June Recapped

Can you believe that it's the last day of June?! Seems like yesterday we were just coming back from the Philippines-- but we've already been back for over 2 months. Time really does fly when you're having FUN!

Here's a recap of what happened around here at Latitude Adjustment this month:

- We were so busy at the beginning of June that I was hardly able to post! But I was able to do a quick update. Check it out here.

- My post on Caramoan, Philippines was re-published on a great Philippine travel blog called S2KD. Read about that here.

- Of course I had to do my Monthly Photo Journal for May here.

- I also posted about our roadtrip across America. Parts 1 , 2 , & 3 can be found here:
   Part 1: Grand Canyon
   Part 2: NM, OK, TX, & AR
   Part 3: The Ozarks

- For Father's Day, I dedicated this post to my pops.

- I joined my first Expat to Expat Q&A linkup.

- I made a rather long list of restaurants I want to check out in Nashville. Check the list out here.

- My 10-year high school reunion was this month, which prompted this Throwback Thursday post.

- I also started participating in the High Five For Friday linkup. Here's one and then another.


June has been a busy but fun month. From moving across the country to exploring our new city- it's been great. We're looking forward to what the rest of the summer has in store for us!

Stay updated- follow me on Bloglovin' by clicking above!

High Five For Friday!

It's Friiiddaayyyy! Heeeyyy!

Five of my favorite things from this week:

J & I went on a 22-mile bike ride on the Music City Bikeway. We really love the fact that we live so close to it & that it's extra awesome! // Grocery shopping at the farmer's market-- supporting local economy. // I started my new job this week & J has made my lunch every single day. He's such a sweetheart. // I like when it's nap time at work. A few hours to myself. // Not only does J make my lunches everyday, but he also has had dinner waiting for me when I get home. I am truly blessed with such a loving & supporting husband!

Well as you can tell from the lack of posts, I've been super extra busy, especially now that I have a full-time job. But I am really enjoying my new job & the people I'm working with.

If you missed it, earlier this week I posted about the third part of our roadtrip to the Ozarks. Check it out here:

The Ozarks - Roadtrip Across America part 3

Hope everyone enjoyed their week & have a great weekend!

xo

The Ozarks - Roadtrip Across America part 3

{If you need to catch up, part 1 of our roadtrip can be found here & part two can be found here.}

Days 5 & 6 of our roadtrip were spent in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. It was beautiful there. Everything was green. The water was clean, clear & cool. We had a great time.

Day 5:

We left early in the morning from our KOA in Alma, AR & headed up to the Ozark National Forest. We wanted to take the more scenic route, so we took the scenic byway. It added some time onto our trip- but it was so worth it: amazing views, windy roads, deer & elk everywhere, & even viewpoints to stop at along the way.

High Five For Friday

First off-- HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! Woohoo!

Here are five of my favorite things from this week:

One: On Monday, I had a job interview & got the job! So my hubby & I went out to celebrate-- we even got me a new phone, so this picture was us trying it out. // Two: We live half a mile from a Sonic's... and their shakes are half price after 8pm... good or bad idea? Either way, we've already been twice (in one week! Yikes. Haha...) // Three: We went on a bike ride and rode to downtown. // Four: Last night I made pizza- and it turned out so good! Chicken, spinach, cilantro, grilled onions & cheese with a garlic BBQ sauce. So yummy! // Five: Sometimes, you just gotta turn the funk all the way UP.

And if you missed it, here's what I posted this week:

Throwback Thursday: High School

To-do List: Nashville Restaurants

NM, OK, TX, & AR - Roadtrip Across America part 2

Expat to Expat Q&A: Travel

To My Hero

Monthly Photo Journal: May 2013

I'm so glad that we've been able to settle down a bit here in Nashville and that I've had time to get back to blogging. I start my new job soon, so I will be busy again, but I'm hoping it doesn't take away from my blogging time!

Come join the H54F fun here:

Throwback Thursday: High School

Last Saturday was my 10-year high school reunion. I didn't go, for several reasons, but it's crazy for me to think that it has been 10 years! TEN!

In high school, I didn't consider myself popular, or unpopular, I was sort of in the middle. I was friends with popular people & I was friends with not so popular people. I had a close group of girl friends. I played volleyball all 4 years. I was in the Polynesian group & the fishing group. My senior year, I was on the yearbook staff. Overall, I had fun, got good grades & was happy to graduate & get out.

Here are a few {quite embarrassing} pictures from high school that I have on my computer. These were taken before digital cameras were "in" and film cameras were still the thing to use. 

Homecoming.

Yes, I am indeed wearing overalls. Yikes. >.<

To-do List: Nashville Restaurants

I'm going to be honest- a big reason I was excited to move to the south was because of the FOOD. You know, you hear about how good food is in the south, especially BBQ, & since I'm a self-proclaimed 'foodie' (I don't really like that word, but I had to use it) I was all kinds of happy to come here.

Months (yes, months) before we moved down here, I started to bookmark restaurants on Yelp that I wanted to check out in Nashville. The restaurants mentioned below are ones I've bookmarked and have yet to try. And they're not all just BBQ joints, I bookmarked quite a variety. I don't discriminate, especially with food! =)

I want to give a big thank you to Diane over at Vintage Zest for all her help and recommendations, too! And if you have any recommendations (restaurants, things to do, where to shop, etc.) for Nashville, I will gladly and appreciatively take them!

Demo's Restaurant - American

Arnold's Country Kitchen - Southern 

Joey's House of Pizza

Sam's Kabab Gyro - Greek/Mediterranean

Mas Tacos - Mexican

The Sweet Stash - Bakery

NM, OK, TX & AR - Roadtrip Across America part 2

After our amazing trip to the Grand Canyon, we continued on our roadtrip and headed east. Days 3 & 4 consisted of leaving Arizona, to New Mexico, to Texas & then Arkansas.

Day 3:

Day 3 was probably the most boring day of our trip. We woke up really early, before the sun came up. We wanted to get an early start since we were heading to Texas, our next stop, which was about a 10-hour drive. We were able to see the sun just starting to peek over the Grand Canyon.

As we were entering New Mexico, we started to see the scenery change a bit. We saw some really cool rock formations which made the drive a little more interesting.

Expat to Expat Q&A: Travel

Today I'm linking up with Found Love, Now What? & The Hemborg Wife for my very first Expat to Expat Q&A! There's even questions this month from my friend Lisa! 

June Questions:

1. Which airport would you like to never see again?
The Manila, Philippines airport! It's pretty terrible. But, I know I'll see it again. It's inevitable. I just hope they get their stuff together ASAP!

2. What is your travel nightmare?
Missing a flight.

3. Would your rather stay in a fancy hotel and do less activities or stay in a hostel and do more activities?
HOSTEL! All. The. Way.

One of our most favorite hostels we've ever stayed at- The Point in Máncora, Peru.

4. Do you have any pre-travel rituals?

I say a prayer in my head before taking off.

5. What is your favorite airline to fly with?
I like Japan Airlines. They're really nice and good food! (well, good for airplane-type food)

To My Hero

I am incredibly blessed to have a father & an awesome one at that. And I am happy to admit that I am the biggest daddy's girl.

My father is the most hard-working, smartest, & funniest person I know. He's also pretty darn crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. People always wonder how my mother married a guy like him or how I'm his daughter, but we have our reasons. And what they don't know is- I'm just like him.

My dad is my hero. He's always supportive of me (no matter how many times I change my mind on things, he's always there to back me up 100%) and I know I can count on him no matter where I may be in the world. He knows how to fix or make anything and everything. Making his family (in particular- his wife) happy has always been his number one priority. He treats his wife with the utmost respect and love. I knew growing up that I wanted a husband who would treat me as good as he treats my mom -- and I think I nailed it! =)

Happy Father's Day, Pops!

No matter where I am in this world, I'll always be your little girl. I don't know what I'd do without you. I appreciate everything you've done & continue to do for me. I love you.

Monthly Photo Journal: May 2013

Yes, I am aware that it is mid-June and I am barely posting my monthly photo journal for May! 

It was a crazy busy month with coming back home to California after being gone for 14 months. We were busy spending time with friends and family and going on trips. I felt like every day something was going on. We were only back there for a month before we moved on again! Busy busy busy, indeed.

Now that we've finally had time to settle in our new place, I've had time to put this together.

Row 1: We went on a family dirtbiking trip for Mother's Day weekend. Super fun. // My husband manning the fire during our dirtbike trip. // I was able to go to a few Zumba classes with my BFF. I love Zumba! // Went on a sushi lunch date with my parents. They're too cute.

Row 2: We took my BFF's daughter to the skating rink. Lots of fun! I hadn't been skating in years!! // One of my close friends and I. I was so happy to catch up with friends! // On set for the making of our Justin Bieber cover video. Check it out here. // At a wedding with two of my good (& beautiful!) friends.

Row 3: My husband and I went on a 30-mile, 3-day hike with some family friends. This was taken at the finish-- I was extremely exhausted, sore, sunburned & blistered! But it was a good accomplishment nonetheless! // Eating the best clam chowder EVER. Yes, ever. At Splash Cafe in San Luis Obispo, CA. // We we went camping with a bunch of our friends-- so many people, we called our campsite Tent City. Fun times. // With my fam after church. 

Row 4: For Memorial Day, I baked my red velvet brownies & a blue velvet cake. Both turned out yummy! // My fam bam & I being silly at our going away dinner. // On the road, somewhere in the middle-of-nowhere Arizona. When boredom strikes, I take pictures. lol // A picture of the Grand Canyon. Read about our trip here.

It was a really fun month, but it flew by way too fast. June has been a month full of new adventures. Stay tuned for those. =)

Grand Canyon - Roadtrip Across America part 1

On our move across the country, our first stop was the amazing Grand Canyon where we spent two days (#25 on bucket list that I got to check off! Yay!). 

Day 1:

We left California at around 5am. It took us about 9 hours, including stops, to get there. The drive on the I-40 can be a bit tough, mostly because the terrain and scenery are boring, but we made it! When you enter the park you have to pay $25 per vehicle. The pass is good for up to 7 days.

 We originally wanted to camp at the North Rim because it's known to have less people there, but it was full and it would've added a lot of time to our trip, so we had to go to the South Rim.We made reservations at Mather Campground (you can make reservations online here). When we arrived, the lady who checked us in was really nice. And she was quick! She pulled my husband's name up right away, gave us some directions & we were on our way. 

We got a tent site (nonelectric) and it was about $20 a night (we went in late May, post-Memorial Day). The campground has water, restrooms & pay showers. It's a nice campground that's really well-maintained. It's close to everything and there's even a shuttle stop right in front (& the shuttle is FREE and takes you everywhere around the park).

Mather Campground is also walking-distance to the general store, post-office and a bank. I was able to buy a postcard & stamp at the market & send it to my mom in just minutes. Pretty cool.

Caramoan, Philippines {re-visited}

Caramoan (you know-- the place on Survivor??) is where my husband and I spent our 1-year wedding anniversary last year.

For my long(ish)-time readers, you may remember when I did this post on the trip & a how-to guide.

The post was recently republished at S2KD-- a blog about travels in the Philippines. It's a really great site to read about first-hand travel experiences in the Philippines.

Check out my post (& others!) at S2KD here. And enjoy!

Quick Update: We made it!

We have finally made it to Nashville! We've actually been here since Tuesday-- and we already enjoy this new city of ours! We're currently on the house hunt, so please send the good vibes our way. We've heard it's pretty tough since so many people are moving here and so far we can attest to that. But we're staying positive and not giving up.

I can't wait to write about our road trip from California to Tennessee and show you guys some awesome pictures! Hopefully we get settled in soon so I can do that.

Well, until next time (hopefully not too far from now!) =)