"I've discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it."
- William Faulkner




Monday, June 30, 2008

london calling: vol. 2

I'm back, baby.

Not only from my blogging hiatus, but from Jolly Old England as well. And I would be remiss if I did not finish the alphabet game. I only have 2 letters left, and forgive me if they are ridiculously short and maybe sweet. Then, I promise to get this monkey off my back.

I'm saving my money for a David Yurman bracelet. Or a Lagos ring. I can't decide which one to get yet, but I know I want a new bauble. Those teeny, tiny Weight Watchers checks have come in handy, and I've got birthday money in the pool, too. Not much further, ladies and gents, and you can be sure once I get whatever it is I'm going to get, I'll let you all know.

I really like shoes. Not in a Carrie Bradshaw-skip the rent for the deliciously red-soled Louboutins-kind of way, but I'm not above building an outfit around shoes, not to mention buying an outfit to match new shoes. They don't have to be expensive, but they do have to be cute. And sure, it's best to actually try them on, but when that's not an option, I love to check out Zappos. You can search by color, brand, heel height, price and about a million other criteria to find exactly what you're looking for. AND, they ship to you for free, and if they don't fit, they get you exchanged or refunded lightening-fast. I was just visiting them today, actually. They're not a great deal cheaper than in the store, but they have hard-to-find styles and sizes.

Feels good to have that behind me. And I promise I'm not as shallow or materialistic as those paragraphs make me sound. Now on to bigger and better things.

Just flew back in from London, and man, are my wings tired...da-dum-dum-ching! Yes, back to the good, old U S of A from another visit across the pond promoting tourism to Mississippi. I went last summer for the first time, and had a blast. But this time was even better since I had an idea of what was ahead of me. I didn't vomit AmBien, I walked by myself all around Kensington (where our hotel was) one afternoon and I rode public transportation like a pro. I ate gelato 3 of the 5 days I was there and even pretended I was a local and listened to my iPod when I strolled the streets. I'm a natural, I tell you.

What did I do there? Sales calls, training on selling MS to travelers, etc. That's about all you need to know about the work side. Moving on.

We arrived in London at about 8 a.m., and due to the Great AmBien Incident of 2007, I didn't take any sleeping meds and therefore did not sleep on the plane. Meaning, a 8:00 a.m. arrival led to walking around London like Night of the Living Dead until bed time rolled around. And by the way, if anyone is traveling a long distance, I recommend Delta - the food is better (though still not what I would classify as gourmet), they serve Coca-Cola products and plenty of water, and each traveler has his own video screen with on-demand movies, TV, music and games. Too bad Delta doesn't pay me to say that. Plus, I racked up some killer SkyMiles.

We gave staying awake the old college try, but after taking a gander at the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London (I saw where Anne Boelyn was held until her unfortunate beheading) and the London Bridge, a nap was in order. But just a little one.

I loved walking around London. Whenever I travel to a big city, I always wonder if I sort of fit in as a local. As previously mentioned, I shopped wearing my iPod and pretended I was a regular on the Underground or the bus or the train. I'm sure it only took one syllable escaping from my mouth to give me away, but still.

Anywho, we had real fish and chips (it was kind of like Captain D's, honestly), saw some sights, and KM got to go to Wimbledon. A good time was had by all.

Here are some pictures from my journey. Cheerio!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

they say it's your birthday


For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
Which nobody can deny!

Happy Birthday, Kell!
I'm glad you were born!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"x" is for...


I'm so excited that my sister Harris has catapulted herself into the blog-o-sphere! Be sure to check out her blog for diva dialogue on nail polish, cats, Posh, jewelry, makeup, bargain shopping...

Monday, June 16, 2008

"w" is for...

Let me preface this post by saying in no way do I consider myself a fashion icon. I am no Kate Moss, Jennifer Anniston or Kate Hudson - in more ways than one. But, I do think I can spot a fashion disaster - ranging from the minutely messy to the horrifying - a mile away, or at least several yards. I'd be sadly disappointed if I quit my day job to pursue the dream to be a stylist to the stars, but I have found that I can vicariously revitalize the fashionably challenged through my dear friends, Stacy (I want to be her) and Clinton of TLC's What Not to Wear. I don't remember the first time I stumbled upon this program, but I do recall it being pre-Clinton, when the duo was Wayne and Stacy (you long-time fans out there might recall that Wayne was nothing much to look at himself). And if you've never seen the original What Not to Wear on BBC, you are in for quite a treat. These British babes make S and C look like kittens.

Haley and I have many times discussed developing a local What Not to Wear program. I envision us having a regular spot on WAPT or somewhere of that nature, taking people from their jobs, from the mall or anywhere a fashion criminal might lurk, and turning these ugly ducklings into beautiful, stylish swans. Many times have the words, "I could really help her," or, "Stacy and Clinton would have a ball with that one," left my lips. I'm not guaranteeing a 100% success rate, but if I change one life, it's all worth it, right? Anyone want to be our Nick or Carmindy?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

"v" is for...

The prices of gas, groceries and everything in between are soaring, and America is feeling the sting. Families are cutting back on extras and luxuries great and small to make ends meet. One particular victim of this cost crisis is the family vacation. Reporters and fluffy morning shows have tried, with their rose-colored sunglasses, to make it seem okay and even fun to vacay in one's own backyard...literally. And as no other show can, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has gotten wind of this new trend and turned it on its not-so-tanned backside.



And is that the PC Guy from the Mac commercials?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

"u" is for...

Uh-oh. As a fervent fan of the red fruit, I am most stressed about the current tomato situation. Restaurants and grocery stores across the country have removed several variations of maters from their shelves and menus due to a salmonella outbreak. And we all know how I feel about any kind of intestinal discomfort. Though the outbreak did not seem to reach grape tomatoes, which happen to be my favorite species, I think I'll steer clear for a while.

Friday, June 6, 2008

"t" is for...

I am really fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with my job. I've said many times that I lived 25 years without even knowing there was such a thing as the tourism industry, and here it is, taking me places I've never been and introducing me to people I'd never otherwise have met. Though it's often not an easy thing to pack a suitcase in anticipation of being away from home and familiar surroundings, it's always worth the experience. Without the opportunity to travel, I might never have...

Seen a real Harajuku girl
Gone to Disneyland
Strolled by Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace
Paid for meals in Pounds and Yen
Heard "Please Mind the Gap" in the Underground
Seen the musical Wicked

Walked beneath Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees
Shopped in the Mall of America

Figured out that Myrtle Beach, SC is no Charleston

Watched the Cirque du Soleil show, LOVE, in complete awe


No matter where I go, though I appreciate every mile and cab ride, I always look forward to coming home. There's nothing better than seeing Kell waiting for me and my luggage at the airport. And while I'm always begging him to come with me, it's even better when I don't have to miss him (and the twins) anymore.

So, how do you like my new banner? My friend, the fiercely talented graphic designer, Tracy McGarrh designed it for me (she also did the Save the Date cards for my wedding, too). Though Viking is her day job, she keeps the creative juices flowing by cranking out some fantastic freelance work, too. If you ever need a designer, she's your gal! Check out her website for examples of her work including websites, custom logos and Christmas cards. Thanks, Tracy!
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