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Tuesday, April 9, 2019

A Girl's Guide to The Masters

It's Master's week!!! I'll be heading to August later this week and can't wait!

I don't follow golf year-round, but I love The Masters and feel so lucky when I get to attend with the Mr. Just being there on the beautiful grounds, enjoying the amazing weather and seeing some of the big names is super fun! I've shared about our Masters experience a few times before (HERE, HERE, and HERE), but this year wanted to share tips for anyone that might be going and more specifically, girls who might be heading there for the first time.

DRESS COMFORTABLY

I know you want to look cute. You probably have a cute little sundress and some darling sandals you are tempted to wear, but listen to me. Don't do it! Before I went to my first Masters I talked to a friend who had been many times before and the best advice she gave me was to wear sneakers. She was right!

You will literally see it all...people decked out and dressed to the nines and people wearing shorts and tennis shoes. There is lots of Lilly Pulitzer, lots of Vineyard Vines, and tons of other preppy, southern styles. I generally like to wear a nicer pair of shorts, but definitely sneakers.

There is SO much walking. And SO many hills.

And chances are that the guys you are going to be with are not going to slow down because your feet hurt. Just trust me on this one.

BRING SUNGLASSES AND A HAT

So this kind of goes along with what to wear, but I would say don't forget to bring sunglasses, a hat and put on sunscreen. Even though there are a lot of beautiful trees and shade on the course, there is also a ton of sun! I'm a girl that loves a hat, but lots of ladies will be wearing hats or visors.

BRING A SMALL BAG

Small bags are permitted (10 x 10 x 12) so I usually bring a small clutch just so I can keep my ID, money, chapstick, etc. with me.

SHOP EARLY

If your guy is like mine, they often like to put shopping off to the end, but make them go early! First off, things sell out later in the week so the sooner you get there the more of a selection you will have. Secondly, the lines get much longer as the day goes on. There will be a huge line just to get inside. Chances are you have a list of things to buy for others who knew you were going so write it down (with sizes) and bring it with you so when you get in there you can remember it all. There are SO many awesome items, but it can be overwhelming. I used to always like to get something to wear, but now I've started thinking outside of the box and love items that I can use year round. We love the beach towels, koozies, wine glasses, key chains and last year the Mr. surprised me with a wallet for Mother's Day which I use daily!

Another thing to know is you don't have to carry your purchases with you all day. There is a check stand so you can know your things are safe and come back and get them before heading home for the day.

NO PHONES

This one pains me. It is one thing I would change because I feel so cut off from everyone. Not so much from the world, but I always worry about my kids' teachers/schools/coaches trying to get in touch with me and my phone not being anywhere near me. Honestly though, it is nice to not have the distraction of phones and to just enjoy each other's company and conversation while out on the course.

Here's a tip though, they have little check stands at the entrances where you can check your phone. If you drive and park right outside the gates then it isn't that big of a deal to just leave it in your car, but if you stay further away and take a hotel shuttle or something, just know you can keep your phone with you until almost the last minute.

BRING A CAMERA

(Monday-Wednesday)

I love going on practice round days (Monday - Wednesday) for several reasons. The atmospheres is generally more relaxed on those days and you can bring cameras, too! You will probably have to dust off your old school camera since we are all so accustomed to using our phones to take pictures now, but it will be worth it to get a shot in front of some of the famous holes and in front of the iconic leader board sign!

CONCESSIONS

The food there is so cheap! I love the BBQ sandwich and the Georgia peach ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Aside from non-alcoholic beverages they only serve beer on the course. Just FYI if you are a wine girl like me. That is unless that is you happen to be lucky enough to have Berkmans Place passes.

In which case you can get anything you want to eat or drink. Imagine a ton of really nice restaurants, all under one roof. Try an Azalea cocktail if you can! They are yummy!

OUTNUMBERED

I don't know what the ratio is, but there are WAY more guys there than gals. Not a big deal at all, just enjoy it when it's time to use the restroom. You'll walk right in while they are waiting in a long line!

ENJOY THE VIEWS AND THE EXPERIENCE

One of my very favorite things about the Masters is the gorgeous views. The pristine grounds are just perfect, the azaleas are blooming, and the weather is generally so nice this time of year. I leave there always thinking how wonderful it would be if my yard could look half as good! Honestly though, it is such an honor to be able to attend this prestigious tournament. I always remind myself how lucky I am when I get the chance to go and try to soak up every memory!

Have you been to The Masters? Do you have any tips or advice to share?

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Braves Spring Training Trip {Part 1}

For the past 4 years now, my family has gone to Orlando for a Braves Spring Training weekend and had a blast. It is always one of our favorite weekend getaways and just so much fun. They pack in so much to this weekend and it is always a busy schedule, but worth it for the amazing experience and this year was no different.

We flew out first thing on Friday morning and arrived in sunny Florida with most of the day still ahead of us.

After dropping our bags at the hotel and doing a quick wardrobe change (yea for shorts weather!!!), we were off to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

We love going to the Masters each year and although I don't really follow golf, I always love being outdoors on the beautiful courses, people watching, and seeing some of the big names. We thought the kids would enjoy their first golf tournament on a little smaller scale and they did...for about 20 minutes.

And it was then that we quickly realized why we have never taken them to the Masters.

My little guy said the hardest part was staying behind the rope. I can see what he meant though...all of that lush green grass just makes you want to go run around on it. Blondie just wanted to sit down and Little Mama was entertained for a while, but then bored. We decided they would have more fun playing golf than watching it, but it was a beautiful day and it was something fun and different for us to do.

We did a little shopping in the pro shop, let them try putting at one of the vendor tents and then stuck around to watch Tiger Woods come through and then decided to head back to the hotel to rest before the evening's welcome party.

This little guy was just done and passed out as soon as we got in the car. He stayed that way while we were waiting on our room and it was just the power nap he needed.

After a quick little rest for all of us, we got changed and ready for the welcome party. I was excited to wear my new dress for the occasion. I picked this up a few weeks ago and knew it would be perfect for cool spring nights with a denim jacket and into summer by itself. (It's on sale for less than $25 right now...such a great deal!)

dress//necklace

This event is always so much fun and the Braves do a great job making it a great night for parents and kids. The decorations are so fitting to the theme of the weekend and the food is amazing (hello lobster tails and funnel cake fries with chocolate sauce).

There are a ton of activities and games for the kids like a balloon artist, charicature artists, photo booths and an amazing DJ that gets them all up and having a good time.

After having about all the fun we could handle for one day, we called it a night and got some sleep so we would be ready for another fun-filled day!

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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Masters

Hello Friends! In case you missed it, I did a recap of my favorites about the Masters on Friday and shared lots of fun stuff so click HERE to read and check out the fun pictures.

Now I wanted to share about the rest of our time in August. It started on Monday evening when we arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation. We had stayed here once before and I was so excited to be back. Its obviously nice since it is the Ritz, but it has a laid back and comfortable feel, which I love an which is so much more our speed.

The scenery is amazing and out on the balcony we had a gorgeous view of Lake Oconee.

Looking the other direction from our balcony you could see the main are of the hotel.

After dropping off our bags we walked around the grounds a bit and everything just felt so serene. There are rolling hills, big fire pits, hammocks and swings tucked into the trees and everywhere you turn there is another surprise.

Inside the details are very lodge feeling. Big beams, rough cut wood and giant fire places.

After dinner and a little mingling we were ready to hit the sack because we knew we had to be up early the next morning to catch the shuttle over to Augusta. I loved this little door sign that was in our room. So appropriate...

The next morning we were so excited to be at the tournament. We were with some fantastic people and they kept us laughing. After breakfast at Berckmans we got a quick photo by the giant front porches there and then mad our way out to the course.

Of course it was as gorgeous as I remembered from last year. The green grass and gorgeous azaleas never disappoint.

The practice days are nice because everything is a little more relaxed. The players aren't as uptight, the patrons are joking around a little more and I love it because you can bring a camera on those days...something that is not allowed Thursday-Sunday.

After enjoying the gorgeous weather and the beautiful course, we made our way back to our second accommodations for the week...Cuscowilla where we were meeting up with more friends. I didn't take one picture because we were too busy having fun. It was an amazing place though. So quiet and peaceful with a gorgeous lake view!

The next morning we were up early again and ready for The Masters! We took another shuttle over and started making our way around the course.

It was really hot on this day and you could tell the crowds had grown from the day before. I wasn't complaining one bit though.

We walked around a lot, saw more of the course and club, including the main clubhouse and where they do a lot of interviews.

Then we settled in a the first hole of the Par 3 contest. I loved this because it is a really relaxed part of the Masters. A lot of times the players wives and kids will caddy for them and it is so cute to see the little kids dressed up in the classic white caddy suit and iconic green hat. There are also a lot of players from years past that show up. We got to see Tiger Woods up close, which was pretty neat!

After a long, hot day we were happy to get back to some air conditioning and had the best time grilling out with friends that night. The whole week was a really nice getaway and such a cool experience. I loved every second of our time there and hope we can go back again next year!

We loved watching the final round of the Masters on Sunday and were so exited that Jordan Spieth maintained his lead to be awarded the green jacket. I loved him, loved his story and think he just seems like a really good guy. I got all teary when he was hugging his parents and really loved that it was a family affair. Our kids enjoyed watching with us on Sunday, too and Boo-Boo told me he was going to be like the guy in blue (meaning Jordan Spieth). Um, sure buddy...that would be more than OK with me! :-)

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday Favorites {The Masters}

Happy Friday!!! Today we are linking up with the gals that host Friday Favorites (Erika, Narci, and Andrea) and sharing our Masters edition of Friday Favorites.

For those of you that aren't familiar with The Masters, it's THE most important golf tournament played at THE most pristine golf course in the world, Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia. The invitation only tournament hosts the best players from all over the world and they all strive to earn the coveted green jacket awarded to the winner. This tournament and golf course have traditions that run deep and that are respected and observed by all. It is truly an amazing event and I was so excited that I got to attend a few of the practice round days earlier this week. I'm going to share all about it next week, but for today I wanted to share some of my favorites related to The Masters.

The Course

Listen, it doesn't matter if you like golf or follow it at all, I can promise you that gorgeous landscaping you will see walking up to the gates and as you make your way around the course is enough to take anyone's breath away. It really is breathtaking. The green grass is greener than anything you could imagine and the azaleas are everywhere. Sources say grounds keepers have all sorts of tricks up their sleeve to assure that they bloom at precisely the right time...just in time for this week. The whole time I kept thinking, "Could my yard please look like this?!"

The Food

There are a lot of famous foods The Masters are known for including their pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches. Whether or not you want the classic southern sandwiches they offer or just some of the snacks, the food and drink prices at The Masters are insanely cheap. $1.50 for a sandwich is practically unheard of, but they have kept their pricing the same for years and years. It's all part of that tradition they like to keep up.

I had two favorites that I tried for the first time this year. One was the Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich. Peach ice-cream between two sugar cookies...it was delish!

The other was one of the signature cocktails at Berckman's Place (the entertainment facility next to the fifth fairway). It was called an Azalea and it sure was yummy! Lemonade, Vodka and Grenadine are mixed together to make up this pink, fruity, and delightful drink named after the famous azaleas found on the property.

Shopping

While the food and drinks are more than affordable, you will make up for it in the gift shop. It's huge, it's bustling with activity, and the "oohs" and "ahhs" you hear as the massive crowds take in all that there is to offer make the whole experienced so much fun. Literally anything you could think of is there, branded with the iconic US map with the flag. Aside from all sorts of attire, there are fun items like dog bowls, housewares, bags, beach towels and teddy bears. They have it all and one of my favorite things about The Masters is picking out some goodies for myself and my family.

Moon Valley Organics Foot Rub*

If there is one thing you can count on for sure, its that you will do your fair share of walking at The Masters. The friend that told me a few years ago not to worry about matching your shoes to your outfit was a smart, smart gal. Tennis shoes are definitely the way to go, but even with comfy shoes on, there is no doubt your feet will be tired after a long day on the course. When we got the Moon Valley Organics Foot Rub as part of our Savvy Sassy Moms Product Scout box, I was thrilled because I knew the first time I would use it would definitely be after walking around The Masters all day. I love that it is all organic and it is definitely my new go-to for soothing and pain-relieving my tired feet. It had a wonderful scent, wasn't too greasy, and was really moisturizing, too. Click HERE to order some of your own. :-)

Stepping Back in Time

With all of the long standing traditions the whole experience feels a little like you are stepping back in time. From the dirt cheap food, to the scoreboards that are still changed by hand, the simplicity of it all is refreshing. You know they could easily replace the original scoreboards with digital ones, but the fact that someone still has to climb up the ladder to change every number just like they did years ago, is all part of the tradition.

Cell phones or any type of electronics are strictly prohibited. For most of us who are so attached to our phones, it might take a little while to relax without it, but I can promise you it is for the better. If you need to meet up with someone, you pick a spot and pick a time...just like the good ol' days. Without constantly checking emails and looking at your phone, you are forced to look around, really enjoy the people around you and take in the whole experience.

Spending a few days with my Mr. was one of my favorite things about The Masters. With little kids, sometimes having time together is really a rare thing so I loved every second of the quality time we got together this week.

Be sure to check back next week and I'll share more details about our time at The Masters. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

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*We received this product for review as part of the Savvy Sassy Moms Product Scouts program. All opinions are my own. This post contains an Amazon affiliate link.

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