Weekend Mountain Retreat

I love the mountains.

My parents probably find this a bit ironic, since there was a time in my life when I refused to go. Silly child, I was... Now, I can't get enough. I love the peaceful, beautiful scenery. The trees. The sound of water flowing by. The beauty of waterfalls. I love it.

This weekend, I headed up to Blue Ridge in the Georgia mountains to get away for a night with AJ and Erin. We stayed in an amazing cabin there, and it was great! My only complaint was that I didn't want to leave! Here are a few pics from the weekend:

A view of the cabin from the back

The view from the cabin balcony

The river that flows right by the cabin!

Hiking faces

Mountain stream in Blue Ridge

I forget the name of this waterfall...

Last self-portrait before we left

Blast from the Past

This weekend, I enjoyed a little treat from my past:

Iced Animal Cookies!!

I LOVED these things when I was young! I hadn't had them in years, and thought that they may not exist anymore (at least in original form), but alas...there they were when I was walking down the aisle at Publix this weekend. And since I was headed to the mountains for a little retreat, and the diet wasn't due to start back until Monday, it sounded like the perfect opportunity to me. Don't you think?

I must say that they weren't exactly as I remembered them. I distinctly recall the icing being pink, though my friends disagree with me on that one. Anyone want to chime in on that discussion?? Nonetheless, they were a yummy reminder of my childhood, and I enjoyed them!

Now I just have to figure out how to get the rest of the bag out of the house! Operation Lose 10 pounds (re)commences today! Wish me luck!

Random

A random video that I came across yesterday. I believe this is Turtle Back Falls in NC, sometime last year when AJ and I were in the mountains with my parents. I always take a little convincing to slide down!

While we were there, there were some idiots that kept pushing their dogs up the mountain and making them slide down with them. The dogs were fine, and seemed to enjoy swimming in the water once they got down, but I still thought it was mean.

The Olympics

I love watching the Olympics.

It doesn't really matter what sport it is (though I do have favorites), I just really love to watch the Olympics. I guess it's something about watching athletes that have trained their whole lives compete for the ultimate prize. I just really enjoy watching.

Rewind about 4 years. 2008...the last Summer Olympics. Where was I? I was here:

In the backseat of a Honda Civic. Driving across the country.

Now, granted, it was an amazing trip! I got to see beautiful places that I had never seen before. Places like this:

And this:

And this:

But, I did miss getting to watch the Olympics.

Now, fast foward 4 years. 2012. This year - an Olympic year! How exciting! I looked today to see when the Summer Olympics start this year...

July 27th.

Seriously? July 27th? Really?

Can you guess where I will be?? That's right...in the backseat of a car. On a roadtrip in the Northwest. Seeing beautiful things and beautiful places like this:

But, again....missing the Summer Olympics. What are the odds??

Family Photos (Compliments of the amazing Caroline Nicole)

In February while we were all home, my amazing friend Caroline was kind enough to take some family photos for us. I have known Caroline since middle school, and I am so thankful that she is still a part of my life! She lives in Melbourne now, but happened to be in Jacksonville for a weekend, so it worked out perfectly! Thanks again so much, Care! We all love the pictures!

2012 so far: the year in iPhone photos

2012 started in this house. My roommate AJ and I started renting this place last October. It is small and cute, and a great place for us! My favorite thing about it is that it is 4.5 miles from work, instead of 30!

The Gators salvaged their 2011 season with a bowl game victory at the beginning of January, and I was in Jacksonville to watch it!

In February, the whole family got together in Florida to hang out. Pam and Jeremy are expecting their first baby girl in June, so it was so fun to get to see that baby bump and celebrate them with a family baby shower. Baby Hannah is going to be one spoiled little girl!

I have made several trips to the Grower's Outlet this year, and have planted several things, including these tulips.

There has been some hiking.

And some snuggling with this sweet dog.

Seriously, could she be cuter?

A couple of weeks ago, I "ran" the Color Run. So fun!

Of course, there has also been a good bit of hammock laying.

And, most recently, birthday celebrating at the aquarium! Did you know that admission is free on your birthday??

**These pictures are mostly unedited and unsized in an effort to not spend an eternity on this post :-)

31 years and a new blog beginning...

Yesterday, I turned 31 years old. Crazy! I can't believe that I am THAT old! But, alas, time keeps flying by...

I was thinking about that this morning, and decided that, while I can't slow down time, I can be more intentional about slowing myself down. I need to take more time to sit and think. Not just sit and read a FB status, but sit and reflect. To take time to enjoy life and not just let it pass flying by!

So, I thought that I would start here. By coming back to this blog and once again trying to use it as a place to share pictures and store memories, as well as to process and reflect. I make no guarantees that I will be consistent, but I will try!

To start, here are a few pictures from my fun day of birthday celebration yesterday:

The day started with yummy brunch with my roommate and best friend AJ at the Flying Biscuit:

Then we went to the Georgia Aquarium! I had never been, and was so excited to go! It was awesome - my favorites were definitely the dolphin show and the beluga whales.

After the aquarium, we stopped by Inman Perk for some delicious Jake's ice cream. Seriously the best ice cream in the world! If you live around here and haven't tried it, you should!!

After ice cream , we came back home and I laid in the hammock for a while on the front porch. That thing is paradise on a beautiful day!

The day was capped off by a surprise dinner with friends at Machu Picchu, a Peruvian restaurant here in Atlanta. I have been wanting to go there for a long while now, and it was great! The food was very authentic and yummy! It definitely made me think of the gente in Peru - I miss you guys! I was also, though, super thankful for my amazing friends here that love me so well, and made me feel very celebrated on my birthday!

If all of that weren't enough, we came back to the house for some Bruster's ice cream pie!! I definitely consumed my fair share of calories yesterday, but hey, your birthday only comes once a year, right?!?!