Not going to lie. I’m not huge on vacations. I don’t love not being away from home. Mostly because I am a high-maintenance sleeper.
One, I just want my own bed, and leaving my bed is a sacrifice.
Two, everything I need to bring with me in order to sleep “decently” is kinda a pain, but it must be done.
It drives my husband INSANE! If we have the room in the car, I will literally pack all of our own bedding, including our comforter. I know I’m nuts. But EWWW, do you know how many people lie on those, and most places do not wash them each time? But we must make room for my fan, pillow, body pillow, and soft, cuddly blanket that I have on top of all my blankets to snuggle up around my face when I sleep. All of those are a must, but if I can get the comforter to fit, too, I’ll take that bad boy. Every vacation is the same ordeal. My poor husband is trying to play Jenga in the trunk of our Subaru STI, getting everything to fit.
“Listen, some people are just going to have to make their sacrifices here. I don’t know what to tell ya. Momma needs her sleep, and yes, I must have it all, so please figure it out.” I say this to him year after year. But God bless this man; every year, it always seems to fit. After a few swear words and some serious finagling, we are off to vacation with a packed to-the-gill car.
I am really not a high-maintenance person or bougie at all. I’ve been getting my nails done every 3-4 weeks since I was 16, but that’s really the only thing I’m bougie about. OK, and I may be bougie about what a drive, but that’s beside the point. (HA!) But when it comes to sleep, oh Lawd, I am one bougie girl.
My friends all joke with me about my high-maintenance sleep. We go on vacations together every other year, and the first year we did, they asked if I brought my whole bedroom. I’d rather pack fewer clothes and sleep well than have two weeks’ worth of clothes and sleep like crap.
I’ll have to tell you the story sometime about when one of my best friends and I last year went to our other best friend’s bachelorette party in Erie, NY. I’ll make a note so I don’t forget, but on this particular trip, I understood my husband’s pain in packing the car for the first time.
Day trips are the way to go. I love it.
Lake Erie is gorgeous, by the way. That’s a great day trip. You can look for sea glass and feel like you are in the ocean all at once.
Wellsboro is also a great little place to visit. Grab lunch at The Roost and shop at all the cute little stores up Main Street. Karen’s Country Store is my absolute favorite! The owners are so dear. Then, stop right next door for ice cream at a place called The Main Street Creamery. Their peanut butter fluff ice cream is to die for! (If they have that flavor when you go.)
While in Wellsboro, visit the PA Grand Canyon. My gram, Lois Liddick, took all my cousins and me for a picnic when we were little to the Grand Canyon. It’s something I will never forget. It was just a fun day trip she planned for her grandkids. She always planned the neatest things with us.
Knoebels is a great place and especially fun in October! We have done this with our kids every October for the past four years and will continue. It’s amazing! I’ll make sure to share about that this coming fall. You must go if you haven’t been there in October.
State College has great shopping and restaurants right along with Hershey too. Are the Outlets calling your name? Perfect for back-to-school shopping towards the end of summer.
Put a few of these on your summer bucket list this year. See and do something new. In my opinion, day trips are just as much fun as a week away from home. Make the best out of your summer because, as always, it flies by.
Happy kick-off to summer, everyone!
This recipe is fabulous for a busy summer day. It’s an oldie but goodie and is a lifesaver on a busy day. I’ll continue to share it each year.
Crockpot Creamy Ranch Porkchops
Ingredients:
• 4 uncooked pork chops about 1/2 inch thick
• 1 envelope of dry Hidden Valley ranch dressing packet
• 2 cans (approx 10.5 oz) Cream of Chicken soup (Don’t add any water)
• Egg Noodles; prepared when ready to eat. Follow directions on the bag for cooking instructions.
Directions:
Put all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
When ready to eat, place pork chops and dressing over cooked egg noodles, or top egg noodles with butter and shaker parmesan cheese.
To freeze: Put all ingredients in gallon size Ziplock freezer bag, label with date/instructions (freezes for up to 6 months). To prepare, thaw overnight, then pour everything into a crock pot, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
