Looking forward to the Road Trip

Really hoping I get to see more older gentleman driving motorcycles, shirtless, wearing crocs...

 Don't forget to pass along your Road Trip suggestions! Really need help filling in the Road Trip 2011 page!

Crafts...travel..same thing...

I've been looking for outdoor future for a few years now. When I first moved to the DC area I had a townhouse with a backyard. My roommate provided some furniture but when she moved out the backyard looked especially bare. I hunted and hunted for a little patio set I could put outside until I decided to move. It just so happened I moved into an apartment with a balcony. And the search started again. Finally I found something (I was willing to pay for).

 

Ikea Bollo Folding Table and Chairs

They're pretty basic but fit my patio, can be stored easily and the price can't be beat at $70. But I got it in my head that the chair needed a cushion.  Unfortunately the seat is smaller than your standard outdoor chair and I couldn't find a cushion I liked that would fit, or at least not one I was willing to pay for. The chair was only $20. Certainly wasn't going to spend close to that or more on a cushion!

Fortunately Jenny and I stumbled into Jo-Ann Fabrics when they happened to be having a 40% off sale on their outdoor fabrics. After some encouragement (/peer pressure) from Jenny I decided to give making my own cushions a shot. I purchased a yard of fabric, thread and stuffing for $22 or $11 a cushion which was a pretty good deal as compared to the prices I had been seeing.

Trying to decide the size and cut the fabric was possibly the most difficult!

 Making it up as we went along first we stitched the straps and then turned the pillow inside out and stitched 2 sides closed, we used the seam as the third said and flipped the fabric right side out before stuffing and stitching the last side closed.

Finished Product! It's probably not the best cushion ever made but given it was done by hand by someone who doesn't sew...I'll take it!

Now I just have to decide if anyone is allowed to sit on it.

If my grandmother had a bed and breakfast...

This is what it would look like:

When I go to meet with my Canadian client I stay in a local inn.  The nearest chain hotel is 10 miles away (apparently a bigger deal in the winter) and a Best Western anyway.  The hospital staff suggested The Clarkson Inn instead.  It's sort of a nice change from yet another Hampton Inn which looks the same as last night's Hampton Inn. Except it does sort of remind me of another bed I've slept in...I swear my grandmother had that bed!

Quarterly Status Update

Ok. I'm a little late on my quarterly report...but I've been busy!

I can't believe 2011 is more than half over! It's gone by so quickly. The 77 flights I took flew by. It's interesting to me that with 77 flights I've only rent 20 cars and had about 26 hotel stays. But I guess I share cars a lot and do a lot of day trips that don't necessitate a hotel room.

At the halfway mark I'm more than halfway to Silver status on Delta so I'm sure I'll secure that for next year. I'm thisclose to securing Premier Executive status on United. In past years I probably would have secured 1K status but now you need 120 segments instead of 100. I don't think I'll make the 120 segments. Status for US Airways was gifted to me so I know I won't have that next year. It's come in handy when I've wanted to switch flights on US Airways without paying the $50 change fee. Although if I had those segments on my United account I would be even closer to the next level of status, but sometimes it's more important to me to get home sooner than get that segment!

I've been a bad blogger...

I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! I went on vacation, I went to Canada, I went to New Jersey, there were crafts, Sunday night dinners, Friday night dinners
 and I turned old (25), not to mention work.

Let's start with vacation:

My family and I went to Punta Cana last month. It was the first time my work travel has actually come in handy with for my personal life. We happened to be flying Continental and with my status on United we were able to check 8 pieces of luggage for free, board sooner and get our luggage tagged as priority.  Unfortunately I'm not nearly important enough (unlike this guy...just ask him...) to get upgrades on international flights.

My parents treated us to a nice hotel with lots of activities. Activities are important to me. I don't do idle well. I wanted to have a few days by the beach or pool but a whole week would probably make me crazy. Fortunately I was able to keep busy. My parents and I played golf twice, a couple of shots were even good. We were able to take kayaks out whenever we wanted. Most of us went snorkling. My sister and brother tried windsurfing. And I tried scuba diving for the first time, which I loved! We only went about 15 feet down, I think I would have to get certified to do much more than that...and I probably will. I definitely want to do it again.

It was a great trip. Can't thank my parents enough for the treat!

Some favorite pictures below:

Did I mention the rooms were swim up suites? Who doesn't love floating to a bar?

 Windsurfing

We travel by golf cart.

Caught a fish!

Troopers! After some pretty serious waves we were still able to get a bit of fishing in.

And the obligatory, I was home so I took pictures of my puppies, picture