300 Days of Sunshine

Now that most of the country is fully open and many aspects of life are returning to normalcy, I'm so thankful to be able to travel again and to see family and friends.  I just returned from a trip with the girls to Virginia Beach, where we met up with my mother and sister for a week of fun in the sun.  Our family has been vacationing at the Boardwalk resort on the Virginia Beach shore for the past 14 years, and this year I had a renewed appreciation for this little gem of a location after a long year without vacations.  I was in absolute paradise to walk out onto my balcony and see the expansive ocean, hear the waves crashing, and smell the salt in the air. There are many beaches to choose from along the Atlantic Coast, but Virginia Beach has a lot to offer, with miles of shoreline, a wide, paved boardwalk, and lots of restaurants and family fun.  It's generally a really clean and safe beach.  The city organizes a variety of events for families, like concerts, ...

Happy summer!  A few tidbits about life lately... 1. Our state just entered the next phase of reopening and I have such mixed feelings.  After waiting over a year for "normalcy," I find that I'm not actually ready for things to return to normal.  Outdoor events have been great but I'm uncomfortable seeing people unmasked in public, and I grapple with how I'm perceived by others when wearing a mask versus not wearing a mask.  How do I send the message, "I'm fully vaccinated but I still care about other people?"  I would feel a lot better if a significantly higher percentage of the population was fully vaccinated.  Every phase of this year comes with its own unique challenges! 2. A few years ago I vowed to stop buying shorts (besides athletic wear) because everything was just horribly unflattering, but now that denim shorts are making a comeback, I decided to give them another try.  I just bought new shorts that are literally called the Momjean .  T...