Nothing Beats a Day at the Beach

Or in my case 5 days at the beach.  Sorry I have been missing on the blog lately, but I was on vacation.  It feels so good to say the word vacation. 

I can honestly say that the beach is where I belong.  In my college years during the summers I used to set alarms to get up and head to the pool or beach, now I set an alarm to head into work.  What is going on here? (I guess its a grown up thing)

So anyway, this past week I packed up my bags and headed to the beach.

Traveling over the Bay Bridge felt great, just to get over to the eastern shore was so exciting.

I was so ready to get to the beach (Ocean City) and put my feet in the sand.  Now Ocean City is not my normal beach trip, but right now anywhere is sand and sea works for me!

We walked the Ocean City, Md boardwalk one night.  That is one spot for great people watching!

But all I wanted to do was put my chair in the sand, relax and read my book.  Nothing is better!  Just to sit and do nothing felt so great.  No work, no problems.

But all good vacations seem to come to end, at least for now.  So when leaving OC, I drove up through Bethany Beach, Delaware.  Bethany is one of my favorite places, I spent 21 summers there growing up and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Bye totem pole, bye beach.

So with that I head back home and back over the bridge.

And now the hardest part was today.  Heading back to work on a Monday.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and had safe travels. I really can't get over the fact that it is July already.  Does anyone know where this summer is going and why so fast? And what do you all think about the larger pictures?

Weekend Recap: One Year

This weekend was full of family, friends, and great times.  This weekend was so special and busy, busy, busy.

Friday was so fun!  I left work and ran around with my mom.  We grabbed dinner and went to Target.  We walked in and I asked if we needed a cart, she responded No.  Now we are making this trip to Target a challenge.  We can only buy what we can hold. (Let me tell you we are pretty good at juggling items, pro level)

We collected some great things, we have too much fun at Target!

We made it to the check out with our hands full.  My favorite part is when the cashier asks, "Did you find everything you where looking for?"  I always think to myself, I wasn't looking for any of this stuff, I just found it.

We had such a great time!

On Saturday my mom, dad, hubs, and I all had lunch together and then the hubs and I met up with some friends at Mustang Alley's.

Mustang Alley's is so much fun, plus I kind of love Bowling.

We went downstairs to Heavy Seas for dinner.

We all enjoyed our dinners.  And then we took the water taxi over to Fed Hill! (I felt like a tourist, but it was fun)

We went to Fed Hill to meet up with friends that just got engaged. So exciting!

Sunday was our day.  Ir was our one year anniversary.  We went to a fantastic lunch together followed by dinner at his parents house.

Then we had our cake!

Our top tier of our cake has been taking up space in our freezer long enough so once we got home we cut it and had a bite!  I can't believe it has been a year!

We had a great weekend, but it makes for a tired Monday. 

Hope you all are hanging in there this Monday.  Can't believe the 4th of July is right around the corner.

How was your weekend?

Bald Head Island

PLACES

The last couple summers I have been vacationing on Bald Head Island.  I will admit that I was new to this place.  My family and I always spent our summers in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  But I was lucky enough to be invited to go on vacation with my now husband's family while we were dating.  I fell in love.

After you step off the ferry and head to the house, you already have a feeling of relaxation.

It is such a peaceful, fun, and wonderful place to vacation.

You can spend all day on the beach. From days tanning and reading the great "Beach Read" to evening beach strolls.

I love the fact that there are no cars on the island and that we ride around in golf carts.

Simple is a word that comes to mind when visiting BHI.

Old Baldy is the island's light house and can be seen from where you arrive on the island. 

There are so many places to go on the island.  Golf, Paddle Boarding, shopping, sailing, and surf are just some of the things you can do.

But all vacations come to an end.  All of our things are packed up waiting for the tram to pick us up for the ferry.

I can't wait to get back there this summer.  Until then BHI.

I have to say it is one of my places I love going over the summer.

Do you have a vacation spot that is your favorite?

Where do you vacation?

South Carolina, Here I Come

PLACES

First off I would like to say sorry for missing.  If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen my latest pictures of my trip to South Carolina!

Yes! I actually checked it off my Spring To Do List. 

It felt so great passing into South Carolina after hours and hours in the car. 
(12 to be exact)
But once you cross the state line its like as if nothing else matters.

You know you are in the South when...

When we finally reached our destination, I was thrilled!  I couldn't wait to step foot in my favorite state (besides Maryland of course).

On our first day we headed right to the pool to catch some rays.

Not a cloud in the sky.  Some would say it was a Carolina blue sky.

A trip to the pool is not complete without a Sonic Route 44 drink by your side!

It was such a relaxing day that ended with some ice cream.

There was the cutest little Ice Cream place in Surfside Beach.  They have the best ice cream.

Unfortunately our other days where a little cloudy and rainy, but that didn't stop the fun.  What did we do?
SHOP

Even the shopping is fantastic under the big trees.

Or in the mall.

We had such a fun time checking everything out.  It felt like I have been away from this place for forever.  

 When driving through Murrell's Inlet I spotted the Party Down South house.  It can be your vacation rental for 2,000-3,000 a week.  You too can check out the Beaver Bar and party in the home over the summer.

So after all that fun and adventure it was time to pack up and head back up North.
(I only travel with Lilly, Henri, and Scout) 

But with all the bags packed up, I wish I could have a place to call my own down South.

It doesn't cost anything to look, right?
(How cute are these townhouses?)

Just after I got used to being in the South again it was time to turn around and come back North.  I always miss the South when I leave. 

It is fun to see this place on the way down, but it'd hard to see it on the way back up 95.  But the trip was great and even though we didn't have great weather the whole time it was still fantastic.

Have you been to South Carolina?
Did you ever watch Party Down South? What did you think of it?

Snow Day

PLACES

It feels so good to say I have a Snow Day today here in Maryland!  I haven't had a snow day in forever.  I guess that is what happens when you grow up and have a real job. (bummer)  

When I received the call from work this morning that it was closed, I couldn't believe it.  We never had off so why today?  What is going on outside my window?  

Well after sitting up in bed and grabbing my IPad and checking out Madewell and their extra off sale items and failing, they no longer had my size in the boots I have been looking at forever. Great start to the snow day, but I didn't stop there, on to the window.  Oh my gosh...SNOW!  Now you probably know now that I hate winter, but I am not going to lie, I was excited.

So the hubs and I headed out to clean off the cars and shovel.  And of course help the neighbors.  It was nice to see everyone out helping each other.

The Hunters are just high enough for today!

 There is just something so peaceful when it snows.  There is a quietness that is all around.  

  
 

With this lovely day ahead and chili in the crock pot this is how I will be spending the rest of the day.

 Stay warm and be safe.

How are you spending your day?

Out of My Zone

PLACES

If you know anything about me, it is that I can be considered a creature of habit.  I basically like to go to the same places and if it is somewhere to eat I usually order something I have ordered before.  I always think I am going to order something different, but when it comes time to tell the waiter what I would like, I always chicken out.  I just go with the basic, already known meal.  Boring!

So in this new year I am going to try and branch out.  You know, get out of my comfort zone.  

With that being said, this weekend I tried someplace new.  I have never been to this restaurant and it is actually new to the area. 

A friend and I had lunch plans this past weekend and once she got to my house we still didn't know where to go.  (We aren't the best at decision-making)  But I said lets try something new and we headed out the door.

Yes, I know it is Mexican, but one step at a time on this branching out thing.

I order a chicken quesadilla (a favorite of mine)

It was delicious.  I enjoyed my lunch and my friend ordered tacos and she said she would come back because she enjoyed her meal.  We are planning a trip back, maybe a happy hour.  Chips and salsa!

I have to say this little adventure turned out great.  The place was decorated full of colors, it was so much fun.

Lesson:  

Try something new because you never know.  This place is now on my list of places to go. 

Do you like to go out of your box?

 

Keep Calm-Baltimore

PLACES

Baltimore.  What does Baltimore mean to you?  It is a place where you can relax and have a wonderful night out.  Go downtown and have a wonderful dinner.  You can go shop around the mall.  A place where running errands can either take you a couple minutes or the traffic can be so bad it takes up your whole day.  A place where you can see designer, name brand bags or see cheap, no names.  This is a place that you will see alittle bit of everything.  Have you been to the mall lately?  You will always see alittle bit of everything at the Towson Town Center.

 So let me ask my BMore readers.  What does this mean to you?  And if you aren't from here image what it means for the place you call home.
 I will be the first to tell you that I like Maryland, but Baltimore city is a whole other story.  Don't get me wrong I love hanging out with friends downtown.  Dinner and drinks downtown is always fun.  In the summer, the idea of walking to dinner and then out at night seems like so much fun.  But, there is a catch when living downtown Baltimore.
Here are so things to Keep Calm about when living in Baltimore.

  Keep Calm- You will need to find a parking space

This is why people don't leave the city once they are there.  These city dwellers hardly ever drive anywhere once they are home from work because they have to circle around to find a close parking spot.  Now you can be lucky sometimes.

Keep Calm- Everyone knows everything

Like I stated in my Baltimore Smalltimore post.  You can't go out without running into someone you know.  There is a saying that if you don't know what you are doing someone else does.  I can tell you that this is usually true.

Keep Calm- It's the Ravens

Come on, it's the Ravens.  Now, personally I am not a big football person, but the Ravens get me going.  Why can't they play well together?  Last year Superbowl champs! What?

Keep Calm- It's Charm City

Yes, Baltimore is home of the show The Wire. Yes, people ask about that.  But I don't live there.  Not all Baltimore is like that, trust me.  It is a great place to live.  Tradition is just one word that comes to mind when I think of my hometown.  Read my High School Post here.

Keep Calm- It's the weather

Here in Balto. we like to think we have 4 seasons but that isn't always the case.  Sometimes it goes from summer to winter and then back to summer.  I know we aren't the only ones that deal with this.  I find the transition periods between seasons difficult solely because I don't always know what to wear.  

This winter we have been having some crazy weather.  Summer temperatures and now single digits!  Stay warm out there tomorrow.

Every city has something about it that makes it different, makes it stand out against the others.  Just remember to Keep Calm, it is your home.

Train Garden Tradition

EVENTS/PLACES

The trains are up and running at The Shops at Kenilworth Mall.  Every year a team of men put together an amazingly detailed train garden that draws a crowd during the holidays.  These men start before Thanksgiving in order to get everything together in time for the little ones to enjoy while visiting Santa.

I believe this is one of the best times at Kenilworth.  Having the trains and Santa at the mall just make that Italian Gardens pizza taste even better!  

This time of year is so magical for the little ones.  I remember my times at Kenilworth and looking at the trains.  All their hard work and details really do pay off because of the joy it brings to the people.

If you have never been to see these trains you have to stop into the mall.  Every year they add new and exciting things to the garden.  You never know what you are going to see!

You can look at the trains a couple times because you will see something new each time.

From one end to another you will enjoy the trains.  There are interactive buttons for the little ones to push making trains moves or helicopters fly.

The details are perfect.  These men truly pay attention.  Each figure is placed in a certain spot bringing together the whole garden.  They want everyone to have a great experience.

  

Just love the little downtown area with the stadiums and the row houses.  How cute! 

If you have little ones it is a perfect outing.  Trains and pizza, you can't go wrong.  Then, you can go up stairs and visit with Santa.

Have fun planning your holiday activities or taking part in the traditions.