VB and RIC

I finally have something to post:) I went to Virginia Beach this weekend to visit a friend and then the UCI Road Championship was in full swing when I came back, so lots of fun events!

We'll go in reverse order to the scene on Monument Avenue for the men's time trials!

Back up to Saturday with this cutie and some sunshine:)!

So thankful to live so close to the beach:)!!! Feeling very proud of my city today.

I'm Alive! And I did more traveling...

Hey there! How has August been going for you? I, once again, after a week and a half of actually working and doing normal life things, went away again for ten days! I just can't sit still in the summer:)

I went on an impromptu trip to NYC the first weekend of August to visit my friend Jessica, who is getting married later this month, because I had to miss her Bachelorette due to being in Alaska!

I took the train from Richmond-> NYC, which is about 6 hours and includes a pit stop in Union Station (D.C.) where we have enough time to get off and walk around. I love D.C.!

Right when I got to NYC, I saw that Gotham was filming by my friend's apartment! No celeb sightings, but it was very cool to see the set and this cool car. She lives right by Wall Street.

Amongst other things, we went and visited the new World Trade Center building and memorial. It was very moving and a completely different site from when I first visited in April 2002.

We had an awesome dinner for restaurant week at Park Ave Summer and saw this nice sunset with our drinks afterwards:)

On Saturday, after a great morning run along lower Manhattan (I haven't been to the financial area in a while, so it was fun to stay down there and explore-> she just moved there), we explored Brooklyn for the first time! We walked around and went to a great pizza place.

I got home from NYC on a Sunday night and headed to Duck (Outer Banks) the next morning! It was my dad's birthday! He celebrated like a boss.

The weather all week was perfect- low humidity and sunny. Such a nice treat for August! AND I got in all my training runs, including a 16-miler!

My friend and her kiddos came to visit for a few days:) We loved on baby Everett!

Friends for over 10 years!

We also did puzzles! Took us 3 days with 5 people contributing...

These sunsets over the sound NEVER get old...

 SERIOUSLY. I can't even.

I am coming to grips with the fact that my big summer travels are over, but I am trying to be optimistic about some fun weekend getaways and school getting underway. Classes at VCU start this week and teachers come back to work soon, so things will be back in full swing, which I am excited about. To me summer is all about traveling, so working has been hard, but once fall rolls around, I tend to enjoy normal life stuff a little more. I am looking forward to cooler weather on the horizon, too, and not having to do long training runs on my own:) Doing a 12, 14 and 16 miler without a training team was not as fun!

What have you been up to?! 

Hope you had a great 4th of July!

More pictures from Duck to tide you and myself over until my next trip in 10 days:)!

Perfect weather

Parade!

My motto:)

No lie- a shark was caught on the beach I was at on the 4th. It was small and was sent back in the water, but definitely kept everyone on alert! I just ran in and out when I needed to go in.

The sound- on my running route every morning and my evening walk/ice cream stop every night:)

Sunsets never get old!

Beach at night is my favorite.

Tan, relaxed and happy. Take me back!

How was your holiday weekend?

Duckin'

I love the Outer Banks:)

View of the ocean from our deck!

Beach dinner

Posin' with a deer and a cat, both who seem unfazed about their surroundings.

Covered up at the beach because I got burnt the first day on my forehead!

I love how timeless beaches are:)

Sunsets on the sound never get old.

Sanderling pool on the sound!

Favorite town in OBX!

Already on book #3:) Such a tough life.

Have a great July 4th weekend!

#travelingwalshes

The months of summer travel are upon us!

As is obvious, I LOVE to travel, and I made sure that if I went to a 12-month position at work, travel would still be a very doable endeavor without the usual 10 weeks off that most high school counselors get. Thankfully, my planning and good attendance at work during the school year make this possible!

I may be blogging much less this summer, because big travel dates are approaching! 

First up next week is a trip to my favorite beach town of Duck (Outer Banks) for the long 4th of July weekend (I get Thursday the 2nd off work). I negotiated a price cut (perks of booking last minute) so we got a good deal for this place:

It is further south from the center of town than we normally stay but is still in our favorite area. My mom and I are pumped! 

Then July 15th, my mom and I are heading to Vancouver! We stay in the city for 3 days, then we are going to visit a friend of mine in Bellingham, Washington on our way to Seattle, where we board the Ruby Princess for our cruise to ALASKA!

We are meeting some college friends of mine and their families for this 7-night cruise. Our itinerary is here if you are interested. We are so pumped- one of my favorite bloggers just went on this exact cruise and shared amazing pictures and stories- and we are loving looking at the excursions! After the cruise we will spend another night in Seattle before flying out on a red eye to VA. The whole trip is 12 days- should be so much fun!

After a short break (I guess I will need to work a little bit), we are headed back to Duck for a full week this time and are staying at our favorite house right in town (we have stayed here 3 times):

We will be at this house over both my parents' birthdays in August, so that is a fun way to celebrate!

The traveling isn't officially done then, but it slows down, as I have a friend's wedding in August in Charlottesville, so of course I will stay the night so I can relive my college ways :) Though I know I cannot party like it's 2005 anymore...

That will end it for the summer, but some fun fall trips are on their way, too. 

Obviously, I am excited! I will post pictures and fun happenings from the trips, but I think my posting amounts will definitely decrease:)

What are fun trips you are taking this summer? Places you recommend in Vancouver, Alaska or Seattle?

New Years 2015

Since Monday I have been in an awesome beach house with friends in Duck, Outer Banks. It has been a great way to celebrate the end of one year and start of another. Here are bunches of pictures- enjoy!

New Years Eve!

Awesome book quote. Reading is a must at the beach.

Final sunset of 2014:) What a wonderful world!

View from our porch to the ocean!

Our house! Living in luxury:)

The beach is great anytime of the year!

Walking to coffee in town with some of the crew.

So true:)

How was your New Years?