After 15 years being out of school, it goes without saying that I was BEYOND excited when I turned in my last final this semester. This semester has been a learning experience, no pun intended!
The week following my last day of school, I had to wrap up-plenty of loose ends that I let fall by the wayside in the weeks prior to the end of the semester. Our home, needless to say, was a wreck!
If I learned anything during the school year, it was the need to be aware of my body and spirit. Ignoring myself could mean disaster. I'm not kidding!
Missing lunch, as trivial as it may seem at any other time of the year, is brain fuel during the school year. Taking a break, even if minutes in the middle of the day, recharges my body and mind. Organization was more important than ever, and my support team, which is mainly my cheerleading husband and patient furry baby, kept my head above water.
I've learned to say no, turn off the phone, and ignore emails on the weekend. I also learned to embrace help and signs to just be ME.
All signs pointed to taking a break after school...I just didn't know how it would happen. I just knew it would.
As kookie as it sounds, put it out there and the doors will open. That's exactly what happened when I was approached by Ford to plan a road-trip up the California Coast.
Bucket list item checked off: The MADONNA INN!!!
Taking a trip up the California Coast, which is really my idea of heaven-on-earth, and well, there-you-have-it! The PERFECT break to end my school semester and kick-off a reflective and life changing summer.I think it had something to do, if not a lot, with their new Transit Connect being a perfect marriage of quirky and functionality that both my hubby and I look for in a car. I mean, really, is it NOT the perfect road-trip travel companion, or what?!
Central California is GORGEOUS! Mountains to the East, beach to the West. It's a MUST DO trip for anyone.
After a few weeks of planning the perfect road-trip itinerary, we took off on Tuesday, June 24. We called our vacation the #UnminivanMoments #CaliforniaGold road-trip; and for the next five days we had endless fun, and discovered places that are not on most tourist guides.Of course, we documented our trip on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and, have more than 250 photos from our trip that you can see here.
During the trip we received a lot of feedback and questions that one blog post can't possibly answer; So in the interest of helping you plan your very own roadtrip this summer, I will be sharing a few tips, guides and travel suggestions in the upcoming weeks.
Thanks for the follows everyone - you made our trip that MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE having you along for the ride.
XOXO,
Hubby and me outside the Monterey Bay Aquarium.