In need of a vacay...

Dulles to Qatar, Qatar to Male, Male to the Maldives (on a sea plane mind you) = 32 hours of flying/ travel

then on the way back home...


Maldives to Male (on said sea plane), Male to Doha, Doha to LAX = 49 hours of flying/travel

 Heaven..... it just happens to be  in the middle of the Indian Ocean....literally when you google map it, it is this tiny  island and nothing else until you get to India. Well there the island of Male, which you fly into THEN take the sea plane across the ocean to the island.

Is it worth it?

We have been looking at a million honeymoon places today. We've contemplated the Maldives, Bora Bora, Thailand, Jamaica, Italy, France, Greece or any combo of European cities, Hawaii and Mexico. We're gonna be honeyyyymooning for 10-14 days depending on how long our stuff takes to drive cross country and meet us in Cali.

Some of my favorites so far...

Thailand

Anastasis, Santorini

The Caves, Negril, Jamaica

Thoughts?

Craving...

    Lately but I have been craving summer. Warm on your face, can throw on some sandals and sundress, sit outside all day kinda sun. When I think of warm weather I immediately think of the South. Deep South. I have the need for a slower pace of life, something simpler. I yearn to be riding one of these barefoot...

Down a warm, sleepy road like this buried under weeping willows....

Until I get here.....

Then after watching the boats all day long.....

 I would pull up a rocking chair on this front porch on the water ...and just SIT.

Ready.....

To some surprise or not, it's been a love/hate relationship with the idea of moving thousands of miles away to the "other" coast... but here's my final verdict.

             You only get a few shots at this life. Really, if you get more than one good one, you're incredibly lucky. You have to live, love, experience new things, and soak in all the knowledge you can. Use what you have and take it all in. We have been given/blessed with this phenomenal chance and opportunity. One of us in particular worked incredibly incredibly hard for it. Who am I to fight it?  It was never on the radar, in the cards, or however you want to word it. It's all one big ride. I will tell you one thing though-10 years ago when I first met my soon-to-be corporate lawyer husband man friend, I couldn't have possibly predicted this would be the road we would go down... that's the most exciting part. One of my dearest friends told me that she believes the universe is balanced and that things happen for different reasons, good and bad, to keep it all that way. Regardless of what you believe, in respect to destiny, fate or luck for that matter, I do know this for sure, I am right where I'm supposed to be. Nevertheless, I sit up at night and ask myself/answer a million questions.......Will I miss my family and friends? duh.... Will I make new friends? I went through years of sorority recruitment, I can pref my way in with a few I'm sure.....Will I fit in? I'm blonde, how hard could it be.... Will I regret starting this new amazing, crazy, unpredictable adventure with my absolute best friend, true partner, and someone I couldn't love more? Not in a million years.

   So California, here's to you. I may seem a little sassy when we first get together but I assure you I'll come around. I can't wait to meet you.

and P.S.. Thanks, we needed this.

Dear chocolate...

I'm sorry we have to have this conversation. I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm getting married in about 6 months. Yep, I know, it's pretty exciting! With that being said, I must give you up for Lent starting this Wednesday. Don't feel bad, I'm giving up all sweets in general. I'm also going to try to give up bread, but lets face it, it will probably be like that time I tried to give up Diet Coke. Seeing as how I'm drinking one now, it didn't work. If you could stay away for now that would be really great. I promise I'll see you at Easter.

Thanks, love you, mean it

Emily

Weekend Recap...

I didn't mean to go so long without posting! I have been super exhausted from my kids at school to the point where last week I fell asleep in the bathtub :) After an amazing weekend I am re-charged and ready to go!

Friday was an old fashioned, all-American elementary school Valentines Day. SO much fun! We decorated paper bags earlier in the week and lined them up ready to go that morning. The kids had made all sorts of sweet treats and were more than excited to pass them out to all of their friends and teachers (lucky us)... I ended up with 4 bags of amazing and creative valentines from all my little lovelies. The chocolate kept coming! But hey, that's what it's all about right? Some the cards were too funny!!

After school on Friday I immediately hit the road for Lexington VA. I couldn't wait to get away and spend a low key relaxing weekend with J. The beauty of Lexington is that you are almost forced to relax. There isn't too much to do and that's the way I like it! Its peaceful, beautiful and full of clear mountain air.

Friday night we hit up one of our favorite restaurants, The Palms. We can easily walk to downtown Lex from J's apt so it was nice to get out and go for a kinda chilly but beautiful stroll. They make this amazing club sandwich that I had been dying for so my future husband obliged me. Some sandwiches and cold pitchers of beer...perfection! 

Saturday morning the weather was gorgeous! After the grocery store and lunch out we headed home and decided to take a "nature" walk (aka I wanted to test out my new cam). Thanks Santa! What better way to spend a day? 

(PS. I love going to the grocery store with J. It's always so much fun. How dorky is that? haha I had decided I wanted to take a stab at making Coq Au Vin  for dinner and my my was it delicious)

Some of Lexington's finest....

J's apartment in an old house they converted... pretty cool

Dream house....

Gotta love the mountains....

Sunday was the most relaxing day I've had in a while! We brunched at The Southern Inn and it was so gooood! Brunch is definitely one of my favorite meals/things to do....ever. J had to work on some school stuff and draft some papers so he had DVR'd all my favorite shows so I wouldn't get tooo bored :) . Lots of Chopped, Divine Design and House Hunters!! Happy Valentines Day to me! We ventured back to The Southern Inn for what proved to be the best dinner we've had in a while. Cocktails, calamari, glassssses of wine, surf and turf, scallops, Irish Cream cheesecake AND chocolate covered strawberries? It was incredible. We had THE best time. I think we just kept ordering things so we didn't have to leave the restaurant!  Plus, I had Monday off from school so what better way to end the weekend!

P.P.S   I also baked these beauties to enjoy over the weekend....

Sprinkles, hearts, quasi mushy post and baking? Whats happening to me ;)

 EmB, please keep your commentary to yourself.

Oh life...

New post tomorrow. It's too late and Im catching up with a dear friend :) Lots to come....