A Southern Prescription

I am not the type to take a break.  I have a to-do list on the dry erase board in my workspace that is always full and keeps me on task and busy whenever I am not sure what to do with myself.  I still have nightmares, years after finishing college, of showing-up to class without my homework done.  In my little world, there is always a load of laundry to do, a workout to squeeze in, a trash can to empty, a hat to knit, homework to help with, baseball, Tae Kwon Do, grocery lists, diapers, emails...there is ALWAYS something waiting for my attention and I only sleep to fuel my next day of busyness.

This must change.

Fresh off my first vacation from Ollie Bee Knits since opening in May, I am convinced that my five days spent doing nothing in the glorious 80-degree sunshine of Savannah, Georgia may have been the most productive five days I have had in months.  It is hard for me to admit when I need a break, but deep down I knew I wanted it.  An escape from housework and childcare sounded nice, but I needed something more...

Against the better judgement of my neurotic self, I stepped off the plane with Jim and I gave myself permission to just BE.  To do whatever I wanted.  I napped.  I knit.  I walked.  I ran.  I drank coffee.  I ate fried green tomatoes, collard greens, and banana pudding.  I talked.  I was quiet.  I took pictures.  I laughed.  I was myself and I was inspired. 

This trip wasn't just a break from my to-do list.  It was a full recharging of my batteries.  No, it was a total systems overhaul.  I am not sure I even knew how much I needed it until I was there in the midst of it.  You see, this "mom-working-from-home" gig is amazingly awesome and wonderful in so many ways, but it has its own unique challenges.  The big one for me is that I have my work and home to-do lists staring me in the face all day long, and since they both exist in the same space, there is never a chance to really escape from either one.  I don't "come home from work" to relax with my family.  My home, my work, and my family require 24-hour juggling.  An escape was necessary.

Savannah was the perfect venue with its combination of history, art, and nature.  We walked everywhere, which is my favorite way to get around, and it gave us the opportunity to really see the city.  We could pop in an antique shop find a school bell from 1810, we could see what students at SCAD were making, we could taste local Tupelo honey, or just trip over cobblestones laid by some of Savannah's first settlers.  Nothing was planned or rushed, and it all worked-out beautifully.

The funny thing is, while I was there doing nothing "productive," I had more ideas for my life and my business than ever.  And I came back to both with enthusiasm rather than just feeling overwhelmed.  This is a good thing.

Here are some photos of the trip and what inspired me: 

Jim, my husband and best friend who was the perfect company for this trip.  It was nice to feel like we were dating again.

Me, with my ever-present cup of coffee.  I don't care if I was sleeping 12 hours a day...I still need it :).

Savannah is organized in a grid system, with 24 different green spaces peppered throughout.  Every city should embrace natural beauty like this.

The trees in Savannah are covered in Spanish moss.  It makes everything look like it is out of a fairy tale.  I kept waiting to meet Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel.

Jim had to be so tired of me commenting on all the brick walls, but I seriously couldn't get over how beautiful all the buildings were.  You can't fake aged brick, and this has been aging to perfection for 250 years.

One of my favorite spots was Back in the Day Bakery.  It was adorable, and the food was delicious.

A latte with foam this beautiful has to be photographed.

The Olde Pink House is a culinary institution in Savannah.  The fried green tomatoes, fresh grouper, grits, and collard greens were perfection.

We visited The Paris Market several times in our five-day trip because we just couldn't take it all in in one trip.  It was a combination of vintage finds, new boutique, and Parisian cafe.  I could live there.

Does your downtown look like this?  I didn't think so.