Our weekend started out on a positive note on Friday night with a casual dinner. We spent most of the early evening setting up our living room (we bought a chair and TV stand from HomeGoods!) and ended up scrapping our plans for a nicer date night in favor of grabbing some comfort food at a casual local barbeque restaurant.
Mac’s Speed Shop was highly recommended to us and it didn’t disappoint. We loved the upbeat, friendly atmosphere and had some fabulous pulled pork and cornmeal hush puppies. (The hush puppies were ridiculously delicious and came with honey butter that was perfectly sweet and creamy!)
After dinner, we made our way to Davidson and split a cookie sundae from Ben & Jerry’s!
We ate it outside while listening to live music coming from the back patio of Summit Coffee. It was such a gorgeous evening and there was a slight chill in the air that makes me think crisp autumn temperatures may be on the horizon.
Saturday
On Saturday, I was up early because I had a day of travel ahead. I gave Sadie some love before leaving but she refused to acknowledge me since she could tell I was saying goodbye.
What a stinker.
My Saturday did end up being a day of travel, but I never ended up at my intended destination.
I was supposed to be leaving on a week-long fitness retreat press trip to Nelson, British Columbia with Mountain Trek but after arriving at the Minneapolis airport for my layover, I realized I forgot my passport. I panicked and called my contacts at the resort and the PR agency, embarrassed and totally flustered. I could picture my passport on the kitchen counter as I spoke to them (why I left it on the counter and didn’t pack it in my bag, I’ll never know!) and we talked about many different ways I could possibly make it on the trip (Ryan overnighting my passport, me staying a few nights in Washington and renting a car, etc.) but in the end it was decided that I should just head back to Charlotte. (There were major logistical issues with the shuttle that was supposed to take me and the other guests on a four-hour drive from Spokane, Washington to Nelson. The shuttle only leaves on Saturdays and I would’ve jeopardized everyone’s trip if I went without a passport, among other things.)
I ended up spending the rest of the day in the Minneapolis and Atlanta airports feeling absolutely awful about my mistake. I am obviously incredibly disappointed and bummed about missing the trip since blogging about travel and fitness are two of my favorite things but I am hoping to at least be able to share some of the healthy recipes or workouts from the Mountain Trek team with you guys in the future. I definitely owe a big thank you to Mountain Trek for being so understanding throughout my whole embarrassing debacle.
Two random things I must share from my travels: Everyone (honestly, every single person) I met at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport was so friendly. And I must give a big shout out to Tyrese and Sue from Delta whose customer service was fabulous throughout the whole ordeal. They were both so upbeat, kind and patient and I felt fortunate to have them working with me to change all of my flights and get me back to Charlotte before 10 p.m. It was a mess and I am grateful I had such wonderful people helping me figure everything out when I was feeling so embarrassed and flustered.
Sunday
Sunday was quite a bit more relaxing than Saturday! Since I basically cleared my schedule for the week, Ryan and I had a Sunday with absolutely no plans ahead of us when we woke up. We spent most of the day running house-related errands. For those of you who said that we’d be living at home improvement stores after we closed on our house, you could not be more correct. We’ve been to Lowe’s nearly four times every week!
We also made our way to IKEA and bought a few things. (A quick side note: I cannot tell you how awesome it is to live near so many stores – like IKEA and others – again. I feel so spoiled!) Our day concluded with a sushi dinner and an evening walk with Sadie. Nice and relaxing!
Question of the Morning
- Have you ever experienced a major travel fail like forgetting your passport or something similar? Please tell me I am not alone!
- Can your pets tell when you’re going somewhere? Do they give you the cold shoulder like Sadie?
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Sorry to hear about your travel fail. What a bummer. At least the company was really nice about it and you were able to spend a little extra time with Ryan working on house projects. I’m sure Sadie did not mind either. 😉
A long time ago when I was traveling to Mexico, I did not have my passport but had my birth certificate. That was the time they were switch over the policy to passport only international travel. Getting to Mexico was not big deal, but when I was going through customs to get back into the states, it was a process and I got a lecture from a handful of security people who were questioning whether I was going to be able to get back in. Scary, but I made it… and have traveling with my passport ever since.
my husband lost his passport 48 hours before a trip to mexico, where unbeknownst to me, we were supposed to be getting engaged! his parents were also joining us on the trip and had the ring in their possession. they ended up having to leave the ring with his grandmother and went on to mexico alone. my husband adjusted our plans so that we had to “conveniently” swing by his grandmother’s house on our way to asheville, nc, where we readjusted our vacation plans and still went on to get engaged at the grove park inn (beautiful resort and i recommend it to anyone who lives in that area, btw!)! such a mess, but very memorable nonetheless!
OH MY GOSH!! I bet he was freaking out!
Forgetting my ID/Passport is one of my biggest travel anxieties! I travel a lot for work, and more than once have had a mild panic attack on the way to the airport thinking, “did I grab it?!?” I’m glad it worked out for you in the end, and that Mountain Trek was so understanding. I’ve had really good customer service from Delta too with travel snafus!
My dog runs away from me every time I am leaving the house! And then he runs to the door and won’t let me leave! Hope Sadie didnt make you feel too bad:). I bet she was excited when you got home!
that sucks 🙁 could have been much worse though. Glad everyone was understanding about the whole thing.
A couple years ago, I almost made my parents miss their flight. I was staying at their house, dogsitting, and about 20 minutes after they left, I went out to get something from my car and locked myself out. All I had were my car keys. Fortunately, I went to school with one of their neighbor’s kids a couple doors down. I was really in panic mode by the time her dad answered the door and he was like, wtf are you talking about? lol. The mom remembered me though. They let me in and let me use their phone. I called my dad’s cell, thank God I memorized the number, for the code for the garage, but he sad the garage didn’t work anymore and they had to turn around and let me back inside. It’s a good thing they leave plenty of time to get to the airport and still made it for their flight, but boy did I feel stupid. Plus, with the extra travel, they owed the cab driver another $100 X(
The good thing about doing stuff like that – you’ll never, ever do it again
Oh my gosh, so frustrating! I wish we were friends because live in Seattle and my brother lives in BC, and I always love an excuse to make the drive!
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear this, Julie. It sounds like you handled it well and have a pretty positive attitude about it, so good for you!
I totally hear you on the home improvement stores. It’s been the same thing here…and we’ve been in our house for nearly four months now. 😉 We also moved from a more rural place to a larger city, and the city girl in me is loving all the nearby stores and shopping centers!
I was in the Minneapolis airport most of the day Saturday too! If I had run into you it would have been the highlight of my way-too-long business trip. ha ha
Yay, Minneapolis!!! I’m glad that our state lived up to the “Minnesota Nice” reputation. You’ll have to stay a weekend sometime and do some shopping at the Mall of America. 🙂 So sorry about your trip!!
Once we showed up to the Reno airport (with our two small children) to fly back to Boston on Saturday to find out our flight was on Friday. Oops. Of course they could get us home… for the small fee of $1500!!!!! We waited around all day until we found someone to help us for a smaller fee. Then we missed a connection in Texas and booked a room at a hotel. We waited for almost 2 hours on the curb for their shuttle that they kept promising was “almost there” before we finally jumped on the next shuttle that came and stayed at the dumpiest/sketchiest hotel ever. It was also the smallest hotel room we’ve ever stayed in, so when our daughter pooped her pants (and we had NOTHING because all of our luggage was checked) I just about died. Luckily we managed to laugh and giggle our way through it.
Man I was wondering what the travel fiasco was this weekend. I am so sorry! That stinks so much. But it could happen to anyone. I actually just had a dream last night that I was trying to pack a bag for a flight and I kept forgetting stuff. No matter how many times I went back I just couldn’t remember everything. At any rate, we are excited you will be at GOTR practice this week and I hope you enjoy the downtime this week! I am sure after the move and crazy travel schedule it will be a nice break despite the disappointment!
That really sucks about your trip. How frustrating! You said you cleared your scheduled though, so at least you’ll have some downtime this week. Silver lining? 🙂 Also, Sadie will be happy. She is NOT having it in that picture. Haha!
Dude, super bummer.
But these kinds of things happen. So don’t sweat it.
Everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is just a life lesson.
Enjoy the first week of fall!
What a bummer! I always say, everything happens for a reason! At least you got to spend some time with Ryan and Sadie and getting so house work finished. Lowe’s and Home Depot will become your other home away from home 🙂 I swear the people there know us by name in every department!
I don’t travel so often so i don’t. have ang travel fails! Consider it a blessing to have a fail be a use it means your going places.
Yikes! Happy that you weren’t stuck in the airport for too long! BTW, I LOVE Ikea – it’s seriously the best place ever. The one near me has a restaurant (maybe all of them do?) but, their breakfast…is oddly amazing.
Girl, you are SO not alone in the passport-debacle-situation! I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but it sounds like you kept a great attitude through the craziness. My husband actually lost his passport/got it stolen on a Eurotrip twice in the same trip (TWICE!) There really should be some sort of secure passport app where people can access their passport electronically, because this stuff happens ALL the time and it’s such a pain. Just know that you definitely aren’t alone!
Also Sadie in that photo is too funny! My dog Lola will literally place herself in my suitcase as I’m packing (and she’s not small!) as if to say, “You’re taking me with you, right??” Crazy dogs 🙂
That’s such a bummer about your trip! It’s always nice when you have kind people to help you with situations like that, though. Minneapolis-St Paul is definitely my favorite airport. Not only is everyone super friendly, they also have tons of healthy food options and great amenities while you’re waiting for your flight. There are worse airports to get stuck!
My dog always knows when I’m going on a trip. He sees my suitcase, gives me the most soul crushing puppy eyes, and sulks into his crate with his tail tucked between his legs. That picture of you and Sadie is hilarious. She seems like such a little goofball.
I was SO impressed w/ their food options as well! So many good, healthy choices!
Bummer that you missed it.. but maybe it was meant to be. You were meant to spend time at home doing errands 🙂 It’s nice that the airport folks were so friendly, as well!
PS I’ve noticed you are so obsessed with that Starbucks wrap! ; ) haha
I remember my husband, daughter (she was only 15 months at the time) and I were heading to Malta to visit my mother-in-law. When we arrived at the airport, after our luggage made it down the belt we learned that my husbands passport was expired. I was surprised he hadn’t check since we had just got my daughters. We learned that the UK would have allowed us to pass through but Malta would have deported him. Virgin was kind enough to give us 2 weeks to get his passport straightened out and take another flight. The bummer was it took almost 2 hours to get our luggage back.
Oh NO! That’s awful! I haven’t done that exactly but I have had some royal travel F-ups including losing my passport 3 days before a 2 week international trip, paying $500 for a rush replacement passport, then finding my old one as soon as it had been cancelled by the rush passport agency. On that same trip, we didn’t check the gate information properly and missed our flight out of Germany, resulting in having to buy a brand new $700 plane ticket and spend the night in a random German town with nothing to do. The good thing that came out of that was one of the most beautiful runs I have ever been on, when we stumbled upon a huge farm and ran past miles of fields while the sun set. So, ya know, broke but happy!
Also- Love Mac’s! That was our go-to spot when my boyfriend lived in Charlotte. Their patio is the best!
Oh no!!! Those are some serious travel headaches! I’m glad your trip was a success in the end though!
O goodness…that is such a bummer!! Hopefully they will reschedule the trip in the future. My grandparents did the same thing as we were going to Italy..The worst thing I’ve ever forgotten was somegting like a pillow. Not too bad! Lol
Awww man Julie, I’m so sorry to hear that! I haven’t had a travel fail quite like that, but I’ve absolutely mixed things up logistically before. It happens to the best of us!
I hope you have a relaxing week. 🙂
Always, Anita
OMG girl don’t even worry about it. Basically every trip I go on I have some sort of major FAIL or forget something. I went to FL this weekend for a wedding and forgot my straightener. HUGE crazy hair all weekend. I had to basically grease it back for the wedding, sooo cute.
At least you had a great book with you! That book was one of the funniest I’ve read in a long time.
i spent way too much time and money at homegoods this weekend. so glad you are loving your new location!
You and me both! That store makes my wallet cry…
Hey how is the book you were reading on the flight?? (Where’d You Go, Bernadette?) I just purchased it but haven’t started reading it! I love your other book recommendations so I wanted to see what you thought before I jumped in! =)
Hopefully you will get the chance to visit BC again sometime in the near future! I have a feeling you will absolutely love it here. Everything does happen for a reason so luckily you were able to get some stuff done you needed to 🙂
Oh no! That’s so terrible about missing your trip. I’m sure Sadie was happy that you returned early…You’re def not alone in travel fails… A few years ago, I had just arrived in Oahu and was getting dropped off at the hotel where we were staying. After we checked in and went up to our room, I realized that I left my carry on bag in the Taxi. I felt so horrible and embarrassed. I just knew there was no way we’d be able to find my bag. BUT a few days later, we were checking out of the hotel, and were heading to the big island when I spotted what looked to be the same taxi we used when we arrived. Turns out the Taxi driver looked through my bag, saw a picture of me as a bookmark in my book and remembered that he had dropped me off a few days prior and was there to return my bag to me. I mean what are the odds!!! That’s some good Karma my friend!
Ugh, I’m sorry you had to miss your trip! Seems like you handled it well – kudos to you. If it makes you feel better, one time I booked a return flight for the WRONG DAY and didn’t realize it until I checked in at the airport. Talk about an expensive mistake!!!
Omg, I’m so sorry this happened! Hubby and I went to Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver earlier this month and both of us forgot our passports! Luckily we remembered earlier in the trip so our friends could overnight them to us before we planned to cross the border. Sad thing is, I forgot my passport for a cruise several years ago and had to pay a change fee for my flight to the terminal. After that I said, never again! But I forgot that dang thing again!
So happy our state lived up to its nice reputation! Bummer about the trip/passport. A similar situation happened to us about eight years ago when we were traveling to Mexico. My husband didn’t have a passport (not required at the time), but he did have his birth certificate. It turns out we needed the raised seal/original, so the ticketing agent wouldn’t let us through. We were able to quick run to his parent’s house, get the document, and take a later flight (luckily). On our way home from Mexico, security didn’t check his birth certificate once. Husband. was. not. happy.
Ugh. I had a lot of anxiety reading that part of your post. I can’t even imagine! My first thought was you probably weren’t supposed to go on that trip for whatever reason. When things don’t go my way, I try to have the outlook that this is happening FOR me as opposed TO me. Easier said than done sometimes. I’m sure you’re thankful you got to spend some extra time with the fam! Enjoy your week! 🙂
Sorry to hear you missed your trip. Two good things happened though. One you’re week is completely open to do other things. Two you didn’t lose it in Canada and are not stuck there.
You poor poor dear. 🙁 That is seriously sad and embarrassing. I do not envy you, but I am glad everyone was so nice about it!
That really sucks that you forgot your passport but hey, we’re all human! When you have so much going on, it’s easy for stuff like that to happen.
On a separate note, I hope you’ll do a review of Where’d You Go Bernadette! I just finished it recently and I LOVED it.
I no, I totally feel your pain! I’ve luckily never done this, although it’s definitely the type of thing I’d do.. my husband travels all the time for work, and has got rather complacent about travelling- he’s missed his flight a few times cos he didn’t check the flight time- what an idiot!
In the line for security once, I realized I had forgotten my drivers license at home. It resulted in break down in the airport and a missed flight.
Such a pain! 🙁 I’m so sorry for you!
Major travel fail- I was on a high school trip in France and got separated from my group… It was so scary! I was finishing up in a gift shop and told my friends to go ahead without me. I thought I’d meet them at the tour bus in a few minutes. Once they were out of sight, I realized I didn’t know where the tour bus was parked. I ran through Monet’s Garden, crying and repeating, “Mon autobus” (“my bus”). It was the only French I could remember due to my panic! I finally found my bus but made the entire group late for dinner.
I selfishly enjoy knowing that these things happen to other people, but I’m sorry that you had to miss your trip!! So frustrating. I’ve DEFINITELY had my fair share of travel fails, but my most recent (and worst) was when I was flying back home after a wedding in Wisconsin. I THOUGHT my flight left at 5:30, so I arrived to the airport at around 4:20 and was congratulating myself on my perfect timing only to realize that 5:30 was the time my flight was supposed to LAND. It actually took off right around the time I arrived to the airport.
I had to rent a car and drive 8 hours that night because I had an important meeting at work the next morning and the airline couldn’t get me home that night. Then my important meeting got canceled. I was not too happy about that but sadly had no one to blame but myself.
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry 🙁 That must have been awful. I can just imagine the panic you felt when you realized the passport wasn’t with you.
My dog, Henry, will walk around moping as soon as we start packing things. As if it wasn’t hard enough leaving them already!
Oh no! You missed out on some absolutely beautiful scenery, BC is gorgeous. Hopefully you’ll be able to make it out there soon on another trip. I’m so paranoid about my travel documents (passport, tickets). I had a friend leave her passport on the counter in an airport washroom. She was extremely lucky that someone turned it in and she got it back.
That is a total bummer! However, I am glad you had a pleasant experience in Minnesota! I take pride in Minnesota nice!
I was visiting Charlotte this past weekend and we almost went to Macs for dinner on Friday. I have a friend who works there and it turned out that we didn’t have enough time. Everyone says it’s great!
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your failed travel plans 🙁
At least you have a week with a bit more free time on your hands ahead of you now! It must have been meant to be!
Ah, oh no!! We just ordered my husband a passport for our honeymoon and I’m a bit nervous it won’t show up on time (even though we were told it will). Pesky passports!
I just flew threw MSP a few weeks ago for the first time in 8 years. Everyone is nice – which is a great thing because it’s one of the most confusing airports I’ve ever been to! Not so bad inside the terminals, but if you’re parking/returning a car it’s terrible. We found we weren’t alone and bonded over our confusion with other passengers haha
I’m glad you got to experience ‘Minnesota Nice!’
Whenever I’m taking an international trip I always make sure to physically hold my passport. I could see myself leaving home without it if I didn’t.
Sorry about your trip…that’s a bummer:( I have experienced a passport mishap before. I was leaving for a trip to visit my sister in Montreal, and was travelling via the US and as I was getting ready to leave I noticed I couldn’t find my passport in it’s usual spot. I searched the house, and even though I could have gone an alternate route that didn’t require my passport, I was determined to still find it before I left, as it didn’t make sense that I couldn’t find it. Turns out, on a previous road trip to the US with my sisters family, her husband automatically put the passports all together, which included mine and I didn’t realize I didn’t get it back after going through the border! Luckily, I have a sweet brother in law, and he dropped it off on his way to work:)
My cat definitely seems to know when I am going away. He becomes extra clingy – following me around, laying in my suitcase and on the clothes I plan on packing. Hanging around the door as it gets closer to leaving time. Breaks my heart, and makes me feel guilty for leaving him:(
I’m so sorry, that had to have been so stressful to spend a day traveling and feel like you let people down. My cousin drove 6 hours last year before realizing he forgot his passport for Canada and had to drive back to get it, it happens to the best of us!