Or so it felt like. This break was a much needed one to re-engergize and re-focus myself for the rest of the semester. I am back at school now and already back in the swing of reading textbooks,  going to class and clinicals! Before spring break, I made myself a little to-do list that you can read here. I wanted something I could look at over break when I had free time or needed something to do. I didn't accomplish everything on my list, but I would still call it a successful break! 

Here's what I did (and did not!) accomplish!

1. Learn to braid my hair like Amber Fillerup Clark of Barefoot Blonde. 

Why did I think I could intricately braid my hair when I can barely put it into a ponytail? Attempted, but unsuccessful.

2. Take my dog for a walk on the beach.
I took Reilly for a few walks, but none of them were on the beach because I was nervous about getting sand/wet dog smell all up in my car. 

3. Hit up the outlets...ya girl would like some new going-out tops!
My mom and I had some awesome coupons to Bonton...we had never been there before but the coupons were too good to pass up! $50 off $50 for clothing, $35 off $35 for shoes, and $15 off $15 for beauty! I got a jumpsuit, a dress, a pair of shoes, and an eyeshadow for $30. SCORE!

4. Read 3 books.
Fail. I only read one!

5. Wash my makeup brushes...(its been awhile). 

The second I had free time at home, I was washing my makeup brushes and now they feel like new!

6. Publish 3 posts. 
DONE! Check them out!
A Very Special 5 on Friday
Winter Wonders and Woes
Netflix Picks #1: Independent Girly Comedies

7. Cook my family dinner. 

It wasn't very exciting, but I made tacos!

8. Go to at least 2 restaurants that are participating in Maine Restaurant Week (March 1st-14th).

I only ended up going to one for brunch, and it was delicious! I wasn't a good blogger and forgot to take a picture, but it was my first meal of the day so I was starving!

9. Have a really fantastic margarita (or two). 
I only had one margarita, thanks Texas Roadhouse! I also had some delicious prosecco with my mom during our GNI...it goes great with Thai food!

10. Go skiing. 
Check! Only fell once, on the last run down obviously!

11. Find a new home for the clothes I have sitting at home.
While I pushed this exact activity off until summer break, I was able to leave some clothes at home which means I have less winter clothing at school! 

12. Eat seafood...because I don't trust the seafood here that's three+ hours from the nearest ocean. 

I am bummed about this one...I never got the opportunity to have seafood while I was home!

13. Go to open lap swim at a local (indoor) pool.
Even though it would have been indoors, I decided it would have been too cold for me! To make up for it, I went on a lot of walks with Reilly and my mom! 

14. Work on my photography skills.
I played around with my camera a bit. Its a point and shoot, and I have been trying to learn how to use it so I can get the best quality pics from it! Also, I took a ton of pictures on my iPhone trying to turn my dog into a model...

I had a blast with my family over break, and thats the best thing I could have asked for!

Spring Break @ Home To-Do List

Oh, the famed college spring break...many of my peers will be headed south to beaches filled with other college students, concerts, and sunshine. However, I am headed 12 hours north to Maine (home!) as a spring break trip south was just not in the cards for me this year. To be honest, I am bummed that I won't be laying on a beach a week from today, especially since it has been so cold here lately. I am grateful to be headed home though, don't get me wrong! I am thankful that I do have a great family to go home to and that I have a beautiful state to call home too. The only thing I am maybe not looking forward to is how cold it will be (okay I saw that eye roll, I know you are sick of me talking about the weather)!

The closer I get to break, the more excited I get that I will have so much free time to myself. Or at least that's how I am trying to convince myself how to feel...Many of my friends do not have the same break schedule as I do (John included--he's in South Carolina on break this week!) and my family will be busy with school/work. The more I think about it, the more I am motivated to make a list of must-do's for this break so I can maximize my productivity and make this a break free from moping around wishing I was basking in the warmth of the sun with a cool drink in my hand. That was the last weather reference I swear!

This was at the beach near me at home last spring break.

 Here are some of my home-for-spring-break-must-do's:

1. Learn to braid my hair like Amber Fillerup Clark of Barefoot Blonde. 

2. Take my dog for a walk on the beach.

3. Hit up the outlets...ya girl would like some new going-out tops!

4. Read 3 books. 

5. Wash my makeup brushes...(its been awhile). 

6. Publish 3 posts. 

7. Cook my family dinner. 

8. Go to at least 2 restaurants that are participating in Maine Restaurant Week (March 1st-14th).

9. Have a really fantastic margarita (or two). 

10. Go skiing. 

11. Find a new home for the clothes I have sitting at home.

12. Eat seafood...because I don't trust the seafood here that's three+ hours from the nearest ocean. 

13. Go to open lap swim at a local (indoor) pool. 

14. Work on my photography skills.

Well that's it. 14 things for the 7 days I will home. I know these items on the list aren't the most earth-shattering things to do, but they are all feasible and I will be proud of myself if I cross everything of the list! 

I hope you all had a happy Monday and I wish you an even better Tuesday! 

Dream Vacation

I really had to think about this prompt for a while yesterday...I kept debating back and forth with myself on what my dream vacation would be. Would I pick a Caribbean cruise, a European tour or a South American adventure? Finally, it hit me that my dream vacation would basically be any of the Kardashian-Jenner family trips. 

If you aren't keeping up with the Kardashians, I'll catch you up..In every season of their show, they pick a tropical destination and head there as a family. The past few seasons they have gone to Greece, Thailand, Dominican Republic, and Bora Bora. Wouldn't you just love to spend a week at a 5 star hotel living the life of luxury? Spending time on yachts, riding elephants, ziplining, dinners outside with gorgeous views...its a dream! Now I am not saying that I would want to BE a Kardashian (yes I would), but you have to admit that the idea of going on a vacation with your loved ones is pretty sweet, right? 

and family!

Except when you lose your earrings. 

What is your dream vacation?

Best/Worst Vacation

Soo there is a deep dark secret about to come out right now---I love Disney World. Okay maybe that is not as exciting or dark as you would have hoped so sorry about that. I love everything about it...the rides, the food, the hotels, the characters, the magical feeling that you get once you are on Disney property. Its been 3.5 years since I have been there and I am dying to go back! 

My best vacation was when I went to Disney World my senior year of high school. I was probably more excited than both of my little brothers combined even though they were at a way more appropriate age to be excited about a theme park centered around a mouse. One of the best parts of this trip was that I got to bring a friend...so obviously I chose John. 

Stealing me back from Prince Charming 

I think I was probably the happiest person in the happiest place on earth.

Except when Cinderella tried to take John...I had to tell her to back off

I think we did about every ride in the all of the parks (except I chickened out on Tower of Terror...too scary). I love my family and I love John so having everyone together for a whole week was a dream come true and its one that I wish I could relive over and over. If I never have a vacation that was as good as that one, I honestly think I would be okay with it. Its really not about where I was or what I was doing but its really about how I felt the whole time...so happy to be with my loved ones.

As far as the worst vacation goes, I know we are probably supposed write about that vacation where we drove across the country (with our fair share of misadventures) to a theme park only to find out that it is closed, so Dad had to buy a gun and force the security guard to let us in. But I don't have any vacation stories like that, so sorry guys!

This is my family's favorite movie, along with Christmas Vacation---they are quoted regularly in the house

Tell me about your best/worst vacation!