trip advisor

I just recently started reviewing things on Trip Advisor.  I travel as much as I can and see a lot of different places but I never review the places.  However, when I am looking at a place to stay or something to do, I always read reviews.  So why not give back and help other people out that are looking to stay a certain place or visit somewhere I have been.  So with all my free time this summer, I guess I can do something useful and write some reviews of the many places I have been.

So here is your chance to help me out.  Anyone been to Fredericksburg, TX?  Any recommendations of places to eat, must sees, etc?  We are checking out the wineries and staying at a cute B&B place.  Send your recommendations my way and in the mean time I'll check out Trip Advisor.  Thanks!

texas summer

I'll be staying close to home this summer due to the fact that I'll be going quite a distance at Christmas for a vacation.  This summer I'll remain in Texas.  I'm excited about the trips, BUT not too excited about the potential heat.

Trip #1 is to Austin to see some of my besties!  My college friends are near and dear to my heart.  They are my Golden Girls.  We've been through a lot together and seen each other through the best and the worst of times.  When we get together we never skip a beat.  They are a group of girls that I remember blogging about in my "thankfulness" blogs.  We try to plan a reunion at least once a year.  It didn't quite work out last year.  I saw a few of the girls randomly throughout the year but never all at once.  I'm not sure it will work out this year for all of us to be together.  Anyways, I'm looking forward to some good bonding and fun times to be had in Austin.

Trip #2 is to Fredericksburg with some work friends.  We don't have all the details but it's gonna be a fun trip.  Just think...shopping and wineries and eating.  What more could I ask for?  I'm just hoping that the heat will be a little more gentle than last year.  I cannot handle the brutality.

I might try to sneak another random fun trip in there.  I'm not sure where and if I'll come up with anything, but hopefully I will and it will be fabulous!

finally...my alaska memories

Today is the day I have been waiting for....I waited a while to make and order my Alaska Shutterfly books. The main reason was because my computer used to be terrible. I waited and waited and tried to figure out how I was going to be able to swing buying an iMac. Keep in mind that I have expensive taste and I like getting the best, or the best that I can afford. I knew they I would be getting a tax refund but I knew I needed to wait to see how much I would be getting so that I could see what I could comfortably afford. I wanted to pay off my Canon and then go from there with my refund. I decided to use my refund to pay off my camera with some left over and then open a credit card through Apple to get 1 year no interest. I know Dave Ramsey says don't do credit for things but sometimes that's how I roll. I am very disciplined when it comes to paying things off in the allotted time so I know this won't be a problem. I love my new computer and I'm so glad that I have now crossed over into the Mac world. Moving on.....I realized that I had a code to get a free 20 page photo book from Shutterfly that would be expiring at the beginning of April. I knew that I needed to get the computer fast so I could get to work and make my book. I knew that 20 pages wasn't going to be enough but any amount of free helps when I'm making something like this. I started on the book and new it was just going to be average because of the time I had to make it. I think I started on it one day and did some the next day. Then the next day at school I got an email from a coworker with a code for another free Shutterfly book. I knew I needed to buy two. I always get two of the trips I go on with my mom. She needs a copy too. So the day I got the code, I put the code in my Shutterfly account and went home and quickly finished my book. It took about 4 hours that day but I'm glad I finished it. I put the order in and got free shipping and some other freebies too. The book arrived today and I LOVE IT!!!

Shutterfly is probably my favorite place to make books. It's probably because that is where all my pictures are and it's easy to use. They have added a bunch of new features (well I guess they did last year) that allow you to do lots of "scrapbooking" type stuff. I'm totally not a scrap booker but I'm a technology lover so that makes it easy. My next big book will be after my big Australia/New Zealand trip. It will be here before I know it and I am so excited!!!

the day landree claire was born and tornadoes hit north texas

Let me preface this post by saying that it has nothing to do with traveling. It has nothing to do with any sort of upcoming trip of any type. It however is a major life event that I would like to document. So many people have been anticipating this day for quite some time. Landree isn't technically due for another 3 weeks but the doctors wanted her to be induced today. She has been a stinker from day one and we should have all guessed that some sort of major happening would be taking place today because it is Miss Landree's birthday. Today started like any other day. I always check the weather to see if we will get to have outside recess or not. That's a big deal for an elementary teacher (and the students). Believe me...it's tough having a long day without any time to run around and play...I"m talking about the kids, not me. So anyways, I saw that there was some storms in the forecast but I figured they weren't going to be a big deal. I anticipated that they would hit after dismissal or sometime right before afternoon recess. Sure enough I was partially right. Well, those storms started right before recess. We were lining up for recess and I looked out the end hallway door and knew we would be having inside recess. My students said, "I thought we were going outside." They didn't know it was raining because there was no thunder and the blinds were down and have been all day. So they just know the routine is to go watch 15 minutes of some sort of "movie" when we have inside recess. Well I also happened to get a text from a dear friend telling me to make sure that I let her know if I'm ok when all the mess passes. I had also checked Facebook to get an update on Landree to see if she had entered the world. Sure enough I see NBC updating saying that there were confirmed tornados on the ground. I start to freak out a bit but then quickly compose myself because it has to be nothing that will affect me. Well parents started checking their kids out early. I had about 6 leave early so I just brought my kids back to my classroom because the tornado sirens were starting to go off. That's when the announcement was made that we all needed to have our students get to an interior wall in the classroom. We did just that and the kids started questioning "why" just like 5 and 6 year olds do. They were so good. I do have to brag on them. Yes they asked questions like "why are we here?" and "why can't we leave?" Some of them were afraid that no one was going to pick them up. I assured them that someone would pick them up. The art teacher came in our room to and was with us so I had another adult. We were on tornado lockdown for about 45 minutes before they let kids leave. In the meantime, there were parents filling the library and teachers lounge. They did allow parents to come be with their child if they felt it necessary. Thankfully we just had 2 parents join us. All in all I would say that it went as well as it could have gone for a "tornado drill" or what they thought was another drill. They were very very ancy but what can you expect when you request children to be still and silent for 45 minutes. I got word when I got home that Landree had entered the world and she is just as beautiful as we all knew she would be. She is lucky to have such a wonderful family that will love and cherish her with their everything. I can't wait to see what big sister AB says. Of all the days to be born, we should have guessed that it would be the day that multiple tornadoes touched down throughout North Texas. Let's just hope she is far from the tornadoes that took place this afternoon and she is the calm after the storm. I can't wait to take some newborn pictures of that sweet girl!

Here is a picture taken 10 miles from Forney where I few of my friends live and teach.  Scary!!!  I would have completely lost it if I saw this....I don't do storms and I certainly don't do tornadoes!