First Trimester Road Trips - DC & Nashville

It's official.  I'm pregnant!  We're ecstatic!  Of course, constantly having the baby on my mind doesn't bode well for travel blog writing or traveling in general.  Nonetheless, we've braved some road trips, lived to tell about them, and even have a couple more planned for this summer!

If you've ever been with child, or traveled with a woman who was, you know it can sometimes be tricky depending on morning sickness and her oversion to odors.  We road-tripped to Washington, DC to visit family for the Easter holiday when I was only 8 weeks in.  I was just getting used to the idea of this living, peanut-sized person swimming around in my belly, let alone constant nausea and waxing fatigue.  "What's happening to my body!?" "Can people tell?" "Should I tell people yet? or wait it out a little longer?"  My usual I-can't-wait-to-get-there giddiness was replaced with "will I have time for a nap?" 

Some Tips for travel during your first trimester:

1. Bring plenty of bland snacks -- saltines, pretzels, granola bars, etc.  We've been told that you're better off with something in your belly, and it turns out it's true. 
2. Lots of water!  -- which results in a pit stop about every hour or so.  It's good for you though, so drink it.
3. Pack your prenatal vitamins -- You don't want to forget those, especially since we all tend to veer off course (as far as diet and nutrition is concerned) while traveling.
4. A fluffy pillow and room to stretch your legs. -- Try to share the driving with a pal so you can stretch out in the back seat.  Keeping your feet elevated will also help decrease ankle swelling and back soreness.
5. Get out and stretch your legs, walk around and get the blood flowing every chance you get.

Once you arrive, eat mini meals like you do at home, rest when you can, plan on hitting the sack early and rising frequently to use the restroom.  Bring super comfy shoes and loose-fitting clothes for walking around, and drink plenty of water during the day too!  If you're comfortable telling your news to those you're traveling with, they might be more understanding when you need to stop and rest more often than usual.  I chose to tell the family members we were with and chatting about it made it even more fun!

Next, we headed to Nashville, TN for the Rock 'n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon.  We went with a large group of friends, mostly from OU so it was difficult to hide my non-alcoholic ways in the bars.  I ended up spilling the secret to the group to make things a little easier. 

Lucky for me, after running a half marathon, the rest of the group was just as tired as I was, often leading to early bedtimes and afternoon naps. I fit right in! 

Nashville was pretty cool, but I can't help but think it's a million times better when you're able to party sans nausea and fatigue.  Maybe we'll go back someday. 

Just remember, you're still yourself while traveling pregnant, you just need to be patient, give yourself plenty of extra time for pit stops, frequent meals and naptime.  The advice people keep giving me is "get out and do stuff while you can before the baby comes."  So, that's what I intend to do!

Trips on deck :: a relaxing trip to East Hampton, NY to play on the beach; and a long weekend on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland, KY.  Stay tuned for second trimester trips!

The Vacation Argument: An Oxymoron?

You never know where your vacation will lead.

It’s like complaining about a free lunch or having too much fun. Who does it and what’s the point? The other day a friend of mine mentioned the fact that she and her man keep arguing every time they discuss their vacation options for this summer. Which part of Mexico should we go to? How long should we stay? What should we do there? Let’s do something else instead, etc.

One of them has too many vacation days to use up this year. Sucks to be you, right? Must be nice! The other one can’t seem to convince him that she can only afford one big trip this year. Here lies the issue. If they plan on vacationing together, they must make a choice. The quarrel ensues.



My advice? Just pick one. All options are lovely. There’s no sense in making your vacation (or vacation plans) stressful. The point of a vacation is to escape your everyday stresses in the first place. I know, it sounds much simpler than it is.

Decide on your ultimate “goal” for the trip. Whether it be adventure, to see a particular show, concert or attend an event, pure relaxation, good food, sightseeing or just plain old togetherness, you can surely narrow down your options by agreeing on a common goal.

Family vacations always sound like a good idea, until the planning actually starts. He wants to be active on vacation, but she wants to relax. They want to be pampered and eat at fancy restaurants every night, but they want to cook their own food and lounge in comfy clothes and bathing suits all week. Is it really worth the fight?

It never fails. Every year my extended family tends to have big ideas about a vacation we can take together, and then after a few months of debate and juggling everyone’s calendar conflicts, we never actually go. Someday I hope to remedy this vicious cycle of vacation arguing so we can simply enjoy each other’s company in beautiful place we can all afford at a time that works for everyone. But I digress …

Make yourself available. Compromise is key. Chances are you’ll have a great time no matter which vacation you choose. Check your calendar and offer plenty of options for weeks you’d be available to skip town. Plan ahead for requesting vacation days from work and add to your vacation fund whenever possible.

Take a risk. Never been out of the country and afraid to make the trip? Don’t be. Sure, getting a passport can be a frustrating (albeit expensive) task. Just do it. Get one, so you’re able to cross the border at a whim the next time your best friend wins a free trip to Mexico or your husband wants to take you to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I’m not talking about risking your life in North Korea or something … just easy international travel that millions of Americans do everyday (The Caribbean, Greek Isles, Western Europe, Australia, even Beijing or Tokyo). Book it and then fill in the details.

Just say “yes”. Say “no” less, and say “yes” more. Don’t be a stick in the mud, and be sure to keep an open mind. This is possibly the most important rule. OK, maybe even I wouldn’t jump at the chance to bungee jump off a bridge or go ice fishing for a week. No, no, I mean say “yes” to trying sushi at a great seafood restaurant at resort. Say “yes” to snorkeling in Mexico and don’t be afraid to be called up on stage to sing karaoke at a live show. Vacations are an opportunity for you to let loose and try new things in front of close family and friends (and 100s of people you’ll never see again). What better way to make a memory?

Everyone needs a vacation now and then. Speaking of which, I’d like one right now!

SniqueAway, yes please!

I love me a great deal, don't you? Here's a *Hot* new site to check out if you're planning a spontaneous getaway.  SniqueAway :: http://www.sniqueaway.com/ 

A sister site of TripAdvisor, if you sign up for a free membership, you'll be sent updates for stunning escapes at a fraction of the price -- up to 50% off!  If you act quickly (you have to since the deals only last up to a week unless they sell out quicker!), you can find some pretty wicked deals at some pretty awesome places. 

Destinations like the British Virgin Islands, NYC, Playa Mujeres, Arizona, Chicago and England to name a few, top the list this week.

These resorts are breathtaking! 
Check it out!

While you're exploring, follow me on Twitter too!

If You Could Turn Back Time

Promoted trending Twitter topics are usually pretty lame; however, a phrase this week was #IfIHadSuperPowers  ... well, now that's interesting.  I'm sure I'd choose flight, time travel, world peace, super strength, go-go gadget arms or something just like everyone else, but in my allotted Tweet space today, I went with:

@StacieKimberly :: "I'd teleport myself all over the world, #travel through time & live lavishly like a local at every location #IfIHadSuperPowers"

The destination options are endless!  If you could turn back time, Where/When would you go?

Recent "The player who left" mumbo jumbo has triggered a multitude of letters to the editor, bloggeriffic bursts of positive & mostly negative feedback, news coverage galore and trips down memory lane -- back to times when Cleveland wasn't just a "shell of a city" outsiders see -- back to a time when our teams were winning teams and our economy was booming.

My first stop?  I'd go to there.

Let's make it a simple trip to Cleveland in the 1940s during the Big Band era, when the Browns were title-winners and before the Cuyahoga River caught on fire.  You might say this was one of the town's most intriguing periods in history ... booming arts, theater, employment, invention and nightlife.  I'd trip myself there, donning a luxurious gown, flirty curls and a curvy silhouette.  I'd roam The Flats in kitten heels, draping a faux fur shawl over my shoulders in the evening, perhaps even see a show at PlayhouseSquare.

Next would be France in the 1950s circa Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina.  An apartment overlooking a courtyard, glowing fountain and 4-piece ensemble playing La Vie en Rose would be absolute heaven.  I'd prop open the French doors to the terrace, lean way back in a wooden rocker and dream up plot lines for my novel.  I'd take an evening stroll in my skinny black pants and ballerina flats, just as the street lamps would start to flicker, take a cooking class, and maybe even chop my hair to a pixie, just cuz.  What a life ... maybe I'd never leave!

Since I'm already on the continent, I might as well trip my superself to England to hang with the Boleyn sisters and Queen Katherine's court in the 1510s.  What a sight it would be to gaze at the countryside in all its untouched glory, don the yards upon yards of luxurious fabrics and rub elbows with royalty.  I'd live through the flirting, hunting, conniving plots, scheming and corruption, then simply blink my way back home to modern conveniences.

Next, a New York City speakeasy during 1920s prohibition era in the summertime.  Why?  Because I can.  21 Club  on West 52nd Street was raided often by police, but the system levers to sweep the bottles and series of underground wine cellars, helped these bootleggers to never get caught.  The owners were legends at the time, often changing the bar name and rewarding regulars with souvenir scarves.  I'd go to there with a short bob, feather boa, embroidered dress and costume jewelry.  Why not?

After exploring opposing fashion trends, ways of life and blacks and whites, I'll need a vacation.  With my superpowers, I'd do a few super workouts until my body was in perfect beach shape. I know what resort beaches are like today, so I'd trip myself somewhere slightly different but still familiar enough to know what's what -- a California party beach circa 1988.  Sand volleyball, high-cut one-pieces, surfing and sunshine.  I'd be an extra in an episode of Baywatch, go to a Beach Boys concert and host a beach party at Malibu Sands Beach Club.  Could crazy big hair and fluorescent swimwear be so terrible? Nah.  I'd check out the sunrise, then magically appear at my next location.

The travel options are endless!  Where/When would you go?  What time period has always intrigued you?

  

Plans on the Horizon

Do you have a vacation on the horizon?  I mean, other than visiting your family and friends for the holidays ...

I've found that just by planning to plan a vacation in the next year or so, gives me a sunnier outlook on life.  By giving yourself something to look forward to, you reduce your risk of ending up in a "rutt", or bored with the status quo.  Try saving a few dollars here and there and starting a fund for your next journey.  Getting away is a great way to remind yourself what's important in life.  Recharge.  Reset.  Explore!

On your lunch break or while you're doing the dishes tonite, decide what type of vacation you need next.  It might be exotic, relaxing, touristy, adventurous, entertaining, peaceful, etc ... you decide!  Maybe you crave just hitting the road with a light bag, your GPS and some snacks for a short jaunt to a nearby state.  It's completely up to you ... it's your vacation ... that's the beauty of it. 

Once you've narrowed down your type, decide what you'd like to accomplish while you're there.  Is this a place you've been before?  If so, you might just want to take it easy and go with the flow.  Things will be familiar ... maybe plan to hit up just one new place while you're there to keep it interesting.  You never know -- you just might find a new favorite restaurant or scenic view!

Perhaps your goal is to read that great novel you haven't had time for, or even to start writing your own!  Maybe you want to indulge yourself with great food and wine, or be entertained by live music, shows or nightlife.  Or maybe your goal is to accomplish nothing. Just relax.  That's a beautiful thing too!

If you're stepping outside your comfort zone and going somewhere exotic (maybe a different country or a place with a culture or language different than you're used to), plan to leave in a few months (at least) to give yourself plenty of time to do your research.  If you're a person who likes a structured vacation, look into guided tours, local entertainment, amusement parks, museums, shows and restaurants before you jet set to a new land.  There's nothing more difficult than arriving in a foreign country with no clear plans, or at least a familiarity with the layout on a map.  If you're a member of AAA, they have great maps and knowledgable travel agents who've been to most of the common vacation spots around the world.

Need a break?  Maybe you've decided that since your last couple trips have been packed with touristy plans and busy schedules, that you're ready for an all-inclusive paradise resort vacay -- a true "I'm gonna do what I want to, when I want to" escape from reality, where you can just unwind and recharge your battery.  If you're feeling even lower-maintenance, how about just driving to a beach, renting a condo, preparing your own meals, reading books and laying on the beach with a cold drink in your hand?  Sounds lovely to me :)

After our trip to Beijing -- filled with anxiety, fear of the unknown and overstimulation -- my husband and I are in need of a little pampering and relaxation.  Next stop :: all-inclusive paradise!  Not quite sure where yet ... but the research has officially begun for our big trip of 2011! 

Happy travels!

Beach Reads

At the pool last weekend my friend said something that got me thinking.  I warned her that water was creeping up on the paperback she was reading, and she said, "That's okay, I actually love when my books get wet ... seriously."  I realized right then that she was right.  There's nothing better than a good pool or beach read novel with crinkled edges and water spots.  Others love the old library book smell.  They're the signals of a good book -- people have read it.  A lot!

I have a couple of favorite vacation reads that have been through hell and back, and still manage to survive the re-reading, borrowing and torture they've been through. If you're looking for a couple of no-nonsense romantic novels that don't claim to be anything more than the read-for-fun books they are, try out these two:

The Fling by Elda Minger is my all-time favorite book of this genre.  Based in Hawaii, it's a book that will wisk you away to a tropical place filled with emotion, romance, exotic destinations and plot twists.  It keeps you on your toes, but doesn't make you think too much.  I've read this one a few times -- it's kinda like rewatching your favorite movie.  It's a fantasy that never gets old.  Buy it for a penny used on Amazon.  It's worth the $0.01 + shipping! :)

Heartbreak Hotel by Jill Marie Landis is another book to read in a bikini and flip flops on the beach.  Actually, I might prefer reading this one on a balcony under the stars with a glass of wine.  It's a romance, but not really.  There's murder, a widow's walk, mystery, strangers-turned-lovers-turned-strangers again and a character map that's just detailed enough to keep you guessing.  Get it used on Amazon for under a dollar.  Apparently it's part of a trilogy of which I was not aware.  I'll check em out!

Telling the world (or even just your friends) your favorite books is risky business.  Reading a book, especially multiple times, takes true committment.  It's like peering into one's soul!  I hope you like these if you give them a chance.  Like I said, they're nothing groundbreakingly new that we haven't seen before.  They are fun.  Let me know what you think, and do share your favorite beachworthy novels.  I love me a good pageturner!

Concrete Oasis of Sunshine

Yesterday I did something that some might consider a little crazy.  It was slightly embarrassing and desperate, and probably something I wouldn't do alone again, yet still completely worth it at the same time.  Any guesses?

Well, the thermometer hit 80 degrees yesterday in Westlake, Ohio.  And consequently, my sunlight-starved self pulled my beach bag out of the closet, threw on a tube top and flip flops and headed out to the parking garage connected to my apartment building.  On my walk up to the roof, I was already starting to question my decision, but it was too late to turn back now. 

I opened the door to find a concrete oasis of sunlight, completely deserted and wiiiiide open.  Why they don't convert this rooftop level of the parking garage into a usable outdoor escape is beyond me.  Nevertheless, as if plotting my spot on a beach, I headed straight for the corner with the most direct sunlight, laid out my pink-striped beach towel and decidedly soaked up the sun for the first time this season. 

The only thing I dislike about where we live is the complete lack of usable green space for grilling, playing and laying outdoors.  So, there I was, determined to make the best of this manmade slab of unused Level 4. 

The sun was at a perfect slant in the sky.  I could actually feel the warmth of the Cleveland sun on my face -- a feeling a Clevelander patiently looks forward to for 7 long and dreary months.  It's almost undescribable how much your body craves the rays. 

Anyways, there I was.  Alone with my beach towel, sunbathing like a fool on the rooftop of a freakin parking garage.  With every rattle of the doors, I'd check to see if someone was coming.  No one.  But what if someone saw me there?  They'd think I was nuts. 

After about an hour, the wind started to pick up and tiny little rocks kept swirling around the lot.  Time to get out of here, and next time I'll bring a chair ... and a friend so I don't get caught up there a lone fool.  That way we can be fools together.

3 more days 'til Vegas!

East Hampton Roadtrip

While I'm thinking about it, I'd like to share a little story with you.  To this day, I believe that part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike must be cursed ... at least when I drive it.  It all started a couple years ago when we took a trip to Connecticut on a snowy December weekend to visit our friend, Dan.  He'd lived in CT for about a year at that point and we had yet to see his new place.  On the drive, I don't think the roads could have been any worse.  Seriously.  The tires barely ever gripped the road at all.  Instead, it was a constant game of slip and slide -- the ice version.  I was scared for my life for 5 hours straight!  Talk about a relief when pulling into a driveway.  We definitely need some beers after that adventure.  We'd escaped the wrath of the PA toll road unscathed that time.  But I swear, it still had it in for us ...

This time it was summer.  September 2008 was an especially long summer for me and my then-fiance, Adam.  He was working at HealthSouth in Las Vegas for a physical therapy clinical all summer and we had already been long distance for nearly 2 years.  Any time together was welcomed and highly anticipated, so you can only imagine how excited we were when our family friends invited us to use their beach house in East Hampton, NY for a week! 

Now, if you've ever been to East Hampton, you know that summer weekends are full of life, celebrity sitings, good shopping, bike-riding and beach fun.  At this point in the summer (after the novelty of heat had warn off), it promised to be less crowded and more relaxing than anything.

We were off on our roadtrip from Cleveland, OH to East Hampton by route through New York City via the Long Island Expressway.  But in order to get that far, you have to survive the dreaded Pennsylvania Turnpike -- not an easy feat.

It was midday as sun shone through the puffy white clouds, temperatures hovering right around a perfect 77 degrees as we zoomed our way through PA.  All was going well until we curved around one fateful bend near the DuBois exit, only about 2 hours from where we started.  Before I knew it, my newish black Mazda 3 was skidding across the highway on a thick iron rod scrap piece of some sort.  By the time my brakes screeched to a halt, I could feel that my car was in agony.  With metal scraping on the pavement and sparks in my rearview, I noticed there were several cars, pickup trucks and a semi pulled over on the shoulder.  Apparently, the scrap piece had fallen off the semi and a few other cars hit it as well.  Not a good way to start our roadtrip to paradise.

We ended up in DuBois, and thank goodness for the GPS.  It pointed us in the right direction to town, where we happened to find dozens of autobody shops.  It's almost as if this town only existed to help us that day, which turned out to be a blessing.  We decided that we needed a few expert opinions before we drove any further, so we stopped into a few shops.  Per the mechanics, we knew my poor car would be out of commission for at least a week for repairs.  It needed a completely new bottom!  The gas tank was dented a gallon and a half's worth, the crossbeams between the tires were bent an inch and a half (causing my tires to invert), and all of the heating shields were destroyed.  At this point I'm crying.  Not only because my car is broken and the mechanics are saying we're lucky to be alive, but also because I thought our much-anticipated East Hampton trip would have to be postponed.

After nearly 3 hours stressing over insurance coverage, weighing our options, and ultimately getting the go ahead to keep driving from 3 separate mechanics, we were back enroute toward East Hampton, with a little apprehension, of course.

Thankfully, we made it to the beach house safely and ended up having the time of our lives!

East Hampton has a way of making me relax.  Just being there transports me into a different time.  It's shabby chic beach style is so refreshing that it always inspires me to do something great.  Write a beach readworthy novel, travel to Europe, learn a new language, or take up painting ... it never fails.  I'm inspired, awed, humbled, and refreshed.

The beachscapes are utterly breathtaking, the skies are serene, the history is jam-packed and the food/shopping and bike paths are unbeatable!  You've never seen hedges around houses until you see the hedges around these mansions.  They are literally as tall as a house.  It's definitely a sight worth seeing someday.

If you ever do happen to travel to East Hampton, be sure to shop at the Citarella, stop in for a drink or appetizer at Rowdy Hall (our favorite local rugby bar), and take a bike ride to our favorite beach, Egypt Beach down Old Beach Lane.  There are some beautiful landscapes and mansions to be seen along the way, and exploring by bike is always a must-do.

We hope to travel to the Hamptons again this summer if we can find a few days to spare.  Except this time, I won't be the one driving.  The Pennsylvania Turnpike will always be my nemesis (insert fist shake here).  :)