Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When were you last facing an ocean? Using just ONE word, describe how you felt as you faced that ocean.
In September, when I visited Grand Cayman and Cozumel on a cruise. One word: Happy!

2. What are three sounds you hate to hear?
Nails on a chalkboard, my mom imitating my cats Riley and Diesel meowing, and Bella’s meow (the cat I had when I lived in Korea).

3. This question comes to you courtesy of some real life friends. Hi real life friends! When you shop for yourself, do you try everything on in the store before buying or do you buy, try on at home, and then return what you don’t like or what doesn’t fit?
I try everything on in the store! I usually still change my mind and return something.

4. February 26th is National Pistachio Day… Are you a fan of the little green nut? Do you use them in cooking and baking or prefer to eat them right out of the shell?
Not a fan.

5. When did you last have to compromise with someone? Were you happy to reach the compromise or slightly irritated it was necessary?
I can’t really think of an example… Guess I’m pretty selfish! 🙂

6. Have you ever written a letter to an elected official? Did you get a response?
I don’t think so, maybe as a kid.

7. We ‘March’ into a new month at the end of this week… What’s something on your March calendar guaranteed to make you smile?
I have spring break and a girls night out planned for St. Patrick’s Day!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
My cats love to sit on my arms when I’m on my computer. Makes life more difficult but it’s pretty adorable!

Single Ladies Link Up

10 Things I Love About Myself

1. I am a good friend. I am thoughtful, I remember things, I make an effort, I don’t back out when I say I’m going to do something.

me and my friend Cindy (skiing on Tuesday)

2. I am well-traveled.

Mongolia, June 2012

3. I am intelligent and doing well in grad school.

4. I can cook and bake some delicious dishes (most of the time).

5. I like to do things by myself (going to the movies, traveling, etc.).

but when you travel by yourself, you tend to take photos like this all the time (Laos, June 2012)

6. I love my two cats like they’re my children.

7. I have cute toes. And a cute nose.

8. I have an exciting life and am always trying new things.

riding an elephant was scary! (Thailand, July 2011)

9. I throw great parties.

Santa’s Mustache Bash, December 2012

10. I’m fun! I will sing karaoke or be the first one on the dance floor.

Carnival Cruise, September 2012

Tuesday Topics

6 Memories

1. 2000: The first time I was on a plane… I went skydiving. And I can’t believe I don’t have any photos of it!!

2. 2000: The next time I was on a plane I went to New York City for New Years Eve.

3. 2004: My first time out of the country. I went backpacking around Europe for a month!

La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, Paris

4. 2004: My first cruise.

Cozumel, Mexico

5. 2010: My first solo trip (Los Angeles).

6. 2010: My first visit to Asia. I moved to Korea!

milkshakes in a carton… one of my favorite Korean things

2012 Review Extravaganza: Third Quarter Recap

July:

I finished up the five week epic Asian backpacking trip with an overnight layover in Warsaw on July 1st. I arrived home July 2nd!

my mom picked me up at the airport 🙂

I went to an awesome 4th of July party.

I went to Coon Dog Day, my hometown’s annual holiday. (Parade, dog show, and square dance!)

I visited my dad, stepmom, brother, and sister in Arkansas. We went canoeing!!

My sister came back with me to visit for two weeks. We went to Bele Chere (a local festival), tubing, and got manicures.

On a sad note, Daniel (my boyfriend of eight years) and I broke up in July.

August:

Callie and I continued the fun. We went camping, to Sliding Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and rollerskating.

that’s Callie!

I was the maid of honor in my BFF Ohee’s wedding.

I turned 30!! Celebrated my birthday by making pottery, going swimming at the lake, going out to dinner, and then finishing with drinks and desserts at my house.

I went to Dollywood Splash Country with Shannon and Mason.

I went to the Laugh Your Asheville Off Launch Party at Highland Brewery.

I went to my BFF Breanna’s son Easton’s first birthday party.

I got purple highlights!!

I got my job as a part-time nanny for Sam.

I watched roller derby for the first time.

I had my first Pinterest party!

I flew down to St. Pete, FL to visit Tessa for Labor Day weekend!

September:

Continued the fun in St. Pete…

Then headed off on a cruise on Labor Day!

Stopped in Grand Cayman and Cozumel…

Started taking a cake decorating class.

Got my two kittens, Riley Moonshine and Diesel Gambrinus!

they were scared to come out of the carrier at first… so sweet!

I went to the NC Mountain State Fair.

I threw my stepsister Ruth the most awesome baby shower ever.

I had my second Pinterest party.

I started my local travel blog (I’m not so good at updating in unfortunately).

I became obsessed with blog swaps!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. So, when did you last take a walk in the woods? A stroll along the beach? A drive going nowhere in particular in the car?
I took a walk in the woods a few weeks ago, to collect greenery at the wreath party. The last time I strolled on the beach was on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman in September. I never go on random drives; what a waste of gas! 😉

2. Are you sending Christmas cards this year? About how many do you send? Photo card or something more traditional? How do you display the cards you receive?
Yes, I sent about 50 photo cards! I haven’t received any yet, so I don’t know how I’ll display them.

3. What’s a word you’ve heard too much of in the past week?
No one word that I can think of…

4. December 13th is National Cocoa Day… Are you a fan? Plain or flavored? Marshmallows or no marshmallows?
Yes I am a fan; plain with marshmallows please!

5. What is something you do to help alleviate the hectic pace of the Christmas season?
I don’t find it hectic .:)

6. Besides jewelry, what’s a favorite sparkly-glittery item in your home or closet?
How about my very sparkly pink shoes?!

7. Share a favorite line or two from any Christmas carol.
“I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around me, and so the feeling grows.”

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Please check out this post and let me know which charity I should donate to this month… I will donate $1 for your comment!

10 Day You Challenge: 6 Places

1. Saluda, NC. My hometown!

2. Bundang, South Korea. Where I lived for two years.

3. Bali, Indonesia. My favorite place in Asia.

4. Italy. My favorite place in Europe.

5. Mexico. My favorite place in North America.

6. On a plane going anywhere and everywhere!

Carnival Paradise Cruise

Just got back from a five-night cruise on the Carnival Paradise from Tampa to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We had a great time! Lots of fun shows and games, lounging in the sun, swimming, drinking, eating, drinking karaoke, and dancing.

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Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel was the second stop on our five-night cruise on the Carnival Paradise from Tampa. Four of us got a taxi and did a tequila farm/Mayan ruins tour for $20 per person (plus $8 for admission to San Gervasio). The tequila farm was cool even though I don’t drink tequila (except in margaritas)! It must have been good because my friend bought a very expensive bottle. They also had lots of tequila sampling in the duty free shop outside the ship that everyone took advantage of! The Mayan ruins were OK; I think because I’ve seen such awesome wonders like Angkor Wat that they seemed a little boring to me. Plus it was so hot. I did love seeing all the big lizards though! After our tour we got lunch (overpriced like everything near the pier), did some shopping, and then drank and got mini massages on the “beach” in Puerta Maya (Carnival’s port area).

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Grand Cayman

I visited Grand Cayman on Wednesday! It was one of two ports we stopped in on our five-night cruise on the Carnival Paradise from Tampa. We took a bus to Seven Mile Beach ($5 per person each way). It was nice: white sand and clear water. We went snorkeling and swimming and even got chased by a stingray! Before getting back on the ship we stopped at a seafood restaurant near the pier (Hammerheads) with a great view but expensive prices. There was a fish market by the restaurant and tons of huge fish in the water. We only had a few hours in port but we enjoyed it!

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R is for Roatan, Raleigh, & Rome

Roatan, Honduras

I visited Roatan while on a cruise with my mom in February 2012. We took a taxi to the beach where we drank and swam. Couldn’t tell you much more than that! When we got back to the port we had some time before we had to be back on the ship so we ordered a bucket of beers at a restaurant. Mom got a little tipsy and ending up dancing!

Raleigh, NC

As it is the capital of my state, I have visited Raleigh many times. Most recently was May 2011, when I had to go there to get documents apostilled for my Korean visa. My mom and I wandered around downtown while we were waiting.

Rome, Italy

Rome was part of the summer 2004 European backpacking trip. I liked other parts of Italy a lot better (Cinque Terre and Venice). But it was cool to see the Colosseum, Vatican, and Sistine Chapel.