During the summer, I take advantage of every hot day to just relax by the pool to read a book and cool off in the house and be a couch potato surfing Netflix for a good TV series or a movie. But my favorite favorite favoriteeee part about summer are the beaches. The serenity it brings just puts me in a happy mood. I just sun bathe, meditate, and vibe to the tunes of Miguel blasting through my IPod.  But the best part about the beach is that it’s FREE. Duh! I mean come on now, who doesn’t love freebies and wouldn’t love it?

 

So, the Mr. and I headed down to South Beach in Miami, Florida to celebrate his birthday.

 

Miami is the perfect vacation spot for anyone—young, old, black, white, big, small, auntie or granny. The Palm trees, blue water, and vibrant atmosphere make it the ideal vacation spot to have a wild, chill, or fun ass time with family or friends. And to be honest, it’s one of those places I try to visit at least once a year during the spring—when the weather is mild and the humidity is typically low. This time was a bit different. I had to visit during one of the hottest months of the year, July. Per usual, Miami never disappoints me and showed us a good time.  I’ll prove it.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the laughs, parties, experiences, weather, and should’ve could’ve would’ve with short snippets from the Mr.’s Birthday Celebration with a summer in Miami.

• Listen! Vacation doesn’t start until everyone takes a shot or two. “Cheers to your Birthday and Fun times!” I screamed. Then, we headed off to Wet Willies on Ocean Drive for more drinks and food. At 12:00AM, July 3^rd, “Happyyyy Birthdayyy!!” Let the party begin…

• “Wait, I thought you said you knew how to swim? Oh hell no! I’m not going jet skiing with your ass!” I told him as we scrambled to get dress. Had I known better, I would’ve just went along for the ride. There was a tour guide and a master swimmer that basically was a babysitter during the entire adventure. (I really have to shake off this fear of water and learn how to swim. Otherwise I’m going to continue to miss out on opportunities to have fun, and possibly wait around in hot and sticky weather while my hair transform into a Don King style.) “Damn, you should’ve came. That shit was fun. We went by Star Island (a location for extravagant houses owned by celebrities and other millionaires).” He smiled from ear to ear bragging and shit. “Mmmmhmm! I’m sure it wasn’t all of that.” I rolled my eyes and turned away. I was clearly mad and hating on him. 🙂

• During my spring visits, I was able to walk from point A to point B. It was too damn hot to walk during the summer—We had to take a cab. I looked forward to those cool breaks, though. The best moments for a quick touch up and room for a few selfies.

• Everyday was beach day. So I never forgot to pack my favorite book, magazine, glasses, tanning lotion, IPod, beach towel, and bag. We sun bathed, cooled off under the umbrella or took a dip in the water—in that exact order.

 

• “Remember when you were too lazy to walk back to Walgreens to buy something to drink before heading to the beach and you had to buy it from the concession stand instead?” I WAS SO MAD I HAD TO PAY $8.00 for a Gatorade and a Vitamin Water. No worries. I made it all better with a quick photo shoot at the concession stand to fade away my attitude. 🙂

Forth of July! We had fun doing whatever we wanted that day.  But leave it to me to weep the consequences for taking advantage of, “do whatever you want.”   “Yeah, let me have one of these.” Pointing to a mega candy twirl drink at the Sugar Factory for brunch with some of my college girlfriends we ran into while down there. “Mmmm this is so good, y’all. Take my picture. How much is this, anyway?” “Girl, that’s $35.00.” “What?” I pushed back the drink as if I was suddenly allergic to it.  “They can come get this.” I shouted. But it was too late. I already had about 7-10 sips.  I leaned over and whispered to the Mr., “Sorry babe.”   Moral of the story: Ask questions before ordering.

 

• I should’ve got a red bull after our late night snack at the pizza shop. I probably could’ve gone back out to party our last night. Instead, Granny Ann took over and snuggled into bed while the Mr. went out to party.

• 6:00AM Taxi Pick Up; 8:00AM Departing Flight
• 5:30AM: “I can’t find my I.D. I don’t know where it is. I had it in this purse. It must’ve fallen out somewhere.” I panicked. I wasn’t quite sure how TSA was going to allow me to board the flight without an improved identification; I was hoping the airline was going to provide me with a temporary I.D. using my school picture and social security card to prove my identity. But thankfully, the front desk had retrieved my lost I.D.
• Finally, we were on our way home from an exhausting and eventful birthday vacation.
  

 

“Yo! You want to ride through the Pork ‘n Beans projects?” he jokingly said.   I frowned at him and replied, “Hell Nah. I want to get home within the First 48.”

This trip was one to remember…

xO