Hello, lovelies!
Well, I’m back from vacation and I had a wonderful time. Before anything else, I just want to say thank you to the people who wrote those great guest posts while I was away! (Sarah for her Summer Veggie Pasta Salad, Madison for her post on egg allergies, Fiona for her tips for exercising in the summer, Christy for her post on independent travel and hostels, and Michelle and Mike for their post on fitting in fitness!) I loved all of the posts, and loved reading your comments on them. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to everyone…I really wanted to focus on spending time with my family and my surroundings, and away from the computer. I hope you all understand. 🙂
Anyway, it’s Monday again, and I’m back to work, but really my vacation was just so marvelous that I want to share some of it with you all, recap style. I’ll be linking this post up to Katie’s Marvelous in my Monday, and Meghan’s Week in Review, but I’m not going to share all of my vacation today, so please come by throughout the week for more pictures and such. 🙂
Last Friday morning, my family and I set out a little after 6 am. My mom had dropped Ella off at the kennel the night before, so once the van was all packed, we could just hit the road. (By the way, I hate leaving Ella. Hate it.)
It was really quite a nice drive most of the way, but when we got to West Virginia, we found ourselves stuck in a massive traffic line up. There wasn’t an accident or anything (thank goodness); it was just because of the semi trucks on the mountains. Either way, it wasn’t great…but the views certainly made it bearable.
We finally made it to Winston-Salem, NC just around dinner time, so after stopping at Outback for a meal, we went to our hotel. The room I had was nice, but the room my parents were put in…? Yeah, that was incredible. They were upgraded to a suite, which was complete with a four-tv entertainment center, movie theatre-style chairs, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette, not to mention loads of space. It was so awesome, I just have to share some pictures with you:
I want that bathroom/vanity in my house some day. Sheesh. (Oh, and please excuse the outfit…I was going for comfort, not style during my travels. 😉 )
The next morning I woke up early and went down to the gym with my dad. It felt sooooo great to stretch my legs, so I spent an hour on the treadmill (which was more like a computer…it was so high-tech and awesome!) alternating running and walking. After a shower and breakfast, we hopped back in the car and were on our way.
After a little while on the road, we stopped in Raleigh for lunch at a place my dad knew called The Pit. Now, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I’m not the biggest fan of meats, so when he told us it was a BBQ place, I was a bit skeptical about finding anything I’d like. But the place was crazy busy, and the atmosphere and menu immediately changed my feelings.
(source)
The menu had traditional BBQ plates, different sandwiches and salads, and even some vegetarian meals, like barbecued tofu or a veggie plate. I thought it was so cool that a restaurant like that would go out of its way to make all customers feel welcome and happy.
Anyway, despite my previous statement, I did end up ordering the BBQ pulled pork, which came with two sides (I chose the red beans and rice and fruit) and a biscuit and hush puppies.
That biscuit was one of the most heavenly things I’ve ever eaten. Just saying.
Anyway, we all left full and very happy, and got back into the car to finish our drive to Topsail Beach.
If you aren’t familiar with it (I certainly wasn’t), Topsail Beach is at the lower east part of North Carolina, about an hour away from Wilmington. It’s a gorgeous area – the town was not much to speak of, but the beach…wow. Just wow.
(You can click on the picture above to make it bigger!)
That (above) was the view from the deck. We rented half of a duplex for the week (it was named A Pole in the Ayre, and you can click on that name for more information and pictures!), and it was so wonderful to be so close to the beach with home-y comforts and conveniences.
The first day we got there, my mom, brother, and I almost immediately went into the water. It was, and I kid you not, probably about 80*, which to a person who is used to Lake Michigan, is downright tropical. I loved it.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the deck and in the water, and were treated to the most magnificent night scape once the sun set.
I doctored this photo up on Instagram, and it’s become one of my favorites. It looks like a painting!
So beautiful.
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And there’s the first part of my vacation recap. I hope you enjoyed the pictures – I promise there will be more in my next few posts. Anyway, thanks for reading, and have a great day!
Thanks to Katie and Meghan for hosting these link-up parties!
Liv Lives Life 
When Joshua was stationed in NC, we used to actually live at Topsail. Such a beautiful and non populated beach. Love it there ❤ ❤
Glad you had such a great vacation with your family. Can't wait to hear more.
Oh how cool! I love that someone knows the beauty of the place I’m talking about! 🙂
Wow, that is quite some room! Sounds like you had a great time, Liv! Can’t wait for Part II!! Have a great day!
Isn’t it? Talk about luxury! Thanks, Fran!
wow love that room! and i am always always always comfort over style when traveling, too. that pic really does like a painting.
I’d love to be one of those women who gets out of a plane looking like a million bucks, but nope, I’m the one in sweat pants and flip flops. 😉
A whole week at the beach, how incredible! Your parents’ suite is AMAZING- I actually widened my eyes when I saw the pictures. I’ve never seen so many TVs in a hotel room!
Glad you enjoyed yourself and soaked up family time, Liv 🙂
I know! My jaw dropped when I walked in, and my dad was running around like a kid in a candy store. It was funny.
Thanks, Christy!
That tv set-up is CRAZY. Who needs four? Seriously. But I would have loved to have that room, especially with the two bathrooms and movie theater chairs.
I definitely clicked on that picture to make it bigger 🙂 I wish I was there right now. It looks so warm and today is just so cold!
Great doctored photo. It really does look like a painting.
Haha exactly. It was super cool, but at the same time, somewhat annoying if you wanted the sound on! Yeah, I’d be ok having that in my future house. 😉
It has been really cold up here since I’ve been back! What is with that?
Thanks. 🙂
Looks like a gorgeous place to vacation! Love the bathrooms mirror action! And the movie theater chairs! Fun!
Oh gosh, that mirror. It can’t be too difficult to install something like that yourself, can it? 😉
Wow so cool they had BBQ tofu! I’ve never been to a BBQ place that has anything vegetarian except coleslaw!
Love all those beach pictures. I love the beach so much! One of the BEST places to vacation 🙂
And omg your parent’s room!!! I would love to stay there. I didn’t even know hotels had such rooms!
I know! I was very pleasantly surprised. You’re right – usually places will slap some random veggies on a plate and call it vegetarian. It was cool to see the restaurant really putting some effort forward!
I agree, the beach is a perfect vacation spot. 🙂
I didn’t either! It makes me wonder how much hotels are holding out on us. 😉
Looks like so much fun!
Sounds like an AWESOME trip! 🙂
That looks like a gorgeous beach, and that hotel room!?! I love the moon picture and I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures.
funny, i was looking at the plate of bbq and thinking “the biscuit looks heavenly” and then you said the biscuit was the best part. NAILED IT! i’m glad you enjoyed a meat dish tho so cool that there was a bbq tofu option! that hotel room is BALLER.
Oh gosh, they were. Carbs are always my favorite part of a meal, but those…wow.
I know! So cool.
Hi Olivia! It’s been wonderful reading about your vacation. Thank you so much for sharing the highlights with us. It looks totally awesome! I love your pic of the sea at night. It’s really atmospheric!
I think if you are in North Carolina, then you have to try the barbeque; especially at a place called The Pit. The views from your duplex are incredible, and I’m glad you relaxed and spent time unwinding with the family. Sometimes you gotta unplug; I know I certainly did on my vacation.