New Orleans

Posted on February 26, 2013 by carlieblissirwin

It’s been a big month for New Orleans. First the Superbowl, then Mardis Gras and then… the Irwins!

Two weekends ago, Will and I were strolling through the French Quarter, debating the difference between Cajun and Creole (does anyone know??) and popping into random bars for a drink while the upbeat notes of New Orleans jazz floated out of the clubs as we passed by.

The Big Easy did not disappoint. I was also impressed by the massive southern estates in the Garden District and the National WWII Museum, where we ended up spending the better part of a day.

Besides the obligatory stop at Cafe du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets, we also exercised our taste buds at Stanley, Lilette, Cochon Butcher, Sucre, Napoleon House, The Ruby Slipper Cafe and Domenica.

Eating, drinking and walking = a true Irwin vacation.

Trippin’

Posted on February 4, 2013 by carlieblissirwin

Guess what? The next installment of “Carlie and Will Travel the World” (that’s what I’m calling this period in our lives) has been booked.

We’re going to New Orleans!

I’ve never been there before and CAN’T WAIT to eat beignets, stroll through the pretty streets and watch Will eat seafood (while I eat other delicious things that are not of an aquatic nature because gross.)

I’m planning this pretty last-minute, so if anyone has recommendations for things to do or places to eat, bring ’em on!

Speaking of trips, I thought I’d post some photos from our Ft. Lauderdale vacation in December.

Warning: Living in a cold climate while viewing these photos may result in feelings of sadness, jealousy, longing and hating of where you live. Rest assured, these feelings are normal. But Punxsatawney Phil predicted on early spring on Saturday…so there’s that!

The lost photos: Rockport 2012

Posted on January 28, 2013 by carlieblissirwin

As I mentioned in my last post, a few months ago, my computer decided to refuse to let me upload photos… or anything for that matter.

At that point, I’d had the thing for over 6 years. And although it had been good to me (Apple forever!), it was high time we parted ways.

I’m now writing this post on a beautiful new MacBook Pro. You’d be amazed how much more fun typing is when the keys are all brand new and click-y!

But just because I wasn’t able to upload photos doesn’t mean I wasn’t taking them. And so… here is the first installment of the “lost photos” from the end of last year, highlighting our trip to Rockport (and Gloucester), Massachusetts. Probably my favorite place on earth. Or at least in the continental U.S.

I’m sure I don’t have to explain why we try to make it back to this place as much as possible.

Check out my posts about my Rockport trip last year here and here.

ITALY !! :) :)

Posted on November 8, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

I had trouble coming up with a title for this post, but I think what I ended up with accurately expresses my thoughts right now.

Because… we’re going to Italy this spring!!!

Plane tickets are BOOKED. So there’s no turning back now. Not that I’d want to.

Rome, Capri, Amalfi, Venice, Florence… hide yo’ pasta, hide yo’ wine. And hide yo’ gelato. Cuz I’m eatin’ everything out there. Run and tell that.

Anyone have any suggestions for things to do, places to stay, where to eat? All you Rick Steves wanna-bes out there – hit me up!

(Images from here, here, here, here and here.)

Rockport, pt. 2

Posted on September 22, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

It’s places like this that make you wonder why you live where you do. Especially if you live in Detroit. Or Gary, Indiana. For example.

Relaxing, walking, eating and hanging out with family I don’t get to see very often – this trip to Rockport was just what I needed.

If any of you are planning an East Coast trip and want info on the area, hit me up! I have some great restaurant recommendations.

Rockport, MA

Posted on September 21, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

Sigh.

I told you this was one of my very favorite places. Now you can see why!

I took a million (more like 100) photos on my short vacation, so don’t worry, there’s more where this came from.

Check back tomorrow for more New England gorgeousness!

Four more days…

Posted on September 12, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

Rockport, I’m coming!! 🙂 🙂

California. No doubt about it.

Posted on August 18, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

Will and I went on vacation last week and I came back with this conclusion:

I love California.

(I almost said “I heart California” but I’m getting really tired of that phrase. Are we done with that yet?)

We stayed for a few nights at Terranea Resort on the coast and were forced to look at this scenery all day, every day:

It was pretty rough.

Then we moved on to L.A. and pretty much dominated the 405 and Pacific Coast Highway in our sweet Rolls Royce convertible.*

*All Rolls Royce convertibles referred to in this post are actually Chevy Impalas.

In an effort to be brief, I’ll describe the trip the way I most likely would have described it in my 1st grade journal:

“We went on vacation. It was very fun. I saw the ocean and a ferris wheel. I got sunburned on my head because it was sunny.”

Succinct and to the point.

(Sidenote: I actually did go on vacation to California with my family when I was in 1st grade. Half of it was spent watching All My Children in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County because my little sister was sick and got dehydrated. It was the best! Seriously. You know how when you were a kid, little emergencies like that are exciting? Or was that just me? I would secretly hope for tornadoes or alien invasions to bring excitement to my mundane suburban life. Also, that kind of catastrophe would be a prime opportunity for me to pretend like I was the star of a disaster movie. I always imagined I’d react with the strength and poise of the blonde chick from Jurassic Park.)

So much for being brief.

And now… some retro-looking photos. Enjoy!

What happened in Vegas

Posted on May 3, 2011 by carlieblissirwin

Over 6 weeks ago, Will and I went to Las Vegas. Around that same time, I told you there would be a post about it coming soon. Relatively speaking, 6 weeks can be considered “soon.” So get off my back, ~~Mom~~.

Ah Vegas…

We decided to go there because it was pretty much the best option when booking a last minute trip at the height of spring break season. We thought it would be a good place to relax by the pool and get some sun. I even brought a book.

We didn’t think it would be cloudy and 50 degrees the whole time. But, surprise! If I were a gambling woman, I would have lost money on that bet. And that would have been a real shame, since it would cancel out the $2.75 I won at the nickel slots while we were there (big money!).

But despite the weather, we still had a good time.

Here I am a few hours after we arrived somewhere in between the Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace. You know, just hanging out by a hand rail.

The suave gentleman in this photo is my husband getting ready to consume a delicious lunch of sliders and sweet potato fries. This was our only outdoor meal of the trip. <sad face>

The Mirage – serene and peaceful and the outside, scene of a gruesome tiger attack on the inside.

This is inside our hotel, the Bellagio. I liked hanging out in here. If I didn’t look up, I could pretend that we were actually outside and not freezing.

Here’s the pool area where we were planning on hanging out for most of the trip. Completely deserted. Except for one crazy family we saw walking by with towels. They must have been from Siberia or something.

Here’s Will peacefully skipping through a quiet garden. I don’t ask questions. I just let him do his thing. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

After all that skipping, Will felt like he needed to reclaim his manhood, so he made me stop and watch college basketball for a bit.

This is the casino at Aria. I liked the trippy, sleek Alice and Wonderland vibe.

Will was thrilled to come so close to his lifelong dream of draping himself in crystals.

Paris! Just like the real thing. Or at least maybe that’s what I’d say if I’d never actually been to Paris. But as far as plastic-y fake recreations of foreign cities go, it was pretty nice.

More Bellagio.

Num num!

Sun on our last day! (Accompanied by even colder temps.) I was so excited, I had to take a picture from our hotel room.

The streets of New York, New York. Will and I helped to make it even more authentic by mugging a few people.

And one last glamor shot.

So there you have it! Even without the warm weather, a good time was had by all. Viva Las Vegas. Baby.

Two words: Pure Michigan

Posted on August 20, 2010 by carlieblissirwin

If the title of this post isn’t clear or you’re somewhat dense, I’m in Michigan right now.

Actually, assuming this will be posted at 10 a.m. like I instructed WordPress to do, I will technically be en route to Michigan, cruising down the highway in our sleek 2002 Dodge Stratus.

(That’s also assuming the Stratus hasn’t crapped out on us. She gets a little cranky when I try to go over 60 mph. That’s when I hit the gas even harder and bark that oil changes are for sissies!)

But soon I’ll no doubt be relaxing on the beach in a Great Lake State of mind. (Michigan is called the Great Lake State if you didn’t know. I think it’s also called the Wolverine State, but I don’t have a pun for that, and I’m also hoping wolverines are not involved in any of my plans for the weekend.)

If you haven’t realized it by now, this post is pretty pointless. Its sole purpose is just to announce the following:

I AM IN MICHIGAN.

And you’re (probably) not. Although I can’t be entirely sure about that.

Also, this will be my view as I lay out on the beach, reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which has gotten a lot of hype lately, but 150 pages in, my review so far is “meh.”