We’re In The Mountains Of Big Canoe For This Week’s Tablescape Thursday

September 14, 2023 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 781st Tablescape Thursday! Over the last few days, I've been spending a little time in the north Georgia mountains. This was the charming Airbnb home I booked in the mountain community of Big Canoe. Big Canoe is around a 1-hour drive north of my home, so it's the perfect location for a little getaway.   Just a couple of hours after I arrived, I received this message from the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tablescape Thursday, Travel, United States



How I Avoided Air-Sickness During My Helicopter Tour, + 4 Products I Use & Love

June 23, 2018 by 73 Comments

Recently on THIS post, Linda left a comment asking about a product I had mentioned a few years ago--my battery storage/organizer. I purchased this organizer below after reading a news article about a guy who had been storing "dead" batteries in a bag in his garage until he could take them for recycling. Apparently, some of the batteries were not completely dead, so when the tips touched they sparked a fire … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Hawaii, Travel, United States



Dining at Mama’s Fish House in Maui, Hawaii

June 21, 2018 by 88 Comments

Welcome to the 508th Tablescape Thursday! When I announced I was visiting Maui, one restaurant that was recommended to me over and over again was Mama's Fish House. Even after I got to Hawaii and started asking the locals for recommendations, Mama's Fish House was always one of the first places mentioned. During the helicopter tour I took over Maui last week, our pilot, Mike, was continually pointing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beachy Tablescapes, Hawaii, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , ,



The Lahaina Banyan Tree, Truly The Most Amazing Tree I’ve Ever Seen

June 20, 2018 by 25 Comments

When I mentioned in a post that I was heading off to Maui, Hawaii for a week, I received some wonderful suggestions of places to visit and things to see  and do while there. A couple of folks mentioned a special tree in the town of Lahaina called a Banyan tree. I had never heard of a Banyan tree before, but made a mental note to look for it if I ended up in the Lahaina area. Initially, I hadn't planned … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, Hawaii, In the Garden, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , , ,



Back Home At Last & A Few Favorites from Hawaii

June 18, 2018 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 490th Metamorphosis Monday! Well, this is a record for the latest Met Monday has ever posted. I've been flying all night and most of the day but I'm finally back home from Maui. The flights were great and uneventful, just very long. It's a long way from Georgia to Hawaii and back, especially when you go there via Seattle. It's a long way even when you don't go via Seattle. lol I don't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Hawaii, Travel, United States



Dress Shopping in Hawaii

June 17, 2018 by 19 Comments

Reminder: Today is the last day to get 40% off everything at Talbots. I purchased several shorts and pants yesterday, so it's a great time to check out their sale. You'll find the sale here: 40% off Sale. Don't forget to use the code Friends40 to get the discount. I almost never shop for clothes while I'm on vacation but this trip was the exception. I visited Whaler's Village and went a wee bit crazy! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Travel, United States



A Hawaiian Luau on the Island of Maui

June 14, 2018 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 507th Tablescape Thursday! Last night I attended the Luau they host every Wednesday night at the resort where I'm staying in Maui. Every chair you see below was filled once the party got underway.   As we arrived we were greeted with a Mai Tai drink. Have you ever had a Mai Tai before? I had not. This one was very low on alcohol and super sweet. Not sure if they are always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hawaii, Travel, United States Tagged With: , ,



Would You Jump Off This Rock Into the Pacific Ocean?

June 13, 2018 by 35 Comments

My body is still on Atlanta time. I normally wake up around 3 AM each day, roll back over and try to go back to sleep, only to wake up again in an hour or two. My body just won't get the message that it's in the Hawaiian Time Zone now. lol Early this morning I looked out the window of my bedroom and noticed they were busy putting up tables on the lawn for tonight's Luau.   Here's how it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hawaii, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , ,



Aloha!

June 11, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 489 Metamorphosis Monday! I made it! This was the view from my side of the plane as we were flying into Maui. You can see the shadow of the plane which I thought was kinda cool. This evening I was reading more about Maui online. I find it fascinating how this island was formed! Wikipedia states: Maui's diverse landscapes are the result of a unique combination of geology, topography, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Hawaii, Travel, United States



Would you go to Maui, Hawaii Alone?

June 8, 2018 by 159 Comments

A friend called me last week to say he had a week in Maui planned, but couldn't go. He offered it to me at no charge. So all I'd be paying for is the flight, a rental car once there, and of course the usual expenses like meals, etc... I called two different friends to see if either would like to go. The room will sleep two since it also has a sofa sleeper. Neither could go due to prior commitments they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hawaii, Travel, United States



Where I Find the Best Travel Deals & Some Amazing Deals Available Right Now

June 6, 2018 by 29 Comments

Recently I shared a post where I highlighted a few items I always take when I travel abroad. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: 5 Essentials for Traveling Internationally. I love the comments you leave on posts--always learn new things from you with each and every post. The interactions and discussions in the comments are wonderful, appreciate those so much. On that particular post linked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Best Travel Deals, Egypt, Germany, Holland & Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , ,



The One Part of Travel I Always Dread and a New Tactic for Managing It

March 4, 2017 by 47 Comments

Email Update: I just noticed today that the company I use to send out emails for BNOTP, has been using the wrong return email address. It's been changed to the correct one which is [email protected] . So please add that address to your "approved contacts" or your email addresses. That will help to ensure that you'll receive email updates when a new post is up here on the blog. If you're one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Holland & Belgium, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , ,



The Week I Took a Staycation

October 8, 2016 by 65 Comments

Have you ever taken a Staycation? This past week I took my first and it was truly a lot of fun! From time to time I get e-mails from friends who are headed to the Atlanta area and are looking for ideas on what to do and where to go during their visit. I'll definitely be referring them to this post in the future.   FRIDAY My friend, Linda, flew in on Friday, September 30th, and we wasted no … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Historic Homes, Home Tours, Travel, United States Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Shopping The “A Christmas Story” Movie House Gift Store

November 11, 2014 by 21 Comments

A few months ago I was visiting family in Ohio. While there, I took a little day trip over to a Cleveland to tour a place I've always wanted to see in person. Afterwards, I shared this funny picture on the blog and asked if you could guess where it was taken.   I can't get anything by you guys! Y'all had no trouble figuring out I was reenacting a scene from the well-loved Christmas movie, A … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Movie Houses, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: ,



A Christmas Story House, Part III: The Living Room

August 4, 2014 by 68 Comments

Welcome to the 288th Metamorphosis Monday! Bob Clark, the Director and a co-writer of the movie, A Christmas Story, had trouble finding funding for this now iconic Christmas movie when he first set out to make it. He had an extensive history of making horror films so none of the production companies felt comfortable funding him in the making of a comedy/family oriented movie. His next movie was Porky's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , , ,



Inside The Kitchen of “A Christmas Story” Movie House

July 24, 2014 by 60 Comments

Welcome to the 306th Tablescape Thursday! A visit to the 19th-century Victorian home used in all the exterior scenes of the movie, A Christmas Story, is an interactive one. As we stepped inside the front door for the tour, our guide immediately invited us to have a seat in the living room. Whaaat? That's not something you normally get to do while touring a home! I knew right then this wasn't going to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, Tablescape Thursday, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , ,



Tour A Christmas Story Movie House: The House & Neighborhood

July 23, 2014 by 31 Comments

Recently I took a trip to Ohio to visit family and while there I decided to do something I've been wanting to do for ages. I hopped in the car one morning and struck out for Cleveland to tour the home featured in the movie, A Christmas Story.   This wonderful old Victorian home located at 3159 W. 11th Street in Cleveland Ohio, was used for all the exterior shots of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, Christmas Movies, Historic Homes, Movie Houses, Travel, TV & Movie House Fun, United States Tagged With: , , ,



Biltmore Estate

August 15, 2009 by 63 Comments

A while back, I had an opportunity to tour Biltmore in Asheville, NC. I'd been there many years before and really enjoyed the tour, but I remembered having been a little disappointed that so little of the upstairs was open for viewing. Well, all that's changed now and it's an awesome experience! They continue to restore more rooms each year, so more and more are opened up for tours. The tour took us 1 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, Historic Homes, In the Garden, Nature, Travel, United States Tagged With: , ,