honky tonking

On our way back from North Carolina, we stopped in Nashville for some honky-tonking and tourism! Vance and Jessica joined us for music and beers on Broadway again. Thank you, Jessica! It was so fun to see you again!

 

We also ended up in Nashville during the CMA Fest, so even though it wasn't planned on purpose, it made for a great music, celebrity sightings, packed streets, and people-watching heaven. (mullets, and sequins, and boots, oh my!)

We were lucky enough to see the Marshall Tucker Band and Phil Vassar in concert - to see Little Big Town and Lady A play ping pong (yep. you read that right) - and Ronnie Dunn randomly playing this new song on Broadway. We also found a new favorite band when we heard Blackberry Smoke sing Up in Smoke. We already have plans to see them in Lawrence this fall.

Nashville is by far our favorite.

wherefore art thou?

We've been vacationing! We left on a Wednesday morning and drove across this beautiful country to North Carolina. We spent six days with John's family, and in the middle of that we attended his friend's wedding! Greg was a groomsman in our wedding as well, so it was nice to be included in their special day. Beautiful weather, a great wedding, and even some new friends!



Groomsmen gifts included these personalized bowties.John's initials are embroidered on the inside, and that is North Carolina embroidered on the outside. A cute southern groomsman, if you ask me!

 

 

Congrats to Greg and Harper!

 

 

Next time we vacation I will make sure there is more proof that I am ALSO on the vacation!

our little estes park adventure

  

summer in photos

{lisa, sarah and jenni throw me a bridal shower with the best.quiz.ever.}


{ali and jj throw me a family bridal shower with sweet wedding stories}
(don't mind the date... this was just a couple weeks ago!)

{bridesmaids at family shower}

{float trip 2011, with becky & mandra - river ranch sleepin, elk river floatin}

Countdown to bachelorette party.... t minus 10 days!

eastbound and down

east bound and down, loaded up and truckin'
we're gonna do what they say can't be done.

we've got a long way to go and a short time to get there....

well... we survived our road trip!

kansas to missouri to illinois to indiana to kentucky
to tennessee to north carolina & back.

we had a fun and safe trip.

we really enjoyed taking in the scenery.

and taking in a day at the beach with john's mom.

and especially the night that vance and jessica showed us around nashville!
(which wouldn't have happened without this blog!)

thanks to all of you for keeping us in your thoughts while we were traveling.
we are pretty proud of our adventure!
and I kept my promise... hush puppies, bbq and fresh seafood were highlights.

and... we're off!

Adios, Kansas! We begin our road trip today and I am excited to be crossing three things of my list - visiting John's family, taking a road trip, and taking a vacation :)

the 'vul in ville

As I prepare for my cross country adventure with John, I have become aware of the overwhelming amount of cities we will be passing through that end in "ville." I am okay with that! I think I have met some pretty great villes in my life... Aggieville, to name my favorite. But, wait! These are not villes... John keeps reminding me that most we are visiting are pronounced 'vul. I would like to argue that the spelling is deceptive, but I am all about acclimating when traveling.

Louis'vul
Knox'vul
Ashe'vul
Fayette'vul
and just for fun, we are throwing in Nashville for some ville love

and the jury is out on Evansville, IN... anyone know?

I also plan to acclimate myself through BBQ, hush puppies, fresh seafood and sweet tea vodka.

road trippin'

john and i have finally figured out our summer vacation! we are taking a road trip to north carolina so we can spend time with his family. along the way, we plan to have fun! does anyone know of a good website for road trip planning? (i.e. fun FOOD stops!) we leave in 16 days!

first night - knoxville, tn

then a morning driving the blue ridge parkway and exploring asheville, nc

then on to raleigh, nc to see john's alma mater, n.c. state, and visit old friends

next we spend quite a few days with his family
possibly visiting charlotte and the beach

then onto nashville for some honky tonkin' and fast monkeys

and finally a quick stop overnight to visit the arch in st. louis
and maybe some nightlife
then home.

anyone have some "must sees" for me?

A breath of fresh air

My work trip to CA last week was a breath of fresh air - a much needed week "away from it all."

After a week in CA smelling fresh cut grass, soaking up some sun and seeing new and exciting places, I feel revived after our cold, cold winter.

And, what a blessing! I was greeted by beautiful weather  when I returned to Kansas City. What else could a girl want?

On the Golden Gate bridge.

vaca? kinda!

For the past couple years, I have only left town because of work. We all know that work trips are not the same as vacations - hello, you're working! However, since I have been unable to fund my own travel, I have enjoyed taking advantage of the fabulous places I have visited for work.

In 2008 I was very lucky to visit Cairo, Egypt for a conference and threw together all my pennies to stay an extra week and do a cruise down the Nile. I shouldn't say I threw my pennies together... because really, I charged it. Heck - every time I pay down that bill, it still feels worth it.

Last year I was lucky enough to travel to Nashville to exhibit and meet awesome teachers at a service-learning conference. We made great use of our time off in the evenings, soaking in as much of Nashville as we could find time for and afford!

I am lucky again to be leaving for San Jose, CA on Tuesday! Kristine and I will again be exhibiting at the same conference and then taking one night for ourselves in San Francisco! I would love to hear about good food and good sites anyone has to suggest - we will have minimal time and funds, but we are both go-getters when it comes to taking advantage of our time in a new city.

Last year in Nashville