A Charleston Bike Trip

When I was planning to take dad on our motorcycle trip that I gave him last Christmas, I knew which direction I wanted to head: The East Coast. I couldn’t decide between Charleston and Savannah, so I practiced my favorite decision-making skill: When you can’t decide between two options, pick both. So we picked up a bike in Charleston and drove through Savannah! I had never even been to South Carolina, which is just pretty silly. Tennessee is not that far away. My sister even lived there for a summer. But I had never been. So we headed to the South Carolina coast. But first let me explain a detail which will make the rest of this make sense. We (my mom, dad, and I) drove in my car to South Carolina. Then on one day dad and I rented a Harley to drive up and down the coast. Mom wasn’t on the bike with us. There was no side car involved. And no leather. And I don’t drive, I just ride. I get lots of questions about things like this. So, anyways, our bike trip actually turned into a mini-vacation, and I was quite happy with that. Mini-vacations sustain me.

Biltmore

My mom, dad, and I had all uncharacteristically done very little planning for our South Carolina excursion and noticed just days before leaving that we would be heading straight through Ashville, NC – a place that all three of us have always wanted to visit but had never been: the Biltmore. I’m so glad we were able to stop. What a gorgeous place!

Right as I was taking this picture a sprinkler turned on and completely soaked my jeans. I wasn’t just near the sprinkler. I was apparently standing right on it. Soaked!

Technical Difficulties

"Dad, what does that light mean?"  I ask pointing to the bright orange glow coming from the dashboard of my car. We had just arrived in Charleston after a long day of driving, touring the Biltmore, and more driving. We had pulled into a local restaurant for a 9 o’clock dinner - not because we are hip, just because we are way behind on our eating schedule. "We'll, that's your tire gauge." We checked the tires on the way in to the restaurant, and all looked fine.

We were all stuffed and over tired. And then we go back to my car to see a completely flat back rear tire. We were all just quiet. We opened the trunk as if we change tires every day. I whipped out my flashlight app while dad seamlessly... silently... put on the tiny replacement. We hopped in the car and headed back to the hotel, all leaning slightly to the back right. We quietly got on to the elevator and when the doors closed, dad cut his eyes at us and then pointed to his shirt. A large damp spot right in the center. He started laughing and told us that after changing the tire when he went back in to the restaurant to wash his hands, the automatic soap dispenser squirted the soap straight onto his shirt. It wasn't that funny. But we all started laughing. After a tiring silent night, a good, endless giggle is welcome.

Tire Repair... Not how we had planned on spending part of our vacation...

Bike Ride

The next morning dad and I picked up a bike and rode the bike from Charleston south through Savannah and headed down towards Jacksonville before turning back around over. 

We went over some awesome bridges, through some beautiful towns, and in a little bit of rain.

My first motorcycle rain shower.

And yes, I rode the entire way with my phone either in my lap or tucked under my legs. Now that makes me a daredevil.

Downtown Charleston

We did it all!
We shopped at the market.

We rode the trolley.

We walked to the battery.

Excuse my crazy hair. At the time I thought my hair looked like Pocahontas at the top of the waterfall in the movie. Instead I looked like this. Oh well!

We swang at the pier.

We ate at Poe’s Tavern and Hymans.

We strolled the streets.

We picked out which homes we want to buy some day.

 Mine

Mom's

We saw the USS Yorktown.

We took a boat to Fort Sumer and toured the fort.

And we napped on Sullivan’s Island beaches.

And saw more than a few jellyfish!

Sleep Talking… Twice

"It's okay Emma. It will be fine." I hear my dad say in the middle of the night – our first night of vacation. I realize I'm sitting up in bed, but I have no idea what's happening. "Go back to sleep." I hear him, so naturally I just go back to sleep. The next morning he tells me that I was making airline reservations. 

Again. "It's okay Emma. It will be fine." I hear my dad say in the middle of the night – our second night of vacation. I realize I'm sitting up in bed, but I have no idea what's happening. "Go back to sleep." I hear him, so naturally I just go back to sleep. The next morning he tells me that I got out of bed and said, "I always have to get up and get everyone to go back to bed." 

Oops.

The Road Less Travelled

On our way home we took a major back roads detour through the mountains of North Carolina and East Tennessee. My grandfather always talked about a little town called Maggie Valley, so we just had to drive through it. So beautiful.

What a perfect little mini vacation!

Something New for Spring

Tennessee has never been more beautiful. I find myself drifting out of the city every weekend to head to the family farm. I want to swing on the porch for hours. I want to take walks to the pond. And, call me crazy, but I even want to pull a few weeds now and again. The air feels easier to breathe. The sun feels warmer and brighter. The colors – they just feel alive.

Aunt Em

Being an aunt is one of my favorite things in the world. And this winter, I will be an aunt three times over. My two little nephews are going to be big brothers. Best. News. Ever.

Covenant Groups

Spending time with my 8^th grade girls covenant group has been one of the highlights of my year. I have grown to love each of them so dearly. We ended our year of Covenant with dinner and Sweet CeCe’s!

The best part? Even though it’s over for the school year, I am with these girls through high school graduation! So we will be back together in the fall, this time as high schoolers!

Natalie Portmanteau Party

One of my friends recently hosted a Natalie Portmanteau party. I know what you’re thinking. What in the world is that?

I thought the same thing.

It turns out that a Portmanteau is a term for the meshing of two words or ideas into one. For example, spork (spoon and fork) or smog (smoke and fog).

So a Natalie Portmanteau party? Everyone picks two famous figures or ideas or themes and creates one costume to represent both.

My costume? Snow White Christmas.

I’m not normally a fan of selfies, but this closet photo that I sent to my mother is the only one I have of my full outfit.

Coming up with costume ideas was so much fun! Even more fun than dressing up? Guessing what my friends had dressed as. I could usually guess part of the costume but not the whole name (Okay, honestly I hardly guessed any right at all). Here I am with a few of my party friends!

Front Row: Emma Stone Cold Steve Austin, Lady Gagangnam Style

Middle Row: Honey Boo Boo Radley, Brittney Shakespears

Back Row: Bam Bambino, Kim Kardashiandiana Jones, Marilyn Monrogue, Whitney Houston Nutt, Snow White Christmas, Princess Diana Ross, Buddy Holly Golightly

I have the best friends.

Wedding

Speaking of my best friends, one of my best friends from high school got married! Yes, the friend that even took me to my high school prom.

We had a lot of fun at his wedding. I wish him and his bride all of the best!

 The crew from high school

There is nothing quite like your best friends' babies.

Royalty

Washington DC is one of my favorite cities, so I was excited to organize and host my company’s annual conference there recently.

 Senator Cruz

 Senator Bachmann

 John Stossel

 Senator Paul Ryan

Oh, and Prince Harry was staying in my hotel while I was there. This would be a much better story if I had actually seen him. I didn’t. But I would really, really like to be Princess Emily.

Baking vs. Assembling

True confession time. Sometimes I actually bake. Like, actually get a bunch of separate ingredients and whip up something fantastic. But more often, my majority of the time in the kitchen involves less baking and more assembling.

My most raved about baked good? Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. A package of Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix with a Dove dark chocolate square on top. Secret's out. Of course, sometimes I make a criss-cross on top with a fork to make them look homemade. And people love them. When I show up at work with a plate of them I hear, “Well, look who it is! Betty Crocker!” and I smile and think to myself “No, literally. It’s Betty Crocker.”

Once I made Oatmeal Raisin Butter Cream Sandwiches. Two oatmeal raisin cookies from the Publix bakery with Betty Crocker Butter Cream icing in between. Again, they were loved.

I’ve discovered that assembly can sometimes be just as valuable as baking.

Especially in a time crunch.

And who has time at breakfast? Not me. That’s why I don’t bake breakfast, I assemble it. My latest choice? A whole wheat pita pocket with sunflower butter and pink lady apple slices.

Delicious. Of course, I often swap out English muffins for pita pockets or peanut butter/almond butter for sunflower butter. That’s the best part of assembly. Use what you have! And you have to try this. I’m hooked.