Flashback Friday: Stacation to Chestnut Mountain

So lately I have been CRAVING going on a mini stacation. It seems post-baby we don't get out too much. Pre-baby we used to go on mini Stacations about once a month and had an absolute blast doing it. In January 09 the husband and I took an adventure to Chestnut Mountain ski lodge and did some shopping in Galena Illinois...No skiing it was too dang cold for that!

We woke up early one morning and on a whim we were out the door. There was lots of snow along the way. I managed to take this one as we were heading out.

It was cold...REALLY cold. I think it was -10 with ridiculous windchills the entire time. Neither of us wore gloves. Bad idea.

The Husband was a trooper and didn't mind me dragging him to 'girly' stores and eating at 'girly' restaurants that served 'girly' food like salads and soup. (I think he is a carnivore)
Not only was it cold outside...it seemed just as bad inside. Our hotel room was crappy and straight out of 1975, the only way to keep warm was with the heat lamp in the bathroom...And bourbon which inspired this photo...

And this photo...and lots of giggling and telling bad jokes.

Post 96: Photograph Flashback

01-2009

It was only a three hour drive so Adam and I decided to spend our weekend at a ski lodge just outside Dubuque, although we do not ski. We enjoyed people watching. It was soooo cold that weekend (below zero) and our bathroom was the warmest place we could find. I think we spent a good hour sitting in here talking about nothing... him on the toilet, me on the edge of the tub. It seems so silly but I love going back to this moment.

Post 71: I miss the sunshine

I have only been home for 48 hours and I already miss the coast and the sunshine....

Looking at this pic I can still feel the ocean spray and smell the salty air...

Illinois already has that Fall chill in the air and it is a definite jeans and sweatshirt kind of day. I am sad winter is well on its way. I am not made for the cold. I only wish we would get a call to move to SC tomorrow...sigh.

Post 70: I'm Back!

So, I am finally back home. Alive and well despite the stress that my husband and the airlines put me through in the past 24 hours (my husbands ID expired while we were on vacation).
Anywho, it will probably be a couple of days until I get back into the swing of things. I have grocery shopping, ungodly amounts of laundry to do, and since my dog spent a week at the kennel I will have to remind him that he must relieve himself outside and not on the rug. bah. With that said here is a picture or two from South Carolina!

Magnolia Plantation: Once a rice plantation now it is all swampy and beautiful, annnnd the place where Swamp Thing was filmed haha! (oh, and home to giant killer mosquitoes)Unitarian cemetery: I was told that they believe once we die we return to nature that is why they let everything go natural in the cemetery. It looked beautiful and a bit creepy.Creepy crawlers (I was assured it could NOT bite me that's the only reason I was able to go through with this...it was a few inches from head to butt)I have a bazillion pictures soooo I am sure you will see many more (whether you want to or not, hehe). Buuut I must get back to reality for now.

Post 67: An excuse to go shopping...

I need to go shopping for vacation clothes (and whatnots) today...maybe not NEED but when I go on vacation I like to feel classy in my new pretty clothes other than my dingy over washed rags... hehe. Anyway, I am hoping I can find something like these lovely Etsy finds at the store (since obviously I have waited too long to actually order them from Etsy...)

Lovely grey tunic top...

Beautiful aqua bag to stash my 1,000 SPF sunblock....and other items redheads need for sun exposure...

Totally cute striped tank...
And some fancy vintage sunglasses in a fabulous shade of pink!
Noooow if I can only get the pup to take a nap so I can sneak out.....

And for a Dog Dork update: Gus is now not only clingy but ULTRA clingy where he must be in contact with me at all times and if he is playing I must be within 10 feet...otherwise he stresses out and he acts like the world is coming to an end. A trip to the bathroom usually leads to a puppy breakdown and I am afraid the neighbors assume the pup is mistreated...heh. I am hoping it blows over soon....

Post 64: Let the countdown begin.

In 1 week I will be here.

(This image was found on Flickr)

I am so unbelievably excited to get out of Illinois for a bit and visit beautiful South Carolina. Where I will be sipping fruity drinks on sandy beaches, taking many (many, many, many) pictures of beautiful homes and light houses, and eating delicious sea food (NOT the kind I mentioned here).

.......I really hope people who live in areas like this do not take it for granted....

I am lucky enough that my husbands family is from the East coast so I get to spend most holidays near the beach. Sigh. The places you will move just to make money. Damn responsibility.

Post 39: Independence Day!

So tonight I am on my way out of town to be with my family for the short holiday. The 4th is always our biggest celebration of the year so I am always verrrry excited, making it my favorite holiday!

(My little sister Kenzie, on left, and a couple of our cousins 2008)

We always spend it on the lake with the bazillion people in our extended family...but this year I am not so sure. I leave tonight and I still do not know if I will be heading to Oklahoma or Kansas! Why? Because my 8 year old little brother thinks he is a daredevil!

He ripped his patella tendon playing last weekend so the poor little guy had to have surgery. :( Therefore, I will be wherever he decides he wants to go so that I may properly spoil him, as I do all of my younger siblings!

This also means I will be gone for a few days! When I get back I will be catching up on my posts and all that good stuff OOOHH and I will also be drawing for my lovely giveaway so don't forget to comment on the post!!! Click the link at the top of the page to enter!