Fourth of July Weekend Recap

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope everyone had a great weekend, and got to celebrate Independence Day (for all the American readers out there), or just had a plain old fun July 4th!

I just got back from Virginia, where I was enjoying time with Dan's family at their lake house.  It's so beautiful there, and we had such a great time.  Here's a few highlights of my marvelous weekend!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my very first giveaway here!  All you have to do is comment on that post telling me why you need to be pampered, and you can win a free facial!

The beautiful house that we're staying in.  There's about 20 people and 10 dogs here, but luckily the house is huge and lots of fun.  There are decks all over and lots of trails for Selma to explore.  She's having a blast!

Great view and perfect access to the water!  There were hammocks, porch swings, recliners and more to relax on and take in the view.  Perfect way to spend the weekend- relaxing and sipping a glass of wine!

We tried to get Selma to swim in the lake, but she was terrified! She wouldn't go in, until Dan and I went for a kayak ride. Then, she ran down the woods and jumped into the water and swam after us. Now we can't get her out of the water!  She even went swimming alongside her doggie friend, Sadie (Dan's grandma's Jack Russel.  It was adorable!)


I went on my first jet ski ride!  Dan drove for a while and we went zooming around the lake and jumping through the wakes, then I took over and drove (slightly slower) for a while.  So much fun!  Time to cross that item off my 30x30 list!

We also went on lots of boat rides, went kayaking, lounged around in the lake in inner tubes, and went on a short bike ride.  I had my own version of a triathlon on Saturday- ran a few miles with Selma, swam from one shore to the next in our private cove, and biked a few miles with Dan and his brother.  I have a lot of work to do before I'm ready for a race!

We went to dinner one night at a Mexican restaurant called Abuelos. I got a sangria with chilis rellenos and enchiladas. Dan and I also split a dolce de Leche cheesecake for dessert. The restaurant was beautiful and the food was great! If you're in Roanoke I highly recommend stopping there! 

Overall, it was such a fun weekend and a perfect way to spend the holiday. I love spending time by the water (it's my happy place) and I hope to come back soon!

Where's your "happy place"?  
What did you do this weekend?

Comments

  1. MKJuly 6, 2015 at 4:37 AM

    Jet skis are so fun! That'll be on my "buy this NOW" list when I'm rich and famous and live in a mansion on the beach :) Glad you had a fun weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 6, 2015 at 8:29 AM

      Absolutely! It might even be on my by this now list..like right now...even if it makes me go in debt. Worth it!! ;)

      Delete
  2. Jenny @ apples & kaleJuly 6, 2015 at 5:54 AM

    What a beautiful house! 10 dogs sounds like my kind of weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 6, 2015 at 8:31 AM

      It was great, even if some of the dogs didn't get along! I want a house like that one day!

      Delete
  3. LesleyJuly 6, 2015 at 6:00 AM

    That sounds like so much fun. I'm not much of a water person, but that house looks great for relaxing and having a great 4th.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 6, 2015 at 8:31 AM

      It was great! Some people didn't spend much time in the water and still had fun. Sometimes it's just nice to not have anything to do and relax :)

      Delete
  4. HoHo RunsJuly 6, 2015 at 6:10 AM

    You WERE at my happy place. The Water. It looks heavenly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM

      Same here!! I could live there and never complain :)

      Delete
  5. UnknownJuly 6, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Awe, it looks like such a fun weekend! Yay! I have a few happy places but yes, they're all close to the water. There's just something so peaceful about lakes, rivers, the ocean... ahhhh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM

      Yes, absolutely. Water is the best. Luckily in Pittsburgh we have lots of it!!

      Delete
  6. Alanna @ Madeleines & MarathonsJuly 6, 2015 at 9:07 AM

    It looks like you had such a fun weekend! I love being near the water. I haven't been to Abuelos since we lived in Texas, but I remember it being great. I absolutely love Mexican food!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 7, 2015 at 5:01 AM

      So do I! It was really good and better than I expected from a chain restaurant. Really good!

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJuly 6, 2015 at 11:45 AM

    Nantucket is definitely my happy place! So glad you had such a fun weekend!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 7, 2015 at 5:02 AM

      I figured that was your happy place :) Yay for long weekends!

      Delete
  8. UnknownJuly 6, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    Sounds like so much fun! I love that Selma had fun in the water--great shot of her swimming beside your kayak! And I love the pic of you on the jet ski!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 7, 2015 at 5:02 AM

      Thanks! Dan got some really cute pictures of her swimming. She's so adorable :)

      Delete
  9. UnknownJuly 6, 2015 at 5:11 PM

    Sounds like you had a blast... That house looks so nice. I love going on jet ski's, they are always so much fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 7, 2015 at 5:03 AM

      It was a blast! Now I just need to figure out how I can get one in Pittsburgh :)

      Delete
  10. Alison (Fueling for Fitness)July 7, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    Your weekend looks so relaxing and amazing! I love that Selma was scared to go into the water at first and then wouldn't get out. Mike and I are soooooooo ready to get a dog and these little stories aren't helping at all! ;) Just have to figure out other life stuff - job, apartment, etc and then we are going to start looking into puppies. I can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunJuly 7, 2015 at 12:10 PM

      It was so fun to see her swimming! So cute. You definitely should wait for everything to be settled down. Having a puppy is a lot of work! We actually got Selma when she was 3, and it was nice not to have to worry about training a puppy. I hope you can get one soon!!

      Delete
  11. Jess @hellotofitJuly 7, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    How fun!! I like to think I really enjoy jet ski rides, but I'm ashamedly kind of scared...haha.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jennifer @ Run Jenny RunJuly 9, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    Looks like you had a fun weekend. I stayed in DC for the holiday :) The dolce de Leche cheesecake sounds good!

    ReplyDelete

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