A new floral design business is bringing a fresh, artistic approach to Long Beach Island, creating arrangements that are more than just flowers—they’re living sculptures.

When Keisi Met’hoxha and Aylin Miranda first started creating art together eight years ago; painting, building sculptures, doing makeup for friends, they never imagined their shared artistic vision would blossom into Botanika NJ, a floral design business that’s already making waves on Long Beach Island just three weeks after launching.

Where Art Meets Nature

What sets Botanika NJ apart is their unique approach to floral design. Drawing inspiration from European and modern floral traditions, Keisi and Aylin create arrangements that feel more like art installations than traditional bouquets.

“We’re trying to bring something more than just bouquets,” Keisi explains. “When you order a piece from Botanika NJ, it’s a whole live art piece.”

Their designs feature monochromatic color schemes and bold, extravagant compositions that differ dramatically from conventional American floral arrangements. Instead of the standard dozen roses, imagine walking into someone’s home and being greeted by an eye-catching flower box that serves as a living centerpiece.

“We really feel a lot of emotion and expression through creating the arrangements,” Aylin shares. “So we want our arrangements to bring that same emotion and resonate with the client admiring it.”

Community Connection

The business choice to launch on LBI was deeply personal for both founders. Aylin grew up in Beach Haven, attending the local school and appreciating the tight-knit community where teachers know the families and neighbors greet each other at Acme.

“I grew up listening to tourists saying I was so lucky, and I was confused because I thought this was how everyone lived,” Aylin remembered. “Now that I’m older, I see how fortunate I was to live in this community. I feel so connected.” 

For Keisi, who immigrated from Albania, discovering LBI felt like finding paradise. “When I first got here, this was heaven,” she recalls. “It didn’t feel like the America I saw in movies. People would say good morning to you at the grocery shop, tell you they loved your outfit. I come from Eastern Europe, so people are a little bit more tough. I told my mom I’m not leaving this place.”

After trying life in New York and other cities, Keisi always found herself drawn back to the supportive, collaborative community of LBI. “There’s no judgment, no hate, just a lot of collaboration. Anything you want to do, they really support you.”

The support of LBI was proven when they were getting their business off the ground. They met with Michelle, former K+Co Living designer and 25-year floral industry professional, to get some insights. She was happy to share advice and create connections to help them get started, which built their confidence and pointed them in new directions. 

A Labor of Love and Learning

The duo takes a hands-on approach to sourcing their flowers. They’re committed to staying local when possible, though they acknowledge the challenges New Jersey’s growing zone presents, especially during winter months. They’ve been visiting wholesalers throughout South Jersey and planning trips to North Jersey and New York to find the most unique blooms in the off-season. 

“We’re trying to stay monochromatic and choose flowers based on what inspires us that day,” Keisi shares. “If the wholesaler has a lot of greens, whites, and pinks, we’ll stay in that color family. We try to visualize a certain color theme.”

While they follow European and modern floral designers on social media, they’ve discovered that their best work comes from following their own instincts. When they attempt to recreate a Pinterest-inspired bouquet, it inevitably transforms into something uniquely their own.

Personal Service, Artistic Results

Botanika NJ currently operates through a personalized order request system rather than a traditional online cart. This intentional approach allows them to have conversations with each customer about their needs, preferences, and the occasion.

“The flowers are very unique, so it will never be the same,” Keisi notes. “We want to talk to the customer first to ask questions like, what kind of flowers would you like? What is the occasion? We want it to be more of a conversation.”

They offer free delivery throughout LBI and service the Manahawken area, taking orders through their website, Instagram, and email. 

Seasonal Specialties

This holiday season, Botanika NJ is featuring their signature flower boxes with a festive twist; roses accented with pine and winter greenery that capture the magic of the holidays. These seasonal flower box or seasonal bouquet arrangements, which Aylin describes as their “bread and butter,” bring a sophisticated seasonal touch to any home. Their pieces are designed to bring art into the home and immediately draw the eye. 

Custom floral arrangements for any holiday or celebration can be requested. Since the bouquets and flower boxes are based on which flowers are available, there may be a bit longer wait time while they track down the flowers you want. After hearing your vision, Keisi and Aylin will add their creative expression to deliver a truly unique, extravagant piece. 

Looking Ahead

While Botanika is just getting started, the founders have big dreams. They’re exploring the idea of opening a storefront on LBI or just off the bridge in Manahawkin. They’re also planning to expand their demographic reach, including a creative plan to give free bouquets to construction workers around the island, inspired by seeing workers admiring their flowers during a photo shoot.

“We saw construction workers actually looking at our flowers and admiring them,” Keisi remembers. “We felt so bad. We thought, they need a bouquet too, not only women.”

While these arrangements make great gifts, Botanika NJ wants to also normalize flowers as living art for year-round display. There’s no need to wait until a birthday or anniversary and hope for flowers. Anyone can buy these arrangements for themselves, at any time, whenever they feel like adding a bit of natural beauty to their home. 

Order Your Living Art

Whether you’re looking for a statement piece, a memorable gift, or a festive holiday arrangement, Botanika NJ offers something truly different. Their flower boxes and custom arrangements bring the sophistication of European floral design to the Jersey Shore, creating pieces that are meant to be admired as the living art they are.

Ready to bring a piece of botanical artistry into your home? Visit Botanika NJ’s websiteor follow them on Instagramor Facebookto inquire about custom arrangements and holiday boxes. They offer free delivery throughout Long Beach Island.

“When you order from us, it’s like a live piece that you’re going to keep in your home—like a living sculpture,” Keisi says. “That’s our main goal, to be represented in that way.”

When you walk into Langs Smokes & Exotics in Long Beach Island, you might expect just another smoke shop. What you’ll find is something much more meaningful: a family-owned wellness center dedicated to education, community, and helping people live better lives.

I sat down with owner Harsh Patel to learn more about his mission to “Make LBI Greener” and how he overcame the negative stigmas set by traditional head shops. What I discovered was a warmhearted family, dedicated to improving people’s quality of life through herbal remedies.

A Family Rooted in LBI

Harsh Patel and his family have been part of the LBI community since 2007, when his parents opened Langs Liquor. Retail has always been in their blood, but it wasn’t until after Covid that Harsh discovered his passion for connecting with the community.

“It’s fun to talk to new people every day,” he shares warmly. “You get to help them find the right products, make sure they’re not buying the wrong products.”

It’s truly a family affair at Langs. Harsh credits his parents for making his dream possible, and expressed gratitude for their support. From helping him file the proper paperwork to watching the shop when he needs to step out for a delivery, his parents have been instrumental its success.

“This business would be nothing without them, I couldn’t do it alone,” he said proudly. “There are, like, my pillars.”

More Than Just a Shop

Despite the name, which was chosen to keep a connection to Langs Liquor, this isn’t your typical smoke shop. In fact, it’s completely smoke-free.

“The focus here is wellness,” Harsh explains with conviction. “It’s to provide education in regards to hemp and THC products, because there’s a lot of misinformation out there.”

That genuine care for customers is what makes Langs Smokes & Exotics feel less like a store and more like a welcoming space where questions are encouraged and education is the priority.

The mission became crystal clear during their first year when senior customers and their families came in searching for natural alternatives to prescription painkillers. One gentleman, facing hip surgery, was brought in by his children who wanted him to avoid strong and potentially addictive pharmaceuticals. Harsh sent him home with samples of pain relief gummies, and assured him that they’d find the perfect product to help him. When he returned with news that the products had worked amazingly well, Harsh knew they were making a real difference.

“That feeling right there was the best for me,” he recalls. “This is actually making a difference in people’s lives.”

Breaking Down the Stigma

Harsh is honest about the initial pushback. Early Instagram comments worried about smoke billowing into neighboring shops and negative influences on children. But the reality couldn’t be more different. Langs Smokes & Exotics is a safe, welcoming space for all ages, even families with kids are comfortable walking in.

Though they have a strict 18+ policy on purchases and diligently check IDs, kids that come in with their parents can explore exotic snacks from around the world. People can try new flavors from familiar brands like Nori Seaweed Lay’s, or experience something completely new like Chilli Chatka KurKure twists.

The idea stemmed from wanting to bring a little more diversity to the town and offer something that compliments the THC, Hemp and CBD items they sell. Harsh’s goal with both exotic snacks and cannabis is to make unfamiliar products more accessible to a wider range of people.

“I want people to know that cannabis, first of all, is not scary,” Harsh says with a smile. “It can be very, very fun, honestly. And it really opens up a whole creativity window in your mind.”

His own journey with cannabis helped him overcome anxiety and become more confident and social. When he saw his grandmother find relief from chronic pain through CBD products, his path became clear: he wanted to help others discover these natural alternatives.

A Personal Approach to Wellness

What sets Langs apart is the personalized care each customer receives. Harsh takes time to understand what people are looking for, whether it’s managing pain, improving sleep, reducing anxiety, or simply unwinding after a long day. He always starts with one crucial question: do you want THC or CBD? From there, he will match the customer with a product that is designed to target their specific need.

For the nervous or curious, he recommends gentle introductions like their one-milligram THC mints with five milligrams of CBD, which are so subtle you can go about your day while taking the edge off.

“Starting low is better,” he advises kindly. “You can always work your way up.”

A self-proclaimed cannabis nerd, Harsh does his homework. For those concerned about “fake” CBD products flooding the market, that’s not something you’ll find at Langs. He tests products himself, checks certificates of authenticity, and verifies lab results. He’s constantly looking into new brands, reading all of the reviews to make sure people love it.

“I really understand the cannabinoids, really understand how it works,” he said.

Not only does he study the efficacy of the products, Harsh has a deep understanding of what each ingredient does. This knowledge helps him match people to their product with less trial and error. When customers return saying they got the best sleep of their lives or found relief without getting high, it reinforces why this work matters.

Building Community Through Creativity

Beyond products, Langs has become a gathering place. They host sip-and-paint events, glass mosaic classes, and bracelet-making workshops, all featuring local LBI creators. The goal is simple: show the community that this is a safe, creative, comfortable space.

“At our first sip and paint, people came in not knowing how to paint at all,” Harsh remembers with a laugh. “They were nervous, but as they started consuming a little bit of the products, they got lost in painting and had no idea the class was almost done.”

They’re always looking for new ideas to bring people together and support other local artists and businesses. Harsh particularly loves hosting pop-up shops for arts and crafts type products, and is always on the lookout for LBI makers. Next up, they’re in search of an LBI-based comedian to perform in the shop. THC and comedy seem like a natural pairing, and that night will surely be filled with laughter.

“It’s fun to support them and they support us. I know that we could be looked down upon, like we’re sending the wrong message,” he shared. “The main goal here is to let people know that it’s a safe space.”

An Invitation to Visit

If you’re still on the fence about cannabis products, Harsh has a simple invitation: “Come in and talk to me. I can see exactly where your concerns are.”

He’ll recommend the most gentle products available and even explain the worst-case scenarios so you know exactly what to expect.

The worst that could happen with CBD? You might fall asleep. With a very low dose of THC? You’ll feel as relaxed as you would with half a glass of wine. Nothing to fear, just a natural path to wellness waiting to be explored.

At Langs Smokes & Exotics, it’s not about selling products. It’s about education, community, and helping people live healthier, happier lives. And in a world that can feel overwhelming, that kind of genuine care is exactly what LBI needs.

Langs Smokes & Exotics is located in Long Beach Island, NJ. Stop by to meet the family, explore their wellness products, or simply say hello. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re part of any local Facebook groups in Ocean County, you may have seen Kathy Tindall and the beautiful shell art of Treasure Creations. What started as a retirement hobby has blossomed into a full-time passion that’s bringing handcrafted coastal art to homes across LBI and beyond.

From Plumbing to Picking Shells

Kathy’s connection to Long Beach Island runs deep. She first bought a house here in 2000 as a vacation home, though she’d been visiting since she was just 15 years old. After running a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning company for over 30 years, she retired three years ago and moved to Beach Haven West in 2019. That’s when everything changed.

“My husband was looking in the closet and found my collection,” Kathy laughs. “He said, ‘throw it out or do something with it.'”

That collection represented decades of beachcombing adventures. Growing up in Virginia and visiting Virginia Beach from an early age, Kathy had always been drawn to the ocean’s treasures. Once she started traveling the world with her husband, the collecting intensified. She estimates that at least 80 percent of her shells, sea glass, and driftwood comes from her own beachcombing, sometimes picking up materials multiple times a day wherever she travels.

Finding Her Happy Place

With no formal art background but experience as a seamstress that gave her excellent hand-eye coordination, Kathy started experimenting with shadow boxes. Her first projects were Christmas trees made from jewelry left behind by her mother, aunt, and mother-in-law, created as gifts for her daughters. When she shared photos on Facebook and local LBI groups, the response was overwhelming.

“It’s my happy place,” Kathy says. “Sometimes I start designing at 8 AM, then I look at my phone and it’s 4 in the afternoon and I haven’t left the table yet.”

Now 65, Kathy creates everything from angel wings to hearts, custom designs, and her signature shell-covered Christmas trees; pieces so beautiful that people leave them displayed year-round. Each creation is housed in a shadow box to keep everything protected, and no two pieces are exactly alike.

The Art of the Hunt

What makes Kathy’s work special is the personal connection to every material. She walks the beaches of LBI all year long, no matter how cold or windy, searching for treasures at Barnegat Lighthouse and Holgate, where the beaches are less-groomed and shells and sea glass are plentiful. She’s learned that New Jersey’s offerings change with the seasons. For instance, lighter, brighter scallop shells appear in winter and spring, while summer brings darker mussels in blacks, grays, and browns.

But her search doesn’t stop at the Jersey Shore. Kathy has built a network of trading partners across the globe. She has connections in Scotland, Greece, and Florida who help her find specific shells. Friends in Canada and Maine send thick mussel shells from colder waters. While traveling, she’s discovered that Hawaii offers the best sea glass, while Florida is prime for shells. She’s even found rare lavender sea glass, one of the hardest colors to locate, and large pieces of “pirate glass” in Puerto Rico and Florida.

Creating Art, One Shell at a Time

The simplest creation takes Kathy about 40 minutes, while more complex or larger pieces can require up to six hours. Her Christmas trees are particularly time-consuming, requiring careful layering of shells to create symmetry and balance. 

“You don’t just throw them all on the tree,” she explains. “You need to find which shell will match in each spot.”

Her most popular items are angel wings; small shadow boxes with a poem on the back, often purchased as memorials for loved ones who have passed. Hearts are another bestseller, perfect for Valentine’s Day or simply as tokens of love.

Kathy also takes custom orders. When someone requested a lion head, she created it and ended up selling three more. 

“It’s odd because I never know what’s going to sell,” she admits. “So I make one, put it on my Facebook page, share it with the neighborhood, and if it goes, I make more.”

A Growing Business Built on Passion

What started as a way to stay busy in retirement has grown exponentially, especially in the last six months. Kathy now considers it a full-time endeavor, though she tries to limit her hours. She’s planning a big open house pop-up shop at her home in November, and she’s always thinking ahead to the next season with creations like Mother’s Day shadow boxes that have sayings like “Mothers are like sea shells, a blessing to have and a treasure to hold,” or newly introduced tree toppers that have customers saying “OMG, when can I buy that?”

While she’s done a few craft shows with her friend Denise, who also creates beach-inspired art, Kathy has found that LBI and Beach Haven West are her best audiences. The community knows her, looks forward to her new creations, and often calls when they need a special gift.

Some people balk at her prices, but Kathy understands her value. “I do all the searching, walking, and cleaning before even making the pieces” she notes. 

Many people try to make the designs themselves, only to come back when they realize the skill and time involved. For Kathy, the real reward comes from the compliments and knowing that someone loves her work enough to hang it in their own home or give it as a gift.

More Than Just Art

For Kathy Tindall, Treasure Creations is a way of life that connects her passion for beachcombing, her love of LBI, and her joy in creating something beautiful. Every piece tells a story of early morning walks along Holgate, of Hawaiian vacations spent hunting for red and cobalt blue glass, of heart-shaped rocks discovered in Maine, and of decades of memories turned into art.

“It’s an honor and it’s exciting to know that someone likes your creations so much,” Kathy reflects. And for those of us lucky enough to live in this community and see her work, the honor is all ours.

To see Kathy’s latest creations or inquire about custom pieces, look for Treasure Creations by Kathy Tindall on Facebook. Keep an eye out for her November open house. It’s sure to be filled with coastal treasures perfect for the holiday season.

If you’ve ever dealt with gulp, you know the struggle. That sticky, gooey mess that somehow manages to escape every container you put it in, leaving your tackle box, boat, and car looking like a disaster zone. It’s one of those fishing frustrations that we’ve all just accepted as part of the game, until now.

Twenty years ago, Baitmule’s founder Ryan Sherwood was just like the rest of us, dealing with the same messy aftermath every time he used gulp. As someone who lived for fluke fishing season, he’d gotten used to the ritual of rigging up, selecting the perfect bait, and choosing between bucktails, jigheads, or teaser hooks. But no matter how great the fishing was, he’d always come home to the same problem: gulp residue covering everything.

The Solution That Actually Works

Ryan’s frustration led him to discover a solution that the fishing world desperately needed. Baitmule is a container that’s actually, truly leakproof. Using medical-grade design, these containers don’t just claim to be leakproof; they deliver on that promise in ways that every angler who’s tried them can appreciate.

The containers are virtually unbreakable, which means they’ll hold up through whatever your fishing adventures throw at them. Whether you’re bouncing around in rough seas, hiking to a remote fishing spot, or just dealing with the general chaos of getting your gear ready, Baitmule containers are built to last.

More Than Just Gulp Storage

Here’s what makes Baitmule particularly smart: while they solved the gulp problem, they created something much more versatile. These containers protect anything you don’t want getting in or out, making them perfect for all your waterproof storage needs this summer.

Think about it: your phone, wallet, keys, electronics, snacks, first aid supplies, or anything else you need to keep dry and secure. Whether you’re on the boat, at the beach, kayaking, or just dealing with unexpected weather, having truly waterproof storage changes everything.

Local Availability

You don’t have to order online and hope for the best. Baitmule containers are available right here in our area. You can find them at BHW Bait And Tackle in Manahawkin, Creekside Outfitters in Waretown, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, Jingle’s Bait And Tackle in Beach Haven, Surf City Bait And Tackle in Surf City, and Van’s Boat Rental in Barnegat Light, among others.

The fact that these local tackle shops have embraced Baitmule tells you something about the product’s quality and reliability. These are the people who see every fishing gadget and container that comes through the door, and they’ve chosen to stock Baitmule because they know it works.

What People Are Saying

The reviews speak for themselves. Fisherman’s Headquarters calls it “the last gulp container you’ll ever buy! No leaks, no cracks, and no mess.” Montauk Fishing describes them as “by far the most durable, completely LEAKPROOF, storage solution I have found. You need to have this in your arsenal.”

When tackle shops and serious anglers are this enthusiastic about a product, it’s worth paying attention to.

Perfect Timing for Summer

With summer fishing season in full swing, now is the perfect time to upgrade your storage game. Whether you’re targeting fluke, stripers, or whatever else is biting, having containers that actually work eliminates one of those annoying variables that can mess up an otherwise perfect day on the water.

Beyond fishing, summer activities around LBI often involve water, sand, and situations where you need to keep things dry and secure. Beach days, boat trips, kayaking adventures, or even just dealing with sudden afternoon thunderstorms, waterproof storage that you can actually trust makes all the difference.

The Bottom Line

Baitmule containers represent something we don’t see often enough: a product that solves a real problem with a well-designed solution. Ryan’s twenty years of dealing with messy gulp containers led to something that benefits every angler, and the medical-grade construction means these containers work for far more than just bait storage.

In a world full of fishing gadgets that promise more than they deliver, it’s refreshing to find something that actually works as advertised. When you’re ready to stop dealing with leaky containers and messy storage solutions, Baitmule is available right here in our local tackle shops.

Sometimes the best fishing improvements are the ones that eliminate the problems you didn’t realize you were tolerating. This might just be one of those times.