Miss Rhode Island Returns Home

I am lucky enough to get to travel fairly often.

I have a goal/bucket list item, "50 by 50!" I want to
visit all 50 states by the time I'm 50. I will be 30 next
year (holy crap) and have about that many states
checked off my list.

I thought it might be fun to share some fun facts (and hysterical
laws about the next state I will be checking off my bucket list this weekend...

Rhode Island

1. Rhode Island is the smallest state in size in the United States. It covers an area of 1,214 square miles.

2. Rhode Island was home to the first National Lawn Tennis Championship in 1899. (I'm sure someone, somewhere cares about lawn tennis...)

3. The Flying Horse Carousel is the nation's oldest carousel. It is located in the resort town of Watch Hill.


4. The world's largest bug is on the roof of New England Pest Control in Providence. It's a big blue termite, 58 feet long and 928 times actual termite size. (EW!)



5. Rhode Island has a number of "Strange Laws":
a. No one may bite another's leg (I'm so relieved).
b. Professional sports, except ice polo and hockey, must obtain a license to play games on Sunday (sound familiar?).
c. Any marriage where either of the parties is an idiot or lunatic is null and void. (Wish I would have known this at one point in my life.)
d. It is considered an offense to throw pickle juice on a trolley (who would do such a thing?)
e. In Providence - It is illegal to wear transparent clothing. (Crap! Guess I have to re-pack, bummer).

6. The state flower of Rhode Island is a Violet.



7. Rhode Island claims the first ever public skating rink.

8. The state drink of Rhode Island is Coffee Milk (too bad I hate coffee and milk).



9. The state motto of Rhode Island is "Size Doesn't Matter". (So THAT'S where that lie started).

10. The official name of the state is: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Phew. Glad they shortened that one).

BONUS: I, yes I, was once Miss Rhode Island. I once competing a dance beauty contest in which I had to pick a state in the USA and I chose Rhode Island. Well, THEN they told me I had to dress up like something representing my state. OH CRAP! So I got creative and dressed as a hot pink lighthouse, with a flashlight on my head and I just spun around. BRILLIANT. And guess who won, you got it, MISS RHODE ISLAND. Congrats to me. I am now going to the place I was destined to go... :)

I'm still pretty bummed about "No Transparent Clothing"...

Tying the Knot: Honeymooning

We were able to slip away for a couple of days on a short but beautiful honeymoon! My wonderful step father booked us two night at the stunning Red Cliff's Lodge! We are so thankful we had this little get-a-way, it was just perfection...

If you are looking for scandelous honeymoon pics, you aren't gonna find them, on this blog anyway...(wink, wink).

This was the view from the deck of our little cabin...

Amazing right!?!

We spent one of our days hiking through the beautiful and stunning Arches National Park in Southern Utah...

I loved this picture of the American Flag. GQ and I both get a little emotional whenever we see a flag.. I imagine this might be what Mars looks like...

Now there's not much description I can give these phots. Everyone of them would say, Beautiful!

One of my favorites! I love the snow capped moutains in the background...

This is the view from in front of the lodge. Not bad to wake up to!

 Pretty beautiful right!?! You must check out Moab someday, it's quite a place!

Thanks for coming on our honeymoon with us! :)

Chicago Blues...

I have a new love...Chicago! I just got back from a convention, didn't love the meetings but fell in love with the city...what a fabulous place!

Now Chicago is a new love of mine, here are a few other places in the world I love...

Manhattan
Strasbourg, France
Morristown, New Jersey
Lucerne, Switzerland
Laie, Hawaii
Bear Lake, Utah
Cozumel, Mexico
Dunn River Falls, Jamaica
Catalina Island

Graduation is in 17 days (not that I'm counting) and I still have a lot to do before I get to walk on that stage. But the light...the beautiful light is at the end...I see it!

Those extra letters better look super pretty behind my name!

Where will I got next?

White Canes and a Brown-Eyed Boy...

I have spent the last week in Dallas, Texas at the National Federation of the Blind's (NFB) national convention. It was a busy week of meetings, networking and speaking but I learned a whole lot and got to see some long-time friends I don't get to see much.

But...I did get a visitor...
this guys showed up to see me on his 4 day leave before leaving for Kuwait...


...this handsome guy showed up at our convention banquet and experienced his first (an hopefully not his last) NFB experience and 2,500 blind people (trust me guys, you can't imagine).

Did I mention only 37 days until I graduate!?! Those extra letters behind my name better look super pretty! :)

Across the Spectrum...

My little break between quarters was quite adventure filled; hitting 10 states and 2 countries. I started it off with a cruise to Mexico (as you've all read about) and then I headed back to Salt Lake to visit my family for a bit....

I got to see several friends and family...

...met up with Batman (a.k.a. my fun nephew Iszacc)

...and got to see some friends' adorable kids (this is Madi, my friend Torrie's little girl)...

I had a great time with everyone! We went wedding dress shopping for my lil sis and made some other wedding plans, I at out a lot at some of my old time favorites, I spent time playing with Iszacc and I got to just spend some quiet time with all those I love (sorry I didn't get to see everyone!)

Then it was back to Louisiana, but only for a day, and I was off to fabulous NYC and New Jersey for my school program. We had a great time in the city, took the Subway, saw the Empire State Building and saw a great Broadway show...



I crammed a lot into my short break but had a great time doing it. Now it's back to work! I still have a lot of work before my August 14th graduation date...wahoo!

My White Wedding...

...didn't happen! :) For those of you who noticed, I had a poll on my page for a week or so that asked what highly spontaneous thing I did last week. Well for those few people who waited in anticipation (namely Nika) I did not get married, nor did I sky dive, nor did I get any permanent ink on my body, I went on a cruise! I know, I know not as exciting as getting hitched but a nice break from everything with some of my bestest friends. It was lovely and warm and there was no talk of school allowed! I will attach some pictures soon! I can sense the relief in some of you and the disappointment in others! Thanks for playing along! :)

White Houses...

I just got back from a trip to Washingtoon D.C. with my grad program here at tech. It was mostly just business but I threw in a little FUN! On Saturday evening when I arrived I met up with on my best friends in the world, Kathie and her her husband Jim, who live in Baltimore. We went to dinner at a great Italian place in downtown D.C. and then drove up to see the D.C. Temple which I had not seen yet (despite several trips to D.C.) It was beautiful and we had a great time together. Other than the fun stuff, business was good too, I learned a lot and got some networking in. I graduate in August so it's about time to start looking into some jobs.

On Sunday I'm off to MARDI GRAS! So look for an interesting post on that one coming soon! It's going to be crazy but I think it too will be a blast!