Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Thinking Out Loud Thursday

Welcome to another Thinking Out Loud Thursday with me and Vanessa at X-tremely Vanessa .  The rules are simple.  Link back to me and Vanessa in your post and linkup your favorite post below.  Super easy!  #ThinkingOutLoudThursdays

X-tremely V

Did everyone make it through Tax Day yesterday?!?  Now that April 15 is behind me, guess what I'm thinking out loud about -- VACATION!!  Eric and I have a little getaway planned and will be heading out in less than a month.  We're visiting New Orleans - a city we've never been to together before -- and then swinging over to Gulf Shores for a few days to enjoy some sun and sand before heading home.  Yes, this is what I'm seeing in my mind:



There's something about the ocean that truly calms me.  I'm giddy with excitement thinking about laying on the beach, looking out at the water and just soaking in the breeze.  Last year I enjoyed a trip to Gulf Shores with Linda and her daughters.  It was so much fun!  Loved that they let me tag along with them.

I'm doing a little inventory in my mind of things I want to make sure we pack.  Last year I got a new Nautica beach chair.  It was the first time I had something better than a bag beach chair and the padded head rest, cooler and drink holder on the side were pretty darn nice.  I just bought Eric one so he could enjoy the same luxuries I was experiencing.  We love taking these babies to outdoor concerts too.  Really beats sitting on the ground waiting for the music to start.  Hope that's not a sign we're getting old!
And now that I'm thinking about the beach, I'm thinking that I'd really like a new pair of sunglasses.  By some miracle, I haven't lost or broken my current pair in the six years I've owned them.  Six years is a long time to have the same pair, don't you think?!?  Kind of thinking I might be springing for this pair:

                                                 

I'm also thinking about what beach-read books I need to make sure to have on my Kindle.  Any ideas?  This is a few I have already:






Are there others I should add to my list?  Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Well, that's enough random thinking for today.  I need to get focused on all the work I have to do BEFORE vacation!  Happy Thursday!

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27 comments:

  1. thanks for this list of books!! i have been looking for some new reads!!! :)

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  2. OMG accountants were very busy yesterday to catch up with all the tax filing. What are your criteria in choosing a good book to read on the beach?

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  3. I read the Girl on the Train...excellent book! Will keep you on your toes for sure. I just finished Diane Chamberlain's The Midwife's Confession...another one of her great reads. Penny, that chair looks perfect. I love the accessories that go with it. It is hard to find one that is comfortable and practical.

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  4. Well April 15th is not only tax day but the hub's birthday-and we will be celebrating this weekend with a little get away into NYC.. just the two of us--no kiddies! We have dinner and a Broadway play lined up! so THAT is what I'm thinking about ;)

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  5. I absolutely loved Girl on the Train, it definitely was the best book I've read so far this year. Have you read Big Little Lies? That's another awesome beach read. Enjoy your time in NOLA! There's an awesome spice company down there called the Spice House, definitely check it out if you get a chance :)

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  6. Oh wow, the Gulf Shores image just looks amazing. I'm not at all jealous of you visiting there and New Orleans too! Lucky duck! :)

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  7. Yay for vacations!! I haven't been to New Orleans but my parents lived there and Keith has been and I hear its something I need to see. Boo for my husband not being able to make his mind up on what we want to do. We are still planning :(

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  8. The girl on the train just became available on my library list and I'm eager to start it!! I'm craving the beach so badly!!

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  9. I live in Louisiana, Penny, and I hope you enjoy NOLA, as we refer to it! I've also read "Girl On A Train" and really liked it! Enjoy your vacay!

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  10. I don't even WANT to think or remember what we went through at IRS the day before April 15. Ugh, let's just say: 6.5 hour wait, outside. So brutal.

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  11. You will have such a fun time in New Orleans. We found Bourbon Street to be kinda gross (and we went there when we turned 30, you would think that we wouldn't forget that we were silly drunk kids just years prior) but the food was amazing. Here is a great tip: Since Cafe Du Monde gets so busy and the wait is so long, order from the takeout side window and then enjoy your coffee and beignets across the street in the beautiful park. Enjoy!

    Amanda
    www.queenofthelandoftwigsnberries.com

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  12. Well, I don't have any book recommendations, but I will say I LOVE that chair! Since moving from Georgia to Montana, I miss the beach. We only went once a year since we are mountain loving people, but still that once a year beach trip was always so much fun and relaxing. Thank you for linking up we me at Frog's Lilypad's Thankful Thursdays.

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  13. Yeh! Tax day is over! Now it is surprise inspection time at our office! Grrr! Anyways, I am daydreaming about vacation too! We are headed to Georgia in June and I can't wait! I have never been to NO so I am excited to hear about it from you!

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  14. Oh, good idea! I need to start putting together a summer/beach reading list too. New Orleans is going to be great. I go there with my daughter a lot!

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  15. Being from Louisiana, I can tell you that New Orleans is great, but try and see some more of the Gulf Coast for some scenic sights. Also, be sure to have a big bowl of gumbo!

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  16. How cool! This was a fun post indeed :) I definitely don't read as much as I used to so this is a great list to start with! Thanks for sharing :D

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  17. LOVED The Girl on the Train. And I'm jealous of your beach vacation!

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  18. Wow! I love that photo of the coast! Like that green chair too. It looks super comfortable. I feel like going on a vacation.

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  19. We ended up having to file an extension so tax season isn't over yet. I think a vacation sounds amazing.

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  20. This sounds like it is going to be an amazing getaway indeed. I would so love to do the same thing. The beach chair is so amazing and I will have to check it out for sure. There is no shame in aging I think anyway. lol Thanks for sharing.

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  21. I really want to read the girl on the train. Sounds like an interesting book! I wish I had more time to catch up on reading, I really miss it.

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  22. Those are great reading suggestions. I would love to read the Girl on train. It looks like my style

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  23. love this post! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xo

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  24. You are the 5th or 6th blogger I've seen recommend The Girl on the Train. I must add it to my reading list!
    Thanks for sharing on the Shine Blog Hop!

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  25. At first, I thought it was snow but as I looked closely, I realized it's a sandy beach. Summer is already here in our place and I haven't gone to any beach or pool. I missed reading too. I have been very busy lately.

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  26. Love your choice of sunglasses. I'm dreaming of a beach vacation, too. Thanks for sharing at the This Is How We Roll Link Party on Organized 31.

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  27. I must recommend reading the book The Girl on the Train: A Novel.
    I finished reading it today, and my conclusion is that its a very good book.

    I brought mine off Amazon and I got it in only TWO days.
    Here's the link for the book on Amazon:
    http://amzn.to/2bmQFNj

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