WW: Hilton Head Island

For those who don't follow me on facebook, I apologize for my absence last week. This was my fb post late April 2nd...

"In lieu of my WW post I decided to spend the evening with my sister celebrating her birthday. She is leaving in the morning and I may not see her again for some time... If I was more on the ball, I'd have scheduled a post for tonight, but Easter and family time took precedence. I could give you a million excuses, but the truth is, I'm human. I'm on vacation. I'm playing crazy hard. I'm exhausted. And as much as I love ya'll, my blog does not come first..."

I began doing Wordless Wednesday on April 14, 2010 and began hosting a month later. In the nearly 3 years since I have never missed a post. Not one. Not when I was sick. Or traveling. Or with limited internet. Or moving. Not even after my eye surgery when I couldn't see. But sometimes there are times in life when you just need to unplug and escape the cares of the world. After a lingering sickness from hell, a new job, kid drama, blog deadlines, house guests and a holiday thrown in there... I was completely spent. So much so that I completely forgot about WW. I didn't even pack a computer or a card reader. I only picked up my big camera once in the three days we were away and it was only for a few brief moments. Most every photo taken was from the iphone and even those are few. Sometimes you just don't even want to think. And when I get to that point, there is no better place to go and unwind than the beach. (You can see a few other snaps at Hilton on Instagram.)

It was a beautiful escape. Just what I needed. A reprieve from the pollen. Salty ocean air. No cell phone service in the hotel. Sand between my toes. Sunshine. Great food. Bike rides on the beach. Breathtaking sunsets. Laughter. Family time. Poolside lounging. Picturesque scenery. The soothing sounds of seagulls and ocean waves. Palm trees. Little primping (take note of my crazy untamed hair). And no blogging.

Everyone needs some "me time" to recharge every once in a while, particularly you mothers out there who are a juggling circus act. It is imperative for our mental well being. It will make us happier and more successful at any task thrown our way. Even if you can't escape to the beach, I suggest carving out a few minutes from the routine to do something just. for. you. Novel idea, I know. (Wink, wink.) Try unplugging for a day. Or even an afternoon. You'd be surprised just how therapeutic it can be. We live in a time when we are too connected and too busy with things that really are of little value in the scheme of life. Constantly bombarbed by pinterest, facebook and blogs brimming with talent. It causes me to question my creativity and worth from time to time. It is unhealthy and exhausting. And should not control our lives. It requires a cap. Escape it and reconnect with you occasionally.

Fonts used: sunshine in my soul, ostrich sans, 1942 report and abadi mt condensed extra bold. The bottom right photo was made using the "over" app.

This collage was inspired from the wallstagram app. It is a PSD file which works perfectly in Photoshop or PSE. It has 10 clipping masks and is formatted as a 12x12 inch size. It could easily be resized to 6x6 or smaller. It would be great for a memory album or blog post. Just a little thank you for your continued support...

Download the Mixed Photo Collage Template Here

I know we don't all live in or near a tropical paradise and for many of you, winter has been long and brutal. To help thwart off the winter blues, grab your camera and join Rebecca, Kristi and me for the Spring Edition of the Nurture Photography Challenge!

This week's Yellow/Easter prompt is open until Thursday, April 11th and I have a fun spring freebie. Next week's Turquoise/Splash prompt begins Friday, April 10th at 9AM and Kristi will have a great Aperture Tutorial. All are welcome to participate regardless of skill level, camera equipment or geographic location! It's a fun way to learn more about photography and meet some great folks! You can find more details here.

That's all for now. Thanks so much for stopping by! In case you're new here- welcome!
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This is Wordless Wednesday, but as you can see, I have a hard time keeping it wordless. Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are always welcome here at Project Alicia. You can grab my button in the sidebar but it is not required to participate. Just grab any photo and come link up! And if you'd like to connect with other WW participants, click HERE or one of the thumbnails below.