Nashville & Birthday Recap

I try to keep my "life" posts to a minimum if that makes sense, but these are some fun updates, so I'm throwing them in here. First up are the goodies I received for my birthday.

Two of these adorable beverage holders- I can't wait to put some juice or lemonade in them for outdoor parties!

Then, between Carl and my inlaws, I am now the proud owner of all the items below. Can we get some warm weather up here now so I can schedule a cookout puuuulease??? These were all the contents in the Crate & Barrel boxes in my messy photos :)




Lastly, this super cute skirt from Target. I had spotted it a couple weeks ago, and my sister-in-law kindly bought it for me.

There were a few other things in there too, but these are the most interesting for blogland.

Then, for the weekend, we headed down to Nashville. Neither of us had been there before, so it seemed like a great quick trip. We met up with friends Lindsay and Keith. We had some really spectacular BBQ did a little sightseeing and relaxed in some warmer-than-Michigan weather.


Really, the best BBQ is found at this little spot.

And then the best breakfast was here. We found all kinds of bests! You can kind of see the line that is behind us wrapping around the building and down the street.

This is at Tootsie's downtown. Great live music...although you aren't allowed to dance on chairs. I may or may not know this from experience.

Andrew Jackson's home, AKA "The Hermitage." Seeing a piece of history like this is really quite amazing!
Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel's tomb in the garden.
That's all I have for you. Not that this is what you came here for anyway ;) I know I know, get back to cleaning. I'm working on it!

Going on VACATION? Stop here first!

As we prepare for yet another little vacation, ok, it's not "little." It's our one year anniversary! Yep. Can't believe it myself :) Real quick trip down memory lane:









Ok, so back to the task at hand! I thought since I was using them myself tonight, I would share with you my traveling checklists.

PERSONAL TRAVEL PACKING CHECKLIST

□ Warm and Cool clothes (depending on the climate)

□ Undergarments

□ Socks

□ Bathing Suit

□ Cover Up

□ Beach towel

□ Shoes

□ Dressy attire if necessary- don’t forget coordinating shoes

□ Jewely and watch

□ Personal Items

o Makeup

o Blow Dryer

o Straightener

o Curling Iron

o Hairspray

o Face Wash

o Body Wash

o Shampoo

o Conditioner

o Medicine

o Razor

o Shaving Cream

o Toothbrush

o Toothpaste

o Lotion- face and body

o Sunscreen

o Glasses and/or Contacts, plus cases and solution

o Bath towels (if necessary)

□ Small extra bag to take to the beach or excursions

□ Purse(s)

□ Belts

□ Hats

□ Slippers

□ Sunglasses

□ Camera including charger and computer adapter

□ Video Camera including charger and computer adapter

□ GPS system and charger

□ Cell phone and charger- car and wall if applicable

□ Magazines

□ Books

□ MP3 player

□ Cash

□ Identification

□ Credit Cards

□ Tickets- plane, train, etc.

TRAVEL TIP LIST

□ Search for coupons to any restaurants or stores you might be planning to go to while away- just google search the store name + coupon

□ If your trip is international, determine whether or not an international plan on your phone would be worthwhile

□ Check through all your bills to make sure you won’t miss any deadlines. Consider setting them up online as you can set up the payment in advance without sending it early if you are waiting on a paycheck.

□ Make sure you are caught up on your laundry. You’ll be coming home with a big stack of dirty clothes, and it will be nice to not add to the pile!

□ Avoid paying other bank’s ATM fees and stop by the ATM to get cash, or the bank for traveler’s checks. Be sure to split up your money into different locations in case of theft or a lost bag.

□ Be sure you have your passport or other necessary identification.

□ Get gas and check fluids the night prior to your trip or arrange for travel to the airport if necessary

□ Lock all windows and doors securely and remove any keys hidden outside the house

□ Tell neighbors that you'll be away and how they can reach you in an emergency

□ Close blinds and curtains

□ Water plants and mow lawn before leaving home or arrange for a neighbor to care for them while you're away

□ Dial your thermostat up or down to avoid paying for unnecessary heat or air conditioning

□ Arrange for pet care at a kennel or in your home- or see the pet travel checklist

□ Write down all the important addresses you need for the trip: hotels, restaurants, activity locations, etc. If you have a GPS, take the time to program the addresses into the system. If not, print off maps, or one generic map

□ Do a clean sweep of the house: a quick once over with the vacuum, empty all the trash baskets, clean out the fridge of any food that might spoil (or put items in the freezer if that is available), do the dishes, change the bed sheets and wipe down the bathrooms. It’ll feel great to come home to a clean house!

□ Check the weather of the location you will be traveling to, and pack accordingly

□ When packing your clothes, pack in terms of outfits. You’ll find choosing your clothes for the day much less stressful when you already have them planned out. Also consider bringing either black or brown- this way you can limit the number of shoes you have to bring.

□ ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

Pet Travel Checklist

□ Crate

□ Blankets (don’t forget an extra one in case of an accident)

□ Large rag or old beach towel- you will want this if there is the chance of them going swimming or getting dirty

□ Food & measuring cup

□ Water and Food bowl

□ Treats/Rawhides

□ Ball

□ Kong (We always bring a little peanut butter to keep the dog occupied)

□ Leash & Collar

□ Long chain with tie down (If there will be a grassy area, this is a great idea!)

□ Medication- don’t forget their heartworm pill if you will be gone while they need it

□ Bed, if they don’t sleep in their crate

□ Potty Bags for walks

Hope this helps you out! And I hope you get to use them very soon! If you'd like a pdf or Word version, just leave your email in the comments. I'll be happy to send them to you! HAPPY TRAVELS!