So as 2016 draws to a close, I will also, unfortunately, be indefinitely going on hiatus with this blog. As evident in the fewer postings over the past couple of years, the time just isn't there like it used to be. Nor is the excitement (both in my life events and in my desire to blog).
That said, if I find time again, and/or something major happens that I want to share, I'll blog about it. But the era of regular blogging is done for now. I figured what better time to do such than at the end of a calendar year.
I'm still on other forms of social media, and I encourage you to follow me there.
My favorite social media is Instagram, where I have three accounts:
fl_girl - this is my main account
my_view_up_here - my shots from my time on a plane
its_a_shoe_win - my personal shoe collection
I'm on Facebook, of course: auburn.flgirl
Twitter is becoming a go-to for me more than it used to be: FLgrrl
And I am also on Redditt, though infrequently, and I'm still trying to figure it out - but I'll throw it on here, in hopes I'll start using it more: auburn-flgirl
So there you have it... I'm still out there. And of course, if you actually know me, you have my email. I can always be reached that way, too.
So peace out and love to all! Thank you to all that have kept up with me through this blog over the years - I apologize I died off the way I did, and wish I could keep it up like I used to. Maybe one day, I can get back to that. But then, there may be a whole other form of communication that takes its place, by then!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
Christmas
Christmas! My favorite time of year! Though somehow, I swear, it gets more and more 'crunched' for time. And enjoyment. But I try not to let that dampen my joy!
As always, we headed down to FL to spend Christmas with my family. We had to compress it a little, this year, with my new job and all. Though I later learned, it wouldn't have been a big deal to do more time. But I was happy that I at least got the time I did. Even if it did come with complications.
What complications, you ask? Try a stomach bug! It hit me as we drove down - not a good combo to have with long drives in the car. We stayed overnight in Asheville, NC, giving us a new route and different scenery, for a change. I woke up the next morning, feeling really bad. You know that feeling, when you KNOW if you just threw up, you'd feel better? That was me. I think Eric didn't believe me, at first... but then he brought scrambled eggs into the room. And that was all I needed to go running into the bathroom. So while I did feel better after that, I wasn't 100% - and we still had a 7 hour drive ahead of us. So we found the closest grocery store and loaded up with ginger ale and an orange to smell (a trick I learned cruising last year). I made to Jacksonville with no more urges, but also didn't eat much along the way.
We freshened up at the hotel, then went to my parents' to drop off gifts and such. I wasn't planning on telling them about my bug. Of course, we did do a quick detour to the beach, to breathe in that wonderful salt air - that always helps me!
Christmas morning... guess who has the stomach bug now?! Eric. So I headed to my parents' without him, in hopes he'd feel better by the afternoon and could come over then. Of course, with this new information, I had to tell them about my morning on the previous day... oh well. Makes for a Christmas memory, right?? Unfortunately, Eric never got to feeling better (he never threw up), and we had to do some Christmas without him, including opening some of the gifts and dinner.
This is, of course, after we picked up Nan and Kristin arrived with the family. So we carried on and tried to enjoy things as best we could, knowing Eric wasn't feeling well.
The day after Christmas, Eric was feeling a little better, though still not 100%. But we were leaving that day, so there was no staying at the hotel for him. We tried hitting the beach again, just to see it again - it was a beautiful day!
Why did I leave FL, again?? While we ate breakfast at my parents', he took another nap, trying to feel better. We then opened the rest of the gifts and stockings, getting him all caught up with the gifts he missed the day before. It felt like a super short trip to FL this year - a little bit of a bummer for me. We left a little after lunch to start the trek back to Indiana. We planned on crashing in Nashville along the way - I did not want to drive through the night. But it was an uneventful stop, as we did nothing more than go to Publix in the morning (to get ice cream to take back with us).
As I said, I love Christmas!! But it's been getting crunched as the years go by, which makes me sad. Being sick this year really didn't help. Maybe I can change that next year.. we'll see. I mean, surely I at least won't be sick again...
Hope everyone else had a good Christmas!
As always, we headed down to FL to spend Christmas with my family. We had to compress it a little, this year, with my new job and all. Though I later learned, it wouldn't have been a big deal to do more time. But I was happy that I at least got the time I did. Even if it did come with complications.
What complications, you ask? Try a stomach bug! It hit me as we drove down - not a good combo to have with long drives in the car. We stayed overnight in Asheville, NC, giving us a new route and different scenery, for a change. I woke up the next morning, feeling really bad. You know that feeling, when you KNOW if you just threw up, you'd feel better? That was me. I think Eric didn't believe me, at first... but then he brought scrambled eggs into the room. And that was all I needed to go running into the bathroom. So while I did feel better after that, I wasn't 100% - and we still had a 7 hour drive ahead of us. So we found the closest grocery store and loaded up with ginger ale and an orange to smell (a trick I learned cruising last year). I made to Jacksonville with no more urges, but also didn't eat much along the way.
We freshened up at the hotel, then went to my parents' to drop off gifts and such. I wasn't planning on telling them about my bug. Of course, we did do a quick detour to the beach, to breathe in that wonderful salt air - that always helps me!Christmas morning... guess who has the stomach bug now?! Eric. So I headed to my parents' without him, in hopes he'd feel better by the afternoon and could come over then. Of course, with this new information, I had to tell them about my morning on the previous day... oh well. Makes for a Christmas memory, right?? Unfortunately, Eric never got to feeling better (he never threw up), and we had to do some Christmas without him, including opening some of the gifts and dinner.
This is, of course, after we picked up Nan and Kristin arrived with the family. So we carried on and tried to enjoy things as best we could, knowing Eric wasn't feeling well.The day after Christmas, Eric was feeling a little better, though still not 100%. But we were leaving that day, so there was no staying at the hotel for him. We tried hitting the beach again, just to see it again - it was a beautiful day!
Why did I leave FL, again?? While we ate breakfast at my parents', he took another nap, trying to feel better. We then opened the rest of the gifts and stockings, getting him all caught up with the gifts he missed the day before. It felt like a super short trip to FL this year - a little bit of a bummer for me. We left a little after lunch to start the trek back to Indiana. We planned on crashing in Nashville along the way - I did not want to drive through the night. But it was an uneventful stop, as we did nothing more than go to Publix in the morning (to get ice cream to take back with us).As I said, I love Christmas!! But it's been getting crunched as the years go by, which makes me sad. Being sick this year really didn't help. Maybe I can change that next year.. we'll see. I mean, surely I at least won't be sick again...
Hope everyone else had a good Christmas!
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Girls' Cruise 2016!
I always look forward to this time of year, because I get to go on a cruise with my girls! This was the 6th year, for the three of us (Jen, Karla, and I), and the first year Brandi joined us (though she has cruised before). 
And we kept it short this year, mainly due to what was available during the time we wanted to cruise - only a four-nighter. Fun, none the less!
Our set sail date was last Monday, December 5th. No 'at sea' days, but rather, we were going to be in a port every day. If I was a new cruiser, I'd of been excited about that. But more on that later.
We left out of Miami, and it happened to be a gorgeous set sail sunset behind the Miami skyline! Truth be told, we had great weather for the whole cruise - wish all cruises could be so perfect!
Our first port of call was Nassau. All four of us have been here before, but we each wanted to go into port for something or another. Karla was on a mission for some 'authentic' gifts, as was Jen. Brandi and I were anxious to go get some authentic conch fritters. I think all of us wanted to enjoy a little sunshine... but yet, I don't think any of us got the full amount of sun enjoyment we wanted - our other odds and ends kept us busy!!
But I think we still all left port happy... especially since we were in port until almost midnight! But no... we did not party with the locals. This time.
Our second port was Royal Caribbean's private island of Coco Cay. We were supposed to this six years ago, but the weather prohibited it. We got a day at sea that year, but this year, the weather was perfect! We rented a cabana, which was nice, but probably unnecessary, as it wasn't overly crowded.
We started the day with some snorkeling in the private cove area, where they have set up some good snorkeling spots, including a small plane and a couple parts of a ship (or ships?). We then had some yummy lunch, and I went off to explore a bit on my own (because that's what I do!). Not as many great scenic spots as Labadee had, but a lot of areas where you can have a quiet time to yourself. Though I do feel like there was more area to cover here... but maybe that was just me, since the entire island is not as developed as Labadee. Either way... I think I liked Labadee a little better. But Coco Cay was still cool.
Our last port of call (before going back to Miami) was Key West.
All of us had been to Key West at some time or another, though I think it had all been by driving, not boat. While we didn't plan on spending the whole day in port, we just about did, by the time we walked around, and had lunch and such. We just kind of took our time. And again, it was a beautiful day!
I think we all agreed we wished we had a day at sea somewhere in there. We only had a partial day on the pool deck, and that was the day we boarded in Miami. We all *thought* we'd happily stay on the ship for at least part of that days we were in familiar ports, but we ended up in port most of the time, just chilling out and walking around. No regrets in that, just didn't feel like we had enough time on the ship.
When we got back into Miami on the 9th, we had a good portion of the day, in which we got to explore Miami. Once we finally got our rental car, we drove into Miami and got a gourmet donuts at The Salty Donut. Then we wandered over too the Wynwood Walls, which the other three of my entourage had not seen. We made a good day out of the extra time here, I think.
So all in all, another very successful, very fun, Girls' Cruise is in the books! This is one tradition I hope stays around for a very long time! I think no matter where we are in our lives, or in the country, this is an easy way to meet up, and have some fun!
And we kept it short this year, mainly due to what was available during the time we wanted to cruise - only a four-nighter. Fun, none the less!Our set sail date was last Monday, December 5th. No 'at sea' days, but rather, we were going to be in a port every day. If I was a new cruiser, I'd of been excited about that. But more on that later.
We left out of Miami, and it happened to be a gorgeous set sail sunset behind the Miami skyline! Truth be told, we had great weather for the whole cruise - wish all cruises could be so perfect!Our first port of call was Nassau. All four of us have been here before, but we each wanted to go into port for something or another. Karla was on a mission for some 'authentic' gifts, as was Jen. Brandi and I were anxious to go get some authentic conch fritters. I think all of us wanted to enjoy a little sunshine... but yet, I don't think any of us got the full amount of sun enjoyment we wanted - our other odds and ends kept us busy!!
But I think we still all left port happy... especially since we were in port until almost midnight! But no... we did not party with the locals. This time.Our second port was Royal Caribbean's private island of Coco Cay. We were supposed to this six years ago, but the weather prohibited it. We got a day at sea that year, but this year, the weather was perfect! We rented a cabana, which was nice, but probably unnecessary, as it wasn't overly crowded.
We started the day with some snorkeling in the private cove area, where they have set up some good snorkeling spots, including a small plane and a couple parts of a ship (or ships?). We then had some yummy lunch, and I went off to explore a bit on my own (because that's what I do!). Not as many great scenic spots as Labadee had, but a lot of areas where you can have a quiet time to yourself. Though I do feel like there was more area to cover here... but maybe that was just me, since the entire island is not as developed as Labadee. Either way... I think I liked Labadee a little better. But Coco Cay was still cool.Our last port of call (before going back to Miami) was Key West.
All of us had been to Key West at some time or another, though I think it had all been by driving, not boat. While we didn't plan on spending the whole day in port, we just about did, by the time we walked around, and had lunch and such. We just kind of took our time. And again, it was a beautiful day!I think we all agreed we wished we had a day at sea somewhere in there. We only had a partial day on the pool deck, and that was the day we boarded in Miami. We all *thought* we'd happily stay on the ship for at least part of that days we were in familiar ports, but we ended up in port most of the time, just chilling out and walking around. No regrets in that, just didn't feel like we had enough time on the ship.
When we got back into Miami on the 9th, we had a good portion of the day, in which we got to explore Miami. Once we finally got our rental car, we drove into Miami and got a gourmet donuts at The Salty Donut. Then we wandered over too the Wynwood Walls, which the other three of my entourage had not seen. We made a good day out of the extra time here, I think.So all in all, another very successful, very fun, Girls' Cruise is in the books! This is one tradition I hope stays around for a very long time! I think no matter where we are in our lives, or in the country, this is an easy way to meet up, and have some fun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)