Show us your ideal vacation spot. Why is this your ideal vacation spot?

Venice, Italy is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s so peaceful and romantic. When I visited in 2003, I loved taking the gondola rides, and venturing through all of the small alleyways throughout the city.

I cannot wait to visit there again with James.

We thoroughly enjoyed our last day of vacation, leaving the room around 11am and not returning until almost 8pm. We drove down to Destin to do some shopping. I got some great deals on fall and winter clothes for Sawyer. I picked up a brown zippered hoodie from Old Navy for $1.47 and navy pants from there for $3. The Children’s Place had long sleeved t-shirts for $2.99 so I got a couple of those. He also got a polo from The Children’s Place for $3.99. We also went the Old Navy (not an outlet) and got him a pair of jeans for $8 and a polo for $5. Overall, we spent a little over $30 on clothing for him…which wasn’t a bad deal for what we got.

After shopping we went to an early dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. It was just me and James, as mom wanted to give us an afternoon and evening to ourselves. I had the “I’m Stuffed!” Shrimp, and it was SO good!! After eating we headed back to Panama City Beach. We had to return James’ swim trunks that I had bought him from a souvenir shop earlier in the week. He wears a Large in trunks, but these were really big still, so he was able to get a Medium. We also stopped at Alvin’s Island to check out the funny tee shirts and to grab some ice cream, and back by Pier Park to get him a new hat from Aeropostale. His current one is almost 2 years old, so it was time for a replacement!

We got back to the condo and started to pack up our things. I decided to go ahead and do laundry last night so we wouldn’t have as much to do when we got home. After the one load was done, we packed up the suitcase. James decided to load the car with everything he could so it would be less work to get out the door this morning. We left this morning around 8:40am Central time. Three stops later (one for gas and a diaper change, one for lunch, and a final one for a snack and diaper change) we are back to our lovely abode!

James had to run get Charmin from the kennel so we wouldn’t be charged for an extra night. He had about 45 minutes to get there by the time we got home, but luckily the kennel is only about 20 minutes from here. I’ve already gotten 90% of the things unpacked and the remainder of our dirty clothes combined with the clothes that were in the hamper already are in the washer. I plan to get them dried and folded tonight so that tomorrow can be day of the lazies!!

My mom and sister were ready for dinner when we got here so we quickly unpacked the car and then left again. We picked up my brother from Walmart – he was there with my uncle and cousin (their family came down this week too and are staying in the condo beside us). We then went to Deadeye Dick’s Steakhouse, a new restaurant here. It was so not worth the money. Everything was priced a little higher than traditional steakhouses, and the food was mediocre. Plus, only one basket of bread is complimentary and then you have to pay for the rest. Not cool.

After dinner, we made a quick grocery store run for breakfast food, sandwich stuff, and a few snacks. When we got back to the condo, Mom put Sawyer to bed while the rest of us too a walk on the beach. This morning, we are about to head out to grab Sawyer a bucket and shovel so he can enjoy his first trip down to the beach!

We plan to stop for lunch, and maybe one other stop before getting there. That is, if Sawyer is okay with sitting in his car seat that long! I think we will be okay because he loves car rides. He sleeps 75% of the time he is in the car, so it shouldn’t be a huge problem.

I am currently battling a sinus infection or cold (not sure which), and it is really making it hard for me to get everything done that I need to. We didn’t start packing until last night, so I still have to finish that and clean the house before we leave. I got all of my work related stuff done today, so my To Do list is only half the size it was this time yesterday. Feel pretty accomplished even though I have a headache that makes my entire face hurt, a stopped up nose, and a scratchy sore throat.

We took his playpen for him to sleep in…and this week was the first time he’d had to sleep in it for more than a 1 hour nap. His naps and feeding schedules were also shifted a little every single day, which was just too much for the little guy. My parents want us to go with them to the beach in July, when he will be 10 months old, but I am seriously considering waiting until over he’s one year old before attempting any more trips.

We did have a good time while gone, and had a great Christmas as well. I got an Amazon Kindle from James, which I wasn’t able to use any during my trip. I couldn’t find the time to read anything during the few hours spent at the hotel each day. I also got a case and light for it so it will be well protected and I can read at night with it. I was able to start and finish Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks beore we left for Gatlinburg. I am currently reading Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead.

I cannot believe it’s already the end of 2010! The year went somewhat slow while I was pregnant, but as expected, it has flown since September. Since this will be Sawyer’s first New Year’s, we probably are not doing much other than lounging at home. Even though the little monkey will be in bed by the time the ball drops, we don’t feel right going and out and having a blast while leaving him with his Nana. So, we are thinking we may go out to eat and then come home for some movies and cuddling on the couch. Sounds like a great way to end the year to me!

This is the last weekend of freedom for us around here. Next weekend starts all the busyness that is Christmas family dinners. We still have to take the puppy to get his shots before we can leave him at the kennel the week after Christmas while we go on vacation. Oh, and if you are wondering, it is absolutely ridiculous to plan a 4 day mini-vaca the week after Christmas…especially with a newborn. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it had been another time of the year. We have had to cut back on our gift spending this year to be able to afford the trip. I know we will have fun once we get to Gatlingburg though!

If I could go anywhere I wanted right now, I’d travel back to Italy. I’d love to experience the country again, and take James along this time. I went there for 3 weeks on a college trip back in 2003. I got to visit various cities and experience so much. It’d live there if it were possible for my family to move. My favorite city was Venice, with the long alleys ways, bridges, and canals. It was weird…here I would not be caught dead in an alley way, but there I wasn’t the least bit scared. The gondola rides are a lot of fun, and the entire city just screams romantic. I cannot wait until James and I can begin traveling further away from home than Florida.

What is your favorite vacation destination?

In other news, my freelance writing gigs are going exceptionally well. I have been able to put back some money for when I cannot work when I have Sawyer, and we are doing great financially. I am making as much at home as I was working for the local telephone company, so I have really kicked it up a notch. I have landed a few wonderful clients for continuous writing, and I have several content mills to fall back on if the works begins to slack off from them. I want to look into getting some residual income coming in through articles and ebooks, but that will not happen until later in the year when I have the time to devote to such tasks.

Since we did not take a vacation this year, James and I have decided to take a few days and go to Gatlinburg the week after Christmas. Sawyer will be 3 months old then, which is worries me a little because we will be among so many people with such a tiny baby. My mom and sister are going as well, because my step-dad and brother will be going to their hunting land for the week. We plan to leave the morning of the 26th and return on the 30th. We have booked our timeshare for a couple of nights, and a hotel for the rest of the time. Since we have confirmed the reservations, I have gotten more excited about going and having a few days to not worry about anything!

My solution to the problem? Go somewhere other than the beach! My family are huge creatures of habit, and have no interest in seeing other parts of the world that do not have water nearby…well, my step-dad is anyway. He is a fisherman, and will not go anywhere for vacation that he cannot fish. My mom satisfies him by always vacationing near a beach or lake. I think she should secretly like to go other places, but doesn’t push it because she knows he will not want to go.

To me, this is just ridiculous. If James was that strict on where he would/would not go on vacation, Sawyer and I would be taking trips without him. I want to see so much more of the country, and I want to my son to be well traveled as well. I am not limiting myself to the coast to appease someone else. Luckily, James has no such stipulations, and we both want to visit the same cities, so I will have no problem going to places other than Florida with him!