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Saturday Special

This was my Saturday Special:

From the Maple Street Biscuit Company

it is called

The Squawking Goat 

It is a Maple Street biscuit with fried chicken, goat cheese and pepper jelly which was delivered to my table by my own yungin’.He also brought Rory her chocolate chip waffles with strawberries (which she enjoyed quite a lot).

~

Today is the last day of my annual FALL VACATION.

The Fall Vacation trip is the one that LB and I take annually to  do the same things in the same places.  Not because we can’t think of anything else to do, but because we love it.  However, on this Fall Vacation Trip, LB and I did something a little bit different: we detoured to Charleston.

Richard, Emily, Lydia, and Rory officially moved to South Carolina this past week.

  Because I know it is going to be difficult to live without seeing them regularly, LB rerouted us to Charleston and on Saturday afternoon….We met at the place where “Daddy is the BOSS”.

And Glammy got to see her girls!

Talk about a Saturday Special!

After enjoying our lunch, we followed Emily and the baby girls to see their new home.

The playground was especially fun to see!But there was more to do.

We opened housewarming presents (and put them together)Then we headed out to spend the afternoon having fun at a

Charleston Fall Festival

There were so many fun things to do!

There was

A Maze

and a prize if you were successful!

A Fun House

I was amazed that this little four year old marched herself into the fun house alone

and proceeded to run right through like a little pro.

There was

A Pumpkin Patch

which included an opportunity to pick a pumpkin to carve or paint.

Rory picked this one.Lydia did the paintingAnd she did an excellent job!

There were

Photo OpportunitiesBalloon Babies A HAUNTED HOUSE

I ain’t gonna lie… I didn’t want to go into the haunted house.  It was FINE WITH ME when Emily volunteered.  But as it turned out, it was a Haunted House especially designed for little ones, and Lydia asked me if I would go with her a second time.

The stop in Charleston was not planned well in advance, so LB and I would have to leave for Florida shortly after our visit had just begun.

 It was a HOT day, but a fun day with the baby girls!And we WILL be going back!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

I Love It When We’re Cruisin’ Together

Included in the Travel list on my Bucket List Blog Post is

Go on a Caribbean cruise

Last week LB and I did just that!

We headed for Tampa on Thursday and sailed out of Port Tampa Bay later that afternoon.

Bon Voyage!

After an assessment of our room, and a moment to enjoy our private balcony, LB and I began to plan which events we most wanted to attend.

Carnival makes it easy to keep up with cruise activities by using the Carnival HUB app.  Some of our favorites were trivia,  live music, and productions such as the “Welcome Aboard Show” performed by the ship’s exceptional dancers who had some degree of vocal talent.

We decided not to dress up but keep it casual and enjoy dinner at the Italian buffet on the Lido deck. Prime Rib, Eggplant Parmesan, and baked fish

Low Carb

👍🏻

~

Friday was a day of indulging as I began my first full cruise day with a cup of very good coffee and an excellent eggs Benedict breakfast.  It was also very relaxing as we basked in the sun on the top deck And later enjoyed music trivia and the sing-a-longs that ensued. 

Having spent my teens in the eighties makes me quite a contender for 80’s music trivia

but it doesn’t make me a good singer.Yes, that pencil is my microphone.

On Friday night LB and I dressed up and took advantage of the photo opportunities in the atrium and on the promenade deck.It is fun to doll up and be fancy.

Dinner was excellent every night

but dessert was the best.  If you’ve never tasted a Chocolate Melting Cake you should take a Carnival Cruise just to try one.

~

Saturday was excursion day.

Our ship docked at the port in Cozumel and we set out to explore.

LB and I spent time at Dolphin Discovery.We enjoyed time on Chankanaab Beach

and visiting with the locals

LB planned a day of fun and adventure with opportunities to cross items off of my bucket list.  Posing with a mariachi band was not one of those items, but it was fun nonetheless.

Saturday was also my birthday.  More about the Birthday Adventure here.

After dinner Saturday evening, LB and I went to a showing of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody which premiered in 2018 and apparently won Academy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.  The story was sad, but the music was good.

It was a relaxing way to end an exciting day!

~

Because I left home without packing sunscreen, by Sunday I was pink.  LB was too.  Henceforth, we remained in the shade to avoid further exposure to the sun

While indoors, LB thought it would be a good idea to experience one of the hamburgers from Guy Fieri’s grill aka Guy’s Burger Joint

Cruises are notorious for causing weight gain.  Believe it or not, LB managed to evade added poundage

but Kim did not.  [She didn’t do well against the Dealer either]

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

A Week to Remember

Friday

May 24th at 4:30 PM could not come soon enough.

But it finally did and I was ON VACATION!

LB and I had planned to take a western Caribbean cruise beginning on May 30th, however my plan was to enter Vacation Mode as soon I left the office on the Friday before.

And so I did.

I came home that afternoon, made my customary Friday night little pizzas for LB and began my plan to

DO WHAT I WANT

for the next ten days.

Sunday

LB and I went shopping.  Because we had planned a BIG Memorial Day Celebration, we headed to the grocery store to pick up necessary party essentials and prepare for the coming day.

Monday

was a Memorial Day family gathering.

I was so happy to be able to spend time with my kids, my Mama, my sister, and the precious little ones that call me Glammy.

There are two of them and they are adorable.

One has a Glammy persona at times, and prefers to not be caught on camera doing “her thing” unless adequately planned.

Being that I could not help myself, despite her protests, I snapped Lydia’s picture as she conquered “Sunny the obnoxious swan” with the help of Aunt Manda.

Tuesday

I met Demetra at her salon on St. John’s Avenue to get her help bringing my grays under control.  While I was there Demetra told me about a cupcakery that is for sale.  Silvada’s is looking to franchise and sell the St. John’s Avenue location.

LB and I checked it out.

The Creme Brûlée cupcake was delicious and I believe it can be easily duplicated.

I would love nothing more than to bake cupcakes and feed people every day.

Later that evening, we enjoyed Disney’s new production of Aladdin on the big screen at EPIC Theatres. On

Wednesday

LB and I took part in St. Augustine’s weekly event

Music by the Sea

The last dinner in May was catered by Purple Olive.

LB and I shared a plate.

Since I don’t eat shrimp or blatant carbs, I enjoyed a plantain for dinner.

(not a word)

Thursday

was the big day.

Cruise day

to be continued…

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Another Birthday

Yes it is another birthday…

happy birthday 3d GIF by Michael Shillingburg

but not merely another Birthday

This is an

EPIC Birthday

For starters I am

ON A WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE

No cooking, No laundry, No WORK…

behaving like a Birthday Girl should.

The [birth] day begins with breakfast.  And though on this day breakfast is not eggs Benedict or pan-seared steak with béarnaise sauce, it is a treat, it is low carb, and it provides the necessary fuel to launch me into the excursion that LB has planned for the day.

It is scrambled eggs and sausage

[while he enjoys pancakes]

🥞

The adventure began at the Puerta Maya Cruise Ship terminal in Cozumel Mexico this morning

After which we took a taxi to Chankanaab Beach

🚖where a visit to the Dolphin Discovery would introduce us to a new friend

Marina

She allowed us to pet herto give her kisses

and go for a swim with her.

Marina gave each of us a dolphin propelled boogie board ride across the cove.

LB tried to get her to come home with us

But she had other obligations.

After our visit, as we climbed back up to the boardwalk, I was amazed to see that there was a baby dolphin following close by her side.  Marina’s trainer explained, “Oh that’s just Chico” as if it was no big thing.

🐬

And if that wasn’t enough of an adventure, in a separate area at Chankanaab, LB and I were able to go snorkeling [that’s right people… no makeup] We saw different forms of ocean life and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

🐠

There was more swimming involved than I am used to and I was happy to have a break lounging on the beach.LB enjoyed it just as much, if not more.It was very relaxing

Soon Carmen was standing before me asking if I would like to visit her spa.  She insisted that I allow her to give me a two minute sample of the deep tissue massage that I would receive.  How could I say no?

But alas, there was not enough time for more; LB and I would need to be heading back to the Carnival Paradise.

🛳

Just in time to get dressed up for dinner show off my new jewelsand blow out the candle on a tiny cake after enjoying an international serenade

Thanks to Imade and Richmond.

🎂

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Fall Vacation

Our vacation began innocently enough.  A stop in Dahlonega, Georgia a week after GOLD RUSH DAYS.

We stayed at the Dahlonega Square Hotel and Villaswhich was very nice.

We visited the Dahlonega Gold Museum…And various shops..And enjoyed brunch at Picnic Cafe.

Then afterward headed toward North Carolina for mountain roads and a search for waterfalls.

There is a self imposed challenge to find the most beautiful waterfall in the southeast.  Last year there was the creepy climb to see Rufus Morgan Trailhead.

This year we attempted to have a less creepy encounter.

 LB tried to keep things safe and purchased a waterfall brochure while we were in Georgia to study before venturing onward.

He decided that while on our way to Highlands we would look for the Trahlyta falls in Georgia.  We followed the GPS and took a turn down a road which promptly became a one-lane, unpaved road.I immediately [but silently] don’t like this.

After two miles of hoping no one would be coming in the opposite direction, and a bit of confusion, there was a sign:

A sign?

The road eventually led us to a small parking area where we saw that others had found the same location and were setting out to investigate.

Well if HE did, I probably will too.

I changed into my big girl boots, and we set out to find the falls.

We reached the bottom of the falls and LB felt adventurous, and he took off onto the rocks.He quickly discovered something that looked like it didn’t belong.  It was a walking stick.  My first thought was, “it probably belongs to the people that went down the trail ahead of us”.

LB rescued it anyway.

We continued up and met the couple that hiked up ahead of us.  Sure enough, the man had dropped his brand new walking stick and would likely not have been able to retrieve it alone.  LB happily handed it over to him and the couple gratefully used it to continue their descent.

Shortly thereafter LB and I began our trek down the trail.  As another gentleman came toward us, I had an uneasy feeling and thought “I wish I had a gun stuck in the back of my pants right now”.

We continued past him to the car.

As we were leaving, LB pointed out a sticker on a truck that had parked beside us.

MURDER RIDE?

Anyway… we made it safely to our next destination.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Labor Day Leisure

LB has been longing for a getaway day or two (or more) just to relax.  He’s a hard working man and loves to get in the car and go every chance he gets.  As I’ve mentioned before, I am perfectly content to stay at home.  However since he loves to go, and deserves an opportunity to do so, I’ll tag along.

Our FOUR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND began on the

Friday

before Labor Day.

LB decided we would give Daytona Beach another try, hoping for a little more fun and sun than we had on our last trip.

I took full advantage of my Friday off!!

As soon as we arrived in Daytona we were on the beach.

 

Later that evening I ventured off of my diet and joined LB for dinner at Jerry’s Italian Pizzeria and Tiki Bar.WINGS!I Love Wings!

 

Saturday

was Pool Party Time.

We spent six hours at the pool, listening to the sounds of DJ Drew and a few wanna-be singers entertaining us with their karaoke skills.

Saturday night presented an opportunity to attend a concert at the Daytona Beach Bandshell to enjoy the songs made famous by Elton John.

The sounds of The Rocket Man Show were loud and clear while we enjoyed dinner on the balcony of the Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse.

Although the view of the bandshell stage from our table wasn’t completely clear,the view of the fireworks after the concert was perfect! As we lingered at the restaurant watching the fireworks over the ocean I couldn’t think of anyplace else I’d rather be.

Early

Sunday

morning, we were up and on the beach in time to take advantage of the sunrise.What a wonderful way to start a beautiful day!

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

July ~ Vacation Edition

Today is about one of my favorite events:

VACATION!

TBB ASKS ~ July ~ Vacation Edition

Will you go on a summer vacation this year?

Yes, LB and I take a vacation on or around my Birthday in June.  That vacation is over.  You can read about it here.

Do nothing but relax or a pack it all in vacation?

Both.  I think.  I’m not entirely sure what pack it all in means.

What month do you like to vacation?

I’d like to go on vacation every month, but it typically only happens in June, October, and November.

Cruise: YES or NO?

YES!  I love to cruise!

It would be great if we could take a cruise now, however LB likes to avoid cruising during hurricane season and has recommended a May 2019 alternative!

Favorite Vacation Tradition?

While I thoroughly enjoy visits to the ocean, the autumn trip to see the leaves change is my favorite.  I must be getting old.

Most Memorable Vacation?

The most memorable one was the first.  LB and I went to Asheville and toured the Biltmore Estate while it was decorated in Christmas splendor!  Other memorable vacations were:

The Captiva Island adventure which included a day in the ER.

Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

And all of the cruises.

Pack Light or Pack it ALL?

Although I attempt to pack light, I always pack way too much.  And I’ll still manage to forget something.

Hotel, Condo or House?

Hotel.

My favorite is the Residence Inn.

Favorite Thing(s) to Eat on Vacation?

Each vacation includes a visit to a local Mexican restaurant.  At least once.

Warm or Cold Destination?

Both. I enjoy relaxing on the beach with LB or collecting shells.

However I also enjoy a scary hike in the woods to find a waterfall.  The complete story on that can be read if you click here.

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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