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Waterfalls and Walking Trails

Vacation Day Two

Thursday, October 26th

would turn out to be a day for physical activity.

It wasn’t the plan and I certainly did not dress for the events to come.

Nevertheless

on day two of our fall vacation we awoke to a beautiful, cloudless sky at the Amicalola Falls (State Park) Lodge.

First stop: Breakfast.

As information:  Breakfast at this lodge is unbelievable… but it isn’t complementary.

The buffet has everything on a breakfast menu that anyone could imagine:  Grits, Biscuits, Sausage Gravy, Fried Potato Wedges, and more. What this man wanted most was COFFEE! Starting the day with plenty of coffee and a hearty breakfast turned out to be a good thing.

We left the lodge to check out the park.

There were trout homes to see… apparently.And I was curious to see the little guys. Nothing.

Then on to the top of the falls for a look downward.There are steps leading to the bottom of the falls, but alas, I was without stair climbing shoes…so LB and I drove to the bottom of the falls.

We found that the climb up would not be quite as hard as the climb down would have been.No matter… LB and I wanted to see the falls and started the climb.LB had a tendency to venture off of the beaten pathand I caught it all on camera. If you think he is adventurous here, wait till I tell you what he got us into later in the afternoon.

Amicalola Falls is beautiful!It is well worth the walk to see.So beautiful, in fact, I had to MAKE LB leave to go back to the car. After I convinced him to leave Amicalola Falls State Park, we intended to head toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Being that I was not so much into sitting in the passenger seat for another winding drive, LB had another plan in mind.  He would be taking me to see another waterfall.

He turned onto a shadowy road and this is what I sawAs if the roads in the North Carolina mountains aren’t scary enough for a girl from the flat state of Florida.Two miles of this single lane road.

Luckily we met only one vehicle along the way and everything worked out nicely.  When we arrived at our destination, another couple was leaving.

So… we were the only two people there.Rufus Morgan Trailhead.

Not wanting miss the opportunity to see a beautiful waterfall, we took a chance (against better judgment) and began the trek upward.Now that it is over, I am seriously amazed that I actually did this.  There were no trail markers and barely a trail.  As we started up, the pathway was somewhat clear.  However that minimal clarity soon became obsolete and was replaced by despairing thoughts such as “what am I doing here?” and “what if we can’t find our way back?” and “is that the sound of dueling banjos nearby?”

Then… there it wasOkay… there it is… we made it.

It is truly a lovely little waterfall.

Let’s get out of here.

I’m right behind you.

Go.

Autumn is a Second Spring

…when every leaf is a flower ~ Albert Camus   Every leaf is a flower during autumn, which a one of the reasons many people flock to the mountains in October.  LB and I enjoy taking a trip to see the changing leaves as well.  We have made this an annual tradition and look forward to it each time.  Our trip north begins by heading west for a stop at one of my favorite places.  This year we hit the road on

Wednesday October 25th

…30 minutes later we arrived at

Classy Crossroads Boutique

in Macclenny, Florida.

After just minutes in the store, I spotted this vest and immediately wanted to touch itIt was so soft! And so CUTE!Classy Crossroads specializes in denim and boots (more brands than I can name), but there are so many cute tops,  jackets and vests in the shop. Also very cute, were the handbags by BCBGeneration, Betsey Johnson, HOBO, Steve Madden, and others.  I foresee this navy HOBO handbag in my future… Everyone needs a navy handbag.

I foresee some pretty jewelry as well… You can never have enough earrings.How is that for prophecy!

Some items are marked with “Do Not Open Until XMAS“.

Nevertheless… I’m spoiled.

Thanks LB!

After that shopping experience, we set our GPS destination for Dawsonville, Georgia, with a short stop at Fajita Grill… my Facebook Friends would have noticed my “check in”and anyone who know me (and My LB) knows we’ve gotta have our Mexican food fix! It was late (and our first meal of the day), but we were satisfied with dinner, and ready to finish this first leg of our journey… our first overnight stop…

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge

Not the best first impression picture, but this is what we saw upon arrival.

It was 43° and I was happy that I brought my wool coat.  I would only wear it that one time during the trip, but it was worth bringing along for that moment.

We were safe and sound and so happy to be on

VACATION!

Labor Day Weekend Getaway

For Labor Day Weekend 2017, LB planned a trip to Daytona Beach.  I was supposed to have Friday, September 1st off, but alas, I have NO seniority, and had to report to work that day.  I would have to run home and pack quickly to leave for Daytona on Friday evening.

The great thing about packing for a weekend retreat is that you don’t have to pack too much. HOWEVER, if you’re like me, you want to make sure you pack enough to see you through any scenario that may arise.  The way to effectively compromise is by implementing Strategery… (love George W. Bush)

When LB and I head to our favorite hotel in Daytona, there are a few activities that I keep in mind when pulling together my weekend outfits.  They are:
· Friday night out to dinner· Saturday at the pool party (or basking on the beach if the pool-side karaoke becomes bothersome)

That’s My LB
· Saturday night activity (typically a concert at the Daytona Boardwalk-Bandshell)  on this particular trip it was raining on Saturday night so LB took me to

Caribbean Jacks

for dinner, instead of to the Bandshell concert.

We heard the Dewey Rose Band for the first time.  They were good.

Dinner was great… low carb, of course, Crabby Patties and a salad.

With all that in mind, I like to try to coordinate clothing that is equally fun and practical.  I managed to get it together quickly.

Here is my list

· Swim Suit
· Sandals
· Sun Hat (Hello Sunshine)
· cover-up (YES, I do have one)
· Denim or White Shorts
· White Jeans
· Two or three shirts (similar color palette)
· Cross-body Bag
· Beach Tote
· Sunglasses
· Accessories
· Personal Items

Whether you use my list to pack for a vacation or grab the unfolded laundry and throw it in a suitcase, heed the words of this prudent sage…

“The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in”
~ Paris Hilton

Show and Tell Tuesday

Show and Tell Tuesday

Because I had so much fun with my cell phone show and tell, I thought I would participate in another.  This is the Show and Tell Tuesday Dresser Drawer Edition

meaning, I am sharing the contents of one of my dresser drawers.
This is my dresser

It has been with me since I was 13 years old.  The style works well with my other bedroom furniture, which is part of the Accent’s Français collection by Drexel Heritage.

That’s another story for another day.  The middle drawer is the focus of my attention today.

This middle drawer is chock-full of memorabilia in the form of …

Tee Shirts!

You would be surprised at the memories associated with tee shirts.  Here are just a sample of mine:

This bright green Rethink Possible tee from AT&T is not a shirt I wear often… actually it is not a shirt I wear ever, but I like the color.  Also I have a propensity for Pack Rattery.  Yes, I made up that word.

My navy blue Boston Athletic Association tee is a reminder that I did go to Boston for the BIG Marathon and I did participate in one of the “little” races… the 5k.Thats me.  On the ground.  With the Hare.

From my first trip to Las Vegas:LB and I played the slot machines and the casino awarded us with this lovely never-worn-again Total Rewards tee.  It is kept for sentiment only. Did I mention the Pack Rat condition I suffer from?

Survivor Africa was one of the best Survivor seasons ever and boy was I a big fan! I have a buff too.  Probably in one of those other drawers.

One of my many Florida road race tees… this light blue one from Gate River Run 2008 is my favorite.

Two of my tee shirts

…and possibly three, were confiscated from two of my children.

One of those tees is this Nintendo Rehabilitation Clinic (the first step is admitting you have a problem) tee.At one point in my life I did have an obsession with Nintendo 2, specifically Super Mario World. This is a happy thought for me because it was a time I spent with my kids.  Richard was only 3 years old when I sat him in my lap on the floor, facing the television, and with our hands together on the controller, I taught him to play.  Eventually he was better than I… so I stole his shirt.

The Florida Virtual School shirt belonged to either Stephanie or Amanda. They were my homeschool graduates. When we began our homeschool adventure in 2000, chemistry was on the schedule.  We turned to FVS for assistance with this subject and somehow ended up with this shirt.  I like it, so I kept it.

The bright orange Staff FBC Jax Camp 2008 is probably my favorite as it is the one I wear the most.  In fact, I’m wearing it right now.I may have confiscated this one from Amanda.  It tackles the treadmill with me on a regular basis and occasionally when I engage in work that involves getting messy.  It has been through the washer more than anything else that I own.  I fully expect to see it disintegrate someday.

Part of the reason I like to wear the orange Staff tee is because it doesn’t feel stiff and scratchy.  So I searched for a way to make my other tee shirts feel the same.  Here is what I found:

How to make your tee shirt soft

InStyle calls this “fresh-out-of-the store tees vintage-y soft” and you can find that article here.

Step 1: Create a mix.
To make your tee shirt soft, first create a mix of water and salt, or water and vinegar in a large bucket. For one quart of water, you will need about 1/2 cup of salt or vinegar.  The salt and/or vinegar is supposed to open up the fibers.

Step 2: Soak your tee shirt.
Soak your shirt in the mixture for about seven minutes, (according to the article)

Step 3: Wash and dry as normal.
Next wash your tee shirt as your normally would with detergent.  Then toss it in the dryer, but take it out before it fully dries.  Hang it or lay it flat to finish drying naturally.

Step 4: Try again.
Because hope springs eternal, repeat all the steps that you just completed, since it didn’t work the first time.

 

Jekyll Island

There are so many places to visit in the Southeast and what better way to enjoy the summer than with a weekend trip as near as your own backyard.  This past weekend LB and I had the opportunity to visit Jekyll Island, Georgia. LB and I headed north on Saturday afternoon and reached the island around 5:30. As per usual on the weekends, having skipped lunch, we were ready for dinner.

We enjoyed dinner at

Tortuga Jacks is the land of the beach taco and was our dinner destination of choice.

While enjoying the outdoor seating area, overlooking the ocean

LB and I savored our usual fajitas

and the music of Backbeat BlvdWith the exception of a few bothersome insects buzzing about, the evening was lovely and we had a nice time.“cheese”

Our adventure continued on Sunday afternoon when we visited the new shopping area on Main Street.

Jekyll Island Beach Village

One of the most unique shops we’ve ever come across was the Jekyll Market, a gourmet grocery store. We almost passed it by, thinking it was only a restaurant. The sign says “Eat Drink Shop” and that is exactly why you can spend a couple of hours exploring this store.  In the Jekyll Market, you can find an assortment of things including…

Especially relevant is not the Farmhouse Peachshine, but the Feta Stuffed Olives, .  We love these at my house!

Another shop that we spent time in was Tonya’s

  It is no secret that I love to discover new boutiques.  Tonya’s is part boutique and part gift shop.  In the front of the store there were so many pretty little chachkies and personal items.  Especially intriguing were the Kate Spade accessories

and this cute little plaque

I restrained myself and did Not purchase this for Gina, as I didn’t know if she would like pink.

Once again, we had a lovely weekendStay tuned for our next adventure!

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets

Daytona Beach Weekend Day 3 was ALL ABOUT our visit to the new

Daytona Beach Tanger Outlets

We arrived around noon and wasted no time visiting the shops

First stop was Kirkland’s

Obviously we had a good time at Kirkland’s.

Next stop was a shop that I haven’t experienced called Dress Barn.  The name isn’t all that pretty, but the prices are.  And the staff was very helpful and courteous.  I was especially impressed with the young lady that assisted me.

Now there is something about the word CLEARANCE that screams to me and I am immediately drawn to the back of the store.

And there I go…Cute dress and handbag.  I walked right past them both as the CLEARANCE sign screamed on and those yellow Capris I’ve been looking for… FOUND THEM!Next stop… UM…

Lee Wrangler Vanity Fair Outlet.      I’m still having trouble grouping this trio, but we found some useful items in this shopa handy dandy Nautica Cap.

And… Rainbow Dash and Princess Peppa.  I am a SUCKER for My Little Pony and anything else that Lydia likes!I have Always been an Express Fan.  Every time I walk through the doors of this shop I begin to covet (tears)

After a quick stop to pose with this

Pink Sugar BearWe checked into Old NavyIt used to be that I could walk into an Old Navy store and find something that I thought I had to have right away.  This time LB found something he had to have… Summer Shirts on Sale!  Blue/White striped, Pink, White, and Multi-colored checked Oxford Men’s shirts.  Although I did not go into the crowded dressing room with him, I did eventually see the shirts on him and love how they look.  The deals at Old Navy were great.

And I eventually came across these pretty little shoes marked WAY down.  The shoes at Old Navy are very cute, and even more cute when you find them on sale. (LB practicing with the camera features again)

We spent A LOT of time in Old Navy, then headed to another shop The items in this shop are just as pretty as can be.

Nearly all of the tops in this store are priced at $38 except this oneBy the look on my face you can see that I wasn’t sure about it because it is very poofy, but I bought it anyway because LB said I shouldI would have spent more time in Francesca’s because there were so many pretty things to see, but it was getting late and there was one more stop to makeThere’s that word again

We wound up our shopping adventure at the Daytona Beach Tanger Outlet around 3:30 PMIt was a shop till you drop kind of day!  And I’d spend any day doing the same!

Daytona Beach Weekend

The weekend came early for LB and myself when I was happily able to take half a day off work Friday.  We had originally planned to head to our Daytona Beach destination on Saturday morning, but a last minute decision to add an extra night to this mini-vacation resulted in a drive down on Friday afternoon.  We packed, kissed Elvis goodbye, and headed south.  After only one stop for a Chik-Fil-A diet lemonade, we arrived at the Hampton Inn and began making plans for the evening.

Eventually deciding to stop at Racing’s North Turn, we enjoyed hot wings, salad, and musical entertainment by a group calling themselves “Parallel”

Day 2

Saturday morning began with breakfast at the hotel then picking out a lounge chair by the pool.  The weekly Saturday pool part at Hampton starts at 12:00 with D.J. Drew and his pool party playlist.  The Hampton Inn Daytona Shores Oceanfront is a unique hotel.  The general manager Sandy (shown above in the coral colored dress) has put together a weekly summer pool party including a cookout (all you can eat burgers, hotdogs, chips, and drinks).  At a designated time during the pool party, she has the kitchen and cleaning staff out for introductions and an amusing dance to the song “Hot Hot Hot” by Buster Poindexter.LB and I enjoyed some pool time during our visit.

And he enjoyed trying out the picture taking features on his new phone.

Typically the summer will bring with it afternoon showers.  This Saturday was no exception.  When the wind blew my hat off of my head I decided it was time to pack up and go to the room.But the day was not over.  The summer shower ended and it was time to get ready to go out for the evening.   The Daytona Beach FL Bandshell Live Summer Concert Series hosts tribute bands every Saturday night.  This weekend featured a band called Wholigans.  I probably don’t need to elaborate at this point… just click the link and check out their website.  We enjoyed the show and shared a Mahi-Mahi taco from Sloppy Joe’s, then left the venue to do the unthinkable… walk back to the hotel.

Let me say that again…

WALK back to the hotel

That’s me with my chair in tow, about to complete a 5.5 mile trek back to Hampton Inn.  My take on this:  I have logged MANY miles on the treadmill or through a mall, etc., but walking on the beach is a totally different experience.  My calves are cursing me as I type this post.

The walk back was long, but I’m happy to say we made it.

Along the way we encountered a cookout on the beach (grill and all), a pair of glasses, a cover band, and this sea serpent: someone spent a lot of time on this fella… and I appreciate the effort.  He was pretty cute.

The walk back was moonlit and I am happy to have enjoyed the beautiful night at the ocean shore and conversation with my LB.

He likes to arrange for adventure and fun… and that is typically exactly what we have.

Daytona Beach Weekend Day Three involves shopping and deserves a post all its own.

To Be Continued

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