Relaxing Weekend in Tennessee

Fun & relaxing weekend with dear friends is one of the treasures in our lives.

Cool Finds in Historical Downtown Dayton, TN:

• Deli Restaurant: Jacobmyers Deli
• Antique Shoppes: Time Worn Treasures & The Gathering Place

Ahhh... Relaxation

Vida Wellness Spa is a wonderful place of relaxation and top services. In the past, I had a bad experience with a french pedicure... it looked cheap; therefore, I was afraid to get one for my little sis' wedding. But after seeing my sister's mani + pedi, I had to get one. And now, I'm in love with french pedicures.

My *NEW* Favorite Cupcake Shop

Sorry Cupcake Royale, I found a new favorite cupcake shop in Seattle. Now, I just wish they would expand nation wide.

There are so many scrumptious choices, but Hummingbird is by far my favorite at Trophy Cupcakes.

Matt's In The Market

As we are running errands around town for my little sis' special wedding day. We got to have lunch at the one of the best restaurant in Pike Place, Matt's In The Market. Everything is absolutely tasty! And we got a table that looks over the market.

My Favorite Beach

This is our first trip to Destin, Florida. And I'm totally in love with the beach... the white powdery sand, the clear emerald sea and the pure peace.

Cool Finds in Destin, Florida:

• Fat Clemenza's: Authentic Italian restaurant. You have to get the cheesecake... it is a recipe passed down from his great aunt, very similiar to the italian cheesecake that we had in Florence, Italy. The pastas are wonderful, some of the pasta is imported from Italy... delicious!


• Dewey Destin: Fresh Seafood restaurant. It may not be a fancy place, but the owner has his own fish boats that catches fish on a daily bases. And the scenery is beautiful, right off the coast.


• Harbor Docks: Seafood restaurant. Great scenery, right off the bay.

Georgia

It is always wonderful to catch up with long lasting friends!

Cool Finds in Augusta:

• Villa Europa: Great authentic German food
• The Boll Weevil: 30 Homemade desserts (right off the riverwalk)

Fun in December

Cool Finds in Metro Alabama:

• Great Eats (BBQ):   Big Daddy's Bar-B-Q in Warrior, AL.
  (The owner, who is a minister of a local church, smokes all the meat, His daughter bakes all the desserts from home, and the sides are fresh & amazing!)
• Great Eats (Meat & Three):   Niki's West
  (You can't except to eat too healthy at Niki's West ... it is all southern.)
• Motorsports Museum:   Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
• America's Oldest Baseball Park:   Rickwood Field

Moss Rock Art Festival

What a Perfect Day! Got to attend my favorite art show of the year with good friends on a perfect clear fall day. What more can you ask for.

Andrea and I were so inspired by all the artists at the event. It is amazing the creativity that is sparked by one's passion.

Inspirational Artists:

• Lisa Norris - Made By One Girl
• Taylor Smith - Connor Claire Frames
• Michael Cole
• 100% Cool Efi Designs - Evija & Ingah

Art by Michael Cole

Finally, a weekend with my honey.

After weeks of 18 to 20 hours working days, no sleep, traveling, traveling and more traveling, I got to spend a nice relaxing weekend with my honey. Tried out a new restaurant, Garage Cafe, and had some fun window shopping.

The best taco soup	Outdoor patio

Visiting The Conn Family

What a wonderful weekend it was. It is always great to visit great friends... fun, relaxing and refreshing to the soul.

Memorable Moments:

• Steve drawing Shapie marker lines on his head.
• Just hanging out and catching up.
• Antique shopping (I'm a girl, what do you expect.)
• Watching the boys play football on the field.
• Seeing The Conns new house... so beautiful!

Cool Finds in Chattanooga, TN:

• Architectural Antiques: Architectural Exchange
• Antique Shops: Antique District

This is my great find in Chattanooga. Melissa calls it the stick. It is an antique leveling rod. I just feel in love with it and just had to have it. Melissa says it is because it is graphical and orderly, which is probably true to my nature. Can't wait to hang it up in my art room. I have some creative ideas for it. Will post it later.

Thank you to The Conn family for being wonderful host to us. We love you all!

NEW Noodle House in town... yummo

Hubby and I just went to a new restaurant in town, a noodle house restaurant. Yummo! We had the fried chicken appetizer, beef stew noodle bowl and the BBQ pork & wonton noodle bowl... it was all great! The restaurant is located on Highway 150, in the Publix shopping center. Try it out.

Handmade Items

For lovely handmade items from artists, go toEtsy.com.

A tour of interviews

It has been a whirlwind going on this adventurous tour of interviews. We've been able to explore the beauty and great finds of Florida and Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati is the best place that we have visited within these past several days. Talk about history... this city is full of history, beauty, character and hospitality. We would love to come back for a little getaway. And it is a must to stay at The Clifton House. We have stayed at lot of B&B, and this is by far our favorite. Nancy & Gus, the inn keeper and the restoration specialist, had renovated this beautiful 1900 house into a gorgeous B&B. Our room was fit for a king and queen. My favorite was the bathroom, with all its original features. If you do stay at the Clifton House, the Tuxedo room is my favorite. And the innkeeper are the most friendly, creative and relaxed innkeepers that you will ever fine. On the last night, we got to enjoy some wine and brownies with them and a guest on the porch, and then they invited us to have dinner with them in their huge kitchen... veggie burgers and locally grown sweet corn on the cob. (Can you tell that I loved the corn?). I could go on and on about the Clifton House, but too keep it short, they are the best! P.S. They have a wonderful chef, Heather, that creates the most delicious, creative and gourmet breakfasts.

Since we were in Cincinnati, we had to meet up with some great friends for a day of fun. While the guys went to Kings Island, the gals went to a movie and cheesecake. It was a fun day!

Cool Finds in Cincinnati, OH:

• Best Bed & Breakfast: The Clifton House


• Best Antique Mall: Duck Creek Antique Mall


• Best Ice Cream in Cincinnati: Graeter's Ice Cream


• Great Amusement Park: Kings Island


• Delicious Food: Olive's on Ludlow


• Delicious Thai food: Teak Thai Cuisine in Mount Adams


• Must Try: Skyline Chili (Cincinnati's version)

Cool Finds in Florida:

• Great BBQ: Kojak's House of Ribs in St. Petersburg


• Great Breakfast Food: Mama's Kitchen in St. Peterburg


• Great Spanish Food: Las Culebrinas in Coconut Grove

Ali Edwards Design

For great journals & apparels, go to Ali Edwards Design.

Heavenly Heels

During Christmas break, my sister and I purchased some Foot Petals in Orlando. This morning, I finally pulled them out and sticked the Tip Toes pads into my high-heels and they are heavenly. If you have high-heels that a little loose or need some foot protection or need some slip guard, Foot Petals are totally worth the money.

Update: Special promotional code: "2002". This promotional code entitles you and anyone who uses it to 20% off of their Footpetals.com purchase.

Charming Mexician Restaurant

Iguana Grill is one of the most charming Mexician Restaurant in town. The food is great. It is obvious that the meat is fresh and good quality. I think they purchase their ingredients from the next door market, El Mercado Mexican grocery store.

"Iguana Grill's décor is impressive – not the usual sombreros, Mexican blankets and Aztec calendars we've come to associate with Mexican restaurants. According to published reports, it was the work of one of the Mexico's most acclaimed interior designers, Martha Figueroa. Her firm, Adobe Designs, has created interior designs for 30 restaurants and hotels - mostly in Mexico, but also across Central and South America, as well as China, Japan and Spain."

- By Deborah Lockridge of bhamdining.com

Christmas 2006

We had a wonderful Christmas visiting family and friends. It was a nice 9 day travel and visit. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well and enjoy the New Year to come.

Christmas Eve:

• Worship Service with The Orlando Church - It was so wonderful to see and reconnect with all our close and dear friends from the Orlando Church.
  
  
• Fellowship with The Procacci Family.
• Grandfather's 96th Birthday Banquet.
• Hang-out at Front Row.
• Opened Christmas presents at midnight. You can tell by the pictures that we were tired, but we had a blast. And there was so much gifts!

Christmas Day:

• Opening presents and Christmas lunch at The Winters Family.
• Christmas Dinner at Mom & Dad's house.

After Christmas:

• Drove around town to see our old schools, houses and childhood places.
  
  
• Little Sis and I had lunch and did some shopping damage in Winter Park, Florida. The best shopping in Orlando area.
  
  
• Had dinner with The Willingham Family.
• Visited The Sun Family in Gainesville, FL.
Visited The Eatmons in Savannah, GA.
• A Nice Getaway in Downtown Historical Savannah, GA.

To view more photos, click here

Great Finds in Gainesville:

• Local Pizzeria: Satchels Pizza

Great Finds in Savannah:

• Art Supply Store (Large assortment of art supplies): Primary Art Supply
• Vintage, Bath Items & Scents: The Paris Market
• Vintage & Cutie Stuff: @Home
• Coziest Coffeehouse: Carpe Vas
• Frozen Coffee Drink: Carpe Vas
• Thai Restaurant (BEST in the Southeast): Tangerine Fusion
• Appetizers: The Cotton Exchange
• Great Burgers & AWESOME Onion Rings: B & D Burgers

Important Tip for Lodging:

• When staying at a Downtown Historical Bed & Breakfast, make sure your room isn't facing the street because of the early street sweepers.

Talk about a wonderful idea for presents...

I've order this photo book from PhotoWorks, to hold my favorite Seattle trip pictures and it is absolutely wonderful. And it cost less then printing all the photos. PhotoWorks allows you to make a photo book with the digital photos that you have taken. The photo book contains a soft or hard cover, designer pages, and several different layouts per page (based on the number of photos per page.) Need ideas for Christmas gifts, just to go to their website www.photoworks.com. Enjoy!

Best Sushi in town!

If you are a sushi lover and live on the southeast side of Birmingham. You gotta go to Ross Bridge's lounge for the best sushi in town. The atmosphere is wonderful, with mahogany wood and low-lighting, live jazz music and an option to order from their downstairs restaurant menu.

This was our second visit to the Ross Bridge lounge. And the sushi just gets better and better. You gotta try it out!

Scrapbook Photo

Go to Scrapbook Pictures to develop great photos at an expensive cost.