by the seat of our pants.

I'm really not good at looking too far into the future.  I live pretty day to day most of the time.  At the beginning of the summer Mike and I said we were going on vacation with the kids...we even put it on the calendar.  I remember saying we should go to Atlanta. 

Well, about two weeks ago I realized that trip to Atlanta was coming up.  I thought to myself, "we'll just find a hotel when we get down there...we'll just wing it.  It will be fun."  I had some ideas about what we could do and I was especially wanting the kids to experience the In to the Dark exhibit that is there. It's a fascinating journey into a blind person's world.  I got to go to it when I was at Love Affair and loved the chance to have my mind opened to a completely different way of seeing.  I knew it would be great for my kids.

As the trip got closer, I decided we had all been to Atlanta enough.  We've been there 4 times since we moved here (not that you could ever run out of things to do there) and I wanted to go somewhere new.  So...4 days before we were supposed to leave and during peak season for EVERYTHING since school starts...TOMORROW.  I decided to try to book something in Charleston or at one of the many state parks in North or South Carolina.  I spent an entire day on the internet and phone hearing all about how everything was booked and if you want to book anything you have to rent for at least a week.  Needless to say I got pretty frustrated about 1/2 way into the day.

I finally talked to a woman near the end of that long long long day at the computer and she recommended Pawley's Island.  I had been looking at resorts and big frouffy places that I really didn't want to go but didn't know where else to look.  I wanted something that felt smaller, more cozy, and less tourist-y.  From what she told me, it sounded like Pawley's Island was perfect...a little island between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. 

We arrived and loved the feel of the island and have decided we'll have to go back next year.  We had so much fun.  I'm posting some pictures of our trip and I'll be posting even more...I may have to do a couple of segments or something.

These images are about the first 12 hours we were there.  We went to the beach before anyone even had a chance to change into swimsuits...no one wanted to wait. 

Even though Mike and I had arranged to eat out for breakfast each morning (becuase we thought the kids would think that was awesome!) we quickly found out that our kids had decided that eating at the little round table in our little villa (2 bedroom condo) was the coolest place in town to eat breakfast.  So we went out and got cereal and milk (exactly what we have every single morning at home) and had the best tasting breakfast we've had in a long time.

We also went biking and crabbing and made sandcastles and went boogie boarding...more of those pictures to come soon...

A real vacation is a must!  I left my computer at home and so did Mike.  Most of the time I forgot my cell phone in the villa while we were out playing around and it was beautifully freeing and fun and so wonderful to be so present.  I hope you're getting a chance to do the same.  Really living makes a really big difference in your life.

vacation. LIFE.