home again & so sad ...

Whew, my little vacation to Tennessee was fun and eventful but too short. The drive back Tuesday was probably the longest drive home, in history. I guess maybe because I just did not want to come home. I wish I had just a little longer in Tennessee. When we arrived to River Romance late Sunday night it was cold and there was still some snow in the shaded places on the deck. Sunday was considered our down time. As soon as we got in town though we met up with our friends, Heather and Jason and had dinner at TGI Fridays in Pigeon Forge. Yummy, I love TGI Fridays! That night at the cabin though Mandi attempted to build a fire (funny, I know) and we watched a movie before heading to bed.

We got an early start to our day the next morning. We set our alarm clocks for 9:00 but who was up at 7:30, we were! We laid in bed and watched Spongebob Squarepants half the morning. (I know, I know. We should be too old for that) Monday was just mostly spent riding around the mountain roads looking at the snow on the ground. It some places we were humored because you would see snow on one side of the road but the other side was green grass. I do not like snow too much but I could not help but put on my gloves and a scarf and make Mandi stop (in the middle of the road) so I could get out and play in and let her take some pictures for me. She did it the lazy (and warm) way though by staying in her car.

I love Mandi’s Xterra so at one point I wanted to drive and since Mandi loves me, she let me. Me behind the wheel of any vehicle is probably not a good idea but this time it really wasn’t. We had a small, and muddy, off road adventure in the WHITE Xterra. I turned down a gravel road that wasn’t really a road but more like a driveway so I get to the end and turn around. Well we get close to the road and instead of just driving to the road, I turn in to this little area that seemed to be short cut. This short cut was a small hill with tons of leaves surrounding it. Over the hill we went, dragging leaves and a pretty large tree branch with us. I was so scared Mandi was going to get mad at me, but she was laughing so all was well. But here I am pullnig this massive tree limb out from under her car with my high heels and brand new jeans on. It was an interesting afternoon! No off road Hummer tours for us, we had our own!!

Dixie Stampede was great though. The show was a little different from the last time so there were new things for me to see. I enjoyed it. I love the food there. However, when we got our chicken and Mandi realized it was on a bone she did not want to eat BUT since I love her and she’s my friend I picked her chicken off for her. I mean, it was either that or what her starve, right? Dixie Stampede is always my favorite part of Pigeon Forge. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the food, or the show.

I always love going to Gatlinburg. In a way I feel like that is my second home. After all, I know a lot of the roads there and have some pretty awesome friends to see when I go. I hope I get to go again soon. Vacation feels so good sometimes and it never hurts to get away from everything.

Tennessee tomorrow :)

Yes, that’s right … Tennessee, HERE WE COME!! Mandi and I are leaving for Gatlinburg tomorrow afternoon and I am so ready. I feel like I need a vacation from my small hometown and just a few nights to get away from everything. We are not going to get in town until late Sunday night but I am already planning my hot tub adventure for that night. We are staying in a cabin on the Little Pigeon River in downtown Gatlinburg. I cannot express how much I love this area of Gatlinburg … it’s within walking distance to downtown and so quiet. It’s just a great area. I figure though that Sunday will just be a relaxing night to prepare for Monday’s activities! Monday is going to be another fun but busy day. We have dinner reservations at 8:00 at Dixie Stampede. Yummy, I love Dixie Stampede. I don’t think Mandi has ever been though so this should be a fun adventure for her. I am very excited. Heather and Jodi wanted us to go to a yoga class with them so we’ll see how that goes. I didn’t pack yoga clothes … what do you wear to yoga? I’ve never yoga-d. : / You know, now that I think about it … maybe Monday won’t be so bad after all? Hahaha! (yeah, right) I assume though that after Dixie Stampede we will be too full and have to be rolled back to our cabin so we can feel fat together in the hot tub. I wish we were staying longer than Tuesday but we are going to do a Hummer tour on Tuesday so I am anticipating that being a lot of fun. I cannot wait to get away for a couple of nights and see all of our co-worker friends in Tennessee. We don’t get to see them that often and when we do it’s always nice. Oh, I hope Michelle has her baby before we get there … or while we are there! It’d be so nice to help them welcome baby Alyssa into this world. Okay, enough excitement I need to go continue packing. I’m sure I’ll have stories about my trip when I return!

random thoughts from my mind

Well, well, well Valentine’s Day is this weekend and all I can say is, “blah!”. I’m sure there is a lot of great things that happen on Valentine’s Day but it has never been one of my favorite holidays. It’s just non-existent to me for some reason. I’m not being bitter, or sad, I’ve usually always had someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day with but I just don’t get in to like other people do. I honestly can probably only remember one Valentine’s Day gift and that’s all. I understand that Valentine’s Day is a special day for you let everyone know how much you love and care about them but why should it be special on that ONE day? Shouldn’t someone always know you love them? I don’t know where this comes from … this bad attitude about Valentine’s Day but it’s here and I fear that it will always be here. Moving on …

The upside to this weekend is that it gets me that much closer to my short “vacation” in Gatlinburg with Mandi. :) I need a break from this place and everyone here. I know we’re going to Dixie Stampede and on a Hummer tour and I’m sure we’ll shop because that’s what we do best when we’re together … BUT we also get to stay in a great cabin with a hot tub and just relax. Oh, and we get to see some of our FAVORITE friends from Tennessee. And our friend, Michelle may have her baby while we are there or before we get there so we may have a baby to see, which is exciting. I love babies (as long as they aren’t mine!) Now that I’m talking about it I want to go get everything packed and ready to go!! I would not have a problem if someone told me I get to stay on vacation longer. I love vacation!

I did have a good weekend this past weekend. My friend Crystal’s little boy, Eathyn, had his first birthday party. I helped her get everything set up. I cannot believe that Eathyn is already 1. It seems like not too long ago Crystal found out she was having a baby!! He is such a sweet little boy. I think he got plenty of presents to hold him over for a while. His favorite gift though was a battery powered 4-wheeler from Matt & Crystal. He rode that thing all over the deck yesterday afternoon. If he drives anything like his “aunt” Heather then everyone needs to watch out!! Okay, enough non-interesting stuff. Hopefully this week will bring me more excitement. I guess we’ll see, right?

Snow in Tennessee ... but never in Georgia!

January is ending and there has been no freezing cold weather (at least for long periods of time) in sight and it is semi-upsetting. Yes, I will be the first to admit that I am not a fan of cold weather, or winter time, BUT here lately I have really been feeling the need to go on vacation where I can truly witness a winter wonderland. I have had a few friends visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee here recently and they got to see the beauty of snow capped mountains and trees. I was slightly jealous with seeing their pictures and thinknig about how it never snows in Georgia and if it does it isn't enough to amount to anything important. I love living in the South, especially in the part that I live in but sometimes you do not have seasons. It's like mother nature skips over the cold ones & just gives us hot. Now, I do not have a problem with hot weather I just think snow is so pretty ... AND I love scarves and turtle neck sweaters. :) It's January and most states have already had several layers on snow and we've had just enough to tease us. So in my excitement with there being snow in Gatlinburg, I have planned a trip with a friend to go in February & I am going to HOPE I see snow that weekend. Not that snow would make or break my trip but it would just be so amazing to be able to come home and BRAG to everyone else. Until then though I will continue to daydream about playing in the snow!!

Vacation Tips

My job requires me to talk to several people on a daily basis and … hopefully, help them get a trip planned out. Throughout some of my many conversations with people I have come up with some travel tips that I think are VERY important for any travel destination, no matter how near or far.

1. The first and MOST IMPORTANT travel tip is to get information about your trip. Attractions to see in the town, hotels, cabins, condos, car rentals, airports in the area and what to expect when you get in to town. Is it a holiday? Could there possibly be a lot of traffic? How early do you need to leave to avoid work traffic in the area? All of these things can make your trip arrival, and departure, run a lot more smoothly.
2. No matter where you travel always remember to keep your wallet and all things that are valuable in a safe place. You never know what could happen!
3. Check the weather. This can help you decide on how to dress and what to pack for your stay.
4. If you travel further and possibly flying, try to pack lighter. Coordinate your clothing around only a few basic colors so you can reduce the number of shoes you need to bring for the trip.
5. If you are flying remember to pack a bag (as a carry on) with extra clothes or needed items in case you need them while you are in the airport.
6. Try to plan out what you are doing every day. This will help reduce the amount of money you carry with you when you go out in town.
7. If you are driving to your vacation destination be sure you have all reservations confirmed, directions printed and information about to check in before arrival. This will help keep stress levels down upon arrival.
8. Make sure you know that when you have anything paid for (room, rental car, reservations held) that the price they gave you is the entire price with all fees. You do not need nor want to spend additional amounts when you arrive to your destination.
9. Be sure to read all rental agreements thoroughly before signing them. Sometimes people think they can just sign it and then get upset when you are charged for damages or for a security hold.
10. Look up past reviews for attractions, hotels or cabins that you will be visiting. This will give you a better idea of the GOOD things people are saying about where you are going to go.

Above all else it is important you just enjoy yourself and have a great vacation. Vacations are made for relaxation so your trip should run smoothly with minimal or no problems so planning ahead and can make the vacation everything you are hoping it will be. Above everything else remember to ask questions if you are unsure of everything because anyone from the area can help you with what you need to know.

New Year, New Beginnings!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a happy & blessed new year’s celebration. I can honestly say that I am excited for a brand new year. 2008 was great BUT 2009 is new and exciting and holds so many activities that have yet to occur. It’s a fresh start!

I started my new year off with a blast. We had a small get together at a friend’s house where my old friends & my new friends come together. It was great! I am truly excited to see where life takes me with my brand new friends. : ) We had a great time playing darts, playing Rockband & eating some delicious grilled chicken … compliments of Lee. Yummy yum! We did a midnight toast & the “Rockbanding” resumed.

Many memories were made & stories will be told and I have extremely happy for this new year. Maybe school will go well so keep your fingers crossed!! I have a lot of so called “resolutions” I’d like to try and go through with this year so we’ll see.

Christmas is officially over. My sanity returns!

Oh wow, what an overwhelming past few weeks. It seems (and feels) like I have been doing nothing but shopping, going to Christmas gatherings & shopping some more. It’s been a few days because I sadly encountered a virus bug that had been traveling around my office … and family for about a week so it put me behind schedule with everything else. Yes, I know … being sick during the holidays is no fun at all.

The great Christmas season started out with a delicious bang when my office has their annual Christmas party. My company is amazing. I am so thankful to have a great job with great people. This year we dined at Hearth and Harvest in Cartersville. Yummy, yummy! Each year we draw names (and it never stays a secret) but I had Emily’s name. So, the weekend before the Christmas party I was at the mall looking for the perfect present for her. I ended up picking out a “poofy” jacket with fur around the hood. (so cute) When we got to Hearth and Harvest and ordered our food the “head honchos” let us open one present … HOODIES! We each got hoodies & let me tell you, we were BEYOND excited to have these hoodies. Back to the food … I had a filet with a baked potato and salad. I didn’t dig the salad too much … it had cranberry’s and nuts on it & that just doesn’t make a salad to me. Too bad that I love food and ate it anyways. : ) After the meal we each handed out our presents and took turns (somewhat) opening them. Jessica had my name so I got a brown sweater with a white & brown scarf. PERFECT! Except … the weather hasn’t been cold enough for a sweater OR a scarf so I’m pretty sad about it. I guess that’s what happens when you live in Georgia …

Now the fun begins with more Christmas shopping! (not) I had everything done when I got hit with the ugly virus early Monday morning (before Christmas) Needless to say with two “sick days” at work later, it was Christmas Eve. I didn’t get to enjoy any holiday food & my stomach still hurt but I got a lot of nice things and spent some time with my family. For lunch on Christmas Eve my brother & his family came over to open presents and then that night, around 6:00 we ventured out to my Granny’s for more presents. I can’t complain about my presents but I’m not into Christmas for that reason. There’s so much more to it!

Merry Christmas!! Christmas Day morning was spent eating a delicious, traditional breakfast with the family and then me heading to my friend Crystal’s house to see what Santa brought her son, Eathyn. With no rest time it was off to BJ’s to exchange gifts with his mother. Rush, rush, rush because from there it was time to go to my Granny Joan’s. After we opened presents there I let out a silent sigh of relief. Oh, Christmas is over again! I did have a great time after present opening. I went to my cousin’s house to enjoy a few games of Rockband and on the Wii. I love the Wii … I think I need to get me one!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & I hope you all got what you wanted from Santa. Stop and think about what’s most important this time of year. Be thankful for your friends, family and everything God has placed in your life. If you are alive, well, and have the Lord’s loving arms wrapped around you then you have everything to be thankful for. YOU are truly blessed!

Christmas, you can go away now!

December 16th? Already? Seems like this month … well, these past few months have flown by so fast that I can’t even stop to take a breath. December is a fast paced month with Christmas presents to buy, decorations to put up & in my case, finals. Yes, the dreaded finals!! My family just does not get into the Christmas spirit like a lot of other people and that fact is totally evident this year. Let me give you a quick run down of how Christmas decorating goes at my house: two weeks after Thanksgiving 3 Christmas trees go up, a snowman goes in the front yard, wreaths are on the windows & a spotlight is shining on our house. That is a typical Christmas, but no … not this year. This year we have one tree. That’s all, just one. Oh and this one tree went up last week without decorations, because those went up Saturday.

I attempted to finish up my Christmas shopping yesterday but did not succeed. However, I did manage to buy some things for myself, my brother, and my sister-in-law. Not too bad ... even though I spent a few hours at the mall. But Merry Christmas to myself! I still need to finish up presents for my parents but that will be accomplished on Thursday, or maybe Friday morning? Oh, I can't decide. I hate waiting until the last minute because that seems to be the only time everyone else in the world shops too. Crowds are not my thing … neither is the Christmas music the stores play, or the long lines that are not necessary to stand in to purchase ONE item. (yes, that almost happened to me at Ross) Christmas is so overrated. Shouldn’t we be celebrating Jesus’ birth instead? Sweet little baby Jesus ...

All-in-all I started wrapping my presents today. Mostly to get the clutter out of my room & because I have to have Emily’s (a co-worker) wrapped before our company Christmas party tomorrow night. Let’s face it when I start wrapping, I just can’t stop. So I got baby Andrew’s, Lee, Shalon (hers is already in a pretty box with a bow), Emily, and BJ’s presents all wrapped and under the Christmas tree. (it's beginning to look a little more like Christmas now) I have a few more left & thankfully, I will be done soon. I am pretty excited about spending time with the family. I love family time (as if you couldn’t already tell by my Thanksgiving blog) I also love watching my cats at Christmas. It’s always interesting to see what mischief they are going to find themselves in. With that being said I guess you could assume my favorite part is the present wrapping and watching my cats get into to “messy” situations. I’m just waiting on the holiday to be over & maybe we’ll skip it next year.

January = new vacation spots

This semester at school is coming to an end and with finals approaching I could not be more stressed out and I need a vacation! Now, I realize that I just got back from Tennessee but that wasn’t good enough. Of course I was with my family but I was constantly on the go so I never had a moment to rest or relax so I need a resting, relaxing vacation. With this being said I have decided to vacation in Spokane, Washington sometime after the beginning of the year. I’m thinking January? Is that a good month for traveling? I hate the cold weather but I like to see snow & since it snows in Washington … it’s perfect. But why did I pick Washington? Because my best friend, Nikki lives there!! I haven’t seen Nikki in over a year and the text message, e-mail, phone, and Myspace conversations are getting old. I want to hang out with her, meet her friends and just do “snow things”. I am taking a semester off from school because I am done with classes and just waiting to be accepted into my program so this is the perfect chance to go somewhere.

I will admit though, I am a little nervous. My first flight was to Hawaii but my parents went but this time I’ll be flying alone so you can see where my concerns are at. Hmm … I think I can make friends safely! I’m a likeable person!! (ha,ha,ha) For the past few days Mandi (thanks) & I have been searching for cheap airline tickets online and we have found that the “cheap” sites, aren’t so cheap most of the time. I have found some pretty good deals though and I’ve realized that it makes a difference on the time of the month and the day of the week that you leave. These facts are interesting to me. Where can all these people be going on certain times of the month and on Mondays? I think I have my dates decided on: January 20-28 so now all I need are tickets & a little time off from work. Oh how I love treating myself to special things. Christmas bonus money here I come!.

Now, for anyone who has ever been around me when it’s vacation time or if you personally know how I pack then this is posing another dilemma. I overpack. Well, over packing is probably an UNDER-statement for me. I just never can decide on what the best thing for me to wear will be on any given day. If I am going somewhere the temperature is largely different from my small town in Georgia then you can bet I’m packing all my clothes because you can add or remove any amount of clothes to better suit yourself for the temperature. Packing … is just so time consuming for me! Jeans, long sleeve shirts, sweaters … & jackets! I’ll need a big marshmallow looking jacket … any ideas? Oh, and I can’t forget boogins’, glooves and scarves. It’s not even time to go yet and I’m already packing in my mind.

Okay, that’s enough rambling. If anyone knows where I can get cheap tickets & if you can tell me what I can pack for this plane ride adventure then please … LET ME KNOW!!!

A Fun & Successful Thanksgiving Vacation

I hope everyone had a wonderful & safe Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that my family had a great Thanksgiving vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We headed up to Tennessee on Thanksgiving Day and ended up stopping in Athens to eat at Cracker Barrel. (oh, how I love Cracker Barrel) We arrived in town around 9:30 and headed straight to the cabin. We had a minor “getting lost” incident (my parents were in the lead car & apparently could not read the directions correctly) but we turned around and got the situation under control. We headed into “Sky High” with full force & started making decisions on which bedrooms we were going to stay in. My cousin, Anna and I decided to take the top bedroom because the view was better, it had a Jacuzzi tub and we could listen to our music as loud as we wanted to without anyone hearing it. (that’s girls for ya, right?) We unpacked as best we could and got ready to hit the hot tub. Ahhh, the hot tub … a perfect ending to a long day of driving.

Friday was a busy day for everyone. I woke at 8:30 to the smell of bacon, sausage and coffee downstairs in the kitchen. I just love breakfast food!! After breakfast Anna, Bryson and I started getting ready to head to downtown Gatlinburg to catch a few attractions. Our first attractions was the Hollywood Wax Museum. (and of course Anna and I had to take a picture with everything in the museum). After the wax museum it was Bryson’s turn to choose an attraction and he picked black light golf and a mirror maze. The mirror maze was so much fun! Bryson and I made it to the exit but had to go back and find Anna because she got lost. (poor Anna) We did have a quick lunch, that consisted of a corndog, from Fannie Farkle’s. After the “lunch” we headed back to the cabin to play pool and relax in the hot tub before going to eat supper at The Brewery in Pigeon Forge.

On Saturday morning I woke up to another breakfast being prepared and headed downstairs to see what I would soon be consuming. Mmmmm … eggs & grits! We just waited around the cabin and watched Saturday college football previews until it was time to leave for the Christmas show at Dixie Stampede. Dixie Stampede is always good and I had never been to the Christmas show before and it was wonderful. From Dixie Stampede Anna, Bryson and I went to Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge while the adults went shopping. (fun, right?) Wonderworks is basically a virtual reality attraction with tons of things that everyone will enjoy and you will need at least 2 hours to spend in there since there is so much to do. From Wonderworks we headed back out into the flood of traffic that accumulated over the 2 hours that we were inside and drove an hour (yes, an hour) back to Gatlinburg to our cabin. After a quick change of clothes (warmer clothes) Anna and I headed out to eat (at Taco Bell) while Bryson and my uncle went to the arcades.
Sunday was our day to leave and I was sad about it. I always hate going home from vacation, mainly because that means I have to go back to work and school and that’s not no fun. (kidding) But my lovely daddy had went to BoJangles (one of the greatest reason anyone outside of the South should come to the South) to get everyone biscuits. : ) I had to get my clothes together and get ready to head home on the most rainy day I had seen in a while. As Anna and I headed down the mountain there was a flipped 4-Runner at the end of Ski Mountain, but thankfully the people were out of the SUV and the people were already assisting them. Anna and I hung around town for a little while though to do a little shopping and enjoy a quick lunch with my friends, Michelle and Mama CThe drive home seemed quick, even though it was raining and very foggy in some areas and I was so excited to get home to my friends and lovely boyfriend. I missed everyone at home so much! I hate leaving from vacation but I also love being home. Since I can’t take all of my friends on vacation with me at the same time it’s great to be around them again. So I’m just glad that with a family my size & with everyone in the same cabin for 3 nights that no one strangled each other. (kidding) I only hope to have many more family vacations together.

Most favorite holiday ... ever!

So Thanksgiving is tomorrow and it is by far my favorite holiday, I mean, Christmas is good, too but for some reason I believe Thanksgiving is SO much better. No one has to worry about presents, you get to eat great food, you realize that you are thankful for everything you already have & not what people have bought you as a gift. I just love Thanksgiving! Just thinking about Thanksgiving literally makes me hungry because what is better than having all the ham, turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce that one can eat? Thanksgiving is typically a pretty busy day for my family and me. We go eat lunch at my Granny Joan’s (dad’s parents) and then supper (or dinner as my friends in the North would say) is consumed at my Granny’s (mom’s parents) so with two full meals (and sometimes even an extra one in there somewhere) I am a little stuffed and weigh about 10 extra pounds at the end of the day. I think that the older I get the more excited I get about Thanksgiving but maybe it's because I’ve realized that I’ve had another great year full of things to be thankful for. This year is extra exciting for me because I am going on vacation with (half) of the family to Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Oh, the Smokies! After lunch at Granny Joan’s then my parents, my aunt and her family, my Granny, and I are loading up to head to Tennessee! I love vacations, I love my family & I love the mountains so I am looking forward to this trip. We are staying at a cabin (which is better than a hotel, in my opinion) in Gatlinburg called Sky High. It is such a pretty cabin and with a reat mountain view so I could not be more impressed with our "cabin renting" decision. We’ve got a great place to say so I have already started making plans for several attractions in the area AND I am already thinking about what restaurants we are going to while we are in town. Oh boy, if Thanksgiving wasn't my favorite holiday before it sure will be now! What’s the one thing that would make this vacation a little better? Some snow! So, until I post again … please keep your fingers crossed!

** Happy Thanksgiving! **

Gatlinburg Cabins

Ahhh, Gatlinburg, Tennessee what a great place to vacation! This small Eastern Tennessee town is known as the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is one of the South’s most popular vacation destinations for visitors coming in from all over the United States. Gatlinburg has many attractions in the area for everyone coming with you to enjoy. With anything from miniature golf, the Ripley’s Aquarium, and arcades to Ober Gatlinburg, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum to the newly built Hollywood Wax Museum in downtown everyone can find something to do on their trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. So bring the family, bring your spouse or plan a youth retreat because all the fun in Gatlinburg is kid, and family, friendly!

Now that you have you attraction ideas you will need somewhere to stay but what is the best way to stay while you are vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee? A Gatlinburg cabin rental, of course! If you need a small cabin for 2 people it is in Gatlinburg; if you need a cabin for 50 people, it is in Gatlinburg; you need something in between? Well, that is in Gatlinburg, too! It is certain that Gatlinburg, Tennessee has plenty of cabins for any size group coming to the area. Location for a cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee should not be an issue either. There are cabins so close to town you can walk and then there are some that will give you and your guests a breathtaking view of the ski slopes and the Great Smoky Mountains. Renting a cabin is the best way to go on when you are on vacation because a cabin offers you privacy and great amenities to ensure that once the fun stops in downtown it will continue inside the cabin.

oh, how I miss the beach

So, we are approaching the time of the year that I just really cannot stand. I mean I literally detest winter with every fiber of my being. I hate going to the dentist so let's put it this way: I would rather go to the dentist every day than have to endure the excruciating cold winter weather. When this time of year rolls around I start thinking warm thought of the beach, the sand, the ocean & the hot, hot sun. Oh, how I love hot weather! As I sit here & think about how much I miss the beach my thoughts start drifting off to my summer vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida.

A week ... a week in Florida. OH WHAT FUN!! 7 days and only 1 1/2 were rainy days. The half of a day just so happened to be the day we went to swim with the dolphins. It rained while we were waiting in line but after that it was "game on" ... or swim on in my case. We were lucky, just a little rain ... except on the morning of the departure, but no worries. We were leaving anyways. So on this vacation I spent my days on the beach reading, "Love the One You're With" by Emily Griffin (awesome, book) & the nights were spent playing putt-putt, shopping or going to eat. I swam with dolphins, learned how to snorkel (not a pro yet but at least I grasped the concept pretty well), and watch my boyfriend almost get his kneecap knocked off by a jet ski ... yes, a jet ski. We stayed in this gorgeous beach house on Thomas Dr. (compliments of my mom's bus driver friend, Margie). It was a nice family vacation with myself, my parents, the boyfriend & my Granny. :) Also, my dad's two brothers were there with their families so we had a grand ole' time.

I just love the beach. There's nothing better than eating watermelon & grabbing a float for the ocean. I must say I pull off the "sun kissed" look pretty well, considering I am a very "pasty" white person. I cannot wait until my next beach vacation ... the problem is it only seems so far away so until then I will have to suffer through the winter with all the other beach lovers.