Vacation Edition pt. II

Today is day five from the Island and we only have a couple more left. Right now we are taking the morning slow while Tropical Storm Emily makes her way through. Lots of wind and rain with sprinkles of lightning and thunder. I don't mind it one bit... So peaceful and I have always loved the way greenery pops when it's blanketed with gray skies. Nature truly is one masterpiece after another!

Marina Jacks Unconditional Surrender near St Armands Circle

Edited with the A Color Story App

This little girl has had more kisses this weekend alone than I have had in my lifetime. I just love having little Lilah here with us.

Can't wait to share more details on shops we visited and restaurants we went to. I'm enjoying every second of this vacation and I'm so happy that I have my own little corner of the internet as my online diary. Enjoy the week ahead!

Life lately (Vacation edition)

Hello from an island!

I am currently sitting in a condo that I am sharing with my grandma, mom, sister and niece and we are here visiting my great grandma. That's five generations ranging from 11 months to 96 years (or 1,152 months). We got here late Wednesday night and are staying until next Wednesday! So far we have walked through the whitest, softest sand, had the local tangerine wheat beer, ate the best clam chowder outside of Boston and laughed enough that our cheek muscles are the strongest they've ever been. I can't wait to share more on the trip, but for now; enjoy these photos. Happy Weekend!

Cruisin' to/through Mexico

As promised, here are some of the photos from our cruise to Mexico back in January (2017). This was a trip for the books. I think we had a total of 12 people in all (?) and everyone had the same goal in mind: VACATION HARD. We departed out of Miami and our first stop was supposed to be in the Grand Cayman Islands, however due to weather and the high tide, they couldn't get close enough to the shore, and they weren't able to send any boats out to tender us in. So sadly, we did not get to see anything that the island had to offer. I also heard from several people that this was the greatest island to tour, so it only adds insult to injury. Oh well! More islands to come and we were still on vacation! OK, stop number two: Roaton (Honduras). SURPRISE! Rain. All day.. Gray skies and a steady swoosh of rain and wind. Nothing like sitting under a tent, on a beach staring at cloudy water. Am I making this sound incredible or what?! (I know it sounds harsh, but there's a very happy ending). Stop number three: BELIZE aka Shady area where it's best you stay in the tourist-y areas. When we started to walk away from the tourist spots we noticed lots of men with big guns SO THERE'S THAT. Anyway, we had a great lunch at this little place (photo below) and hopped back on the boat. It was nice to be on solid ground for a couple hours though! 

Stop number four. The mother of them all, the beauty that made the entire trip 100% worth it... Cozumel! Wow guys. Got off the boat first thing in the morning and hopped in a van that took us to a beautiful resort. We sat on the beach all day drinking cerveza and enjoying the palm trees and crystal clear water. It was like a dream, but better. The water was clear as can be, even as far out as far as we could go. Before the trip, I told several people that my goal on this cruise was to sit on a beach in Mexico, have my toes in some white sand and stare out into crystal clear water. All of that with a beer in my hand. Cozumel did that and then some. It made me feel some kind of excitement and peace. It was magical. I could have lived in that day for a long time. 

So, all in all, the cruise was worth every penny. Obviously no one can control the weather and it's not worth getting upset with the agency you book through (even though I heard too many people doing so and asking for their money back). Would I go on a cruise again? Absolutely. Would I do this exact cruise again? No, I'd probably do a shorter cruise (4-5 days) and different parts of Mexico, or another country/area in general. 

Here are some of the photos from our cruise. I probably have more stored away somewhere, and I have fully intended on making a video, but this is what I've got for now. 

Enjoy!  

Departing from Miami and saying "can we just live here?"

Miami even smaller, and still having the same though. That sky though.

(Revert back to earlier statement about Grand Cayman)... This was our view. Oh, did I mention that our room was dead center in the front of the boat on the main floor (Lido deck, floor # 9). We got lucky, really, really, really lucky.

This was a photo of Roatan after we got back on the boat. Maybe not the most tropical/exotic photo of the island, but beautiful nonetheless.

They had a night specifically dedicated to the men and women who have fought for our country and it was beautiful. I cried like a baby and was so proud of my uncle and dad who are both standing up there.

My chicken and rice meal with a banana frozen daquiri. OK, take me back here please.

If Cade and I had to post ONE PICTURE to explain how we were feeling on vacation it would be this one. Note Cade's sunburned face and his broken sunglasses. Then there's me with a sleepy smile and long razzled hair. I'd take this again a million times though.

COZUMEL. See what I mean?

Street taco's because... when in Mexico one must. And boy were they good.

Half of the gang with Mr. I. The best of the best. Within one hour of our trip he had already memorized our names and our orders. Seriously, he's impressive.

Until next time!

Let's try this again...

Somewhere during my year of no social media I apparently decided to just stop blogging too. Bummer... But yesterday during lunch Cade and I were talking about it and I realized that I really do miss it. I miss the motivation to go places, or take photos all with the sense of mind that I'd get to blog about it. I think that in all of my 27 years on this planet, the last three-quarters of a year have been the most detrimental to my "growing" and becoming who I am. Back in January I went on a cruise to Mexico (or ma-he-co as I like to pronounce it) and while it was crazy beautiful and something that I'll post about soon to share the photos, it was taunting for me. I think that's when it clicked that I was probably the most out of shape I'd been in my life and not only based on the outside appearances... I was feeling it all around. I wasn't sleeping at night, I literally had to buy all new clothes within a few weeks of each other because nothing fit... I was bloated after every meal and I just felt so tense all the time. Slowly, but surely I started making small changes. I certainly drank less and started to think of food as the fuel for my body. Once I felt comfortable in that position, then I started to branch out into new foods that used to be SO uninteresting to me (example: kale). Also, I should mention that Cade went step for step with me through this whole thing too. He's my own personal superhero. Then when the time was right, I started working out. I'm happy to report that as of right now, sitting on my couch this quiet Sunday morning; I am officially down 17 lbs after 1.5 months of really, truly taking care of myself. It's not a diet, and I fully intend on keeping this new lifestyle change because it's just that. A lifestyle of mine now. One that I am proud of and comes with the motivation through results that keeps me going. So, here I am. Ready to get back into blogging. Blogging about whatever it may be... Cleveland, our dinner, where our next adventure awaits, or just a craft. I'm telling y'all. I'm happy, I feel happy and therefore, I'm spreading happy. This quarter life crisis probably doesn't rank on the list of bad things worth complaining, but nonetheless, it's notable and worthy of sharing (in my eyes). 

OK, so for the real excitement... I wanted to share some fun things that you may or may not have already seen via social media, but here are some photos and words for what's been going on lately. 

I believe we have been to 5... or maybe 6 Indians games so far this year? Living 15 minutes from the stadium has its perk :)

This girl has the best personality and somehow it just keeps getting better. She really might change the world with her smile.

My boys.

Our neighbors rose bush and crooked shed. LOVED seeing this every morning before heading to work... Flowers, am I right?!

Rocky River Reservation. I work just a few miles from here so I tend to visit a few times a week to get a good walk/jog in. So much beauty!

Look at my city. Oh, Cleveland. If only people knew how much you truly had to offer.

The fixings of an incredible salsa that may or may not have been consumed quicker than the time it took to make it.

(Rocky River again... See what I mean?)

A couple of weeks ago we made some southwest black rice burgers with some homemade sweet potato fries and dang (!). It was mouth-watering-ly good.

I had an old fashioned for the very first time ever and it did not disappoint.

Dinner at (a-la-la-la-la) Bomba. I had the fried avocado taco and the black bean zucchini taco with coconut mango cauliflower rice. (salsa on the side of course, because... Onions.)

Where's my fellow Kombucha lovers?! I think Health-ade and Brew Dr. Kombucha are my favorite brands. BUT, this beet flavored 'bucha is in a whole different playing field. I might* have drank the whole bottle in one sitting. (*I definitely drank the whole bottle)

While we're on the kombucha talk; Cleveland Tea Revival has their own and it's dangerously good.

And last, but not least. Saucy Brew Works. This is exactly where we were sitting when we had the conversation about blogging more. Having some pizza and a kolsch for our "treat yo' self" meal (thanks parks and rec for the best saying EVER)

Thanks for reading (if you made it all the way through, extra stars next to your name). I promise to be back soon. I need to post about our trip to Mexico and give more kudos to our ol' city of Cleveland. 

Now, enjoy your day and TREAT YO' SELF like Donna and Tom would if they were you.