While in Asheville, NC, I stayed at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, a gorgeous building in an 8,000-acre oasis, surrounded by the Blue Mountains.  After a lovely drive up through the Vanderbilt estate, I was greeted by friendly, smiling bellmen upon arriving at the hotel.

I scored a room on the top floor, with gorgeous views out the window. With such amenities as custom robes and slippers, a coffee maker, television with in-room movies, and high-speed Internet access, it would have been easy to never leave the room!

However, when there is a pool, it’s usually calling my name, so I could not miss out on a quick dip in the rimless pool while soaking in the rays of the hot Carolina sun.

In the evenings, I spent my time sipping on cocktails on the veranda, watching the stars make their appearance in the sky, knowing that I had the most comfortable bed to sleep in that night. Can you say RELAXED?

Next up: The Bounty of Biltmore: Food & Wine Tour

Previous: Carolina on My Mind

Adventure on,

Kristen

Once again, I am here to remind you that Saturday is Record Store Day! Get yourself down to your local music dealer, and buy yourself some new tunes with that hefty tax refund (or go to the used section for some cheap ones if you’re like me, and owed Uncle Sam all your spending money).

I checked out a few independent record stores in Seattle this week, and they are ALL having some kind of special and/or in-store performances by some great bands. Nothing like being entertained with live music while you shop!

Oh, and one store manager I talked to, J.R. from Jive Time Records in Fremont, said that, if you’re like me, and don’t own a record player anymore, you can easily get one all set up for between $80-100. Not bad. And, if I do, here are some of the records I would buy:

I heart Television.

Surf’s up, dudettes!

For your inner child.

Man, I remember doing the mod dance to this song.

OK, just kidding on the STYX one.

For some amusing posts from years past, please check out some of my older musings on this loveliest of days:

2009 Record Store Day

2008 Record Store Day (where you can read all about my days at working for Rolling Stone Records in Chicago during my “glory days”!)

Adventure on with headphones on!

Kristen

Last year at about this time, I took a quick jaunt to visit a friend in the quaint town of Gent, Belgium. It was the beginning of December, and the whole town was lit up with white Christmas lights. My first evening there (when I took most of these pics), I felt like I was in a fairy-tale. Enjoy this visual journey through my eyes!

One of the squares along the canal.

My friend’s place is on the right-hand side of this street. The nunnery is on the left. (“Get thee to a nunnery!”)

The old church. One of several in this small town.

I have to say, I think MY coffee looks better than George Clooney’s in the ad!

For some reason, this picture of the woman pouring pints in front of the “other” woman cracked me up.

And, the real reason I like to visit Belgium. BEER

Sante! Enjoy the holidays!

Kristen