Wish you were here!

Although I promise to do my best to help you feel the ocean breeze blowing, the sun warming your skin, and the relaxation of beach fun. 😉

We have arrived safely and have already taken the time to settle in for our beach week. I really enjoy getting in town earlier in the day so we have time to fully unpack and get the place feeling a little more like home. I think I love that most about condos – the chance to have a little sense of home while on vacation.

We have a full kitchen and dining area…

…a cozy living area…

…and three bedrooms to share with my parents, brother, and sister. Unfortunately, we don’t get the king-size bed and privacy comfort of home.

But who cares? We’re at the beach!

After unpacking, we could hardly wait to pay a visit outdoors. Since we didn’t have much time, we kept to the pool for an afternoon dip. Immediately we found a crew from our family to swim and play with.

Gotta love cousins to entertain Makenzie!

And cute baby smiles…

I only stayed about an hour because I wanted to get groceries before our prompt dinner plans tonight. I think I appreciate the option to have my own groceries most out of all the comforts of home a condo offers. I loaded up on fresh fruit, veggies, oats, peanut butter, sandwich fixins, bars for easy snacks, and some other beach favorites.

Having healthier options available already makes me feel better about managing a nice balance on this vacation. That way I can have oats in the morning after the margarita that is calling my name tonight! Catch you all later. It’s time for dinner!!!

• Pool or beach?

Hey, ya’ll! Greetings from South Georgia! We’re currently taking a bit of a pit stop at the halfway point for our road trip to Daytona Beach. Peter likes to get a super early head start on our travels. We loaded up the car last night, minus a few last minute items to toss in before leaving, and managed to get on the road by 4:30 am.

We had high hopes of the children falling back to sleep. I laugh at my own cruel sense of humor. Braedon did fall back asleep relatively quickly, but a particular little girl remained bright eyed and bushy tailed in her excitement for the beach.

I love seeing her anticipation!

Her energy ended up rubbing off on me, so instead of dozing back off myself, I cracked open my netbook for a little productivity while Peter drove. I had to get started on a more detailed outline to send to my fellow HLS panelists – Lisa, Beth, and Janetha - sometime soon. When you’re a busy mom, you make use of time wherever you can find it, including on the road! Nothing feels quite as nice as banging out a good portion of work before breakfast. And speaking of breakfast…

We stopped at Starbucksto get a quick, satisfying oatmeal breakfast. And I told you I planned to use that almost empty peanut butter jar I hoarded!

To make my travel OIAJ, I added a Starbucks oatmeal with dried fruit to my jar…and proceeded to stick my tongue out at all the gawkers checking out the weird girl with her own peanut butter jar. Okay, not really. I want to leave a good impression and all since I’m sporting one of my new Faith Fitness Fun shirts.

Well, now that we have reached the pit stop time quota set by Commandeer Peter, I better get signing off. But not without leaving you with the FFF Features first!

Featured Personal Post: Month 5 Progress and Sharing My Big Dreams (still giddy over that one)

Featured Workout: 10K Race Recap

So its not a workout plan or exercise tip, but it was my fitness highlight of the week!

Featured Meal: CHEESECAKE!!!

Featured Cuteness: My Dad with Braedon

I’m so thankful that God helped me let go of my pride so I could forgive past hurts, because now my children have the chance to know such a loving Papa.

Featured Reading: New Blog to Check Out – One of my BEST FRIENDS!!

She just started a personal blog to share about her 2nd pregnancy (!!!), a healthy lifestyle, and her life as a mom and (amazing amazing) photographer. Please give her some love!

Alrighty…I hope you all have a good one. Catch you later at the beach!

• Are any of your “real-life” friends also bloggers? For the record – I hate the term “real-life” friends. You all are very much REAL friends to me. We need to find a new term to express friends outside the blog relationship! Suggestions?