Decisions, Decisions...

I have been presented with an opportunity to travel.  Awesome, right?  Right.  But, the overly responsible side of me is wondering how the heck I am going to make this happen!  Eeeek!  I mean, really all I need is time and money.  You know, just time and money.  Two things I can't get more of... legally, anyway.  But, this is what this whole blog is all about for me.  Finding opportunities to live more, live bigger, better and along that path, find happiness.  I don't want to be afraid to make certain things happen in my life.  I don't want my own insecurities to hold me back.  I want to be stronger, this is my life and I am the only one responsible here.

Crikey!

By the way, I'm not talking about a weekend at Grandma's house (though, if I could, I would).  I am talking about a chance to go to AUSTRALIA! Amazing.  Australia is truly a place I never thought I would have the chance to visit. Primarily because I never thought the opportunity would present itself.  Also, I hate flying and always dismissed the idea of Australia because there is not one piece of me that wants to do the flight.  Now that it's a real possibility though, I think I can handle it... funny how that mindset changes.

One of the ways I make decisions - seriously, I do this a lot - is I ask myself if this event/circumstance passes, will I regret not doing it?  Or regret not trying?  I have to say that whenever I do this exercise, I feel confident with my decision.  So, with this situation, my friend invited me to Australia in November.  A couple of thoughts that are crossing my mind are: 1) This will use up any vacation time I have for the rest of the year at my job.  This is really weighing on me as I spend most weekends down The Cape with my family.  I love long weekends there, having a few days to unwind does wonders. 2) This is definitely going to put a big mark in my savings, which is minimal to begin with!  Yet, when I picture December coming, holidays fast approaching and reflecting back on the year, I truly feel like I would regret not giving myself a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.  So, is my decision made?  I think it is....

Try this little regret question next time you are faced with a difficult decision.... see where it takes you!

Love, Lizzie

Get Your Book On - Summer Reading

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and summer is officially underway.  Well, not according to the calendar, but according to everyone in the United States.  The weekend down the Cape was awesome, so much fun and more pics and recipes to follow from that.  In the meantime though, I thought this was a perfect time to get out some recommendations for summer reading.  I was at the beach three days last weekend and it reminded me how much I love sitting by the ocean totally consumed with a great book.

Summer Reading - Lite
If you want a true "beach read" then these books have to make it to your list, I love, love, love them all:

- Something Borrowed (read years ago and still one of my faves, movie is out now with Kate Hudson)
- Something Blue (don't read one without the other, it's a continuation of the same story)
- Blue Bistro - will make you want to open a restaurant on Nantucket
- The Godmother - all the single ladies, all the single ladies
- The Help
- South of Broad - mix of mystery, romance and scandal
- Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - combination of The Help and Secret Life of Bees
- American Wife - you can get lost in the story of her life, it's hard not to feel attached to this character

Old School Summer Reading
If you want a more challenging book or a more serious topic, dig into these:


- The Last Child - I could not put it down
- The Glass Castle - if it wasn't true, you wouldn't believe it
- The Hunger Games - don't let the disturbing idea of this amazing book deter you
- Memoirs of a Geisha - one of my ALL time favorites
- The Kite Runner - wrote both this and Thousand Splendid Suns
- Thousand Splendid Suns - seriously, he can't write a 3rd book fast enough, I could read these 2 books over and over again for the rest of my life and be happy
- The Other Boleyn Girl -  hard to get into at first, then before you know it, you're sucked in

Check out these books at Amazon or Borders.  Enjoy!

Love, Lizzie