One.
I’m feeling better and stronger every day. I still have a hard time getting out of the house (the Texas heat is awful for recovery), but I am going to try to go out to eat with friends twice this weekend and see how I do! I am definitely getting to the point where I am tired of being in the house and am ready for new adventures. Now I just need my body to catch up to that!
Two.
After everything that has gone on in 2016 so far, Chris and I are in serious need of a vacation. We can’t go on a big trip this year because of surgery costs, but we are hoping to do a fun road trip in October. You all know how much I love fall color, and I really want a trip that includes hiking since I haven’t been able to move much this year, so the current idea is to drive to the Smoky Mountains. (If anyone has been to Gatlinburg or anywhere close by, I’d love to hear from you!) We are still in the early planning stages (and a lot of it depends on if Chris can switch a weekend with someone else in his program), but I’m excited to start thinking about vacation again.
Three.
Does anyone else crave seafood in the summer? Poor Chris has had to take over kitchen duties while I recover (though my mom did come every day for the first two weeks to cook and clean for us, and we received a lot of restaurant gift cards from friends), and our favorite recipe lately is this honey garlic shrimp. It’s super easy to make and seriously delicious.
Four.
If I have to stay at home, at least it’s during the Olympics. I’ve loved being able to see the daytime coverage, and I’ve been live streaming the gymnastics coverage. I always cheer for the United States first and Russia second, so it’s been exciting to watch them win the gold and silver medals!
Five.
I rarely talk about books as I’m reading them since I do a book post every month, but y’all, Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino is so good. It’s one of those books where I want to stop everything I’m doing and read it until I’m finished. I obviously don’t know how it ends yet, but I know Kristen liked it, so I bet it’s great.
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who guest posted for me while I was recovering! I’m so thankful for all the great posts they wrote. In case you missed one, here they are:
Island Exploring: What to Do in Nantucket
Linking up with Amanda, Karli, and the High Five for Friday girls.
Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!
We keep meaning to go to Gatlinburg but we haven't been yet. Friends have told me that it's gorgeous, though! I hope you get to go!
ReplyDeleteThat shrimp looks incredible. I want to eat that SO badly, haha!! Yay for feeling better!!
I actually added Swear on This Life yesterday because my Goodreads feed said you had started reading it and that you 'liked' Kristen's review...which was super good! I had never heard of Gatlinburg before blogging, and I always think it's in Pennsylvania. (But then Google tells me otherwise.) Ha! It must be my subconscious confusing it with Gettysburg.
ReplyDeleteI have gone to Gatlinburg every year of my life in the Fall - its such a great place to do a mini-vacay
ReplyDeleteso glad to hear you are doing better girl! i hope the heat lets off soon so you can get outside more. i have been to gatlinburg once.. in 2013 i think? we didn't do a whole lot for a ton of boring reasons, but i know a lot of people in KY love it because it's so close, and a fun place to go.
ReplyDeletei am SO glad you are liking swear on this life!! i always get really worried when i recommend a book hahaha
That's such great news that you're starting to feel better! I know how I feel about the Texas heat, so I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now! Hopefully your outings with friends go super smooth this weekend! Your vacation idea sounds so awesome! The fall colors are always so beautiful, so I might have to copy that idea for a later year! And hooray for all the Olympics! I wish that I could stay home all day and watch it too!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless.
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Thank you, Regine! <3
DeleteHope you are still taking it easy! I hear the Smokey Mountains are amazing. I bet that would be a really great trip. I love shrimp! I wish I ate it more, but it's hard because Nick doesn't like it. Hope you guys have a super weekend!
ReplyDeleteAshley // acutelifestyle.blogspot.com
So glad to hear you're feeling better each day, and hope you get to enjoy getting out of the house this weekend and time with friends. A road trip to the Smokey Mountains in the fall sounds like perfection! On my list for next year for sure (can't this year with baby girl arriving in the middle of October), and I can't wait to hear all about it! Happy Friday gurlie and sending lots of *hugs* for continued recovery <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
I can barely imagine how terrible this Texas heat is when you're recovering form surgery! It's bad enough for me, and I'm not recovering at all. Glad to hear you're doing better though----I'm still sending you love of well-wishes!
ReplyDeleteI just added Swear On This Life to my list--sounds intriguing!
Glad to hear that you are recovering despite the heat and fatigue. Take care of yourself! :) So glad that the olympics are on during your recovery though. :) That shrimp sounds amazing and I am all about travel. All about it. :) If you plan to stop through Nashville let me know, we've been twice now and loved it there. :) XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I'm so glad you're starting to feel like getting out and about again!
ReplyDeleteIt has just been a hot summer - which sounds ridiculous because well summer is hot - but some are worse than others! And yes - recovering during the Olympics is fabulous! I sure hope you get a wonderful fall vacation - you deserve it!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear your recovery is going well but I'm sure you're getting stir crazy so I hope you have some fun time out with friends this weekend. But as you said at least the Olympics is going on so that can keep you occupied.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're having a good recovery and yay for a trip in October!
ReplyDeleteAdding that book to my list! And I've never personally been there, but I've heard it's a great vacation place in the fall! I hope you're able to get out this weekend and that your body catches up with you soon!!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you're able to go out to eat with friends. I know for me, it's so gratifying to slowly be able to do everyday things. The other day I walked to the store and bought myself a Coke and just that little bit of independence was amazing! I feel ya on your surgery costs impacting your travel, but it's great that you're still getting out there and going on a road trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're feeling well enough to go out to eat, that's so great!! Here's to a speedy rest of your recovery!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you are on the mend & planning activities to get outta the house. It sucks to be stuck inside but at least you get to be planning a vacation & that's always fun. :)
ReplyDeleteIt has been YEARS since I've been to Gatlinburg & the Smokey Mountains, but I do remember all the great hiking, and vistas, and cute cabins available for rent. So that would be the perfect fall destination!
ReplyDeleteGatlinburg is so pretty! I was there in January this year and I'll be there again in November. That part of Tennessee is especially gorgeous in the fall! I'm excited for you to go!
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