Traveling "Home" for Thanksgiving--

ahhh, the Holidays --who doesn't love them? It seems that the months beginning with October all the way until January is slam packed with holidays! The next upcomming holiday since I began this blog is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday to eat lots and lots of delicious turkey and ham.... and to give thanks, of course. =) Everyone always travels "home" for the holidays. For some, "home" is their hometown, for others just visiting a group of close friends is considered to be"home". There are many different places that can be related to as "home". "Home" doesn't necessarily have to be the house you used to live in when you were younger. So while your friends and family are gathering to celebrate the holidays, take a moment to set back and take a look around you. You are more blessed than you could ever imagine. Be thankful for those that surround you. Some people aren't so blessed to have a "home" to visit buring the holidays.

*Tan lines, sand, birthdays, and fireworks!

Every year; myself and a group of friends of mine visit Panama City Beach, Florida around July 4Th. There are a couple of different reasons why we head south around the fourth. One being it's some of my close girlfriends- Janna, Casey and Shana's birthday. And in my opinion there isn't a better way to spend your birthday than soaking up the hot Florida sun with some of your girlfriends. Two; because of the holiday it's one of the most popular times to visit the area.. It took us almost two hours to get through an area known as the "strip". The strip is where all of the "young adults". And lastly; how could a girl pass up four days in the sun with her besties during the summer break? We normally spend at least four nights at the beach (let's face it, you can only handle sand for so long) Most of our days at the beach are spent in the same daily routine. We stay on the beach from sun rise till sun down. Some of the brave ones of the group will decide to go para-sailing. Others will just settle for jet skis. At night we like to go out, maybe play a round of putt putt or go dancing. Of course we have to go eat at the at some of the local hot spots and don't return back to the hotel till early morning. On the Fourth everyone sets on the beach to watch the firework shows. Come the fourth day everyone is give slap out and sunburnt and ready to hit the road back home. It's always a trip that we'll never forget and each year it just gets better and better.

Pretty Leaves & Employees..

This year the company that I work for decided to start something new. We are going to hold an annual "company cookout". This year our destination was the SMOKEY MOUNTAINS!! =) We had been searching for quiet sometime for the perfect lodge to hold our cookout at. We finally had chosen the one!! It was called Seth's Red Oak Lodge. I've been with this company going on four years and until our company cookout had never met every single employee. It's nice to be able to put a face with the voice. We're talking about voices that I hear on a daily basis -whether it's good or bad (ha, jk). Some of them looked exactly what I would have pictured them to and others I would have never guessed. It was so crazy that we had to give out name tags because without them I didn't know who anyone was by their face or without hearing there voice first. It was actually entertaining, almost like "guess your coworker". Mrs & Mrs. Plimpton cooked up a delicious finger licking dinner. Mr. Plimpton started up the grill and barbecued some chicken, while Mrs. Plimpton was inside the lodge setting the tables and fixing desserts. We said grace, dug it and boy was it good!! After dinner Mr. & Mrs. Plimpton gave out some awards. I got the "i'll call her back award" =) After awards we took advantage of the nice gameroom. We played each other in pool, air hockey, and ping pong. All in all, it was a great day and well worth the three hour drive up. I'm already looking forward to next years annual company cookout!! Not to mention I can't wait to see my other coworkers!!