Summertime, and the livin’s easy…

The long, hazy days of summer have arrived in full force on the Outer Banks. We might have even thrown in a couple of tropical storms for good measure! Along with them, you should have received your latest box subscription. 

We at the OBXBox hope you are happy with this season’s selections. I just wanted to take a moment to tell you a bit about this box’s vendors.

NautiGirl252 Cork & Co.

Facebook @NautiGirl252Jewelry

Instagram @NautiGirl252Jewelrycorkco

S H O P —>> Nautigirl252jewelry.com

Dawn Vinson, the Nautigirl252 Cork & Co. owner, supplied the UV protection cork sunglasses in this box. The sunglasses are made from 100% sustainable cork. Every item from Nautigirl 252 is uniquely designed and handmade on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in Kitty Hawk.

They can be found inside the Restyle Market or online at Nautigirl252Jewelry.com

Blue Clover Essentials

Facebook @bluecloveressentials

Instagram @bluecloveressentials

SHOP —>> BlueCloverEssentials.com

Blue Clover Essentials is a mother and daughter-owned company that offers handcrafted, all-natural, clean, and healthy products for the body, bath, and home to inspire healthy living. In the box, you’ll find their Cinnamon Mint Lip care set. They also carry balm & scrub to help keep your lips plump and smooth! All items are handcrafted in small batches on the Outer Banks with pure essential oils and free of toxins, chemicals, and irritants! Online find them at Bluecloveressentials.com. On both Instagram and Facebook, they are @bluecloversessentials.

Greg Smrdel & Jennifer Shenberger

Facebook @RadioFreeOuterBanks

Instagram @RadioFreeOBX

Download the App —>> RadioFreeOBX.com

Pierly Outer Banks is the latest novel by Jennifer Shenberger & Greg Smrdel. With a background in stand-up comedy, Jen & Greg wrote this book improv style, alternating one chapter at a time, culminating into a fun and adventurous tale! Jen & Greg also own “Your Vacation Station,” Radio Free Outer Banks. Listen to tunes from and about the Outer Banks from anywhere globally by downloading the FREE Radio Free Outer Banks phone apps. Or listen in on your Alexa. Online, they are at RadioFreeOBX.com. Find them on Instagram and Facebook at @RadioFreeOBX. Greg is also the author of several other Outer Banks themed books, to shop for another of Greg’s books go to Amazon and search Greg Smrdel!

Al A Carte Designs

Facebook @alacartedesigns

Instagram @alacartedesigns

SHOP —>> AlaCarteDesigns.net

Al A Carte Designs provided the beautiful Beach Road Print in the box. At Al A Carte Design, Erin captures still images of iconic, local streets and scenes and creates modern abstract art with depth and endless horizons. The Beach Road 5X7 print is her most popular! Al A Carte Designs also Specializes in complete brand, print, and website creation. Online, they are at Alacartedesigns.net.

Blue Pelican Yarn and Gifts

Facebook @bluepelicangallery

Instagram @bluepelicanobx

SHOP —>> BluePelicanGallery.com/

Jenn Johnson, Blue Pelican’s owner, creates most of her work in her shop in Hatteras Village. Jenn Johnson designed and created the fun wave-shaped wooden earrings in the box. They are made in shades of blue and turquoise to make you feel like you’re at the beach. The ear posts are nickel and lead-free antique silver-plated brass, made in the USA in small batches.

You find them on the world-wide-web at Bluepelicangallery.com. On Instagram and Facebook, they are @OBXBluePelican.

SeaCatchers Photography- Beth Fleishaker

Facebook @SeaCatchersOBX

Instagram @Sea_Catchers

The Outer Banks is a mecca for all that is nature, and Beth Fleishaker is a retired traveling nurse, who spends her mornings traveling the Outer Banks from Ocracoke to the Alligator River, and up to Corolla, capturing, on film, the essence of the Outer Banks! The “Sea Catchers” is evidence of that. Find Beth’s other works on #Bus252 & at The Corolla Village Market.

I thank the vendors supplying your Outer Banks treasures in the Summer Box. I genuinely hope you are delighted with your finds. If you are feeling left out we have just 3 Extra Summer Boxes left! Order yours here —->> Click to order a box of sunshine

Ami Hill

A Covid Success Story… OBX style

Highway12Shirts.com

A year ago today the world had been flipped on it’s head and shaken, not a single corner left unscathed. It was strange and scary time and remains rocky today, a year later. For many folks the pandemic prompted them to take time to make some internal reflections, one of those people was Megan Gregory.

Megan is a school teacher from Pittsburgh PA, though like many of you, her heart remains eternally tied to the salty shores of the Outer Banks, Hatteras Island to be exact. Megan grew up spending her Summers in Rodanthe, first RVing at her family’s seasonal spot at the Camp Hatteras Campground in Rodanthe and today in their Salvo family vacation home. She spent Summers as a teen working at many area shops and restaurants, but her most memorable are the summers as a hostess at the infamous Down Under Restaurant oceanfront at the Rodanthe Pier.  Then, as a realtor for Outer Beaches Realty and living in Waves, she added real estate to the trifecta of recreation, restaurants and real estate. That is, until 2020…

For Megan this introspection pushed her towards her creative side as well as her Happy Place. For many years she’d rolled the idea around in her head but with life always moving at light speed it’s not always easy to focus on your entrepreneurial thoughts. That is until the world shuts down… Megan decided to give life to her ideas and Highway 12 Shirts was born! Being that most of her time is spent in the Southern OBX most of her first designs had a Hatteras lean but she really reached us all deep down in our NC barrier island loving souls with her play on the Old Bay tin! We just had to have it in our Spring OBX Box. And not to mention, who doesn’t need a Time Out!

Megan’s designs continue to grow and she continues to reach audiences further and further up and down Highway 12. We can’t wait to see what Megan dreams up next!

Be sure to check her out at www.highway12shirts.com and on FB and IG @highway12shirts, Blue Whale in Salvo is the first shop to carry 2 of her designs AND did we mention that she will also be popping up with Bus252 at various events too!

Highway12Shirts.com is offering a BOGO 50% Off Deal through the end of April! Get yourself ready for that OBX Vacay, order your gear today and use offer promocode BUS252 to claim the offer, hurry offer ends soon!

Seas & Greetings from the Outer Banks…

First, THANK YOU ALL for your kindness and patience in waiting for your boxes to be delivered by the USPS. The way you all responded made my heart full.

I hope that everyone had a lovely holiday!  This year has been trying for many, most and dare I say all and it is my sincerest wish is that you were able to squeeze a little joy out of this holiday season and of course I hope the Holiday OBX Box could help! Albeit maybe a little late due to some USPSP delays…  Now a little bit about this box…

Seas & Greetings Mug

Artist: Mitzi Mager

Facebook: GypsyBlyss

Instagram: GypsyBlyss

There simply is not a better way to warm up than from the inside with a toasty beverage and what better way than with a mug designed with local Outer Banks art.  The art on the front of your mug is from a wall mural painted by local OBX artist, Mitzi Mager aka @GypsyBlyss.  The mural was painted on the wall in the back of the Muse Originals OBX storefront, it was used as the backdrop for our Santa photoshoots in 2019.  I asked Mitzi to come create something that was Santa-esque but also beachy and to say she nailed it would be an understatement!  I loved the mural so much that I had the photographer take pictures of it for future use and you are now the proud owner of the first piece!  I hope each time you drink out of it you feel the perfect combination of the warmth of the holidays coupled with a Summer day in the OBX, all year long.  *hand wash only*

Sweater Box Confections- Salted Chocolate Espresso Tea Cookies

Facebook: Sweater Box Confections

Instagram: Sweater Box Confections

Website: Sweater Box Confections

No that is not a typo, Sweater Box Confections gets it’s name from the sweetest of holiday traditions from the baker, Chris’s, childhood.  What is a Sweater Box you may be asking yourself…  According to Chris it was a much anticipated vehicle for the most delightful treats from her grandmother each holiday season.  A sweater box is like the box that a nice shirt comes in, only bigger. When she was a child, her grandmother used to give the families of each of her children a sweater box full of their favorite goodies for the holidays. They would gather as a family, consume the treats, re-tell old stories, and share new ones.  It was her way of showing how much she loved her entire family because we each received our favorite treats. It is now a way of showing your own loved ones how much you care.

I chose the Salted Chocolate Espresso Tea Cookies for the holiday box because Chris told me she likes to think of these as our local love cookies.  Sweater Box Confections’ love of cookies, and chocolate, locally harvested sea salt from Hatteras Saltworks and locally roasted espresso from Ashley’s Espresso Parlour.  It’s a cookie trifecta from our little sandbar.

She waves her magic spatula over butter, sugar, flour and a Turkish grind of Ashley’s espresso roast.  Adding in quality chocolate and solar evaporated sea salt at the very end. This means you get little bursts of salt as you enjoy each cookie.  

Sweater Box’s delicious and uniquely flavored treats have been spreading across the beach since she began her journey in 2011 and have quickly become an important part of holiday celebrations here on the beach.  While selecting items for our Holiday box this year we could think of nothing more appropriate than to share these scrumptious treats with you all!  Available in a few select shops, including of course on Muse Originals OBX #bus252, she also ships her confections all over year round and her newest venture is a subscription service!  Choose your items and how often you’d like to receive them and viola delectable indulgences from the Outer Banks are delivered direct to you as often as you wish.  We even negotiated an Outer Banks Box exclusive offer and included it in your holiday box!

The Best Beach Towel Ever…

Order More Here!

I was introduced to the Turkish beach towel this Summer and though they are not made in the Outer Banks, in fact they were ordered directly from a woman who hand makes them in Turkey, they are the PERFECT addition to your luggage for your next Outer Banks excursion!  These towels are also known as peshtemal bath towels, foutas, pestemals, and hammams. Turkish Cotton is a premium cotton known for it’s extra long fibers. … Because of this unique material, Turkish towels are known to become even softer, fluffier, and more absorbent with successive washings.  In fact you are advised to wash your towel before first use! Turkish towels are known to be the first iteration of a towel, how neat is that!  Being handmade each is unique piece of artisan craftsmanship and are also quite versatile!  These lovely pieces of handmade goodness can be used as a beach towel, a sarong, scarf, travel blanket, a throw to brighten up any room, table cover, you name it!  I’d love to see photos how you are using yours!  And finally, they are simply lightweight and so perfectly packable.  I’ve seen those vehicles streaming in week after week, packed to the gills, ya’ll could use some lightweight towels and foldable beach bags to lighten the load!  

AMG Pottery Paintable OBX Ornaments

Facebook: AMG Pottery

Instagram: AMG Pottery

Website: AMG Pottery

Each year we include an ornament in our holiday box and this year we decided to do something a little different, being how different this year has been!  With so many spending more and more time at home we thought why not send not only an Outer Banks ornament but a little activity to help you slow down, reflect and enjoy the moment and create your very own ornament!  Choosing what colors to send with the ornaments was a bit perplexing, but after much consideration I came to the conclusion that the best course of action would be to help fuel your creativity by sending out random assortments of colors rather than the same group of colors to everyone! I can’t wait to see what you all create, please post pics and tag us on Facebook and Instagram @outerbanksbox #obxdelivered

Seaside Vacations $100 Off Outer Banks Box Exclusive Offer and Beach Bag

Facebook: Seaside Vacations Outer Banks

Instagram: Seaside Vacations Outer Banks

Website: Seaside Vacations Outer Banks

Everyone could use a little savings this year and being that so many missed out on their OBX vacations this past year we reached out to Seaside Realty to negotiate this special deal exclusively for our Outer Banks Box subscribers!  And as an added bonus they also included these lovely and collapsible canvas and jute beach bags, again a perfect space saving beach necessity!  

Founded in 1990, Seaside Vacations is a family owned and operated, full-service property management and vacation home provider, offering a wide variety of Outer Banks vacation rentals in Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Hatteras Island. From cozy condominiums to large private homes, you can choose from nearly 450 Outer Banks vacation rentals – each with their own special features. Whether you prefer luxurious living or simple seaside comfort, Seaside Vacations has the perfect Outer Banks vacation waiting for you.

Seaside Vacations’ mission is to be recognized by their guests, homeowners, employees, and community as simply the best vacation rental company on the Outer Banks. With a vision to be a world class customer care company that provides friendly, professional, “go the extra mile” service to help their owners, guests, and employees get more out of life.  We hope we can help you make it a little more affordable to make it to the OBX this year!

Up Next… Valentine’s Day!!!! Check our our newest item the OBXOXO Beach Bling and Sea of Love Boxes

Up Next… Valentine’s Day!!!! Check our our newest item the OBXOXO Beach Bling and Sea of Love Boxes

She loves the Outer Banks almost as much as you love her, this Valentine’s Day show her how much you pay attention by sending her one of our OBXOXO Boxes.

***Limited Quantity*Order Now Before They’re Gone***

Shipping begins February 1.

Would you like to have the Outer Banks Delivered to your doorstep? Now you can! Our next subscription box will be delivered in March! Sign up now to make sure you claim yours before it sells out!

Cheers to 2021, with Love from the OBX Box Family…

Our Fall 2020 Outer Banks Box has been delivered and enjoyed thoroughly by our subscribers! Read all about the goodies included in this last box here. Next up is our Holiday Box, what could make a better gift than sending someone a little slice of their happy place!

Outer Banks Candle Co.

Fall came quickly here on the OBX, the winds switched, the temps dropped, and though the beaches bustle more than in Septembers past, there is still a feeling of calm finally descending upon us.  In celebration of the changing of the seasonal guard we enlisted the help of Kimber from the Outer Banks Candle Co to help us add a burst of Fall to your olfactory system as you delve into the Fall OBX Box! 

Ever wonder how candle experts like Kimber of the Outer Banks Candle Company get their candles to smell soooooooo good?  Well first and foremost for her, candle making is a labor of love!  So many variables come into play in the process… however the nitty gritty is that the colors, wicks, and fragrances are all added while the wax is at its HOTTEST. (Think of sweet tea here: everyone in these parts knows that you add the sugar (and LOTS of it!) to sweet tea while its hot! Same idea with candles.) These ingredients are added while the wax is hot, so the wax and fragrance are evenly and adequately fused. Once the process is complete, then each and every candle is cleaned & trimmed, wrapped & labeled by hand. The secret ingredient: LOTS of experimentation and even more TLC! 

You’ve experienced a sample of her Fall scents but it doesn’t end there, check out her website for her ever growing variations and unique creations and be sure to give her a follow on Facebook and Instagram, the holidays are around the corner and she’s got some great options for gifts… oh did I mention she has her own subscription box too???  Keep an eye out for our next blog all about Ms. Kimber!

The OBX Beach Bum

Is it over yet?  The year 2020 has been quite a challenge and I think we can all agree that looking ahead to better days to come is a prudent course of action. That is why I decided to include the legendary OBX Beach Bum’s 2021 Calendar in our Fall box this year rather than waiting till December.  The calendar in your Fall OBX Box was put together by THE OBX Beach Bum aka Roy Edlund. 

Roy is a self-proclaimed, mostly good, Outer Banks photographer of some renown based in Kill Devil Hills.  He specializes in fine art landscape photography, perfectly capturing the serenity of our miles of inspiring beaches from Carova to Ocracoke.  He and wife Sandie, aka Mrs. Bum, spend their days chasing that next best shot and evenings creating ways to share those moments with OBXers like you, whether in calendars, prints or his stunning coffee table books, his images always bring a little joy to your day!  Check him out on Facebook @theobxbeachbum and keep an eye out for his website coming soon www.theobxbeachbum.com

Lucky Penny Necklace

Who couldn’t use a little luck this year?!?!  Am I right!  That was what I was thinking when I had our next item designed for the Fall Box.  Dangling from a eco-friendly teal cord, you can wear your lucky penny charm around your neck or hang it from your rearview mirror, either way it will remind you of how lucky you are to know and love such a special place!  With a little luck we will all get back to our annual OBX vacations and regularly scheduled lives soon, I hope this hand tamped and stamped lucky penny charm will keep a positive attitude in your heart and be a sweet reminder of how lucky you are to have a happy place that patiently awaits your return all year long.   

But the luck doesn’t end there, there were two different messages on our penny charms, “Outer Banks” and “Beach, Please!” each box contained ONE charm but we bought extras so that you can have both and double your luck or share with friends and family.  Available in our Extras Store!

Scotch Bonnet Fudge & Gifts

Did you ever wonder how much saltwater is in saltwater taffy??? Welp, apparently none but that does not make it any less reminiscent of a beach vacay!  Close your eyes and pop in a piece of saltwater taffy from Scotch Bonnet of Frisco and let your mind drift off to sandy days to come.  Named for the North Carolina State Seashell, The Scotch Bonnet located in Frisco, in the heart of Hatteras Island on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. The bright yellow shop has been an Island landmark for over 60 years, welcoming generations of families.

Most famous for their rich, creamy and delicious fudge made right on the premises with real cream and butter, but that is far from the end of their offerings.  On your visit you’ll find a shop over-filled with a variety of local treats like sea glass candy, saltwater taffy, Jelly Belly jelly beans, jams, jellies and sauces as well as seashells, t-shirts and some of the most unique gifts on the island.  If your sweet tooth needs satisfying and you find yourself on the Outer Banks, a stop at the Scotch Bonnet is an absolute must!  Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram and check out their website for delivery options, their items make great gifts!

Beach, Please! Silipint

And finally, a toast to the year ahead and more importantly to find the silver linings in the weeks and months ahead of us.  So raise your new Beach, Please Silipint filled to the brim with your favorite concoction and repeat after everyone’s fave pirate, born two hundred years too late, Mr. Jimmy Buffett “It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad”  And the best news you’ll get all year… we have a few more available for holiday ordering!  Check out our Extras Store and grabs yours before they’re gone

CHEERS! Up next… The Holiday Box!

The Fall 2020 OBX Box shipped out the second week of September, just in time for the start of the season of change to begin! Each box is an exciting adventure on our end, curating the items, planning out the theme, collecting the items and then watching our familial assembly line evolve with each box we pack is truly a pleasure. And then there’s a week of wonder, did we make everyone happy, was it just the right amount of OBX… Well this box I can safely say I feel like we really hit the mark! So much so that the extra boxes sold out in a week and the encouraging feedback flooded in, if you’ve been thinking about signing up don’t just take our word for it, check out what others have to say:

“Everything in every box is well thought out. I enjoy receiving these. I used to be 6 hours away now I am only 3 hours away! Still love the box❤”

“We loved this box! Me and my daughter always open them together and call dibs on who gets what. Lol.”

“I thought this months box was amazing and I loved every item! Keep up the good work”

“I am so pleased with my first OBX box. I am so glad I finally signed up!!!!! You are doing a fantastic job. I can’t wait until December and the next box!!!”

“Keep adding new extras for that little extra surprise! My wife loves getting her OBX Box thank you!!”

“It was just the right amount of OBX love!”

Taste of OBX Summer 2020!

Old Gray House Gifts Jam

A Hatteras Island Tradition

A century-old island home turned coastal gift shop in the heart of Buxton on Hatteras Island. Offering shells, driftwood, yard art, plants, canned goods, coffee, handmade goods, and more.  The old gray house is now a bright seafoam green but still houses the same island charm it always has with a youthful flare of course. 

Owner, Mariah James, is a Hatteras native, may have set out for a bit to explore the world but soon longed for her seaside home… the island always draws you back. With the desire to create something on HI that would be uniquely hers she set out to find the perfect business model and stumbled upon an opportunity to restore an iconic  spot in Buxton, Old Gray House Gifts and Shells!  Fun fact, after the property was purchased Mr Dewey Parr and his wife Mary who had run the quaint little shop for decades, Mariah learned that Mr. Dewey actually bought the Gray House and gave it to Mary on the exact date of her birth in 1991… talk about kismet!  Island Free Press wrote an in depth article about Mariah’s journey, the article is so eloquently written I’ve decided to simply share it here rather than paraphrase further.

The kitchen of the historic home turned gift shop today is called “The Pantry” where Mariah displays her tatsty goodies for sale, this is where I stumbled upon the delicious jam included in your Summer OBX Box!  A large variety of items from sauces and marinades to local coffee and sweets and jams and jellies and anything in between!  Some items are made in small batches on the island, in fact Mariah’s mom makes small batch jams for the shop but they sell too quickly to snatch up the number of jars we needed, other items she sources and designs with small companies across NC and are made exclusively for Old Gray House Gifts.

An absolute must stop shop, the perfect spot to find a local treasure to take home!  Be sure to check them out online and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram and don’t forget to tell them the OBX Box sent ya!

Outer Banks Coasters

As I think many of you would agree, 2020 presented a myriad of challenges and here at the OBX Box we are not immune!  We set out to create a Summer OBX Box with a culinary theme and thought a sweet coaster set as a reminder of your happy place would be a fun addition.  We met that goal but maybe in a round about way… Half of our Summer box recipients received town specific engraved wooden coasters and due to a shipping snafu the other half received a set of vibrantly colored coasters designed and printed by OBX local artist Stephanie Kiker!  Both equally Outer Banksy, yes I made that word up, and gorgeous, we hope you’ll enjoy your little table savers and will for years to come.

Stephanie Kiker’s designs are always uniquely distinguishable and are available in a myriad of mediums form the stickers and coasters in the Summer box to large wall pieces printed on metal and wood!  Stephanie is a truly fascinating person to me, I always describe her as having ambidexterity of the mind because she seemingly has the ability to use both her right and left brain equally efficiently!  She not only creates the art you see on her work but she also manufactures the products out of her home right here in Buxton!

Stephanie Kiker Stickers

A lot of folks unfortunately had to reschedule their annual Outer Banks vacation this year and from being a former visitor myself I know that picking up a local sticker on your trip is always on the agenda!  That’s why we decided to include one of Stephanie’s vivid decals in our Summer box.  Stick ‘um on your car windows, mirrors, glass doors, boats, mailboxes, mugs and glasses, laptops or anywhere your heart desires!  Made our of thick, durable vinyl to protect the sticker from scratching, rain & sunlight.

Be sure to peruse Ms Kikers website next time you find yourself longing for the OBX and you will not be disappointed! 

Cookbook: 25 Secrets – A Culinary Tour

Created by husband and wife team and Hatteras Locals, Kevin McCabe and Kim Mosher this cookbook fuses OBX style culinary flare with gorgeous Hatteras themed artwork.  Kim’s beautiful cover art is just the beginning of this exciting new cookbook entitled ”25 Secrets Revealed-A Culinary Tour”. It was written by her husband Kevin and tells the interesting stories behind 25 of his most sought-after recipes. There is a favorite recipe just waiting to be found within it’s 38 pages. 

The constantly changing colors and abundant wildlife of Hatteras Island and the entire Outer Banks are an inspiration for the artistic mind. Kim Mosher discovered this back in 1985 while visiting with her photography class from Virginia Commonwealth University. Shortly after graduating with a degree in Communication Arts and Design, and working as a photographer at Old Dominion University, she made Hatteras Island her home.


The history and heritage of this Island have always been centered on fishing, which inspired Kim to sketch many of the inshore fish in their natural habitat. Eventually, color pencil became her tool of choice. The fine point allows her to achieve superior detail which has become this artist’s trademark. However, fine lines also mean lots of time. Many of her originals have taken over five hundred hours to complete! Over the last several years, Kim has made her art available through limited edition prints, tiles, and fabrics. Her well-loved children’s book, “Pelican and Pelicant”, published in 2003 with Sarah Froeber, is also inspired by this magical land so far out in the ocean.

Kim and her husband, Kevin, have collaborated on both this cookbook and a children’s book, “My Rainy Day Cat”. Kevin writes and Kim designs the exquisitely detailed illustrations.

Kevin is an ardent supporter of Kim’s work.  When he isn’t busy surf-casting for the area’s plentiful Red Drum and Speckled Trout, he is using his craftsmanship as a woodworker to custom frame her popular prints.

Be sure to check them out at www.kimmosherdesigns.com

Hatteras Salt Works- Sea Salt

We couldn’t create a “taste of the OBX” box without a bag of ACTUAL Hatteras Sea Salt!  

Brian, Shaena and Declan have been experimenting with different methods of producing solar evaporated sea salt for years. From the Caribbean, to the Pacific, and back to the Atlantic Ocean they have studied the crystals, evaporation methods, and practices possible to produce the most pure sea salt available. The quest lead them back to Hatteras Island, where they now strive to give you a clean, mineral rich ocean salt from their Solar oven farm.  With a mission to strive for excellence, they’ve found that slow solar evaporation in solar ovens is the best method of reducing salt water for mineral retention, texture and flavor to capture the pure essence of the source. “Pure nutrient rich ocean water, yields pure nutrient rich ocean salt.”

Delicious and good for you! Unlike table salt, good quality unrefined, pure, sea salt can contain up to 87 trace minerals. These minerals are a crucial contribution to our immune, digestive and circulatory systems as well as many other benefits to our health.  We believe that the ocean provides us with many of the Natural Minerals we need and it is important to us to share these health benefits with you.

OBX Tea Towel

We all spend A LOT of time in the kitchen, and if you are anything like me during this quarantine it has felt like I’ve spent ALL of my time in the kitchen!  With that in mind we created these tea towels to hang in your kitchen as a simple reminder of all things Outer Banks.  If you can’t be where your heart is hopefully we can keep the feeling of that happy place in your heart all year long…

THANK YOU!

We do hope you enjoyed the Summer OBX Box. The box is a labor of love for my family of 6, it is a pleasure to source the items for each box and though we know it isn’t possible to please every single subscriber every single time we do continue to strive to do just that!  Our assembly line each quarter is evolving into a pretty impressive little system, a well oiled machine even… lol ok maybe I wouldn’t go that far but we’ll get there.  Up next FALL 2020, CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOURS NOW!

2020 Spring Box Reveal

Well if this isn’t the strangest Spring the OBX has ever seen… This box took on a special meaning with the closures and current situation and oddly it ended up being very fitting for the time! A locally made soap to keep your hands clean and moisturized, a zen doodle coloring book by a local OBX artist to keep you busy during quarantine, a print of a local painting of every visitor’s favorite signs, a shaker of the famous JK’s Seasoning to sprinkle on those home cooked quarantine meals, a pint glass from our local wind powered brewery to power down with, a sticker for your water bottle created from a local artist and reminding you that you belong somewhere you feel free and the final addition was a last minute add and a real family affair… On the day we decided to pack the boxes we decided that if our guests couldn’t make it to the OBX right now that we would at least send a little bit of the OBX to you, we gathered all 4 kids and a friend, teenagers don’t do anything without a friend, and we filled 300 little mermaid boxes with sand and shells from the beach! I truly hope you enjoyed this box as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

Milk Street Soap

Milk Street Soap Website

Milk Street Soap Facebook

Milk Street Soap on Instagram

Milk Street Soap is a family business!

Milk Street Soap Co. is a well loved, fast growing, family owned, handcrafted soap company on The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Inspired by the extraordinary, waterfront town we belong to, we believe in the magic of majestic natural beauty, strong local communities, honest premium products and deeply satisfying relationships. We believe in the synergy of feeling, looking and doing your best!

We craft our bars and green living products in small, fresh batches, using only the most luxurious and meticulously sourced Earth Conscience ingredients; organic, sustainable, fair trade, animal friendly & honoring, and biodegradable. Everything counts in our bar, even the wrappers are post consumer and the ink compost-able. 

Kim began making soap because of skin issues in her family. Her little son had eczema in his bends and folds. They had tried many things with little return and the situation looked to be escalating to more medical intervention. Then, what seemed like an unrelated gift happened; a humble, beautiful, old library book with a soap recipe for just such a skin aliment in it. With the help of their local Island hardware store and a pantry full of organics, she made the first bar of soap (the now refined Mocha Milk soap bar). Toward the end of this first little wonky bar, they saw skin healing progress. Two bars later and they didn’t look back! 

This addition to the box ended up being the timeliest with all of the orders to wash your hands, we hope we could help keep your hands clean and moisturized while you are keeping yourself and your family safe!

Gypsy Blyss Sticker

GypsyBlyss on Facebook

GypsyBlyss on Instagram

Your beautiful turtle sticker was created using an original painting by OBX Local Artist, Mitzi Mager aka GypsyByss.  Mitzi’s love of art came at an early age from her grandmother who would entertain her with sketches and encourage her creativity.  From watercolors & acrylics to creating jewelry to resin creations she is best known for her love of ocean creatures, especially mermaids, and capturing their beauty on a variety of surfaces including surfboards.  You can find Mitzi on the beach sharing her passion by the way of art classes or on her school bus home on wheels creating art for local shops.

As the sticker says, You Belong Somewhere You Feel Free, we hope to see you all again real soon!

Carolina Coto Art – Zen Doodle Book

Carolina Coto Art Website

Carolina Coto Art on Facebook

Carolina Coto Art on Instagram

Carolina Coto was “born and raised” in Costa Rica, she now resided on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she moved to be with her (awesome) husband.

She is an artist at heart and an artist by profession; she graduated with a BFA with emphasis in painting from Universidad de Costa Rica in 2007.  Carolina has always had a penchant for traveling and it is evident in many of her works and sometimes her scenes are just the result of an artist’s imagination.

Her work is filled with contrasting colors, circles, spirals, dots and many other elements that are important symbols in her art and represent hope, positivity and dreams, among other things.  We included Carolina’s zen doodle book in our latest box and in our current times it seems even more fitting! 

We hope you will enjoy some peace and quiet with this book, we all deserve some peace right now.

Keith Fisher- One Gray Fish Art

One Gray Fish Art on Facebook

Keith Fisher is a recent Outer Banks resident, originally from Virginia Beach Keith moved down after retiring from the Marine Corps.  To Keith, art is therapy, in recovering from a stroke a little over a year ago a passion for painting that he had almost forgotten reemerged.  He’s been dabbling in several mediums, from oil pastels to watercolor and acrylics to oil paints, Keith is finding his footing in the art world and quite gracefully.  He titled the print you received in your OBX Box, “Welcome to Paradise” and it’s hard to think of a better name than that! 

Again this item ended up being as perfectly timed as the soap and the zen doodle book, as many folks are not able to get to their happy place right now we are so pleased to be able to send a little sign of happier times to come! See what we did there….

JKs Seasoning

JKs Seasoning Website

JKs Seasoning on Facebook

JK’s Cowboy Blend and Smoky Chipotle Seasoning are savory, crowd-pleasing offerings that have made them a national favorite. Sling it on ribs, poultry, steak, seafood for a tried and true great taste. Grill or bake to perfection. It’s that easy!

Winston-Salem, North Carolina native, J.K. Norfleet left the investment banking business after several years to pursue restaurant investments. Having been born into a food and entertainment-oriented family, he capitalized on his love and talent of cooking and opened JK’s Restaurant on the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina in 1984. He put JK’s Dry Rub Seasoning to use in the restaurant and given its popularity, he decided to market it and the seasoning can now be found in small specialty shops, supermarkets and online.

Long before the Outer Banks grew into the year-round coastal community it is today, JK’s Restaurant opened quietly in 1984 and rocked the seasonal dining available from the spring to late fall by offering a fine raw product, introducing live wood-fired grills and laying claim to its local audience by staying open year-round. Time has made such excellence and year-round availability more of the norm along the Banks, but anyone with long-time roots along these shores will testify to the fact that when JK’s opened, the dining and food culture along these treasured waters was transformed and there was no turning back.

Since we are all cooking more at home right now than ever before we hope you’ll enjoy some OBX flavor on your next meal!

Outer Banks Brewing Station

Outer Banks Brewing Station Website

OBBS on Facebook

OBBS on Instagram

OBBS on Trip Advisor

“INNOVATIVE BREWING, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS”

The Outer Banks Brewing Station is the first wind powered brewery in the United States! We were also the first business to produce wind power on the Outer Banks. We pride ourselves in being innovative and conscious about the environment, while helping others learn as much as they can about renewable energy and sustainability. Want to know more about our Outer Banks wind powered brewery?

The restaurant and brewery began as a concept in 1992 while the founders, Eric Reece and Aubrey Davis were Peace Corps volunteers alongside Tina Mackenzie in Thailand. Aubrey had grown up spending summers at his grandparents’ place on the Outer Banks, and felt it was the perfect place to start a brew pub. The Outer Banks Brewing station is now a staple in the OBX restaurant landscape.

A must visit place on the OBX we hope you’ll be able to swing by and drop a few Brew Bucks soon!

Feeling like you missed out!!?? You don’t have to! We have a few extra Spring OBX Boxes ready to ship, ORDER HERE and let us send you a little piece of your happy place!

the obx : in a box!

Have you heard about the Outer Banks Box; well keep reading because you’re about to learn how to keep the OBX even closer to heart all year round! If you love the OBX or know someone who does, then you are going to love it!  The OBX Box is a subscription box filled with local goodies, it can be purchased as a single box or an annual subscription which will deliver four times a year.

The OBX Box is a family affair, myself, and my family of 6 work year round to find the coolest assortment of items for each of our boxes, one for each season!  An eclectic mix of local eats, novelty items, momentos, local art and an extra dose of that beachy vibe, it’s a great way to receive a little piece of your happy place at your door and to learn about new spots to check out on your next visit.  On our little barrier island chain supporting local businesses is a must and ALL boxes will contain some very carefully curated LOCAL goods.

But don’t just take our word for it!  Here what some of our subscribers are saying:

Ashley Y. “The boxes keep getting better and better. Useful items. Very impressed and happy with the boxes.”

Melissa K. “Anything from the OBX makes me happy!! This is where I want to live. The people are all so nice. Thank you for putting something together that makes us think of our home away from home!!! :)”

Barbara B. “Nothing really. I enjoy the products I receive, I think the value is present. Love receiving mystery boxes. It is so much fun.”

Amy C. “I really enjoyed this box. I love the beanie hat, I’ve used the coffee mug a thousand times already, and the chips were yummy!”

Kim S. “The box was great this time! Enjoyed it all! Keeps me connected with OBX while waiting for next years vacations.”

Hurry, orders for the Spring box stop March 22nd! Talk about the perfect cure for the Winter Blues for you or your favorite OBX lover!  Click Here to Order Now!

The Perfect OBX beach day Snack!

Spotlight Business from our Holiday OBX Box is The Outer Banks Beef Jerky Outlet

You opened your latest Beach Box and you found…..beef jerky?  

Yes! The beefy jerky was provided by Amy McDonnell, her father Vince, and husband Kevin McCoy from their shop, Beef Jerky Outlet – Outer Banks.

Just a sampling of the deliciousness that can be found at the MP4.5 location of The Beef Jerky Outlet OBX

Amy McDonnell first came to the Carolina coast in college when she was participating in a summer study program at Cape Lookout. Then following years of vacationing on the Outer Banks, she and Kevin moved here full-time in December of 2016.

Originally from just outside Chicago, Amy and husband Kevin, who is from Northeastern Tennessee, lived in the Washington DC area for 12 years before making the move to the Outer Banks. And once they did, they wasted no time. A short 7 months later (June of 2017) they opened their first Beef Jerky Outlet location at milepost 4.5 in Kitty Hawk. Then just a year later the family opened another location in Corolla.

Kevin introduces the OBX to the delicious Beef Jerky Outlet jerky!

Beefy Jerky may seem like a strange business to be involved in, but Amy says it really isn’t. “My husband (Kevin) has always been a fan of jerky and especially loves Beef Jerky Outlet jerky. We looked into it and found it was a small, family-run company that makes their own jerky in Tennessee and Michigan. We liked the product and the people, and we wanted to introduce the entire Outer Banks to the best jerky in the world!”

But you will find more than just beef jerky at the Beef Jerky Outlet. For the more adventurous eaters, they also have a wide variety of wild game jerky. Consider trying elk, bison, alligator, and kangaroo. You can also find sauces and seasonings along with an assortment of popcorns, hot sauces, jams, jellies and a whole lot more.

Both Amy and Kevin are practicing lawyers in addition to owning and operating their Beef Jerky Outlet stores and they want to stress that they have a great team at the stores and couldn’t do this without them.

Looking for an interesting jerky fact you can use to amaze you’re family and friends? It takes 3 pounds of meat to make 1 pound of jerky!

The Beefy Jerky Outlet – Outer Banks ships and can be reached at (252) 715-5800. Find them on the web at beefjerkyoutlet.com/kittyhawk and give them a follow on Instagram @obxjerky and Facebook @OuterBanksJerky

Blog Written by: Greg Smrdel
Winner – 2019 Best of the Beach – Local Author
www.gregsmrdel.com

FB @GSmrdel

IG @GSmrdel
www.amazon.com/author/gregsmrdel

2019 Winter Box – Reveal

2019 Winter Box Reveal

Happy Holidays from Outer Banks Box. If you’ve missed the Outer Banks during these cold months, we curated a selection to keep our subscribers’ beach-loving, OBX-dreaming hearts warm. This winter’s box is valued at over $80.00!

OBX Mode Socks | OBX – Valued at $25.00

OBX Mode - Socks

Website) | (Facebook) | (Instagram)

Outer Banks Socks designed by Crafty Mink – Cozy knee socks designed with a sweet shot of the ocean and Crafty Mink’s mermaid scale OBX island chain.  Slip them on and kick up your feet and let everyone know not to bother you because you’re in OBX Mode!


Handmade OBX Ornament | Muse Originals OBX – Valued at $12.00

(Website) | (Facebook) | (Instagram)

Custom Resin OBX Ornament with OBX Sand handmade by Muse Originals- These custom resin pour ornaments were handmade by OBX Box and Muse owner, Ami and the whole Muse family… it was a family affair you could say!  Each was finished by adding a shoreline of locally collected sand.


Jerky + exclusive discount | OBX Jerky Outlet – Valued at $3.00

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

The Beef Jerky Outlet – Outer Banks- A lil taste to wet your appetite for your next OBX visit!  Please join us in relishing in our love of all things jerky – so many flavors and types to choose from that you won’t believe your eyes.  Your taste buds will guide you through our shop to find a custom flavor and type of jerky that you will forever claim as your favorite.  We will guide you through the selection to custom fit your jerky-joy.  Locals and vacationers alike will get to snack on a glorious lean-protein snack all day long while you enjoy our beautiful OBX beaches!  Grab your flip flops, beach chairs and towels, and a delicious snack to enjoy all day long. 


OBX Local Artist Print | OBX Wanderlist – Valued at $20.00

OBX Local Artist - Wanderlist

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

OBX Wanderlist by Luna and Lime- The Outer Banks Wanderlist is the perfect vacation souvenir filled with memories. This colorful, hand-lettered piece is a unique and interactive gift for everyone in the family! Summer is just around the corner so get to planning!  Each print features 10 activities for you to enjoy while visiting the beautiful beaches of North Carolina. Each design is printed in full color on 110 lb. card stock.

My Home Sweet Home continued…. |  Greg’s book- Signed – Valued at $15.00

My Home Sweet Home continued…. Greg Smrdle

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

Home Sweet Outer Banks Home… the story continued…. Written by Greg This is the sequel novel to “Home Sweet Outer Banks Home?” which was included on our Holiday box last year!  If you missed it you can download the Kindle version or order a copy here on Amazon.

Ever since completing that story, readers have requested a follow up to see how the family has endured. This novel is a stand alone, you won’t need to read the original first (though I hope you do).

Join the Stephens family as it faces ups and downs throughout the years. And find out if in fact the Outer Banks is Home Sweet Home.

Town Specific item – Valued at $8.00

When you subscribe to the OBX Box you are asked which Beach Town is your favorite, a tough decision, we know! We used this information to customize your Holiday Outer Banks Box, if you chose Corolla we included a sample of The Kind Cup coffee, roasted in the Corolla Village and available in many of the restaurants throughout the area… read below to learn about each of the town specific items in detail.

The Kind Cup Coffee

Corolla – Kind Cup Coffee | The Kind Cup

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

Kind Cup Coffee – Small Batch, craft roasted coffee. Spreading a little love and kindness, one cup at a time! Amy puts a lot of love, time, passion, and energy into each batch of her fresh roasted coffee.  She is a small batch roaster, which means she roasts daily and precisely.  It doesn’t get any fresher than this!  The Kind Cup provides pounds  of delicious coffee to local restaurants , and now, I’m going global!  With the click of a button, you can enjoy Corolla’s favorite coffee year-round! The Kind Cup coffee can be found in the Corolla Village Market!

Tommy's Market - Wine Stoppers

Duck & Southern Shores – Tommy’s Market | Tommys Market OBX

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

Tommy’s Market Wine SaverTommy’s Market was established in 1987 and was one of the first businesses in Duck, NC. Through the years, the store has grown to be what it is today! From the beginning, Tommy’s has focused on high-quality, specialty food and drink. Recently they have shifted their focus to having the best selection of natural and organic foods on the Outer Banks. They strive to have good, wholesome food that accommodates every dietary need. You will find that in their store they have something for everyone!

Hatteras Saltworks Sea Salt

Hatteras – Hatteras Sea Salt | Hatteras Salt Works

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

PURE NUTRIENT RICH OCEAN WATER MAKES PURE NUTRIENT RICH OCEAN SALT” Slow evaporation is the best method of reducing the salt water for mineral retention. Unlike table salt, good quality unrefined, pure, sea salt can contain up to 87 trace minerals. These minerals are a crucial contribution to our immune, digestive,and circulatory systems as well as many other benefits to our health.  We believe that the ocean provides us with many of the Natural Minerals we need and it is important to us to share these health benefits with you.

Kill Devil Rum Ball Company - Rum Balls

Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Kitty Hawk – KDH Rum Balls | Kill Devil Rum Ball Company

(Facebook) | (Website)

Hand made right here in Kill Devil Hills, proudly using Pecan Honey Artisan Rum distilled in small batches on historic Roanoke Island at the OBX’s first legal distillery: Outer Banks Distilling

Ocracoke Strong - Sticker

Ocracoke Ocracoke Strong Stickers | Ocracoke Strong

(Facebook) | (Website)

On September 6th, 2019 Hurricane Dorian’s  Eye went over beautiful Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. It caused catastrophic flooding with a tidal surge of 8′ feet and extreme structural damage around the entire island. There were over 600 homes with damage and flooding which left hundreds of people and families homeless. We lost 80% of the business on the island and all of the island’s infrastructure.  This is how #OCRACOKESTRONG was born!  We purchased these stickers at full price in order to help support the folks of our lovely neighbors on the lovely island of Ocracoke.

Like what you see?

While we have a couple of extra Holiday boxes remaining (order here) we are now sourcing for our Holiday box and so far it is fantastic!  We will be sending Spring Boxes in the last weeks of March! Click the big fancy “Order Now” button below to head over to our ordering section or read more about the Outer Banks Box!

Order Outer Banks Box Now!

Sign Up for our Newsletters to receive exclusive discounts and Outer Banks news!

2019 Fall Box Reveal

Outer Banks Box - Fall 2019

Fall is here and you can be comforted by all things OBX! The theme for this year’s Fall box is Cozy & Comfortable! We’ve curated all items to warm you up and keep you cozy and comfy for the cooler fall days.

Beanie | Muse Originals OBX – Valued at $25.00

Outer Banks Box - Beanie

(Website) | (Facebook) | (Instagram)

Uber soft, cable knit and fleece-lined beanies adorned with an engraved leather patch featuring Muse Originals OBX’s much adored wave logo, the perfect accessory to keep the beach close on those crisp, Fall days ahead.  Each subscriber received 1 of these 4 colors.


OBX Seasalt Chips | Carolina Kettle – Valued at $1.85

(Website)

A bag of “Outer Banks Sea Salt” chips to munch on, close your eyes and imagine you’re having a salty snack on the beach! Carolina sourced ingredients with southern recipes. All chips are All-Natural, Gluten Free, Kosher Certified and without Trans fats. By using 100% Sunflower Oil, each chip is super crunchy giving you the Carolina sunshine you’ve been missing.


Outer Banks Coffee Mug | OBX Local artist Meg Rubino of Yellow Sol Studio – Valued at $25.00

Cotton Blossom

Each mug sublimation printed by local Mompreneur, Mandy Creef, of Cotton Blossom Mugs!  What started as a little hobby to quiet an anxious post partum mom quickly became an obsession and now a blossoming business for Mandy!  We are so glad to have been able to team up with her on this project, we pushed her limits on this order, she learned new tricks and did an absolutely wonderful job!  Check her out online when you get a chance, seriously fun stuff, we promise…

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

Meg Rubino – OBX Artist

(Instagram) | (Website)

Outer Banks, NC stoneware mug is lovingly printed by Cotton Blossom with a painting of the Kitty Hawk Pier. The painting is by OBX Local Artist Meg Rubino of Yellow Sol Studio. Sip on your warm beverage on those cold crisp fall days (or nights) remembering all of those beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The watercolor featured on the camp style stoneware mug is that of OBX Local Artist, Meg Rubino of Yellow Sol Studio.  Meg’s watercolor paintings are much sought after here on the beach, she paints mostly beachscapes, iconic Outer Banks spots and the sweetest surf scenes you can imagine!  

Be sure to snap a pic and tag us on Instagram @outerbanksbox next time you have a chance to sip on your warm beverage this Fall!  You’ve seen where we live, let’s see your view!

NOTE: Mug is not microwave safe.


Mandala | Naked Lady Mandalas – Valued at $15.00

(Instagram) | (Facebook) | (Website)

Wooden mandala paintings, each uniquely designed and hand-painted by local OBX artist Melanie of Naked Lady Mandalas. Melanie spent the better part of a month creating these mandalas for our Fall box.  The design of the mandala is to be visually appealing so as to absorb the mind in such a way that chattering thoughts cease, and a more philosophic or spiritual essence envelopes the observer which in turn leads to higher consciousness or awareness…when Melanie told us this the first thougth was, “hmmm, kinda like the feeling you get watching the waves lap the shore”.  So be sure to put your mandala in a place where it will bring you the most needed peace.


Beach Please Oval Sticker | OBX Box – Valued at $4.00

(Website)

Vinyl “Beach Please!” sticker. These stickers are great for showing your love for the OBX. Each sticker is water, scratch, and fade resistant.

Pumpkin Pie Sugar | The Spice & Tea Exchange – Valued at $4.89

(Website) | (Facebook)

Bubba Gump “Pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin spice tea, pumpkin spice pie, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin spice cocoa, pumpkin spice cheese cake, pumpkin spice whip cream…”  Ha well we are sure Bubba could go on but we’ll let him digress.  Fall is the time for all things pumpkin so what would our Fall OBX Box be without some Pumpkin Spice Sugar from the Spice and Tea Exchange in Duck NC! This sugar topper can add your favorite Fall pumpkin sweet spice flavor to baked goods, coffee, tea, buttered toast and many more! Enjoy!

OBX Laser Seashell Charm | OBX Laser – Valued at $12.00

(Website) | (Facebook)

OBX seashell, each hand-picked on the shores of the Outer Banks!  Scouring the shores from Corolla to Hatteras the folks from OBX Laser pick their fave shells and then etch OBX into each, creating a fun charm that is absolutely “charming” (pun intended!).

Like what you see?

While we have a couple of extra Fall boxes remaining (order here) we are now sourcing for our Holiday box and so far it is fantastic!  We will be sending Winter Boxes in the first weeks of December! OBX Boxes make the perfect holiday gift! Click the big fancy “Order Now” button below to head over to our ordering section or read more about the Outer Banks Box!

Order Outer Banks Box Now!

OBX BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT – Hattiebuilt

Hattie Built
Hattiebuilt Website

What started your passion for Hatteras

We have been coming to Hatteras/Ocracoke for 35 years.  It was love at first sight…… and the love affair is still going strong!

How long have you been creating?  How did you get into it? Do you work in any other mediums?

My husband and I started Hattiebuilt in 2014, after realizing that a lifestyle brand focused on life “South of the Bonner” was not being catered to.

Did you grow up on the OBX? What is your history with the Outer Banks?

We grew up in PA and relocated to Virginia Beach, where we spent our entire adult life, until last year. Proud to finally call Hatteras Island home.  ?

What’s your favorite thing about the OBX? 

The laid-back lifestyle, the salt air, the views and sunsets at “the ditch.”

Tell us about your background/day job

Sales and Design background.

Which of your items is your favorite and why?

All of our logo’d hattiebuilt branded items are my fav!  It sets apart the Hatteras Island homeowner/vacationer and lover of this barrier island. Not everyone is “built” for life on a sandbar.

Where in the OBX is your favorite place to go? 

Anyplace where the sun sets along the water’s edge.

Are you passionate about anything else that you’d like to help spread the message about?

Beach clean up, turtles, horses, kids, and helping the hungry! We love to make friends with our homeless feline friends, that roam the island. Although we do not own a cat of our own, many of them benefit from our weekly Food Lion shopping trips.

OBX Business Highlight – Burn Baby Burn

Outer Banks Business Spotlight - Burn Baby Burn

Burn Baby Burn Website

Meet Emily Caffrey of Burn Baby Burn, one of our favorite Outer Banks businesses! We’ve asked her a few questions about her business, her start and her passions and her life in the OBX.

Burn Baby Burn

What started your passion for wood burning?

Like many artists along the Outer Banks, the ocean has fueled my passion. I could say even further that scuba diving is the biggest inspiration that I have. Getting up close and personal with so many different fish inspires me to create a piece of artwork including them. Conservation is also a major drive for me–I like to learn fun facts about the animals that I create to share what’s so cool about them and why they are important to their ecosystem!

How long have you been creating?  How did you get into it? Do you work in any other mediums?

I have been creating wood burnings since college. I was shown a burning tool by a friend and thought it was so neat. I tried my luck with it and loved it. Then I started to make burnings of things that inspired me, like wildlife. My first burning was a simple map of the U.S. Virgin Islands and then a heron! I liked to create animals much more than objects–straight lines have never been my thing! Although wood burning is my niche, I also paint, sketch, and enjoy photography. I like anything artsy. I have seen other pyrographers burn on water color paper; I’d love to try that next!

Did you grow up on the OBX? What is your history with the Outer Banks?

I grew up in western Maryland, but vacationed every summer to the Outer Banks with my family. During college I worked in OBX as a kayak guide with Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School which immersed me in beautiful areas of the Outer Banks that many have not visited. My love for OBX just kept growing, so I looked for work here after schooling and I landed a job at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. I’ve been here full-time for about 2.5 years.

What’s your favorite thing about the OBX?

Besides the beach? Saltwater marshes. I could spend endless time exploring the marshes, there are so many and each one is different. They are beautiful at any time of the day. During light you can see lots of birds, fish, and plant life while at night you can see bio-luminescence.

Tell us about your background/day job?

I am a SCUBA Instructor! I earned my degree in Environmental Studies from Salisbury University and after college I went through Divemaster and Instructor training and always hoped to combine the two together. And I have; I work as a Dive Safety Technician at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. I am a part of all the dive operations that happen in the facility in some form or another. It is my job to clean habitats, maintain and service SCUBA equipment, make sure other divers are safe, lead guest divers, train divers, and participate in an offshore Lionfish mitigation project (which is my favorite part about the job)! I have learned so much about wildlife and diving while working there that it has further fueled my passion for wildlife conservation.

Which of your items is your favorite and why?

I like the Caribbean Octopus that I did. Octopuses are one of my favorite animals; they are so interesting to learn about and to see in person (especially on night dives)! The piece itself also includes blue and purple colors, which is a fun addition to the burnt wood. The octopus totally needed the extra wow factor being that they are so vibrantly colored!

Where in the OBX is your favorite place to go?

Pea Island! Because it doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic, it’s such a fun place to walk the beach, look for shells, watch the sunset in a kayak on the sound, and enjoy some solitude when I need it. It is such a great place to get a look at the Milky Way at night!

Are you passionate about anything else that you’d like to help spread the message about (Beach clean up, turtles, horses, kids, helping the hungry)?

Beach clean ups for sure, or any clean ups really. I believe that you should leave a place a little bit cleaner than how you found it–and that’s easy to do by picking up a few pieces of trash along the way. It not only helps the place look cleaner, but it prevents any garbage from getting into water systems and in the bellies of curious animals. It’s easy to make small adjustments in your lifestyle to help make the world a healthier place (a.k.a. use reusable water bottles, straws, and grocery bags). Being more conscious about how your actions affect the place surrounding you.

2019 Spring Box Reveal

Outer Banks Box - 2019 Spring Box Reveal

Have you been not so patiently waiting for Spring to get here? We have been so excited to get our Spring OBX goodies to your front door for some time now! This Spring Box has so many amazing Outer Banks inspired creations from small businesses and OBX lovers that has a total value of $85!

Travel Soap | Hollow Daze – Valued at $5

Hollow Daze Castile Soap & Natural Skincare

(Facebook)

When our subscribers opened their Spring box they most likely smelled Spring and Summer! The soap was created exclusively for our subscribers. Named “Equinox”, the scent has notes of Tangerine, Orange and Spearmint evoking a unique mix of hot and cool ocean breezes. With a hint of naturally antibacterial Tea Tree, this soap is perfect for travel, hopefully to the OBX! Hollow Daze can be found in Manteo, Avon and Dowdy during the market and craft show season! Like them on Facebook to see their show calendar and visit them during your visit to the Outer Banks!

Equinox Ingredients: Olive Oil, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Essential Oils of Orange, Tangerine, Spearmint & Tea Tree.


Beach Please Tumbler | Artist: Crafty Mink – Valued at $20

Beach, Please 3-in-1 tumbler.

(Instagram) | (Etsy)

Each of our subscribers received this one of a kind, specially made for the Spring Outer Banks Box! This tumbler is like no other. You can use this tumbler 3 different ways! You can use it as a can koozie, bottle koozie or pour your favorite beverage in and pop on the lid and it stays safe from sand or salt water!

The Outer Banks with tiny little scales were each lovingly hand drawn by Melissa of Crafty Mink. Crafty Mink is a North Carolina native currently residing in Virginia Beach. She’s lived on the coast for her entire life and has found inner peace, love and passion through her art.  She creates coastal and beach decor via watercolor, acrylics and pen and ink. See all of her work on her Instagram account (link above) and show some love and follow. Visit http://craftymink.com/ for more creations from Crafty Mink!


Stamped Bracelets | Anne Marie Brown – Valued at $15

Stamped Bracelets with Outer Banks towns and designs hand stamped.

(Etsy)

For our subscribers that chose specific towns we had a special treat! Hand stamped bracelets designed and crafted by Ann Marie Brown. These bracelets are lovingly stamped with designs that represent that area. Anne Marie uses her days in the Outer Banks to capture the scenes she sees that touch her heart and finds their way onto jewelry or canvas and hopefully to your heart as well!

She accepts custom orders and commissions!

Visit her website: https://anne-marie-brown.pixels.com/


OBX Keychain | Burn Baby Burn  – Valued at $12

OBX Keychain

(Instagram)

Burn Baby Burn created a specific design for our subscribers. Each hand burned, each a one of a kind, a mini master piece if you will! Emily Caffrey of Burn Baby Burn is an artist, environmentalist, pro scuba diver and OBX local! All of her larger pieces can be found on her website, you definitely need to check out more of her amazing work!

Visit: https://burnbabyburneac.com


OBX Lighthouse Etched Seashells – Valued at $5

Outer Banks lighthouses

Lighthouses from all over the Outer Banks painted on little seashells were included in every subscriber’s Spring Box! Those that subscribed with a specific town favorite, received a light house either in that town or close to that town!


Handmade Earring Set | Blue Pelican  – Valued at $28

Handmade Earring Sets

(Instagram) | (Facebook)

OBX Local Jen Johnson of Blue Pelican Gallery in Hatteras gave every subscriber not only 1 set but 2! One set is a beautiful wave and the other a matching pretty stud set! She loved making these earrings so much that she is giving away 2 extra sets of Waves and Mini’s. She’d love to see how they look on you!

To Enter Blue Pelican’s Giveaway

Post a pic on Facebook or Instagram before April 15th and use the hashtag #myobxwaves or #myobxminis or email photos to blue_pelican@mac.com and she’ll draw a winner on April 15!

Until you can get back to the Outer Banks, you can visit Jenn’s website at https://bluepelicangallery.com/ taking a look at local art, jewelry, handmade soaps, candles, wall art, pottery, home décor, wooden furniture, yarn, fiber art supplies. And much more!

Like what you see?

There is time for our upcoming Summer Box but hurry, as we will be sending Summer Boxes in the last weeks of June! Click the big fancy “Order Now” button below to head over to our ordering section or read more about the Outer Banks Box!

Order Outer Banks Box Now!

Outer Banks Brewing Station

A brewery before breweries were cool, self-sustained on wind power before it was even in the minds of a few, Peace Corp volunteers Aubrey Davis and Eric Reece alongside friend Theresa Mackenzie had a vision and thanks to Aubrey that vision led them to the Outer Banks.  Sitting on the site of the original JKs, the building itself, is a modern interpretation of a turn-of-the-century Lifesaving Station.  The bar represents the lifesaving boat, that pointed toward the sea, is ready to be deployed down the tracks to save the crew of a floundering ship.

The Outer Banks Brewing Station is the first wind powered brewery in the United States! They were also the first business to produce wind power on the Outer Banks and rightfully pride themselves in being innovative and conscious about the environment, while helping  others learn as much as they can about renewable energy and sustainability. Read more about their wind-power here

 Not only is the OBBS a brewery with phenomenal beer and an earth conscious mission but they literally have something for everyone!  Most breweries are like a garage with taps and picnic tables.  Fun for some people, but not necessarily a must-visit for a multi generation family, the types of visitors we have here on the Outer Banks.  The Brew Station has outfitted their generously sized backyard bar with a pirate ship playground, corn hole, live music stage outside as well as an inside stage enlisting some of the best local and regional acts on the beach, and an interior space with lavish over-sized bar including booth seating and comfortable dining room for families and friends to relax and enjoy a cold brew and a delicious meal. 

On Tap Brews range from their most popular, Olsch and Lemongrass Wheat Ale to the hardier Wind Switch Stout and Elf Crusher and everything in- between they also offer a full bar (liquor and wine list).  

The Brewing Station also has an in-house pastry chef and some of the most creative chefs on the beach, offering full lunch and dinner fare.  Another vacay friendly offering from the OBBS is their pre-order family style to go menu, enjoy the fabulousness of the Brew Station without leaving the comfort of that beach house!  Check out their menu and plan your next visit and how to spend those Brew Bucks from your Spring OBX Box!