Time to Exhale

I am not even unpacked from our short beach trip and already reminiscing back on it as one of the greatest trips I will ever remember down at Long Beach Island. We were only there for a few days but it was truly a time to exhale and deeply relax. It was a respite from real life and a reminder that family time in our favorite place is really sweet, and meant to be savored.

So many great memories were cemented in…late night board games and cards, morning coffee runs, and newly discovered cafes and food spots (we loved 25 and Scojo’s Market). We hit our stride with regards to handling a toddler at the beach. Yes, she ate sand — and so did I thanks to her sticky fingers. But you know what? We lived. 😂

We stayed in a new rental house and although I don’t think I will ever give up my dreams of my own beach home, I realized how perfectly content I am with the magic of sinking into a place that’s not quite mine. The anxieties that come with homeownership are simply absent, and there is a novelty that comes with staying in a “new” house. The house was perfectly sized for our needs, and wonderfully close to the beach. We stayed along a quiet little street frequented by runners, walkers and bikers and it was so fun to simply people watch and admire the neighbors’ gardens.

If I am being honest, the last 7 months have been a grind. I started a new Instagram and committed to sharing daily outfits and capsule wardrobe styles. While it pushed me to dress smarter, be intentional with my photography and simply share my creative side, it led me down a rabbit hole of the all-too-familiar ugly side of social media: comparison, amplified materialism and screen time. While it has had so many benefits and opened many new creative doors, I needed a break. These few days away from home were a true antidote to my inner-voice and inner-critic.

LBI is certainly not a secret, and hasn’t been for decades. I have gone for nearly 30 years and so much has changed. But like the island itself, change is the only constant. It was so, so, so good to be back and my soul feels nourished!

ciao, xo