a lone star state of mind

I am getting really excited for my trip to Austin, Texas slated for mid-February. I am due for a really nice break away from work, and I am really looking forward to exploring a new place with some of my friends. I am traveling with a group of friends I've never gone away with before so that's always fun to see how everyone will mesh for 4 days when we don't all get to home at the end of each night.  The swimmer in me really wants to go to the Barton Springs Pool - which just looks amazing - I love that it's lake and just seems like a great way to spend the afternoon. It might be a bit too cold though in February for everyone to want to go in so I might really have to plead my case on this one. Also on the agenda is a trip to the Salt Lick -  for some good old fashioned barbecue Texas style - or what one might be able to call, eat meat until you can't eat it any more.  Hopefully, some country line dancing can be tackled as well as enjoying some of that great country music. For now, I'll have to keep counting down the days until we are in Texas.

the sky is a hazy shade of winter

I am a New England girl through and through, and even flurries bring me back to the years were it would snow all winter long - even as late as April some years. Now it seems like if it snows its gone so fast that I barely have time to get tired of it. This photo of the snowy tree was taken while it was just flurrying on a Saturday afternoon. All I can think of what a great excuse a blizzard makes for staying in making hot cocoa (peppermint schnapps optional) and reading some new books.

it starts to glitter

One of my very good friends (and someone who clearly has been reading  my blog regularly), gave me this lovely bouquet of roses that were dipped in silver glitter. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous and have held up quite nicely for a full week on being in my apartment - not even slightly starting to fade. I love fresh flowers and I really appreciate the personal touch of the glitter.

I want a ticket to go anywhere

Traveling is a must do for me - I honestly get a bit nervous when I don't have a plane ticket booked in the future. I had seen this book- The New York Times- 36 Hours - 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada around a few places, and I was completely intrigued by long weekend itineraries. Eventually, I just had to buy the book so I could start thinking about some weekend getaways. Getting to see places across the country, and being lead to the must see places seems like a great way to be introduced to many more cities (not sure if they can compare to New York or Boston). Armed with this book, and the weekly emails about deals for air travel, I think I am going to try to make a good dent in seeing more of the country when most of my time has been spent only on the east coast.