Vacation Vibes
I have always loved the beach. Although, since I come from a beachin’ family, it was inevitable. Annual beach trips have been a part of my life since I was born. Growing up we would visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina each summer. In my college years, we spent time closer to home in Ocean City, Maryland. Last week we relaxed in Sandbridge, a quaint, relatively unknown piece of the Virginia Beach area where we have been vacationing for a few years now.
Being back to reality is hard.
Life seems to be different at the beach. Time is not counted hour by hour. But even still, I could not seem to sleep in. My body is so programmed from daily life. On the bright side, I was up early enough to catch the sunrise right in our backyard over the ocean a couple times. Nothing beats the peaceful stillness of those moments before anyone has settled on the beach for the day.
"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul."
-Wyland
Even with temperatures in the 90’s, every single day was beautiful and beach-worthy. Before hitting the sand on the only slightly overcast day, Brad and I took a bike ride through the residential area – one of my favorite things to do in addition to soaking up the sun for hours. I love to read the names of all the houses along the way. Best name found this year – Oh The Places You’ll Go. Points for inspiration and originally in a sea (pun intended) of houses with beach-related names.
I think about what I would name my house…
No beach trip is complete without sweet eats and drinks. Brad and I picked up must-have donuts from a shop we discovered last year, Crazy Good Donuts and Ice Cream. All I can say is, Brownie Batter. I started a tradition of a “Signature Drink.” I like to mix up a big pitcher and bring it down to the beach to sip on. This year, I went with Basil Strawberry Lemonade-Vodka Punch. It was a huge hit – with a super simple recipe!
Basil Strawberry Lemonade-Vodka Punch
Ingredients
1 bottle of vodka (750 ml.)*
2 liters of sparkling water
2 packages of fresh or frozen strawberries (10 oz. each)**
1 can of frozen lemonade (12 oz.)
1 bunch of fresh basil
**I prefer Tito’s Handmade Vodka, but choose a favorite!
**I recommend pre-sliced frozen strawberries.
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher, stir/muddle, and serve.
Recipe adapted from Keep It Skinny
A steady pattern of coffee, breakfast, beach, lunch, beach walk, beach some more, pool. Evenings were spent cooking and/or eating dinner with my family, enjoying conversations, and cheering on Team USA in the Olympics. I did not blog. I did not design. And aside from planning some classes and practicing my handstand, I did not yoga. In my fit of bliss, my dad (always the last one to leave the beach) sarcastically said, “Nah, you wouldn’t want to do this every day!”
Oh, but I would.
Doing nothing is something at the beach. In my mind, I am still lounging on the sand, sun on my skin…watching the waves roll in.
