Travel Tuesday: Florida Fun in the Sun

I finally got around to editing some of our beach vacation pictures from last month. We had a nice, relaxing stay on Anna Maria Island.

We rented the same beach house (duplex) that we stayed in last year so it was immediately familiar and comfortable. I highly recommend using the website Home Away to book vacation rentals for a great price.



We spent most of our time at the beach just swimming, reading, relaxing, and enjoying some stress-free time away from work.



This is one of my favorite spots on the island: Bean Point



Of course we also had to take in a baseball game at the Trop in St. Pete.



We took a fun tour of the Mixon Fruit grove in Bradenton one day before heading over to Ybor in Tampa for dinner with friends and their kids.



We got delicious samples of fruit juice, rode through the groves on a tram, got to see the factory where they sort the fruit, went through the butterfly garden & maze, and they have an animal rescue area where we met several cuties (and an icky snake). Our favorites were feeding peanuts to a baby dear, petting the tortoises, and saying hi to this adorable tiny owl named Wally.



Another day we went over to Sarasota for a boat tour but stopped for lunch first at this great burger place right on the water. Yum! We had a beautiful view of the water and docks while we ate and several pretty birds as dining companions.



Then we went on the boat ride which left from Mote Marine Aquarium. This is a GREAT boat tour and I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area. There are several different versions to choose from -- info here.



One of the cool things we saw was this bird sanctuary island where tons of baby birds were hanging out in their nests.



Our tour guide was also a marine biologist and she pulled up some cool stuff in a net out of the bay to show us. My favorite things were the sea horses. Here I am touching the sea horse and letting its tail curl around my finger!



It was a great vacation! Next year we plan to go back with the baby. :-)

Baby Shower: Tea Party

Wow, where has June gone?! I've been so busy this month that I haven't had time to keep up with the blog. My sister came to visit for a week and while she was here I had my baby shower. It was a beautiful Victorian tea party! We all had so much fun celebrating my baby girl who will be here before I know it.

Here are a few pictures from the event. My dear friend Sara (fellow blogger at Mommyland) took most of the photos and they turned out great.



I had to wear some Anthro on my special day, of course! After searching for a Sugar & Cream dress (the one with the teacups) on Ebay & the Trade Market to no avail, I decided to try on my Jacqueline dress and it still zips right up, so I built my outfit around that. I love this new green cardigan from the Limited too. Add some jewelry, a cute bow belt, and my favorite Anthro oxfords, and you've got a fun party outfit.

Jacqueline Dress (Anthropologie)
Green Cardigan (The Limited)
Gift Bow Belt (Anthropologie)
Pessinus Garden necklace (Anthropologie)
Hallowed Halls Oxfords (Anthropologie)

Here's my sister next to one of the elegant table settings:



My awesome Fossil diaper bag from Mom (stuffed with diapers, bottles, and toys)!



Car seat from Grandma Tina:



My little girl is going to be very well dressed! ;-) She already has so many cute outfits and five pairs of shoes!!



Me & both of the grandmas-to-be:



We got so many beautiful gifts and are pretty much set with all the gear that we need for the baby thanks to our generous friends and family. Now we've just got to wait about five more weeks for her to arrive!!

Audiobook Week: Day 1 (Favorites & Future Reads)

As I mentioned in my last post, June 6-10 is Audiobook Week and I picked up Isabel Allende's memoir called The Sum of Our Days so I can particpate.

The blog Devourer of Books will have posts all week with topics to blog, audiobook reviews, giveaways, etc. so check it out!

Here's today's topic:
Monday: 2010-2011, Your Audiobook Year
Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year? Favorite titles? New times/places to listen? This is your chance to introduce yourself and your general listening experience.

I've only been listening to audiobooks for a little over two years and it started out as a fun way to pass the time in the car during my long commute on the days I taught a night class. I also try to listen to a little bit while I'm out running errands.

These are some of my favorites from the last two years. As you can see I mostly enjoy non-fiction, especially when it involves history, travel, and humor. It's kind of a nice change of pace since I mostly read fiction on my Kindle and when I check out regular books from the library.

1. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell



2. Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor



3. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson



4. When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris



5. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson




Besides the Allende memoir that I've already started, these are the audiobooks I want to check out soon:

1. The Idea of America by Gordon S. Wood



2. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough



3. 1861: The Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart



4. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Calling All Bookworms: Audiobook Week June 6-10

I hope everyone is having a good week! I still haven't had time to edit my vacation pictures, so that post will have to wait until next week, but today I wanted to give my fellow bookworms a heads up about Audiobook Week which is starting June 6. For more details, check out this blog post on Devourer of Books.

I'm planning on picking up this memoir by Isabel Allende or this collection of sketches by travel writer Bill Bryson from the library today so I can participate next week. I started getting into audiobooks a few years ago and really enjoy listening to them in the car. I usually stick to non-fiction though since I find it easier to follow.





If you'd like to participate in Audiobook Week or would just like to try out a good audiobook, I highly recommend Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story, read by the authors Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor. It was fantastic and I think I actually liked listening to it even better than I would have liked it if I had just read the book. I did a little review on it back in February here.



So, what's everyone been reading lately? Do you prefer regular books, e-books, or audiobooks? I like a mixture of all three. :-)

I recently finished:
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (good but not as fun as her previous three books that contained more magic)

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (amazing -- highly recommend!!)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (the first book in what I can tell will be a fantastic trilogy)