Road trip!!!!

Eric and I just got back from our 2 week road trip through Spain. I am still reeling in the fact that we saw and did so much. It almost doesn't seem real. That Google map is a screen capture of the route that we drove. We began our journey in Madrid, went to Avila, El Elscorial, Toledo, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona and some tiny cities along the coast of France. We saw a ton.  We drove about 2,200 km, in a Mini Cooper One. (It was cute but it has nothing on my little red monster.)
I'm going to have a few postings about our trip so I will start with how we got around. The little Mini we got was a great size if not as speedy as mine. It also was better on gas.Which is great news when gas is 8 dollars a gallon. (YIKES!) Before we got the car we flew into Madrid and wandered around Madrid for a few days on foot and via taxi before we got our car.  The train system there is great so we used it to take our two day trips to Avila and El Escorial. I really liked riding in the trains. I wish the U.S had a better train system. It was so simple and easy.

Once we left Madrid we got the car. We set off to Toledo. It amazes me that they just will rent a car to you if you have a drivers license. We didn't know Spanish much less the road rules. Lucky we are quick learners and watched everyone else.  Another fact we learned is GPS are fine to have. I had read somewhere online that they were illegal. It isn't GPS systems it's radar. So Eric and I didn't have a navigation system besides an atlas Eric bought. I became the map reader/directions girl while Eric drove. It worked out perfectly. We really did need two people.

Once I edit my pictures a bit. I'll have more to share. :)

Walking

Every year New Year's rolls by and I make a sort of half-hearted attempt at a resolution. This year I have done it again but on a smaller scale so that I can make it more of a life change then a few week resolution. I've kept up eating a bit healthier as well as working out. The month of January I created a habit. They say doing anything for 21 days creates a habit. It's true. So the 21 days has past and I still go almost daily. I have had trouble going lately with my upcoming trip. I also have a calendar that I've placed on my fridge where I can place an X for the days I go. It's silly but it makes me happy to mark it off a bench mark of sorts. 

One of my favorite things that has happened out of this is walking. Every weekend and a few times a week instead of going to the gym Eric and I walk. We usually come up with a destination, a restaurant, store or something to explore and we set off. Our walks usually take us a couple of miles. Last nights was about 4 our longest about 10. I realize I look forward to these walks more than any other part of my day. It's time for Eric and I to talk about our day, to explore and see new things about the city we live in and try new edible awesomeness this city has to offer.  It is also nice knowing that I'm still working on being healthy and sticking with my plan as well as creating a better bond with Eric.

So creative.

While in design school I was fortunate to meet and befriend some of the most creative people. Quite a few who I still talk to on a regular basis. Being stuck in a room drafting for days has a way of bringing people together. Almost everyone there was not only gifted in design but also in creative endeavors, jewelry, painting, photography, sewing. This brings me to my friend Jen. She is extraordinary skilled and talented and she now has an Etsy shop. In this her shop I had been coveting this amazing little clutch. I fell in love with it's adorableness.

Not to mention that the inside is teal. I love colored linings. Alas, I wanted it but never bought it for myself. One of those I want it maybe someday someone will get it for me. While what do you know. My other amazingly creative friend Rebecca (also a design school alum) got it for me as a thank you. Oh how I love it. In fact I plotted my wardrobe to the symphony to go around it. So check out her shop if you get a chance. It's full of elegant items. 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

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I know, it's a mush hallmarky holiday, but I still like it. Maybe it's also because I'm an absolute sucker for chocolate. I've loved those little hearts full of candy since I was a toddler and told my Mom that my Dad was going to get me one. He did, a bright yellow box. I am sure it was just as fantastic as my little brain made it out to be since I still remember it so fondly.  This Valentine's day falls on a Monday so it's kind of a strange holiday. So this year I decided to give Eric his Valentine's day gift early. I bought him a flight lesson. (Thank you Groupon.) He is really excited about it. I know he will love it. He's been talking about flying since we first got together.  This is our 7th Valentine's Day. 

Being that today is Valentine's day and 7 years ago we celbrated our first we sort of got to recreate our first Valentine's day. Eric for our first Valentine's Day took me to the Symphony Orchestra. It was my very first time going and it was wonderful. Through a little bit of luck, Eric's boss had tickets last Friday and couldn't go, we got to go again. It was fun to this time walk there and reminesce about our first show. Then enjoy the great evening with fantastic seats. Third row, Beatles Paul McCartney tribute everything about it was great.  

I'm not sure what Eric is up to for Valentine's day. He said it's going to happen while we are on vacation. Which is in 4 days! So I'm curious and excited to see what he's thought up. He's always brilliant at things like this.

Wham Bam.. thank you (in Spain)

In just a few short days I am going to be getting ready to get on a plan. Eric and I are off for 15 days in Spain. It's an adventure that I am so excited to take. We've got a car rented and our first hotel booked, from there we are free to go and do as we please and spend time where ever we see fit. It's going to be amazing. We've added Granada to our journey, who knows where else we will end up. The count down has started.
In the meantime work has been slammed. Hence the Wham Bam. I've got a ton to accomplish to make sure that my drafting part is done for quite a few jobs we have going. It has meant some brain slug evenings but that's ok. I know at the end of this rush is a glass of sangria and some jamon.

That's one of the kitchens (in Denmark) that I'm working on the construction documents for. So luck is needed that I finish everything I need to so I can relax on vacation.

Snowmageddon

I usually live in Sunny, sometimes cold Atlanta. Where it rarely snows, and the snow rarely lasts more than a day. Not this time. It has snowed a solid 4" Its been crazy. The stores are emptied of all their bread,eggs and milk along with every type of meat and veg.(I'm not sure why Southern folks think those 'staples' will be the best food choices.) Anyway Sunday night is when it started to snow. Eric and I decided to go explore. The first picture is a shot of my street. It looked so pretty snow covered.

Next we headed over to our neighborhood pub to warm up with a beer on their patio. They have a great fire pit. I made an impromptu fridge for my beer :)

and some graffiti on one of the tables that hadn't been hit with the snow as much.  We then kept meandering through the neighborhood laughing and skidding with all the other Atlantans that came out to play.
I  had to make a snow angel on the cleanest and prettiest area of snow.

Silly me I got soaked making it and we still had more walking to do. It was worth it though. I haven't seen this much snow in years. Finally after walking around for a long time we made it home. It seemed like whatever direction we headed the wind changed direction and snow was in our faces. It was a lot of fun to be in such a frozen world. Back in side though with our dripping coats and snow covered hats I took one last shot out of my window and then curled up on the couch. It was the end to a perfect weekend.

weekend fun

This past weekend was quite possibly one of the best ever. Friday night Eric decided to cook something we've been wanting to try for ages. Beef Wellington. We've been watching a lot of Gordan Ramsay shows. I love The F word. and we've been wanting to try cooking some of the things he makes and this seemed to be something he makes often. So Eric gave it a shot. He did a fantastic job. It was delicious.

I'm not sure if Eric will make it again I think I'm going to give my hand roasting a duck next. :)

Saturday was one of those great days that I will always remember. Eric, his brother and I set off early Saturday morning for Vogel State park. His brother and I having just got new cars wanted to test them out on curvy mountain roads. I'll add some a picture of our cars later I only have one image that I took from the top of the mountain once we got there. We left Atlanta and it was cold 41 degrees but by the time we got to Vogel and up the moutain there was snow and ice and we were below freezing. We took it easy and made it home safe.  Driving on roads like that made me love the show Top Gear more it was exhilarating. The best part was Eric's brother, Matt's idea to have walkie-talkies so we could communicate up in the mountains. BEST IDEA EVER.

We did stop at the outlets on our way home  though where I found 3 amazing BCBG dresses all for under 150 dollars. Amazing sale plus a clearance item. Woot Woot. Saturday was brilliant and I can't wait for Spring time to drive back up the mountain with the top down on my Mini.

Sunday was lazy and we were expecting snow later that day. Eric and I walked around the city, tried a new french restaurant for brunch and found new paths to get to places. We ended up lazying it up at home until the snow started to fall. Snowmageddon is next!