Trip to Lake Tahoe!

Hey y’all!

Check out my VLOG from the trip!

Kevin and I recently got back from Tahoe and we had such an amazing time! We decided that instead of us going crazy with Christmas gifts for each other this year, that we would take a trip instead. It was my first time in Tahoe, Kevin has been several times and it’s one of his favorite places to go. We stayed busy on the trip, and were constantly out doing something.

We got there midday on New Year’s Day and spent time walking around town, and getting familiar with the area. We rented out ski gear, signed me up for a lesson, and had dinner and drinks close to our hotel. We stayed at the Lake Tahoe Resort and our room was nice and spacious. The location of our hotel couldn’t have been more perfect. We were right in the middle of everything, and right next door to Harrah’s Casino, which we frequented almost every day! :)

The second day, our first full day, we spent the day skiing at Heavenly. The lift was pretty much right next door to our hotel, so it was really easy and convenient to get to. We got there around 9:00  and my lesson started at 10:00. My lesson lasted until about 12:45. I had to take a lesson because I had only skied one other time, about eight years ago, and it was a freaking disaster. Even though I didn’t get to ski much, I’m still glad I took one because I learned the basics of how to stop and turn. You could tell they would only teach the very bare minimum so that you would pay for the next lesson. After my lesson Kevin and I had lunch at the lodge and then he took me on my first lift. My instructor didn’t really explain things very well in my lesson, so Kevin really helped me throughout the rest of that day. After skiing we headed back to our hotel and went to dinner at The Brewery where we shared a pizza and had a few beers. It was definitely our kind of spot! After dinner, we went to the casino and spent the rest of the night there.

The third day we decided to ski again, this time at a different location called Sierra. We had some time to kill, since we were only skiing half the day, so we decided to stop and take a walk near the lake. Part of the lake had frozen and there were quite a few people out, walking their dogs and pulling their kids on sleds. We got out and walked around, and took pictures. It was really beautiful! I really preferred to ski at Sierra compared to Heavenly. It was a lot more relaxed, and the atmosphere was more chill and comfortable compared to the “commercial” feel that Heavenly had. Kevin took me on my very first run, and oh my gosh it was fun! I ended up wiping out a few times, but that’s to be expected seeing as how I’m a beginner. I was pretty proud of myself that I was actually able to ski a whole run without falling! Especially since I had had such a bad experience before.

The fourth day was probably my favorite day. We spent the whole day driving around Lake Tahoe, walking around taking pictures, and stopping by the little towns. The first town we decided to walk around, we found a wine bar and stopped for a few tastings. That’s another thing that I absolutely love to do! We had lunch at a place called Fat Cat there in town, then headed to the next destination. We ended up at a resort where there was a small Casino, and a restaurant right on the water. We had a couple drinks there, played a little Three Card, then headed out again. That evening we stopped in Genoa, and visited the oldest bar there. It was really cool to hear all the different stories about it. After that we headed to a late dinner at David Walley’s. We both ended up getting the same thing, a blue cheese crusted steak that was absolutely amazing! We shared a bottle of wine, and finished it outside by a fire. We headed back to our hotel, and of course ended our night in the casino.

The fifth day, our last day, we decided to ski again at Sierra. It was really nice because it was a Monday and there wasn’t nearly as many people. We skied the Green a couple of times and decided to ski a Blue. Kevin really likes to ski the Blues, but I was really nervous and knew that if I didn’t try it at least once, that I would probably regret it. Let’s just say that I am 100% content on skiing the Green’s, and have no intention of skiing a Blue again! We ended up having dinner near our hotel at this local pizza place. Oh my gosh, it was SO good! I had a spicy blood-orange margarita, and it was the best margarita I have ever had.

The next day, our sixth day, it was time to head home. Our flight was early, so we didn’t have a chance to go on any more adventures that day. With one short layover, and the time change, we didn’t land until 5:00pm. We were excited to see our kids and they were pretty excited to have us back too!

It’s always sad when a vacation ends, but it’s also nice to get home and get back into the normal routine. I was really glad that Kevin and I were able to get away for a little bit and spend some time together. We both had a really great time, and I can’t wait to go back again. I would love to go back during the summertime. Kevin has been both in the winter, and in the summer, and has said that summer’s spent on the lake there are SO fun.

xoxo,
Casey

Family Vacation - Port St. Joe, Florida

Hey ya'll!!

If you have been following me regularly, then you know my family and I recently went on vacation.  I did a Vacation Series a week before we left showing my vacation prep. If you missed it, you can check it out here. We went to Port St. Joe, Florida for 7 days. We stayed in a beach house right on the beach and had a lot of fun. It was really nice to get away from our normal lives for a little bit and just relax. Kevin's parents, Janice and David, came with us. It was wonderful having them there and getting to spend all that time with them. They were a huge help with Kason too! I really appreciate all they did for us on that trip, without them Kevin and I would not have been able to enjoy ourselves as much as we did. Lexi brought a friend with her, and that was so great! She had a great time and it was the best thing we could have done for her on this vacation and we will probably continue to invite friends in the future. There aren't any kids in our family that are Lexi's age, so a lot of times she gets really lonely and bored. Having Peyton come with us really made the trip so much more enjoyable for her.

Day One, Saturday:
Road Trip day! We woke up at 4am to get the day started. We packed the car the night before, thank goodness. We got Kason fed, packed our toiletry bags, got the girls up, and headed out the door at 5am. First thing we did when we left the house was stop at Starbucks, I couldn't survive that early in the morning without it. The kids were wonderful! They slept all morning until we stopped to eat breakfast about 8:30. We got out to stretch our legs, have a bathroom break, and get some food in all our bellies before hopping back in the car to start the next leg of our trip. Everything was smooth sailing for the most part until we hit Mobile, Alabama. Kevin's parents were ahead of us, so they were able to give us a heads up before we got to town. We decided to make our second stop right outside of Mobile to feed Kason and take a bathroom break because we weren't sure how long we'd be in traffic for. Traffic is always bad through Mobile because of the tunnel, but it was extra bad this time. And the traffic didn't end there, it was stop and go the entire rest of the way. What should have only taken 10-11 hours, was pushed to 14 hours because of all the traffic. Not only were we stuck in traffic, but Kason got really fussy on the last half of the trip. Talk about bad luck! I kind of expected it, because he's never been on a car ride that long before. I tried to keep him occupied. We would roll the windows down, I even set up my iPad in his seat so he could watch cartoons. The girls were fabulous! They didn't complain, were quiet, and helped to try and calm Kason when he got upset. 14 hours later we made it to our beach house. We unpacked the car, had a look around, and went out to a late dinner because we were starving. Dinner was good, we went to a local seafood place. It was pretty tasty! Kason was not happy at dinner, he was over the traveling and was overly tired. Kevin took him out to the car halfway through dinner because Kason would not stop crying. Kevin's mom finished eating and went to relieve Kevin so he could come back and finish eating. It was a pretty rough day. After dinner we went home and got some sleep.

Day Two, Sunday:
We woke up on the first day there to lots and lots of rain. We were kind of upset because all we wanted was good weather, and to go out and enjoy the beach. Since it was raining we decided to go into town. We went and got the girls goggles with snorkels and boogie boards. Kevin got fishing bate and a fishing license. We also went to this rental place because I was interested in renting a paddle board. I've always wanted to try it, and figured this trip would be the perfect time to do it. I didn't end up renting it that day because the day was already half way over. We went back to the beach house and had lunch. The rain cleared out about 1pm, so we all went down to the beach. It never really got sunny, it was pretty cloudy all day but we made the best of it. We stayed at the beach house the rest of the day and night.

Day Three, Monday:
We wake up Monday morning and it's the same deal as the day before, more rain.  Kevin and I have very similar personalities, but aren't 100% alike. We both have our moments and can be negative at times, but we can also be pretty positive. Another day of waking up to rain was really taking it's toll on us. We were not having very good luck on the weather front. Same thing happened though, the rain cleared out pretty early so I went into town and rented the paddle board. When I got back to the beach house we got everything together and went down to the beach. As soon as we got down there, it started to lightening. I was starting to get really upset about the weather so far. I went up to our room and laid down for a bit because I didn't want to annoy anyone with my bad attitude. It eventually stopped raining and the sun came out. We went back down to the beach and had a really good time! I tried paddle boarding and couldn't get the hang of it. I was pretty annoyed because I figured I'd be really good at it. Come to find out I was standing on it all wrong. Once I learned the way to stand, it was so much easier and I had so much fun. The girls got a go at standing on it, and Kevin even gave it a try. It didn't get dark until about 8pm so we were able to stay out there for a long time. Around 6pm a family of dolphins started popping up not that far away from us. It was so freakin' cool! The girls chased them down the beach to watch them. Kevin followed on foot, and I paddled. Even though the day started out pretty bad, we ended up having a really nice day. We didn't go anywhere at all that day. We stayed at the beach house and enjoyed our beach time.

Day Four, Tuesday:
We decided to go to Apalachicola on Tueday. My grandmother and grandfather on my mom's side grew up there, so any time I'm in Florida I like to go. It's a very small, very old town. There's a couple streets with little shops and a couple of restaurants. When we left the beach house it was nice and sunny outside. When we got to Apalach, it was really cloudy and started to sprinkle. You would have thought the rain was following us! It stayed at bay though, and didn't rain like we thought it would. We had lunch first, then walked around town for a while. Kevin's parents decided to stay in town longer than us because we wanted to get back to the beach. That evening we took the kids out to eat to a local restaurant called Toucan's. It was beach front, and they turned the beach area into a play area for the kids. They had a volleyball net, giant see-saws that the girls loved, and swings. It was pretty cool!

Day Five, Wednesday:
We decided to go to Panama City on Wednesday. We had breakfast and headed out. When we got there we started our day at the beach first because it was nice and sunny. We hung out at the beach for a couple hours. Normally it's really pretty there, but because of all the bad weather there was nasty, slimy seaweed in the water. I got in a few times to cool off, but mainly sat in the sand and read. When we had enough sun, we rinsed off, changed clothes, and went to Margaritaville for drinks and snacks. After our break, we went shopping at the outdoor mall there. The girls brought their spending money and bought some goodies. After walking around for a while, Kevin's parents decided to head back while we stayed a little longer. We had dinner at Buffalo Wild wings, got some ice cream at Marble Slab, then headed back home. We had a fun day!

Day Six, Thursday:
We woke up to a beautiful, sunny day on Thursday! After a couple of days of rain, we wanted to stay in and take full advantage of this beautiful day. We had a full day of fun in the sun. It was really nice to chill out at the house after being out and about the two days before. Kevin and I were able to sneak away for dinner by ourselves that night while his parents stayed home with the kids. It was nice to do something alone. It's so important in a marriage to spend time alone together, even if it's just for a short time. It really makes a difference, and should really happen as often as possible. Love you hubs!

Day Seven, Friday:
Waaaahhh our last day of vacation! The week flew by so incredibly fast. We woke up to another beautiful day. We ended up just staying at the beach house again. I spent the morning getting our stuff packed so I could get it out of the way and enjoy as much of the last day as I could. The girls woke up about 10am, and after they ate breakfast I had them start packing some of their stuff too. We enjoyed the beach the rest of the day. Kevin grilled burgers for lunch, and we spent all afternoon watching the girls swim and soaked up the sun while drinking Corona's. It was so nice and I was sad for it to be over. That evening we packed up the car so we didn't have to worry about doing it the next morning. We went into town for dinner at this amazing pizza place. They made homemade, fire-grilled pizzas and they were SO GOOD! We shared a bottle of wine with Kevin's parents to celebrate our last day. After dinner we went back to the beach house and relaxed before our long drive home.

Day 8, Saturday:
We woke up at 4am, and were on the road at 5am to head back home. The drive home was so much better than the drive there. The kids slept all morning. We made it out of Florida, through Alabama (zero traffic thank God!), and halfway through Mississippi before waking the kids up about 9:30 to eat breakfast and feed the baby. Kason was so good on the ride back. He hardly fussed and slept almost the entire time. He had been pretty fussy for the past two weeks and I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't give him any more formula throughout the day because he was already at the max of 30 ounces a day. We ended up adding an extra solid each day while we were on vacation, and it started to make a difference in his attitude. The drive home was much faster, and much more relaxed than the drive up there. We made it home in 12 hours, with only three stops along the way. When we got home, we unloaded the car and I went to get us dinner because I was not about to cook after a long day of traveling. After we ate we just laid around and were lazy bums. I had a full DVR, so all I was interested in was watching my shows.

We had such a good time on our vacation, but it was a lot of work! Vacationing with a family is a heck of a lot different then vacationing without kids. There's so much more preparation that takes place, and you're definitely the last one that gets to start the vacationing because you've got to get the kids situated first. Even with that being said, I had a wonderful time and I know the rest of the family did as well.

I hope you enjoyed getting the inside scoop on our vacation!


xoxo,
Casey

Vacation Series: What's In My Beach Bag?

Hey ya'll!!

Welcome to Day 5 of my Vacation Series! Today is the last day of the Vacation Series and I'm going to show you what all I carry in my beach bag. Let's get started.

I needed a big, quality beach bag and found this one at Target this past week. I love the size, but what really sold me was the inside of it. It's all straw so it's perfect for the beach and will be easy to clean. This is also the bag I will be using for my "Road Trip Essentials".

First thing I pack is a beach towel, again from Target. We have a ton of Target beach towels. They hold up well in the wash and are reasonably priced. They have a ton of different colors and prints, so you're bound to find one you like.

Second is a ton of sun screen. I have two lotions and a spray. I like to carry all types of sunscreen that way the whole family is covered.

Third is a hat. I really like hats at the beach. They really come in handy when my face has had enough sun and for hiding my ratchet beach hair! This year I decided on a fedora. I've never had one, but they look so cute when I see them on other people so I decided I'd give one a shot.

Next is a pair of sunnies. I love my new RayBan Aviators, but I wouldn't dare wear them in the water because with my luck I'd lose them. I like to bring a cheap plastic pair, that way if I lose them I'm not super bummed.

Next is my Nook. One year while on vacation all I had was my iPad, and I couldn't see the screen in the sun. I ended up getting a Nook so that I could read it outside with no problems. I don't like to bring actual books or magazines to the beach because they end up getting wet and ruined. Plus they just add weight to my bag.

I don't like to go anywhere without my debit card and my ID, but I also don't like to bring my whole wallet to the beach. Instead I'm packing my Michael Kors wristlet. It's compact and holds my phone and my cards.

Lastly is a brush and detangler spray. I have an old brush that I use for the beach instead of my regular brush, that way I'm not brushing my clean hair with a dirty, sandy one. Detangler is a must! I hate the way my hair gets in ocean water, so I like to spray detangler in it each time I take a dip. It's a life saver for the kids too, and makes washing and brushing their hair later much easier.

I hope ya'll liked getting a peak inside my beach bag, and I hope you've enjoyed my Vacation Series! I really enjoyed doing it, and look forward to doing more series-inspired posts in the future. Let me know in the comments below some ideas on what type of series you'd like to see next.


xoxo,
Casey

Vacation Series: What I Pack - Swim Suits & Accessories

Hey ya'll!!

Welcome to Day 4 of my Vacation Series! Today I am going to show you what swim suits and accessories I am bringing on my vacation.

I used to pack one swim suit for each day I would be on vacation. Since I tend to overpack on everything else, I really made an effort to take a chill pill with the swim suits this year. My favorite thing to do is to buy swim suit separates, that way I can mix and match each piece and end up with multiple suit combinations.

I really love my new swim suit cover up! It's really comfortable, and not completely sheer, so I can wear it shopping, or out to lunch, after the beach.

I'm only bringing one purse and it's my Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. I absolutely adore this bag, which is weird because I normally gravitate towards large totes. I bought this purse when I was pregnant with Kason because I wanted something that was small but could fit my essentials, and that was crossbody but not super casual. I was kind of nervous when I ordered it because I thought it might be too small for me, but it's honestly the perfect size. What I like about this bag is that it can be worn three different ways: crossbody, shoulder, or a clutch. I don't carry it as a clutch, I mostly wear it crossbody because I like my hands to be free. I also really like adjusting the chain and wearing it as a shoulder bag. I love the way the gold chain looks when it's doubled up, and the length the straps become because it hits in a really nice spot for my body.

I always bring a lot of jewelry with me when I travel. Jewelry is small, and can be easily packed, so it doesn't hurt space-wise to bring a lot. Since my uniform these days is on the more casual side, jewelry can really spice up my outfits to add a little glam and make me look more put together. I really love gold right now. I think it looks amazing with a tan and it really stands out against clothes. I'm also really into colored jewelry, mostly turquoise. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a really nice piece. So many stores, and boutiques, have pretty jewelry that is reasonably priced.

I hope ya'll enjoyed today's post! Let me know in the comments below what your swim suit, and accessory, staples are this summer.


xoxo,
Casey

Vacation Series: What I Pack - Clothes & Shoes

Hey ya'll!!

Welcome to Day 3 of my Vacation Series! Today I'm going to show you some of the clothes and shoes I am bringing with me on my vacation.

I am a creature of habit. I know what I like and I stick with it. For example, when I go out to dinner, I know what I like from each restaurant so I order that same thing every time I go. I'm the same way when it comes to shopping. I know what stores and boutiques I like, so when I go shopping I have my little routine down and make my way to my "regulars". Please keep this in mind for when I post where I got each item. I really didn't mean to bring a lot of pieces from the same stores, it just kind of happened that way :)

Since I am going on a family beach vacation, almost everything I'm packing is on the casual side. Before I was a mom, I dressed up a lot and wore heels practically everywhere. Now that I'm in full blown "Mom Mode", my style has taken a more casual turn, and I am actually really enjoying it. I still have my glam moments, but not usually when I'm with my kids. These are a few of the clothing items I'm bringing with me.

Top: Forever 21, Shorts: Abercrombie, Shoes: PacSun

Top: Forever 21, Shorts: Abercrombie, Shoes: Target

Top: Forever 21, Shorts: Abercrombie, Shoes: PacSun

Top: Forever 21, Shorts: Abercrombie, Shoes: Rainbows

Rompers: Forever 21, Shoes: Rainbows & Target

I hope ya'll enjoyed today's post (please excuse my hair, it's late and I've had a busy week)! What are some of your favorite clothing stores and boutiques you like to shop at?


xoxo,
Casey

Vacation Series: Road Trip Essentials

Hey ya'll!!

Welcome to Day 2 of my Vacation Series! Today we are going to talk about my Road Trip Essentials and what I like to have handy for a long car ride. I'm also going to let you know what I do, and what I pack, for my kiddos. Let's get started!

1. Dress Comfortably
Long car rides are uncomfortable as it is, so dressing comfortably is key. I really like the tanks, tees, and shorts from VS Pink. They have tons of prints and color options, making it easy to match your top to your bottom. I also will be wearing flip flops because they are easy to get on and off in between pit-stops.

This applies to the kids as well. I told Lexi to just stay in her PJ's since we are leaving really early, and she can change into something when we stop for breakfast. She will most likely wear an oversized t-shirt with cheer shorts and flip flops. For Kason I will probably just put him in a white onesie with cotton shorts and some socks.

2. A Pillow & Blanket
Along with dressing comfy, I have to have a pillow and a blanket. Sometimes I like to lean against the car window, or my back gets sore from sitting so it's nice to lean back on one. It also comes in handy as a prop for any books or electronics I bring. I almost always get cold in the car after a while, so a blanket is a must have. The Threshold line from Target is one of my favorites. Homegoods tends to have really nice throws as well.

The night before we leave I am going to get the back seat ready for the kids. Lexi and Peyton are sharing the third row seat so I'm going to bring one of our comforters to lay in the seat to make it as cushioned as possible. I'm also going to have a pillow and blanket for each of them. I want them to be as cozy as possible so they can enjoy their ride. Kason has to be in his carseat, but I have a big fluffy blanket to tuck around him so he can be cozy too.

3. Gadgets
I have a big bag of goodies that I pack all my essentials in. I bring my iPhone, iPad, and my Nook. I have a pair of BOSE headphones that are super comfortable that I will be bringing along as well. I don't like to wear earbuds on long car rides because they hurt my ears after a while. I have Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube downloaded on my iPad, and HotSpot on my phone so I can watch TV and movies to pass the time. There will be long stretches of road where there probably won't be much service so that's where my Nook comes in handy. I have the Nook App on my iPad as well so if it's dark, I read on that. I also make sure to download any books, or magazines, I want the night before so they are synced and ready to go. I keep all my chargers in the front with me because my batteries tend to run out fairly quickly.

Lexi is bringing her iPod, magazines, 3DS, and a pair of headphones. Peyton also has a DS so they can play against each other. We also have TV's in the headrests so Lexi will be packing lots of movies for them. Kason obviously doesn't have any gadgets, but I will be bringing a stuffed animal and a couple of his toys to keep him occupied. If he starts to get cranky I can prop my iPad up and turn on cartoons for him to help distract him for a while.

4. Snacks
I will be bringing a big bag of snacks and an ice chest with water bottles, Powerade, and Capri Suns. I had Lexi come with me to the store to pick out some snacks and what we decided on was a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos & Cheetos Puffs, Ritz Cheese Crackers, Gushers, and Fruit By The Foot. I wanted to get a variety, but not too much because we are going to be stopping for breakfast and lunch. The leftover snacks can be used throughout the week as well.

I will have Kason's formula and multiple bottles in a separate bag in the back with him. I'm not worried about his solids on the drive up there. I'm going to wait to give that to him in the evening when we get to our beach house.

5. Skin Care
After a while I just start to feel a little gross, especially if I take a nap. I like to have face wipes, moisturizer, lip balm, and deodorant in front with me to help me freshen up.

I also like to have paper towels and baby wipes on hand for the kids. Kason tends to spit up a lot due to his reflux so I always have baby wipes and Johnson & Johnson Hand and Face wipes in his diaper bag. The baby wipes and paper towels will be good for cleaning up after snacks and taking care of those cheesy Cheetos fingers. In Kason's diaper bag I will have two bibs and two burp rags just in case a set gets dirty. Also plenty of diapers and an extra change of clothes for him.

6. Hair Care
I like keeping a brush, hair clips, and hair ties on hand. I wear my hair down on long car rides because that's most comfortable for me. But just in case my hair is getting in the way, or just getting on my nerves, I can pull in back. Since the girls will most likely be rolling out of bed, and going back to sleep in the car, they can brush their hair out and pull it back when we stop for breakfast.


Extra's to Think About
-Pack The Car The Night Before
We are going to pack the car with all of our luggage the night before to keep us on schedule the next morning.  I feel so much better packing it all before hand because it gives me a chance to make sure we have everything and we aren't left scrambling the next morning. Waking up at 5AM and packing is terrible, and you're bound to forget something. The only things we are leaving out until morning are our toiletry bags.

- Cash
I never have cash on me. I'm literally the worst person when it comes to that, but I really make it a point to get cash out the night before we travel. You never know what could happen, so having cash on hand helps put me at ease.

- Car Wash & Gas
I like to get the car washed and detailed on the inside before we leave on a long trip. Since we will basically be living in it for most of the day, I want it to be nice and clean. I'm also going to make sure the gas tank is full the night before. It would be really unfortunate to have to stop first thing in the morning for something like that. I want the car to be ready to go so we can get the show on the road as quick and easy as possible.

- Medicine
Medicine I like to have on hand is Advil, Allegra, and Pepto. It makes it super convenient to have those three in the car just in case someone's allergies start acting up, someone gets a headache, or someone gets a stomach ache from riding. For Kason I will be bringing his Zantac, Gripe Water, Gas Drops, Orajel, Benadryl, and Infant Tylenol. I also have multiple syringes just incase we lose one or one gets dirty. I like to be prepared!


I hope you liked getting a peak at what I like to bring with me on long road trips! Let me know in the comments below what your must haves are for traveling.


xoxo,
Casey