Alabama + Graffiti

- a lifestyle blog -

Philly – Through the Eyes of a Hubby

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My husband does not take pictures of everything like I do.  As much as I try to get him to get into this blog thing, he just doesn’t seem to want to.
At one point in time, I thought I had him talked into at least writing a post or two every now and then, but that fantasy didn’t last long.  I have told him that he has the best job to take pictures; next month he’s traveling to Canada, San Marcos and Los Angeles.  What better job to take pictures of everything?  I know that if I had that job, my blog would be twenty times more interesting.  But alas, my job is full of trucking and telephone calls, and not fun traveling, so I have to rely on him to take pictures of things.
So during our trip to Philly, he did happen to snap a few…  

That last picture is from a bar that I’m pretty sure had the name rooster in it.  And if you’ve seen my kitchen, you know I looooove roosters.  I’m kinda mad that guy’s jacket was in the way; or I’m mad that I was too lazy to get up and take a picture around it.  Either, way, you can sort of tell that it’s a rooster.  
I have threatened B’s life if he doesn’t take any good pictures while in California.  Because I’m sure that I won’t be headed there any time soon.
I do love my crazy little  B.

Orlando Part III: Universal Part 1

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For our first full day in Orlando, we decided to do one of the major parks.  And of course, since I am such a fan of Harry Potter, Disney World didn’t even come close in the running.
*warning:  picture heavy post to come*
We decided on the two Universal parks.  And just so you know, it’s pretty expensive.  We spent a total of 12 hours at the parks just to make sure that we got our money’s worth.  Oh and a tip:  wearing flip flops probably not the greatest idea.  But then again, water rides and sneakers don’t really go hand in hand either.
I was so excited about Harry Potter I couldn’t stand it.  Of course, it was the most crowded part of the park, but it was well worth the wait for everything….Here are some of the pictures I snapped. of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.

Pumpkin juice!  It tasted like Christmas!

Tasted like frozen vanilla.  Pretty much the greatest thing on earth.

Maybe I’ll save the rest of everything for coming posts.  That was a lot of pictures, and I don’t want to bore everyone with a picture heavy post.
Anyway, it was so hot while we were here it was ridiculous. We decided to try some food at the Three Broomsticks in Harry Potter land for lunch.  We shared the fish n chips ( I know I already had it.  I love it, and I usually only eat it while on vacation…..or at J Clyde’s), and it was actually pretty good.  B has an aversion toward shepard’s pie so we steered clear of that.  
I also went on my first roller coaster in a long time, and an actual scary ride that B was proud of me for riding but was a blast.  The actual Hogwart’s ride is amazing.  It’s all simulated, but they put you in this little roller coaster like seat and bang you around pretty good.  I was so proud of myself for doing it. 
So that was just from our few hours in Harry Potter land.  More to come tomorrow!

Orlando Part I

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Last week was weird.  I mean, yay for America celebrating its birthday whenever the hell it wants (on a Wednesday, geez!), but it made the week just weird.  Like there were two Mondays or something.  Anyway, B took me to Orlando this past weekend.  And it was a great treat from him.  Especially after some of the things I went through last week.
We spent the majority of the Fourth in a friend’s pool, drinking vodka cranberry and reading Fifty Shades:
Stella’s birthday bone! 

Vodka cranberry in an AU cup.  Anything better?  nope.

E’s dog, that I tried to talk B into adopting since they are moving.  I mean, she could be Stell’s twin!

Vulcan.  Where they shoot the fireworks.  We had great seats this year!!  Minus the kid playing the harmonica next to us.  That took about three seconds before it got old.

B and Stell.  It was her first time to go see the fireworks.  Needless to say, she hated it and was scared the whole time. 
 
Then came Orlando.  We went to this fantastic Cuban restaurant…Havana.  *yes, I get it.  A little cliche, but what are ya gonna do?

Personal sangria bottle.  Holla!
This was the best garlic bread I’ve ever eaten.

The inside.  We were definitely the only non-Hispanic people in this place.

Empanada yumminess.
Churrasco.  Recommended by our server.  And with good reason.

Plantains.  Or what I like to call, little pieces of heaven.

B had fried pork bits.  And they were so good.  They were even delicious reheated as a snack.
This place was nestled behind a million chain restaurants, behind a million tourists right next to nothing.  If ever down there, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

First Austin Post!!

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Okay.  I have to admit that I have a new obsession.  Okay, two.  Fifty Shades of Grey is my first one.  And Austin, TX is my next one.
We are planning on relocating this perfect gem of a city, and I can’t say enough good things about this town.  They have food trucks galore, a super dog-friendly city (your dogs can pretty much go wherever you do), free live music, super nice people, doughnuts as big as your head, I have pictures of most of all of this, but since it is the capital of Austin, I will start with your generic pictures of the capital building, and then go from there in future posts!  I mean, I can’t give it all away in one post!!
We walked all the way from South Congress to the Capitol building,  (okay, I have to admit that I’m slightly confused on my use of capital and Capitol, so excuse me English majors if I’m totally butchering it here) which was about five miles…
Big Red Boot in Texas…I mean why not?

Though this was funny.  We passed this on our way back to the food trucks. 

Very liberal city, but I just liked the old timey feeling of the hotel.  They had these old hotels everywhere!

Capital building.

Confederacy statue outside the building.

Taking a rest after the first leg of our five mile walk.

Inside.  This is one of my favorite pictures.

Hello President Bush!!
There’ll be more pictures from this past weekend, but wanted to start with these before seriously delving into Austin.  Because I could seriously go on forever.
And I just found a recipe for potato chip cookies…so be on the lookout for that this weekend.  Because I’m totally making them.

Old…but Still Awesome * Vegas*

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Lately, I’ve been feeling very nostalgic.  I’m not really sure why.  I usually am not one to go down memory lane.  I am usually, and I say usually because there have been some exceptions in my life, one to leave things in the past.  I don’t like to expose myself to old wounds, because when I do, it’s been known to come back and bite me in, well, you know where.
So going against myself, I started going through a bunch of old pictures.  When my grandmother passed, we went through her old albums.  There are so many pictures in there.  Of me and my sister when we were younger…of my parents still together…of both my grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins…and sometimes I’ll go through that old cedar chest (conveniently made by my grandfather) and pull those pictures out and look at them.  
I know there’s a way to scan them all in some so at some point I’ll have them all at my fingertips on my computer, but until that day (and when I can grow that patience), I will have to settle through searching through my old digital pictures.  Which I did.  And now you’re going to have to suffer through it.
So last summer, if you remember, BJ and I went to Vegas.  I only shared a few pictures from that trip, and I couldn’t believe it!  A whole four days in Vegas, and it only warranted a few posts?  I completely forgot about the awesome gangster Italian place that we ate for my father-in-law’s birthday, and about our night on the strip… 
Inside the MGM bar Rouge…Ugh, I so love that dress.  And miss the long hair. 

See, Rouge…. yummy vodka tonics.

The ceiling at the MGM …doesn’t quite capture it, but you know.

In laws in the limo on the way to dinner….  This was also BJ’s first limo ride.  I have a funny picture of him, but he’d kill me if I posted it on here.

Yums….

The inside….

The bruschetta.  Absolutely amazing.  You can honestly make it this good by yourself…make sure you have fresh tomatoes, and hit up the best local grocery store you have for some fresh mozzarella.  Add some olive oil and garlic and you’re all set.
Veal with mushrooms…..oh how I love me some mushrooms.  And yes.  Food pictures super gigantic on purpose.

In laws again.  Happy, and perhaps a little tipsy on that second bottle of wine.  So cute though.

Cheers!  I’ve been told I hold my wine glass like an amateur, but in my opinion, it doesn’t matter if the wine is already warm.

I know it’s crooked, but I don’t care.  And I’m too lazy to fix it.  Cannoli of amazing town.

T-shirt the in-laws got for father-in-law’s birthday. 

Vegas was a blast.  I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have been able to do a whole week there.  By the third day, you’re walked out, casino’d out and drank out…
But…I’d definitely go again.  For like a weekend or something.