R&R

Dear Ocean,

Thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty…

all at once.

If you follow me on insta you probably already know that we were away all last week. We spent a full seven days at the Jersey shore, Avalon to be exact, and it was every bit as glorious as I'd hoped it would be. We were fortunate enough to have some seriously beautiful weather, and so therefore, we hit the beach just about every single day. Alec was such a little water bug and it made me so full of joy to see his love for the ocean. Watching him play and run on the beach with his cousins reminded me so much of my own childhood summers. 

Our trip was full of adventure. Lots of morning beach play, outdoor showers, afternoon siestas, and evening ice cream dates. We spent a day in Cape May, checking out all the historic sites. We even made not one, but two, trips to the county zoo. (Which was actually amazing, and FREE. Can't beat that.) We visited Morey's Pier one evening, in Wildwood, and Alec was in awe of all the rides and bustling activity. We beach hopped over to Sea Isle City for a day in the sun with family and friends. Our time away was nothing short of amazing and filled with some much needed R&R. I feel so grateful  to have had this time together with my boys. So many wonderful memories were made that I will cherish for years to come.  

Anyways, get ready for picture overload. And these are just a few of the many photos I captured on the big cam while we were away. 

 Thanks for visiting! I hope your summer has gotten off to a great start as well. Hooray for sunshine and time spent by the sea.

Plans

Kiel and I had been talking of plans to visit Florida as a family for quite some time. After all, our last trip down south was pretty incredible, view here. We thought that we could possibly get cardiac clearance from Alec's cardiologist at his last appointment in January, but unfortunately, we thought wrong. Very wrong. No clearance to fly with our little bug and lots of talk of procedures and surgeries instead. The docs offered us some guidance, in regards to family planning, and the ultimate decision that was made was to hold off on any future kiddos until we are through the thick of it. With all that being said, we are focusing on the positive and taking this next year or so to focus on other things instead.

We've decided to do some traveling in the year ahead, some as a family, some as a couple, and some on our own. Although we can't go too far, we are planning many road trips as a family. We always manage to visit the Delaware Beaches at least a handful of times in the summer and I'd love to throw a possible camping trip into the mix. Kiel and I have both wanted to take short, little getaways of our own, but their haven't been too many opportunities to do so with all that's been going on. Plus, until now, we just didn't feel ready to leave our little guys for more than one or two nights. I would love, love, love to get out to California to visit my college bestie. And Kiel has been wanting to take a boys trip down south to enjoy the sunshine and hit a few rounds of gold with his buddies. Hopefully, this year we can stammer up the courage to make these plans actually come to fruition.

As far as a couple getaway goes, I've been doing my research and I keep going back to the same place over and over. It's a long shot, but I've been dying to get out to the West Coast, Oregon specifically. If we can make it work financially and if we can convince my parents to watch Alec while we're gone, I would love to spend three days in the city (Portland specifically) and three days on the coast (Cannon Beach has seemed most appealing). I've read so many amazing things about both locations and airbnb offers quite a few affordable, aesthetically pleasing accommodations.

Portland seems like an incredible place to visit. Tons of amazing local coffee roasters and gourmet donut shops (two of my favorite things). Great vintage shopping and curbside food trucks galore. Eclectic bars, a buzzing music scene, and plenty of flea markets. I have so much on my to-do list, I don't really know if three days is enough! I expect our time in the city to be busy and tiring, which is okay by me. But I do feel as though we deserve some time to relax, as well... that's when we head to the coast. Only an hour and a half drive from the city, Cannon Beach seems like the most ideal spot to spend a couple lazy days together. The pictures I've seen are just breath-taking. The weather is a bit cool, which would probably be a nice break for us come August on the East coast. Our mornings could be spent hiking through Ecola State Park or cruising on bikes along the coastline. Evenings could be spent at home, cooking meals, drinking wine, and just spending quality time together, 1:1.

I really pray we can make this work, and if not this exactly, something along these lines. Do you have any suggestions overall? Places you've visited that you really enjoyed? Or semi-local family getaways that you'd recommend? All or any advice welcome! I think 2015 is going to be an adventurous year, and I look forward to each and every bit of it.

Shake the Blues

Growing up in Delaware, our Winter season varies from mild to frigid. Fortunately, for us, this year hasn't been to unbearable just yet, but with a chill in the air and limited things to do outdoors, it sometimes becomes challenging to maintain a positive mindset. Below are just a few things that I try and do to avoid the cold-weather blues.

1. Keep Yourself Busy. Get out of the house at least once per day. Short trips to the local library or grocery store make for a simple morning on the move. An occasional day-long outing to a children's museum, aquarium, or botanical garden (like Longwood Gardens) are a few fun ways to mix things up. And play/lunch dates with friends close by are, one hundred percent, the easiest and most enjoyable option.

2. Scatter A Bit Of Greenery in every corner of your home. There is much proof in the fact that bringing the outside in makes a big difference in your overall health and well-being. Read up and go to your local nursery immediately!

3. Get Moving. Incorporate exercise into your routine, at least three times a week. I've been doing a mix of T25 and Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown and I'll admit it feels really good. I'm requiring less coffee to feel energized throughout the day and I feel really accomplished when I hit the hay. Plus it's a great outlet for stress, and Lord knows I have my fair share of that.

4. Get Out of Town. Get away to somewhere warm, or if that's not possible, take a road trip to a different town. A different setting does the body good. Prior to having Alec, Kiel and I were avid travelers. We averaged at least three or so trips a year. Due to Alec's cardiac condition, traveling far from our local children's hospital is not something we are interested in, nor is it recommended by Alec's physician. Although we are pretty limited in the travel department, we do often enjoy a weekend getaway to the Delaware Beach every now and again. It's amazing how a different setting can break up the monotony of a long Winter season. I highly recommend a change of scenery when you begin to feel the blues creeping in.

5. Bask In The Light. This is kind of a no-brainer. Let the light in! Roll up your shades and cozy up in the brightest little corner of your home. In the Winter months, while Alec naps, I often like to sit in my front room and read. The couch is positioned directly in front of two large windows and the natural light is so abundant. Just that little bit of vitamin D makes me feel so incredibly refreshed. It has been said that the most effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder is natural light. Give it a try, get lost in a good book while basking in the sun,  I guarantee it makes a difference in your overall mood.

A Quick Getaway

This past weekend my parents agreed to watch Alec overnight, so we jumped on the opportunity and headed North to see some old friends from college. It has been over two years since I have had the chance to visit my old pal, Chelsea, who only lives about two hours away in Hoboken, NJ. She is the very best hostess and every visit is full to the brim with adventure. She is one the those people that never lets you down, always ensuring that she shows you the best time possible. Not to mention, that she alone, is such a joy to be around. 

Hoboken itself, is actually a really great time, but this visit Chelsea took us into bustling New York City.  We went to a delicious dinner at Rosemary's, an Italian restaurant in the West Village. We shared small plates, and enjoyed sipping rosemary lemonade and Prosecco cocktails. After dinner we ventured to the Biergarten at The Standard Hotel for a drink while we waited to hear from friends. Once we got in touch, we jumped on the subway and headed into Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There, we went to Kinfolk and Black Bear Bar. We had an absolute blast boozing, dancing, and just catching up on old times. We ended the night at a lock pizza shop, and each enjoyed a slice or two. Mmm, so good. I only wish we had more time the following morning to do brunch with everyone, but unfortunately, we had to be on the road by noon. 

The lifestyle up there is so incredibly foreign to me…. tiny little apartments that cost a fortune, subways and taxis, and a melting pot of all different people from all over the globe. In my early twenties, I always thought that I would enjoy the whole 'city living' experience. I thought that maybe I'd regret not jumping at the chance to live somewhere other than 'home'. But now that I see myself more clearly, I know that a big city would swallow me whole and I am surely a small town girl at heart. But that doesn't mean that I don't love a weekend city adventure, because I surely do. Thanks for a great time old pal, til next time friend. 

Wanderlust

My social media feeds have been swamped with beautiful weddings and alas honeymoon pics galore. I am loving all the different places people have shared about, and I have found myself reminiscing about all our adventures over the last few years. Prior to parenthood, Kiel and I were quite the little travel bees. We tried to plan at least one big getaway a year, with two or so other little long weekends away here and there. Now that Alec is over a year and has a relatively steady routine, I am starting to feel more comfortable with the idea of leaving him. He would be in great hands and I know he would be just fine, but I am sure I will shed a few ugly tears the first time I am away from him for longer than a day or two. Despite the emotional struggle, I think the rewards of going away would be profound.  Kiel and I could really use some quality alone time in a beautiful place. So, with all that being said, I am starting to contemplate our next getaway. We have a a few options already on the table for the late winter/spring, but I am keeping my options open, because, after all, it is a rare occasion that we will get this opportunity again anytime soon. 

Just a few of my favorites adventures…

 A hike up Diamond Head to get this picturesque view of Waikiki

 An excursion above the clouds on the Big Island of Hawaii

 A sporadic trip to Key West

 A beach ride along the Coast of Cali

Our honeymoon along the French Riviera

All fancied up for our evening at the Monte Carlo Casino

A hike up the Falls at Watkins Glen

A weekend away in Chicago to enjoy the sites and jam out at Lollapalooza

Paddle boarding along the coast of Kauai

A helicopter ride along the Napali Coast

 A bike tour around the grounds of Versailles

Cheese and wine with a fantastic view

 A day trip to the haunted grounds of Stonehenge

Enjoying the sites of London Town

 Our very last vacation before Alec's arrival. A babymoon to Anna Maria Island.

Who knows where our next adventure will be, but I am really looking forward to the possibilities. Any suggestions on a location? I'd like to get away for about four or so days….maybe somewhere warm in the winter months… somewhere that we can both relax and site see… somewhere that will make us feel  refreshed and energized. Well, no matter what we decide, I am sure you will hear and see all about it on this here blog. Thanks for visiting! 

xo-L

Spring Has FINALLY Sprung.

Delaware's Beach reached a whopping 77 degrees over the weekend! It was glorious! And you better believe we soaked up every single moment in the sun. It truly is amazing what a little sunshine can do for the soul. Our weekend away consisted of many walks along the water and lots of delicious outdoor dining. I am really looking forward to many more lovely Spring days with these two adorable dudes.

Over the Weekend

Finally, a nice day! A near 70 degree day! It is exactly what we all needed to give us hope for Spring.  I had to work nightshift on Friday, but Kiel convinced me that a trip to the beach (post-work) on Saturday morning was a must. With must hesitation, I finally agreed. Boy, am I glad I listened! What's a little sleep deprivation when you can walk the beach without shoes and sit outside for happy hour. After working the last two weeks in full, this was my first Saturday and Sunday off in a while. The Drakes were in dire need of some quality family team and this little beach trip was just what the doctor ordered. Come on Spring! Give us more days like this to enjoy!