Cinda B

I’m loving my latest accessory purchase – a purse from Cinda B.

I found my new bag in a great little shop on the Outer Banks called Urban Cottage. I saw the Cinda B line during a shopping excursion in the village of Duck and made my way back before the end of the trip to add to my accessory obsession collection. Check out Cinda B’s website for a full look at her product line. The photo above doesn't do the actual purse justice - it's very cute and lightweight, a big "must" for this short gal and her aching back.

Here's Ms. Cinda with some of her designs (yeah, of course, she's so stinking cute.) True, the quilted designs of her bags are similar to Vera Bradley, but there are differences that I like, which is why I purchased the hobo bag.

I also like this beach bag - very cute. (And, Cinda B is made in the USA, so another plus.)

I’m slowly making my way back to “real world mode.” Dropped Miss E. off at day camp and Little Man at daycare this morning. He was a bit bummed that he didn’t return yesterday to see his friends. “You told me when we moved back home I could see them!” he said. His four-year old mind is still trying to grasp the concept of a place you stay temporarily while on vacation versus your actual home. Believe me, kiddo, Mommy wishes she was still at the vacation home.

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!
Images from Cinda B

No More Road Trips (For Now, At Least)

Clickety clack, clickety clack, I'm back.

Sigh.

So very hard to return to the real world after being on vacation. The Outer Banks were wonderful, as usual. Relaxing, lazy, sun-filled days. How I want to return. Although, I really missed flying this time. We did a road trip this year to save money, since the kids now require full-price plane tickets. We opted to drive and split the trip up into two days, spending the night in Lexington, Va. While I like stopping in Lexington - home to VMI and Washington & Lee - I am sooo not a fan of road trips. The kids had a few meltdowns along the way and it about sent me over the edge. I don't take stress very well, can't you tell? I know, I should go with the flow. But, that's just hard for me sometimes. Oh, well. I had plenty of days at the beach to make up for it.

So, on my last day of vacay, I'm at home getting ready for the week ahead. Going to try to squeeze as much out of the precious few hours I have left. Perhaps hit the library and the pool with the kids, then prep for tomorrow's activities: work, camp, daycare.

In the meantime, I need to catch up on all of your wonderful blogs, my friends. Happy Monday - hope you are well!

Vacation and Birthdays

Soaking in our last day at the beach. Also happens to be my birthday - if I have to turn another year older, I'd certainly rather celebrate it here. And, believe it or not, Hubby's birthday is today, too. Yep, we have the same b-day, although, I'm younger. Hee, hee. :)

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. I'll be back at it next week. Just trying to enjoy every precious minute of vacation, as I'm sure everyone can appreciate.

Cheers!

Cruise - Yay or Nay?

Okay, blogger friends, I am seeking your input. Have you ever been on a cruise and if so, did you like it? Would you recommend it to others or not? Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? Like, dislike? Why?

As I mentioned, I'm already planning our summer vacation. We're likely going to the Outer Banks, which we adore, but are also toying with some other ideas. I've never been on a cruise, so I thought I would do some research. Thanks in advance for your input!

Have a great weekend!
Image from Disney Cruise Line

Over the Mountains and Through the Woods...

Well, we’re gearing up for a quick getaway to the mountains of North Carolina. This is an annual trip my father-in-law and his wife plan every summer, gathering the blended family for a few days in the mountains. What’s especially nice is that they cover our accommodations at the lodge, so that definitely makes it an affordable option, since we already did our beach vacation in June. It’s nice to get away for a bit, but I’m so caught up in everything going on at home, that it’s hard to leave town for a few days knowing that I should be at the house, packing for the big move and spending time with Mom. Oh, well.

Good news, though. Mom is scheduled for release next Friday and it looks like she’ll be going home with a walker rather than a wheelchair. She’s made some major progress in the last few weeks. She has another MRI today, so please send prayers her way that the MRI will show that the infection is no longer present in the brain. That way, she can have the PIC line removed and no longer need an IV, but rather take her meds orally. I’ve been so thankful for your many prayers along this crazy journey. I do believe that’s what has gotten us through this ordeal.

So, Mom's release is the same day that we close on our house - of course, because that's how my life seems to work these days. Believe me, I'm not complaining, it just seems that everything is happening at once and the stress is getting to me a bit. On second thought, maybe a mountain get-away is exactly what I need right now. :)

Enjoy the rest of your week, my friends. I'll be back and preparing for the craziness of a move. I bet you can't wait for the ramblings I'll post about that adventure!

The Return of the Native

Shew, it's hard to get back into the groove after spending several days at the beach! We had a great time. The hardest decision to make that week was whether to go to the beach or the pool. A nice break from what had been going on leading up to our vacation.

The above pic was taken in front of the cottage we rented with my husband's family. It's in a really nice community called Seawatch, which is just a short walk to the beach. As you can see, Hubby is sporting an arm splint. He and his brother took our son and nephews to go crabbing and while there, Hubby fell on some rocks, injuring his wrist. Luckily it wasn't broken, just sprained. But, because he also cut it, he had to get a tetanus shot. So, this is the second time we've had to visit a coastal ER on a vacation (our son had an allergic reaction a couple of years ago, which landed us in the Nags Head hospital).

This was our first visit to Kure Beach, since we are long-time OBX travelers. Kure was nice, although to access it, you need to go through Carolina Beach, which is very commercial. I detest commercial beach areas, hence our many trips to the Outer Banks. So, I was a little disappointed with the carnival atomosphere of that stretch. But, once you get into Kure and beyond it's really a nice stretch of beach (hope I'm not offending any Carolina beach lovers - to each his own). We flew into Wilmington, which is a nice area as well.

Update on my mom: she's now in the rehabilitation unit at the hospital where she's been staying. Each day, she goes through intense physical, occupational and speech therapy. She's made great progress, so we're thankful she's on the road to recovery. And, God bless my dad for all he's been through. The one thing he asks for is eight straight hours of sleep and a round of golf, so I'm hoping we can make that happen for him!

Have a great week, everyone!

Beach Bound

In a few short days I will be here...


With these little guys...

Drinking pitchers of this...

All while doing this...

I'll be back in a few days. Meanwhile, I hope everyone has a great week. Thanks for the lovely birthday wishes and again, for the prayers for my mom.

By the way, the above drink is a Southside, a perfect summer cocktail. Here is the recipe, should you feel like making a pitcher this weekend.

The Southside
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce simple syrup
¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
5 mint sprigs, plus sprig for garnish
2 pieces lime or lemon
¾ ounces club soda

Place mint leaves and lime or lemon pieces at the bottom of a cocktail shaker and crush with back of spoon or muddler to release essential oils. Add and shake well. Pour into goblet or Collins glass filled with ice, top with club soda, and garnish with mint.

Variations: For a Southside Royale, add dry Champagne rather than club soda. Hendrick’s gin is especially good in this combination.For a pitcher of Southsides, do the math according to how many you want to serve, muddle the citrus and mint at the bottom of a pitcher, add remaining ingredients and stir vigorously until blended. Top with the club soda.
Images courtesy of Kure Beach, Taigon and Flickr

I'm Dreaming of a Warm Climate...

The Lilly Resort Collection, the beach, a margarita and me. That would do it.

So, I keep getting these e-mails from Lilly Pulitzer, telling me about their latest releases and updates on their resort collection. It just feels like a constant reminder that I'm in a very cold place and I should be elsewhere. So, to deal with the cold, dark days of January, I'm starting to research locations for our summer beach vacation.

We've traveled to the Outer Banks for the last several years and love it. But, we're thinking of a change. We've heard good things about Wilmington, N.C. and the surrounding beaches: Kure, Cape Fear, Carolina, etc. Has anyone been there and would you recommend it? If so, any particular rental agency? Or, should we look at South Carolina, perhaps Folly or Sullivan's Island? We like laid-back, lazy areas, but also within driving distance of other activities.

Any input on the beaches in those areas (or others you may be fond of) would be much appreciated. These cold days just aren't cutting it. I think I was destined to live much closer to the equator! Meanwhile, Hubby is a snow guy. Go figure. Oh, well. Maybe some day I'll move further south. We'll see. :)
Image courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer

Greenbrier Recap - Part 1

Here are a few pics from our anniversary trip to the Greenbrier (having some technical difficulties with the camera, so I hope to post more soon). This is just a sampling of that wonderful place - ah, to be pampered like that again! One of the little things I loved about the Greenbrier, was that each evening, a sign was placed outside the elevator that stated, "Shhh...it's sleepy time down South." Now, the kids and I say that each evening when they're in bed. :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Friday was our actual anniversary, so Hubby and I had a casual dinner at the restaurant where we met (it was on a blind date). It's also the same place where we had our rehearsal dinner. When we arrived, they led us to our table where a bucket of champaign and two glasses were waiting for us. He called ahead and planned this - what a guy! I am a lucky woman.

Sunday was pumpkin-picking day and we came home with some whoppers!

Happy Monday!

The Horsey Set

Just had to share a pic of these amazing boots from Billy Reid - how fabulous are these bad boys? I saw plenty of these sassy riding boots while in West Virginia. The horsey set definitely likes to hang out at the Greenbrier. Alas, my boots are purely for show and were worn only to dinner, rather than out riding. But, we did manage to bring home a pony for Miss. E (albeit, the stuffed variety).

I'm back...

Well, it's back to reality today as I return from splendor in the Allegheny Mountains to my desk in the high-rise. Sigh. It was a lovely vacation in a gorgeous setting. The Greenbrier is everything and more. They treat you likely royalty. I have plenty of photos to share - I'll download them soon.

Hope everyone is doing well - I need to catch up on my blog reading!

Need your opinion...

The Greenbrier

Blackberry Farm

The Homestead

In October, Hubby and I will celebrate our 10-year anniversary. I blogged about this a few months ago, talking about grandiose plans of Belize or some other exotic locale. Well, now that Hubby has a new job, his vacation time is limited. And, in rethinking some of our spending of late, so are our expenses.

So, in order to save costs we’re considering three resorts that are within driving distance. But, we also want a first-class experience. So, if any of you have been to these locales, please share your thoughts – would love to hear about it!

The Greenbrier (White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia) – Fine dining, outdoor activities (including a gun club and fly fishing for Hubby), spa, shopping, afternoon tea and more set amid the Allegheny Mountains.

Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee) – Another luxury resort situated in the Great Smokey Mountains. Spa, Orvis-endorsed fly fishing, clay shooting, horseback riding, and fine dining.

The Homestead (Hot Springs, Virginia) – This grand hotel is located in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia and boasts luxurious accommodations, golf, outdoor adventure, spa, and much more. It’s also well-known for its skiing. (The farthest away of the three, the Homestead likely won’t make the final cut, but maybe another time).
Images courtesy of The Greenbrier, Blackberry Farm and Homestead resort Web sites.

Vacation Montage

Here are a few images from vacation. Time at the beach, some shopping and our little visitor, Mr. Fox, who stopped by our patio each night. I couldn't resist posing by the Lilly Pulitzer Jeep in Duck. A store called Life's a Beach carries Lilly and Vineyard Vines. Hubby bought me a pair of McKim's for my birthday (I'm wearing them in one of the photos - not the best pic of me, but the shoes are fab!), while I got him some Lilly swim trunks (aren't we cute?). Anyhoo, a great time was had by all. I head back to work on Tuesday - one more day to take it somewhat easy.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Back from the Beach

I'm back! We had a wonderful time in the Outer Banks. Great weather, lots of time in the sun and surf and quality time with family. I promise to post pics once we get everything unpacked and situated.

When we arrived Friday evening, we went straight to the beach for a walk. Hubby threw a fishing pole in the water and we played in the sand. All was well until a small wave knocked the kids down and scared them. Miss E. kept screaming "I swallowed the soap!!" meaning the sea foam. Knowing she was fine, it was a little comical. But, she didn't go near the water the rest of the trip. And, it took Little Man a few days before he would get brave enough to go in the water. Oh, well.

The house where we stayed provided an interesting wildlife show each evening. Foxes, deer, a raccoon and rabbits were regular visitors. We kept our distance.

Hubby and I celebrated our birthdays on June 10, so my mother-in-law babysat at the beach house while we ventured into Duck to our favorite beach restraurant, the Roadside Bar & Grill. Matt the bartender makes the best mojitos known to man.

Can't wait to catch up with all of you and read your blogs. Hope everyone is doing well!

Unplug and Unwind

Tomorrow I am beach bound! I plan to enter "slow living mode" and disconnect from computers, cell phones, schedules, etc. Hubby and I will be celebrating our birthdays (yep, we have the same birthday - how crazy is that?) on June 10. If you're going to get a year older, might as well do it at the beach with a stiff drink in your hand!

So, while I'm gone, I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I'll take plenty of pics and post them when I return.

Let the Countdown Begin

Three weeks from this Friday, the fam and I will be leaving on a jet plane and heading to the Outer Banks. How excited am I? Hubby and I desparately need to get away and enjoy some "slow living." No agenda, no set plans; just getting up, eating breakfast, heading out to the beach, eating lunch, napping, more beach, cocktails, more eating, sleeping and the list goes on.

Ah, I can hear the ocean now...

So, dear readers, what are your plans for the summer? Any special getaways on the horizon?