Traveling Gnome

As Nick says, I am a traveling gnome.  In a period of 30 days I will have visited the following cities for work and pleasure.  I have left off several of the small southern towns because you won't know where they are on a map unless you are well versed in rural Southern Mississippi/Louisiana geography. 

In order of travel:

• Los Angeles, CA
• Newport Beach, CA
• Fayetteville, AR
• Rogers, AR
• Batesville, AR
• Memphis, TN
• Oxford, MS
• Little Rock, MS
• Dallas, TX (HOME!)
• San Antonio, TX
• Houston, TX
• Austin, TX
• Detroit, MI (Vacation!)
• Shreveport, LA
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Lafayette, LA
• New Orleans, LA
• Jackson, MS
• Vicksburg, MS
• Branford, CT  (Vacation!)
• New York, NY (Vacation!)

This means between June 10th and July 10th I will spend 5 days in my bed.

I am exhausted just thinking about this.

I do love to travel, but this is a lot for me. . .and Lola . . .and Nick. 

I try to make the best of it by eating in local restaurants and exploring the new cities I visit for work.  This means I have eaten fried green tomatoes on the banks of the Mississippi river in Vicksburg, filled my gas tank from a pump without a credit card feature on rural Mississippi roads, toured Antebellum mansions in Baton Rouge, gotten lost in the Ozark mountains because I was distracted by the beauty of the White River and strolled through downtown Oxford, MS thinking it reminded me of a southern Ann Arbor, with better dressed, better looking people.  These are experiences I never imagined I would have, mostly because I never thought they were worth worth partaking in.  My southern experience before our move consisted exclusively of business trips to Atlanta and select family vacations to Florida/South Carolina. While the South doesn't always agree with me (and Texas isn't really the south, more just its own thing), I am thankful for the time I have lived here and what it has taught me about myself and the people of this vast country.  Mostly I am sorry that I judged you Southern states- you are worth it and if you ever get a chance to visit Oxford, MS it is highly worth your time.

Some of the best food I have had in a long time at Boure in Oxford. 

Tales of a Twinata: Newport Beach for Marisa

Twinata (prounounced twin-yatta)- Noun,  a traditional pinata in the likeness of an actual person, thus simulating a real twin.

Dear Twinata,

I am sorry that I was ashamed of you all weekend and insisted on walking 5 feet in front or behind you at all times.  Marisa, your human inspiration, truly loved you like only a human could love their own twinyata.  You waited patiently for her at the surprise lunch Saturday at the Cannery and yes Marisa was surprised to see some of her key players in California to celebrate her bachelorette party.  You accompanied us to the Newport Beach Walk Hotel where we stayed on Saturday night and Marisa debated bringing you to the beach Saturday afternoon, but you might have gotten wet.  That would have been traumatic.  You loved the duffy ride through Newport harbor and dinner at Billy's on the water.  However your favorite part of the weekend was bar hopping all over town.  You managed to secure no less than 4 rounds of free drinks for 5 girls.  It was like I was 24, single and 123 pounds again.  Apparently everyone loves a twinyata but me.

Love,

Jane

Meet Marisa's twinyata

Newport Beach, I too think I am quite brave for putting a picture of me in a bathing suit while pregnant on the blog- notice the three quarter pose.  I obv. planned that.

Marisa and I both love being nautical, one of the many things we have in common.  On the deck before the duffy ride.

Enjoying a sunset cruise on Newport Harbor via Duffy boat

Ready for some bar hopping.  I told the twinyata she was not allowed in this picture.

It's a Boy!

And to think this whole time I was convinced our baby was a girl.  When the doctor told us it was a boy, I asked him, "are you sure?".  After all, my instincts must be more powerful than the ultrasound machine.  We are thrilled with the news, even if it means my nursery plans have to be reworked.  I shouldn't have nursery plans to begin with as we don't have a room to use as a nursery, but a girl can dream.  In my dreams our baby has an iron crib and I love this one from Restoration Hardware.  Do you like antique white or antique bronze?

All things boy really hit home when my friend Jenny gave us our first boy gift- a pair of Sperry Topsiders for the little guy.  Nick exclusively wears Sperrys so this was particularly touching. Seriously he doesn't wear any other brand of shoes except to work out in.  I love them.  Like seriously LOVE this pair of mini Nick shoes.

I can already tell this boy news was a good surprise.

I heard of a fancy new program . . .it's called Evite

Oh husband how funny you are suggesting such a thing as a digital invite!

I do appreciate your patience with my endless projects and your willingness to reach for the A9 box of envelopes in the craft closet.  For someone who thinks so differently from me you have an uncanny ability to know me.  This means you don't care that our living room often looks like a Paper-Source clearance section for days at a time or that I sometimes get glue on the rug and on the dog.  While I wouldn't trust you to affix an address label or even seal an envelope, no one takes greater pride or appreciates my crafting more than you.

It is one of the many reasons I love  you, but please don't suggest Evite again.

Last night's project:

I am into wrapping address labels lately

This is the back side of the envelope the front label wraps to the back for the address