Fall Break 2K14

Last week I went on a much needed vacation.  It was beautiful and relaxing and fun as hell.  But there is nothing to make you feel more like a 30 year old than partying like a 20 year old all week.

By the time I returned my body was screaming for hydration and legumes and by soul was begging for mercy.

But it was all worth it.  

My only minor regret which resulted in a major bruise was slipping into the pool at Nippers.  In my defense, the pool was apparently painted in slime and shaped in a way that had no apparent edges by which to reach the side of the pool.

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But in the defense of the pool I also had more than one rum drink at lunch.  

Let me just tell you, the only thing a girl over a size 6 loves more than wearing a bathing suit in public, is taking dramatic falls into bodies of water in that bathing suit.

Don't worry though, I managed to hold my drink above water and it remained unscathed in the accident.

Now I'm back to life, back to reality, and back to the sweetest little face in the world.  But I'm already excited about my next vacation, whenever that may be.

Boston Here I Come

Guess who's off to Beantown tomorrow? 

 

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Me, silly.

 

Going to Boston, AKA Beantown, makes me want to wear a Beanie.  I think it's because when I was younger I actually did have a beanie, and some hot but mean soccer player guy threw it in a trash can on top of a bunch of baked beans.

 

Those two things have always gone hand in hand to me.

 

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But I digress...

 

Are there any must-sees, gotta-eats, can't-miss-its, life-changing places in Boston that I need to know about?

 

Let me know if you have any suggestions!!!  I am so excited for a vacation.

 

You know who is not that excited, though?  This little diva and her pillow fort.  She doesn't even know what's coming.

 

 

T&C Part 3

In anticipation of Thanksgiving and turkey overload, I'm kind of at a loss for words so far this week.  But not a loss for pictures.  Here are few more scenes from the trip:

 

Express Yourself!

 

Beautiful, huge group of flamingos.  So pink, so funny looking!

 

More fresh seafood.  Excellent presentation.  Sub par seasoning.

 

Just a little scene we stumbled onto...that we totally created

 

Wouldn't that be just adorable in a sun room!?

 

This is my first sushi boat ever.  Usually you have to order a ton of rolls to get one.  Not at Yoshi Sushi.  They also give you iPads for menus.  A little extravagant but I'll take it!

Turks and Caicos - Fishing and More

I mentioned yesterday that we stayed at the Ocean Club Resort at Grace Bay.  It was one of the older resorts and, as we found out later, the furthest most resort from everything else.  It was no big deal because there was a shuttle in to town, but we didn't take advantage of that until the 3rd day.  AKA, the day we couldn't walk anymore.  More on that later.

 

Back to the accommodations:

 

Our room was basically a studio apartment.  It was nice because we were able to buy groceries and save a lot of money on breakfasts and lunches by eating in house.  And I do mean A LOT of money.  A case of beer in this town was $60-$70USD!!!!!  A freaking tuna sandwich was $10.

 

Our room rate was totally reasonable though.  PLUS I got 20% off of our nightly rate by mentioning a Trip Advisor advertisement I saw.  Budget Diva says What?!

 

I also put a deposit for almost half the amount down back in May so when we checked out it was basically like free money.  JK, but it wasn't bad at all.

 

The kitchen.  Where many a condiment-less sandwich was made for lunch.

 

The immediately adjacent bedroom.  Very comfy bed...

I spy some snorkels from the days of my childhood.  Best hand-me-down ever!

 

Conchs are all the rage in the Turks and Caicos.  After I took this picture a guy chased me down and told me I had to pay.  Apparently he was just messing with me, but I got awkward, told him I would pay later, and then
he and Grant had a good laugh at me.  Can't out hustle a hustler.

 

Not pictured was the decorative conch that was in our bedroom.  On the second to last day Grant picked it up to see if he could blow in it and make it bellow.  What he found instead was a big ol' bag of weed and rolling papers.  Bonus!  Just kidding, it was really old and crunchy to the touch.  I bet someone was really bummed when they realized they left that behind, maaaaan.

These are the his and hers aqua socks that our next door neighbors left out to dry each night.  How cute?!

This is the human torture device known as the J.Crew beach backpack that I've had since middle school.  It's OK for walking 10 feet to the beach with a towel in it.  Not so much for walking 5 miles in the sand with 2 towels, 2 snorkels, etc.
Turns out leather straps and woven straw don't feel so good on the bare skin of a sun-burned beach traveller.  Also, could it possibly sit any lower on my body?

This was us before Grant's Birthday dinner.  I had a nice long dress I was going to wear but after an epic 5+ mile walk on the beach in my bathing suit, my thighs filed for separation on account of irreconcilable chaffing.  Thank God for pants.

 

Sometimes Grant and I really play it fast and loose with the term "within walking distance".  What seems so easy to get to on the way there sure doesn't feel ask close on the way back.  Luckily we caught some good snorkeling trails on the way and got a little cardio in!

 

I could seriously barely walk the next few days because the original skin on feet had been exfoliated to the point on non-existence, on account of the multi-mile sand expedition.

 

 

 We ate at a most luscious place called Coco Bistro on Grant's Birthday. The ambiance there is top notch with beautifully lit palm trees and an intimate feeling. Also, Sarah Jessica Parker was once spotted there so you know it's got to be Ab Fab!

Luscious Mojito to start

Conch Ceviche Two Ways - Sweet and Savory

Coconut Curry Bone-In Chicken with Tiger Shrimp and Basmati Rice
I loved how a lot of the dishes on the island had an Indian influence.  I heart Indian Food

 

I am definitely going to start cooking more chicken breasts with the bone in and the skin on because this was the most moist, delicious piece of chicken I have ever tasted.

 

Grant's real present was a day of bonefishing.  We went with Silver Deep charters and I can't recommend them enough.  Our guide was funny, knowledgeable, easy going, and had celebrity stories.  What more could you ask for when stuck out on a boat all day!?  (Apparently Will Smith is a great guy.  John Fox isn't a great fisherman but is a generous uncle.  And Keith Richards really does drink vodka at 8am.

It was overcast and windy as a Mo Fo so we were worried we wouldn't have any luck, but luckily we were wrong.  Grant was also really worried that a coconut was going to fall on his head the whole trip, so maybe we worry too much.

 

Nonetheless we caught fish!  7 bonefish and a mixed bag of other lil' guys.

My first catch was a bit of a bleeder so I pulled a diva card and used a towel.

 

The second one I was brave and went for direct contact.  I had also covered up at this point in a shirt because, despite the cloud cover, I always blister like a peach.  #Whitegirlproblems

Fishing was definitely the highlight of the trip.  Grant caught a bunch but wouldn't let me post pictures of him on DSW, so just imagine the happiest brand new 30 year old in all the land holding a big bonefish, and that's what the real pictures look like.  Silly boys and their privacy!

Turks and Caicos - Day 1

This post is going to be very bittersweet to write, as I sit staring out the window at the cold, pouring rain.  But I'll power through the feelings of seasonal depression to share a few memories.

 

We stayed at the Ocean Club Resort at Grace Bay.  It was perfect for us.  Not too expensive, not too fancy, and not too cheesy. 

 

When I say cheesy I am referring to the "Beaches" by Sandals down the road from us that was blaring what appeared to be Now That's What I call Music! Volume 44 on full blast, while passing around watered down drinks, with 4 million kids running around.  We did walk up to the bar there to see if they would "card" us for ordering a drink.  They did not!  And we got free beers. 

 

Like I always say, the only thing better than food and beer is free food and beer! 

 

This was the view of our hotel/resort from the beach.

 

I matched the umbrellas!

 

After taking this picture we walked to the grocery store via the beach before sunset.  Not a bad way to get to the store.  However...Carrying 20 pounds of (sweet Jesus, holy mother expensive!) wine, beer, and bananas back when darkness has suddenly fallen, your North Carolina appropriate sweater is rejecting the 85 degree local temperature, and your grocery bags rip on the bottom is decidedly less exotic.

 

View of the beach cabana/restaurant at our hotel.

 

Thanks for the tips Wise Woman!  This was spotted at Jimmy's Dive Bar in town.

 

Obligatory tourist quote

 

One of quite a few delicious rum punches!  It packed a punch, indeed.

 

Postcard Shot!
I can't get over these umbrellas.  Turquoise + Pink = Paradise
 

Now I really want to go back.  But I'd also just settle for the sun appearing here in Wilmington.  Which it has not since I've been back!

 

 

Birthday Holiday

I just got back from a trip to the Turks and Caicos where we celebrated Grant's 30th Birthday and had a grand ol' time.  It was sunny, relaxing, and glorious.  I'll do a recap post soon.  Hopefully I can upload all my pictures tonight (AKA Wednesday, AKA my only free night of the week until December 18 because of my real estate class). 

 

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Until then I want to leave you with my favorite quote of the trip:

 

"My version of heaven is a giant Strawberry Daiquiri that I get thrown in to and have to drink my way out of."

 

Followed later by this proclamation, as if he had just discovered the nectar of the gods (as opposed to a high fructose, sugar syrup, faux-fruit blend),

"The Daiquiri is definitely the best drink in the world.  Ever."

 

-The Birthday Boy/The Daiquiri's #1 Fan

Pow Pow Ow Ow

Remember that innocent post from yesterday in which I was jazzed to try skiing and thought it would go well? Those were the good ol' days. I wish I could be that young and innocent again, because all did not go as planned.

Unless of course my plan was to have 2 good runs on the easy slopes, then prematurely agree to go have lunch at an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level, then be forced to make my way down...by ski.

Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm terrified of heights. I thought I was a little scared of skiing, but compared to heights, I want to give skiing a bug hug and a kiss.

Have you ever heard the expression about "talking someone off a ledge"? My ski buddy actually had to do that to me. It took about 20 minutes just for me to stop crying enough to get my skis on after seeing how high I was. Then about an hour more of sobbing and shaking to get me 1/16 of the way down the mountain.

Once I took my skis off and started walking down the mountain to the nearest building, it sure went a lot faster. During this time (btw, if you are like me and are unfamiliar with ski etiquette, apparently walking down a mountain holding your skis is NOT normal), a ski instructor skied by and asked me if everything was ok. I am sure he was expecting a simple head nod and not my answer, in full tears: "Is there any way to get down this mountain without skiing?" After which he directed me towards the nearby building and told me where to call ski patrol.

I don't think I've ever talked on DSW about the time that I was kidnapped and held at gunpoint, but this was far worse then that. I know that's dramatic and saying a lot, and I mean every word of it. I don't want to pretend to know what it feels like to have a heart attack, but if I had to guess, I think I got pretty close. I know that if I did not take matters into my own hands, my heart could not have sustained that heart rate without killing me.

I think my ski buddy thought I was bluffing, but the hell if I didn't walk right down the rest of that slope, walk inside fighting back tears, and ask ski patrol to take me down by any means possible.

Much to my surprise, I was not taken down the mountain on a ski mobile. Rather, I might have been the first actual non-injured person to descend a mountain, being manually towed by a ski instructor, by what we those in the biz call a toboggan.

If there was a word stronger than embarrassing, insert it here____.

Although I got down the mountain at record speed, I did find it very ironic that the solution the ski patrol has for taking scared skiers down the mountain is to ski them on a sled at 80 mph. But I got down nonetheless and that was all that mattered.

In addition to not being able to cross my legs without picking up with my arms today, I also look like I an Asian who got stung by a bee in each of my eyes from crying. Not, as someone asked me, "because Asians cry a lot," but because my eyes were flying at half-mast, at-best for the entire day.

I smartly decided to end my ski career after one day and spent the next day reading Bossypants by Tina Fey (amazing by the way), while the rest of the crew skied all day long. The only thing regrettable about not skiing when everyone else does is that you can't justify carbo-loading at the nearest pizza joint when you haven't burned 1,000 calories skiing all day long. I'm pretty reading books isn't good cardio, no matter how far above sea level you are.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow when my eyes turn back to Causcasian status, my legs don't feel like logs, and the emotional trauma from my ski episode seems like something that happened to a clumsy idiot in a movie...not to myself.

Vacay!!

Hello there!

As you are reading this post, I am in Aspen, CO attempting to snow ski for the first time in about 15 years. I hope it is going better than the list time I tried. Because that was the time that I ran into a ski instruction while uncontrollably flying down a mountain...and also the time that I got promptly banished to the Bunny Slopes.

At that point I just gave up and made ice sculptures by myself all day until my able-bodied friends had had enough skiing for the day.

Oooh, to be an athlete.

I've already decided that if I am terrible at skiing I am going to spend the rest of my vacation trolling for celebs and hottubing it back at the chalet. Sometimes it pays to suck at all physical activities :)

It's also supposed to be anywhere from 6-40 degrees while I'm there. That is funny only because the average winter day in Wilmington has been about 60 degrees this year. The fact that I am leaving hot for cold only shows my passion for vacays and any place where the beer flows like wine.