Dollar Tree Find

I'll warn you now. This may be one of my most random posts, but I'm so happy to share it that I don't mind if you give me funny looks. I won't keep you any longer than necessary, so this is what I found at Dollar Tree yesterday!!

Isn't is snazzy and cutalicious?!?!?! I'm not one to drag around brightly colored/patterned luggage, so this little tag is as wild as I'm going to get, but is will definitely assist me in identifying my luggage on the belt at the airport.

I need to plan a trip just to show it off!! Tell me about some of your favorite warm weather getaway spots??

Sheila Denise

Oh, I'm sure you're wondering about the QR Code up top. It's for a those of you who access the blog from your mobile devices. It's designed to give you the perfect layout for mobile viewing, so scan away and enjoy!!

Thursday Treasure - Travel Momentos

Y'all should know by now that I love thrifting and am always eager to share my latest acquisitions with you. I could barely hold out until today to reveal this fabulous find. I'm telling you, I hit the JACKPOT!!

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I enjoyed a great trip to London, Paris and Versailles in January and have been plotting my next trip since the moment vacation ended. I truly enjoyed my trip and as always, I purchased items that embodied the spirit of the city/cities visited. Little did I know that I'd travel to London and back, only to find the BEST souvenir known to man (or woman) right here in my own backyard! I'm telling you, you're going to pass out when you see this! Then, you're going to pass out AGAIN when you find out how little I spent.

Okay, I've gushed enough about my latest find, so here is my perfect reflection of the London portion of my trip. I couldn't have planned a better purchase!!

Aren't these the most adorably perfect cuff links EVER?!?!? I can't believe they were waiting for me at my local Goodwill store. Now the best part of this great find is, they were less than $2!! Can you understand why I was so over-the-moon excited to share my Thursday Treasure with you?

What steal of a deal have you discovered lately and what are your favorite thrifting spots? Maybe I should plan a TSE Goes Thrifting Tour. Stay tuned, the tour may be coming to a city near you.

Sheila Denise

Thursday Treasure - Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Today's treasure is travel...anywhere, anytime.

It's difficult to imagine what I'd do without these three modes of transportation. They allow me to engage in one of my favorite pastimes--travel. Regardless of the destination, be it a super-short road trip, a high speed rail trip, or a long flight, I simply LOVE to travel. The excitement of arriving at your destination as well as the encounters experienced along the journey, is extremely fulfilling.

I'm chipping away at my 2011 travel list and can't wait to check off each destination and enjoy the wonderful people, cultures, traditions and food that each destination offers. Having the opportunity to experience these things makes travel my Thursday Treasure.

What are your 2011 travel plans?

Sheila Denise

It's Mardi Gras Y'all!!

And what happens in NOLA stays in NOLA!! Well, I may decide to share a few tidbits of the trip when I return, but then again...LOL!!

I'm excited to return to New Orleans and eager to do my part to help boost the economy of the Gulf Coast and hope that you'll consider doing the same this year and beyond.

Happy Wednesday!!

Sheila Denise

The Mansion on Peachtree & Lunch at NEO

My colleague, Chuck and I had the pleasure of touring The Mansion on Peachtree and dining at NEO today. But even more rewarding was meeting one of the kindest, most genuine people I can recall encountering in recent memory, Kimberly. Having met this wonderful woman, Chuck and I both stated that we left feeling that we'd gained a dear friend.

As restaurant and hotel snobs, we were eagerly anticipating our visit to The Mansion. We had been drooling over this property for several months and today was our turn to take a tour of the property and enjoy lunch. All I can say is WOW!! From the initial greeting by the doorman to our goodbye hug, top-notch-southern-hospitality-filled-make-you-wanna-stay-forever SERVICE. I'm not easily impressed, but, I must say, this one got me. The Mansion ranks among my top three hotels of all time and that says alot. I could live there.

Now on to lunch. NEO, quietly tucked in the rear of The Mansion, is a beautifully appointed dining room overlooking the garden. Since black is my signature wardrobe color, I have a love/hate relationship with white napkins. I detest having to request a black napkin as I feel the waitstaff should be observant enough to anticipate my need. Brownie points for NEO as my black attire was noted and the black napkin magically appeared. As I step off my soapbox, I'll tell you about lunch.

We started with the calamari and artichokes--lightly battered and fried and oh so delicious. The batter was so flavorful, we ignored the dipping sauce. We also noshed on breadsticks, crispy flatbread and warm bread with olive tapenade. Our next course was the arugula salad with pears and shaved parmesan, tossed in an extremely delicate dressing---delicious!! Our entrees: I had the trout with capers and pasta, Kimberly had the penne tossed with roasted tomatoes, goat cheese and pine nuts, and Chuck had the lobster ravioli. We looked like hungry college kids as we eagerly shared our entrees and as different as they were, each dish was divine. I did make a mental note to try the Angus burger--a guest nearby ordered one and it looked awesome! I'll manage somehow to eat it with a fork and knife, but I'd much rather be able to pick the sucker up.

Now the highlight of the meal.....DESSERT--The Dessert Flight:

Apple Crumb Tart with Caramel Sauce, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Lemon Cheesecake and last, the most delicious of the four...Tiramisu!!! Mind you, I am not a fan of Tiramisu, so if I say it's FABULOUSLY DELISH, take my word for it. Next time I'm requesting a flight of Tiramisu only. I could simply order the regular sized Tiramisu, but it can't be as adorable as the baby version.

Oh and don't think I wasn't swooning over the white dishes from the beginning to the end of the meal. I NEED those little Tiramisu cups in my life PRONTO!!

I also learned about NEO Unplugged. This event is held the last Wednesday of each month and allows you to enjoy a quiet, candlelit dinner without the intrusion of technology--no phones allowed. I'm looking forward to NEO Unplugged.

I plan to return many times to The Mansion to enjoy NEO, The Mansion Bar, 29 Spa, Craft Restaurant and to experience being a guest. If pampering is what you're craving, your wish will be granted at The Mansion.

Sheila Denise

Gifts From Barcelona...Thanks Chuck!!

My colleague and BBFF (boy best friend forever), Chuck, is a frequent traveler to wherever the mood strikes. His latest location of admiration was Barcelona. One of the great things about Chuck's travels is his generosity in returning with gifts for ME!!! It's wonderful to have such a thoughtful friend.

White Chocolate & Lemon Biscuits:

When I saw the square box, I thought it was body cream because it looked similar in size to the Origins body creams that I love. Boy was I was surprised and happy to see that it was FOOD! Chuck picked it out, not only because the biscuits were tasty, but also because the packaging had won The Best Packaging Design Award - Laus 2008 (the most prestigious graphic design award in Spain). A tasty treat and unique packaging...life is good!

These tiny biscuits are D-E-L-I-SHUS!! The white chocolate pieces are just the right size and the little zing of lemon is absolutely the perfect combination. I've been trying to trying to resist eating them all at once, so I'm having a couple every few days for dessert. I will be very, very sad when they're all gone.

I also received this beautiful Antoni Gaudi Mug:


Architect and designer, Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) is known as the most internationally prestigious figure in Spanish architecture.

Can I tell you again how great it is to have such a thoughtful colleague? Thanks Chuck!!

Sheila Denise

Weekly Travels: Episode II

Last week, I had the pleasure of working in the Savannah area. On my drive down, I stopped in Metter to call on accounts. It was a beautiful day and colorful flags were everywhere. I absolutely love small towns and am so grateful that my work allows me to visit many of them throughout the year.

As you can see on the black flag, Metter is home of Televangelist "The Sower" Dr. Michael Guido. He passed away in February, so I took this opportunity to visit the Guido headquarters. Growing up near Metter, "The Sower" was one of our South Georgia celebrities, so I felt the urge to pay my respects.

Here's a brief entry regarding Dr. Guido (from Savannah Now):

Longtime televangelist Michael Guido, who distributed his "Seeds from the Sower" sermonettes around the world, died around 9 p.m. Saturday at the Candler County Hospital in Metter. He was 94 years old.

For more than 50 years, Michael Guido was known by Christians worldwide as a televangelist whose wholesome radio, television and newspaper sermonettes promoted hard work, the Golden Rule and faith in a loving God.

Guido first came to Metter in 1943 as a young gospel singer. He met and later married his wife, Audrey Guido.

After leaving Metter, I prepared to drive for one more hour to enjoy lunch at Skylers, one of my regular spots in Savannah. When visiting Savannah, I rarely miss an opportunity to visit Skylers, located in the basement of the historic East Bay Inn located at 225 East Bay Street. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal...brace yourself--I had a crabcake, a Moon roll (spring roll) and Teriyaki Chicken with rice and sauteed veggies. NO I DID NOT EAT IT ALL!!! I barely ate half and was absolutely stuffed. All that food plus sweet tea for $13 (including tip). If you have the opportunity to travel to Savannah, add Skyler's to your casual dining list.




I enjoyed a wonderful three days in the beautiful, historic Savannah area. I'm looking forward to my return visits, for both business and pleasure.

Sheila Denise

Weekly Travels: Episode I

As an Account Manager, my territory encompasses half the state of Georgia, from the northeastern mountains down to the southeastern coast, with many interesting points in between. My mission, while trekking though my territory, is to stumble upon unique dining opportunities, shop in one-of-a-kind spots, and view interesting things.

This week, while driving to Helen (at a slower pace than normal--thanks Mr. Slow Driver), I happened to notice a structure along the highway. I turned off GA Highway 75 onto GA Highway 17 to get a closer look and to read the marker. I really wanted to jump the fence and roll around in the green, green grass (how'd it get that green in March anyway?), but I remembered that I was working AND I didn't want to go to jail for doing something so incredibly silly. I took pictures instead. The view, with the mountain (Mount Yonah) in the background, was quite lovely. Take a look at the Nacoochee Indian Mound.





Sheila Denise