Sledding {Finally!}

This week has been a bit of a wake up call after having two glorious weeks of holiday vacation time. The time off was just what the doctor ordered and I did my absolute best to have a good time, be slightly productive with projects and sleep in as much as humanly possible.

Mission accomplished.





On our way back from Atlanta we purposely scheduled our flight to drop us right in our favorite New England city - Portland, Maine. That way we would break up our trip a bit and tag on a few days with several friends from camp.





We spent two nights curled up in the cutest house I ever did see, complete with a barn out back and a wood burning stove that kept us toasty for the New Years celebration.





We were only in town for one full day and we obviously chose to bundle up in all of our snow gear and head over to camp for a little exploration. Between the five of us, we've logged an astonishing number of summers at camp so it only seemed appropriate that we finally get to see it under a blanket of snow and, more importantly, finally walk on the lake.





Looking at all the snow was cool, and the lake was most certainly frozen but the main attraction was (drum roll please) sledding!

Y'all. It's been on my winter bucket list ever since I moved to Canada. Every year our friends discuss how we're all going to go sledding THIS weekend. Every year we talk about it and every year sledding gets but on the back burner.





But not last weekend. We bundled up in full snow gear, dug a sled out of the shed, filled the thermos with hot cocoa and set off for camp.

Of the few hills that we suspected would be good for sledding, we settled on the water ski beach first and then moved over to the baseball field. I'm not going to lie, a very small part of me was a little nervous. I mean, I haven't been on a sled since I was about six years old.

Let me tell you, it was awesome. We each took turns blazing a trail down the hill so that the next person in line got an even faster ride.

Our blue L.L.Bean kids sled was impressively fast and even managed to dump a few of us over on occasion.





We kept sliding (as the Canadians call it) until the sun set on our little party. I had long forgotten my frozen toes at that point and our sledding had progressed to the point of shoveling small hills to catch air on and trying to avoid hitting the camp theater. Most of us were out of breath from climbing up the hill a million times and TC had long since thrown off his gloves and jacket.





After almost a decade of working at camp it was definitely a career highlight to see it in the winter and go sledding down the very beach that I usually walk barefoot on while wearing my bathing suit and board shorts.

Now that real life is back in full effect, I'm even more glad that TC and I added on the extra few hours to our trip in order to make time for New Years at camp. It was definitely the perfect way to finish out 2013.

{Yes, walking on icy snow is tough. Kasey demonstrated that several times.}

Hello There.

Good news! I'm am not stranded in an apple orchard. No, in fact I left the apple orchard that day and simply hung up my blogger hat. As it turns out, blogging takes up a good bit of time and life was picking up the pace. Something needed to give. Family, work, sleep, and home all take precedence. And if I'm being honest, it was really work that was suffering. I realized one day that what I really needed was more sleep - and guess what keeps me up past a normal bed time? Writing.

So, I'm back. But only on a self-imposed probationary period. We'll see how well I can stick to a reasonable bed time.

Now, where to begin?





Back before the snow, I suppose. TC and I moved! We bought a house that is perfect for us. It's just across town and has marvelous features like no neighbors living directly above and below us! A garbage disposal! A GARAGE! More than one tiny bathroom and a linen closet that actually holds all my towels! It's a miracle, I tell ya. Oh, and get this - we no longer have to keep my dresser in another room. Our bedroom can actually hold both dressers. Crazy, right?

Every single wall needs to be painted and there is definitely some furniture to be bought but for now I'm just enjoying the new space. Actually, even though I promised I wouldn't touch a paintbrush for a few months, I caved over the weekend and painted my office. I'll be sure to show you the before and afters soon.

We've had an unbelievable amount of snow this winter so it was extra nice to catch a plane to Atlanta for the holidays and escape the constant blizzards. I spend most of my fall getting excited for our holiday trip and this year was just as wonderful as always.





We spent an amazing Christmas with my family. Gift were opened, mimosas were consumed and a lot of time was spent sitting around the kitchen just hanging out and talking about a whole lot of nothing. There is definitely no place like home.

In Atlanta we also got too see all of my friends - we went out to breakfast, we had dinner, we went to a home inspection, we went on a Ferris Wheel, we sat on living room floors to play super heros with the kids, and we ate lunch at the Food Truck Park.





A little bit of everything as we spent time with all my girls. Perfection, really. And let's be real - you know how much I love ferris wheels.





After leaving Atlanta we spent a few nights with friends in Maine for New Years Eve. It was a mini reunion of sorts and was the perfect way to spend the last day of our holiday break. For some reason the snow looks prettier down in Maine than it does here at home. But that's probably because there was a lot less of it there.

I've got a few projects in the works, a few new recipes, a discovery or two and a couple of adventures that I'll fill you in on in the near future.

It's good to be back :) Thanks for being patient with me.

InstaTravel.

Last I checked, I was at the beach. Somehow between then and now I've managed to make my way clear across the country and back to real life. As in, tomorrow is the first day of school and I haven't picked out my outfit except my new mint green shoes.

It all started when we drove back from the beach. I arrived home in Atlanta to an empty house and was forced to hibernate at Sally's house because I am, apparently, scared of the dark.

A few days later I hopped a plane and witnessed a breath-taking sunset as we flew North to Maine. Back to camp - where I really belong.





There's something about camp when just a few of us are around. We were down to a skeleton crew for the weekend. Just four of us left alone on the beautiful grounds without a kid or a counselor in sight.

Left to our own devices, we spent our time taking photos, sipping coffee next to the lake, grilling on the lake and splashing in the water.





When it came time to begin the drive back to Canada I got a late start. It takes forever to drive through Northern Maine because time slows down up there. Gone are the exits, gone are the street lights, gone are the other cars, gone is the cell phone service. It's basically one big prayer, hoping for safe travels and no car trouble.

But it is gorgeous. Mt. Katahdin keeps an eye on you, as moral support.

Funny things happen when you cross the border. All of the sudden you don't know how far away anything is because it is measured in kilometers. And the time changes - to an hour ahead of Eastern. Plus, you have no idea exactly how fast to drive because it's been three months and you can't remember what a speed limit of 110 means in your American car. But then there is a Tim Horton's and their coffee makes everything make sense again. Until it's time to pay and you have nothing but green bills in your wallet.

Ahhh, Canada. I'll get used to it one day.





TC took me to the beach the next day, which made my return that much sweeter.





The water and I speak the same language. No cultural barriers there.

The Beach.

You know when you plan a weekend get-a-way and it lives up to all the expectations you had? That was this weekend. My sister, best friend and I loaded up the car and headed south in search of white sand on Florida's panhandle. 

We had one fabulously fun day on the beach. We also had a rainy day, which is only slightly unfortunate when there are only two days in the weekend. But the sunny day made up for it tenfold. 

Plus there was the small incident where I rode my bike into a large cluster of bushes and everyone was too busy laughing at me to help untangle me from the twigs. That definitely made up for the rain. I suspect we'll be laughing about that for a while. 

Before the rain hit we got a little too big for our britches and decided that an eight mile bike ride to nearby Seaside was manageable. None of us took the Florida humidity into consideration - or the fact that eight miles is a really long way - so we turned back around mile two. But we figured that a four mile ride had earned us a margarita or two, which is how we spent the rest of our rainy day. 

When the rain subsided on day two we hit the beach bright and early. Sun or no sun, we weren't about to miss out on another day. 

We set up shop quite nicely, red solo cups and all. As it should, our day morphed nicely from chatting to sipping margaritas, to playing games and diving through the waves.

Although I was raised going to the beach every summer, I've never been a huge fan of salt water. However, I've recently decided that seizing the day is the way to go. So into the ocean I went, salty water be damned.

While I was in there I remembered how my dad taught me to dive under waves as they were crashing. After jumping over a few I finally decided to seize the day and make the dive under. Let me tell you, it felt great. The waves, the bubbles, the sand - it was like being a kid again.

Mermaid is the name of the game. My goal was to dive under every wave that crashed and kick my feet up above the water just like a mermaid would. I haven't had so much fun in months. Sure, I hurt my shoulder in the process, but no worse than that time when I crashed my bike into the bushes. 

Basically, totally worth it. This is why they invented aspirin. 

The countdown is on - one more day on this side of the Mason Dixon line before I head back to Maine and then home to Canada. 

Time to have some last minute summer fun!

At The Beach.

Florida. The beach! White sandy shores. Two of my favorite girls. Drinks! So many delicious drinks.

Life doesn't get much better.





We weren't here ten minutes before we whipped up a batch of my mom's famous margaritas. I'll share the recipe next week. Not to worry. Ignore the brown hue, they're delicious.

With red Solo cups in hand we booked it down to the beach just in time for sunset.

The beach was still packed with folks that had clearly been back to their houses for showers and a change of clothes and then headed back down with wine in hand to catch the sunset.

It was a party. Some lucky folks even had a bonfire built and waiting for them. We spent a solid twenty minutes debating the best way to snag an invitation.





We've got big things on the agenda. Like eating. And drinking. And sitting on the beach.

And drinking more margaritas.





Those pounds I want to lose? They're just going to have to wait a few more days.

I'm going to soak up every last bit of this trip and enjoy the company to the fullest.





The last time Sally and I went to the beach was in high school - as in, 15 years ago.

Holy crap. My math must be wrong. Surely we're not that old. The margaritas must be getting to me.

But based on how well she knows me, that seems about right. We've been best friends forever.

I hope you do something fun this weekend :) Happy Friday!

She's Married!

Last weekend, I had the good fortune to see one of my oldest friends get married.

Her name is Katie and we met way back at the beginning of middle school. We were tight back then. Thick as thieves in those days, and caused just as much trouble.

Even as the years have passed on, we have always remained close, even when different social circles pulled us in different directions. Even when we moved to different cities. But those childhood bonds, do they ever run deep.





We both went to each other's weddings and we both married boys with the same name...just like us.

Kate and Jonathan and Katie and Jon.

Too cute.





It's funny now to see who is at who's weddings. Funny how those that you were once closest with are no longer around. Those who you didn't foresee being there in the long run are still around and just as important as ever. Even funnier how one weekend can bring all of those good memories back and make you wonder why high school cliques ever existed to begin with.

(Side note: There are seven of us in the photo. Two are named Amy/Aimee and three are named Kate/Katie/Catie. This is why we go by our last names.)





But the best is when you all pick right back up where you left off. Without missing a beat.

It's been 10 years since we've seen each other? No way.

You have kids? Awesome. More importantly, remember that time at soccer practice when you flicked me off and had to run laps as punishment? Remember when we were fourteen years old and took your mom's car for a joyride? Remember when we built a float for the Homecoming parade? Remember when you caught me sneaking out of a basement window when you just happened to be walking by with your pet snake wrapped around your neck and scared the living bejesus out of me? Remember when we worked at the deli and the ice cream shop that were next door to each other and stole food to trade with each other all the time?





Yeah. Those were the days.





High school may have been a roller coaster, but now I look back and only see the good times, the good friends and all of the fun we had.





Anyway. Back to the wedding. I flew into Atlanta and then my parents and I headed out to Pawleys Island in South Carolina for the wedding festivities.

Katie and her family outdid themselves with everything - even their recommendations for condos were perfection! We stayed at Litchfield Beach & Gold Resort. You can see how great our view was, we were right on the beach and the lazy river pool was awesome.





Since it was a destination wedding there were activities planned from Thursday night on. We started the weekend off at the Tiki Bar where we added another dollar bill to the ceiling, complete with our high school nicknames (a must when we all have the same damn names).

Friday night everyone was invited to the Yacht Club for a low country boil. The shrimp was amazing, the bacon wrapped scallops were even better and the acoustic guitar players kept everyone dancing.





In between all the evening festivities I got to spend some quality time with one of my best friends in the entire world. Morgan and is my oldest friend and we eventually lived together in college. Charlie, her then-boyfriend/now-husband was our unofficial roommate back then. I haven't seen her since my wedding, which should be illegal.





Finally, I got to meet her adorable baby girl too. Let's be honest. Sloane is probably the cutest thing in the entire world.





My parents and I also made sure to get in some family bonding time by hitting up the historic waterfront for lunch on the pier and a little bit of shopping before the wedding.





For the wedding we all piled into shuttles to take us out to the chapel. Pawleys Island is surrounded by a giant marsh, which is where the chapel was. How we didn't sink the place is beyond me.





Katie was gorgeous and the bridesmaids dresses were probably the best I've ever seen. Beachy, elegant, and all different styles with beautiful white bouquets.





At the reception we were greeted with sand dollars that had our names and table assignments. The tables were named after different surrounding areas of the beach, which I loved. I am a total sucker for creative table names. Gets me every single time.





The food was amazing, the band was killer and the wine was flowing.

Somehow midnight crept up on us and the happy couple made their exit under a fabulous display of sparklers.





They hopped in their limo, changed their clothes and met the rest of us at a local dive bar.

With this group there was no way the night was going to be over so quickly. We had so much catching up to do that we stayed out wayyyyy past our bedtimes and closed, yet another, bar down. At 4:00am.

I was so honored to be a part of Katie's wedding weekend and am so thankful that her family included my family. The entire trip was a blast - from hanging out with my parents, seeing all those wonderful old friends, getting the sand in between my toes and of course, seeing Katie marry her Jon.

Congrats to the newlyweds!