Savannah GA - Day 1

After we went to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and saw 7 alligators! We headed to our hotel in downtown Savannah GA. Whenever we go on vacation I love staying downtown or wherever the action is so that way we can walk most places and save money on gas and parking and besides its just so much more convenient. Even if the hotel is a little more expensive, I think the experience is worth it. So we checked into our hotel which was the Hampton Inn on Ogerthope Street. It was within great walking distance to everything, had parking and free breakfast so it was great! Anyways we checked in around 2pm. Put our stuff in the room and changed out of our sweaty road trip clothes. The first thing we did was walk to Chippawe Square (there are so many squares in Savannah!) We got to see the exact location were the bus stop scenes in Forrest Gump were filmed. So cool. Then we walked toward the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. We were happy to go at a time when visitors were aloud in and to look around. The Cathedral is beautiful! So pretty. It reminded me of the Duke Chapel but more ornate and colorful inside. So worth the visit.

After the cathedral we decided to look on our map for where to head next. We saw that the first Girl Scout headquarters and the founders old home was near so we walked that way to visit it. We didn't go inside or anything but we looked around the outside and even bought some Thin Mints from Girl Scouts on the corner. Later we would realize that the city is crawling with Girl Scouts and we don't know if that was just this weekend or during cookie season or all the time but Savannah is where the Girl Scouts were founded so it was fun to see them around every corner.

Next we walked down to River Street which is so pretty and fun! The old cobblestone streets and the river boats on the water and the cute shops and restaurants make for one great area of the city. Besides you can walk around with open containers meaning you can drink on the streets while walking around. Super fun! I found myself a souvenir Christmas ornament in one of the shops and then we did a quick Google search for the best restaurants on Rivet Street and ended up at the Cotton Exchange Tavern. Which as very good. Oh and they had crinkle fries which are my favorite! Every restaurant we ate at had really good food and it came out quick and hot which was wonderful.

After dinner we walked around River Street some more. Listen to local music on the street and saw local artists painting photos of the sunset. We also when into River Street Sweets which was a large candy store and they even gave us a sample of a hot pecan cluster and it was to die for. We then starting walking back to the hotel and Clark lead us passed a bakery and we went inside and he bought a little cake (it was my birthday) and then we got back to the hotel he made me wait in the bathroom while he decorated the cake really quick. (It was a total surprise because we had already celebrated in the morning before we left for GA which cinnamon rolls and opening presents.) Always he said I could come out and all the candles were lite and it said Happy Birthday Carlee I <3 U. He sang me happy bday and I blew out the candles. It really was so sweet. Then we had cake and were in for the night. It was a great birthday and a wonderful first day in Savannah.
love, Carlee

Cardigan & Bag: Target

Tank: Old Navy

Pants: Macys

Sandals: Toms

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Hey all! So I just got back from Savannah GA. Clark and I went for the extra long weekend and had a blast. Clark actually got work off Friday so we left the house early and made the 4 hour trip down to Savannah! We actually had plans to go to the Outer Banks of NC for the weekend but it snowed up there and was suppose to be really cold so it shouldn't kind of miserable. We both knew we couldn't just stay home since it was my birthday on Friday and also Valentine's Day and they both fell on Presidents' Day weekend which made it perfect because Clark got a long weekend. So instead of heading North we headed South for some warmer weather and I am so glad we did. We had the best time!

Our first stop was actually to get lunch when we got close to the SC- GA border. So I got on Yelp and found a local BBQ place with good reviews called The Pink Pig. It's kind of out of the way but totally worth it if your in the area. I got the pulled pork sandwich and hushpuppies and Clark got a shrimp Po-Boy sandwich. After that we drove to the visitors center of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to get a map and ask the park ranger where the best place in the park was so see alligators. I have lived in the south for almost 3 years now and have never seen a wild alligator. It was time. He showed us on the map where our best bet would be but said not to get our hopes up because they are in hibernating season and aren't out much. But I just wanted to see one so I was still hopeful.

We ended up seeing 7 alligators while doing the 4 mile Wildlife Nature Trail in our car. You can park and get out and see the gators. The first one we saw was so close and another couple that was there said this is the closest they have ever seen one at the refuge so we were lucky and it was the first one! We saw tons of different birds and a turtle. Then we saw 6 more alligators although they were farther away. We saw 4 laying out and 2 in the water. At first we thought maybe we were seeing things but they were definitely gators. It was a good trip and sine alligators are in hibernation right now they aren't very active but in the summer they are out a lot more and more active. Anyways, highly recommended if you are in the south and want to see some wild alligators. It is cool. Definitely not the same as seeing them in the zoo or aquarium.
love, Carlee

Leggings: American Eagle

Shirt & Coat: Target

Shoes: Nike

I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Courtney Robertson

I loved this book! So it is written by Courtney Robertson which you will remember if you are a Bachelor fan and watched Ben Flajnik because she was the villain and winner of the season. You probably hated her, I know I did. I had seen this book at the library and I was intrigued but I didn't pick it up because I did not like her on the show and I just thought it would be an annoying book or something. Also it has been years since his season and that was actually the first Bachelor season I ever watched. I have only wanted a few. That season, Sean Lowes, Desiree Hartsock, Juan Pablo, Andi Dorfman. I skipped two and I am watching this season with Ben Higgins which I am loving.

Anyways back to the book. I came across the book again and read some reviews on Amazon and so I picked it up.

I immediately loved it and didn't want to put it down. It was so interesting to get a backstage look on the whole Bachelor thing and the season she was on. It was great because it was like she didn't give a f*ck if she pissed anyone off or burned bridges. She was honest and she even outed her embarrassing stuff so it is not like someone could come back and trash her because she trashes herself. I was more interested in what happened after the Bachelor because that you don't see in front of cameras. So hearing about how the relationship panned out after the show and how the show really effected her everyday life was awesome. She was a super villain and people hated her. And since she lived in LA, she was chased around by paparazzi and it just seemed like a huge life change and it was interesting for her to explain it all. 

I was glad I read this book and if you are into the Bachelor and watched this season I would recommend it. I came to feel sympathy for Courtney and have realized now she wasn't so bad as the show portrayed although she did say some awful stuff which she shouldn't have. Anyways, the book changed my opinion on her but even if you still hate her after you will get some good inside coop on the Bachelor and some of the other contests of the Bachelor which is always fun to hear some behinds the seasons dirty laundry. 

This book also ended up on the NY Times Best seller list so yeah it was pretty popular. Recommended. 
love, Carlee