What did I just do?

Today we returned home from our ... best friends vow renewal/family vacation/spring break 2013 ... We went from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to White Sands, Pensacola, Florida. We stayed in a lovely condo (the pictures do it NO justice!!!). It was great staying right on the beach waking up to that amazing scene of waves crashing onto a beautiful white sandy beach!

Now, this was my first trip to Pensacola. I was extremely happy with the overall trip. Persons of interest: myself & hubby ... our besties (who renewed their vows) and their son, her mother and youngest brother ... her nephew, his wife & their 2 daughters. And here's about how it went.

Wednesday:
We were supposed to pick up our rental vehicle. We decided the less vehicles the better. Well, AVIS totally screwed us! They were very quick to take our money on the rental of a 12 passenger van but when we went for pick up they shut us down!!! With no clear reason. So, needless to say we will NEVER use AVIS again. On the plus side within 2 days (because we are not all that sweet southern gals) they refunded our money. Originally we were told 2 weeks then when we asked to speak with a manager we were told within 3-5 business days. Again, AVIS is never going to get our business again.

Thursday:
We are up and at it at 4:30 am. By 8 am we are on our way to Pensacola. 3 vehicles, 11 people. The nephew and family in one vehicle, ladies in one and men in the other. Needless to say it was like a girls trip on the ride it's lotsa gossip and amazing music. We were there and in our condo and on the beach by 2 pm. It was perfect. Calm waters and the perfect temperature. The water was still cold as sin but the eldest of the kids braved it and a few of the guys.

We went to the boardwalk that evening, hit up a few bars. We had some great food at The Dock, although their games were inadequate. Out of all 5 things they had only 2 worked! But the kids had a great time. Oh! Did I mention until 8 pm kids are welcome in the bars there??? I don't remember the name of the other place we went but they did have a live band called "Gypsy Riot". They were a cover band and I think locals. They weren't too bad, but I am partial to 70s-90s music.

We spent the rest of the evening on our deck enjoying the moonlit beach and water and having ourselves a good ole party.

Friday:
Whew, we were exhausted! It turned cold on us!! And windy! But the waves were amazing! We didn't do much but, for those that have never been, there are no grocery stores! We had to drive into town for groceries, so stop and do that before you get there!

In the afternoon 9 out of our group went on a dolphin tour. Did I mention it got cold on us? I stayed behind to make crawfish etouffee. Here is a recap of their trip. First they get there and apparently it is 2 companies that work together on these tours. They almost didn't go on the tour because the main company booked for 9 but the boat company booked for 8. It wasn't a great trip. They didn't see but 1 or 2 dolphins. On the plus side. Next trip to Pensacola, free tour! They got home cold and ready to eat. Just how I like them to come home! It was an early night for everyone. It is now cold AND rainy!

Saturday:
Still yucky skies. Still cold. Huge waves crashing onto the beach. Worth the high winds! Well, its tourist trap time. They were like all the others. We of course had to buy a few things. The hubs had to get a shirt. And because my in-laws always keep my baby (my yorkie haha) for me when we go away, coffee mugs. Then it was Bamboo Willies for daiquiri's and then Hooters for a table full of appetizers. We had a great waitress for how big of a party we are and how demanding we can be. She was on top of it!

By the afternoon it cleared up and warmed up a bit. At this point we are considering waiting until Sunday for the vow renewal. But, better weather makes for a quick service. After getting nails polished for the girls it was time to do the brides hair. Now my bestie is more particular than I am but, a quick braid and tons of hair spray she was happy. She barely wears make-up but she let me go all out with it and she didn't make me redo it!

It was perfect. The wind wasn't too strong and we didn't need sweaters! It was also quick. My hubs officiated and they said their own vows. We got some great pictures and even had a very nice couple take pictures of all of us.

Then it was BBQ time! The guys cooked while we alcohol shopped. Spending the rest of our evening on the deck listening to the waves crash. 

Sunday:
Ahhhh. Perfect beach weather. The waves were still huge and the water freezing so it was mostly a play in the sand morning. But the kids had a great time searching for sea shells and us ladies got our tan on. Then the guys went to ride jet skis. They got back to tell us Spring Break 2013 was in full effect!

We decide to go to the boardwalk for a ride on this huge ferris wheel,  food and drinks. Parking is very limited and it was a helluva time finding a spot but since we all piled into the truck we only had to find 1 instead of 3, thankfully!

The ferris wheel was crazy!!!! The largest I've ever been on. The "cages" are enclosed and there are 2 benches you can sit on. You could see forever in there! The wind was still a little fast so it shook a little but all in all it was fun. And I am NO fan of heights!

We settle on Boardwalk Cafe. We totally settled for the WORST place in all of Pensacola. Grab a drink, use the restroom and sit back here is my rant of disdain for the people who work at this place.

Now, we are a party of 11. It takes them a few minutes to set up a table for us, in an empty cafe. After getting settled in our waitress comes to take our drink order. She is unsure if they sell draft by the pitcher. They do. Do NOT get draft beer from this place. The pitchers are small and they give you huge mugs. You can only fill 3 mugs with a pitcher. Thankfully before anyone actually drank any we noticed what looked like tobacco in the bottom of the pitcher. A few of us go outside for a quick smoke, in this time the cafe starts to fill up. By the time we are done smoking, 5 mins tops, we go in and my hubs is super mad. He points to the table behind us and I see 3 people who weren't there when we went out and they already have their food. Everyone has an empty beer bottle. So this of course makes me mad.

We finally see our waitress after a few more minutes and she says they are running behind. Well of course you are, you are serving people who have arrived after us and not us. Thankfully the kids get their food as they are getting restless. Where are our refills? Where's the rest of the food? And the appetizer? Slowly, one by one, we are served. Still no appetizer. And no drink refills. We are almost finished eating, the few of us who had edible food and the appetizer arrives. And it is FROZEN!

We ask to speak to the manager who comes over 10 minutes later, and we had to make the guys leave the cafe cause it would have gotten ugly, with serious attitude!! After we make our list of complaints she very rudely asks us what we want her to do about it!!!! I get it, I've worked in restaurants. Big parties it takes a little longer to get your order out. But, your order does come out, in the correct order, hot and edible. I get it, your understaffed and its spring break. Your the manager. Instead of doing nothing get your butt into gear and make sure your food comes out in a timely fashion and make sure your cooking staff has a clue about what they are doing!

Obviously we had the pitcher of beer and the appetizer removed from our tickets. Also we demanded a discount because of the 30-45 minute wait on our food. Needless to say we will NEVER return there. Which is sad for me because they had greek food and I'm a huge greek fan!

Oh, we did get to see someone get arrested. We are always happy to watch, thankful it is not one of us! After that it was back to the deck for drinks and music. But it was an early night.

Monday:
Get up, pack, load vehicles, return keys, start the 5 1/2 hour drive home. Different driving partners this time. All families. The hubs and I stopped off in Bayou La Batre. How many of yall just went thru a Forest Gump moment? Let me tell yall. We stopped at this tent fruit stand. Got a basket of some really nice sized jalopenos for $1.50 that I can not wait to stuff and cook! Basket of large lemons for $1.00 and a bushel of strawberries for $1.00. Now, I have to rave on these strawberries. They are the sweetest strawberries I have ever eaten!!! It was worth the side trip just for those strawberries!

We stopped for brunch at a local place called The Preacher's Cafe. Huge portions for a good price. Family owned. Cute little place. If you're ever there I recommend you stop in for a bite to eat.

Now we decide to hit a scenic route most of the way back which puts us a few hours behind everyone else. We got home mid afternoon and took a nap. Mother in law dropped off my baby a little while ago and I am ready for my bed snuggled up with my baby!

FINALLLLLLLLLLY

Yes!! Finally I am able to get in here and do some work!! Of course its a few days before my vacation so... Here's whats been happening ...

Facebook ... We have been posting things via facebook since the blog has not been co-operating. You can find us at Tweak My Recipes and Other Things

Twitter & Pinterest ... Mostly you can follow me on my personal page as I tend to forget about logging in to the other ... You can find us at @BillieJo3477 or  http://pinterest.com/billiejo3477

Now ... I will be updating the giveaways/winnings page ... I don't think I've been able to since a few of my winnings came in.

For a ton of new recipes and craft ideas and giveaway links check thru facebook.

Gluten Free

I'll be working on a Gluten Free Menu this weekend. If you have a favorite gluten free meal please share it! Don't forget the pictures!

YAAAAWWWNNNN

OK ... So ... I haven't been on much since yesterday because I'm helping out my mother in law, so she can go to my sister in laws new fashion line opening in Chicago, for the weekend. Not sucha huge deal, would be much easier if the hubs was here with me instead of a guys weekend. Anyhow, it's basically watching a 2 year old in a 21 year old body and he will be hereas referred to as, "The Boy". So, I can handle that right? So here we are, Day 1. Feed him, change him, keep him nice and clean. Got that. What I don't have? 21 yr old body diaper changing skills. I don't know if it's me, which obviously it is, or him with all that scooting around he does. What else don't I have? Sleep. The boy stayed up until 4 am with random yells and I have that paranoia, or maybe its a phobia, of not sleeping if a kid is still awake.

And here we are at 6:30 am and who is yelling for me? Apparently my diaper skills are really that jacked up! And he is NOT happy. I'm talking he's absolutely pissed at me cause this diaper has shifted to the side and I'm assuming is pinching his sac. So get that fixed and get him fed, which I think is his favorite thing on earth, food. So, after he's eaten I try to do a quick clean up which consists of throwing his bowl in the sink and rushing to the back door before my dog has an accident in the house and then racing to the bathroom so I don't have an accident. And this is when the yells and kicking start again. Definetly need diaper changing classes. So, a little begging from me and finally get him situated. And guess who is passed out? That's right ... Great ...

Now, I always give my mother in law serious props, because 6 years of this pretty much by herself, she deserves them. How does she do this? Practically alone?? I haven't been here 24 hours and I'm exhausted. Only 3 1/2 days to go. I can do this ... Right?!?!