Christmas in.......

Guaruja, Brazil- My LAM guys are awesome! They really know how to put the worries away and just enjoy..... We worked hard. We played hard. Everyone checked out on Friday morning, but I decided to celebrate the end of 3 weeks on the road in style- a good book, a hammock, some live samba music, and a nice fruity drink.

Christmas in......

Copenhagen, Denmark- a week of Green Belt Workshops, Global Climate Summit chaos, dinners with my favorite colleagues, and shopping in my favorite boutiques. Christmas in this place is 1 of a kind!

Christmas in.......

Birmingham, England- A week of project work, yummy dinners, meeting up with some good friends, and the German Christmas Market.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ricardo came to visit and we traveled to TN (via Chimney Rock) to celebrate Rod's bday with Suzanne and Addie, made a quick visit to "See Rock City", and enjoyed a few days at home w/ Mom and Dad and some wonderful homecooked meals (ooohhhh so yummy!). We topped if off with a lot of shopping and a visit to the Oak Ridge Museum of Science and Energy (for the History buff!). Nothing like home for the holidays! look how little Addie is growing- it's so sweet to hear her talking so much. See you guys soon!

Tennessee Autumn

a week home also meant a visit to Pigeon Forge (shopping and the Apple Barn), Celebrating a very special birthday w/ mom (Dinner on Thursday with the family and a weekend at Opryland hotel!), and a Puppy Pawty w/ Gaines.

the Old Mill in Pigeon ForgeBirthday Dinner w/ the family

Dinner at Opryland Hotel
(more picst to come, Mom's were much better- I'm so missing my camera!) Baby Gaines 1st Birthday

an afternoon w/ the girls a shot with the birthday boy!

a new love for bumble bees

Halloween at home and a little Chuckie Cheese.

La Rioja!

I think this picture says it all. Amazingly beautiful and oh so deliciously sweet! =) But couldn't help but add a few other highlights from a weekend trip to Rioja. One of the most famous wine regions in the world- located in the Northern part of Spain and known for their outstanding red wines. They also have delicious food, amazing architecture, and some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes. I know everyone raves about Tuscany. But I was more than impressed by La Rioja.

from the Rioja museum of wine culture

a hike to Suso and Yuso Monasteries

you know it's harvesting season when.....

Dinner at Los Agustinos in Haro, Spain. Originally a monastery, turned into hospital, turned into prison. And now one of the best restaraunts around. La Hospederia- the oldest winery in Spain, dating from the late 1800's. They still produce the wine as they did 100 years ago.

Marques de Riscal- designed by Frank Ghery (architect of the Guggenheim)

amazing hotel and my favorite spanish wine producer!

(thinking of going? make reservations months in advance!!) a view from the museum of wine culture

In Reverse.... Girls Weekend

a few weeks have passed with some wonderful weekends. Going in Reverse.....

Charleston Weekend- We've been planning this for months now and what a needed time with the girls. We missed our planner- Christy. Can't wait to see the rest of you guys in January! It was so hard to narrow it down to just a few pics.... What a hilarious and wonderful weekend!

Isle of Palms w/ Meghan and Mackenzie (at Wild Dunes)

the day in Charleston: lunch- shopping- dinner?- drinkslunch at the Vendue Rooftop

Nitrotini's at the Market Pavillion (-320F degrees!)

a Tribute

In 2006 we had a reunion with my Mom's family. This weekend we will meet again to pay tribute to our sweet Grandmommy who passed away on Monday. Such a strong woman with a heart of gold...... she will be missed.

Mexico- part dos

after a week back in Charlotte- it's off for round 2. First stop- Mexico. This might all sound like dejavu- and actually feels that way as well. The new job is helping to build an process improvement program in the company, so it's workshop after workshop these days. They're setup in 2-week segments. 1 week and back again a month later. So here's for Week 2 in Mexcio City.

the Latins- never a dull moment

One of my favorite memories. Ricardo's aunt, Maria Pilar, received a prestigious award for her service to the community. She helped set up a program outside of Mexico City that provides housing and fellowship for the elderly and less developed communities. How lucky that I was there during the same time to join them for the presentation. And what a challenge to push my Spanish skills to the limits! Below w/ the aunts and cousins living in Mexico.

a quick trip to Budapest

after leaving Bratslava we headed to Hungary to meet up with Ricardo's family. We spent 3 days in Budapest visiting Castle Hill, walking along the Danube, enjoying a nice afternoon at the baths, and discovering the most amazing hidden spots of Eastern Europe. I had no idea that Budapest would have so much to offer- but it was a wonderful trip!

a view from the "Buda" side

with Ricarardo's mother, sister, and the famous aunts!

Maria and I in the cable car

the view from castle hill

gates to Andrassy Ut.

the terror museum, where the kept prisoners from the communist and facist regimes

statue park- removed from the city after the fall of the communist era

and a nice relaxing visit to the hungarian baths

5 years!

It all begain in the wilderness of Denmark, a homeade tent for 10, and a cold can of spaghetti. Thanks for sharing your cookies with me Rick! You Rock (literally)

the Riches in Budapest last week

fleeing the border

After leaving Vienna, we decided to side track a bit to visit nearby Bratslava, Slovakia. It was only 30 minutes off our path, so we couldn't pass it up. We spent a short afternoon around the old town and enjoying a nice lunch. To our suprise they were having a local festival and parade with the traditional Slovakian dress. Not bad for a suprise visit to a town you've never heard of.