Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Cheesin over my Cheesecake Factory Memories!!!!
While on my recent trip I had the opportunity to visit 3 Cheesecake Factory Restaurants!! WOW! 5 days 3 restaurants, I LOVE those odds! lol!
I can't say THANK YOU enough to the Cheesecake Factory for the gift of gift certificates!! What a blessing! I am appreciative that you support my endeavor. I'm one of your biggest fans!
Birmingham - the best dining experience. Our waiter was very nice and the staff was friendly. The food, SUPERB! They win the store of the trip award which sorry to say will get you nothing more than a mention here, sorry, I don't have a budget for trophies!
Raleigh, NC - WHEW! I didn't think about it being Valentine's weekend. We arrived at this restaurant at mall closing time, wait time 1 hour 40 minutes, WHAT? I had to just get cheesecake to go. On a positive note I bought the Reece's Peanut Butter Cheesecake - Oh, my word! DELISH! My DH is alleregic to peanuts so I'm not able to eat it if he is around.. Finally I could eat it, Reece's Peanut Butter did not disappoint. Totally worth the wait!
Durham, NC - Very pretty building at a shopping center. Loved the atmosphere and they had the most friendly hostess, seating and wait staff of the trip. I had the opportunity to speak to the manager Robert, who had just been to California for a visit to Cheesecake Corporate - JEALOUS! One of the employees, sorry I didn't get your name - but I did get your picture - told me after I mentioned that it was nice to notice how happy he was, he said, "how can you not be happy with all this cheesecake around?" AMEN friend!!!!
On our ride home, we attempted to make it to the Nashville restaurant, but due to the snow over the Smokies, we missed it by 1 hour... That's okay Nashville, I will see you!
Why Cheesecake Factory?
Growing up in South Arkansas as the oldest of three kids, we didn't have a lot of money to eat out. I remember eating out at a 'nice restaurant' only a handful of times growing up - Jr. Prom, we went to the Olive Garden. And for our Sr. Dinner we went to a local steakhouse Colonial Steakhouse. During the holidays we would get to experience all kinds of fun desserts. One of my favs was always cheesecake b/c I didn't get it very often. When on my first work trip to Denver, CO, my manager suggested we eat at the Cheesecake Factory. WHAT?!??! A restaurant with over 100 cheesecakes available for dessert? Wo-hoo! If ever I felt like Ellie Mae, it was then. LOVE at first bite! And the look of the restaurant is so decadent. The other food is good too, which just escalates the cheesecake to cherry on top of the whole experience. That was in 2003 or 4. Since then, I have been on a mission, any travel adventure, work or personal I look to find a Cheesecake Factory nearby. It is my happy place.
I have been blessed as an adult to afford eating out on a pretty regular basis and share the joy with my son (and whoever else is with me at the time). My DS is such a foodie! And will try anything once. And if he isn't with me I bring Cheesecake home. Probably the most memorable was a whole anniversary cheesecake that I had to pick up in Chicago and fly it back with me. 1 layover and 7 hours later we arrived home, cake still cool. He got home from school and had a whole cheesecake, I was the BEST MOM EVER! One of our favorite (Cheesecake Factory) memories of us together was in Kansas City. They had an appetizer sampler for like $27. I ordered it as my meal. He tried EVERYTHING and enjoyed it all, he was a happy fellow. we still talk about all the food that was on our table that day. Bucket List Living LIFE!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Unanswered Prayers and one less Solid Gold Dancer
Today’s Tune In Tuesday is dedicated to Unanswered Prayers. I was driving home from Bible study last night and listening to the 80’s station. I was thinking back to my childhood. The part that sometimer’s has left. And I realized that if God gave me what I prayed for I would be a now unemployed Solid Gold dancer.
Interesting, I did become a dancer… Though it’s not a job, it’s a life, Kelley Pye-Dancer.
I assure you, Solid Gold dancer didn’t make it on my bucket list. And looking through the Youtube videos WOW, look at those outfits! You don’t want to see me as a Solid Gold dancer!
Lord, I thank YOU for my unanswered prayers. You know what is best for my life. If by chance they do bring back Solid Gold, could I maybe be Marilyn McCoo though? Lol!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
I'm Tracking!
A handy tool for tracking where you have been in the United States, whether it is on your bucket list or not, being able to track where you have been in the United States is COOL!
I have a whole tab dedicated to my various states progress and will try to update the map to as handy dandy reference! I’m excited because we are going to Northern Arkansas for a church meeting and I will be able to visit Oklahoma while I’m there. Seriously, I don’t know how I’ve never been to Oklahoma knowing it is only 3.5 hours away, remedied soon though! J
On a sad note, Boston has been cancelled due to Sr. Prom. Didn’t realize when I made reservations that it was Prom weekend. Will be costly to cancel the tickets, but being here for my DS Sr. Prom is PrIcElEsS! Wouldn’t miss it for the world.. Or.. Er Boston as it stands! Lol!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Happy Pi Day! From one Pye to the world! lol!
There are no excuses for being MIA for almost 2 weeks! Fear not, I am planning on some bucket list completion items; more on that soon. But first, let’s celebrate PI day! From the time I was a little girl I remember my Dad putting the Pi symbol on anything that could potentially be like someone else’s. We always knew what was ours…. Kinda smart! And handy! So, let’s celebrate my heritage as a Pye (Pi), don’t worry, no math required….
Just a friendly reminder with my chalkboard at work.. I blinged it OUT! Anything that sits still in my house too long gets some Bling! ;)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The air is warming up, the sun is shining - PLAY BALL!
Take a step outside on this most AWESOME day in Arkansas – WOW! Yea, if ever there were a day to call in WELL, this one would have been IT! Needless to say, warmer weather reminds me of baseball and softball. Last year was the 1st year in 13 years we didn’t play baseball, or Christian didn’t that is…
I played softball when I was in high school for Cook Construction and let me just tell you, I was SOMETHING! No comments required from the peanut gallery, we all have our own opinions of something… And after I got married I was a coach for a local girls team. I so loved to play, the last time or one of the last times I played was the Saturday before I had Christian… He was born on a Thursday… Of course they put me in right field… I did get to bat, but I had a runner for me.
Christian played for 13 years, starting at the age of 3, yes, 3 with T-ball… Now, he’s getting ready to graduate and last year decided not to pursue playing legion or high school ball. I’m sure that I will have the opportunity to see one of my nephews play this year… And I’ll get to have some concession stand food… You know, the nachos with EVERYTHING, if you saw a heart doctor while eating them they would throw it in the trash… Popcorn, hot dogs, pickles… Oh, and the sunflower seeds…
Item #117 on my list – “Throw an opening pitch to a baseball or softball game.” Now I’m sure that I could talk to someone in White Hall about that, but I want to go bigger. What represents a baseball fan in Arkansas? Well, the Arkansas Travelers of course! (and to be fair to the U of A, yes, HOGBALL does represent me well too, but scheduling is tough with me being 3 hours away.) So, today I sent the Travelers an e-mail to see if they would help me achieve my dream. I’ll keep you updated.
If you wait, you WON’T – Play Ball! ;)
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