Misadventures in love and life

Me and my girlfriends are very close. However, we don't get to spend time together all that often. We always try to do something for our birthdays though. This past weekend we celebrated our friend Tammi's birthday by going to Pigeon Forge for the weekend. We set out on Saturday morning and of course had to go to the new Bass Pro Shop. Now me not having a clue about anything in this store just went along for the ride. I used to fish with my father when I was a kid but quickly grew out of this when I found out I was a girl. Don't misunderstand, I know that there are some women who enjoy hunting and fishing, my friends are some of them. I'm not. I much prefer high heels and shopping anyday to fishing. However, this store was fun. It included a water fall, an aquarium, and animals such as moose, deer, among others. We had to try on hats, visit starbucks, and of course kiss the moose.

Next we visited the scrapbook superstore. My friends and I are huge scrapbookers. We love everything from the papers to the stickers. I am personally a paper and chipboard addict. Scrapbooking has become a huge part of my life. I take my digital camera everywhere with me. I not only document holidays and special occasions but also everyday life. I love it. After shopping like crazy we just had to have our photo taken with the bear family in front of the store.

We checked into our hotel and had to try out the beds. The only way of course to do this is by jumping on them. Don't laugh, you know you do it too. Our room was incredibly nice. Our bathroom on the other hand was not fat girl friendly. We had to shove the door to get it past the toilet. Fun. Not that we spent much time there. Just as soon as our fourth person, Beth, arrived we set out to do some more shopping.

The reason to come to Pigeon Forge is to shop. The place to shop is of course the Tanger Outlet Mall. Our first stop, of course, is the Old Navy Outlet. Who doesn't love Old Navy. After purchasing anything from scarves and $6 Mary-Jane Espedrilles to Pajamas and Underwear, we moved on to the Fossil store. We shopped to our hearts content with a reward of Starbucks Frappucino's so that we could compare our finds.

We finished the weekend with a stop at the Russel Stover outlet to stock up on chocolates, caramels, and boxes of assorted candies. It's the bitter sweet ending to a wonderful weekend.

I am so blessed to have these amazing ladies in my life. After a weekend of laughing, talking, and shopping, I know that we will be friends for life. It's hard to believe that we have been friends since highschool. I know we will remain friends because we have such a wonderful bond that can never be removed. I am refreshed after this weekend. Some times you just need a girls weekend to remember that friendships are a gift. Til next time.

While visiting my sis in AL, Jimmy and I had to visit Mobile for Mardi Gras. We were able to see the awesome parade. I'll get those pics posted asap promise. We also got to get a million beads. I LOVE BEADS!!! No I didn't have to go Girls Gone Wild to get them. They were just throwing them like crazy. Even though a few hit me in the head. I think I'm concussed. We visited historic downtown just to grab a few pics. I love road trips.

This past summer my friend Jen decided to host a cookout at her house. Of course just like me I show up late. Go figure. I have to drive an hour. I just call it making a grand entrance. Haha. It was so good to see everyone. My friend Christy was there and I haven't seen her in about 6 years. We used to be so close and after talking for a minute it was as if we had never been apart. We're funny like that. I love it. We "let" the boys do the grilling so that we girls could chat. After an evening of good food, great catching up, and of course pictures we headed home. I never realized how much I missed me good friends. I say "good" meaning the ones who will always be there no matter what. I have a great group of friends and can't wait til the next cookout.

We girls always have so much fun when we go out. Our favorite night spot The 2nd Level was hosting 80's night so we knew we had to attend. Who could pass up getting dressed up with all the perks of big hair, big makeup, and of course the jewelry? I ask who? No one. We are good friends with DJ Tommy and he always plays the best music. We had a challenge to see who could remember who sang the Pina Colada song. After a phone call to my mom, I nailed it. Free drinks for me. Yippee! We love 80's night. We are long overdue for another girls night out. I may have to make a call to the level.

(Borrowed from my friend JC)

Your goal in life is to get out of here.Your Friday/Saturday nights consist of eating out and driving up and down Roan street (and you look around at the license plates and realize that there are more people from surround counties ie. Carter, Unicoi, Hampton, Sullivan. etc. (wow))You know everything about a lot of people before you've even met them.The highlight of going to the mall is AF AE or Hollister.Whenever you go out you see someone you know….most of the time you're related to them.You remember it being so awesome when we got a starbucks (that gets us up to 1 and ½ now counting the café in B&N).You actually have gone to Oklona Rd. (or rather "the haunted exit") and turned off your car.You have dedicated much of your life to supporting Pal's. A twenty minute drive in traffic is a LONG time.You are willing to drive 30 min. to eat the best BBQ in the world—Ridgewood.You remember before you could drive when it was so awesome to go to the mall and walk to Carmike afterwards.Third grade field trip included Roan Mountain, Rocky Mount, or maybe even Dollywood.You remember when they had that awesome animated dinosaur in the mall (and a putt putt course with the remote controlled boats).You remember life without Chilis.Your parents most likely work at the JCMC, ETSU, Eastman Chem., or NFS.You regularly attended the "Musket Bowl" (Boone vs. Crockett) just to see the country boys raise some hell.You saw Louis Vuitton bags about 2 years after they became super popular—and most of them were fake.You think paying more than 2 dollars for gas is ridiculous.You played on those rocks at the VA when you were a kid.You have always wanted to (or actually have) driven your car on those tracks off the road behind the movies.When out-of-towners ask if we have a Publix and you say "Huh?"When you resorted to screwing around in Wal-Mart because driving and watching movies/going to the mall got old.Evian water was for the "rich" people.You know exactly who Steve Grindstaff is and saw his strange wedding on tv.You know why this is funny: "The fish are always biting at the Harbor Hous…T"You were freakin' jealous when you heard of Unicoi County getting out for snow everyday and for the Apple Festival (come on, now).You can remember when we had a Putt-Putt and a Laser Storm….and they closed it down.It takes you less than 1 min. to drive through "downtown."The projects are really decent apartments.Your parents have probably lived here most of their life (like you).The driving course at the DMV consisted of driving about a mile down the road and back (with no parallel parking).You've always secretly wanted to go to Aunt B's.You know to not drive on race weekend.You take pride in the fact that Kenny Chesney went to ETSU (even though he didn't stay there).You think the Carnegie is "like the best hotel ever."The best parties were in the field.You roll your eyes when you remember it's Storytelling Weekend in Jonesborough.You are deprived of only one major chain restaurant….TGI Fridays.You remember when they found the decapitated head in Boone lake…and you still went wakeboarding anyway.Senior trip was assumed to take place in Myrtle Beach.You get offended when people say they don't like Sweet Tea or corn bread and soup beans (even though i don't like those beans myself).You remember all of those annoying "We Need Wellmont" signs.It kinda made you mad when they cut down those 1000 year old trees across from JCMC.You have drive to Asheville or Knoxville to do some decent shopping.You went to the Magical Night of Giving actually thinking you might win the car.Getting drunk and sitting in traffic for 3 hours to see the fireworks on July 4 (and seeing everyone you know).You are so sick of seeing those people dressed like lady liberty that stand on the side of the road waiving at you.You are for real ready for some good radio stations.You spend thousands of dollars pimping out your '97 civic so you can roll down N. Roan Street.Hands On! Museum was the shit back in the day.you are friends with danny from the mallyou enjoy the ridiculousness of the Elite Ladies show on the local channelyou party it up at PR's on Thursday!You attend the movies at the lake every June....and once again see everyone you know. You were so stoked when they opened the new Wal-Mart in J-boro (even though the one in JC still stays busy)You've had some deep conversations on the Barnes and Noble PatioYou've ridden the saddle at Texas Roadhouse on your birthdayYou heard all about the mancave and hopefully don't know someone involved in it.You went to the Peerless before prom (yeah, that's original)Shamrock tobacco shop is pretty flippin sweet.You get a little tingle of excitement when you hear that we might be getting a super target.Sonny's Marina in the summer is just a given. You thought the "Save Our Summer" signs were pretty gayYou have always wondered why the hell is the BMW/Mercedes dealership is in Kingsport.You were totally "the first" to think that the old Ride Revolution building would be the best club. if you know who mary the elephant is. and why it's important and you shake your head and roll your eyesYeah blah blah blah speedway in lights. whatever.Congratulations. You're from JC, but you still have nothing to do. Cheers to everyoneCiao, Amber