Ten on Tuesday - Travel Style

1. You’re packing for a week long vacation, do you pack ahead of time or wait until the last possible minute to pack?
Considering it takes me for.ev.er. to pack - I am compulsive about trying on every single outfit before it goes in my bag - I start packing a couple days ahead of time but usually don't end up finalizing until the very last minute. Neurotic, I know.

2. Are you a light or heavy packer?
Anyone that knows me can answer this question.  C had his family buy me mid-sized Vera Bradley luggage bags for my birthday this year so that I would stop bringing a large rolling duffel bag to go visit him for less than an entire weekend. (I've since kept my rolling luggage for only longer trips, but that doesn't mean I don't bring all 3 of the bags I got for my birthday. Sorry I'm not sorry C.)  So yes, I am an over-packer.(And yet somehow I still never have exactly what I want to wear...)

I'll never get rid of my rolly. 

But I LOVE my new tote, use it for everything!

3. What are your favorite road trip snacks?
Pull and peel twizzlers, diet coke, and some monster trail mix (preferably with an overwhelming chocolate to any other ingredient ratio.)

4. Do you take any reading material along?
Yes! Usually light reads like Glamour or People mags if I'm driving. My heaviest reading of novels is usually done while traveling by plane, however. I definitely prefer reading over listening to my ipod on flights. 

5. Do you prefer to drive or fly to your vacation destination?
Fly, please! 

6. What is your favorite time of the year to take your vacation?
Let's be real here, I'll take a vacation any time of the year.  Although I think a trip to a warm sunny beach in the middle of a frigid mid-atlantic winter is ideal. Too bad I never do that...

7. Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Hmm..again, not picky. I love Disney World in the fall.  And I obviously love the Jersey Shore in the summer. But I think the ultimate vacation was during my study abroad trip; a long weekend in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Costa Brava was breathtaking, exciting and totally relaxing. I almost didn't come back. 

With my beautiful friends in the crystal clear waters of Costa Brava

8. You are vacationing in the mountains, what is your favorite thing to do while there?
In the winter? Snowmobiling and skiing! And snuggling with hot chocolate afterwards...ha. 
In the summer? Water sports on the lake for surrrre. 

Hunter Mountain 2010

9. You are at the beach for your vacation,  do you like to take it easy on the beach or play all day in the water?
I do my best to lay out as long as possible for ultimate bronzing, however, when I'm with my cousins I could play in the water for HOURS. 

10. While your on vacation do you prefer to eat out every night or cook some of your own meals?
We usually eat out for dinner but pack our own lunches.  This past summer I went to Cape May with loverboy for a long weekend, and if you know my boyfriend, you know our first stop was at the grocery store.  We got enough food to make sandwiches and snacks for lunches on the beach, fixings for a gourmet breakfast on our last morning, and then ate out every night for dinner. :) 

Now that' you're all off day dreaming about vacation, enjoy your Tuesday! 

Link up!

Ten on Tuesday

Because sometimes dreaming about a vacation is not just okay, but completely and unquestionably necessary. 

1. What is your dream vacation?
I’m torn between sharing two of my “dream” vacations; one is a cruise through the Mediterranean (with an extended stay on the Greek Isles), and, because I’m not quite ready to venture to the turmoil of Greece if this dream becomes a reality any time soon, I dream of island-hopping in Hawaii with my handsome boyfriend. 

2.  What has been your favorite trip so far in your life?

My 7 1/2 week journey through Spain and Rome last summer. I “studied” for five of these but really I explored the magical city of Barcelona during the week, sunned on its beaches, expanded my Spanish language and had more fun traveling than I thought was possible for the capacity of individual weekends. I left a nervous American traveller, and came back a knowledgeable explorer, a confident voyager, a proficient Spanish speaker and a passionate writer.

3. If you and one of your best friends could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be and why?

Hmm good question. Even though I’ve already been there, I’d say Barcelona. The shopping is fantastic. There is a beach. There is rich culture. Good food. And I have some knowledge in the language. Sounds like a perfect girls week to me. 

4. Have you ever booked a trip using an online deal? How did it go?

Um, no. I’m not very travel (or tech) savy. I leave that up to my travel partners typically. 

5. What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re on vacation?

Bronze. 

6. Have you ever missed an opportunity to take a trip that you regret?

Usually when I have an opportunity to take a trip, I take it. So I guess not really. 

7.  You travel far away from home and get stranded with no way to buy anything, what’s the one thing you can’t live without?

Honestly, my cell phone. I need connection to family and bf .. and twitter. So yes, my smartphone needs to be with me. 

8.  What’s one of your favorite traveling memories?

Ahhh two words: Costa Brava.  See this post for reasons why.  ALSO watching Spain win the world cup IN SPAIN. 

9. All included resort or backpacking? Why?

All included resort. Because, do you know me? 

10. Are you more of a lie on the beach kind of person on vacation, or do you prefer to see the sights?

I am a hardcore sun bather, but I really do appreciate sight seeing.  But I dedicate sight seeing to, lets say, two-three action packed days so I can relax in the sand the rest of the stay. ;) 

One of my favorite beaches in Alicante, Spain.Take.Me.Back. 

"Happiness is...

...sand in your toes and a sunburn on your nose." 

Do you know what my absolute favorite part of summer time is?

The way the moments just before the sun begins to set begin to cool the sand and calm the sea. The romantic backdrop of a pink-orange sky and the way it warms you no matter how chilly the evening breeze may be. The beach at sunset is definitely my favorite thing about summer.

Just ask Chris, he claims I told him this fact about me twelve times over a span of four days. I say he's exaggerating, but probably not by much. All four days spent in Cape May I got to savor my favorite summertime feeling because he let me swoon over the beach at sunset no matter what the rest of the night's plans entailed. For four evenings straight my toes were cold and I was happy.

Before we even got ourselves settled on Beach Avenue, C and I were on the beach cruisers scheming ways to avoid our departure 3 nights later.  There is an ever-present peaceful sort of excitement in a beach town that makes you never want to leave its simplicity. We rode into town, did some window shopping and ate a nice outdoor dinner.  

Coca Cola Display at the NutHouse

The store made just for me: 'Glitter Girl'

Friday's breakfast was a home-cooked joint effort. I made the pancake batter, set the table, prepped the eggs, while C flipped and scrambled. He even helped clean up. Reason #48 I am in love with this boy. 

The rest of the day was spent bronzing on the beach before going out to dinner (where we got our picture taken for the local magazine, yes we are now local celebrities) and walking the boards of a deserted Wildwood (where both of us were graced with the droppings of a single seriously ill Seagull.)

Special shout-out thanks to Aunt Doe & co. who treated us to a delicious breakfast at Uncle Bill's famous Pancake House on Saturday morning.  What a coincidence to be in CM the same day!

Saturday night included some experimentation. Sangria Slurpees were blended and enjoyed on the front deck to the sweet sounds of Bruce Springsteen Radio on Pandora. (Our Slurpee concoction will not be released to 7/11 just yet, some recipe adjustments are still to be made.)

Sunday came entirely too fast. We did our best to make the day last as long as possible, but the inevitable snuck up on us like we knew it would. With a long goodbye to the ocean at Sunset Beach, we set off in the White Knight headed north on the Parkway - coincidentally my least favorite place to be in the summer.

Can't wait until our next trip. For now I am thankful for the memories - and my front porch with which I can substitute the sand. Right now on my white rocking chair I write this post, smelling the sweet scent of approaching summer rain and it's not so bad to be at home.  

**Special thanks to Christopher for making this weekend so special for me. This was a birthday present to definitely remember forever xo Love you 

Cape May Getaway

Today I'm leaving for a weekend getaway with loverboy. Destination: Cape May. Can't wait to relax at the beach and eat all the salt water taffy (or Fudge in C's case) humanly possible. I'll be back Monday with a recap :)

I hope everyone else has something to look forward to this weekend! Enjoy the heat wave :)