Road Trip 2013

My dearest Semester at Sea friend, Kelly, came out to California to work for a couple of months (Sept-Nov). While preparing for her return to Florida, we came up with the grand idea that I would drive back with her! So clever we are. It was pretty simple to us. Pack our stuff, get in the car, and drive until we got there. 

We planned where we would lay our heads at night but that's about it.

I also wanted to learn how to use iMovie. And with an iPhone, it couldn't be that hard to film everything. So this was the perfect project. Short enough that I could make this video in a couple days. But long enough that I could practice using just about every feature and perfect (ha!) my technique as well. 

Everyone needs a video like this to look at when they're 80. I know we'll never forget those 10 hour days in the car. Thank goodness for cell phones, bluetooth, yelp, and unlimited song choices. 

We never got bored, didn't eat junk food...just enjoyed each other and made conversation. This trip is one for the books. 

It's a little lengthy but when I'm 80, I'll have 15 minutes to spare. Guaranteed. 

We had a ball, to say the least. I have a sneaky suspicion that another trip like this is in our future. Who knows, we might be the type to take trips like this to escape our roles as wife and mother. But that would require each of us to find a husband, first. 

A Birthday Shoutout

To celebrate the 27th birthday of my most-awesome sister, I bring you pictures from the past 10 years or so. The baby ones are way too cute and I think you might spend all day looking at those. These are fun and sassy, just like they should be. Lots of pictures coming your way...

Kristen - I love your personality, encouraging words, and heart of gold. You are the best sister for me. And that's what makes our relationship unique. Love. Love is the answer. 

Enjoy today and the rest of forever!

You will always find more drinks than food in the fridge

She's got a great niche for decorating 

We love Lil' Lenny (and try to take a siblings pic every time we're together)

Visiting SB last summer :)

3 Generations

#1 Fan. Always.

Smile with your eyes :D

Just the 3 of us. ATL trip :)

...with Green Apple. Our beloved rental car for the week

Partyyy time

Such a good big sistahhh 

Comforter. Supporter. Friend. 

"A" for awesome. That's what you are!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU!!!!!

March in Review

Well folks, it's official...the Canon PowerShot SD 750 Digital ELPH 7.1 Mega Pixels is going to heaven. As you will see in the pictures below, the PowerShot must have fallen for the 1435748329548 time and now adds an ink blot to all pictures. Not cool. The Powershot has been with me since AT LEAST 2006. Such a great camera that I would recommend to anyone. The Powershot has been to South Africa, traveled the world on Semester at Sea and been on my impromptu/planned vacation excursions around the US. 

We've had an awesome 7+ years and I'm almost positive that no camera will be as faithful to me as the Powershot.

In case you forgot...this is the PowerShot looking fab as usual.

Now on to March. I had the opportunity to travel. One of my favorites things in life, so I jumped on it and took off. I flew to Vegas then traveled with a friend from Semester at Sea (Katie) to see the Hoover Dam, spend two days sightseeing near/at the Grand Canyon, spend two days near Sedona, then 5 days in Phoenix with my sister and a weekend in SoCal for fam time and an Easter brunch. 

The trip was a time for adventure, fun, new food, great drinks, shopping and much needed time with loved ones. I give this one 2 thumbs up! Here are some pics please ignore the black spot on my pics :( ...

1. Vegas breakfast buffet plate
2&3. Hoover Dam

Grand Canyon: A beautiful place in Arizona where the air is cool
when the wind picks up and the sun goes down.

1. Seligman, AZ Birthplace of Route 66 b/c it's the longest stretch of Route 66 still remaining
2. Just like the movie cars :)
3. Famous barbershop along Route 66
4. Williams, Az Route 66

Jerome, Az
Never would have guessed that such a place would be so magical and entertaining and historical.

Our drive home wouldn't be complete without $3.579/gallon gas and Chipotle

Family. Love them. Gotta have them.

P.S. Did you notice that some of my pics don't have the black spot??!! Well, it looks like the Canon PowerShot may have one last leg. Wouldn't that be an amazing, cost-saving, blessing! I'll investigate and let you know what's up. 

P.P.S. It's a good thing that I'm not looking for a new facebook profile picture because my options without a black spot would be limited. 

Again...

I'm spending my nights researching, writing papers and creating presentations. This is nothing new. Week 10/Dead Week/Finals Week all runs into the same mesh of "I-have-a-lot-to-do Week". But, I will get through it. 

One cup of tea at a time. 

One hour at a time. 

(One mini-nap/rest-my-eyes sesh at a time.)

One assignment at a time. 

One day at a time.

One class at a time. 

Don't you worry, there's good news. 

This will all be over and done with come next week.

Just in time for my flight to Vegas, trip to the Grand Canyon, and vacation in Arizona with the best sister on this side of heaven.

Amen to that!

Labor Day Weekend!

I love holidays. Any holiday. 

I love having an extra day off of work to do whatever I want. 

I love spending time with my sister and doing things that we love. 

Like...working out, eating, doing our hair, going to church, having lunch with friends, sleeping in (and taking naps) and laughing until we cry because our stories are that funny!

All of the above is what I did this past weekend and I loved every single moment of it all! I flew out to Arizona on Sat morning on a steal-of-a-deal nonstop flight from SBA to PHX!! I had a voucher that I used towards an already low fare so my out of pocket expenses weren't bad at all. Man oh man, I love a good deal!

So Kristen, who is working out in Orange County for a couple months, met me out in Phoenix on Saturday morning and we went rock climbing. A while back I bought a groupon (who would have guessed haha) for a day pass of rock climbing and Cold Stone Ice Cream!! I'm alllll about working out and eating..as stated above..so obviously we enjoyed ourselves.

After rock climbing and ice cream it was nap time. I haven't taken a good long nap like that in a while so you can only imagine how refreshed I felt after that one :)

Then we went out for a late happy hour with one of Kristen's friends and dancing at Sandbar. We called it a night before the crazies were let out {aka when the bar announces last call then closes for the night}, got home and passed out. Phew I was tired!

Me, Annett and Kristen: fun night out!!

Sunday morning was hair time and church. I absolutely LOVE this church that Kristen belongs to! Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church is fabulous. I'll say it again...I just Love going to church there (yes, capital "L"). After church was lunch with friends and a trip to Apache Junction!!!!!!!

Apache Junction is a town that's...well, out of town. We toured the trailer parks and called on a couple that were for sale to see how much it would cost for one of those beauty's. $28,000. Yep, that's it. Best part? It had a new solar roof, double pane windows, double wide trailer, 24x52 (I asked about square footage and was given dimensions), 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, close proximity to community center (who knew that there would be a community center) and...the best part...it was fully furnished!!!!!

As it turns out, this establishment is in a 55+ community. I'll have to get a golf cart and grow some grey hairs before making the move. 

After our trip to AJ we had dinner and wine with Sarah then girl talk. A lot of it. We drove back to Kristen's and, once again, were out like lights when our heads hit those pillows. 

Monday came and we slept in. That is a common theme that I reallllyyyy enjoyed. We got up and went to lunch at a fun cafe in town then I got a pedicure. A much needed pedicure. Then errands and frozen yogurt followed by some window shopping/browsing. We finished the night with dinner and catch up with friends. 

My time in Arizona was just what I needed to finish the summer. A nice 3-day weekend with a vacation where I actually relaxed. Sometimes I go away and don't really rest. I'm busy planning, organizing, worrying and doing as much as possible in the couple days allotted. So, this trip was heavenly. And the best part, my flight landed in Santa Barbara this morning at 9:10am and I went right to work. Made it in by 9:20am. 

Thank you, Kristen and AZ friends, for such a fun-filled weekend. I needed that :)