Adventures in Kayaking

Last weekend D. and I went to Hilton Head/Bluffton to visit his family.  His mom is an AVID kayaker and wanted to bring us out for a morning row? (Is that the term?)  We ended up going up the May River for 3 MILES all around Myrtle Island, which I thought was the perfect place considering we live in Myrtle Beach.  I have to say I held my own, thanks to my friend Molly's boot camp.  It was very peaceful on the water. We didn't see any dolphins, but some birds and really nice homes.  Here are couple of photos.  I really enjoyed it and just wish I didn't live in a condo so I could invest in my own kayak.  Some day....

That's my boat!

May River

All Ready!

 XOXO

JAMIE

Shagging on the Boulevard

So lately D. and I have been talking about picking up a new hobby.  This weekend I will be going kayaking for the first time so I will let you all know how that goes.  But there has been one thing in particular both of us said "Hey that might be fun".  Ever since I was a little girl in NJ, I  have been obsessed with the Shag. It started when my sister and I saw the movie and became completely hooked.  I had no idea then, that one day I would be living in Myrtle Beach (home of the Shag).

So when I returned from Vegas, D. had my birthday present ready and waiting.  First was a new pair of Golf Shoes (and yes I may have picked them out), some beautiful flowers and then there was a card I had to open next.  Inside he explained that we would be taking 4 private lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio to ....LEARN TO SHAG!  I was so happy!  After the 4th lesson there is a little showcase at the studio to practice and show off your new moves.  So now our date nights have turned into Dinner and Dancing Dates!  

 

Of course my first thought was I need some new dancing shoes, however Shagging shoes are expensive and NOT FAB!.   So I think I might have to get a new pair of Jack Rodgers to help me get my feet in the grove!  

No THANKS!

MUCH BETTER

 I think Silver will look FAB! under the disco ball!   I better get to downloading some new tunes for us to practice too...can we say Chairman of the Board's "Carolina Girls...best in the world"

Wish us luck!

XOXO

JAMIE

What I love Wednesday!

It's that time of the week to link up with Jamie over at This Kind of Love!

I am loving that my two cousins are coming to visit!  They mean the world to me and I love as we get older we get closer.  To bad we live so far away but they are so great to come see me since I am too swamped with work to get to the Northeast this summer.  

I love that I had the best weekend in Pinehurst with D.  We got to surprise our friends who live there and we also got to play Pinehurst #5 which was such a treat since I have never played there.  

The whole weekend was just terrific!

Pinehurst CC

Pinecrest Inn

I love that this weekend I am having my personal grand opening for my new Cigar Lounge.  I am so excited for my friends to see all of the hard work that went into it and to break the place in...(not break the place)

Lastly, I am loving that it's Father's Day Weekend and the US Open. I kind of feel like they go hand in hand.  I can't wait for beach time and a cookout with my family.  I am so lucky to not only have my Dad live by me, but to get to work with him everyday and "make it work".  It's a special relationship we have and I am so thankful for Big Nick!

XOXO

Jamie

What I love Wednesday!

Top five things I am obsessed with this week!

1.  Cool Ranch Doritos...I had them Friday and now I can't get enough, which is bad cause I started boot camp this week.  Time to stop this obsession...

2.  My weekend getaway with D.  He has planned the whole thing and I wish it was Friday already!  I am so lucky!!!!!!!!

3.  I just got the new Shellac nail polish put on in Tropix...I can't wait to put it to the test and the color is more of a watermelon color..really FAB!

4.  My new putter that I am waiting to come in...The Odyssey Divine Rossie  ***in pink!

5.  Meredith Vieira left the Today show this morning.  I cried and I laughed.  I have been an avid viewer since I was 18.  I have made two appearances on the show and having Meredith leaves makes me a little sadden. 
I wish I could have a shirt like Kathy Lee and Hoda....(thanks Jenn)

Pink & Green Thursday! - Masters 2011

In honor of the Pink and Green Thursday I am dedicating today to the 75th Masters. (can we have a moment of silence for this great event please)

As an avid golfer and also someone who worked in the golf business this is the most important week of the year.  And all I can say is Phil Mickelson.  

I am obsessed and totally in love with him.  Wednesday kicks off the weekend with the Par 3 challenge where the kids get to caddy for their dad.  How cute are they in their pink and green hats!

 

This is such a great family and his wife Amy always has the kids coordinating in hopes for a Sunday victory.  

So we need to say our prayers that he will be putting on the "green jacket" for another win.

 

So what makes this the best tournament...the course and tradition.  With hole names like Pink Dogwood, Golden Bell, Azalea, Magnolia, Tea Olive, Redbud, what's not to love?  And let us not forget the famed "Amen Corner".  Hope you all enjoy watching!  Thank god it's Thursday!!

Stress..How to relieve it..

Lately, things in my life have been a little hectic and I it doesn't help that I have been sick with some type of chest cold and runny nose that doesn't stop thanks to the pollen in South Carolina (love you spring, hate the green stuff)!!!  We have our new cigar lounge opening, I'm trying to get my Heiress Cigar launched and I have a million weddings, bridal, bachelorette and baby events, and lets not forget my regular job as well.  So I am trying to think of everything possible to relax that doesn't include a liter of wine, thus creating a hangover and adding to my insane frame of mind. 

So it's Tuesday and this is usually my favorite day of the work week.  Monday chaos is behind me and I can get organized for the week, which always ends up being insane even when I think it will be calm.  So here is a list of what I am doing to stop my constant jaw clenching..

1. I have decided to park my car in the back of my store so the random people who come in soliciting me for advertising and nonsense think I am not here...for my friends and people that have appointments...check the back.

2. I am trying my best to rev up my workout schedule, which is very challenging with said schedule above but I know that after a good sweat and ass kicking I feel phenomenal and it's my only "ME" time

3. Actually taking a nice hot bath at night and then enjoying some fun games on my iPad. LINE-UP 2 is my favorite and thanks to Bekah for introducing it to me.

4. Reading my favorite blogs and finding new ones let's me take time to enjoy a little light reading and keep up with the fashions around the country.  Grey Dog Designs, Positively Preppy in Pink, Sara Bernice, Vineyard Loveknots, Wanna Be Southern Belle....

5. Crosswords...I know many people find them annoying and challenging.  I have been doing them everyday for years, and it's just puts me at ease...go figure! Especially when 1 ACROSS is four letter word for N.C. University, and it's not DUKE...try ELON!!!

Super Bowl! I have my life back!!

Football season is over.  Well ,technically it was over for me a couple of weeks ago when my precious NY Jets lost the AFC Championship for the 2nd year in a row.  So of course I had to root for the Packers and I am extremely happy they won! 

Now, the Super Bowl is probably the only program where people actually want to watch commercials. I know there has to be some stat out there proving that besides the obvious millions of dollars advertisers shell out for 30 seconds.  So all anyone can talk about today is the great commercials, but I have yet to hear about my favorite little guy, the e-trade.com baby.  This kid can make me laugh so hard, which is ironic since I am not a kid person.  But something about a toddler talking all grown up really gets me going.  So here are the two from the game, and I found a "blooper" reel as well, which is funny too!  Enjoy....

Enzo the Tailor!!

Bloopers Reel!

And nothing like Peppers the Cat!!  Bless you Peppers!!

All Things Telluride, CO

Every winter I make an annual trip to see my best friend since junior high, Susanne.  Currently she is living in Telluride, Co.  It's a quaint little ski village for the rich and some famous (TomKat have a house there).  The town consists of about 5 blocks and then the mountain is above.  It's completely picturesque and you  easily can lose touch with reality.

 My trip started with me leaving my home at 4am.  The journey was to be Myrtle Beach - Charlotte - Phoenix - Telluride...well that didn't happen.  When we were trying to land in Telluride there was a white out and after two attempts to land we were diverted to Durango.  Only 88 miles away but a 3 hour drive.  So when I finally arrived at Sue's front door I had traveled for 17 hours.  Totally not FAB!

The first night was mostly just settling in and reconnecting and getting to see my precious Annabelle (Sue's daughter).  Now you all know I am not good with kids, so what did I do to have her warm up to me after a year, give her presents.  Here she is sporting the new purse and jewelry I gave her for her 2nd bday/Christmas.  Working on her FAB style! 

First thing in the morning I had to get my favorite breakfast sandwich from the best place in town called Merle's Brown Bag.  I highly recommend the FAVE :  Egg, salami, pesto and goat cheese Panini!  FAB!!!!!

The next night we decided to go snowshoeing through the woods on the mountain and view the full moon.  Totally a cool experience.  And despite many childhood friends worries, we totally rocked it out and I am not just talking about my cool headlamp.

Don't know how I moved with all those clothes on, but it was COLD!

Trisha who is the coolest made us a FAB dinner when we got back and boy was it yummy!  Shrimp and Chicken with a lemon caper risotto..DELISH!  

 The next afternoon we decided to go skiing.  Now, the last time Sue skied she broke her leg, and it had been about 13 years for me.  After much flirting with the hot ski boys at the rental shop we were ready and on our way...the girls back east should have been more worried about this then the snowshoeing. 

So when you live at sea level, the elevation difference is a big deal, especially at 10,000 ft.  We get off the lift and end up on a much harder hill then anticipated.  Which I thought to myself, okay, baby steps and hope like Stella, I would get my grove back.  Well Stella was on a beach sipping cocktails and I was on a steep mountain.  I made it to a clearing when all of a sudden I shut down.  ELEVATION SICKNESS had hit me.  All I could think was how the hell will I make it down.  Well with help from a cute ski patrol and some water, I made it to the landing and was able to get some water and some sugar and I felt like a million bucks!

We were ready to rock and had a great time the rest of the afternoon.  However, there was one fall, no thanks to me checking on Sue..Thanks for making sure it was captured.  

The next night a group of ended up going to dinner on the mountain and getting to take the gondola at night with the city all lit up behind us.  Through the trek in the snow, we had a cozy and warm table for the seven of us.  I enjoyed the Lamb Chops and a good bottle of Prosecco while others had some Venison Carpacio, the largest steaks I had seen in a long time and some Colossal Crab that was amazing!  I highly recommend Palmyra at the Peaks if you are in the area. 

Palmyra

And if you are a picky, like our friend Jen, they even have Grilled Cheese and Fries (if you ask)!

And some wine too....

We hit the town afterwards for some drinks and laughs. 

Trisha's straw was way too big for her drink.

 

The ladies had fun posing for pics.

And it made me remember college days at our local bar West End Tavern. 

 

Unfortunately the rest of the trip flew by with strolls around town and a Jets LOSS :-(  Before I knew it I was back on my trip home.  Telluride (thankfully) - Phoenix - Charlotte - Myrtle Beach.   I had a blast and was able to experience new things and also appreciate the old.  Now if I just could have put Sue and Abelle in my suitcase it would have been perfect.  Can't wait for next year.  Only 359 days left...

Friends for 19 years!

J-E-T-S!! Jets! Jets! Jets!

I have a very exciting weekend planned!  My dad (Big Nick) is going to be celebrating his 60th birthday in November.  For a year I have been wondering what am I gonna get the man who has everything?  It used to be cigars...and then he decided to ruin the perfect go-to-gift by opening his own cigar store.  Then it was golf stuff...until he finally owned everything there is.  And I have tried wine but really that is more a Father's Day gift.  So I finally came up with the perfect gift and I think it will be hard to top it....I am flying Big Nick and I up to the dirty Jerz to see our favorite sports team the NY Jets take on the Green Bay Packers...on Halloween...in the NEW stadium....with a 5-1 record!!!!!

This is where my secret lover will realize how FAB! I am....

I love you Mark Sanchez!!!!

Here is a farther view from our seats SECTION 307 ROW 1

Even my little Gigi is excited for us.  She wanted to show her spirit!

She's got her game face on!

So, when I told Big Nick about the surprise his first reaction was "We're not going to Green Bay are we?"  I was complete speechless.  Why would we go to Green Bay when we are from NJ?  It's gonna be like old times when he would take me to the Jets/Buffalo game.  We had season tickets when I was growing up and that was my designated game every year!!

We will be with some other big Jets fan tailgating starting at 10 am.  On the menu...Bloddy Mary's, Filet Mignon Beef Tips with Fettuccine Alfredo.  That was Big Nick's request.  Please say a prayer for his arteries!  I will follow up this blog with a picture from the game.  I was just too excited to wait!  J-E-T-S!  Jets! Jets! Jets!  Do I smell SUPERBOWL??????


UPDATE:  The JETS SUCK!  I take back my statement about Superbowl.  0-9...REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!  However, even though the game was HORRIBLE, the tailgate rocked and my Aunt and Cousin came as a surprise. 

Revised Menu:  Champagne, Woodchuck Cider, Stripper Bass, Clams, Lollipop Lamb Chops, Beef Ribs and NE Clam Chowder...YUMMY!