life and times on the lake

When I became a nanny, I thought I would be traveling the world with the family I worked for. Color me disappointed when I found out last year that our big summer vacation would be spent at a lake in Georgia. Then I got there and immediately pinched myself to see if I was dreaming it, or if I was actually at one of the most beautiful places in America. Ever since we left last year, I've looked forward to our return this year. Does that photo just put you at ease? Welcome to a sunrise over Lake Burton.

It's even gorgeous when it's raining! 

Now that I've refreshed your memory with how breathtaking it is there, let's get into the other fun stuff. Like paddle boarding --

We couldn't pass up the great moment to rep our Bryce Harper love in the depths of Braves territory.

Megan's strength at the lake was definitely not paddle boarding, as she flipped us...more than once haha. Still rocked the post capsize photo though. 

I actually didn't get to paddle board every day like I did last year. I know, it's sad - but honestly, I just couldn't. On day three, I was part of an intense hour and a half knock-off tubing session, and my whole body was just shot for the next three days. 

Don't believe how intense it was? It knocked a braid out of my hair! I don't even know how my arms held up enough to take this photo. I was literally dragged out of the water and crawled in the boat, my body was just mush. 

Because I couldn't physically hold onto anything or stand up straight for a few days after that jaunt in the water, it was only right that I took a break and propped my feet up on the boat, soaking up the sun. I get the best tan on this lake. No joke. If I lived here in the summer, I would have a tan for the whole year! 

The work crew that reps Trump hats together, stays together. The work trio one last time before everyone abandons me. Of course our one photo doesn't even show our faces. But, the best memories don't need photographs, do they? 

Snapbacks and mean mugging for life over here. 

In conclusion: peace, love, lake life

*all photos taken by me with my trusty iPhone in the even trustier Lifeproof case

life living on the lake

Some of my best memories as a kid involve camping at the Ohio River. Growing up, generation after generation of my family spent their summers on speed boats, water skis, boat docks and around the campfire next to that muddy river. I can still remember zipping up my Barbie life vest, sharing Keebler fudge sandwich cookies and sleeping on a bed that would become our kitchen table the next morning.

Unfortunately, we sold the boat as I entered my teen years, and I hung up my life vest days for time spent smelling chlorine at the town pool. One of the best, and maybe worst parts, of being a nanny is joining the family on their vacations. Great, because you get to explore new places without the cost, but terrible because for you it's less of a vacation and more of a "workcation." When I heard our summer vacation was going to be spent in the States, I was a little disappointed. But that pretty much ended the minute we arrived.

Workcation/vacation aside, I just made it back from arguably one of the most beautiful places in America. Lake Burton, Georgia is truly an untouched treasure trove of emerald colored water that's as smooth as silk. Even though so many people live there, we seemed to go at just the right time that made us feel like we had the lake to ourselves - paradise to a kid who was sorely missing being able to jump into fresh water.

While we were there, I finally had the chance to learn (and master if I say so myself) how to stand up paddle board. All summer it's been my goal to take a SUP class, but I was nervous about learning on the Potomac River, and didn't want to take the hour drive to Annapolis on my own to do it there. Although, now that I know, I would love to make it back to the Bay and hop on a board before the fall!

Day one of SUP 

Day two of SUP - just a girl and her lake

 Last day - mastering the art of yoga SUP...well the moves where both feet are on the board

I also got serious amounts of sun thanks to the steroids I was taking for that allergic reaction. You don't even want to know the amount of sunscreen I used that day and ended up looking like this. That's when I realized it was nearly pointless to use sunscreen because the steroids nullified it. So I had to stay out of the sun the next day - and caught my first ever fish with one of the kid's play Go Diego Go fishing poles that we put a real hook on. I'm just a boss like that at fishing. Thankfully, I was on a step down process with them and became less prone to the sun after the first few days so I was able to enjoy my time in the sun without turning red. On the bright side (ha ha, get it?) I got a fabulous tan out of this. 

Also, I kind of had to do all the paddle boarding because I was eating all of this yummy gooodness. You just don't even know...my instagram feed was filled with goodies like this - 

Did I mention our chef is really good?? So good. My stomach was very happy on this trip. 

And now, I'm exhausted. I slept most of today in attempt to make up for the lack of sleep on the trip. Now I only have to make it another five days and then I'm finally flying back to Ohio for a long weekend home. Five more days, five more days. I can do it!
*all images taken by me with my trusty iPhone