Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

22 March, 2012

p.s. what I wore on vacation

I am always at a loss for how to pack. I am the chronic over-packer and I hate that. Before our great southern adventure I had read this article on Cup of Jo (who I love. seriously, girl crush). The tip was simple: pack varieties of blues and whites (so that you can mix and match) and have a great statement dress (she used red and I loved it so much that I did the same) for some fun.
So, I went with that advice and I must say: I used every single piece I brought with me AND it was really easy to do. So, without further ado, here is the rundown of what I wore on vacay. 

Cardigan, sandals: Target; Dress: American Eagle; Belt: Thrifted
Button-up, Hat: Forever 21; Jeggings: American Eagle, Sandals: Target 
Oversized shirt/dress: Forever 21 (SO comfortable)
Dress: J Crew, Hat: Forever 21, Sandals: Target
Dress: Francesca's Collection; Sandals: Target
 Pretty simple, and just what I needed. Perfect advice.

17 March, 2011

saint pat


It would seem that my spring break really started today. Daniel took some leave in order to hang out with me on my break and we had a blast. We started by going to breakfast at this little diner tucked into a residential area. After breakfast we went for a hike on a trail at Poplar Grove, an old plantation in Wilmington -- super beautiful. Dan made corn-beef and cabbage for dinner and we drank some Guinness in honor of good ole saint patrick. And what saint patty's day could be complete without a trip to the bar? $1 Irish Red Ale? I'll have two.

20 September, 2010

My Changing, Evolving, Family Dynamic


My family has always been pretty close but as my wedding day drew near my heart began to break for the approaching moment when I would leave them to start a new life with my love, Daniel. The time was bittersweet. The trips into my moms room and into the safety of her bed became more frequent in those last few months. Sometimes I would come crying, stressed out of my mind about the wedding and other times I would just come to quietly sit next to her and spend time. My dad has been working in Nevada during the week so I would make sure that during the weekend I would spend time curled up on the couch next to himwatching our favorites movies. I'm 22 and it is completely natural, normal, and right for a woman of my age to leave the comfort of her parents home and start her own adventure -- it still hurt to think about. Moving across the country was going to be difficult, that three hour time difference may not seem like much but it takes a huge toll on communication. I have missed my parents and my sisters more than I can say. Dan has been amazing through all of this time, being a seasoned veteran living on his own since he was 18, he has held me when I've felt lonely and listened to me when I need to talk.
My parents came east to visit Dan and me last week; it helps that we're currently stationed in a super interesting part of the country. While poor Dan was in school Dad, Mom, and I went galavanting around Boston, Newport, and Manhattan. It was a much needed visit -- I even enjoyed (and laughed at!) all the puns and jokes that come along with Brian and Lisa Herrington. We had a fabulous time and when the four of us got to have dinner together, or take a sunset sailing voyage, or sight see in New York, it was such a blessing. Our time together was comfortable, familiar, and fun. We made some great memories. When it came time to part ways, that familiar ache returned. It was hard to say goodbye again. My parents have given me so much and have loved me unconditionally. This trip was a gift from God --

exactly what I needed at just the right time.

As for the amazing times we had, here are a few of my favorites:

1. Getting a glimpse of Fenway Park
2. Our sunset sail around Newport harbor
3. Our amazing apartment rental in the upper west side (we're so hip)
4. Mastering the art of the N.Y. subway
5. The first sight of Times Square all lit up
6. The feast of San Gennaro in little Italy (somewhat like an Italian carnival -- amazing food)
7. Seeing a Broadway show (however disappointing the performance was)
8. Taking in a Mets baseball game (The Yankees were out of town, but the Mets new stadium is pretty awesome)
9. Strolling through Central Park
10. New York Cheesecake = Heavenly

22 July, 2010

Memories Made


Some of the best memories are made while traveling. During our time in
Florence we took out a day to see some of the surrounding area. We saw the leaning tower of Pisa and we went wine tasting in the Chianti region of Tuscany. The drive up to the winery was super long and curvy and for the first time since I was a little girl I was feeling carsick. We arrived and I was looking forward to sitting down and having some water. They gave us a tour of the facility and then took us to our wine tasting area. It was set up so we would have 5 wine tastes paired with cheeses, bruschetta, and pasta. But what I was most excited about at that point were the water bottles on the table.


So we sit down and enjoy the appetizers and pour ourselves some water. There are about 20 other people in the room participating in the tasting with us. We start the tasting with our first wine - super yummy. Dan finishes his wine and to my surprise and horror he picks up the water bottle and pours a little into his wine glass, swishes it around and, pours it into the bucket. He looks at my face and says, "I was cleaning it out for the next wine." I explained, "But, they usually order the wine in such a way that you don't need to wash your glass each time as long as you finish the previous wine or you pour it out. But now everyone has seen you and they'll..." I couldn't even finish my sentence when we noticed the two couples to our right pour water in their glasses and clean them for the next round.

I looked at Dan accusingly, watching my precious water wasted. "It's not my fault I look like I know what I'm doing," he shrugged. I just shook my head trying to hold in my laughter. I'm sure in a perfect wine tasting atmosphere one would have a clean glass for every wine tasted. But this wasn't a perfect wine tasting atmosphere, this was a functional wine tasting atmosphere. And that water was for drinking. Not for cleaning. Dan stopped cleaning his glass out but the damage had been done and our 4 new friends continued to make sure their glasses were spick and span for each new wine. I even helped them pour their dirty wine-water out into the bucket situated in front of me, mentally shaking my head each time another glass was "cleaned". We just wanted to make sure our fellow wine tasters knew the proper wine tasting etiquette.

P.S. I have now been to 2 of the 3 countries that Elizabeth Gilbert went to on her year long journey in Eat, Pray, Love. Anyone up for Indonesia?

12 July, 2010

Let's Get You Up to Speed

It's been a while so here's what's up:

Daniel and I got married June 19, 2010


Wedding Photos by Patrick Wilson

www.PatrickAWilson.com

We went to Italy for our honeymoon and had a fabulous time seeing the sights
and exploring Rome and Florence

We Saw the Coliseum
We Watched the World Cup in some interesting places
We went wine tasting in the Tuscan Countryside


And then we came home to North Carolina. It's been a crazy couple of weeks but we're finally settling in -- for now anyway ;)