Andrea and Chad got down Wednesday night, so Thursday while we were working and traveling, they were nice enough to do all the grocery shopping for the week. While we are down there, we always make biscuits or have donuts for breakfast, have sandwiches and chips for lunch, and most nights we cook dinner in. Usually one night we try to grill out, and there is always one night that we try to eat out because we do love some beach food. Crab claws are a must, duh!

This trip did not disappoint! It was just so relaxing to not have any real plans. We all got up when we wanted to, did or didn’t do what we wanted to and just relaxed. Nearly every moment down there was time spent soaking in the sun at the pool. And the views. Amazing.

 

The picture below is from our last morning at the beach. It rained off and on our entire way home.

 

Wednesday morning I picked up the fur balls from the boarding place. Mac was so happy to see me. He ran up to me and gave me lots and lots of kisses. He did not move from my lap in the car, and stared up at me most of the way home. Just a sweet heart.

 

Gracie was her usual Puggle self, and she was angry with me that I left her for a week. Woe is me she says. Look at that face. Just ridiculous! It’s OK Gracie, mommy still loves you even if you half heartily jumped up on me after you ignored me for 3 minutes and walked with one of the vet techs when I came to get you. I saw your tail wag….you can’t fool me.

Topic: If you could take 3 months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

My first question is, are these 3 months going to be funded? Am I right?! Let’s pretend they are…it will be way more fun that way. You know, because if they aren’t my 3 months off would be spent eating Ramen noodles in a cardboard box because I am homeless with no transportation, and my dogs and husband probably would have left me for a family that could feed them.

If I could take 3 months off from life, I would travel! I would love to spend a few weeks at the beach doing absolutely nothing but drinking at the pool while looking out at the ocean. I would be a beach bum, not do my make up and never wear real clothes.

Then, I would travel to New York City. I would go shopping in Manhattan, visit a few shows, see the Statue of Liberty and walk everywhere I went. I would love to just soak in the city!

Next, I would travel to Disney World. I would spend my days at the park taking my time in each area. Lunch with the princesses is a must! I would wear fun Mickey ears and let my inner child go wild! Dress like a princess one day, why not? Be ridiculous, duh!

After that, I would like to head out to California. I would love to visit all the big cities, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, and I would have to see Laguna Beach! I would soak in the amazing weather and hang out at all the cool places.

My next stop would be Pittsburgh. I would love to visit “home.” See some of my family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. Walk around downtown near the river. Catch a Steelers game. Eat at all my favorite places that I miss so much!

Finally, on my way back from Pittsburgh, I would stop in Atlanta for a little while. Hang out with my friends, go shopping at the North Georgia Outlets, visit the aquarium, eat at Chow Baby, Taco Mac and many of my other favorites there!

Now, would someone like to fund me for my 3 months off from life? Please and thank you!

I really REALLY enjoyed the Blog Every Day in May challenge. It gave me a chance to focus on certain topics that I might not have come up with on my own…but allowed me to write from my heart. Well, there is a new challenge for September and I am so excited!

Today’s topic is: Describe where you come from. The people, places and/or factors that make up who you are.

There are so many ways to go with this post. When I first read the topic for today, a conversation with my husband came to my mind. It hit me hard after the conversation was over. He made me realize how amazing my mom really is. I mean, I know she is awesome…she’s my mom. But it goes so much deeper than that.

Chris and I were talking in the car one day last week. My mom had called and it wasn’t a good time for me to talk, as we were about to get out and run an errand. I hit the silent button and told Chris I promised my mom I would call her that day and I would do it when we got home. Chris was like yeah, sometimes when you and your mom talk you two don’t just hang up easily, one of you keeps thinking of more to say. I was like I know…I don’t get to talk to her on the phone as much as we would like because of our work schedules. Chris then said, “I just realized something. Your mom really loves you. Like REALLY loves you. Sort of how you love me. I see where it comes from now.” I was like “Yeah. She really does. My mom loves me and my sister unconditionally.”

She made her whole life about us when we were younger. There for our ups and downs. Always encouraging us to be who we want to be and do our best. Chris made me realize that my mom’s love for me is where my understanding of love comes from. I realized that she has always been the rock and foundation in my life. The reason why I am who I am today.

Even though we moved around a lot growing up, my mom always found a way to make a house our home. She cooked us dinner every night. She knew the importance of communication and family togetherness. She always tried to do things with us that we would be interested in. She even got into Nintendo so that she could play with us. She loves playing board games because it brought us together, and to this day she still tries to get us to play when we are around.

She always said a book is never a waste of money. She might have said no to other things we would ask for…a toy at Walmart or candy while we were waiting to pay for groceries…but she never said no to books. She would get so excited when we were excited about a book.

Traditions are always important to her. She bakes certain things every year for holidays and gatherings out of tradition. Her and I have gone black Friday shopping every year for as long as I can remember. We always map out our plan with sales ads the night before (or hours before these days since we start Thanksgiving night now.) We spend all day shopping and laughing and having a great time. My sense of togetherness in every day activities is because of how my mom raised us.

I know that my mom always wants the best for me. I know that she hates to see when I am down or upset, or have some type of drama going on. She always has the right thing to say, and never says anything that she knows is going to make things worse.

My mom is the reason why I am who I am today and I am so thankful for that. If I end up half the person that she is…that is great!

Do you ever sit down to write a post, and you have a topic in mind…but yet when you start typing it completely changes? I think this is what is happening today! I was just thinking about unconditional love and how amazing it is.

As a newlywed, you learn a lot of things about love, especially unconditional love. There are always ups and downs in every relationship. There will always be disagreements, misunderstandings, arguments, someone getting irritated. It’s life. But through all of that, at the end of the day you love that person. You love them with your whole heart. You accept their flaws, their personalty and who they are.