Back from vacation

Leaving FloridaWe’re back from a much needed extended family vacation to North Carolina. We left Florida Friday morning June 21st and just got back this past Sunday June 30th. Upon arriving back home….part 2 of our family vacation started as my inlaws arrived Monday afternoon and just left yesterday. What an incredible 15 days it’s been. Ever notice how vacations feel longer than they are? I’m sure it has something to do with being out of your normal routine and responsibilities, maybe also visiting with family and friends you haven’t seen in awhile. It’s wonderful, refreshing and the memories we’ve built as a family during these times are priceless.

I always miss my kitchen when I’m away. It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good meal out, but for most of the meals while I travel I prefer eating in. I like the control that offers me, and love eating more of my normal healthier fare while traveling. The last few summers I’ve noticed that I feel SO much better when I travel if I start my day with a quality breakfast of my choice along with a quick run and walk. It may not undo all the damage from the vacation fluff that inevitably finds it’s way onto me, but it sure has helped to combat it. 😉

This past trip I managed to get out for a 1 to 1.5 mile walk and a 1 mile run EVERY morning while gone. Even the morning after my cousin’s wedding. Wow….that was awesome! I’m not saying it was easy every morning, but I liked getting up before everyone else and just getting it done! I found it to be a great way to capture some time for myself before the hustle of the day began. I liked the energy it gave me, and the best feeling was that I didn’t feel sluggish at all.
20130706-182650.jpgAnother huge plus of running while away was that I was able to get out and explore a different area. We were visiting family and friends in North Carolina and it was a nice change of scenery….instead of palm trees and flat land, I ran in a somewhat hilly neighborhood and loved seeing all the gardens, front porches and older buildings. It was a more rural feel for parts of it, and also led into a newer neighborhood of cute houses. Not to mention I was back in my old neighborhood, and I’m usually not out exploring on foot.

A few highlights from my trip include a family wedding, our annual Fourth of July family reunion (early) which also meant seeing my nephews (identical two year old twins) who I hadn’t seen since last July and another cousin I hadn’t seen in 2 years, hiking and mountain views, great meals out with family and friends (tried to get my fill of FRIED GREEN TOMATOES!), Krispy Kremes of course, exploring Old Salem and my first ever trip to Trader Joe’s!! I have to save that for it’s own post! Did you happen to see my pictures on Instagram? It’s great to be back sharing with you guys, and I hope your summer’s been wonderful so far. I have some pictures from the trip, some fun things to share with you and always new recipes and food ideas. So much to share….so little time, but keep checking because I’m back.

I’m always looking for new travel ideas, especially involving food and fitness. Do you like to try to incorporate exercise into your travels and vacations? What works for you? I want to hear from you!
20130706-182004.jpg
Pilot Mountain in the distance. A hometown landmark for me, and my first time taking my girls. We hiked around the pinnacle! Fun, but some scary parts and drop offs.

If you enjoyed this post or recipe, please pass it along! There are many ways you can SHARE. One of the most popular options is to PIN it on Pinterest or to LIKE it on Facebook. It really makes my day! To make sure you don’t miss a post or recipe you can either follow Creative Kitchen on Facebook or Pinterest. Or subscribe by RSS subscription or Email in the sidebar. It’s FREE! Thanks for reading….I love having company in the kitchen!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Back from vacation

  1. Tarissa says:

    Oh, I absolutely love going on walks every morning with my dog. She’s a Westie. 🙂 And she’s probably not very appreciative of the lovely Scottie shortbread that I won, but I am! Anyways, I do love walking and exploring new parts of the neighborhood which I haven’t visited yet. I like walking even when I’m visiting at someone else’s house for a few days, because it adds a sense of adventure to go “exploring”. 🙂
    Tarissa recently posted..Giveaway {$50 Gift Certificate} from ElisabethNicole #ChristmasinJuly

  2. Andi Houston says:

    We go hiking when we travel. Last summer we drove from Florida to El Paso, Texas and we went hiking in the desert mountains, which I had never done before.
    Andi Houston recently posted..Creamy Sage & Wild Mushroom Skillet

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge