Pumpkin and Spice

If you're like, well... everyone else everywhere, you're feeling the pinch of the economy. (If you're not, send me a job application for where ever it is you work!) While I know better days are on the horizon, I'm impatient and don't like postponing fun "splurge" activities like fabulous vacations. I love vacations, but we just don't have the funds right now to visit luxurious and exotic locales. As a result, I'm becoming a master (mistress?) of the mini-vacay.

I define a "mini-vacay" as a short (ususally weekend or 3-day weekend), local-ish (driving distance), vacation. Cheaper than a "real" vacation, but we still get the change of atmosphere and pace that make vacations so refreshing. Recently, Kyle and I took a long weekend to enjoy St. Petersburg, FL.

Mama Pumpkin got in safe last night. Once she landed, we picked up a rental car, stopped for a fortifying snack at Ben and Jerry's. (CoffeeCoffee BuzzBuzzBuzz and Peanut Butter Cookie Dough for me- I need to start just getting one scoop, though. I never finish two scoops.)

After ice cream, we headed back to the apartment to drop off my car and pick up me and Kyle's luggage. I packed myself a small bag of food 'n' stuff for the trip. I didn't pack much, because I know my mom, and she usually brings enough food for an expedition to Mt. Everest. I just packed a few essentials-

Okay, let's try this one more time! (This is a long one! It was a busy day...)

Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early... Haha! That was a little joke. I don't wake up "bright and early" unless its absolutely necessary. And it wasn't necessary on Saturday. We woke up about 8:45, which was early enough, got dressed and smeared ourselves with copious amounts of SPF 55. (Yeah, we're pasty.) Before we left, we stopped at the cafe to get breakfast. I tried to get something healthy and filling (I didn't want to be too hungry before lunchtime rolled around.) I wound up having a cup of coffee, scrambled eggs with yummy salsa, most of a biscuit and a cup of fresh pineapple. Kyle had the "breakfast skillet"- eggs, potatoes, cheese, veggies, sausage and more cheese. After our breakfasts, we hopped on the bus to Epcot.

Today is the last day of my super-boring Hospitality Management class. I just have to take my final, and I'm free for a glorious three-day weekend! My next (and final) class is Cost Control and Wine, which Jenn really enjoyed, and I am very much looking forward to. Kyle and I are already members of a wine club, which has really taught me a lot about different wines and a bit about tasting, so it'll be fun to enhance that with some more formal schooling.

Tomorrow, Kyle and I are "leaving" to go on a mini stay-cation at Disney World! We booked a room at one of the hotels and are going to go enjoy the first weekend of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!!! I'm sooooo excited! The Food and Wine Festival is my favorite time of year at Disney World- it's like a foodie's dream. They set up booths all around the World Showcase, each representing a different country, each offering tapas-sized portions of food, wines and beers from that country. There are also wine tastings, beer tastings, cooking demos by notable chefs from around the country, and concerts! In fact, a band that I love, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (a swing band from the 90s) is going to be performing this weekend!