End of Summer

The end of summer is here.  I started work over a week ago.  But, the end of the summer was busy!!

My mom and dad came to visit and help around the house.  We had a great time!!  Luckily, it wasn't too hot while they were here.  We did lots of shopping, drove up to northern Georgia to a town called Helen, and relaxed. 




Helen, GA

Right before I went back to school, we went to New York City for a week.  It was a busy trip, I felt like we didn't stop, and we ate and drank way too much!!!  While we were in town, we also got tickets to the World Trade Center.  I am so glad we went, but it was still very sad and emotional almost 11 years later.  The memorial is beautiful though, and I am sure it will be even moreso when they are finished.  There are two fountains where each of the towers stood, and there is a grassy/park area next to them.  The Freedom Tower is under construction and HUGE.  When it is finished, there will be a museum there as well. 

View of Central Park

At the Highline, an elevated park on old train tracks

View of World Trade Center from New Jersey

Where one tower stood

The New Freedom Tower

Where the other tower stood

The Park next to the fountains

We ate at "When Harry Met Sally" was filmed

After a little wine...

Hailing a Cab


The students are back tomorrow.  We had a great summer, it just flew by way too quickly!!!

Hilton Head

Two weeks ago we went to Hilton Head, South Carolina and had a great time!  The temperatures were higher in Atlanta than they were in Hilton Head, but it felt worse at the beach because of the humidity.We got there on a Sunday, it was an easy drive, only about 4.5 hours from Atlanta.  When we arrived, we went walking on the beach, and then out to explore the island.  We ate at Salty Dog Cafe, and had some good peel and eat shrimp.

On Monday we had a lazy day by the pool, it was great.  The pool at the hotel was right on the beach.  Monday night we went to dinner at LowCountry Backyard, the food was great.  David had the meatloaf and I had shrimp and grits.  The atmosphere really was like sitting in someone's backyard, it was very relaxed and we would definitely go back.

Tuesday we spent the morning at the pool and then went to the beach in the afternoon.  The ocean was so warm, it felt like bathwater.  We also found sand dollars, I was surprised at how many there were, all you had to do was put your foot down on the sand and you would find them.  Tuesday night for dinner we went to Eat!, Robert Irvine's restaurant.  Before we went, we read that Tuesday nights were 1/2 off tapas, so we ordered a bunch of tapas. 

On Wednesday, the 4th of July, we took a day trip to Daufuskie Island.  Everything I read about the island was great, but sadly, it was crap.  The boat trip was $55/person, which included the round trip boat ride, lunch, and a golf cart rental.  The boat ride was fine, an hour each way.  We were actually able to see some dolphins from the boat.  When we arrived at the island, we got our golf cart, and then headed to the restaurant for lunch.  The lunch was buffet that looked like it had been sitting out for hours.  David and I looked at it, looked at each other, and said forget it.  We got in our golf card and went to explore, however I think could run faster than our golf cart, it was slooooooooow.  While on the island we went to "Marshside Mama's" for some shrimp, the only way I can think to explain this is to say it was rustic.  Then we rode around and look at the few historical sites the island had to offer.  It got to the point that we were so bored with the island, we literally rode around on our golf cart in circles until it was time to go back.  After going back to our hotel, we went out for pizza and then watched fireworks from our balcony. 

On Thursday we went to the pool in the morning and then the beach in the afternoon.  We decided to play mini-golf, David only beat me by one point....  That night, we went to dinner at a restaurant on the beach just a short walk from our hotel.  It was probably one of our best dinners, we had fish tacos right on the beach. 

Friday we woke up and headed to Savannah on our way home.  Savannah is only about 45 minutes from Hilton Head.  We walked along River Street and then had lunch at a pub.  Savannah is such a great place, but it was HUMID!  We walked past Paula Deen's restaurant, (we had no intention on eating there, because we had heard it was crap), and by 11:15 they had a sign outside that said "booked for lunch".  After lunch we headed home, only about a 3.5 hour drive from Savannah. 

We had a great time, I only wished we had stayed longer!

Bathroom (FINALLY) and Toes

We FINALLY finished the half bath on the main level.  After two layers of wallpaper, replacing the drywall, and painting, it is finished.  The sink is still ugly, but it will do for now.

Here are some before and during photos:

And now the after:

Today I went to get my nails done, and I couldn't resist getting a design on my two big toes.  I have never gotten this before, so of course I had to take pictures because I LOVE them!!!

Last week we went to Hilton Head, it was so relaxing.  Even though the temperatures were actually hotter in Atlanta (100 - 102 degrees) than they were in South Carolina (95-99 degrees), it actually felt worse at the beach because of the humidity.  Before we left for the beach, Atlanta hit an all time high of 106 degrees, it was miserable, and still feels miserable.  It's so hot, there is no point in going outside to do anything.  When I get the pictures off David's phone, I will post about Hilton Head.  Tomorrow is our 3rd anniversary!!!

I realize I live in Georgia, but....

It is WAY too hot here right now, and it's only going to get worse this weekend! 

I LOVE summer, I love being home during the day to watch Days of Our Lives, and just having the entire day to do whatever I want to do!  I imagine this is what it will be like to be a stay at home mom, and I can't wait until that day. 

Here are some before and after pictures of the front two rooms of our house, it's amazing how different they look.

          Living Room Before                                    

Living Room After - No furniture, but still a difference

  

             Dining Room Before

             Dining Room After

The half bathroom is almost done, I am just waiting for someone to hang the mirror:)

          

Summer!

I love summer!!!! I had time in DC, VA, and PA. David and I spent some time in DC looking around the monuments. Then, he stayed for a few nights for a conference, and I went to VA to visit friends and family. My grandmother is still going strong at 98! Then, I went up to PA where I had a great time with my parents. After spending the week days there, we went back down to VA and I spent the weekend with Jill and Kara. Now I am back home in Hotlanta.

5 Days

I only have 5 days of school left, in some ways this year has flown by, in others it has lasted forever!  Summer weather has been here for a while already, it we had a few weeks that were in the 80s.

Thursday night I went to Sip and Stroke, a place where you paint and drink.  I think my painting turned out ok, next time I think I want to do a picture that I like more.