Food, Booze, & Baggage

Food, Life, Travel

Not Like The Cool Kids

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Not Like The Cool Kids

I figured I should get this post up while the song is still popular. The fact that I’m using for a blog post probably means it’s already not popular. I do love this song (popular or not), it’s so catchy.

Enough about my choice in music 🙂 Let’s move onto the other things that make me not like the cool kids.

I do not like Starbucks. If I’m on vacation or home I want an independent coffee shop. If you ever see me post a Starbucks picture, it’s a signal I’m in trouble and need help. Great you are at Starbucks, there is one around the corner, one in the grocery store, and another three in the parking lot. #omgredcups

Along the same lines, I’m just not that into coffee. I’ll drink it from time to time, but my go to morning beverage is tea. #notEnglishjustliketea #antioxidants

I’ve successfully boycotted Target since September. I received horrible customer service when they shipped my online order to our old address, even though I typed in our new address. They admitted it pulled the default address and after 4 phone calls and a non-delivered refund, one phone call to our credit card company fixed it. I will spend my money elsewhere. Admittedly I miss it a tiny bit but #savingmoney #holdingagrudge

I don’t wear scarves, I know it will just be something for me to fidget with. Plus I’m not a fan of having to figure out the whole styling thing. #noose

I don’t really accessorize. I wear earrings, but that is it when it comes to jewelry (not counting my wedding ring). I carry the same purse, really it’s one purse and one camera bag that I carry pretty much 100% of the time.  #isanimalhairanaccessory #wasToryBurchon90210

I never keep up with the latest styles. I just like what I like and don’t try to keep up with the latest trends. Many trends take me years to catch up to, for example leggings. Others I just can’t pull off, like the maxi dress. At this point in life, I just want all my clothes and shoes to be comfortable. #itskindtosayclassic #unfashionable #allmyshoesareflats

I don’t watch many of the popular competition shows like The Bachelor, Dancing With The Stars, The Voice, etc. I do however watch Bravo shows though 🙂 #bravoforever #trainwreckcan’tlookaway #tvrotsyourbrain

That’s probably enough of pointing out how uncool I am for a day 😉 What makes you not like the cool kids?

#Hashtaghumpday @ Genuinely Lauren

Random Questions~Animal Style

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Random Questions Animal Style
I had to join in on the re-grouping of the Humpday Confessions link-up. One of my favorite confession posts I wrote was Dinosaurs, Aliens, & Death. I thought a similar post would be the perfect way to welcome back the link-up.
Making Melissa

Do you think that squirrels ever fall out of trees? Do they sometimes miscalculate a jump or branch and boom….squirrel down, squirrel down? We had a ton of squirrels around our house in Raleigh and those little bastards were crazy.

Insert Squirrel Picture
For the life of me I can’t find a picture I took of a squirrel for this very post…seriously I had one! 🙂

Do you think we will ever be able to talk with animals? Like some technology that would allow us to at least know what they are thinking. Would pets become less popular if that happened…maybe part of the appeal is not having to hear them complain? Eddie is already pretty vocal; demanding his food supply be checked at least 4 times a day and Sam thinks he is a person.

Sam in Chair

Why is the secret burger from In-N-Out called animal style? Why not the Secret Sauce Plus Burger? Also why is it secret…seriously, I don’t get the “secret” aspect of the whole thing. While we are on the subject, the fries are better when cooked well done (thanks Esther)!

Animal Style In N Out

Did you know we share 90% of our DNA with domestic cats…and most other animals? Science is so amazing! It’s weird to think about how just a small change can cause such widely different results.

Sam & Eddie related
Eddie’s not buying into that theory.

So confess away, do you ever have really random thoughts about the everyday or not so everyday? 

Make sure to hop over to Miriam’s link-up today too! No rules, just greet your neighbor and support your fellow bloggers!

Casual Observations: CA vs NC

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Confession post CA vs NC differences

  • Californians call interstates/highways, freeways and reference them using “the”. In NC, interstates are called interstates and referenced with “I”. In NC it would be “I-40” and here it would be “the 40”.
  • The water. I pretty much kicked the bottle water habit this past year but I’m afraid I might have to go back. The water tastes terrible. This is going to sound really weird but I feel like the texture is off, it seems heavier. I’ve even resorted to pouring the filtered water that comes from the refrigerator system into a Brita pitcher…still tastes weird. I’m hoping I will get use to it.
  • A red-eye or after burner is referred to as a hammerhead in CA. What are these things, you ask? It’s a coffee with a shot of espresso. The below is not a red-eye, just iced coffee but I love the stickers…so I’m sharing again! 

  • The drivers seem less idiotic here than in NC and are less aggressive. I hadn’t pulled the f-word almost all week! My biggest complaint is that people don’t understand you need to speed up and merge onto the freeway, not slow down. I also don’t care for the lane-splitting by motorcycles, it makes me SO nervous when changing lanes.
  • While the drivers seem better, the DMV in CA is a level of hell. The whole process was crazy, crowded, and chaotic. You would think that DMV employees would know that speaking English louder does not make it understandable in another language, but clearly that wasn’t covered in employee training. Oh and because we have a new car (less than a year old) we got hit with a huge bill to register it. Basically, we are paying the sales tax on the car, again. To be fair the DMV in NC is not the greatest experience ever, but they also normally don’t have a line out the door at all hours of the day either.
  • The Whole Foods here has way better meat choices! Hello, Sculpin IPA Habanero Bacon. Sadly, though the produce section has less variety, which is weird since tons of produce is grown in California. There seems to be less organic produce selections at both Trader Joe’s and Whole Food too. What’s up with that CA?

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Another Joy the Baker recipe, cheddar cheese waffle bat (we did avocado instead of lettuce). Used sculpin habanero bacon. #eatlocal View on Instagram

  • People often ask “What are your plans today? or What have you been doing today?” as casual conversation/interaction (like cashiers, bartenders, etc). In NC you get “How is your day going?” or “How are you?”.  P pointed out that maybe we are taking the question too seriously in CA and should just say “nothing”, like we would answer “fine” in NC. Maybe this is why I find people so friendly is because I’m breaking a social norm by giving an answer…hmmm. I prefer the ignorance is bliss route for this one 🙂 It doesn’t feel awkward so I’m going to keep doing it.

What are some causal differences you have noticed when traveling or when you moved to a new city/state/country?

Vodka and Soda

Delayed Updates & Other Confessions

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Reader, it’s been a few weeks since my last confession and I feel like it is time to get some things off my chest. I confess:

Vodka and Soda

 

Camera Bag and Accessory Reveal via Food, Booze, & Baggage.png

Both from Etsy

Bag~Porteengear~Leather Camera Bag with Blue Tartan
I thought this would be a bit more grey than brown but it is still nice. It’s a great size!

Strap~RSVP Handcrafted~Leather Strap
Not the most comfortable but very lovely.
Also, I’m pretty jealous of Esther’s awesome new strap.

  • I only have one more week of work!!! I’m SO excited and scared all at the same time!! What am I going to do with myself…oh yeah…pack!
  • We didn’t really watch the World Cup, but we are all over the Tour de France. We catch-up every night. Secretly (or not so secretly now) I kind of look forward to the wrecks (but not for people to get hurt)…I feel terrible for confessing this. The downhill parts make me so nervous. I yell at the stupid spectators that get in the bikers faces. Seriously, I would hit someone who got in front of me like some of those crazy spectators! And this guy did in the 2011 race.

  • I’ve already pinned over 30 restaurants to try in San Diego…P said, “I don’t imagine very many dinners at home in our future.”  Also, I can’t wait to try this place for brunch.
  • I’m kind of feeling like a bad-ass blogger this week because I started the week with three blog posts completed! Winning! 🙂
  • I hope all of you will come back tomorrow to see part two of Tara’s food journey. Oh, you didn’t catch part one…no worries, here it is. You are welcome!