Spending the 4th in Wilmington

I've just come back from my second Airbnb experience. Being in someones's home is a very different experience from the typical hotel room. Decor and home personality are part of what I enjoy about the experience.

What I've Been Reading

I mentioned in my Cruise Thoughts post that I spent some time reading a book on the ship. I spent one of the late afternoons on the "secret deck" with a view of Cozumel and of the ocean with the nicest breeze. It was bliss. 

I finally read Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I really can't explain how/why it took me so long to get this book. I knew I wanted to read it as soon as it hit the stores. [How in the world did it take me four years?]

Spoiler Alert: I loved the book.  

Cruise Thoughts {Last One}

One thing I've never heard anyone tell you about a cruise is: If you have an interior room, like we did, when you turn off the lights it is completely dark. Completely! 

What I learned from this is that a perfectly dark room makes for the BEST sleeping. 

I should mention that by day two I was feeling the fatigue of travel. After all, just two days before we were at the airport at the unreasonable hour of 4:00 in the morning. 

Interestingly, I was up and out before 8:00 a.m. each morning. That must happen when you have the best sleep in a perfectly dark room.  That, and the promise of a hot breakfast in the dining room. 

Cruise Thoughts {# 3}

Here is a pic of the boat I took while waiting in line for food. I have to tell you that the sheer size of the vessel is quite impressive. It's like a small city on the boat. There are retail shops (pricey), and bars and a casino and restaurants and a spa. They have medical personnel there somewhere too. 

The sliding doors going inside from the decks actually made a little "swoosh" sound when you entered. At least that is my memory of them.

At one point I thought, "Hey, this is just like being on the Star Ship Enterprise". I mean yeah, you are isolated in the middle of the sea (instead of in the middle of space) and yet, anything you can think of is still available.

Anything except good bottled water. Which is really what I needed to drink in the hot sun. I was struck by the fact that "free" unlimited tea and lemonade was available. For an extra few $$ you could also buy a "Bubbles" package which is unlimited soda.

But water? That you had to pay for every single time. When I got to our room there was a lovely large water sitting out for us and I was impressed at the hospitality of complimentary water in the room. --You may see where this is going…after I opened and drank some of the water I saw the $16 price tag. Oops.

Snorkelers just popped up!

The bottled water tasted terrible. I believe the endless caffeinated drinks is part of "the plan." Since your thirst is not getting quenched a $7 slushy daiquiri looks like a mirage. A cold, refreshing delicious mirage. Yeah, I figured it out.

Me? I drank my single $16 bottle of water and lots and lots of lemonade.

Our first port of call was Key West and it was a lovely day for a beach wedding. 

Our return time to the ship was 2:00 which did not leave enough time to explore. But I did snap these two pictures to get a flavor for the island. 

 

I'm glad I got to spend a little time at Key West. I can see myself going back.  I still need to see the six-toed cats. 

~Kimberly

Cruise Thoughts {# 2}

I haven't told you quite enough about the cruise. Oh I know I shared some first impressions but the trip needs more than that.

In addition to being a wedding celebration, it the trip was a family gathering of sorts, two families really. I am not a member of either family. The Bride and Groom families came from New Mexico and Detroit meeting each other for the first time on the cruise. Danielle knows both the Bride and Groom and by extension knows the Mother of the Bride and the Bride's brother. 

Two Bridesmaids came in from New Mexico and the first night on the boat was the first time Danielle met them. Groomsmen came in from Detroit. No single person knew everyone until the first night. I was the only one that didn't know anyone. 

And yet...I felt as if I knew the Bride for a year and the Groom for slightly less than that. Danielle and K. have a special bond, one that grew out of being in their early twenties and making their way in a new city on their own.

By extension, I felt like I knew K. before I even met her. And when I did meet her we embraced (and squealed a little). It was genuine affection that we both already had for each other.  Meeting the Groom felt much the same. It felt perfectly natural to be attending their wedding. 

For me, the trip was a really rich combination of activity balanced with my personal requirements for alone time. We all had dinner together in the dining room on the first two nights. I will tell you dinner was always lovely. 

Sunset on the First Night of the Cruise

After dinner, the group splintered into smaller groups. By the end of dinner, I craved time to myself. One thing about me and "time to myself" is that I don't have to be alone or isolated to achieve the "me time". Maybe this is true for lots of people. I can spend an afternoon alone with a book on my front porch or I can be on a beach chair in the middle of the pool deck (actually not the middle, but you get what I'm saying). I can feel as refreshed on the pool deck as on my own private porch. I guess what I'm saying is I can achieve my bliss of alone time even when I'm not literally alone. 

I also enjoy mixing in and out of the "party". One night I went to the much-hyped musical production in the theater. As far as I could gather there was no intermission and the show didn't captivate me enough to stay. So I quietly left. When you are there alone you can do that with no fuss. 

Not ready to end my night out and about I looked for (and found) the karaoke bar. I knew this was what the younger crowd was planning to do and I happened to come in while they were there. So I spent time with the group until the karaoke was over. That's what I mean by mixing in and out of the party.

That is all for now. I will share the rest of my Cruise Thoughts next time.

~Kimberly

A Weekend In Asheville

Unbelievably, I just got back from another excursion. This one was a quiet three-day weekend in the mountains of Asheville. The NC mountains are one of our favorite places. We like to visit the area for the mix of amazing mountain views and the wonderful artistic and eclectic atmosphere. 

Since we've been back to NC, we really haven't been to Asheville. Instead, we've spent more time in Brevard which is a smaller town that borders on the Pisgah National Forest. 

A few weeks ago we got an email from Sis-In-Law (Hubby's side) saying they were planning a trip down to the Asheville area for Memorial Day weekend.  We haven't had a chance for a relaxing visit since Christmas before last. Jordan and I jumped at the chance to hang out with them in the Blue Ridge Mountain city. 

I hurried to find lodging because I know that the area is a big vacation spot and I thought it may be hard to find a room for the 3 Day weekend that kicks off summer. The rooms that were still available had increased their prices for the holiday...and I just did not want to spend too much $ on a room that we would not be spending much time in. So I began to research Airbnb. I would never have thought of Airbnb (or really known about it) if I hadn't read about it in a blog. I found the cutest place to stay, called the Charming Artist's Bungalow. 

I couldn't resist taking a few pics of the beautiful place. As you can see from the pics, the home is delightfully decorated with original art by the Host. She truly is an artist. The decor was a wonderful mix of luxurious furnishings such as crystal chandeliers and elegant lamps. The warm hardwood floors with oriental rugs give the place an inviting cozy cottage feel. There is art beautifully and eclectically hung on the walls. The large oil paintings (most are modern works) are striking. Honestly, the Bungalow really added to the overall specialness of the weekend. 

Until next time!

Cruise Thoughts

Hello Dear Readers. I have wanted to post about my perceptions of Cruising...especially now that I've cruised exactly once. So, here goes.


First Impressions:

1. Sitting in the Cruise "waiting area" is surreal. When you look out the window you see this huge ship. --The ship that you will be getting on in a bit. The ship that is taller than the building you are currently in. It seems more massive than a plane. 

2. I was mesmerized by watching the crew dressed in white official ship uniforms walking out down the mezzanine and going to the ship. They looked very crisp. 

A Key West Celebration

When last I posted I was getting ready to cruise to Key West, FL, and Cozumel, Mexico! Now, hard as it is for me to believe, I'm back. This was a mother-daughter cruise of sorts. My lovely daughter invited me to join her and her friends for their destination wedding.

How sweet is it that my daughter wanted me to go? I'm still super happy about it. Not only did I get some quality girl time with D, but I also got to meet and get to know her friends. D. has some really great friends and I love that she let me be a part of that.

I have a few pics here of the lovely bridesmaids on Key West. 

[I'm not posting pictures of the actual ceremony or the Bride because those moments are not mine to share.]

What a great way to spend the day in Key West! I had a blast.

My Birthday Week

Guess where I was last week.  Before I break the suspense and tell you...did I mention that it was my birthday?  Yep.  My birthday was celebrated in VEGAS!

I gotta tell you last week's party week was just perfect. We stayed in the Bellagio and the photo above was taken from our window.  How cool was that?  We got to see the wonderful water and light show from our window every night.

The Hubster's siblings have a tradition of getting together for a few days to celebrate "big" birthdays. This was my year. Hub's sister was able to come for the celebration too.  Hub's brother and our sis in law couldn't come this time.  I know they are disappointed...I know this because they said, "I'm disappointed". {Smile} But the good news is that this means we will get to celebrate together a second time.  So, I get two birthday parties {so to speak}.

On our first Vegas day, we visited the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.  The current show is featuring Monet along with his contemporaries.  The works are on loan to the Bellagio from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

I felt doubly lucky that we were in the museum when the docent-led presentation.

My SIL and I spent the second day in a CABANA!! {Complete with snacks, beverages and a Cabana Person}  This was my idea of complete indulgence. I wanted to spend some time outside but couldn't fathom being in the sun with only sunscreen and a hat keeping me from burning.

The morning was spent lounging under the canopy of the cabana.  I sank into the chaise and was so relaxed that my body melted into the cushions.  Pure heaven.

We also enjoyed the pool, which cooled us off nicely.  It was a perfect day.  The entire week felt like everything a vacation should be. Both fun and relaxing.

We carved out "me" time for sipping tea and reading my book.  It has been forever since I indulged in a book.

What am I reading?  The new Anna Quindlen book.  I haven't finished reading it yet.  I was so relaxed naps were interspersed between chapters.

And now, we get to celebrate a wonderful Three Day weekend.  Hope you have a good one!!

Cheers,
~Kimberly

Spring in DC {and the Cherry Blossom Festival}

Hubby has a conference in DC this week. Since I'm on vacation I used this opportunity to travel with him. As luck would have it, we are lucky enough to be in DC during the Cherry Blossom festival.  Turns out it's not only the Cherry Blossom Festival BUT it is the 100 Year Anniversary of Japan's Cherry Blossom gifts to the U.S. So, Hubby and I spent our first day in DC at the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.

A Labor Day Mini Vacation

Hubby and I used this three day weekend to go to the beach! Yay! I haven't been to the beach since July 2010.  Before that, I hadn't been to the beach in years. YEARS!

In my childhood, going to the beach was at least an annual event. If we were lucky, we got to go several times each summer.

I have so many wonderful beach memories it seems wrong to try to list them. It would be like I'm choosing one memory over another. When we were kids, Mom and Dad got my sisters and me up in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise. For Dad, the time of arrival was half the fun. If we were going to "go to the beach" we were going to be there "all day". Getting in the car before sunrise got us to the beach before lunch.

My favorite times to go to the beach were "off-season". The beaches were less crowded and the weather more breezy and comfortable. This summer was so hot I couldn't bear the thought of a visit to a place without shade. But this weekend, the weather was perfect. So Hubs and I made a spontaneous trip east.