All the different angles of a sunset.

I didn't take that many photos on the cruise. It was one of those vacations where all I wanted to carry around with me were the necessities. One night, though, when we were getting ready for dinner, I was so captivated by the sunset, by the chance to just sit and watch, feel the ocean breeze in my ratty beach hair, sitting in my underwear waiting for my turn to shower, I got a little camera happy. There are way more that I'm hoping to turn into a little anticlimactic gif one of these days.

Night moon, empty horizon.

Our room was upgraded to a balcony at the last minute, which turned out to be such good fortune. Even during the cold NJ days, we sat out there and read, watched the sun rise and set, and caught a glimpse of the amazing moon shining over the ocean, nothing on the horizon.

Here I am.

We got back a week ago Sunday. Docked in Bayonne and drove a few hours home, watching the weather turn from surprisingly mild and sunny to snowy and gray. Familiar. Our week away was everything we wanted it to be; there is magic in spending one-on-one time with someone you love for an extended period of time. No work. No phones. Nothing to do except read, sit on our balcony watching the ocean, lie on the beach or by the pool, make our way through the frozen drink list, play shuffle board. We've already booked another vacation for April 2014, and we're currently trying to recruit friends. I read something recently that said people get more enjoyment from the anticipation of a vacation than from the actual vacation, so we're looking to maximize that in 2013. I am grateful for time away and for a place to come back to that I love.

Here I am.

See yuh on the flip side.

After today, this blog will be much like my apartment for the next week: quiet and still. Mike and I are headed to Philly for a friend's party and then to the open seas! If you happen to drop by, tell me about your favorite vacation. I'll be needing those stories when I get back next Sunday, for sure. Until then, have a lovely week!

The things I love.

I love this place where I live. It feeds my desire to live in a slower paced area, tucked away like a favorite letter but still close enough to rest of the world. 

And I love this man...

who makes my heart feel like this:

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

Not-so-workspace-Wednesday

This week's been a doozy and it's only Tuesday (hello from the past!). The paperwhites are blooming lovelily (that's a word now), Mike made me dinner tonight (I've been surviving on cereal and hot dogs since his stomach issues began), and I just sent off a project before the deadline. Plus I bought a new bathing suit at Target last night, and I'm in can't-wait-can't-wait mode for the cruise next week. Not much is happening in my little workspace this week, so instead I'll share some more photos from Nemo this past weekend. The blogosphere needs more pictures of that guy.

Things to do in a blizzard.

 1. Take pictures. Even of your blinds.

 

2. When the snow and the winds die down, go for walks. It does good for the soul to see all that brightness after being indoors for so long, especially when half the neighborhood is out helping each other uncover cars and build snow sculptures.

3. Go sledding. At first we laughed at this guy riding his bike, then we realized he was called by a higher purpose when we saw the pink sled on his back. 

4. Make delicious food, like these waffles and this soup.

5. PLAY IN THE SNOW, DUH.

Snow jumping from Melanie Yarbrough on Vimeo.

PS: I just realized that these are all thing to do after a blizzard. You knew what I meant.