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Magic Kingdom Monday

Earlier this year, it was decided that the whole extended, seventeen-member family, should take a trip to

Disney World

Where Dreams Come True.

I have to say that it was a wonderful idea and Stephanie did a great job organizing everything for the whole group.

It isn’t easy running the show.

Disney Pixar GIF by Disney

But it went off without a hitch, as everyone made it to the Orlando Fairfield Inn safe and sound on Sunday and later in the evening met at Disney Springs for dinner at Planet Hollywood.

After dinner we explored the shops at Disney Springs.  Zara was my favorite.

Then the Real Fun Began

On Monday, part of our crew woke up extremely early in an effort to beat the crowd to the Magic Kingdom. The rest of us slept awhile longer and made our way to the park later that morning.

We were met by the welcoming committee at the entrance to the park.(Kyle is okay)

Stephanie and Amanda introduced us to the Disney App.

They used it to assemble our family into a Disney group and to choose/amend the group’s FastPass options for various attractions.

We FastPassed our way to the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo, Buzz Lightyear, the PhilharMagic Show, and Space Mountain.

We were also able to use the app to order lunch ahead of time and avoid standing in line at Pinocchio House.  It was pretty handy.

Then there was the carousel ride with Lydia. 

I enjoyed our time chatting on the Carousel. That was my favorite.

I can’t say enough good things about the members of my family. They love to have a good time!

My Mama doesn’t typically spend several hours per day on her feet.  However, she seemed to enjoy herself.  My nephew Clay is a take-charge young man who made the day easier for Mama.

Clay’s wife Chynna and my daughter-in-law Emily, handled their small children with grace, right through the inevitable afternoon cranky time.

LB was able to navigate a Dayquil-dazed Kim through the park, and offer a tissue when necessary. And as I mentioned, Stephanie put the plan into action and kept the group together…making it a memorable day for us all…

Mary, Gina, Stuart, Stephanie, Amanda, Richard, Emily, Lydia, Kyle, Clay, Chynna, Dillon, Sydney, Levi, Thea

and My Favorite Cameraman…

LB

#MemaDoesDisney2017

Happy Birthday GIF by Disney

 

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

Kim

It’s Friday, I’m in Love!

It is time for my Friday Favorites!  I love Fridays and I love to share my favorites on Friday!

Favorite # ONE

Vacation Day #3

which happened on Friday, October 27th!

This wonderful day began with a waterfall.

I Love Waterfalls!

*Waterfalls in this publication and other waterfalls in this blog can be reviewed at RomanticAshville.com (an Insider’s Guide to the NC Mountains).

If you missed my Waterfalls and Walking Trails post, this post may seem uneventful.  Go back and read it, as you have missed a monumental moment in my life and great information should you plan a trip to the Mountains.

We left our Hampton in Franklin, NC and set our GPS for Highlands, NC.

Along the way we found a location that has been named “Bust Your Butt Falls“.  LB pulled over so we could investigate.

I had to change into my boots to be able to make the climb down.  We have enjoyed a lot of physical activity on this vacation. Luckily I didn’t bust anything.  After we had taken multiple photos at this location, we continued our drive to Highlands.  But along the way, there was another… WATERFALL to experience.

We almost passed it by, but at the last minute decided to stop.This waterfall is named Dry Falls

…likely because you can walk behind/under without getting soaked.(A view from under the falls)

Vacation Day #3 was a great day!

What an exciting find for us, as we had never heard of Dry Falls.  Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina (source).  After enjoying the beauty of nature, LB and I headed on toward Highlands. Highlands is a town within the Nantahala National Forest.  LB pointed out an interesting fact, Highlands is 4,118 feet above sea level.  This brings me to

Favorite # TWO

Colonial Mustard’s.It is a gourmet grocery store located at 341 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741.  This is a small shop with A WHOLE LOT of jellies, jams, spreads, dips, etc. that have been set out to sample on pretzels, animal crackers, and wheat thins.  Because there is a sign at the door stating children under 13 are not permitted, the result has been some negative reviews online.  If you spend some time in the shop, this request will make sense. 

The back door provides a place to announce your visit.Check out the bottom of the door. 

At Colonial Mustard’s, LB and I sample almost everything, and pay for it with our purchases.  We have a great time wandering through Colonial Mustard’s.  Even with all the boutiques to peruse, this shop is by far our favorite. 

Favorite # THREE

Frayed hem jeans…

I’ve seen them on Instagram, but found them in Highlands.

First at McCully’s…then at Lulu Bleu

and later online at BooHoo.com.

LOVE Favorite # FOUR

which is having my own personal CameraMan!LB follows me around with that cell phone camera and never fails to impress me with the most interesting photos from each one of our adventures!

Don’t be jealous!

Favorite # FIVE

Our stay at Hampton Inn and Suites, Greenville, South CarolinaA Beautiful Brand New Hotel!

I loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

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

Kim

 

 

 

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!

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