29 Aug
Consumed with Planning
I’m consumed with planning this trip. I’m eating terribly (well, terribly for me, which means popcorn and cantaloupe and freezer burritos) and missing out on sleep and feeling like I do nothing but talk about this dang trip ALL DAY LONG but…
Holy Moly look at where we are going! I was distracting myself on Pinterest for a few minutes and I saw someone pinned this picture and I immediately went on Google to figure out how close it was to where we are going.
Source
This gorgeous place is Portofino, just north of Cinque Terre, and we are now visiting this exact spot (can I be one of those swimmers please?), as well as a lovely little place called Santa Margherita.
Now I must go back to my Excel spreadsheets and Trip Advisor forums. When I plan something, I really plan something. We’ve not only got hotels and international drivers licenses and locations, I’ve mapped out the places we’d like to eat, and which meals we’d like to devote to said eateries. I realize this is crazy, but this is the type of obsessive activity that leads to the vacation of a lifetime (I know it, because planning like this sure paid off for our wedding).
I also now have not one, but TWO super secret projects I’m working on. Exciting times you guys. Now I must take a break from this backbreaking (seriously, my back is killing me from hunching over at this computer) trip planning. The baby will be up all too soon.
Tomorrow I have something you’re really going to like - That Weight Loss Challenge after pictures! Well mine, since I don’t have any from anyone else yet. But I am really excited to share them with you.
Ciao! Ci Vediamo! (See how I’m getting into the spirit of things already?)
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
It’s beautiful! That’s the exact way my husband and I plan our vacations as well
and you’re right…it leads to having a trip of a lifetime!
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1Wow that is some serious planning! Isn’t it funny how each person has their own unique travel style? I personally hate having a strict itinerary for when I travel and prefer to maybe have one thing a day planned. I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip!!!!
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2I am so excited for you! I have always wanted to visit that region of Italy. I’m looking forward to visiting vicariously through your blog/photos.
I am definitely the opposite type of traveler to you, though. I try not to plan too much, especially given the places I usually go to (which Trip Advisor tends not to cover as well).
I deviated from this system once, for a trip in which I meticulously planned everything, down to a restaurant for each meal (and alternate restaurants in case the first didn’t work out). I had a mini-meltdown about a third of the way through the trip, because I had built up the trip to such an extent in my head that reality just wasn’t living up to my expectations, even though nothing had gone wrong whatsoever. My poor husband had to spend a couple hours consoling me (luckily I got over myself and enjoyed the rest of the vacation). Since you are an experienced planner, though, I am sure you are a little bit more realistic and flexible.
The best vacations I’ve had were ones with good weather, congenial company and beautiful scenery: coastal Italy in September with your husband certainly seems like it would fit the bill!
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3That looks like heaven! You two have fun, can’t wait to hear all about it.
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4That is amazing. I’m so jealous!
Are you taking the little one? Or are you getting a solo vacation?
On the burrito thing, we tend to eat a lot of frozen burritos too, but we make them ourselves which is REALLY inexpensive and we sneak healthy stuff in there too. IT takes awhile and you need an assembly line, but it is so worth it once you have 20 burritos in your freezer.
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Marissa C Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 10:43 am
I think she makes them too…because I used the recipe Jenna posted awhile back to make my own last week!
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This look AMAZING. My boss just came back from Italy and had a great trip - he just showed me his 12 day trip in a 4 min slideshow - super envious. And I LOVE to really plan out a trip. Only way to REALLY see everything! <3
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6were we asked to send in our after pictures? I didn’t see any announcements about it.
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7You sound just like my husband! He does planning exactly the way you do, down to which meals we’ll eat where. I love it! It makes vacations so much easier, because everything is all thought through in advance.
I am so excited for you - it sounds like an amazing vacation.
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8Is it just me or did it seem like you were hinting that you could possibly be pregnant with twins? I might be crazy, but the “TWO super secret” projects” that you’ve been working on, and that the “BABY will be up all too soon.” I’m probably just crazy and reading wayy too far into things (or I get a gold prize). Haha, have fun on your trip!!
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Michelle Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Now I feel nuts for commenting that!! LOL.
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Jenna Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Haha, you are most definitely reading into things. No baby in the works!
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Michelle Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
haha, embarrassed now. :/
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I am the same kind of trip planner. My bf calls me “Kellis Griswald” (National Lampoons Vacation joke. The photo looks amazing! I can’t wait to see YOUR photos!
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10Test, test
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That Wife Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I can’t reply to myself?
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Marissa C Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Apparently you can!
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That Wife Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
J
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I am impressed with your level of detail! My husband gets really annoyed at me if I plan anything more than travel arrangements, hotels and places we’d potentially like to visit, so I usually cut it off there. I’d tell you to have fun planning, but I’m pretty sure you are already!
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12Ugh, this is how I would plan travel in my dream world. But as I am now on the road full time, its impossible to take all day to plan the next destination without taking away from the current.
Plus, I think my boyfriend would kill me. He barely likes making accommodation arrangements ahead.
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13I’m looking forward to your travel posts once you get back! I’m a very meticulous planner as well and I can always use some travel ideas
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14It looks like an amazing place to have a vacation. I am so happy for you. It has been hard for me to even think about a vacation soon. Have fun I am extremely jealous.
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