends!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 22:17:00 +0000

Hi!

If you have stayed at Serendipity then you know that to me this is my home first and a place of business second. I am always happy when people come in and tell me how cozy Serendipity is or how they feel like they are coming home. That is the atmosphere I try to project and it makes me feel great when it come across to people staying here. In keeping with that theme, it was a great couple of days for me when people who have stayed at Serendipity stopped in to say hello! Twyla has been coming to Serendipity since the previous owners were here and has continued coming after I bought Serendipity. She is a very interesting person and someone I enjoy talking with. Unfortunately this time in Ocean City there was no vacancy at Serendipity so she had to stay elsewhere. (I always feel bad when that happens.) What a great surprise that she stopped in before leaving town to say hello! Although I had people in for tea we were able to chat for a bit. Hopefully when she comes next time, there will be a room for her at Serendipity!
Sue popped in on Friday. She was just down for the day but wanted to say hello. Met her sister who was with her! Since it was breakfast time there was not much time to talk but I did appreciate that she stopped in. I know how much she enjoys the beach!
Today Joe and Verna stopped by. In Ocean City for the day with her sister and wanted to have her meet me! They also mentioned that they had my Christmas card on their refrigerator - so maybe I am part of the family!
Tomorrow Nancy says she will stop by when she is in Ocean City. It's nice to know that Serendipity is more than just a place to sleep and eat breakfast. It makes me feel very honored to know that I am more than just the "innkeeper" to people. Thank you for making me feel like I am part of your Ocean City memories. If you are in Ocean city, stop by and say hello. It's never an inconvenience!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Running a B&B

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Hi!

Our local daily newspaper, Press of Atlantic City, recently did an article about running a B&B. I was fortunate enough to be one of the B&B owners they interviewed - what fun! If you would like to read the article here is the link
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/upper_capemay/running-a-bed-and-breakfast-may-seem-peaceful-but-it/article_2176543a-9454-11e0-86ce-001cc4c002e0.html
Thank heavens for copy and paste :) The article is pretty true to how I feel - especially the part about loving my job! Thank you to all my great guests for the wonderful experiences you are/have given me. Thank you also for giving me the means to live in the wonderful house that I do, and for being able to live where I live. You are the greatest!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Martin Z Mollusk Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Yesterday, May 5, was not only Cinco de Mayo but even more importantly, it was Martin Z. Mollusk Day! This is a very important day in Ocean City because if Martin sees his shadow then summer comes one week early to Ocean City - and we all want that! Before I tell you the result, I am going to keep you in suspense and talk about the events leading up it. (Now, if you already saw the results on Facebook, don't give away the ending. And for those who did not see the results on Facebook, 'like' SerendipityNJ on Facebook and read all about what goes on in Ocean City!)
To the music of Pomp and Circumstances played by the OCHS band, the procession to the beach started, lead by the Trash Buster. Already on the beach was Mama Llama who did not seem at all happy being there. Maybe because it was windy. But it was a gorgeous day to be on the beach despite the wind. A beautiful blue sky which did contain some clouds. Mark Soifer, AKA Trash Buster and mentor to Martin, made some opening remarks. Next was music from the Wind Chime Band. Then, because of Martin's advanced age - 111 in hermit crab years - Dr Frankenstein accompanied by Nurses Excellent and Perfect examined Martin to ensure he was in good enough condition to finish the important task at hand. Fortunately, Martin was deemed to be in excellent health! Now came the moment of suspense - would Martin see his shadow? All of a sudden, the sun went behind a cloud. Oh no - now what!!!??? But not to worry. The sun emerged from behind the cloud, Martin was placed on the sand and YEAH, he saw his shadow. Mama Llama confirmed the sighting of the shadow and the crowd went wild! Once more summer comes one week early to Ocean City!
For pictures and video, click on this link
http://ocean7hotel.com/beachasylum/?p=949#more-949
A friend of mine took them and if you look closely you'll even see me! Make plans to come for Martin Z Mollusk Day next year!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
serendipitynj@comcast.net
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

And the winner is..........

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:48:00 +0000

Congratulations to Sal and Jeanne from Sewell, NJ. They have won the One Free Night contest! Sal and Jeanne are scheduled to come down in June. So now they can either choose to stay another night, have one night cost deducted from their total or use it for another reservation!
Thanks to all my guests who made a reservation in March. Can't wait to see you! The weather today is beautiful - bright sun and not too cold. (There may be a possibility of rain this afternoon but that 4 letter word is not allowed in this house!)
Have a wonderful day!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
serendipitynj@comcast.net
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

How to know when Spring has arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:18:00 +0000

So how do you know when Spring has arrived? Tough question :) Some people look at the calendar, see that March 20 says that Spring Begins and say yippee, Spring is here. Other people wait until they see a robin - always a harbinger of Spring. But for me and Serendipity, Spring has arrived when I get that special phone call. Deb calls to tell me the pansies are in and she will be down to plant them! What says Spring better than pansies? And thank heavens they are a hardy plant!
So this year I received that "Spring has arrived" call from Deb but there was a bonus. She was coming down with 2 of her gardening friends. On Tuesday Deb, Jay and Randy arrived and in no time at all the pansies were planted and the front of the house looks great! What was even greater was the labor cost - a cup of tea and some razz-ma-taz bars that I had. (If you do not know what razz-ma-taz bars are they are made with white chocolate, raspberry jam and almonds. A big favorite at the afternoon teas.) It was a win-win situation for me - the front garden looks pretty, got to serve tea and a sweet to friends, and wonderful conversation. So Happy Spring everyone! Serendipity is definitely in spring mode!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
serendipitynj@comcast.net
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Win a free night at Serendipity!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:36:00 +0000

Fantastic news - you can be entered to win a free night at Serendipity Bed and Breakfast! And it could not be easier. All you have to do is make a reservation during the month of March for a stay any time this year of 2 or more nights. Make your reservation by March 31 and you are automatically entered to win a free night. So what could be easier? If you have filed your taxes you may have already received your refund. Use part of that as your deposit! So give me a call at 609-399-1554 or book online at www.serendipitynj.com click on Check Availability then Make a New Reservation. It is as easy as that! The winner will be announced April 2 in my blog at http://blog.serendipitynj.com/ and of course I also will also call you with the happy news! So do not delay - your free night could be just a phone call or a few clicks of the keyboard away! So what are you waiting for? The weather is only going to get better and better!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Winter Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:31:00 +0000

The winter is generally a quiet time of the year for me. It is a welcome break from the long days during the season. Kind of like a time for recharging! So how do I spend that time? I always take some time away from the inn. If I stay at Serendipity in the back of my mind is a list of things to do. So by getting away I get to leave that list at home! This year I went to an Innkeeper Conference in Charleston, SC and then spent some great time visiting family. My brother Pete lives in Fl and I spent a week there. It was great being able to get on the beach and have no worries! I then traveled to Al to visit my brother Dave and his family. It sure is nice to have family that welcomes you!
Back home and recharged, I start what I do every winter. I look around, take stock of what everything looks like, and decide what things will be done this year. Having Serendipity is just like having your own home. There are always repairs that need to be done. Fortunately I have a guy who is extremely handy. So we (meaning him and NOT me!) did some patchwork. Repairing plaster walls is fun.....or so I try to convince him!
The best part is redecorating! Suite Dreams got some makeovers this year. Suite Dreams now has a 32" TV. And to make your TV watching more enjoyable, I bought a new loveseat and chair for Suite Dreams. They are both in white wicker and look so crisp and clean!If you are looking for a room to just hang out in, that is the room you want.
Room #6 Ocean Breeze, also got some makeovers. While Ocean Breeze is my smallest room, I really think it is such a cute and cozy room. One thing that always bothered me was the sink in the bedroom. The sink is still there, but now there is a new sink and a vanity that hides the pipes! I love it! Ocean Breeze also has a new chair in the room. Instead of the green wicker, there is a sparkling white wicker chair! The lights above the mirror over the sink have also been changed. I love the way this room looks!
So those are the major changes done so far. There may be a few more changes, maybe some painting but nothing drastic. And I almost forgot - I have a new area rug in the living room. Wait until you see it - the guests who have been here all love it and so do I! Can't wait to see what you think!
So that is what innkeepers do in their downtime. Another form of work but a lot of fun, too. I am so fortunate to be living such a wonderful life.

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Innkeeper conference in Charleston!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:42:00 +0000

Earlier this month I attended the PAII (Professional Association of Innkeepers International) conference in Charleston. Let me just say that the south closes down in cold inclement weather. I had one day to sightsee and the whole town closed down because earlier in the morning it was a bit icy. And when I say closed down - the Visitor's Center was closed, there were no tours, nothing. I was disappointed that I was not able to see Charleston since I had heard what a beautiful city it was. Next time, I guess!
On to the conference! When I mention to some people that innkeeping - inns and bed and breakfasts - have a conference they are surprised. So what do they cover, how to make a bed (usually said with a laugh). The short answer is no, the long answer could take forever so I will give you the "Reader's Digest" (condensed) version. The innkeeping conferences are great and I always go away having learned something. You need to approach running a bed and breakfast as a business. Those of you reading this who have stayed at Serendipity know that I love Serendipity, enjoy having guests, and try to make the whole experience the best that I can. Going into my 6th year, I cannot believe that I still enjoy it so much! The conferences help with that. I do have a business degree and worked in technology in my previous life and I bring all of those experiences to Serendipity. If you do not keep up with the new technology, it will start to impact your business. No longer is just having a website enough. Yes, it is very important to have a website but it is also important to embrace social media. Since B&B owners work alone, we rely on PAII to keep us up to date on what is going on. One thing that came across loud and clear is the importance of social media. Yes, I blog - something that I learned was important in a previous conference. Yes I have a facebook page. If you have not already, "like" Serendipity B&B by going to www.facebook.com/serendipitynj ! I try to keep people updated about what is going on in Ocean City and also about any new specials being offered at Serendipity. "Like" me so you can get specials that may be available only for facebook people! (Normally I post 5-6 times a week. Did not post while I was away but I will be back on top of my game soon!) The conference re-enforced my commitment to blogging and facebook but also started talking about the importance of having one or more videos. So stay tuned - you may see a Serendipity video in the near future!
One of the classes I really enjoyed was on yeast breads. My guests know that I make the breads that I serve and also make muffins or a coffee cake for breakfast each day. I love cinnamon buns but to make fresh cinnamon buns would require getting up around 3 am! However I learned a way to make fresh cinnamon rolls without getting up at that ungodly hour. Can't wait to try it out and if it turns out good, be prepared to have hot from the oven cinnamon buns for breakfast! For me, that alone was worth the cost of the conference!
Another feature of the conference is the trade show. You get to see, feel, touch and smell new products and talk to vendors about services. I love being able to smell new products I provide for my guests, feeling the softness of towels and linens, and see the suction power of new vacuums. So much more fun than ordering from a catalog or the web!
Coming home from the conference I am more invigorated and can't wait to put into practice all the new things I learned. I want to make coming to Serendipity Bed and Breakfast an even better experience. So check your calendars for some free time then check my availability calendar at www.serendipitynj.com and make your reservation! Can't wait to see you!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
serendipitynj@comcast.net
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

New Year = New Enthusiasms!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:52:00 +0000

Hello and Happy New Year....a few days late :) When I was in school and when I my sons were young and in school, September was the start of the new year. Now that my sons are grown, we are all out of school, January 1 is the start of the new year. It comes as a great time for me. I have had some down time to recuperate from the season , I have had enough weekend business to remind me that I do have a job, and after having a full house for the New Years weekend it reminds why I love being an innkeeper!The enthusiasm is back and I start walking through the house and outside making a list of what needs to be done, what should be done, and what I would like to have done. And hopefully, I can get to the majority of that list before the season starts!

Having a small B&B is very similar to maintaining a home - and of course it is my home! You have to constantly keep up with the maintenance just like you have to keep up with the maintenance of your home. If you let things go, I found out that instead of remaining the same, they tend to get worse! So, I need that walk through in January to remind me to start making my lists!

So - just so you understand the true meaning of this post......it's to put off starting that list!

Hope to see you soon!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
serendipitynj@comcast.net
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendpitynj

Book for 2011, Get 2010 prices!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:08:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!

Tired of trying to find a parking spot at the mall? Once you find that
parking spot, are gift ideas elusive? Let Serendipity B&B help you
out!

As a thank you for the wonderful five years I have had, I am
offering 10% off a gift certificate purchased during the month of
December. For example, order a $100 gift certificate and pay only $90!
The gift certificate can be personalized with any wording you would
like so it is also appropriate for a birthday, anniversary or thank
you. Gift certificates are good for one year. Need a gift for a
special occasion? Give me a call at 609-399-1554, or do it online at
www.serendipitynj.com and let me help you out!

Now here's a gift for yourself - save yourself some money on your 2011
getaway. Book by 12/31/10 and get 2010 prices for our 2011 getaway!
Deposits will not be charged until January 2011. (If you have already
booked your 2011 getaway, you will be billed at the 2010 prices!)

I hope that your holiday season is peaceful, restful and most of all
joyous!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Christmas can now begin!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 14:20:00 +0000

I always feel as though you have to wait until after Thanksgiving to really start decorating. Since owning Serendipity I have stretched this personal ruling a bit. I sometimes start the few days before Thanksgiving. The big reason I do not decorate completely before Thanksgiving is purely selfish. My sister comes down for the Thanksgiving holiday and stays at her place. Also my brother and his family come down the day after Thanksgiving, spending it with Deb. But - and here comes the selfishness - they always "help" get the Christmas stuff down from the attic. ("Help" means they do the work of climbing up into the attic, passing it down and stacking it in 3rd floor office/storage/no place else to put it room). So I get a couple of bins down to get started and they do the rest. When you have 25-30 bins of decorations, that is a lot of up and down those bessler steps if you do it by yourself! Then my brother brings in my big tree from the shed. And I cannot forget my big helper, Kevin. My nephew, Kevin, is 7 and fascinated with all things electric. He also is pretty smart about it. Kevin's job is testing the lights and then helping me decorate outside. So, with all this help, you can understand why I do not do it all myself. Why take all that joy away from them! Prior to Thanksgiving I did get one small tree up and decorated and about 10-12 of my regular houses and 10 small houses put up. Starting today, though, the serious decorating begins! The difficult part about decorating when you have a business is that the place can never look totally like a wreck. Since I have guests in this weekend I need to do this in an orderly fashion. It is good for me to have these perimeters - otherwise it would look like a tornado set down in the North Pole! Stay tuned for pictures of some of my decorating. And if you have time and need to destress, why not come to Ocean City for a couple of days? It is calm and peaceful and on the weekends there are horse and carriage rides along Asbury Ave and lots of shopping deals!
I hope that if you are decorating you let the joy of the season take over and help you enjoy it!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Apple Butter Pecan Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:27:00 +0000

In one of my posts on facebook (www.facebook.com/serendipitynj) I wrote about making a new muffin recipe - Apple Butter Pecan Muffins. I promised that I would put the recipe in my blog and then share it on facebook, so here it is! By the way, if you have not already "liked" Serendipity on Facebook, just go to www.facebook.com/serendipitynj and click on Like. You can follow what goes on in Ocean City and at Serendipity. You'll get first look at any specials and first chance to get any last minute deals! So don't delay - get onto Facebook and Like Serendipity!

Apple Butter Pecan Muffins
1 large apple, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 T sugar plus 1/2 cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup apple butter
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 T baking powder
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375. In medium bowl toss chopped apple with cinnamon and 1 T sugar to coat thoroughly. In mixing bowl cream butter, apple butter and 1/2 cup sugar until well blended, about 4 minutes. Add eggs and mix well. In another bowl mix flours and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture blending well. Stir in apples and pecans. Spoon into greased or paper lined muffin tins. Bake 15 - 20 minutes. Makes 18.

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com
www.facebook.com/serendipitynj

Shop and Wrap Special

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 02:41:00 +0000

Now that Halloween is over, it must be time to get ready for the holidays. Thanksgiving is easy - cook, bake and eat. You don't have to shop for anything except food. Now for Hanukkah, Christmas, or whatever your December holiday is, Shopping (yes, the capital S was deliberate) takes on a life of its own. And not only do you have to shop you also have to wrap those special gifts. Make it easier on yourself this year. Do your shopping in Ocean City! Asbury Avenue and the Boardwalk have unique gifts, and a lot of special activities going on. Starting 11/20, every weekend through 12/19 will feature free horse and carriage rides on Asbury Avenue! So why not take a trip to Ocean City, do some shopping, and enjoy a weekend of semi-relaxation! To help you do that, here is a special package for you called the Shop and Wrap Special.
Shop and Wrap Weekend
Stay any 2 consecutive nights from now until 12/19/10. Shop Asbury Avenue and the Boardwalk for those unique gifts of Ocean City! Come back to Serendipity to find wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, tape, scissors and gift tags waiting for you!Listen to holiday music while you sip hot tea and wrap your special gifts. Receive a special gift bag when you check-in! Free horse and carriage rides on Asbury Avenue starting 11/20/10. All of this for only $295 INCLUDING all taxes and fees! Or Stay any 2 weekday nights - Sunday through Thursday - for only $275 You must mention the Shop and Wrap Weekend special at time of reservation.
So give me a call at 609-399-1554 or book online at www.serendipitynj.com Tell me you want the Shop and Wrap Special. I'm waiting to take your reservation!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Serendipity participating in BNB's for Vets!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:56:00 +0000

B&Bs and Inns are providing free rooms on Wednesday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day, November 11, to honor servicemen and women currently serving or who have previously served their country. The program was started in 2009 by the West Virginia B&B Assoc (formerly called MABB) and this year has expanded to include 48 states, 4 international locations and more than 800 Inns. This is the first year that Serendipity will be participating and I am very proud to be one of only 2 B&B's in Ocean City to be part of this program. I originally thought to offer one free room, but when I got a second call, I expanded my offering to 2 rooms. I would like to offer an additional room to one of my loyal guests. So if you are currently serving or are a veteran and have a valid Military or VA ID give me a call. There is no catch here - this is not a buy one night get one night free or any other promotion. It is one free night - Wednesday, 11/10. Check out the website www.bnbsforvets.org for more information. There is a listing of bed and breakfasts that are participating and it lists which places still have availability.

On a different note, Serendipity is now on Facebook! You can "Like" Serendipity at www.facebook.com/serendipitynj So why should you do this? You can learn what is happening in Ocean City - both my observations and information about events. I will also be offering last minute deals. If I have a couple of rooms open at various times I will be offering them at a discount just for my Facebook followers. So go to www.facebook.com/serendipitynj and click on Like! It is as easy as that:) Hope to see you on Facebook!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Is Fall Really Here?

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:56:00 +0000

As Iwrote in my previous blog, fall is my favorite season, so I was looking forward to fall arriving....except summer refuses to leave! Yesterday was the last day of summer with fall arriving at 11 pm. Hmmm.....does anyone really care that 10:59 pm in the last of summer and 11:00 pm fall starts? I think people are more interested in watching the news, or getting ready for bed than wondering which season it is! Anyway a little before 10:00 pm I think summer realized that she was getting pushed out and wanted to have one last say so we had quite a storm - the light show was particularly spectacular! You would think that it would be cooler this morning. After all, it is fall, you know and we did have that storm. But no, it was already 69 when I got downstairs around 6:00 am. I went outside to get the paper and it was nice and warm. Not fall warm but summer warm! So it is a nice treat for those people who delayed their vacation to Ocean City and I hope they are enjoying themselves. The cooler weather will be back before we are ready for it. Remember you can always stop in for some tea at the Serendipity Tea House. Just be sure to call the day before for reservations! Enjoy the fall weather when it arrives!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Seasons at the Shore!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Of all the season, fall has always been my favorite. I love the crispness in the air. Everything seems cleaner and brighter. But....I have to admit that since coming to Ocean City, I have developed an affinity for the other seasons also. It is still amazing to me how different the seasons are in Ocean City. (OK - so maybe other shore towns also but I can only speak for Ocean City!) Each season seems to have it's own character. Fall is still a fantastic time of the year. The hustle and bustle of summer is gone. There even seems to be a calmness in the air. And it is quiet. After enjoying the people walking up and down the sidewalk at all times of the day and into the night, the quiet is a gift. Even people who do not live here feel the same way. I was sitting on my porch (my favorite place to sit regardless of the season) with a couple who were staying here. Either Roni or Lou commented on how quiet and peaceful it was. If you are tense or stressed out from work or life in general, sit on the porch in the fall. Listen to the quiet - yes it does have it's own sound. Your worries and cares disappear!
Winter at the shore can be beautiful. It can also be cold and lonely! When it snows at the shore, there is nothing more beautiful than walking the boardwalk and seeing the snow on the dunes. Even more amazing is to see the snow on the beach - something you never expect to see! You can tell just how high the waves came up by where the snow stops. And quiet - not even the birds are squawking! They are not chasing after the person holding the funnel cake or trying to grab the pizza from your hands. And sometimes the quiet does get to you and you wonder - am I the last person left on earth????? Fortunately Coral Sands is also open year round so I do get to see other human beings!
Then comes Spring and you know that things will start perking up soon. The waves start to recede allowing more of the beach to be seen. There are the sounds of hammers and saws as contractors start the outside repairs they could not do all winter. People are cleaning up any storm damage, painting for the season, and getting everything in order. As the weather warms more people come down for the day and more importantly, for a couple of nights! As early spring winds into late spring, hold on to your hat - Summer is just around the corner!
Summer is excitement! The vacation people have waited for all year and saved for is finally here! The boardwalk is alive! The birds are everywhere! Ahhh, the smell of the pizza, popcorn and all the other food smells are a constant presence. The scent of sunscreen is all around you - and some of the sunscreen scents seem good enough to eat! Everything is open. You can't wait to hit the beach and boardwalk. And people are everywhere! Welcome to Ocean City! Thank you for making Ocean City part of your vacation plans! People are walking the sidewalks, cars are waiting in traffic, and the town has come alive! And just when you feel as though you have had enough......along comes Fall. What a great place to live!
Hope to see you soon so you can experience one of these seasons - or come down 4 times a year and experience them all!

Karen

Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

People Come and People Go

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:11:00 +0000

I was sitting on the porch the other day - enjoying watching the world go by. A man and his son were riding their bikes when the man turned around and stopped in front of Serendipity. He came up on the porch and asked if I was the owner. When I told him yes, he said he had been meaning to stop for a year or so. His mother used to stay at Serendipity and loved it. She loved Ocean City and had passed on that love to him. He told me his mother's name and it sounded familiar. Then he showed me her picture. I recognized her as a person who had stayed here a few times. I think she generally went to one of the shows while she was here. She would come a couple of times during the summer. He told me she had passed away very quickly. It was very nice of him to tell me. When guests who had come regularly no longer come, I wonder what happened to them. Did they go elsewhere? Are they sick? Have they passed away? Did the economy hurt them badly? I appreciate the extra effort this man went through to answer that question for me and I am glad that Serendipity was here for his mother when she came to Ocean City.

On a brighter note, I was on the boardwalk the other night - yes occasionally I do have a chance to get up there! - when a couple with a baby called me. They had stayed at Serendipity and showed me the reason they have not been back for a year - a beautiful baby! I told them if they were fortunate enough to get a sitter for the weekend I would love to have them here again!

Two instances where I learned why people have not returned. Closure is a good thing:) Katharine, rest in peace.

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Hazy, Hot and Humid in July

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:07:00 +0000

I think we are in the dog days of summer - except that usually describes August and July has just started! Like everyone else along the east coast we have been getting really hot weather. Tuesday the temp at the AC airport was 102 - wow!Some of the days were not bad - just hot. But when the humidity kicks in - why bother even going out. Guests that were at the beach said the sand has been almost unbearable to walk on. The water temp has been great - low to mid 70's - but once you get out of the water your poor feet get burned walking - or running - back to your chair. It makes you wonder what Mother Nature is thinking. I hope she is having a good laugh at our expense - I would hate to think she was being mean or vindictive! Mother Nature would never be mean or vindictive, but I guess she feels as though she needs to teach us a lesson sometimes :) We - or at least I - complained all through the cold, rainy spring and now they talk about drought conditions. (On a plus side, my basement has finally dried out! Having a basement in a flood zone is interesting......) I have a foreign student who is working for me this summer and his last job of the day is watering the flowers. Thank heavens for Farik - if it was left to me my poor sister would get a panic call asking her to come down and replace all the dead, dried out flowers! Yesterday was a pleasant day. I opened the awnings in the afternoon and there was a delightful breeze blowing through the porch. I am hoping for more of the same today! So please come to see us in Ocean City. Some days we do have nice ocean breezes to cool you off. And on the days that we do not, it is still better to be in Ocean City! Hope to see you soon!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Happy 4th!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:35:00 +0000

The town is buzzing with people and excitement! The weather has just been fantastic this week - no humidity during the day and cool at night so good sleeping weather! Today is hot - but it should be since it is July3rd and the big weekend of the year is here! It is so much fun to be in the thick of things. One of the great things about Serendipity is that you can park your car when you get here and not move it until you are ready to leave! 1/2 block from the boardwalk, walking distance to loads of restaurants, walk to Asbury Ave to shop or shop the boardwalk.It really is a great location. I still think that the best seats in the house are on the porch. There is something so restful about sitting in a rocking chair on a porch and watching the world go by. You hear parts of conversation and get to make up your own beginning and end :) You see an assortment of people go by - all shapes, sizes and colors!One thing that you do not see very often is someone smoking. Thank heavens for that. I do not know if it is the health issues or the prices of cigarettes but I really think that people are not smoking as they used to, unless they are closet smokers! I know that there are very few guests at Serendipity who smoke and they are all very considerate of other people who are on the porch. And, of course you do not see anyone drinking! It is nice to live in a town where they do not allow drinking. Although I do enjoy a glass of white wine or my Smirnoff coolers (green apple is very good!), I think being a dry town is a good thing. It makes us unique from almost all of the shore towns with the exception of Ocean Grove, and keeps some of the rowdiness away. So all in all, Ocean City is a great town to live in and a great town to visit! Hope to see you soon!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Almost a full moon

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:05:00 +0000

I was looking at the moon last night and it certainly looked full. However, according to the calendar it will not be full until tonight. Went up to the boardwalk anyway. There is nothing that looks more beautiful than seeing the moon casting it's light on the ocean. The ocean was so calm and looked so nice with the moonlight. I could sit and stare at that for hours - even with the crowds on the boardwalk! While there were a fair number of people on the boardwalk I know that next weekend it will really be crazy! I had not been up to the boardwalk to wander around for awhile so missed the opening of a couple new places. Guiseppes is no more. In it's place is another eatery - looks very nice inside. I looked at the menu - they did not have any menus to take away - and prices are comparable to other nice restaurants. Guess I will have to make the effort to try out the new place. Sigh - the life of an innkeeper. always having to try out new restaurants so I can recommend (or not) to my guests :) Anyone want to try it out with me? There is also a new pizza place about a block down from Mack and Manco. They also have sausage sandwiches and cheese steaks so I may have to give that place a try also! Crazy Susan's Cookies also has a small place on the boardwalk between 9th & 10th - close to the new pizza place. If you have never tried Crazy Susan's cookies, you should give it a try. they are really delicious! If I go back up to the boardwalk tonight - prime moon watching time! - I'll see what other places may have opened and report back!
Stay cool - and if that is not possible - come to Ocean City for the cool breezes!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Restaurant Week In Ocean City!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:46:00 +0000

Today is the start of Restaurant Week in Ocean city. Many of the restaurants are offering buy one get one free on their dinners or desserts or appetizers or other specials. It is a great way to try the different restaurants. It also makes your dining experience a bit less expensive :) Most of the restaurants in town appear to be participating so the most difficult part is deciding where you want to go! I have my own favorites - and when you come here I will be happy to share them with you. But I do not want to list them here. It really depends upon what type of food you want. You can really get a variety in Ocean City - from pizza, Italian, Greek, Chinese, Sushi, seafood, American, Jamaican, Vegetarian and lots of places in between. We do not have any Indian restaurants in town that I am aware of but you never know when one might pop up! So if your taste buds are watering for something other than Mack and Manco pizza or Johnson's popcorn, head on into Ocean City this week and try out a new restaurant!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

June - the Transitional Month!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:18:00 +0000

June is a great month because you have a pre-season feel to it and a season feel to it. In the first couple weeks of June, during the week, there is a calm and lull. It almost seems as though it is April - except warmer :) Yes, there are a few more people and a few more cars, but not enough to make it very noticeable. Then come the weekends.....and hold on to your hat! Now you feel as though you are into summer - a lot of people walking up and down the sidewalk, cars all over the street, fantastic smells from all the restaurants and boardwalk places. Then comes Tuesday and life goes almost back to normal - a few more people than normal, a few more cars on the street, but it is still quiet. I have to admit, I am ready for the season to begin. I might not enjoy getting up at 5:30 am but it does give a certain structure to the day :) Once I get up I am going for a while. It sure does make the day go by fast! The best part is greeting friends (guests) as they return and catching up with them. Welcoming new guests to Serendipity and listening to their stories. So let the summer begin! I am well-rested and just waiting for you to arrive!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com

Only in Ocean City!

noreply@blogger.com (Serendipity Bed and Breakfast) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:18:00 +0000

I was sitting reading the paper in the living room when I heard a number of birds making a lot of noise outside. I went out on the porch to see what was causing this noise. It appeared that someone may have put a pizza box on the top of their car with a couple of slices and unintentionally drove away. In the middle of 9th St was a pizza box with 3 slices scattered on the road. You know how the birds are about food on the boardwalk? Well, they are as greedy about pizza off the boardwalk also. So the larger brownish birds are trying to grab a slice and fly away but of course the slice is too big. Then a car comes around the corner and has to really go slow because the birds do not want to let go of the pizza! Other cars would come along and blow their horn to get the birds to move. And believe me, they were very reluctant to let go of that pizza! The funny part is when another bird tries to get close enough to steal the slice - what a riot! I watched for about 10 minutes until enough of the pizza had been eaten so the birds could either get the slice to the side of the road or fly away with it. Don't worry birds - summer will be here soon enough with unsuspecting people forgetting to cover their food!

Karen
Serendipity Bed and Breakfast
info@serendipitynj.com
www.serendipitynj.com