Fall Back

So the Expedition Evans hacienda withstood its first hurricane. My immediate thoughts were "let's turn this into some kind of trip and evacuate" (I'm not gonna lie) - however my logical reasoning (and my bank account) got the best of me, and we decided to stick out the storm. Thankfully no serious damage except for some power outages affected us.

Not to get all profound on you, but in a way I think it really made the summer go out with a BANG (even though Labor Day is this weekend). Like an out with the old, in with the new kind of thing. Today the weather is a bit cooler, and I think everyone is ready to welcome a change of season. I know I am. I've had mixed feelings on summer ever since I graduated high school. Something about a 9am to 5pm schedule 50 weeks out of the year that makes me miss my school days.

So with September just a couple of days away, I welcome the season of pumpkins (and pumpkin spice lattes), bright fall colors, crisp fall days, CAMPING (stay tuned for that), and our 5 year wedding anniversary! Enjoy the last few days of summer everyone!!!

xoxo mevans

What's the deal-io: You wanna go where???

So my latest obsession is with French Polynesia (mostly because I just saw it on Keeping up with the Kardashians). Tahiti, Bora Bora - I will make it there some day. The biggest thing standing in my way though, is airfare. I was stunned to learn that an economy ticket to French Polynesia is at least over $1,000 EACH WAY - you are talking almost $3,000 per person. 

Travelzoo made me smile this week when I saw this beauty of a deal. 

OK - so $700 each way might not be a bargain, but hey, I'd pay that much for some of this: 

 (Photo Courtesy of the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa website)

xoxo mevans

My "DASH" With Fame

I think you all know how I feel about flights that are 5+ hours. I detest them - with a passion. Waaa-mbulance alert: Waaaaah I wish places weren't so far. I always scrub out for them too. Glasses, and clothing that I would usually wear to the gym are my usual fashion of choice. I usually throw my hair up in a messy ponytail about 5 minutes before I leave - as if to say "yup, I look like hobo, and I'm not ashamed of it." Life lesson here everyone, life lesson - never leave the house looking like a hobo.

In true Expedition Evans awkwardness this time around though, I was in for a bit of a surprise. It turns out that upon boarding my Virgin America flight, who do I find sitting in first class? About two feet away from where I was standing?

The ever classy, Rob Kardashian (of Keeping up with the Kardashians fame, or Kim's younger brother). As I fumbled through my bag looking for my phone (because for some reason I thought I could take a pic of him sitting on a plane and that wouldn't be weird), I quickly realized I was becoming "THAT" girl - you know, back in the day, the girl that would stop at nothing to get an autograph of one of the *NSYNC members? Not Chris though, because he was gross.

I dialed it back a bit and calmly proceeded to my seat (Bud had sat down before I did). I immediately texted every person I knew to tell them about my morning's events. Most excited was my sister. We chatted immediately on how we should proceed with this situation. Bud told me to "stop being weird" and that we would see him at baggage claim and to ask for a pic there. To which I said to him in disbelief, "What Kardashian gets their own bags?!? From baggage claim no less."

Well friends, apparently Rob does: 

I was a bit too star struck, so I have to give it to Bud, because he actually went up to Rob and asked for the picture (isn't he great?). After he agreed, I awkwardly stuck my hand out and shook his hand and said, "Hi, I'm a big fan" and he replied, "Hi, thanks I'm Rob", with a sheepish grin. As Bud struggled with the setting on my camera phone (which seemed like an eternity by the way), I couldn't help but think how I looked like I had given up on life with the clothes I was wearing.

Rob, if you are out there reading this, thanks for being a good sport and humoring me a bit. You'll always have LAX Baggage Claim Area B to remember me by. 

xoxo mevans

Back in the Saddle

Long time no talk you guys. Seriously. I gotta shape up with this blog thing. Don't worry - I've been keeping busy. Summer is always a crazy time, and I am happy to say that I have some fun EEE (Expedition Evans Experiences) to share with you. I was able to squeeze in a last minute trip to Cali earlier this month. I tagged along on Bud's business trip and managed to make time for some California fun in the sun. Full reports to come!

Hey, remember when I used to write a blog?

I should rephrase that - I do still have a blog. I'm afraid to say that life has been busy lately and I have not had a chance at all to post with any regularity.

I'm not apologizing because I am sure you all are really tired of hearing me apologize for everything (i.e. I'm sorry that I'm sorry). I'll just leave it short and sweet.

I do have a lot of fun things coming up - me and Bud are venturing to Cali in a bit, and you know what that means - DISNEYLAND - can I get a what! what!

I will also be sharing some more pics from our European vacay soon. So my friends, all is not lost, just a lot of "good stuff" to come. I promise. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder, no?

Stay cool everyone!

xoxo mevans

You can have your Nachos, and eat them too

How fast the weeks fly by when the weather is warm. I can't believe today is the first day of Summer! I'll make up my lack of post-age recently with my stay-cation day trip to Six Flags Great Adventure this past weekend.

Bud and I usually try to schedule a trip to Six Flags every now and then. I'm not a big fan of the 3 hour drive and well, Jersey in general, but hey, you take the good with the bad. I'll sum up the day and say we had a blast and we did enjoy a great day with our friends. I just have to bring up a sore spot that I have with Six Flags corporate for a few paragraphs.

An "Epic Fail" award goes to your Marketing Department, Six Flags. Whoever came up with the idea of putting concession stands in the middle of the queuing areas should be fired - or forced to stand in line. Not only does it really mess up the flow of the line and results in a longer overall wait time; it caused me quite a bit of drama. 

A middle-aged man (who looked like Bob Saget just to give you a visual) proceeded to yell at me and my group for moving around him while he stood at the concession stand and bought what seemed like every item the concession stand sold. Now obviously, we knew the man was in front of us, and of course we would have let him back in front of us after he finished buying snacks for the whole entire theme park. As we politely passed him in line to give him room, he began shouting quite heatedly that we were "cutting him" (because this was clearly the 6th grade lunch line) and that he was "still in line". Thank you Captain Obvious.

So, of course, in true Expedition Evans awkwardness, I turn toward him and said back firmly, "RELAX. We will obviously let you back in line in front of us. Get your nachos, and it'll be FINE."  This was all thanks to you, Six Flags corporate (we did let him back in line, just in case you were wondering).

What can I say, I don't like to be sassed.....and also, who REALLY needs a plate of nachos before careening down a steel track at 60 miles per hour and flipped upside down 5 times? Seriously? I digress.

Happy Summer everyone! 

xoxo mevans

It's Photo Book Go-Time

I try to soak in every memory of my trip - the sights, the people, the food, the culture. I like to take a mental snapshot of absolutely everything, if possible. Of course, pictures help. As you know, I go through a "trip withdrawal" when I get back. Mostly from enjoying a few days of doing absolutely nothing but FUN stuff. When I get back and take a look at my pic(k)s, I get really sentimental about all that. Some might say obsessively so - until Shutterfly entered my life (although Bud tells me I'm equally obsessed with it - I think I talked about how awesome it was for about a week).  


Shutterfly.com (shameless plug), is one of those photo sharing websites that lets you upload and share your pictures, as well as make invitations, photo books, calendars, etc. I'm mostly obsessed with the photo book area of this website (they have really great discounts too). Nothing captures your vacay memories quite like a photo book, and helps you relive them at the same time. What I love about it is that you can make captions and edit your pictures. The prices are pretty exceptional, and it's way cooler than just buying a photo album and printing your pictures. Every trip is different, and you can create and customize the books based on what type of trip you went on. 

For example, for our recent trip, I used more of a "scrapbook" theme. This past one was my best creation yet: 

And yes, these are pictures I actually took. 

Warning though, it can be quite time consuming and addicting. I think I spent about 3 hours on this one........because, well, I have no life. JK, JK. 

Defs check it out though, it's really a great site! 

Oh, and you guys got an "Expedition Evans Experience" post, a "What's the Deal-io" post, and a "Pic(k) of the Week" post all in one blog entry. Now that's what I call efficiency!

Have a great weekend everyone! 

xoxo mevans