Last night Ryan and I took our suitcases out of the closet and began packing.
And that means the suitcase guard dog’s anxiety went through the roof. Sadie sat in front of my suitcase (and in my suitcase) as I packed last night. She’s such a goof.
Early tomorrow morning we’re heading to Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with my mom, dad, sister and my sister’s boyfriend. Family vacation! (Apparently Ryan and I are front-loading our vacation time this year.) I mentioned this trip very briefly on the blog before, but ever since my dad pitched the idea of a family trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this vacation!
All week long, we’ve been corresponding with my family through phone calls, emails and texts trying to get everything organized and figure out exactly what we need to bring. Since it’s supposed to be chilly at Machu Picchu and very warm in the Galapagos Islands, packing is quite tricky. And trying to cram nine days worth of clothes into a carry on suitcase is an added challenge, that’s for sure!
After my morning workout, I spent a little more time packing and detailed a few notes for my father-in-law who will be staying at our house with Sadie while we’re away. We were thrilled when he offered to come to Ocala (one of his best friends lives here) and knowing that Sadie will be spending time with someone she adores helps eliminate some of the worry that comes with leaving her behind. Plus, we get to spend some time with him this evening, which will be great!
Workout
Since workouts will likely be irregular on our vacation, I kicked up my cardio session a bit this morning and incorporated some intervals into a treadmill workout that included running and incline walking.
I followed my 45-minute cardio workout with the ab circuit from Best Body Boot Camp which made my core feel like it was on fire. Whoa!
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning came together in no time at all.
Eggs + Zucchini + Mozzarella Cheese +Chicken Sausage
For those who have asked what kind of chicken sausage I prefer, I am a big fan of al fresco and Aidells chicken sausage. Both are delicious!
Of Possible Interest: Boston Marathon
- College Students Organize Walk to Finish Boston Marathon (Mashable.com)
- Boston: Ways to Help and Get Help (MommyRunFast.com)
Of Possible Interest
- High Protein Vegan Meal Plan (FitSugar.com)
- Complete Guide to Trail Running (Fitbie.MSN.com)
Questions of the Morning
- Pet owners: Do your pets know when you’re packing for an upcoming trip? Do they have suitcase anxiety?
- Do you have any fun vacations planned this year?
- If you could go on vacation anywhere right now, where would you want to go?
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Sounds like an awesome trip. Macchu Pichu is definitly high on my travel list. If I could go anywhere, I’d probably go all out on a safari! or take a trip to Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia to see my family and experience my heritage. Since we’re saving for a wedding though, our next trip will just be a low-key road trip through New England – hiking, B&Bs, that kinda stuff!
Monster gets anxiety when we shower and get dressed. You’d think he’d been abandoned at some point!
We went on a Whistler ski vacation and are planning Costa Rico for next year. Yay vacations!
We’re on vacation right now!..and were sad to leave our dog behind. Thankfully, our friend is watching her and sends us pictures most days! Have a great trip!
I love that your friend is sending you pics! So sweet!
You can use the travel version of Space Bags to help conserve space. You basically roll out all the extra air and compress your clothing in them. I use them when I travel and I love them!
ah your upcoming family trip sounds amazing!! I am going to Germany/Barcelona the end of May and I cannot wait! My puppy is very intuitive and knows when we are leaving him just for the day, he does the ears back look and then we pick him up to put him in his crate he does the butt drop so all his weight is in the back and thinks we wont be able to pick him up!
Peru is amazing you are going to have an amazing time there the people are all so wonderful and the food is amazing!!! I have gone twice (for archeaology) but I am planning to go back with my boyfriend that is how much I loved it!
Have a great time! My boyfriend & I are Hawaii bound in one week – SO excited! 🙂
Kyle and I have the hardest time going on vacation because our cats are so needy and have to be separated. We are doing a “staycation” next week and have to drive home to see them. Have fun~
Oh what a fun trip!!! I love family vacays–and this one sounds like it will be a blast!
How funny! We can’t pack until the night before we leave because our dog always gets the WORST case of anxiety I’ve ever seen (and she always goes with us!) It’s funny how smart they are 🙂 I hope you have a safe trip – can’t wait to see pictures, especially of Machu Picchu!
Oh Sadie! That face….. I find it very hard to leave our dog now that he is getting older (7 years). I’m thankful my parents love having him as a guest, because I just don’t think I could every kennel him for 7 days straight. Have a great trip!
A few day s after I finish with finals for the semester, my mom and I are going to an Adventure Spa in St. George Utah– Red Mountain Spa– where we will spend a glorious week hiking/yoga-ing/mountain biking/ and CLEAN EATING! I love the idea of an Adventure Spa where you get to be active all day and eat great healthy food and go to bed early and just TOTALLY TAKE YOU TIME!!!
Andrea this sounds amazing!! I loooove St George! We just got back from Utah and I’m looking for a reason to return, quickly!
I will give a full update on the week and let you know how it goes! I have never been to St. George but heard it is great! And I could not be more excited for the “adventure” and “spa” aspect of the trip! I plan to spoil myself! I am always looking for a reason to be out west– as a skiing obsessed individual, Utah and Colorado are my destinations of choice 🙂
Andrea, I too am “ski obsessed” and am currently reading your blog! Looks like besides Utah in common, you also love Colorado spring skiing 🙂
My pup cry/whines when my suitcase comes out. 🙁 It makes packing just the worst. No trips planned for this year as of yet, but I have a cruise booked for the first week of January! So excited for Holy Ship!!
Have fun! FYI, i live in Chile and it. is. so. cold. right now! It doesn’t get THAT cold down here, but most places don’t have central heating, so you just never really get warm. You’ll have a great time and be fine, but if you’re on the fence about hat/scarf/gloves/extra sweater, throw it in.
Perfect!! Thanks!!
I have a question – what do you do for exercise when you go on vacation? I am doing Jamie Eason’s Live-Fit work out (after reading about it on here!) and I am about to go on vacation during my 6th week of the 12 week program…. I’m not sure how to maintain what I’ve been doing and I’m sure I won’t be able to get to the gym every day since I’ll be visiting with people I only see once a year. What do you do?
Wow, sounds like an amazing trip you have planned! Our doberman gets all bent out of shape when I leave for work trips, he see’s the suitcase come out and immediately starts bringing his toys to me 🙂
Sounds awesome! My boyfriend and I are actually leaving tomorrow for Oregon (we live in CA) to meet my new nephew 🙂 Our Shepherd, Stella, already knows something is up and I haven’t even taken out the suitcase! Uber clingy and stuck to my hip (more than usual!). I keep getting “the look” and the sigh of defeat, breaks my heart! But she will be with grandma and grandpa, and we’ll be back in no time! Have a great trip!
Is it sad that my first thought when reading this post and hearing you were going away with your parents and sister was “oh no! who is Sadie staying with?” I’m glad she’ll be taken care of, have a fabulous time!
Awww! Sadie appreciates your concern! 🙂
Exactly my first thought. Great that Ryan,s dad is coming.
zoey gets so sad when we start packing… she knows something’s up – itz so sad!
Ah, this is one of my all time top places I want to go!!! You are going to have such an incredible trip and I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Wow, your upcoming vacation sounds awesome. I am also a big fan of Aidell’s chicken sauge, especially the chicken apple variety.
I’m going to Vegas today to visit my best friend, and I could not be more excited for some vacation time!
I went to Peru a few years ago on a mission trip and it is by far the favorite place I’ve traveled. I didn’t get to go to Machu Picchu, but I did get to go to the floating islands on Lake Titicaca, and it was amazing. Have fun!
Oh my gosh! I guess I missed your mention of this trip before. This sounds awesome! Have an incredible time, and I can’t wait to see the pictures!
My dog totally knows when we’re going somewhere! He loves going with us or going to his doggy boarding center so he tends to get pretty excited 🙂 I just got back from Puerto Rico a few weeks ago but would love to go to Europe this fall on a vacation!
So cute! When I used to pack up to head back to college my dog would get so sad and give me the silent treatment.
Holy moly Julie!!!
I absolutely positively cannot wait to read all about your trip! South American is at thr tip top list of where I want to travel to next, though china is number one, have the best time!!!
Wow, this sounds awesome. A lot of spontaneous trips for you this year! We want to go to Thailand to visit a friend in October
You’re going to be a superstar traveller after all of these trips lately! So jealous! 🙂
My dog is the same way with suitcases — as soon as they make an appearance she’s on high alert for being left behind!
Thank you Julie for keeping us posted on how to help Boston; I really appreciate it and admire you for taking the time to get the info out there
So, my boyfriends two dogs definitely know when someone is coming/going. He will be going to Vegas this weekend, and I’m sure as soon as that suitcase comes out tonight, I can expect big puppy dog eyes…:-( Luckily, I’ll be staying with them to dog sit!
I have a few trips planned (I live in Seattle). Going to the San Juan Islands for Memorial Day, Chicago in June for a wedding, Houston for 4th of July, and Chicago again in October! Cannot wait!
If I could go anywhere right now, it’d be Hawaii hands down. The flights aren’t too bad from Seattle, it’s SO tempting! Either Hawaii or California would be FAB 🙂
You’re going to love Ecuador! I lived in Quito for two years and it is absolutely my favorite place on earth. If you have any time in Quito, look for a little pizza place called Ananke in Guapulo. Amazing.
Awesome! Thanks!! We will be spending two nights there so I’d love to hear any recommendations you may have!
If you are in Quito on a weekend, you MUST go to Guapulo. It is, by far, the most beautiful view ever. Take a taxi about halfway down, and there is a tiny little ceviche place that is run by a family out of their house. The ceviche in Ecuador is THE BEST you will ever have, and this place is the best in Ecuador. It has no name and it’s only open on the weekends for lunch. Trust me. It’s worth it. Order a Pilsener to go with it.
Another place that is amazing is called Cafe Mosaico. The address isManuel Samaniego #30 y Antepara, Itchimbía, Quito. Go for dinner and get a table on the outside patio. The view is amazing at night.
I’m going to send you this info by email, too.
My dog ALWAYS knows when we are leaving for a trip, she gets so sad and just lays by the suitcases kind of like your dog…I feel so bad!
I have been dreaming about going to Galapagos Island for years! It looks beautiful.
Ahhhh your vacation sounds so fun!!! Our two boxers tend to “hover” when they think we’re leaving them, like even for church. When we’re taking them somewhere, we get out “their” bag and then they know they’re coming 🙂
Now that sounds like a fantastic family vacation!! We have little neices & nephews, so we have a Disney vacation planned this year and then the year after that is my parents’ 40th and we’re planning a trip somewhere warm and all-inclusive. Our dogs always know when we’re getting ready to go. They run back and forth, back and forth between our bedroom and the front door. Luckily we have a great kennel and they don’t mind staying there, so it reduces this fur-mama’s anxiety alot!!!
Oh, I am really excited to hear about this trip, particularly the part in the galapagos! Take lots of pictures!
Have a great vacation!!
I’m not a meat eater, but my husband loves the Open Nature brand of chicken sausage. I’m not sure about nationwide, but I see it everywhere in Texas!
Have a great time! My friend’s husband is Peruvian, and she was able to visit Machu Picchu for the first time last year. She said it was spectacular, but that altitude sickness is no joke (and this from a girl who grew up in Denver)! She definitely recommended taking time to get acclimated, drinking plenty of water, and trying the coca leaves that the locals chew (or drink in tea). Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Woohoo so so excited for you! I did the 5-day Inca Trail hike to Macchu Picchu a couple of years ago, and spent about 5-6 weeks exploring Peru, with another few weeks in Ecuador. Peru was one of my favorite countries ever for its friendly people, delicious food and breathtaking scenery. I blogged the whole way, so feel free to look around my posts for tips on sightseeing, food, general safety, etc. Hope something in there will be useful for you! http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/wanderingblonde/1/tpod.html
Our dog Cooper does the exact same thing – how cute! I would love anywhere WARM right now. The winter is really dragging… my mood needs some sunshine.
I just saw your name in Women’s Health magazine!!!!! yayyy Julie!!! 🙂
One of our dogs does the same thing with suitcases, and lots and lots of panting. I’ve been to Peru and Macho Pichu and you have so much to look forward to! My plan was to get in some running while I was there, but the altitude in MP and Cuzco played havoc with that…
My pup gets excited when he sees my suitcase because he knows he is most likely going to my parents’ house while I’m on a business trip. He loves their yard and their neighbor’s dog. He may also like all of the treats he gets from my parents who spoil him 😉 You’re trip sounds amazing! Have a wonderful time!
*YOUR trip. I hate when I type too fast!
I love the pic of Sadie…so cute! Your trip sounds amazing! Have a great time! We’re planning a trip to Hawaii this summer…so excited about that!
Oh man – that sounds like an awesome trip! Can’t wait to read the recaps on the blog! Have a GREAT time! 🙂
I’d want to go to Vancouver! Love that city….though it would be a toss up with New York! Your a real jet setter at the moment, only back from Ireland!!! Can’t wait to see and hear all about this trip it sounds amazing!
Julie I am greeeen with envy! That is def on my list and you are really making me rethink my other summer vay-vay idea which is to travel the pacific coast highway in a drop top 😉
I’m curious to hear why you’re only bringing a carry-on. (faster than checking bags, fees, etc.) I am an awful, terrible, horrible packer and don’t think I could do it. I have a quick trip coming up and would love to hear any tips you have for packing just a carry-on, especially when it comes to packing toiletries, etc. Thanks and have so much fun on your vacation. Sounds absolutely amazing!