-

Los Angeles, California (July 16-19)

2009-08-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

At the game

Me and my girls (minus Amy Claire… we missed her tons) headed to Los Angeles, Cali to see our best friend Sara. As I have said before, we always do a girls’ trip at least once a year, so since Sara was living in LA, we decided to make this trip our trip of the year. Sara’s husband plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Several months ago when she called us all with the news that he had gotten “moved up” from double-A to the majors, we were ecstatic!!! This was great news for Sara and Brent, and we immediately started looking for dates to visit. When a date was picked and set, Ginger, Tracy, and I got ready to go see our friend in one of the best cities in the country!

Kodak Theatre

Ginger and Tracy flew together, but since I have a job and they don’t, I flew by myself (Haha… just kidding about the job thing. I like to joke with them about this because Tracy is a teacher, which means summers off, and Ginger is a nurse, which means she works like 3 days a week, and I on the other hand work a full 5 days a week year round… Hoochies!!!) As I started down the escalator to baggage claim I saw six feet – all wearing fabulous shoes, and I knew those were the feet of my girls! As soon as I got down far enough to see their faces, I screamed and started waving. I scared everyone on the escalator, but could not help myself. We were reunited once again! It always felt like this… it was the best feeling to see the people who were practically my family for four solid years.

Brent pitching!!!

We were only staying three nights, so we had a lot to see and do in that time. Right after leaving the airport, we headed straight to Dodger Stadium, bought us some cute Dodger gear, stocked up on stadium food and cold beer, and headed to our awesome seats. There are a lot of perks Sara and Brent get for being Dodgers, and good seats are just one of them! This was a great game for us to attend because it was Manny Ramirez’s first home game back from his suspension, but the best part of this game was we actually got to see Brent pitch! He came in for an inning, and we screamed and cheered until he was finished. We must have been good luck because he did great! After the game, we waited outside where the players come out – Joe Torre past right by us, and then we saw Manny come out with his entourage (now you know why I felt the need to write my last blog about the show). We also talked with this “ultimate Dodger fan,” who apparently gets to do whatever the hell he wants at Dodger Stadium because he has so much money. He found out we had reservations at Katana, and proceeded to get on the phone and call the owner so we could “get the best seats in the house.” Humm… just another one of those many “money=power” show-offs in LA. Whatever, we got completely hooked up when we went to that restaurant, so I ate it right up. That night we stayed up late catching up with Brent and Sara and got ready for a fun-filled Friday.

The Ivy

We had lunch reservations at The Ivy on Friday– as I have said before, I am not really a celebrity person so I had no idea what this was, but Tracy and Sara (People and US Weekly freaks) knew exactly what it was. Apparently it’s a big celeb spot and the paparazzi are always outside. We had reservations and still had to wait over an hour (hum… maybe THIS is why we saw no celebrities there when we went. If I was a celebrity going to a restaurant where crazy-fans hang out just to try and spot me, it would be the last place I would eat). The food was great though, and we had a patio seat so we got to sink in the perfect-LA weather. Our cocktails cost about $20 a piece, but after drinking it, I knew why… I was near being lit on a Friday afternoon. After that, we walked around Hollywood Blvd touching handprints and looking at the famous sidewalk stars.
Doin' It and Doin' It and Doin' it well!

Friday night was a blast. We got all dressed up for the game because the wives had a suite just for them this night and we had dinner reservations at Katana afterward. The view from the suite was spectacular, and what do you know… LL Cool J was in the suite next to ours! We had a girl who works for the Dodgers go over and ask him if we could come meet him in his suite. He was overly gracious, and invited us right in. We introduced ourselves, shaking his soft hands (which by the way, made mine feel like sandpaper) and chatted with him for a quick minute. He acted like he wouldn’t have cared if we posted ourselves up there for the night, but we didn’t overstay our welcome! Katana was a whole other experience. It’s a very swanky restaurant with long-legged model looking hostesses who are very quick to tell you shoo you away with a “sorry, we are full for the next week” response. But, the owner treated us like we were Vince, Turtle, Drama, and E coming to eat his sushi for the first time. We got a great patio seat and he insisted on giving us complimentary appetizers and a desert. The food was great, and if I am ever in LA I would love to go back. Although, I’m not so sure I would be remembered enough by the owner to even get a seat in that place, and I’m sure Gisele at the reservation table would love to tell me I wasn’t good enough to eat there.
In "The Hills"

Saturday was our last full day in Tinsletown. We really just relaxed and took it easy this day, eating well and being tourists. We headed back to Hollywood Blvd. and ate at one of my favorites for lunch, Shabu Shabu. This was only my third time in LA, but since I was introduced to this place the first time I was in LA, I have always gone back! After lunch, we did what we do best and continued to eat. If you pass a Cold Stone Creamery, you have to go in there, so as full as we were, we made it a point to get some ice cream. We did some more walking around Hollywood Blvd and Kodak Theatre. Then we went to the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Guinness Book of World Records museum – very touristy of us. That night, we had dinner at a great Italian restaurant and went to a trendy bar down the street. When we realized the tables were all reserved, and we would have nowhere to sit, we left. Three minutes later, the manager was chasing us down the street and tells us he would give us one of those tables. We were confused – wondering why this guy cared if we went into his bar in the first place, but took him up on his offer. The quote of the night: “Wow, we didn’t even have to pull the Dodger card on this one!” haha! We got in, bought a bottle of champagne and enjoyed our last night together. With a 6 a.m. flight ahead of us, we took it in pretty early!

The last night when we weren't "pulling the Dodger Card!"

"Entourage"

2009-08-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shows these days is “Entourage”… I absolutely love it! It’s funny because it’s one of those shows that you completely convince yourself that those people actually exist, and then when you see a movie come out with one of the actors from that show in it, it kind of bothers you. It’s like the latest movie with Jeremy Piven in it that I keep seeing commercials of. I always think, “WTF… that guy is ARI GOLD, not some used car liquidator!!!”

I have also decided the guys in that show are probably not even close to being as cool as their characters in real life, so it’s good to think they actually are those people. I even have done the whole “Sex and the City” girl thing we have all done where we try and figure out which character we are. Well, since I am a GIRL and can’t be one of the super-awesome guys, I have totally picked out which of the guys my boyfriend is. Eric Murphy… Hands down. It almost makes me laugh when I watch the show because that character is very similar to Tres. Funny too because he’s my favorite character on the show!!!

With all of that said, I will go into my LA blog. I recently took a trip there with my best friends and had an absolute blast there. The difference in that trip and the other ones I have taken to LA is I was actually around people this time with the kind of dough those people have on that show. People who drive Maseratis, people who can get into certain bars because of who they are, people who throw around “names” as if they are the most important person in the city. It was quite an interesting experience, and a frustrating one. The money in that city is serious enough to piss any normal person off… there is so much of it, it’s sick. So, the point of this “Entourage” opening is that I watched the show before I left for LA, and I got there and saw exactly what I see on TV every Sunday night… minus the five coolest men on television.

Washington DC (May 28-31)

2009-07-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

The beautiful Capitol
Tres and I in front of our favorite President's home... grrr!

After weeks that consisted of Ginger’s wedding, Memphis in May festivities with friends in town, and a trip to Knoxville, it had been a month since we had been anywhere unfamiliar, so Tres and I were ready for a family vacation! Tres had been to DC before for work but never experienced the city as a tourist, and I had never been there, so we were both in for a treat! We were meeting my family there (Mom, my brother, my Nenne, and her husband Jesse). We got on a plane after work on Thursday and they headed up by car Thursday morning. Once we all made it to the hotel that night, Tres and I took my brother out on the town. We hung out at the hotel bar for drinks and appetizers and then walked to a little pub down the street. It was kind of a late night that night - especially to have my brother out and about!
My family is so much fun!
Mom and Me in front of Hernando DeSoto painting in the Capitol

The next day, mom (Miss Organizer), had an excursion itinerary ready for us. We started the day by taking a tour of The Capitol – what a phenomenal, significant building… to think that something that beautiful has been standing for hundreds of years with the biggest decisions of our country being made inside – there are no words for that! We then headed to Arlington Cemetery. There, we saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the JFK grave site - the Eternal Flame, and Robert E. Lee’s house! After that, we went to the famous, Ben’s Chili Bowl for lunch – it was everything I ever heard it was… yummy! Our third venture was the Washington Monument where we took an elevator to the top for the complete Washington DC view. Again, my height issue did not permit me to completely take in the city, but I saw enough to make me happy! Our final destination was a nighttime tour. This was one of the best parts of the trip because we got to see all of DC lit up at night! My favorite part was the Lincoln Memorial – what a sight to see… he was such an influential person on our country and the memorial shows him as this gigantic figure because that’s exactly what he was to the United States!
Day two was a trip to Mount Vernon aka the home for George Washington. I fell in love with this place, and it’s now my official favorite of DC. It was a palace… a palace for the very first famous, significant person in our country! The house and land of George Washington was so beautiful, it was hard to believe he actually lived there in the late 1700’s! We toured the interior of the house, and when we got to George’s room and saw the bed that he died in, Tres and I just stood there and stared in amazement - GEORGE WASHINGTON REALLY DIED ON THAT BED we were looking at. We held up the line long enough, but I could have stood and stared at the bed all day… it was just so bizarre! Seeing him and Martha’s grave site was also hard to take in… to think the bones of the REAL George Washington and his wife were in those caskets was insane! I mean, you learn about George Washington your entire life, you hold him in your hand at least once a day when you pay for something, but all the while, it’s hard to believe he was actually a REAL person. It’s almost like he was a fictional character from a book, but after seeing his house and his grave, you realize he was a living, breathing person, just like the rest of us, and if it wasn’t for him, our country would not even exist! He is simply astonishing!
After Mount Vernon, and getting lost on the way home from Mt. V, me, Tres, and Brother headed to the Smithsonian’s to take in as much as we could in the two hours we had left until they closed. We went in the American History one first – I only cared to see the beloved Dorothy Gale original Ruby Red Slippers, so that’s why I agreed to American History. Seeing these shoes was a dream come true for a girl who once THOUGHT she was Dorothy. Yes when I was a young girl, I had a blue dress, basket, and used my Pound Puppies as “Toto” while I skipped around my house singing all the songs. My Nenne told me she looked everywhere for me Rudy slippers but could never find any, so I had to settle for black ones. Not to mention, I watched this movie at least twice a day and even wore out a VHS tape to where my parents had to buy a new one… that’s what I hear anyways! No wonder I have an obsession with shoes to this day! I blame The Wizard of Oz for every woman out there with a shoe obsession!

The home of the famous George and Martha Washington
Me and Nenne at our favorite place!

That night, we had a great dinner, saw the back-end of the White House, and went home and went to bed. I woke up with tired, sore feet, wondering how I could make it another day. The family headed home, and Tres and I headed out for another journey of DC. Our first stop was the White House where we got exceptional views. Despite of who lives there at this moment in time, I still think this is the most beautiful building in DC! Smithsonian’s were our focus, since we saw little of them the day before. We briefly went through the Natural Science and the Air and Space museums and even took a little tour of the Botanical Gardens. We had a flight to catch late that afternoon, so we finished up our DC experience quickly. I learned a lot of history on this trip that I never knew before, and because of that, I hope to come back soon! We enjoyed the time spent with my family – they are always a hoot to be around! Next time we head to DC, we plan to see what we missed on this last trip: Ford’s Theater and the Holocaust Museum are at the top of the list!

Destin, Florida (a week and a half later; April 16-19)

2009-07-15T15:30:00.001-07:00

The entire Bacheloretter Party!

Yes, I went BACK to Destin! I just couldn’t get enough! No really, we decided months before my first trip to Destin that this weekend was going to be Ginger’s Bachelorette weekend in Destin… Going to the beach twice in two weeks never hurt anyone! This weekend was going to be different though… I was going to be with ALL MY GIRLS!

I love this one of me and Sara!

Maid of Honor and Bride
We drove (ugh… not a fan of driving this far), and when we got there we were pleasantly surprised at the condo we were staying in! We lucked up because this friend of mine, Scott, has a condo in Destin, and he totally let us borrow it FOR FREE for the weekend! It was so nice – with just enough room for us nine gals staying there. Day one was the highlight of the trip. We got up early to shop for booze and some snacks before heading to the beach. Amy Claire and I got in a fight (as usual), but got over it 30 minutes later (as usual). Haha. We loaded up on drinks and then headed to the beach! Our day was spent drink Bud Light Limes, Coronas, and Sweet Tarts, and scorching in the sun, talking and gossiping about anything and everything we could think of. That night, we had a Fiesta-Lingerie party for Ginger where she got her necessary honeymoon gear and we drank margaritas and had Mexican bites. We ate dinner at AJ’s and had the typical bachelorette night (minus the penises and condoms… why? Please tell me why girls feel it’s necessary to get decked out in disgusting plastic forms of the male genitalia?). Typical bachelorette night meaning all acting like crazed-college kids and getting home at 5 in the morning with a few lost items and vomit victims… I will leave it at that!

Bridesmaids with the Hot Mama Bride!

Out at AJ's!

The next day was Hell on earth for everyone. Everyone was tired, to-the-max hung over, and had no intentions of getting out of bed unless it meant running to the toilet. I actually felt fine and was getting pissed off that no one wanted to join me on the beach for an icy cold beverage! Luckily, a few girls perked up by noon and we were back at it again. The second day was not a pretty as the first and eventually, we all went in after about four hours. We (slowly) got ready to go out that night with a few girls still struggling (and surprisingly still vomiting… I don’t understand these day long hang overs but whatever – I love them no less). We headed to The Red Bar, which is actually like a 35 minute drive but totally worth it for the food and music. We had a fantastic meal, and afterward, four out of the nine gave going out a try while the others headed home. We didn’t last long – imagining the eight-hour drive we had ahead of us the next day. All in all – the trip was a great one… thanks to the first night, but everything after that was just downright downhill!

Destin, Florida (April 2-5)

2009-07-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

The weekend after Palm Springs, I decided at the last minute to go with Tres on another one of his work trips, but this time, Athletic Championships put me to work too! Tres and I headed to the airport for Destin and hoped for beautiful weather in the ever-rainy days we had been having in the Southeast. When we got to the airport, the sky turned black and rain hot our car like a tsunami. We gave each other a “this can’t be good look,” and crossed our fingers. When we got inside, people were everywhere, and though I fly a lot it, had been awhile since I had seen this much commotion in an airport. The verdict: NO PLANES WERE LEAVING THR AIRPORT THAT NIGHT! It was terrible, because we had JUST missed the cut-off time. We did everything we could to try and find something, and even considered renting a car and driving, but the weather made it useless. We got moved to a new flight – not for the next morning, but for the next AFTERNOON! I was so frustrated. It was hard to understand why they couldn’t immediately get us on a plane the next day. Tres explained that since so many planes were backed up, they had to deal with all those people too, and we had to wait our turn (I hate waiting my turn). Finally after about 3-4 hours at the airport talking to incompetent NWA staff, we headed home. We decided that since we should be in Destin at that moment having a pina colada at a beach-side restaurant instead of on our way back home to Downtown Memphis, that we were going to stop at the Happy Mexican and wash back as many margaritas as possible. We did just that, got tired, and went home to sleep.

The next day, the sun was shining and we were getting on a plane to Destin. We finally made it, and for two free vouchers from Northwest Air out of the deal. We decided two free plane tickets were worth the hell we went through the night before. While in Destin, we both worked but we also spent a lot of time having fun with friends. The weather wasn’t great, but we really only had one day on the beach anyway, so it didn’t really matter! We were just happy to be in the company of great friends, eat great seafood, and have that pina colada we had been talking about from day one!

Palm Springs, California (March 26-29)

2009-07-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

I was so excited about this trip, and I still look back at it and am so glad I decided to go with Tres on it! Palm Springs was a work trip for Tres and one of those that I tagged along on. It was an Athletic Championships event, which is the company Tres used to work for with some of his closest friends. Since they were all there, I knew it would be a blast! We got in late on Thursday just in time for dinner with the crew and a walk around the ever-interesting Palm Springs. This small city is something else. If I had to sum it up in words, those words would be: gorgeous, hot, money, and gay. The city is tiny but the sight of it will knock you off your feet – it’s beautiful, and could best be described as a “beach-looking town in the middle of the desert.” Only… there is no beach, but there are lots of Palm trees and more sun than any one person could ever take in – it hardly EVER rains there! A lot of older-aged movie stars vacationed and had homes here – Elvis and Pricilla and Frank Sinatra – just to name a few.

Tres and me mid-air!

Waving!

Tres had to work all weekend, so we set aside Friday for a day of fun and an experience I had wanted to have my whole life – a hot air balloon ride! To take the balloon ride, we had to drive an hour out of the way to Temecula (Wine Valley) California, but every minute of our early-morning was worth it! We had to wake up at like 6:30 to make sure we were in Temecula before 8:00, which is when they start balloon rides. They prefer to do them early in the morning when the wind is just right, and I was not going to argue with what kept our balloon in the air! We got lucky and only had to ride with two people, who both ended up being really cool. They were a couple from California, and what do you know?! The guy ended up prosing to his girlfriend in the air with Tres and I to witness. Poor Tres… as Queen once said, “Pressure pushing down on me… no man asked for.” Haha… just kidding, but the funny thing is when we got back to Palm Springs, all of our friends claimed they had bets we would get engaged on the balloon ride. We were like, “Nope, but the couple with us sure did!”… AWKWARD!

At the Winery!

Back to the balloon ride… it was truly one great experience of a lifetime. I had always wanted to go on one, and I am not really sure why because I am terrified of heights. My favorite movie is the Wizard of Oz though, and if Dorothy got to ride on one, then so was I! Seeing it be blown up was a show in itself… we could not get over how big it was, but actually going on it was even more amazing! We saw miles of beautiful scenery. When we got to the highest point though, I lost it. I didn’t want anyone to know how scared I was, so I kept quiet and closed by eyes, but I was shaking uncontrollably and Tres eventually noticed. So did our balloon pilot, so he made me put my back up against the basket, saying that having something touch you when you are high usually makes you feel more safe. It helped, but the fact that we started getting lower helped a lot more! Once we came down, we toasted our air-journey with champagne and congratulated the newly engaged couple! Tres and I spent the day in the wine country, what our pilot called a “little Napa Valley.” We spent most of the day at Wilson Creek Winery where we did a wine tasting and had lunch. We also discovered the best tasting champagne ever, Almond Champagne. We bought five bottles of it along with some wine and headed back to Palm Springs!

Hanging with friends

The rest of the trip consisted of Tres working all day and me laying out at the pool and taking in the unique city. I went for a few jogs, ate breakfast and lunch by myself, and waited on Tres to get done working. Then at night, we would hang out with all of our friends who were also there for work. I fell in complete love with this area of California. Sun to me equals happiness, so I can’t imagine a depressed person living here! I told Tres it had been awhile since I had completely fell in love with a city I visited, but I honestly think I could live in Palm Springs (well, maybe if it were located in the South :)

Dallas, Texas (February 26-March 2)

2009-07-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

Tres’ and Andrea’s first work trip of the year together! Tres and I both travel a lot for work, but we rarely get to do it together. On occasion, if Tres has a work trip planned and I have nothing to do that weekend, we will usually just buy me a flight and I will tag along and lay out by the pool or something while he works, but most of the time we are both gone on the same weekends in different cities (Did I mention that this year, we did not spend one weekend together in Memphis from the end of December until MAY!!! When summer finally got here, we were more excited about having a weekend in OUR CITY together than the gorgeous weather!)

This case was a different one though… we both had to be in Dallas for the largest all star cheerleading competition in the nation – NCA All Star Nationals, and this turned out to be one of my most memorial and fun times with Tres! Remember how I said Tres and I always end up going out like rockstars BY OURSELVES… well that pretty much sums up this trip. We both decided on this trip we love Dallas. We called it the Southwestern Atlanta, and everyone knows Atlanta is both Tres and my favorite city!

So the first night we hung out with some friends, went to dinner at a great sushi restaurant down from our hotel (which was downtown and across from where JFK got shot), and ended up at this random bar where we indeed stayed until about 3 a.m. when we both had to be up at 7 the next morning. Needless to say, the work day was long, and once it was over, I thought we would both put on our pa-jammies and order room service, but something came over us, and we decided we wanted a nice dinner. The concierge suggested a seafood/steak place, and boy was she dead-on! If I ever go back to Dallas, this will be the first restaurant I visit… I wish I could remember the name, but I am blank (I later remembered... it's called Trulucks... AWESOME)! Dinner and drinks at dinner turned into an exhaustion makeover and by the time we ate our last bite, we were ready for another night of fun. We ended up at Ghost Bar in the W hotel, and I would suggest it to anyone. It’s on the 33rd floor of the skyscraper hotel, where there is a glass floor balcony with gorgeous views of the city… kind of scary for a gal who is terrified of heights, but totally worth checking out! The club is very “Vegas-like” for Dallas with velvet ropes and long lines to get in, a large cover charge, and VIP Bottle service. It’s very stylish and contemporary, which is always what I immediately look for in a place I go to when I am out of town – being from Memphis, we have NOTHING like that, so I am always happy to visit a place like this when in another city. The next day of work was a lot more difficult than the first, so the jammies and room service was a given on the last night. Dallas was a BLAST!

New Orleans, Louisiana (February 13-16)

2009-07-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

Bourbon Street

Any city in the deep South with Red Beans and Rice and Jambalaya as their signature dish is a city I want in my life at least once a year! Tres and I decided to head down this way at the kick-off of Mardi Gras, but Mardi Gras is not the real reason we were going to The Big Easy. Tres mom and dad are both originally from NO, and his grandmother still lives there. Since I had never met her, Tres thought it was time that I did. His grandmother just had her 89th birthday this year and is also a recent survivor of cancer… if that isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is. Any lady that tough, I knew I would love. Tres told me in ways I kind of reminded him of her in a few ways too… especially our love for pictures and “keepsakes.”

Dog parade

He was not joking… she has more pictures on her wall, in albums, in frames – everywhere in her house is decorated with pictures! I love it! What I loved most was the way she greeted us. I did not expect an 89 year old lady to have so much energy and be so upbeat. She showed us all around the house and told us some of the best stories I have ever heard about her and her husband, Tres Grandfather who passed several years back. She really loved him, and with her stories, you can still tell she does. I told Tres I hope we feel that way about each other forever the way they did. The house she still lives in is the house Tres’ dad grew up in… she still has each of her kid’s rooms upstairs exactly how they were when they were kids, and she continuously adds pictures to each room when a recent picture is taken of any of her kids or their kids. Each of their rooms is like a little memoir, and I thought it was just fantastic! Her downstairs hallway is full of pictures from her earlier years. One of the big pictures was of her and her graduating class from “The W,” also known as Mississippi University for Women… she’s a MS gal too – even better!!! One of the coolest pictures was of her husband performing a surgery when he was young. It was like something out of a movie with all of the old doctor tools and the old-time surgery room! That may have been one of the coolest pictures I have ever seen… I told Tres it was worth blowing up and framing for his house! We went to lunch with her and her friend Mo, who informed us that in his day was a professional golfer! When the day was over, I almost didn’t want to leave. I fell in love with Tres’ grandmother, and I can’t wait to see her again!

Hanging with Chip

The rest of the weekend, we hung out with Tres’ friends Chip, James, and Sloan. Tres Uncle Tommy and his kids also met up with us for lunch and a Dog Parade with lots of little babies parading down the street in costumes! We also had one of our “Tres and Andrea Wild Nights” where we went out by ourselves until like 5 in the morning… just Tres and me, alone on Bourbon Street having the best time of our lives! It was a great trip, and I decided I love New Orleans - the culture, the heritage, the food - everything about it is unique, and I can’t wait to go back!

Orlando, Florida( January 15-19 AND January 28-February 2 AND February 4-9 AND March 6-9 AND March 11-16)

2009-07-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

After my interview with Shawn Johnson

Hey Mickey!!!! It’s me again!!! The beginning of January marks the beginning of me never, ever, ever, EVER having a weekend at home. At this point in the year, I just organize my stack of flight itineraries, keep my World Perks number in mind to gain my free miles, and from lack of communication, hope I still have friends when I get back – because this time of year I “travel for business.” Haha… couldn’t you just hear some old man in a suit next to you on a plane saying that!

Tres and me out in Orlando

Orlando is always the prime destination, where I travel 4-6 times in three months, sometimes back to back weekends. While these trips are tedious, they are also a lot of fun. I always anticipate who my roommate is, when I am going to have a chance to run to the awesome malls they have, if I’m going to have time for any of the parks, and what great food I am going to gorge myself with as I swear off my diet that week! I did these exact things five times this year (I got out of the sixth trip due to Ginger’s wedding… like I said before good girlfriends are a blessing).

Hot Springs, Arkansas (January 9-11)

2009-07-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

Nothing like visiting Bill Clinton’s hometown with your girlfriends who despise the old scumbag! Of course, we weren’t there for Bill, and at this point we all decided a Bill is better than ANY Obama, so we took the trip anyway! This was the most excited I had been in a long time. As I have mentioned in my blog before, me and the girls always take a trip together every year, so this year we decided on Hot Springs. Sure, it was different than the usual Mexican cruise we take, but it was driving distance, in everyone’s price range, and it was a chance to relax and catch up on the year’s life-lessons we had learned! The first day, we had facials and pedicures, a Japanse dinner, and we talked and played board games in the condo.

The second day was a little more eventful… we had mineral baths and massages, lunch, and then headed back to the condo around 3:00. About this time, the wine was cracked open, and about 8:00 time, we all began to whine… When you get a group of close girlfriends together who tell each other everything, wine can often lead to WHINE! This was in a good way though, we were all border-line drunk talking about life and where it had lead us. Each one of us talked about our happiness and struggles, and that lead to a lot of tears and laughter. Some more tears than others, but we did the best we could to talk each other through any problems… that’s what we do, and that’s why we are all still so close.

I always knew I had a close group of girlfriends, but after this trip I never realized how rare and special our friendship is. We all love each other dearly and want to continue to be a part of each other’s lives for years to come no matter how near or far we are from each other. Many friends lose touch after college, but I am certain that we will be taking our yearly trips when we are 80 years old!!! I hope for every woman to have a group of girlfriends like this - There’s nothing better!

Knoxville/Atlanta (December 27-January 2)

2009-07-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

I know, I know… these places are my second home, but if I’m going to travel to them, I HAVE to write about them! That’s what a travel blog is for! A few days after Christmas, I got on a plane to meet my love in Knoxville where he had been spending the holidays with his family for the past four days. We spent the next several days hanging out with the Knoxville friends, and then made our way to Atlanta!

When we got to the ATL we did what we do best when we go to Atlanta: shopped! Did I mention this is my favorite city? If Tres and I could move there, we would tomorrow. We both love it and think it’s perfect because it’s in the south, but it’s the BIGGEST city in the south and there is nothing Atlanta doesn’t have. We had a blast there, staying with Tasha and Brandon and meeting everyone out for New Years. Here’s the crazy part: this was my first birthday EVER to share with people! My cousin Paula is a New Year’s baby too but we are never together on the day, and New Years Eve this year, I hung out with TWO MORE NEW YEARS BABIES!!! It was crazy!
That night, we went to a house party at Derek’s, a new friend I met through Tres, Tasha, and Brandon. Then we headed to a bar where we had our own area roped off in the VIP area for just our friends! VIP for a VI Birthday Gal!

New York City, NY (November 21-28)

2009-07-13T17:50:00.001-07:00

READ MY BLOG ON VARSITY.COM FROM THIS TRIP: varsity.com/event/1085/2008_macy's_thanksgiving_day_parade.aspx

I discovered a travel drought from the month of October into November, but all it took was the first work trip of the season to rain that dryness right out! I went to NYC to do what I do best… write! Almost two years ago, I was assigned to write a London Travel Blog for the website I work for, where I followed around cheerleaders who were named All-American on their trip of a lifetime where they met other cheerleaders across the country and to perform in a parade. Now I was headed to New York to do the same the week of Thanksgiving. I was a little bummed about missing my very first Thanksgiving with Tres and his family, but I knew I could make up for it at Christmas.

Me and my favorite store, Burberry!

New York was New York… I had been there before, and I DO like the city, but it’s not my favorite. It was such a let-down the first time I went because I always saw myself as this potential “New-Yorker” and as it turns out, I was just a Southern girl in a big city, which is something I have NO problem with at all. New York City is a rat maze to me… a bunch of mice running around with walls up all around them. More than I could ever handle in everyday life, but something I like a taste of from time to time! We did all your basic New York things while there: Empire State Building, bus tour around the city, Times Square, Broadway show, and my personal favorite, Fifth Avenue. There were two extra-exciting things that happened to me while on this trip.

Me and my idol!

First one: I walked by the New York Public Library oblivious that it was the New York Public Library until finally I envisioned a beautiful girl in a white “creampuff” dress with a bird on her head running down the stairs… if you are any kind of Sex and the City fan, you already know what I am talking about… Carrie and Big’s wedding!!!! And for you mediocre SATC fans, if you think there is a bigger fan than me and my girlfriends, I would like her (or him) to show their face NOW… because I think it may be quite impossible for there to be bigger fans than us!!!!! That show got us through college and we lived and breathed it any chance we got, watching it all together on our sorority hall… not just for hours but for days at a time! And even though we are all grown up, not together anymore, and have our own lives, we STILL text each other funny SATC quotes all the time and let each other know when we are watching it! So when I saw this building, I started calling my friends. I could have cried I was so excited. I immediately ran into the building and took pictures like I was some crazy PTA mom and it was my child’s first school play! The way I was taking pictures of this building was like I was at the prime tourist spot of NYC, but this was no library in my eyes… it was CARRIE AND BIG’S WEDDING venue!

Carrie's wedding venue!

Second one: Before I say this, I want to make it really clear. I AM NOT A CELEBRITY PERSON. I could literally give a darn about them. It really bothers me that people want to read about them, want to be them, want to meet them… I DON’T CARE!!!! They are just people to me who wear clothes that I wish I could… If you ever see me with a People or a US Weekly, I PROMISE it’s only because I am looking at their clothes. I am obsessed with fashion, and to me, they are the only reason I even care about their existence. With that aside, newscasters are a different story. They aren’t exactly celebrities, but they are people I enjoy seeing on a day-to-day basis on TV, and for awhile there, as a Speech Communication major/Broadcast focus, they were my idols. Needless to say, I love them. When we got to parade practice the night before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, all the cheerleaders and dancers had their dances perfect, but there was a little change of plans thrown at the ones in the front center. Why? Well, get ready for this… OUR CHEERLEADERS WERE INTRODUCING MATT AND MEREDITH FROM THE TODAY’S SHOW!!!!! Yes, you heard right! Our cheerleaders were the opening act of the Macy’s Parade, so they got to introduce the hosts, Matt and Meredith! I was over-the-top excited… so excited that I couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving Day to come. When it did, I got in the very front of the performance line and made it my ultimate goal to take as many pictures of Matt and Meredith as possible. They we literally hanging out at the front of the performance group with me!!! It was Matt, Meredith, and ME right there at the Macy’s Parade opening act ! This was the highlight of my trip by far!

Atlanta (November 14-16)

2009-07-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Atlanta again... this time on a plane! We weren’t joking when we said we would never drive there again. I marked my word then, and I mark it now. 30th birthday parties had us becoming travel maniacs, and they had me feeling like a spring chicken! This would be my 3rd 30th birthday party to attend this year, and mine was soon to follow five years down the road! Ah – the joy of being youthful – have I ever mentioned I love having a boyfriend six years older than me? HA!

This trip was for Holly’s 30th and we had it at Tasha’s bar, Five Paces. We had our own little area and it was nice. The next day, the guys had a day in the city while the girls had massages and facials and went shopping. This was a really nice trip with great friends who I am so glad I have been introduced to by Tres!

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (September 13-20)

2009-07-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

This was the Big Daddy trip of the year! Sun, fun, and lots of margaritas topped it off, and luxury, relaxation, and champagne was drank ‘til the last drop! We stayed in Cabo an entire week, visiting two resorts and filling our lives with pure enjoyment! The first several days were spent with friends Tasha and Brandon and some of their crew they brought with them from Atlanta and Nashville, and once they headed home, Tres and I headed to ME Cabo resort.

Group of friends on the trip with us!

Day 1 - The first night we went on a boat cruise where we saw the famous rock of Cabo and had a spectacular dinner at a fancy steak and seafood place… that was just the beginning to great food and fun. Tres and I took it upon ourselves to go out every single night to clubs such as Squid Row and Cabo Wabo, Sammy Hagar’s famous bar. That’s the funny thing about me and Tres and what makes our relationship even more special and fun. It can just be me and him in any given situation and we entertain the hell out of each other and have so much fun. Seriously, most couples would pack it up and go home at midnight when all of their friends with them “called it a night.” Tres and I go out (just the two of us) and we have as much fun as groups of 10 I see. It’s hilarious, and I love it!

The first resort we stayed in

Day 2 - The second day we had fun at the pool with lots of “dirty monkeys,” as they call these tasty banana drinks they serve south of the border. We went parasailing with Tasha and Brandon on this day, and what we thought was going to be a blast turned into something neither of us would ever do again. Tres and I both learned that we have terrible motion sickness – on boats and in the air. And I am of course afraid of heights, so I have no idea why I thought parasailing would be a good idea, but I did it and was sorry after. We both felt so bad afterwards we held back our vomit and went inside for a nap. We went to a great dinner again this night, and when everyone else headed in, we caught a cab to our new favorite bar: Cabo Wabo. As we were out this night, we looked around and started to wonder why we were the only Americans out. Luckily, we ran into our hotel concerige who informed us that it was Mexican Indepenance Day and he “had to be at work in 4 hours.” (We later in the week made good friends with this guy and called on HIM AND ONLY HIM if we needed anything at our hotel. Haha.) So, Tres and I were out with the best of them celebrating the exact way we would if we were in America on the 4th of July!

Day 3 and 4 - Fast-forwarding the week (since we were there 6 full days)… Tasha, Brandon, and the crew left three days after we got to Cabo, so after that, Tres and I were on our own. We stayed at The Rui Palace one more full day. Since we had hung out at the pool for the past three days, we decided to rent a scooter and go out into the town of Cabo exploring, and boy did we discover some things! We visited several little bars (even the smallest bar in the world), did some souvenier shopping all over the little city, and then we got brave and went into the “deep heart” of Cabo San Lucas. You know… the place where people actually LIVE in the city, not vacation. It was interesting to see the lifestyle of people there. We past a beautiful church, interesting shops, and we even rode up on a Chiuaua! We thought this was HALARIOUS, so we had to take a picture of the little guy. I mean a Chiuaua in Mexico, who would have thought?! Yo Quiero Taco Bell!!!!! J This night we had dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant in the city. It was yummy and just what I needed on a vacay to Mexico.

Day 5 and 6 - The next day, we packed up our room and said goodbye to The Rui, making our way to our new hotel: ME Cabo!!! This hotel was… WOW! It was very swanky and modern, and it was no surprise that this is the place where several celebrities stay when they come to Cabo! This is the place where Heidi and Spencer from The Hills had their supposed 1st wedding, when they actually never got married in the first place (but that’s a totally different story), and where Bret Michaels took his final two dates in Cancun, and where the new Real World is held this season in Cancun! Anyway, this place was very “Tres and Andrea-like,” so we were content. Greeted with champagne and later pina coladas, we made our way up to one of the coolest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in! Only pictures can describe our view and how magnificent the room was, which is why I have included a few.

Our room!

View from our balcony!

Pool!

While at Me Cabo we hung out at “Nikki Beach,” the hip and upcoming beach in Cabo, layed out at the pool under great canopies, ate a very nice dinner at our hotel restaurant, and went to Passion Club, a famous hotel night club in Cabo that was actually connected to our hotel! Most importantly when we were at ME Cabo, we did not leave the resort once! There was no need to… we had everything we needed there and it was so relaxing. Not to mention, another night with Sammy Hagar… we were not up for! All in all, we loved our trip to Cabo and would most definitely go back, but next time we will stay at ME Cabo the whole time!

Atlanta (August 29-30)

2009-07-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

We love Atlanta, and since last year, I think we have been there about three times. This time in particular was for a wedding: Corey and Kara… a really fun and pleasant couple to be around. Tres went to Graduate school with Corey (and Court… Corey’s twin brother). We actually got a dose of Corey and Kara when we were in Charleston, so I knew a fun wedding was expected from these two… and we ALL know how I LOVE fun weddings! It was a double-fun weekend because not only did we get to hang out with Corey and Kara, but we also stayed with good friends, Tasha and Brandon, who live in Atlanta. Overall, the weekend was great but I learned two things on this trip: 1) Two wrongs don’t make a right. No, I am not talking about the couple getting married – they are great. I am talking about the consistency of mine and Tres’ tardiness to events. I never thought I could meet someone who could possibly run later than I do! But then I met Tres, and might I just say, we are soul mates down to the possible worst tendency on the planet: not being on time to ANYTHING! I, on one hand, am usually only late to simple things like meeting a friend for dinner, trying to catch the 7:00 movie, etc. Tres, on the other hand refuses to even be on time to important events. In this case, it was Kara and Corey’s wedding. I think I contributed a bit to the lateness, but I am ashamed to say that Tres and I most definitely walked in not as the bride got to the altar, not as “you may kiss the bride” was said, but indeed when the entire ceremony was over and the reception had begun! The worst part? We pretended we were there! After running into the first friend at the reception, Tres was asked, “How did you like the ceremony?” He replied with, “Oh it was great!” Terrible, terrible! I would say we have been on time to everything since, but that would just make me even more a liar than before! And lesson learned number 2) Never drive from Memphis to Atlanta. Tres and I made a pact after the horrendous traffic full of rednecks on the way to Auburn vs. Mystery Team that we would fly to Atlanta from now on! And so far, we have!

Knoxville, TN (July 25-27)

2009-07-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

We have definitely visited Knoxville more than a handful of times since this trip but this one was a little more special than the rest. Tres great friends, Mike and Holly were throwing him a birthday party. This wasn’t just any ole birthday party either – it took place on a houseboat in the middle of a gorgeous lake in East Tennessee. There is no need to even go into detail with this party because I have the pictures to prove how much fun it was. Take a look… Just from a glance of the picture - It’ll be hard for you to ever say you have been to a better birthday party!

I have to say though, a month later we attended Lori’s 30th birthday party (yep, back to Knoxville), and it wasn’t just fun, but as we like to say: It was FABULOUS! I have included a little memory from it to prove how fun we had at this birthday party as well!

Charleston, South Carolina (July 17-20)

2009-07-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Wow this seems like a long time ago, and I have to say it was considering the circumstances. This trip was taken for Tres’ 30th birthday. HA! What’s so funny is Tres will be 31 in less than a month! This is just a little slap to the face reminder that I am not very diligent in my blogging. Back to the trip though – We had a fabulous weekend trip in this charming city! Oh my, this city is so my style - southern charm with a little bit of modern flair!

We took the trip with our great friends Trevor and Lori where we ate good dinners and drank massive amounts of wine. Not to mention the infamous “Firefly” Sweet Tea Vodka drink. Look, all I have to say about this drink is: dangerous. If you have never heard of it, you may want to go to the website or something and read about it, but I will do my best to describe it: tastes identical to sweet tea, but is in fact pure vodka. Good luck if you ever go to Charleston and want to give it a whirl. I suggest it, but I also suggest you stop at one glass.

This trip was like all of our times with T and L… great fun! By the way, Trevor and Lori are pregnant now, and Tres and I were just recently asked to be the Godparents! We are so grateful to be such a big part of Baby Piety’s life and can’t wait to meet him. Needless to say, Lori can’t have any “Fireflies” now, but we may have to head back to Charleston after little Saxon is born!

I PROMISE to update and stay dedicated!

2009-07-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

As they say… time flies - and apparently vacations, work trips, and the time in between do too because I have not updated my blog in almost a year. Yes – you heard right… a year! Geez. My friend Sara updates her “Baseball Wife” blog almost daily. Well, at least once a week, but Sara does not have a job, so what else does she have to do? I love teasing her about that! Anyway, every time I read her blog, she inspires me to write in mine, so here I am catching up. I mean seriously, I write FOR A LIVING, so in my off-time I just start slacking in the writing department, but I am going to make myself start again so one day Tres and I can look back on all of our travels!

Anyway, I just want to do a quick recap of where all my life has taken me in the past year. I have been on work trips, fun trips, and trips I never want to go back on again. Unfortunately, when work takes you to those places, you don’t have much of a choice.

So where did I leave off? Oh yes, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I will pick up there with the trips I have taken since, and hopefully I can start keeping up with this thing again soon. But, if I don’t - try not to judge me!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2008-11-17T19:52:00.001-08:00

Driving into the city

Ahhh... Milwaukee. Home of cheese hats, beer, and really bad accents. Sure, I claim it to be one of my favorite places on the map (thus far), but I have also only ever been twice and BOTH of those times were in the summer heat. I don't even want to begin to imagine that place two days into September, which let me just remind you that in the South, two days into October is still hot... just the way I like it.

A view of Lake Michigan... I had a good run here

I was in Milwaukee for work in mid-July, and the sun was luckily beating down on Lake Michigan and more gorgeous than I remember it. It's so nice to see a big city sitting right on a lake (that looks more like an ocean) with a beach behind it. It's just not something you will see in every city you go to... at least not like this one. This city has a certain Northern-charm (very rare... haha) to it that's hard to explain to someone who has never been there. Maybe the pictures will help? Bottom line: I love this city but wish I could experience it with a group of people to see what the city REALLY has to offer.

People having fun on the beach

See, this was one of my "Lonely Trips." What are those? My definition reads: "the trips that I take all by myself for work that I always look forward to at the beginning (day 1), but then at the end (only day 3... these are never long trips), get on the phone with Tres and Mom and whine about how I'm ready to come home." Let me break it down... I love to be by myself, and I think when I go on these trips that it will give me wind-down, relax time, but when it really comes down to it, a person just can't be by his or herself all the time. It starts to get really boring and let me exclaim LONELY! I mean, on these trips I will usually work with a few people during the day, but I will go back to an empty hotel room (alone), go for a run (alone... down some random street in a big city), go to dinner (alone... yes, I eat in restaurants by myself all the time. It's not that hard, guys, really.), watch TV (alone... the remote is all mine. This part is a plus.), and finally, go to sleep (alone... this is the scariest part of the trip). When you are a 24-year old Southern blonde with a mighty fine Southern accent in a "dontchaknow" city, that can get scary. Sometimes I am convinced some stranger has been watching me from day one and is plotting his way into my room when I sleep... super scary when your mind starts working like that. Fortunately, I am very cautious on these trips and nothing too scary has happened so far! Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Me hanging out on the beach

While there, I worked a lot on video stuff, ate at some decent restaurants, hit the beach and became as familiar with the city as a local... it's easy to do this when you drive around in circles trying to find certain places. All in all, I love the city, but next time I go hope it's not another "Lonely Trip."

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

2008-09-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- I know exactly what you are thinking... why would I even PUT this dreadful place on my travel blog? Well, because it was one of my work trips (which is half the reason I am writing this blog), and I do believe some Crimson Tide fans would be quite disappointed in me for mocking their city/state because yes, I have to admit that I am making fun of both. A "roll tide" fan may ask why. Well here it is -- I have traveled through Alabama plenty of times and though it's Mississippi's "flipped twin," it's not quite Mississippi. Sure, I may be partial because there is not much to the big Magnolia (Tres says I love my home-state so much I should be an ambassador for it...), but I can at least tell you that Mississippi has better roads, highways, more understandable roadsigns, and not every so-called large town looks exactly the same. So maybe it's just the driving part I dislike so much. But I have to say, as a die-hard southerner and lover of all southern states, I can't place it on my "S*%@ List" (I'll leave that for those states above the Mason-Dixon Line). So, the state that "Stars Fell On" will just have to go at the bottom of the Worst Southern States list. Sorry, Alabama.

So some positives about Alabmama... well we know it's a southern state and that makes it a true positive, but in the cheerleading world, the state of Alabama is nothing but positive, and that's why I was there. The University of Alabama hold the largest UCA cheerleading camp in the nation. They have several camps a summer there, but the first two are two of the biggest. People from states all over come to this camp. I still haven't figured out why exactly, but they do, and it makes UCA happy! So, I was there to do cheerleading camp coverage for Varsity Wired, our video on demand channel. It was a hot two days in June (reiterating that south thing), but we got some great coverage that is now up on our great website! Here is the link to all the videos we shot at the U of A (the first one is my favorite)! Check it out!

CLICK HERE: http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/pgruYnncxl

Running out of Time!

2008-09-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

I just realized how behind I actually am on my blog. Yes, I have been behind the entire time I have been writing it, but I told myself I would get caught up before I went to Cabo San Lucas. Well, that trip has been planned since like April, and I am still on the month of MAY in my travel blog when it's already SEPTEMBER! And guess what?! Those vacations sure do sneak up on you because a week from today, I will be packing a bag to hit the west side of Mexico!

I am going to attempt to get all of my past voyages recorded before this time next week! Here are the places you have to look forward to reading about from the last three months... starting with AL in June and ending with GA in August! Ah... I just love those southern states!

Tuscaloosa, Alabama (work)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (work)
Charleston, South Carolina (play)
Knoxville, Tennessee (play)
Atlanta, Georgia (play)

I'm almost there!!!!!!! Then in a week:

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (play, play play!)

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

2008-09-05T12:13:00.001-07:00

Just a little example of a Destination Wedding!

I have decided that destination weddings are the best weddings (and I am totally a wedding person). Here's why: First, you don't just get married, but you get married in a unique atmosphere... a place you are not used to and don't look at every day on your way to work or every Sunday when you are sitting in church. Plus, getting married is one of the most exciting things you will ever do in your life, so why not pick someplace extra-special to do it? Second, it's also a mini vacation before your honeymoon for you, your husband-to-be, and the fun people that attend the wedding. Who couldn't appreciate that? My third and number one reason for a destination wedding: When you get married somewhere not as "convenient" as somewhere in your hometown, only the people that really mean the world to you are going to show up. Not just Billie Jo and Bob down the street, who you haven't talked to in ages. Why would you want border-line strangers at your wedding? To me, weddings are intimate. You are saying eternal vows to someone and sharing the beginning of your new life with those guests at the wedding. I have no desire to do that in front of Bille Joe and Bob. I want to do that with the people who care enough (and I care about enough), to make the trip. NOTE: No where too over the top though... can't be expecting guests to dish out tons of money just to see you say "I do."

Molly and the girls from work!

Why am I going into this spill? Does it have anything to do with my "travel" blog? Well, yes it does! Because it's the reason I was in Gatlinburg, TN the second weekend in May! My great friend from work, Molly, and her now husband, Dale, were getting married. Both from the great, southern state of Georgia, but both work and live in Memphis. So, they decided to have their guests "meet in the middle." Plus, who could blame them; they had a gorgeous wedding on top of a mountain, with an excellent view, and a super-fun cabin reception. Very "southern-classy" just exactly the way I would describe Molly!

Molly, Dale, and the Varsity office that made it to the wedding!

Which bring me to another point: every wedding should reflect the person(s) getting married (to a certain extent). Let me explain. I was channel surfing the other night and came across a television show called "Redneck Weddings." You know wedding shows such as "Bridezilla," "Platinum Weddings," and "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" Well, similar to that (as far as following the bride and groom around and showing the "plans" come alive), but not quite the same. These brides and their groomys were not having the classic wedding; they were having "redneck" weddings. No, not as a joke, but because they were proud of being so "country." Now, I am a southern girl, and anyone that knows me knows how proud I am of that, but there is a difference in "southern" and "country." These people had camouflage bridesmaid dresses, a "hay" aisle for the bride to walk down, and deer heads on the walls of the barn. Yes, I just said BARN... they chose a place where cows shit for their "I do's." I was disgusted.

I certainly hate to offend anyone, but this is completely unacceptable!

I then started thinking about all of the "bad" weddings I have been to. There have been more than enough. No camo dresses or deer heads, but things I will not even get into. All I am saying is be yourself, have a wedding that reflects the person you are, and do what it takes to entertain your guests, but ABOVE ALL... if you are going to be classy ONE TIME in your entire life, PLEASE let it be at your wedding!!!!!!!

Me and Tres in the mountains!

Back to Molly's wedding and the weekend in Gatlinburg. I could not have pictured a more perfect wedding for her and Dale... simple, classy, "southern" (thank God), and FUN! The ceremony overlooked the gorgeous Smoky Mountains, the reception was in a gigantic cabin with food, booze, and fun people. And the late night (because all GOOD weddings go past Midnight) was carried to another cabin where a group of about 15 people stayed! It could not have been more unique, reflect Molly and Dale any more, and of course... it was CLASSY! The wedding expert gives it a perfect 10!

Memphis, TN

2008-08-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Graceland - "The King's house"

Ok... I know it doesn't really count as a 'destination' especially because I live there, but for some people it's such an exciting place to visit? Yes, that's a question mark at the end of that sentence. I wonder the same thing. But here's why: MUSIC and ELVIS - The only two reasons to come to Memphis. I am not much a fan of the second one (my boyfriend's only disappointment in me he says), but people come from not only all over the country, but all over the WORLD to experience and learn more about "The King." This past week was Elvis Week, and let me tell you, people are EVERYWHERE celebrating the death (31 years later) of this man. I heard that last year on his 30th year death anniversary that Memphis, Tennessee brought in more tourists that DISNEYWORLD in Orlando, Florida. That, my friends, is a fact and one of the only reasons to be "proud of being a Memphian."

VIP 'in it!

So let's rewind... Since I am so behind on writing my blog, I want to go back to a fun weekend in Memphis. Although Tres and I WERE NOT on vacation, two of our good friends were... Trevor and Lori. They came to visit, and thanks to them, I experienced Memphis (for the first time) like a REAL tourist! For Lori, the trip could be compared to the same trip of a 50-year-old Chinese Elvis impersonator coming over from Hong Kong in a sparkly jumpsuit - AKA "a dream come true." Lori is a huge Elvis fan for some reason and though the trip for her was only a 2 hour plane ride away, she appreciated it just as much as that random Chinese man who had an approximate 20 hour plane ride.

Lori and Trevor LOVE Divers!

Day One - Our first stop once Lori and Trevor arrived was Graceland, or in Lori's words "The King's house." We took a special VIP Tour through the mansion (thank you Tres), so we got to experience it like no other. We cut in line, saw special sites, and felt like we took in Graceland on the highest level! Second stop? A night out (Memphis Style)! This means, Beale Street, Silky's (had to have a diver), Big Ass Beers on the sidewalk, a Trolley Ride, and food at a great restaurant (Spendini's). It was a superb and wine-ful night!

Who knew we would end up here?!

Day Two - An injured foot, day in the hospital, yet lots of Memphis fun. So the ijured foot and day at the hospital is NOT something a normal tourist has on his Memphis Itinerary, but it ended up on ours. Long story short - Tres had an air conditioning guy come work on his air, the guy dropped a huge piece of metal on his foot, sliced it open about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, so we sat in the Emergency room until 2 p.m. Not exactly part of the "all-day Beale Street Music Fest" plans we had that day, but it worked out. Why? Because Tres is a trooper and he never misses a good time!!! Foot wrapped up good, a few beers kicked back, and a dreadful limp, he was ready to paint the town, which just proves that when you are in Memphis, you CAN'T BE STOPPED!

The crew at MusicFest!

We lucked up and ended up in a VIP Tent by one of the main stages (thank you Tres again). And can I just say I find it appalling that my boyfriend, who has lived in this city for a year, can pull VIP passes from all over the place when I have lived here for 24 years. What am I doing wrong?! haha! Anyway, the VIP Tent was a blast. Free booze, food, and the best music right in our ears without having to fight a crowd. Oh and did I mention Justin Timberlake's mother was partyin' in up in this tent. Another dose of "true Memphis" or what?! We couldn't get any closer than Memphis TRUE VIP style. And if only they knew, those Chinese Elvis's would really be pissed off at us!

With Mrs. Timberlake herself!

So, to wrap it up... here's what I have learned about Memphis. There are three things that people say make Memphis great: Music, Elvis, and Fed Ex, and I don't know about you guys, but I would say according to MOST people, these three things sure do make the world go 'round!

Daytona Beach, Florida

2008-08-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

View from the balcony of my VERY NICE hotel room

You discover what REAL, serious traveling is when you get off of one plane early in the morning and hop on another one that very same day at sundown... especially when you leave one state and are back in that very same state the very next day. In my case, this time, it was Florida... The one state it just seems I can't get enough of (usually not by choice). I hopped on a plane in Destin about 6 a.m., touch downed in Memphis about 8 a.m., went home to wash clothes and re-pack (a skill I have mastered, I must say), and left that very night for Daytona Beach, Florida.

I will say one thing, going from a fun-trip to a work-trip all in one day is never fun, but you gotta get back to the grind somehow... may as well do it at one of the most well-known, popular beaches in Florida! Daytona is known for their cars driving on the sand. It's all really interesting: The sand on Daytona Beach is packed down so cars can drive on it. Well, they used to be able to drive on it. There's some rule now that is against it now, so only authorized vehicles are permitted on the sand. It comes in handy for a great run though. Name another beach you can run on, right by the water, with tennis shoes on and not get sand in your shoes or feel like your legs have turned into jelly from pushing off the thick sand. I don't think there is another beach like that!

Yes, this is the cheer competition I am refering to!

Once the work started, there was little time for my beach runs. The competition taking place was NCA College Nationals. If you have never been to a cheerleading competition, you are in for a treat, if you have never been to NCA College Nationals, you are in for a REAL treat. Picture a crazy-wild Spring Break taking place at a cheerleading competition. The competition is held right on the beach, near a few bars, and it's where all the action takes place: competition action and party action. A large stage is set up right on the sand, and cheerleaders, dancers, coaches, and fans who are finished competing or don't go until the next day, lay out (in their swimsuits) on rows and rows of colorful towels with a drink and one hand and a pom pom or some sort of spirit decor in the other. It's an interesting sight that I insisted on taking MANY pictures of, as you will see. Work crew taking a break!

OK, so enough talk of play, and back to work-talk (the reason I was there). This weekend, it was my responsibility to do video-work. There is always something different I work on when it comes to the Varsity Wired Video on Demand Channel that we have for Varsity.com. Sometimes, I am the reporter where I do all on-camera work, sometimes I write scripts for the videos, sometimes I organize and help with production, and other times, I upload the videos onto the site. In this case, I was the premier upload-er for the weekend. Sounds like a boring job, but it's actually the most important of all the "video" jobs. If the videos were never uploaded, no one could watch them! For some examples of the work I do, take a look at the website: http://www.varsity.com/vwired/index.asp

Just about half of the crowd at the competition!

Destin, Florida

2008-08-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Some of the very large group in Destin

For a trip that went from "going to just have fun" to "going to work," it sure turned out to be more fun than work! We were going to visit and hang out with Tres' posse, who were all there to work. Athletic Championships, the company Tres used to work for and a company ran by and employed by a close group of friends, was holding a cheerleading competition in Destin, Florida... so Tres and I were on our way to sun and fun! Nothing to complain about there! And, to make it even better, it was our first plane ride and trip together.

We ended up working the event, but it wasn't a bad schedule and everyone else was working, so what else were we going to do? We also took the following Monday off of work, so we had plenty of time on the beach and in the sun! I got my first sun-burn of 2008... the first bit of sun in a new year is always something to celebrate. And DID WE celebrate!!! We celebrated by the pool and at the beach in the a.m. and ate well and bar hopped in the p.m. What a fun mini-work-vacation!

Andrea and Tres at the Condo

Nashville, TN

2008-08-06T13:39:00.001-07:00

Nashville - Because everyone needs a good ol' girls night out! This March 15th, me and three girlfriends from work set out for a night of fun in a real "country" city. But, this city is not so country at all. As many times as I have been to the Home of Country music, I have never been out and about in the downtown city lights, so that was the goal of this trip.

Molly, Kristin, Elizabeth and I shopped the day away at the outlet. I decided quickly that if I ever need to shop and haven't been to Orlando within a few months (my shopping spot), Nashville is where I will be driving. With all the stores a girl loves, including a Saks Fifth Avenue OFF Saks, I couldn't go wrong! While there, I spent my usual 3-4 hours in Forever 21, then headed to swaky Saks to pick me up a great pair of Marc Jacob shades, so I could be "Fresh out the water, with my Marc Jacob goggles." Lil' Wayne Lyrics... for those of you who are clueless to the rap world (my gorgeous boyfriend would say having no clue about rap is a good thing... I disagree)! haha.

Soon it was back to the hotel to show off our latest clothes and decide which of the new garments we wanted to strut around in that night. Three change of outfits, four change of shoes, and two change of hair-do's later, we were off to martinis and sushi! The Sushi Bar ended up being the best all four of us had ever experienced, which gave me EVEN MORE reason to come back to N-ville. We then hit up the town, bar hopping until we couldn't stop, which for us was only about 3 a.m. We were out of town, yet our boyfriends were still awake hanging out together at home in Memphis. Drunk (of course) and grilling out. At 3 a.m.? Yes, I said that correctly. The boys were at Tres' condo, and he could persuade a 50-year-old narcoleptic to stay awake until the sun rises!!!

Stay Tuned....

2008-07-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Still many more great blogs to come! Soon check out the latest trips I have taken (all within the last 4 months)...

Daytona Beach, Florida
Destin, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Charleston, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee

Anaheim, California

2008-07-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile, in between the many Orlandos is a California, or a Florida, or another random state I am asked to visit for more cheerleading championship coverage. This year, California was one of them. So, I flew into Los Angeles (a place I have visited before and love) and drove about 40 minutes to Anaheim.. Home of Disney Land. As you can see, I can't seem to get away from these thrilling lands of cartoon characters. Disney World, Disney Land... it's safe to say I have seen enough, but still anticipate and love going back each year.

This Anaheim trip was different though, because I had never been there. I was only there a few days, so the trip really only consisted of work and a little fun after. The worst part about being in Anaheim instead of home in Memphis? Any normal person would say there is nothing WORST about that scenario, but this very weekend... there WAS. The University of Memphis basketball team was playing the University of Tennessee basketball team in Memphis. This was one of the biggest games of the season or should I say ever? Both teams from Tennessee, they were ranked number one and number two... this rarely happens, supposedly.

Anyway, I would never have gotten tickets because it was almost impossible since people were selling them for thousands of dollars, but Memphis was the HOT SPOT this weekend (that will never happen again...haha). So, I had to watch the game and NOT celebrate a win in the state of California. It turned out to not be such a bad gig, even though Memphis blew it. I watched the end with a fun group of friends and got talked into buying a loud, orange UT shirt to celebrate the win with a few fans I was with. So me and about 5 people walked around with the same shirt on for the remainder of the night. It was pretty funny having every other Californian we passed congratulate us on the "Big Win." haha! Good Trip!

Orlando, Florida

2008-07-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

I never thought in a million years that I would call Disney World my second home, but it now welcomes me five times a year from January-April, almost every other weekend in some cases. I can remember being a kid, and wanting to go to Disney World so bad... little did I know, by the age of 25, I would have visited Mickey and Minnie more than a dozen times.

So, when my plane lands in January, and February, and March, and April - the sun hits and Donald, Goofy, Aladdin, Simba, Mufasa, and the rest of the crew are ready for me with open arms. No really, I don't get to "play" at the Disney parks that often. We usually get to Orlando one day early, which gives us time to prepare for the weekend, but also gives us lots of spare time that most of us spend at the mall (because shopping in Memphis sucks... which brings me to another perk of my many travels: shopping. I refuse to do it unless I am in another city other than Memphis). Then that Thursday night is usually spent in the Orlando night-life, since it's one of the only few times we get to actually enjoy the city in the four days we are there. My weekends in Orlando mostly consist of work from 7 am until 11 pm - nonstop on Saturday and Sunday, with a few good dinners and drinks at the Ale House to conclude the night.

Out and about in Orlando

The only thing that gets us all through the week is knowing that the "Final Night Party" is just right around the corner on Sunday. The Final Night Party is held for all the staff that works UCA Nationals to thank them for their hard work with good food, cutting loose with friends, dancing, and LOTS of alcoholic beverages. And, if you have a 6:00 a.m. flight on Monday morning, the goal is usually to pull an all-nighter, just so you won't go to sleep, only to hear your alarm go off one hour later to pack up for the airport.

Blues City Cafe with Tres... this spot is an Orlando nightlife fav

Those all-nighters though? Sometimes not such a good idea. Since everything in Orlando closes at 1 am on Sunday night (yes, all bars too), there is usually never an after-party spot to pull this "all-nighter," therefore, you go back to the hotel, not sober, and you sit on the bed (never lay) because you refuse to go to sleep until it's time to head to the airport. With lots of booze in the system, fighting sleep is never an option, so there's always someone to fall into a deep slumber with no alarm set and missing that early a.m. flight. Or in some cases, you set the alarm because you are "such a responsible drunk," only to find when it goes off that you are on the wrong time zone, therefore, missing your early a.m. flight. It never matter though. Why? Because you worked 15 hour days on a WEEKEND, you're physically exhausted, and you just HAD to get as much beer, wine, etc. in your body on Sunday at the Final Night Party to make up for all of those lost days from the rest of the weekend.

That's the work crew in Orlando Florida. Not once but five times a year. Not many people can say that, and despite the tiring work days on those Saturdays and Sundays, I am glad to be one of those people. This is why I love my job.

London, England

2008-07-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I stepped off of a plane and walked into a magical fairytale land. That's what visiting London, England is like. Imagine cottages for houses, buildings that have been around since before America was even thought of, and castles and towers that the great kings and queens of England once called home. There is nothing like it!

With a group of friends in front of the British Museum

I was called on for work to go to London, leaving the day after Christmas and staying over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Every year, UCA and USA cheerleading associations invite their "all stars" from camp to go to London and participate in the London New Year's Day Parade. It was my job to follow different cheerleading groups around each day and keep a journal on what the experience is all about to visit London and participate in the parade. I took pictures and posted a new journal article each day in my online diary called, "Andrea's London Journal."

The famous London Telephone Booth!

We stayed in The Tower hotel, which is a hotel within steps of the Tower of London. We experienced popular places such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral and Widsor Castle, just to name a few.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Buckingham Palace

The experience was amazing, and although I complained about missing the ever-famous festivities of my January 1st birthday, I would not trade my London trip for the world! Not only did I see landmarks that many people will never experience, I gained a strong appreciation for history and the Royal Family.

Me and Crista in front of Tower of London

I could go on and on about how amazing my trip to London was, but if you are reading this and would like to intake the full London experience, I will leave you with my blog - a descriptive, interesting, and humorous diary of my six days in "The Old Smoke" (just a little city nickname I learned)!

Me and a lion in The British Museum

Link to my Journal: http://www.varsity.com/Index.asp?article=3566

It begins with Day One, and you can continue to read by clicking on each of the days!

Since I was so sad that I missed my birthday on New Year's, they surprised me by singing Happy Birthday!

Indianapolis, Indiana

2008-07-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have to say, I went through a little bit of a dry-spell from the months of August-November. This is nothing out of the ordinary. With my job, the big travels usually begin starting in January and go non-stop through April (literally - nonstop... I have very few weekends to spare during the winter months). Fortunately, there is always luxury travel just for fun or the occasional work travel that just happens to "spring up" during the so-called traveling drought. December of last year was one of those months. I visited Indianapolis, IN for a cheerleading competition that I had to cover for our website. It was my job to interview cheerleaders and coaches, write creative stories, and post results from the competition. And it's obvious -that's exactly what I did (note the missing pictures to show that I was actually in the city). When I go on these work trips, work is always the priority, but I always manage to "kick it" with the friends who are also traveling for the job. Great restaurants and fun bars always come second and third on the priority list for these trips!

So despite the cold (no seriously, when I say cold I mean... COLD! Try being from Mississippi and go to Indianapolis in December... every time you step foot outside you will feel as if you are trapped in a tub of water and ice with no way to get out. Yes, even if you have on 50 layers of clothing), I managed to experience a little of the Indianapolis night-life, and I learned that I liked the city. Nice people, fun downtown, and let's not forget the blue and white crowds on Sunday, swarming around the RCA Dome or Lucas Oil Stadium, just waiting to get a good seat to see their 2006 Super Bowl Champions go for another successful season. And a note on the fans: I give them BIG props for being able to sit through four quarters in extremely low temperatures and sometimes snow - some of them shirt-less, painted blue and white. You will never see a Southerner do that in those temps... or you may see one try, but I doubt he would last in the icebox that I felt when I was there... no way! Overall review of the big Indy? Not too shabby... I found it to be a great city, that would be MUCH better in July! :)

Mexico - Costa Maya and Cozumel

2008-07-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Drinks, beach, fun in the sun, and my best girlfriends... Life could not get much better! Last July, almost a year ago to the date, I set sail with Ginger, Sara, Tracy, Amy Claire, and Morgan. We boarded one of Carnival Cruise Line's "Fun Ships" for five full days of FUN, and we were no rookies on the cruise ship! Just a year before, a few weeks after college graduation, we took a similar cruise ship trip to Mexico and told ourselves we would try to take a "girls" trip every year. As of today, we have successfully went through with two years of ladies vacations, and I am hoping there is another trip well on it's way.

On the Fun Ship!
While on the ship, we caught some much needed rays - some of us caught a little too many (Amy Claire... haha), ate as much as we could fit in our newly-worked out little bodies (we made sure to pull it together for this trip since on the last trip, we seemed to fit right in with the whales that were swimming beneath us), and we drank lots of yummy, beachy alcoholic beverages (like the sun, also much-needed). It was the life... and when we stopped off at Costa Maya, then Cozumel for our beach and party boat excursions, it got even better!

"Carlos and Charlies", anyone?! It's our Favorite!
The catch? A year out of college and living booze-free lives seemed to catch up with us quickly. After a wild day in Costa Maya, it was a chore to get started on the Party Boat in Cozumel the next day, and although we felt "too old" for the over-the-top alcoholic intake and untamed partying, we were introduced to people double our age who seemed to be taking it all in so easily. After seeing them do more than we ever wanted to on the Party Boat (a grown man in thongs and a father in a shirt labeled "My Dick is Bigger Than Yours" is never good), we hesitated but joined in on the fun. Tequila shots, margaritas, and the will to dance soon entered all of our systems, and WE WERE BACK! College days... eat your heart out! All-in-all, I could not have asked for a better trip with my favorite girls, or of course finding out that the tail of a ship REALLY IS as big as a REAL whale's tail! HAHA!

There it is! What a beauty! It's great to be so smart!

I hope we all do it again soon... maybe this time it will be for Ginger's wedding! Bahamas, Jamaica, Cabo... do I hear one of you calling our names? I sure hope so!

Our Signature Pose... there's plenty more where that came from!

Hawaii - Oahu

2008-07-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

A little more than a year ago, I was right in the center of the Pacific Ocean - right in between the good ole United States of America and the ever lovely Asia. I bet you didn't know Hawaii was so far away? Well, guess what? I didn't have the slightest clue until I got home and my dad showed me on a Satellite map where Hawaii was located. Let's just say this... you never want to get washed away in Hawaii or you are not going to be finding your way back anytime soon! No wonder that flight was so long!

Here are the girls... having fun on the beach!

Anyway, my grandmother got married, so she and her brand-new hubby took us all (the family) to the gorgeous islands of Hawaii!!! We had a blast... swimming, laying out on Waikiki Beach, kayaking, and going to a real Hawaiian Luau. Not only that, but we saw one of the most historic landmarks in the World - Pearl Harbor. That was, by far, the best part of the trip. I am no history buff, but that is really soemthing every American should see!

Pearl Harbor Memorial

What a FUN trip! If I ever go back, I will probably visit one of the other islands of the state.. who knew there were so many? Maui is probably next on my list!

This was the view we had from our balcony!

New York City

2008-07-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, Ok, so this trip was a REALLY long time ago ( 2 years), but with the FABULOUS ladies movie of all time, "Sex and the City," playing in theaters circa now, I thought it would be appropriate. Mostly because I have one of the best pictures ever from the Sex and the City Tour that I went on while I was there - which was P.S. really the only reason I wanted to go to New York in the first place. Haha... just kidding. I can't wait to go back, and with a close friend of mine, Cristen Marzula's boyfriend living there, you will see many more of these pictures to come... never fret! New York, HERE I COME.... again and again and again!

Yes, that is me on Carrie Bradshaw's front doorstep! Don't be jealous, my Sex and the City sisters of America!

My Journeys Thus Far...

2008-07-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my good friend, Sara... I am now a blogger! I never thought I would do this, but my love for writing and many voyages give me no reason not to start a great memorabilia that I can look back on for years to come! The bad part?I should have started this bad-boy a LONG time ago. Why? Well, for the last two years I have done what seems like NOTHING but travel... for work, for fun, with family, with friends, etc. I have been to several places, and most of them have been some of the best places I have been to in my life! I would like to do a quick, little re-cap of some of the best trips I have been on in the last year! Then, it's on with the almost-every-weekend-trips I have planned for the future. And believe me, I have more than enough coming up to share! STAY TUNED! :)