Hubby and I took a trip together without the baby, for the first time since RJ was born. I’ve gone away without my guys before, but we have never left our little guy with someone for more than a few hours, let alone overnight or a weekend! Though, I was very nervous about leaving him, I knew it was time. So, Friday evening, Hubby and I set of to Myrtle Beach, and made a stop in Charlotte to drop RJ off with close family friends. He cried for a while, but by the time we made it to MB he had made a change for the better. Knowing that my baby was happy allowed me to relax and enjoy our weekend!

We arrived at MB late Friday night and we were exhausted. So, we settled in decided to get an early start Saturday morning. The home where we stayed was in OceanLakes. It’s centrally located and it didn’t take us more than 10 or 15 minutes to get anywhere we wanted to go. I grew up in SC but had only been to MB once before, and that was just a day trip. I didn’t realize there was that much to do, even in the off season. Saturday, we got started around 9am and had breakfast at Eggs Up Grill, think Waffle House meets IHOP, not bad and reasonably priced. Then, we headed to Tanger Outlets. Still fueled from breakfast, we headed to Broadway at the Beach, think when an amusement park and a shopping mall collide. Here, we went to Wonder Works, an interactive science museum. It was interesting, kids 6 and up will love it. When were leaving the museum, I notice the zip line and was intrigued, but didn’t have the nerve to do it. More on that later.
For a late lunch, we headed to Murrells Inlet to Nance’s Creekfront Restaurant. Their specialty is roasted oysters, and people were ordering them by the bucket full, literally! I’m not a huge oyster fan and Hubby thought eating them required too much work! He ordered steak & lobster. He said he lobster didn’t have any flavor. I ordered crab legs and they were YUMMY!! From there, we went down to the beach, but the sun was setting and it got dark and cold!! We returned to the house then headed to Nacho Hippo at The Market Common for drinks. I highly recommend the grilled corn on the cob appetizer!!!

Sunday morning we were up in time to make  it to 9am Mass.  Then, we got changed and headed to River City Cafe for lunch. We arrived a little early, so we took that opportunity to take a walk on the beach, until they opened. It was a beautiful but chilly day. The cold wind didn’t stop me from enjoying the beauty of the ocean, or Hubby from collecting a crazy amount of shells! After our beach fix, we headed into the restaurant to enjoy our fattening cheeseburger lunch:) Then, we headed back to Broadway at the Beach, to play a couple games of miniature golf and so I could ride the zip line!!!

I have a huge fear of heights!! HUGE!! Yes, I fly on airplanes, strictly out of convenience, I’ve walked across the Brooklyn and Golden Gate Bridges and Hubby even proposed on the observatory deck of the Empire State Building! However, I don’t like heights! I also, don’t like roller coasters! I hate that feeling in my stomach, it is not fun for me.  So, why did I want to do the zip line? It just looked like so much fun!! LOL  I was nervous it would cause that dropping feeling in my stomach, but it didn’t.  I climbed the stairs surrounded by 5 kids, whose ages ranged from 8-19.  They looked as if they glided 50ft in the air, while hanging from a rope everyday! I, on the other hand, was trying to convince myself I was making a sane decision! I got to the top, and the next thing I knew, I was gliding through the air and I was enjoying it! I was so proud of myself! On the return trip, I even stopped clutching the rope and waved to Hubby!! It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would love to do it again.  So, you now ask, am I still afraid of heights?! HELL YES! LOL

That evening we wanted a laid back dinner that wouldn’t require dressing up. We decided to try Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse.  Well, I didn’t make a reservation, hey, it was the off season, so it shouldn’t be that crowded, right?! Whatever!! There was a 2hour wait. I politely turned around and walked out! Could the food have really have been THAT good?!  I guess we’ll find out another time. Anyway, we then headed to Baron’s Steaks and Spirits. It was a small locally owned restaurant. It wasn’t packed, in fact it was practically empty, but I’d read great reviews, so we stayed. The food was good, dinner was cozy and we got to watch the Giants game while we ate!! Perfect.

Monday morning, we hit the road and headed to Charlotte to pick up RJ. I’m so grateful Hubby and I were finally able to have some one-on-one time.  We were able to talk, voice concerns, plan and just enjoy each others company, uninterrupted.  In the 14 months since RJ arrived, we really hadn’t taken time to do that. We’ve gone to dinner for a few hours, here and there, but nothing like this trip.  I hadn’t realized how much we needed that to reconnect, on all levels.  Life can be hectic, but throw jobs and kids in the mix, and you really have to work hard to carve out couple time.  I think we both realize that creating time, just for the two of us, has to be a priority and it’s ok to leave the baby with family in order to have that time.

How do you go about creating one on one time with your significant other?

i carry your heart

So, with the baby away, Hubby and I will get a long weekend of couple time:)  We got a little taste, and reminder of what that is like the Friday before New Year’s.  RJ’s daycare of was open, but Hubby was off, so we took RJ to school and had a Mommy/Daddy day! We did some shopping, had lunch and even caught a movie! It was wonderful.  I’m looking forward to our long weekend ahead. Hubby’s manager is letting us use her family’s beach house. *Have I mentioned how awesome she is?!* I’m looking forward to our time together, but a little more than that, I’m looking forward to being able to sleep past 6am!

As for this blog, last year I tried some new things.  I found some awesome twitter/blogger friends and I admire their dedication to blogging.  For a second, I got caught up and fooled myself into thinking I wanted to do the same. Then, I realized, that’s just not me. If you read this blog on as regular basis, you know, there isn’t a blog to read on a regular basis! LOL   “Hi, I’m Jennifer and I’m a sporadic blogger!”  Do I love my blog? Yes! However, it’s not in me to crank out a post five days a week. Hell, most of the time it’s not in me to write a post every two or three weeks! If blogging has taught me anything this year, it’s know your lane and stay in it!  So, that’s what I plan to do.  We’ve all fooled ourselves into do something because someone else made it look so awesome.  The key is in realizing somethings just “ain’t for everybody”.

Anyway, I’m really excited about this year and all that it has to offer.  I wish you and your family great blessings, good health and lots of love in this New Year!

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• I have thoroughly been enjoying my break. I spent last week organizing and cleaning. We were supposed to have house guests last weekend, but those plans changed.  I wanted to see them, but it was cool with me because our junk guest room was (and still is) a mess! *Do any of you have a room or closet that your totally ashamed of? LOL*

• I sold our ’98 Accord. I got it right before my senior year in college. Once we bought our Civic, Hubby only drove it to and from work. Our service consultant for Honda bought it. A few months ago, we thought there was something majorly wrong with it and took it in for a diagnostic. I mentioned to the consultant that we weren’t putting a lot of money into it because we planned to get rid of it. He expressed interest in buying it. *We found out the problem was a loose gas cap.* One of the perks of Hubby’s promotion at work is that he became eligible for the company lease program. So, at the beginning of the year, we will get a BMW X5 for the price we currently pay for our Honda Civic! *That price includes maintenance, insurance & taxes!!!* How sweet is that?!

• I’ve continued to send RJ to daycare everyday, that they’ve been open. I used to think that at times like this, I would keep him home with me, but nope!  Here are a few reasons why I decided against it:

1. We don’t have relatives in the area so we rarely get a break. If we do, it’s for a few hours with a babysitter.
2. They were open and we still had to pay the tuition.
3. I needed and wanted a break even if it was for 8 hours a day and with Hubby working, it was a way for me to get a break and feel like I’m actually on vacation.!

• So far, the highlight of vacation wasn’t something that happened to us, but something we did for someone else. Every year our church has a giving tree. It is filled with Christmas wish lists from less fortunate children & elderly adults. Normally, our family chooses a list from the tree fulfills the wishes. Somehow, we missed it this year. I think we were out of town. Anyway, I still wanted us to do something for someone else. So, I decided we would be “Layaway Angels”!! Though, I made the decision the day after the deadline to have Christmas layaways out, we were able to pay for one. It felt great especially since she missed the deadline, they would have put the items back. I didn’t ask what the items were, I just told the cashier my price limit. The cashier said the “Layaway Angels” had been a blessing to do many families, including her own. I’m very happy we were able to help someone.

• Hubby is off Friday, and RJ’s school is still open. So, Friday is Mommy/Daddy day!! We’re going out to lunch and maybe catch a matinee:) I’m excited!

I hope your vacation is going well! Are you spending it checking off a to do list or relaxing?

• We are done with RJ’s Christmas gifts.  I got him a few things while we were in NYC and picked up a couple more things yesterday.  Hubby and I have decided to go light on gifts for each other this year. We have a big bill due later this month and we are focused on that.  Besides, I have no idea what I want anyway! Do you have a gift that you just have to have this year? Are you done with your shopping?

• Our Christmas plans are set and we will spend the day with my family in Charleston! I’m ready for food, fun and family!

• I whipped out my KitchenAid mixer a few nights ago and made cookies for some of our tutors and the school maintenance people.  I’ve had the mixer for a few years and that was about the 3rd time I’ve used it! I made Giada’s Oatmeal, Cranberry, Chocolate Chunk Cookies, minus the chocolate, and Ina Garten’s Ultimate Ginger Cookies.  The oatmeal cookies were great. I left out the chocolate, just because.  The ginger cookies have crystallized ginger, candied ginger, in them.  It is very overpowering.  I really like ginger cookies, but I’m not a ginger lover. This recipe was a little much for me. I will probably make the cookies again, but leave out the crystallized ginger.  Besides, I could only find the stuff at WholeFoods and it was $5.38/lb. *Ummhmm that’s right:|*

• Here at  the center, we are preparing for our Holiday potluck, Thursday night.  The students and tutors will bring their families and a dish.  I’m looking forward to meeting their families and having them meet my two guys.

• Our staff Christmas lunch is Friday.  All centers will close at noon and we will officially begin our vacation with a staff lunch.  I’m exchanging gifts with my two co-workers at my center.  I have the perfect gift for my co-manager, but I have no idea what to get out part-time staffer.  I’m running out of time, but I want it to look like I put as much thought into her gift as I did the other. Dilemmas!Dilemmas! What do you get a person whom you haven’t learned that well?

Now, would you look at that?! By the time I hit publish and shut down my computer, it will be time for me to go home!!! Perfect:) LOL

Lesson 2: Fly, Fly, Fly! I admit I’m an over packer. I had this problem even before the baby. It hs gotten a lot worse with him.  I pretty much pack up his room and take it with us when we travel…anywhere!  Because of this,and it’s simply cheaper, we have been travelling by car.  Also, we like having our own transportation.  Well, his trip was super short, and a 12hour drive with a quick turnaround is not a bright idea. Not to mention, the traffic jams on the return were horrendous.  From now on, I’ll learn to pack light, we will start searching for cheap fares way in advance and we will take to the skies.

All-in-all the trip was nice, short and sweet.  I’m happy to be home. Though will probably travel to Charleston for Christmas, it will be very quiet laid back holiday in our house.  I will have TWO WEEKS off and I didn’t have to put in a vacation request for them!!! I’m so excited about this:) *This did not happen EVER in my old job, so if I’ve mentioned it in a previous post, excuse me.  At that job, even if a holiday fell on my normal day off, there was no guarantee I would have that day off.  I’m so thankful for the blessing of career change!* Anyway, I’m getting the house ready for Christmas and holiday cheer! I can’t wait to take RJ to see the various holiday lights displays and parades.  Is your family planning a trip to a Christmas lights display, parade, or play?

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• My 32nd birthday weekend was fab! My oldest brother and his family surprised us and took us to lunch.  We had a great time. Saturday night we hired a sitter for RJ. It went really well! I tried to put him to sleep before we left, but he refused. He cried a little after we left, but she was able to get him to sleep. I’m glad I purposely planned our dinner around his bed time! Hubby and I had a great dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. It was even better after I received the text from the sitter that RJ was sound asleep! After that, I was able to relax and enjoy our night out.

• I read a Twitter status from a woman who was contemplating boycotting Target because their stores open at midnight for Black Friday.  Whatever! I don’t get it.  If you don’t want to get up at midnight to go shop, then don’t! There are some people who do. A lot of people want to get the best deals they can and for some, it’s just a family tradition to shop til you drop!  Granted, I won’t be in Target at midnight. However, I have been up an out at 5am shopping on previous Black Fridays.   I feel midnight or 5am still too damn early to shopping in ANY store! LOL  However, I’ve done it and loved it!  You’re going to petition and boycott a store for  bringing in as much revenue as it can in a down economy? Hmmmm…  Why not stop there? Why not make the movie theaters stop Friday midnight showings of movies. I mean those  Sex and the City (myself included) and Twilight  groupies could have waited until 12 noon Friday to proclaim their Big or team Jacob love.  Come on people, give me a break.

My blog…My opinion…

Now, to the party. I have to admit this week has been extremely stressful. I had a lot going on at work and I was trying to make this party come together. I ordered DIY cupcake toppers, water bottle labels an a banner from this Etsy vendor.  I’ve pretty sure the cashiers at Michael’s know me on a first name basis.  I’d been spending my nights either doing data for work or hot gluing cut-outs to lollipop sticks!  Last night, I was up until 2am putting the finishing touches on the decorations and food.  I’m exhausted, but I’m very happy with the outcome.  RJ had a great time, and loads of gifts! *Many of those gifts make oodles an oodles of noise:|*  I was able to relax and enjoy it with him, our family and friends.  I’m going to call it a success.

However, next year, he’s getting a cupcake an a trip somewhere fun:)

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