11 months down & November's Tybee Island, GA

It has been 11 months since Mike and I sat down and thought about our resolutions for 2009. I also picked a One Little Word this year {explore} to focus on which we incorporated into our resolutions. With only 1 month left in 2009, we have begun evaluating how we did this year and thinking of what we want our 2010 resolutions to be.

Back in January, we listed our 1st resolution as:

To {explore} Georgia more - we made a couple resolution to take a trip to a B&B and do something new or see someplace new in Georgia once a month.

We haven't stuck to our resolutions extremely rigidly but rather allowed for some flexibility this year. For instance, early on in 2009, we adjusted our first resolution to be:

To {explore} Georgia more - we made a couple resolution to take a trip to a B&B (or inn) and/or do something new or see someplace new in Georgia once a month.

11 months in & our track record on this resolution is looking positive for satisfactory completion. We haven't made any plans yet for December but have a few ideas dependent on how well we stick to our budget in the next couple of weeks.

It did go through minor revisions but we did stick to the underlying principle of getting away together for some quality time and try new things. We are both very happy with the results and experiences we have had because of it and are working on our revision for modifying it for next year.

A quick overview of our 2009 progress...

• In January, we went to a B&B in the Georgia mountains and took a Tuscany Cooking Class
• In February, we went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and took my first nighttime beach photos & in the rain beach photos
  
• In March, we went back to our favorite spa (The Grove Park Inn) in the North Carolina mountains and had our first $100 pedicure complete with champagne and imported chocolates
  
• In April, we went to Destin, Florida and had a gourmet sunset dinner on the beach with friends
• In May, instead of going away we had friends visit & stay with us - we all went to the Georgia Renaissance Festival
  
• In June, we flew to Tampa, Florida and went to St. Pete Beach driving our first convertible rental as well as met with a few scrapbooker friends
• In July, we were introduced to the limitations of being "new parents" with a house full of 6 baby kittens so weren't able to get away but did go to and participate in Scott Kelby's Annual Worldwide Photowalk which Mike ended up taking the winning photo for our Atlanta walk - using his p&s camera ;)
  
• In August, we flew to San Antonio, Texas for a digital scrapbooking crop & photowalk
• In September, we had friends visit again so instead of going away, went to an Atlanta activity - Dragon*con... that was definitely an experience & one I will let Mike & our friends go to on their own next year ;)
  
• In October, we made a return trip to Canada to visit family & attend a friend's wedding... our first in 3 years & first trip outside of the US since moving so that was a first in its own right
• In November, we went to Tybee Island, Georgia and took a dolphin sightseeing boat tour and taking my first water locked lighthouse photo
• In Decemeber.... tbd
  

We just completed our November trip this past weekend which is how a lot of our trips have ended up being... near the end of the month. It has made us greatly aware of how fast the weeks go by and that if we don't pay attention, the months can easily slip by without embracing life and exploring new things and places.

So glad that we made the resolution and have stuck with it. Had we not, I am not sure if I would have as many wonderful photos and memories to think back on from this past year. They are generally only an overnight trip leaving early one day and getting home dinner time the next but you can get a lot accomplished and a lot of new sights seen in such a short time without breaking a budget too badly. It helps make you value time so much more preciously.

This weekend, we got up early Saturday morning, packed a change of clothes and camera gear into the car and then got on the road. With nothing but a hotel reservation set for plans on where we are going or what we are going to do, we start off. Roof down, jackets on, heated seats turned on and favorite tunes in the stereo. A lovely 3 1/2 hour drive to the Georgia coast with just time to chat and focus on our surroundings as we drove. A lovely time and a reminder of something we used to do quite often when we were first together. Mike loves driving so the car ride to the destination is his favorite part. For me, it is the destination and sights I get to photograph that are my favorite part. But together, it is all a wonderful trip.

We arrived just after noon so had the entire afternoon to explore and take photos. Upon checking into the hotel, we were given an area guide so took a quick look through it before deciding where to have lunch. We found that there was a dolphin sightseeing boat excursion for only $15 that would take me by a water locked lighthouse that I was really wanting to see so we called up to find out when the next trip was going out. Luckily, it wasn't going for about an hour and a half so we had time to grab some lunch and still catch it.

The dolphin sightseeing boat excursion was wonderful and worth the $15 and a lot more for how close I was able to get to the lighthouse and for seeing the dolphins just as the sun was beginning to set. Beautiful sights!

Instead of telling you more of the small details of the weekend, I will leave you with a layout I did today which features one of the photos from the north Tybee Island beach as well as a photo of the Cockspur Lighthouse and the dolphins swimming next to the Georgia-South Carolina border jetty.

In addition to using products from some of my favorite designers (Jen Allyson, Jen Martakis & Carina Gardner), this layout also features a template by my friend, Erin Clayton who debuted today as a digital scrapbook product designer at ScrapArtist.com!! I have had the pleasure of seeing some of her upcoming products in addition to what she released today and I hope that she is met with open arms and wonderful support from the scrapping community. Three Cheers Erin!!

Christmas Dreaming {click title for link to credits}