A vacation is like love......

......anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia. ~Author Unknown

Well, my week long break has officially come to a close. 

and what a week it was.

Since this was basically my only school break until December, 

I decided to make the most of it in true Jennifer Nanney fashion. 

 Saturday (August 6th) morning I participated in a yoga mala for non-violence. This is my second year doing it and it's been such an inspirational and emotional journey each time. A yoga mala is 108 sun salutations. All the proceeds go to The Center for Violence Prevention.  If you are unfamiliar with a sun salutation, google it. It took us approximately 2 hours to complete. 

With my hamstrings sore and my heart full of gratitude, I headed on to Meridian to play with my nephew.

This little boy is truly the light of our lives. I don't remember what we ever did without him.

Sunday morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn and rounded up my boys for a little day trip to New Orleans. I never pass up a trip to the big easy. Most of you already know how much I love this city, but in case you don't, check it out here and here. 

The purpose of the trip was to pick up our buddy, Sean, from the Amtrak and to look at properties. The boys are moving there soon to begin their entrepreneurial adventure. I am beyond elated for them. Mainly because this means that I'll get to visit my favorite city AND my favorite men more often.

Somebody brought it to my attention (actually, several somebodies) that I have the hottest male friends ever. and I have to agree. 

They are gorgeous, fun, and smart (well, for the most part)

Girls, if you are interested, you have to go through my screening first. but don't worry...I don't bite;)

 and no trip is complete without Buddy Boo, of course.

After our whirlwind trip to New Orleans, I made it home in time to catch a few hours sleep before we were up and at 'em heading to the beach.

When I say "we" I mean my mom, brother Clint, and myself. I honestly don't remember the last time just the 3 of us spent any time together. It was so nice. 

Could my mama get any cuter?!?!

It's been 2 years since my last trip to the beach and it was my first trip to the beach sober. and i had the best time.

The first few days I did nothing but eat, sleep, and sun. 

and catch some rays, i did;)

I did absolutely zero exercising or eating right.

I lived off of doughnuts, nutella, chips, cookies, and ice cream the entire trip. which reminds me of this poster..

and of course, no trip to the beach is complete without a trip to the epic

Flora-Bama. 

I met up with my girls and we went to town. First to dinner and then to the Flora-Bama to see about a fling (as promised on my facebook page). 

We danced the night away,

 met some guys from Houston Texas,

 attempted to dance with them,

 they were the worst dancers hands down,

 laughed about their dancing, 

kissed them

 (okay, I was the only one who did the kissing and it was only for the camera, but still.....).

Girls, if you are ever having any insecurity issues, go to the Flora Bama. I was told all night that I was the most gorgeous girl in the place. It was almost flattering.

( side note: and who says you can't have fun sober? I've had more fun since I've been sober than I ever had when I was drinking. I remember how I treat everyone, wake up everyday feeling good, make less stupid mistakes, and am fully in control of my dance moves.) 

Having just finished reading "The Help" we all went to see the movie. It was so good. Just as good as the book, in my opinion. I cried more than I laughed. A lot of it was filmed in my neighborhood (Belhaven) and in my general neck of the woods (Fondren). It was funny to see our yoga studio disguised as a Shell station. 

Isn't my mother gorgeous?! She'll be 61 this September. She's taken great care of herself over the years and clearly, it's paid off. I hope I get her genes;)

Clint and I made the most of our last day at the beach. We caught a few rays (although I was already extremely red), read books, placed sports bets (okay, just him..i'm not that sports savvy), and ate the remanding junk food we had purchased at the beginning of the week. 

I feel most regal when in a towel.....another odd quirk about me you might not have known. 

and now it's back to the real world for me. fall semester starts tomorrow morning. back to my regular routine of school, yoga, grocery shopping, laundry, returning phone-calls, being awesome, community service, and spending time with those i love. 

it's not a bad life at all. 

in fact, inspite the sometimes difficult battles i face and the days when it seems that life has no purpose...I try to remember that it's still MY life. and i wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. 

thank you whoever you are, wherever you are,

for taking the time out of your day to read this silly little account of my life.

i never dreamed when my best friend started this blog for me that anyone would read it. 

and i get the sweetest messages from people i know and from complete strangers..

 telling me that they enjoy what i write about...

that i make them laugh...

and that i keep it real.

i was born with a passion for living.

living real and living hard. 

and it's a privilege that i get to do both on a daily basis. 

blessings to you, my friends!

may each day greet you with it's warmth and it's beauty,

 and may you realize everyday how valuable you are

and how much you are loved. 

i remain, 

as always,

yours

jennifer