A Mom’s “Best Ever” Mother’s Day Weekend Away – Florida Style

This will be my final post as an intern at Mom’s Talk Network. Our assignment was to write a post about something that was “best.” After a busy year running after my family of six, and especially after the last ten weeks of being an intern, I am daydreaming about an escape to the beach. The beach is one of my favorite places to  unwind. I’ve lived near the coast my entire life and to me there is nothing like lounging at water’s edge or taking a really nice long walk along the shore. (photo credit: turtlemom4bacon)

After leaving the kids with a sitter, I’d start the day with my husband at Cracker Barrel (which we’re lucky to have close by) and have an Old Timer’s Breakfast which is two eggs cooked to order, buttermilk biscuits, butter and preserves, hashbrown casserole and bacon.

After breakfast, we’d then get on I-75 and head south to The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg and get on a Dolphin Cruise. Tampa Bay is a great spot to watch dolphins, manatees and pelicans.

We’re probably be ready for a nap after this. It’s time to get in the car again and drive another 30 miles to the Harrington House Beachfront Bread & Breakfast Inn in Holmes Beach, Florida where we’re staying for two nights (dreaming big here!) Harrington House is one of Florida’s most highly rated B&B inns located on Anna Maria Island. It is a warm and homey place and best of all, has a beautiful spot on the Gulf to watch those amazing sunsets.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opxG2I2ixo0

After settling and having a good long nap, it’s time to think about dinner. Nothing fancy; after all, this is Florida! We’re really laid back here. I’m happy to find a place on the beach with great seafood, good music where we can dress casually and watch the sun set.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGAHvN7KqQ

The ultimate veg-out: spending a nice chunk of time at the beach with my iPod and a few books. Unfortunately my husband hates doing that so he’s headed out on a charter boat into the Gulf for a long day of fishing (I should mention that he’s a choleric,Type-A personality and I’m melancholy!)

This also gives me a little time for another thing I love to do that he hates…horseback riding! I’ve always dreamed of horseback riding on the beach. There is a cool place in nearby Bradenton that offers horseback riding on the beach…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtMQoR6xb0

We’ll spend one more evening together at the Harrington and head back to our family on Sunday morning. Hopefully the kids will have cleaned up the kitchen before we get back!

This is a dream and it’s highly improbable that it will happen for Mother’s Day this year. But what will happen is that my son will cook and serve breakfast in bed for me, I’ll get sweet handmade cards from my other kids and a whacky Mother’s Day card from my husband. I’m happy and blessed to have the privilege of being a mom.

Happy Mother’s Day to Kelly, my fellow interns and all the readers of the Mom’s Talk Network blogs. Thank you Kelly, for giving this green newbie the chance to be an intern. Thank you readers for reading my posts over the past ten weeks. It’s been a great learning experience – the best online learning experience ever!