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!

next big trip

My next big trip is in the making. Well actually the trip has been booked and airfare has been purchased. My mom and I are going to Australia AND New Zealand on a cruise! It seems like forever away but it'll be here before I knowing. We will be going over Christmas break. Our flights will be long and as my mom put it "we will be tired when we get there and exhausted when we get home but we will be doing it in style." All but one of our flights throughout our journey are either business or first class. The one that is in coach is only 2.5 hours. I can handle that. I'm so excited!!!!!

Colorado Spring Break 2012

During Spring Break, I went to Colorado with one of my good friends, Angie, and we visited one of my good friends from college, Trixie.  We had a blast!  We went snowshoeing and snow tubing.  I still haven't gotten up the courage to attempt snowboarding again or try to learn to ski.  One day though I will.

Our Monday started with an afternoon flight to Denver.  It was perfect because we didn't have to be up super early and we could finish running errands if we needed to, which I needed to because I spent my Sunday sick on the couch (blame it on dirty 5 year olds that have their hands in their mouth all day long even when told to remove them from their mouth because they are spreading germs).  We landed and Trixie was there to get us.  We went home and picked up her husband Ryan and also got a tour of their very cute little house.  I love it!  They have spent some time remodeling and they have done a wonderful job of making it a perfect home for the two of them.  I love that they were so gracious to let us stay there with them even though they have very little space for guests.  They blew up the air mattress and gathered all the extra pillows they could for us :)

That night we went to the Cherry Cricket.  I think that was what it was called.  It was a neat little burger place that I highly recommend.  It was delicious but if you get the fries, one order is enough for at least 2 people.  I had a ton left over.  They did card everyone that went in so I didn't take offense when they asked for my ID.  I know that one day I will be so grateful that I look very young for my age, but now, I wish I looked somewhat close to my age.

Tuesday morning we got up somewhat early....well about 7:30am.  We got ready and got all of our snow gear and headed out.  We first made a stop by a fabulous Denver breakfast hot spot.  It was called Snooze. There are a few in the area.  I had this french toast that was to die for!  It had this gooey maple nutty goodness on top.  It was so good that Angie and I ended up going back on Thursday before our day in Denver.  So after breakfast we headed for the mountains.  Trixie took us to a beautiful location near Copper Mountain called Clinton Gulch.  I don't know if that is the given name for the place or the name they made up but it was beautiful.  The snow was just like I remembered.  We put on our show shoes and headed out.  Snow shoeing is not for the out of shape.  Yes, I am out of shape and yes I managed just fine but it was tough, especially when I fell in the snow and tried to put my hand down to get up and would just sink again.  Or how about when my snowshoe came off and I couldn't stand.  I had a few difficulties.  We kept trekking until we got to a small little hill.  That's where we decided to stop for lunch.  We packed lunches...correction!  Trixie packed our lunches.  She made a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich :)  We sat and enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us.  It was so peaceful!  We eventually headed back down and to the car.  By the time we got back to Trixie's it was time to sit and relax a bit before enjoying some delicious dinner.  I would like to mention that I picked up a new recipe while I was there.  It is a super easy crock pot meal that I have already made once and I foresee making again in the future because it was #1 easy and #2 delicious!  We were wiped out that night.

The next day we were on our own.  Trixie had to work so she had one of her friends come pick us up so we could be at the rental car place at 9am.  We got there and had the choice of a Versa or a Chrysler.  I don't know cars so I didn't care.  We decided that it would be best if Angie drove and I navigated because she doesn't read maps too well.  I'm a map reader by nature so I had no problem figuring our way around especially with the trusty iPhone.  The only problem is I should have remembered to bring my car charger. Anyways, that day we headed off to Keystone.  I have been there before but to snowboard and I have horrible memories from that so I try to forget about them.  We didn't make tubing reservations until we got there because we weren't really sure when we were going to get there but it worked out fine.  We had to wait maybe an hour.  It wasn't a bad wait and it definitely allowed for some fun people watching.  So tubing was a lot of fun!  We had an hour to tube and it was a perfect amount of time.  It actually got hot up there tubing.  You could do single runs or doubles or up to four people but obviously we kept it at 2 people since it was just us.  When we were done there we headed over to Breckenridge.  I'm pretty sure the place was over populated with Texans.  They flock to that place apparently.  It's a cute little town with lots of little shops that I loved.  We were there for maybe an hour or so.  Half of our time we spent in line at a little crepe hut.  The guys had to have been making a killing on their crepes.  The line was forever long and we waited.  They were absolutely wonderful and had us googling crepe places in Denver the next day.  So after our walk around town we were ready for our non-trafficky ride home.  It was a nice drive followed by a quick fast food dinner and a nice quiet rest at home.

The next day was our last day.  We spent the day at Snooze, REI, and 16th Street Mall.....all lovely places. We made our way back to the airport early and got to people watch and such.  We had exit row seats on the way home and thankfully didn't have to step up and do anything.  FYI, if you ever fly with a cold, BEWARE.  Apparently you aren't supposed to.  My ear got extremely stopped up on our descent down and I was in a lot of pain.  It has just recently been relieved of all the pressure and I think my hearing is back to normal.

Overall, the trip was a lot of fun and great practice navigating for Amazing Race one day :)  I even used a copy of a paper map to get us around at one point.  It was perfect practice because I'm pretty sure they don't allow iPhones on Amazing Race!

I can't wait for some more beautiful Colorado time.....and of course fun times with Trixie.  She is one of the best hostesses our there that I know.  Oh and I can't forget her husband Ryan and their dog Nigel!

start of the bucket list: updated

Ok so a time or two I have referred to my "bucket list" but have yet to post that list. Therefore I thought now would be the time to post those things that were on my travel section of my bucket list. Being the organized person that I am, did you think I had just one long list??? Of course not....I've got different sections. So here goes my travel bucket list.

1. Go on an African safari
2. Go to Niagara Falls
3. Walk on a glacier
4. Travel through the Panama Canal
5. Visit the Amazon Rainforest
6. See Mt. Ranier up close and not just from the plane
7. Cruise to Antarctica
8. Tour Machu Picchu
9. Go to a concentration camp in Europe
10. See The Gateway Arch
11. Travel to the Four Corners Region and take a picture of course
12. Visit wineries in Napa Valley
13. See Mount Rushmore
14. Take a cross country road trip stopping whenever I feel the need.
15. See the Northern Lights
16. NYE in Times Square.
17. Go to the super bowl for the experience. It would be a plus if I liked one of the teams playing.
18. Be part of a flash mob.
19. Go to baseball spring training in Arizona.
20. Cage swimming with great white sharks.
21. See the start of the Iditarod.
21. Apply for reality tv. (Anyone want to apply for the amazing race with me?)

This is just the start. I'm hoping to get started on these ASAP. Some will take more disciplined saving that others but I'm not planning in sitting back and doing nothing.

***If you have any helpful tips on any of these, please share :)