Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts

sights to see...once you see sasquatch

While we were visiting Matt's grandparents in North Carolina, we got to visit a few sites that are worth checking out if you're ever in the area.

First up, get your grub on at the Dillard House in GA. It was only about a 40 minute drive...all mountain roads until you hit GA, so pass the dramamine please!


Family style eating, all southern comfort foods!
food...

more food & they refill said food

our attempt at a group shot...you either get the background scenery...

or us. take your pick.
Somehow we all were able to fit back in the car when we were done eating...after packing up a ridiculous amount of the food to take home of course.

So we headed to our next stop: Bridal Vehl Falls
grandma's sporty ride
So at these particular falls, you drive right under the fall & enjoy. Not thrilling by any means, but makes for a great picture!

Last stop: Dry Falls...but don't be misled, they are not dry at all
 After walking down a copious amount of uneven steps...

 we were able to walk around & under the waterfall.


sasquatch?

Matt & I under the fall....from a distance...


We eventually ventured back to the cabin to safely deliver the leftovers.
that's a whole lotta styrofoam

our sweet waitress labelled our sand for us, not to be confused with the blackberry cobbler that was served for dessert

Matty & I were going to enjoy a peaceful time, swinging on the bench on the porch....but look who found cell service...
not fair. but look, i can take self portraits to amuse myself

why can't i get cell service? we have the same flippin' carrier!
i should really look into botox. good grief. 

ohh, cute shoes!

get.off.the.phone.
look no cavities, ma!

okay, you can be in my shoe picture...but that doesn't mean i endorse wearing Sperry's with socks

fashion in the mountains

I packed as little as possible since I had to share luggage with Matteo...since Delta charges for checked bags.

I only had to bring "normal" outfits for 2 days, the rest was lounge wear. Only 2 pairs of shoes, my sneakers & my comfy TOM's. Now that's a vacation!

Day #1: lounging, trailage, & enjoying the views
Champion C9 top - Target
Capris - VS Pink
Nude Glitter TOMS - Nordstrom

Day #2: checking out the sites, had to dress presentably
Tank - Kohl's
Cami - White House Black Market (amazing investment!)
Jeans - True Religion...everyone should own a pair of skinny jeans
Sweater - Nordstrom Rack
TOM'S shoes...again :)

I don't recommend the nude TOM'S shoes, unless you never plan to walk in dirt, or if you like the dirty nude color. I should have purchased the glitter black or glitter silver.

Day #3: trailage & lounging
Skinny Runner tech shirt
Nike Capri's - another great investment!

This is Matt's attempt at full body, sorry you can't see my running shoes of choice.

Champion C9 top - Target (love these tops!)
Pants - VS Pink (love, love, love their pants)

Day #4: flight home
SR shirt
Tank top - VS Pink...apparently I'm a spokesperson for the Pink line. These tank tops are the best!
True Religion skinny jeans
TOM's shoes

So if you take anything away from this post:
#1 - if you're looking for loungewear, consider Victoria Secret's Pink line - their pants & capris are like heaven for your toosh. Super comfortable. And their tank tops are great - they haven't shrunk & they're long!
#2 - invest in a great cami. I love the White House Black Market ones...the top & bottom are lined with lace. I own ivory & black. 2 great, resourceful color options
#3 - give skinny jeans a chance
#4 - TOM's are comfortable...I don't like all the styles, and sometimes they make me feel frumpy...but I can not argue with the fact that they are comfortable. And they come in glitter options...holler!
#5 - Target has some cute workout tops by Champion...I love the empire waist on the ones I have, & the fact that there is a built in bra. And I have been known to wear them with a cardigan & jeans to work. They're versatile :)

working out in the mountains

Let me just say that I have a new found appreciation & admiration for you trail runners out there. Oh my word. I don't know what on earth I was thinking.

First, I'm not a wilderness girl.
Second, I hate bugs.
Third, I live in flatland Florida
and Fourth, I hate bugs.

Going into this vacay to the mountains I told Matteo that we were going to be doing all these trail runs & that I was so stoked to get out there & get some incline training in. (Since I'm accustomed to high altitudes living in Florida & all.)

Never said I was the brightest crayon in the box.

Well we flew up Wednesday, and since I got a run in at the Atlanta airport, doing a trail run that day was out of the question. Plus, Matt's grandma had mentioned that they spotted a bear in their front yard the evening before...so evening runs were not.an.option.

So Thursday we ventured out for some trailage. (I create words in my spare time.)
this was prior to any roughage...even though i'm looking rough


so this is the trail that the bear used to visit matt's grandparents

my view throughout trailage #1...lol, oh the sights you see!


he pooped out after 40 minutes
We attempted another "trail run" Saturday...this time we took Matt's cousin Parker with us, since he was also visiting their grandparents.

I'm leaving out some information...Matt's grandparent's house is on a mountain in NC. Their house is at 4700' elevation.
their cabin :)
 Their is a trail just up a little ways from their house. So we got geared up with H2O, took a before pic, and set off.

The start of our run was a grassy knoll...
that white area is a house...& also our destination

I don't know what I was thinking. Have I said that? The run down was insane. Haha, I had so much momentum at times that I knew I'd be butt over head rolling down the hill if I didn't slow the heck down. Oh, Matt naturally turned it into a race & took off. And then Parker left me.

My legs were just not cooperating with this downhill run. And then fear set in when I was alone & I got to thinking about the bear.

Alas, I made it to the white area...& reunited with the boys that deserted me.

i found our 2011 christmas tree!
Matt wouldn't let me take it.

We passed a few Christmas tree farms on our climb back up the mountain.

And then we found another path that lead us to this....

that eventually led us to this...

Bliss.

Naturally the boys wanted to go down to the rocks...since we were trespassing I figured I'd keep on the look out for any mountain men, while the boys played in the water fall.



Once they were done trying to be hawaiian tropic models, we ventured back out to the road. The boys were itching to forge their own trail in the woods back up to the house.

I was not.

So Matt had the genius idea of him & Parker attempting to be mountain men & hiking through the roughage, while I stayed on the gravel road.

I channeled Sarah as best as I could...since I was wearing her shirt & all...

and set on.my.own.
the inclines at times were re-donk-u-lous. 40% incline on my treadmill was nothing compared to this.
and there were bugs.

i had 3 cars pass me that were kind enough to leave me a dust present
And then I would hear the trees move & think the bear had spotted me & was coming to eat me. Yeah that got my toosh moving. (And it didn't help that a neighbor of Matt's grandparents drove by & stopped to ask me if I needed a ride. I kindly explained I was trying to beat my husband in a race home. The lady laughed & said "hope you're racing him & not a bear!". Um, thanks?)

Got me moving enough that I beat the boys home.
matt not realizing i was there & taking a picture :)

i win.

and the after shot.
 My legs were so stinking tired afterwards. I honestly felt like I recruited muscles that probably have never been used. My ankles & hips are still super sore.

The incline, terrain, & altitude threw my body for such a loop!

Oh & my ipod didn't work right ~ so none of my mileage was tracked.

we got no wifi, no cell reception & our pets heads keep falling off...

Okay ~ so I may have altered that Dumb & Dumber quote a bit to suit our North Carolina vacation. We landed back in hot FLA a few hours ago.


NC weather: 60 in the morning & never above 70 in the afternoons

My goal was to blog & such up in the mountains, but that was an utter fail. No wifi.

So, expect a few more blog posts about NC. It's a beautiful state if you didn't already know. We did some fun things & I can't wait to share them with you!

To be honest I didn't know how the trip would go since this was all I saw for the first 2 hours of our trip...
"working" = spider solitaire
Matthew had to finish up work things before we jet setted off.

We left Tampa Wednesday afternoon, flew to Hotlanta to catch a puddle jumper up to Asheville.

Here are some fun facts:
#1 TIA has legit free WiFi
#2 Hotlanta has "free WiFi"...said WiFi only lets you go to Atlanta approved sites like the library & museum & university. Not blogger & facebook & Nordstrom. Rude!
#3 if you are catching a connecting flight in Atlanta, chances are good you will land in concourse A or D, and your connecting flight will be 10 minutes after you land in either concourse D or A. At least that's what happened to us. Oh, and the fast people mover tram was SHUT DOWN. Needless to say, I got my run in that day. Atlanta airport ain't got nothing on me.
#4 TSA security checkpoints require you present both your boarding pass AND your ID in order to proceed through....please don't ask the TSA rep if you have to show your ID, since your husband's ID is already out...um?
#5 don't wear an obscene amount of crystals on your top the days you fly....the security body scanners don't respond well to them & it ultimately results in you getting a pat down....not that I learned the hard way or anything.
#6 no matter how many times i've flown over my 27(ish) years of life, 2 things still freak the bejeebers out of me: the opening speech the flight attendants make regarding how to exit if an emergency arises & turbulence. oh & if said flight attendants mess up during their speech & misintruct regarding the exits...but then chuckle & say "oh, don't worry, we'll get this figured out"...it makes it 10 times worse.

Alas though, no matter how many work things Mattpew did, the pat downs, the lack of true FREE WiFi...it was worth it once we reached our destination...


satan reincarnate

Thanks to all you fabulous people that have purchased from the garage sale :)
Hope you enjoy your goods!

I detest packing. Well, I detest packing but UTTERLY detest unpacking.

There, that's better!

For the past day I have been walking past our luggage & randomly dropping in clothing items as I see fit.

yes, the polka dot pants are matt's

It has to get done tonight....because tomorrow we leave for North Carolina! Woohoo!

We're headed up to visit Matt's gramma & grandpa. I'm super stoked to vacay. Since they live on top of a mountain (yes, Will Ferrell they do!), Matt agreed to do some hiking & trail runs with me!

So all you wilderness girls, got any tips for me???

Dexter is headed to stay with gammy & grandpa (my parents) while we're away. He got all handsome at the groomer yesterday so I *attempted* a photo shoot.









Yes, I'm officially diagnosing him with ADHD. Either that or he just hates me. Probably both.