Thanksgiving

Being in Auburn, AL without your family on Thanksgiving is kind of awkward. It's a small town that revolves heavily around the college, which is pretty much shut down on Thanksgiving.

I thought it would be fun to go to Tuskegee National Forest, which is only about 10 minutes away from my hotel.



Time to be thankful for nature, yea? It's a small National Forest, but it was still beautiful and incredibly quiet (probably because we were the only people spending Thanksgiving in a Forest). We went for a short hike through 2 trails:

"Nature awakes to life and activity."

Following the "hike", we munched on some food picked up at Winn Dixie. We decided to spare the turkeys (not worth it if it's not cooked by my dad!), and do a non-traditional feast.

So many things to be thankful for this year. Wish I could have spent Thanksgiving in NY with my fam, but I had a great day in Auburn, too!

Birthday wishes from the South

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and I'm quite sad I wasn't home to celebrate with her:

 

(mom with Tia Torres from Pit Bulls and Parolees on Animal Planet.)

My mom has kind of a funny expression in that picture, but it's the only picture I have of her on the netbook  I travel with. My mom's beautiful and she has the most beautiful skin. I hope I have skin like hers when I'm xx years old (I think I already have more wrinkles on my face than her!).

Speaking of loving dogs, I miss these two:

That's my Riley and Molly. Are they not the cutest pups? (I told you I can use a real camera!)

HI to my new followers. I assume Kate from -Every Mile a Memory- sent you all over (thanksya Kate<3). Introduce yourselves!!

On the road..

Tallahassee->Miami->Orlando, my current destination. I'm working the Florida Classic tomorrow, which I'm stoked for.


My Orlando hotel might be my favorite thus far: It's The Marriott Grande Vista Resort with 200-acres, 4 pools, a private lake, "beach area", and an arcade that's robbing me blind. It's nice to feel like I'm on vacation instead of being here for work.
 

From the balcony of my room

I went to a wine tasting Wednesday night on the "beach area" with fire pits and live music. Definitely an upgrade from the recent hotels I've been staying in!

Tallahassee-Here I am!

Checked in to Tallahassee last night around midnight. Finally! After a hectic Saturday at the LSU vs Alabama game, I spent Sunday-Monday in Dothan, AL with Vince and his fam. After being on the road for quite some time, it was so nice to be around real people. A family. With a real couch. {The silly things you miss when you're on tour.} We had lots of yummy home cooked food. His family was incredibly hospitable and really fun, in general.

Check out baby Vince courtesy of VHS tapes via 1987

Me with Vince's Aunt Lesa

A Beautiful Rainy Day

I love finding beauty in days that are anything but beautiful. Today was one of those days regardless of the lousy weather.

I headed to Hakook Taqueria, which was featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate a la Alton Brown and is one of my favorite food spots in the country (not my first visit). We'll call it Korean Fusion Mexican. Their homemade sauces are to die for. Their tacos and burritos are exquisite. Yum

This is the buffalo chicken taco which was a "special item", however, all of their tacos are perfect!

Next stop, TJ Maxx. I got a Theory skirt. For $7. And a Velvet shirt. For $7. And an Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Anniversary Set. For $7. Total: $23.xx after tax.
Retail $190, $86, and $78 (respectively). Saved over $330.00! Score!

(in white. Photo from http://www.shoplastyle.com/)

And the day was a success!

Syms says so long..

Well, it's official. Filene's Basement (and parent company Syms) will be extinct come January.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203804204577013611378488888.html

It's sad to see a company that's been around for so long close and approx 2,500 people lose jobs.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled for final sales, though. I imagine the Manhattan location will be a madhouse.