The Clouds...

I flew to South Carolina last week, to see my daughter's dance performances.  On the way there, I started a blog entry that I was actually pretty happy with.  Since I had no wifi, I figured I'd post it when I got to the hotel.  Imagine my surprise when it wasn't there!  Ahh still new to this blogging world.  

The pictures, however, stayed "in the cloud"...

Beautiful day to fly

My new "snack on the go" and reading Danielle Walker's
"Meals Made Simple"
 

As excited as I was to head to S.C., I was also slightly nervous - being away from my protein shakes and this new way of living.  Being in hotels and grabbing food on the go is not exactly part of my new plan.  I was so worried that I'd have a set back.

The first challenge was that the hotel, which previously had a restaurant had now turned it into a Starbuck's Bistro Cafe.  I told the waitress that I needed something really clean and she recommended the Healthy Start Sandwich, which was egg whites, roast turkey, spinach, havarti cheese on and english muffin.  She assured me that it was cooked in olive oil and no butter.  I did not hear her mention havarti, so I was a little concerned when I saw cheese on the eggs but I was fine and it didn't taste too bad.  One thing that might interest you should you ever find yourself in a Starbucks Bistro...if you make any changes to the normal menu, your food will be made to order - rather than what has been made earlier in the day.  Personally, I'd find something to change on the order for that reason alone.  Fresh is best!

Healthy Start Breakfast (no english muffin) with Tazo Zen Tea (no sweetener)

It's funny, the entire time I was in SC when I would order something with no bread - I was immediately met with, "I hate to charge you the full price if you aren't getting the bread".  So sweet but I'd be paying in other ways if I had the bread so I was perfectly fine paying full price and letting them keep their bread.  I'm happy to say that I didn't experience much of a set-back while I was away - just a few ounces gained and they were immediately lost!

Much of my days were spent driving my daughter to & fro, like old times.  She had classes, rehearsals, performances and sorority initiation and parking is not plentiful in Columbia, SC so I did my best to give her more time by driving her around.  I picked up some things for her apartment, including a slow cooker - and made a healthy turkey chili for she & her roomies.  

Thursday night was the first performance - it was amazing!  You can't imagine what this girl has gone through in the past few years with her health challenges.  To see her happy, dancing and being pleased with her performance was so emotional for me.  I loved the entire show...she was in a ballet piece by Balanchine called Walpurgisnacht which I was unfamiliar with but loved.  My favorite piece was Paul Taylor's "Company B".  She was in several of the dances and was the "Rum & Coca Cola Girl".  The dances were mostly flirty and fun and featured music from the Andrew's Sisters.  I could have watched it again and again.

Rum & Coca Cola

You're not supposed to take pictures during the show.  It's a cardinal rule of theatre/dance performances, however I had a very brave grandfather of one of the dancer's snapping away throughout the show, right next to me.  I ended up giving in to peer pressure and took a few fuzzy pics from my iPhone.  Still can't believe I did that!  I'm normally such a rule follower.

After the show, we had a late dinner at "Cola's" in Columbia.  I broke another one of my new rules for living by eating after 7pm, but it was worth it!  We had poached pear salads and fresh sesame ahi tuna.  I substituted risotto for spinach and stayed away from the dessert.  Sigh....

the comeback kid

Friday, we did it all over again but she squeezed in her sorority initiation between rehearsals and performances.   My husband flew into town and was able to see the performance as well.  It was so nice to have him there to see his little girl.  Such proud parents!

On Monday, I got a call that she lost her footing in her apartment and rolled her ankle and heard a loud "snap"!  She had an X-ray and it looks like she'll be on crutches for a least a week.  We're hoping  to get her in with an Ortho soon for an MRI.  Ahhh never a dull moment!  I may need to go back down there.  

This time, I think I will drive so I can surprise her with the best pick-me-up, ever...

Daisy

Who's up for a road trip!?  

It's been a few weeks...

Having both of my kids on two different Spring Break schedules was a little frustrating since we never had a moment as a family, when we were all together.  That said, my son and I went down to visit my daughter in SC while he was on his break, so I did have a few days with both kids.  I don't know how much of a break it actually was for my son.  My daughter went to school in January without her car, so it seemed we were busy driving her places from the time we arrived - until the time we left.  We did enjoy a few relaxing dinners while we were there.  Columbia, SC has some great restaurants.  This trip, our favorites were Pearl's Oyster Bar and California Dreaming.  Pearl's has really great oysters on the half shell and pretty fabulous lobster rolls.  (I'm a tough critic when it comes to lobster rolls since I was born in Massachusetts, so you can trust me on this.)  California Dreaming's house salad is amazing...though I could have probably done myself a few favors by saying "no" to the honey croissants that accompany each salad.  The fact that we began our meal with an appetizer of croissants was probably not the best decision but they tasted incredible.

The ballerina's spring break was cut short from the beginning as she had a performance at the Columbia Museum of Art on the first Saturday of her break.  My son and I were able to attend the dress rehearsal the day before.  It was so great to see her dancing again.  It wasn't a ballet piece - it was a "swing piece" to complement the theme "From Geisha's to Gatsby".  The choreography was fast and fun.  They performed 3 times during the Gala and she said all three performances went really well with great energy from the dancer's as well as the crowd.

The dancer's all donned black bob wigs - I barely recognized her!

I think she misses the dogs when she is at school..more than anything.

Headed back to school in her new car ~ Happy Girl! 

We headed back to Virginia on Sunday - wishing we had brought the SC weather with us.  I think my daughter felt she got "the short end of the stick"...coming home to the freezing cold on "spring break" but she was so happy to spend a few days at home with her pets before having to go back to school.

I wish I had  gotten some pics of my son over the break.  He arrived home with a bad cold, so we spent the first half of his break, nursing him back to health before we headed south and we were so busy while we were in SC, I didn't think about it.  Thankfully, they'll both be back for a few weeks in May, before their busy summers begin.

How were your spring break's with your kids?  Busy (like ours) or relaxing...like most people we know?

south carolina dreaming

Having an empty nest (sigh), my husband and I are looking at our future and making plans for pre and post retirement.   It has not been a secret amongst my family and friends that I'm anxious to move south.  I'm a Massachusett's girl at heart but I'm looking for the warmth and hospitality of the south.  Since my daughter moved to South Carolina for school, I have fallen in love with the state even more.

Can't imagine why, since we woke up to this today (and yesterday, and...well....)

Poor Daisy - trying her best to hide from the snow!

We've decided to look for a home that we can rent out in the summer and use for vacations & weekend getaways for our family the rest of the year.  Although I desperately want to have a home in Charleston (for obvious reasons), we are starting to think that short-term, it would probably be best to get a beach house if we will be renting out in the summers.  I've begun the search online...so many areas near Charleston...Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Seabrook, Sullivan's, Kiawah.  Although, this will likely not be our forever home (hello...Charleston!?), I do want to be in an area that we enjoy and hopefully not too "tourist-y".

Any southern bloggers that can offer advice or suggestions?  Have you vacationed down south?  Help this Washington, DC girl find some warmth in SC!