Naples Pier

Another look at the scenes from my little anniversary vacay with Joshua last weekend.



The sound of the crashing waves, the cool ocean breeze, the soft light of the sunset and the gentle tapping of our shoes (in sync) against the old boards of the pier makes for a perfect date night walk.

I just cannot get away from the allure of the sea.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

I am back from my mini vacation with the boy and had a wonderful time. Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments while I was gone. *big BIG smile*

This weekend also crosses two things off my fall bucket list: exploring the wilderness and the mini vacay with my guy. I’m getting closer to completing it!

On our last day together, we spent the afternoon visiting the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. It’s famous for its 2.25 mile boardwalk that weaves through the prairie, marsh wetlands and pine forest. The forest was draped with hanging moss, massive fallen branches and trees that are as old as 500 years.

(The trail takes about an hour and a half to walk. Joshua and I took nearly 3 hours. We love nature and reading all of the signs.)

{A sign that leaves do actually change colors other than green and brown in Florida.} 

It’s also home to hundreds of animals, so we heard! We only spotted a few critters, mainly those we see normally living in Florida: alligators, turtles, squirrels and birds. But Joshua did spot an owl, that's a bit different than our norm!

The thing about exploring the wilderness is that you are surrounded by the songs of the wild, the crunching leaves beneath your feet, little critters scurrying through the brush and all the beautiful things Mother Nature has to offer.

However, note that if you do go explore, bug spray will be your best friend. Karma has its way when you forget your best friend. 

Celebrating FOUR Years

There are times when I just lay back, close my eyes and let my mind wander. Bits and pieces of my day flash by and occasionally reminders of things I need to do start to glare at me (but I push those aside, for now, after all, this is a time for relaxing). Once those are out of the way and my mind is clear of worries, Joshua comes to view. 

Memories of how we met and the days of our courtship. Where we are now and how we got here. The roller coaster of emotions that tells tales of a budding love that knows no bounds.

He's seen me at my best, and he's seen me at my worst. He stuck by me no matter what and loves me even when I can't see a reason to. He's the weight that keeps me balanced. 

He's my best friend and he makes me happier than I knew I could be.

This weekend, we will be in South Florida celebrating our 4 years together. I'm unplugging this weekend and today after this post, but you can most certainly follow me on our adventures on Twitter and Instagram. 

Have a great weekend! 

{Photo from our railroad photoshoot}