Virginia Winery Weekend

This past weekend was my best friend's bachelorette weekend. We skipped the glittery components of most bachelorette parties and instead seven of us stayed at a gorgeous bed and breakfast in Virginia's wine country. The weekend included group runs, winery visits, decadent food, sunshine, and plenty of laughter.

I've never been to a winery, nor even a wine tasting before, but I had so much fun that I see more in my future. Even this bourbon and beer lover can appreciate a good wine every now and then. Especially when said wine is paired with gourmet chocolates :)

Scenes from Frankfurt

Earlier this month I had the absolute joy to cross out an item off on my bucket list.  Ever since I was a little girl I had hoped to go to Germany one day with my grandmother. When my dad's sisters and brothers went to Germany when I was a teenager I actually had an embarrassing case of envy. I was so happy for them and loved to hear their stories, but secretly I was frustrated that I wasn't able to go on the trip with them. My mom and Oma (grandmother in German) have crossed the pond a few times together and every time they go that little green eyed monster grows in me.

This year it certainly didn't seem like the ideal time to go. I have a baby. I don't get a full night sleep every night. My house is a wreck. I don't have enough vacation time to go thanks to taking a few days off after my son's surgery earlier this year and a massive snow storm (in factoring out my yearly vacation time I completely forgot that when daycare is closed due to snow that means someone has to stay home with the little guy!).

All the excuses were there not to go. But, my Oma's beloved husband passed away last year and she hasn't been her mentally upbeat person ever since. Around Christmas my sister mentioned that she was looking into going to Germany this year with my mom and my Oma.

Guess who was the person to find airfare so that we could all assemble from Baltimore, Austin, Florida, and NY into Toronto and catch a flight over to Frankfurt?  Yeah, that was me.

My husband told me to go. He'd gladly take care of our son for a week so I could cross off a very special item on my bucket list:

sharing a beer in Germany with my Oma.

Scenes from OBX

You know you have a relaxing vacation when you come and you have practically zero pictures of the trip between two DSLRs. I don't think I took either one of my cameras out of its case until the third day of the trip and I'm okay with that because I have the memories to rest on.

I'm trying to take a page from my hubs and just enjoy the moment, rather than worry about trying to take a photo of it. Clearly, it's a work in progress, but it's not a completely bad idea. I think it was easier to adopt that philosophy on this trip for two reasons:
- we've been to the Outer Banks before and honestly how many pictures of the ocean does one person need
- I avoid using my camera while drinking and guess what I did plenty of that on the trip!

What's your take on vacation photos? The more the merrier? Or just enjoy the moment?

Beach Essentials

Sunscreen // Book // Oakley "Sweet Spot" Shades // Eco Swim Bathing Suit  // Hat // Larabar (gluten free goodness) // Gum // American Made Matters key chain bottle opener (you never know when you need a beer) // Splendid bag to hold more sunscreen, chapstick, keys, wallet, etc. // Beach Towels 

Beach umbrella. The only way I could survive on the beach during prime sun light hours. Beach chair not pictured, but also necessary. 

My hubs might be the only person in the world who doesn't wear sandals/flip flops/sneakers to the beach. At least his Sperry's are colorful! 

A little bit of waves and clean sand. Not like I went in the water or anything. 

Random sidebar: this is the most I've gone to the beach in one year. Yes, a whopping two times. I haven't bought a bathing suit in six years so when it came time for this last beach trip I knew I needed a new bathing suit. One of the things I absolutely love about blogging is being introduced to new brands. A big thank you goes out to Mrs. American Made for introducing me to Eco Swim by Aqua Green. 

Not only does Eco Swim company make all of their bathing suits in the United States, but they also use sustainable building practices, recycled materials, and they participate in beach and ocean clean-up activities. Eco Swim for the win! I love my new suit so much that I'm already eyeing up this polka dot number to purchase next. 

I'm pretty sure if I buy two bathing suits in one year that means I should really learn how to swim sometime here soon. 

All I know is I came home with the beach with zero sunburn and that makes me a winner in my book. Even if I got my butt handed to me in Pac Man and Banana Grams. 

What are your beach essentials?  A bottle of water didn't make it into my picture, but that's always a must. 

Nags Head Sunrise

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Thankfully the weather forecast called for a few clouds one morning while the hubs and I were camped out in the OBX.  If you didn't know, a few clouds are a vital recipe for an amazing sunrise.  Another recipe is the determination to set your alarm clock to go off well prior to the sunrise.

Here's my problem. I'm in love with every single one of the photos above.  I can't commit to printing every single one because I have a minor confession to make:

I've never printed a single picture that I've taken with either of my two SLRs. 

I know. It's insane. I've had cards made and I've received birth announcements in the mail with photos I've taken, but I'ver never once printed a photo for myself.  It's a bad habit and it's one I'm trying to break. 

With that being said - which one would you print?  What size would you get it? 

I'm actually leaning towards a metal print rather than a traditional canvas because of the colors.  I'm really torn between photos #2 and #6, but every time I think to add one to a print lab cart one of the others starts to give me a guilt trip.

This is why I don't have any of my photos hanging up in my house! It's NUTS. 

Do you display the photos you've taken?  Where do you display them?  

I'm slowly adding the rest of our vacation photos to my Flickr Photostream. 

Sights from OBX

Just a quick photo dump of an incredibly relaxing trip the hubs and I took to the Outer Banks two weeks ago.  We rented a tiny cabin by the beach (no wifi!) and just enjoyed some much needed rest and relaxation with the dogs.  Crazy thing, I didn't take a single picture of the pups by the ocean because I never even brought my camera to the beach when I had the dogs!  

Totally crazy thing happened at the beach - Jewels ran right into the ocean. And, then promptly out :) 

Guess who got ZERO sunburn while on vacation?!?!?! That's right - the palest kid in the room. 

This was the first, but certainly not the last time, we've been to the outer banks.  I could hang out in the those Adirondack chairs every evening and be blissfully happy.