Wouldn’t it be a treat to begin every morning with a three mile walk on the beach?
After breakfast, my mom, sister and I walked to and from the lighthouse at the end of Sanibel Island and agreed that moving our legs and smelling the salty air was one heck of a way to start the day.
Right when we walked onto the beach, we noticed a crowd of people staring out at the water and immediately saw a dolphin!
We leisurely walked to the lighthouse and back and saw starfish, sand dollars, sting rays and more.
When we arrived back at the condo, we were ready to head out and explore.
Before lunch, we walked around the Sanibel Arts & Crafts Fair.
My sister and I got a big kick out of Conni Togel’s “Sheep Incognito” booth. She incorporated sheep into all of her work and many of her paintings were quite tongue-in-cheek and made us laugh! She gave me permission to share her work with you guys on the blog and I think that those of you share my love for puns will get a kick out of her paintings.
Here is her “Haulin’ Ass” painting:
Apparently a lot of people like to buy the “Passing Gas” painting to display in their bathrooms which made us laugh!
She also had a lot of really adorable sheep-themed paintings that I thought would look cute in a nursery, like her “Little Bundle of Boy” print below.
Once we were done walking around the art fair, my mom, sister, grandma and I walked to The Island Cow restaurant for lunch.
The restaurant has a fun, eclectic atmosphere and we had a good time looking around after we placed our orders.
For my main meal, I ordered the sesame tuna salad and it was fantastic! The glaze on top of the fish was wonderful and the tuna was cooked perfectly. I’d order it again in a heartbeat!
After lunch, we drove back to the condo and headed out to the pool to read and relax.
Hi Ariel!
It was rather chilly yesterday, so I ended up reading by the pool in a fleece jacket, but it was still nice to be outside. My sister and I are both reading Blackberry Winter and had fun talking about it last night.
We came back inside around 5 p.m. and got sucked into a Downton Abbey marathon. My mom and grandma watched the first episode two days ago on NetFlix and gave us a brief overview so we were all caught up. I wasn’t sure what I’d think of it, but I think it’s safe to say I am hooked! Professor McGonagall Maggie Smith is a hoot!
For dinner, we got take out from Gramma Dots!
The four of us shared two grouper sandwiches and two orders of peel-and-eat shrimp. Their homemade chips were sprinkled with the most delicious seasonings and we couldn’t get enough of them!
It was a wonderful Saturday in Sanibel.
I’m sad we’re leaving today, but it was such a treat to be able to spend quality time with my grandma, mom and sister.
See ya from Ocala!
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What an amazing weekend! First off: Ariel rocks! Secondly: I want that painting for my bathroom! Thirdly: Those are gorgeous pictures of the seagulls! I’m so glad you got to have such a great time with your family!
That tuna salad looks yummy. I wish I had your LOVE of life, ability to just eat, and ability to laugh and enjoy. Wow. I don’t say this much but I admire that tremendously.
I have a preposition for ya…you are a personal trainer certified now. If you want a “anonymous’ “client” in order to get a testimonial..TAKE me 🙂 I would love a “free” consult in exchange for a testimonial….maybe you could give me a ONE month plan I could follow ? Thing is that I have no fitness . I only walk and that’s ONLY if there is not a snowstorm or windstorm in my hellish location. I have a teeny teeny treadmill that is really just a walking treadmill with a very very narrow track, and I’m not sure if there’s an incline…I have my doubts. I find it hard to get motivaed or interested in anything and get tired easily..but never out of breath..I nnever sweat or raise my HR cause my heavy heavy tired legs and body just give out first. Things like “mountain climbers’ and “burpees” are impossible for me.
I want to be comfortable with eating and the only way is if I hve a PLAN for an effective exercise plan that I can TRUST is getting me into good shape…also, currently have no weights, but might be able to buy some 5 or 8 lbs ones next week.
If you want to start next monday, I’m game 🙂 🙂 🙂
I hope you don’t think I’m crazy. I probably am…but it never hurts to ask!! The worst that can happen is you can laugh and say no, and that’s not that bad a consequence at all 🙂
I’m going to Sanibel next week for a vacation with my sister…any other fun places you recommend doing/seeing/eating at? Cross your fingers for more sunny weather..I need a break from Wisconsin 🙂
Walking on the beach is so relaxing. I went swimming in the ocean (actually the bay) on Saturday and I felt amazing afterwards. I swear the sea water does wonders for you.
Seems that you and your family stay in the same general area that we do when we go to Sanibel. My sister-in-law and I always make sure we visit Gramma Dot’s at least once while on our bike ride back from the fishing pier after checking on our guys. The Island Cow is so cute and the food is delish. Cheeburger Cheeburger is not the healthiest place to eat, but it has become a “tradition” to eat there every time we go to Sanibel. Pinnochio’s ice cream and the Lighthouse Cafe are also on our must visit list. I so love the sunrise and sunsets on Sanibel. Hoping to make it there again this summer.
we finally visited the lighthouse cafe yesterday for breakfast. i LOVED it!!!
I love your Ariel towel! Is she your favorite Disney Princess? And that shrimp looks delicious!
What beautiful pictures! I would LOVE to have that “Passing Gas” picture in my bathroom! Too Funny 🙂
I’m so incredibly jealous…looks like dish a great time, great place with great family!! Wonderful memories!!
I saw a pack of dolphins once, it was so cool!
Girls time totally rocks and especially when you add sun and great food into the mix. Maggie Smith is so funny, but its so odd watching it because all I can think of is Harry Potter! Love those movies.
Those sorts of trips always go by so quick don’t they? I love the sheepie paintings haha- the little baby one is especially adorable…is that a hint by any chance 😉
What a fun girl’s weekend!! 🙂 I love the “Passing Gas” photo. What a classy way to display such a funny photo 🙂
Glad you had such a nice weekend! Family is the greatest gift 🙂 And, OMG, Downton Abbey is phenomenal ! Keep watching, you’ll get sucked in, I promise!
YAY, you made it to The Laughing Cow! I love rockin my old school Disney Princess towels, haha. Glad you were able to enjoy the weekend despite the cold (at least to us FL girls) temps!
Absolutely gorgeous! I’m heading to Cape Coral in a few weeks and this made me so excited to see the sunshine and the beach!
I love The Island Cow! They have great crab cakes! Looks like a fun Saturday!
I love Sanibel and all of the same places that you visited! If you don’t mind me asking, where do you stay on the island? The picture of the beach access looks so familiar, so I was just curious!
I LOVE Sanibel and definitely love the Island Cow!! Looks like a fun time!