Fourth of July Memories..

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. As I've mentioned before I'm from a crazy patriotic family with my Dad being a retired Army officer who was also an Airborne Ranger.

The years we lived in Louisiana I can remember watching the fireworks on the levee and shooting off our own at the same time, watermelon, bbqing, and much more.

The best Fourth of July I've ever had though? The year 2003 when me, my Mom and Dad and my nephew Preston(who 13 at the time..he's 19 now) spent the 4th in Washington, DC. We did the whole DC parade and then Capitol Lawn concert experience where Dolly Parton sang and fireworks were shot off the Mall.

Talk about AWESOME! I had watched it for years on PBS but to actually be there was too cool for words. It's something my nephew still talks about. Picture below...

The 2nd best 4th? Last year. Me, my friend Kara and Dana spent the weekend in the mountains of NC -- near where I was this past weekend.

Kara and I got our hike on and we enjoyed good wine, food and fireworks on Grandfather Mountain.

What is your favorite 4th of July memory?

2003-Capitol Lawn on the 4th of July.

Kara and I last year up in Linville,NC.

Rock On -- Team Jenny

This is just downright AWESOME! Team Jenny shirts in support of SC’s First Lady, Jenny Sanford. She didn’t stand by her man while he was admitting to cheating on her and she’s getting KUDOS for it.

I think I may even buy one of these cute shirts that say Team Jenny – Don’t cry for me Argentina.

Hiking Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

If you haven’t noticed by now – hiking is my favorite past time and Charlotte being near the mountains is one of the main reasons I moved here. I mean – I moved here 7-years ago and the first thing I did was join a hiking group.

Anyhoo – to escape the heat of Charlotte me and my hiking buddy Kelli decided to spend the weekend on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

There are tons of different places to hike here in the Carolinas but I picked this one stretch of the BRP because it’s higher elevation which means cooler.

Kelli, Buddy and I hiked part of the Tanawha Trail on Saturday – nearly 6-miles and pretty tough. It was a lot of maneuvering over rocks and boulders. I found the trail through my new book I purchased called Best Hikes with Dogs in North Carolina. GREAT book! Then on Sunday we did a short 2.5 mile loop call the Green Knob Trail around Julian Price Lake Park and it was awesome. We hiked through the forest but also a pasture!

Well, that’s it for now – countdown to the Fourth of July is on but until then enjoy the pictures!

Happy Monday!

Pasture along the Green Knob Trail

You hike along and through Sims Creek on the Green Knob Trail

Before getting on the Green Knob Trail

Water along the Tanawha Trail

There were TONS of wildflowers on both hikes!

A brick wall on the Tanawha Trail?? craziness..

Me and Kelli. Met here in a hiking group here in town.

Blue Ridge Parkway Here I Come!

In case you're wondering? Starting tomorrow(Saturday) I'll be up here for the rest of the weekend.

Of course, it isn't Fall so it doesn't look like this right now but seriously -- I'll be hiking along the Tanawha Trail with my friend Kelli right underneath this viaduct. Buddy is going too.

Brad is still in Vermont for work so I decided to have a little 'girl' time and get my hike on.

CIAO!

Funny Foto Friday

It’s funny foto Friday! Can you say wind? I thought it was cute.

Anyhoo – can’t let today go by without saying WOW! What a news day yesterday..

As a former TV news producer I’m a bit of a news junkie and was flabbergasted by Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both passing in the same day.

I have to admit – even though Michael Jackson was bizarre in his later years you can’t go without saying that he changed the music industry as it was including music videos.

My favorite Jackson song? Thriller…

As for Farrah? I was obsessed with Charlie's Angels back in the day. Me and my cousins would all play Charlie's Angels and of course everyone always wanted to be Farrah.

RIP Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

Proud to be an LSU Tiger!..and a little about me..

OMG! What a game last night! Right out of the gates my LSU baseball Tigers were on fire! The game got tied up mid-way but they came back!

So now we are officially the College World Series Champions for the 6th time! I am so proud to call Louisiana State University my alma mater. Not only because we have a rockin' football, basketball and baseball team -- but because the people and fans are unlike any others!

We're passionate even in the down times. Casey can speak to that. So here's to a celebration! YAY! GEAUX Tigers!

Now -- I got tagged my Domestic Diva to share 10 things you don't know about me. How fun! I've done this before :)

Now I tag:

* Casey
* Jann - The Lenzers
* Mother of Brown Eye Girls
* Coco
* Teresa
* Allyson
* Kayla
* Kate - Flow of Flotrude

Now on to the 10 things you might NOT know about Dee:

#1. I love Walt Disney World and sometimes wish I still worked there.
#2. Deep down - sometimes I wish I was a hippie.
#3. I prefer the mountains over the beach anyday.
#4. I would never move back to Louisiana even though I love visiting.
#5. San Francisco is my favorite city.
#6. I have had the dream for years to visit every National Park in America. I've visited about 10 so far!
#7. My two favorite posessions are my camera and my BOSE Stereo.
#8. My favorite wine is anything made by Pride Mountain Vineyards.
#9. I don't like the desert - I have to see green trees. (I can officially say that after living in the desert for 5-years.)
#10. I make my bed every single day :)

Wait for it................

I was right. Gov. Sanford was/is cheating on his wife with a woman in Argentina. Things never change....

Politicians...slime..

Ok – I’m into politics and always have been but let me tell you what they disgust me at the same time.

Are they all just selfish, arrogant a-holes? The latest saga… South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.

I’ve actually met the man believe it or not – again, I’m a TV producer and he was on the show I produce for PBS a year ago and remember NC and SC are one ‘region’..the Carolinas. Anyhoo -he was nice enough….BUT.. what he’s done lately is just downright ridiculous!

5 days ago he ditches his security detail and leaves town during Father’s Day weekend not telling anyone – not even his wife where he’s going?
He’s the father of 4-kids for goodness sake! I understand he was under a lot of pressure in recent weeks because of the state being nearly bankrupt and stimulus money, etc… but he’s the flippin Governor!! That’s what you get paid to deal with!

After several days of no one knowing where he was his staffed said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail until today it was he was caught getting off a flight and it was discovered he had been in Argentina vacationing and on a cruise? He claims by himself?

My opinion….? With some woman…

In my book he joins the slimeballs that are: John Edwards, Elliot Spitzer, John Ensign, and yes.. Bill Clinton too! And the list could go on………….

That’s my rant for today..

The latest on him? The guy who was taking the fall for Johnny boy and claiming to be the father of Rielle Hunter's baby is now DONE lieing. He's written a book telling the truth about Edwards and it will be on bookshelves soon.

the latest on this slimeball? He's out actually making the media rounds telling how he's 'recovered'. His wife has gone back to work and is now supporting the family. Good thing he married a high-powered attorney who was raised in NC!

Kids Crooked Houses

For those of you who watched Jon and Kate Plus 8 big show last night saw the Kids Crooked Houses featured.

I have to admit.. what a cool business and as a little girl I would have just died to have one! Their kids -- despite all the drama -- we're pretty stoked too.

Well, I just heard on CNBC that during and after the show they got 6-hits per second to their website and caused it to crash! They expect their sales by the end of this month alone to exceed what they did last year!

Way cool...

Geaux Tigers and other news...

Woohoo! The LSU baseball Tigers played quite a freaking game last night against Texas to win the first game in the College World’s Series finals. It went into the 11th inning!

If we win tonight kids? We’ll be national CHAMPS for the 6th time!

When I was in college we won 3 back-to-back CWS championships. So Exciting! I’m even thinking of joining the LSU alumni group to watch tonight’s game!

GEAUX Tigers! Ok—moving on…

In other news…my friend Cathy has finally set a date for her wedding. I got a text from her yesterday and it’s April 2, 2010 at the Audubon Zoo tea room in New Orleans. Cathy is a sorority sister from college but we became gal pals and b/f/f’s when we both happen to move to Las Vegas at the same time. Gosh we had some crazy times!
She’s marrying a great guy she met on E-Harmony – so for all those people that say online dating doesn’t work – well it does! Yes, I’m a bridesmaid – so this will number 7.

Well, that’s it for now! CIAO! And Happy Tuesday! A few pictures of me and the lovely Cathy…. Old school..and new school…

Vegas - 2000 -- when I was still living there..

Disneyland in CA - 2001

2007 - my last visit to Vegas! winning $1500 on our infamous Top Dollar machine

The Most Beautiful Place I've Ever Seen...

One of my co-workers and good friends just got back from their family vacation to the Grand Canyon. I’ve talked with her several times during their vacation, since she’s been back and again this morning. I just love talking about it because it is hands down the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to.

It was March of 2001 the first and only time I’ve ever visited. Me and my Mom drove from Vegas down to the park for a weekend trip. Neither of us had ever been there before but had seen pictures, videos, etc. of the park. I will never forget when we got there…..my Mom had dozed off on the shuttle and I looked over and thought OMG!!!!!!!!!! I tapped her and said ‘Mom, LOOK how big and beautiful!’

We spent 3-days there hiking, picnicking, taking pictures and just taking in the beauty. It was so hard for me to believe that this was natural and what it must have been like for the guys who originally happened onto it!?

I planned on traveling back to the Canyon this last year to hike to the Havasupai Tribe Village and stay 3-nights there with friends and hike to Havasu Falls, etc..
The trip got canceled though after the big flood this last August that nearly took the village out and caused it to be closed until only recently. I hope to reschedule that trip within the next year or so though.

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? What were your thoughts? What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?

Happy Monday!

Me and my Mom having a picnic on the West Rim.

Low Key Weekend

Happy Father's Day! I am not spending the day with my Dad even though he lives in Atlanta(
4hours away) because first off I'm tired from my travels and 2nd off I'm dog sitting this weekend.

Below is a picture of Bean and Buddy playing tug of war. This is my friend Alexis' dog and when I'm out of town she's so good to stay at my house and take care of Buddy so this weekend was my turn to take care of Bean.

Bean is TOTALLY opposite than Buddy in that is much more high strung and hyper. Buddy is very passive and laid back. They play well together though.

Overall, it's been a low-key weekend. We went to dinner and had drinks Friday night, yesterday we spent the day at the lake with his parents and then attempted to go see The Hangover last night but it was sold out.

Tonight we 'might' go to the Symphony in the Park. Still not sure. Brad leaves in the morning for 10-days to work up in Vermont so we're trying to spend quality time together.

Well, happy Sunday and Happy Summer Solstice!!

Buddy and Bean

Fun and Funny Foto Friday

Because I know you missed me last Friday ;)
I thought I would not only include a funny foto this week but also a fun foto.

Enjoy!

Brad and I getting our dance on at Beth's wedding. This seems to be a fav on Facebook. It's now my profile picture!

AND...............yes, funny...this was my 8th grade graduation CIRCA 1988.

Talk about big hair and clothes that make us look like we're 30! horrific! My b/f/f Bek is being attacked by bows and lace too! I didn't smile because I had braces.

Happy Friday!

Napa Days...

After the wedding festivities were done and over we headed down the mountain and into Napa Valley. As I’ve mentioned before I’ve been to the Napa area tons of times but seem to enjoy it more and more each time.

This was Brad’s first time though which made me very excited to see how he would react to this awesome, special place. Well… he liked it as much as I do even though at all times he won’t admit it.

I mean – who wouldn’t like drinking wine in a beautiful setting??

Our first stop was Flora Springs where my friend Jason from college(LSU) works. The winery was closed that day so it was an extra special, private tour which included a barrel tasting and then just hanging out with him.

The next day included a wine seminar at Franciscan winery and tour/educational tasting at Mondavi. These were set up for us by a friend here in town who owns a wine shop. Talk about cool?! I learned all kinds of things I didn’t know before!

All in all – a good time and a good buzz. My wine I purchased on the trip should be arriving any day. So I wouldn’t look like a big alcoholic I had half of them sent to my office and the other half sent to Brad’s.

Good times!
Here are few highlights..

Jason showing Brad the Flora Springs vineyards.

me and Jason. What a cool job he has!!

Barrel tasting in the cave! so fun!

Getting our sniff on at our wine education seminar.

Getting our picnic on at V. Sattui

Brad getting his swirl on...yes, he is a red wine fan now too!

Tasting at Mondavi.

Wait for it.............HYDRATE!

and time to drink another glass!

I'm BACK! Beth's Wedding Weekend Extravaganza!

What a weekend of wedding festivites!
We had a travel nightmare getting up to Tahoe but after 18-hours we got there!

The weekend started out with a bridesmaid luncheon at the Lone Eagle Grille overlooking Lake Tahoe where we lunched and gave Bethie a scrapbook with old pictures. Each bridesmaid had their own 2 pages. She LOVED it!

Then, that night the wedding party took a catamaran boat across the lake to a restaurant called Garwoods where we ate fabulous food and sipped on their signature cocktail a ‘Wet Woody’.

From there we took buses back to the hotel and gambled!! Yay!

The wedding day a bit iffy as it rained overnight but it went off without a hitch except a little wind and cool temps. As you can see they had their dog Callie in the wedding – in the middle of the ceremony she broke off the leash and into the bushes. We got her back!

The day after the wedding they hosted a brunch at a GREAT restaurant – also overlooking the lake – called BigWater Grille! What a way to conclude the weekend!

Fabulous setting – fabulous people and I’m so happy for my friend Beth and her new hubby DJ. More to come from my trip – including our trip to Napa.

For now.. back to work.. and time to get some sleep!

The setting for the luncheon.. gorgeous!

luncheon!

Scrapbook!

Beth and her bridesmaids!

Boat to Garwoods!

Beth and I on the boat.

Me, Beth and DJ at the rehearsal dinner..

Brad and I on the boat..

Callie, DJ and Beth

Bridesmaids on the lake!

Tim and I.

The Happy Couple!