New Blog Site!

Hello!

I'm not quite sure how people find this blog, but I'm guessing part of it has to do with those of you in Las Cruces, New Mexico, who have read my stories under the name Jenna Candelaria (my maiden name) for the Las Cruces Sun-News column Real World 101.

I really appreciate all the love and support you all have given me in my years of writing for the Sun-News, and then as a blogger. I'm transitioning into a new blog space, so I just wanted to take this opportunity to share this information with you, in case you want to read about me further.

I'll be at Southern By Heart (just click the link!) going forward, and will likely continue to blog about the things I always write about: my dogs, Josh, food, my dogs, books, lifestyle stuff, my dogs... you know, the usual. :)

See you there!

https://southernbyheart.com/

Traveling with Animals

 

 

So as Josh and I made the move to Atlanta, we drove 22 hours (four days, three nights) with our two dogs (one medium, one large). Once we got here, we had to stay in a hotel another night before we could close on our house. So I wanted to give a little advice on traveling with pets for anyone getting ready to take a big road trip!

 

DO:

 

• Be prepared. Be ready to travel with many things, including:
• Their shot records
• Food and food dishes
• Water and water dishes
• Leashes
• Toys/bones
• Blankets/beds (if you prefer)
• Bring an extra blanket. We brought one that they shared in their beds, so it smelled like them and was very comforting. We used it to protect our car seats and also kept it in the hotel room for them to sleep on.
• Stop more often than you think. We stopped every two hours and that seemed to be perfect. Then again, our dogs are really big and used to a lot of time and room to run around. This might just be their preference, but it worked really well to let us stretch out, too.
• Double-check hotel restrictions. Some hotels allow big dogs up to 75 lbs (Shadow is closer to 80), or only allow one dog. Some let you leave your dogs alone in the room without being crated, some require you to be with them at all times. Some have extra grassy areas, some don't.
• Know your dog. Our dogs are really used to being off leash and coming when called, so we felt comfortable to (likely illegally) let them off leash in big, fenced grassy areas early in the morning or late at night without people around. They're really good listeners, so that helped.
• Avoid things that might give them an upset stomach. It's tempting to give them some of your burger, but it might make for an unfortunate accident!

 

DON'T:

 

• Be scared to travel with them! Dogs are the best, and traveling with them is surprisingly fun and easy.
• Be afraid to leave them alone in (some) hotel rooms for a little while. I think it's good practice to start with short amounts of time and build. Just make sure you can hear them, and be ready to come back if they get loud. Nobody wants to hear your dog crying for three hours while you eat dinner.
• Forget their food! Now is not the time to try a new dog food or expect them to acclimate.

 

Our dogs were super fun, but we also learned a lot of fears that we hadn't ever encountered (such as bridges, trains, busses, horses, etc.). Enjoy your trip and enjoy these few photos of our pups on the road!

Here, Safe and Sound

Last week, Josh and I loaded up the car with our last minute items and the pups, and headed off! Our first few hours were uneventful: I am an Audible user (love it!) and I had downloaded 11/22/63 by Stephen King for our trip. It's a really, really long book, which was perfect for our 22 hour drive!

We took a break in Van Horn, Texas, and after some lunch, we headed to a park to let the dogs run around. What we found instead was a baseball field... where someone had dropped off their four horses to hang out!

We took the dogs over to visit, and two horses immediately came over to see who we were and what we were doing. Shadow was equally interested. He whined a little, and then licked one of the horses across the nose. :) He's the sweetest dog.

Not pictured is Khaleesi, who was pretty sure she could take on these horses, and was growling from behind Josh's legs. Crazy little face.



Our first night was Abilene, TX, where we curled up in our bed, ordered pizza, and spend the first full night letting the dogs out to pee every two hours because they were so confused. We had a dog door in our previous house, so Khaleesi was really confused about the whole "peeing outside on a leash" situation. We had Shadow in an apartment (when we thought he would be a little dog, per the vet's guess as a puppy), so he was used to it.

The second day took us from Abilene to Shreveport, Louisiana! It was such a fun little town. We stayed in a really fun place downtown called the Remington Suite and Spa- it was really fancy, but equally dog-friendly, which is kind of hard to find. The prices were not bad either, considering the nice rooms!

In Louisiana, the dogs also got to meet ducks and geese. The verdict? Liked the ducks, hated the geese. (Me too, little faces)

Moving Day!

It's here! The movers have come and packed and stuffed the truck full of our stuff! We saw our friends and families! We ate all the green chile we can stand! We've packed our dogs' bags (yes, they each have a bag) and downloaded books on tape! We are READY for the four day trip to Atlanta!

We hope...

Food

The entire time I've been in Georgia, I've been dreaming about one thing.

Chile.

Okay, Josh, too. He is pretty dreamy.

But chile! Spicy food! Mexican food! My love!

That sounds a little dramatic, but coming from eating Mexican every few days to not having it at all has been pretty weird. I miss it so much that I would send random lists of restaurants I craved to Josh.

The list usually included El Sombrero, La Posta, Santa Fe Grill burritos. Nopalitos. Sadie's salsa. Caliches.

I better stop or I'll get hungry again.

Before we leave on Sunday, I've been stocking up on chile like a little Hispanic squirrel. I've already promised green chile to many, many of my new coworkers, and I'm excited to introduce them to the best vegetable known to man. Any tips or recipes?

The Traveling Life

This has been such a whirlwind month.

I came out to Atlanta on January 6, a few days before I was officially supposed to start, because there was a big strategic meeting that they wanted me, as the communications manager, to attend. I was totally ready to go, but there was one big problem: my relocation had not been approved, because my offer was given right in the middle of the holidays, so a bunch of people who needed to approve my sum and the dates and everything were on vacation. So the week I was supposed to leave, the HR manager called and asked if everything was ready.

"Um," I said.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I haven't heard about my lump sum for relocation, so I can't buy my ticket or set up temporary housing yet."

Pause.

"I'll check."

Long story short, the holidays SEVERELY threw off the system of relocation. Normally, the relocation benefits are distributed really quickly after someone is hired (like, days later). Because I was hired on December 17, I got pushed back and nobody could tell me when or how I would get any relocation benefits. These benefits are used for temporary housing, temporary living expenses, a flight out, etc.

Instead, the HR manager set me up for a hotel for January, a rental car, and a flight out to Atlanta. In fact, I didn't even get approved for relocation until AFTER I had been working for four days. That's insane. It took another five days to even get the lump sum out to me. #firstworldproblems

But through it all, this company has been so so so great. They've really taken care of me, and any company that cares for its people this much is clearly the kind of place I want to be. They even paid to send me to South Carolina for safety leadership training, where I am now. Today, I fly home to El Paso to start the long drive back out to Atlanta with Josh!

I'm so ready to be done living out of a suitcase. I packed about 9 tops, because I was only supposed to be out here until the end of January (which got extended due to work schedules), and here I am, three weeks past that, and so ready to see the rest of my clothes.

But more than anything, I am excited to see these faces, Khaleesi and Shadow! My babies!



Wish us luck on our 20 hour drive!

Moving to Atlanta

So it's been a while.

I know I keep saying this, but I promise I'll be better. I have full faith that I will be better, for one main reason.

Josh and I are moving to Atlanta and I will be leaving Las Cruces as I recently took a job as a communications manager, my dream job! Hooray!

The job was a whirlwind of activity. They flew me out to two different places to interview, and put me up in fancy places and took me out to great dinners, and by the end I just knew it was the place for me. Not only was the culture SO similar to my job on WSMR, they are clearly a company that cares about their people, which is so incredible to be part of. It's definitely the start of a career, and while it's a LOT of work, I love the field and I feel really passionate about what I'm doing, and that's all that matters in work, right?

Josh and I are SO EXCITED to be moving to a big city. I've been out here since January 6, and Josh was able to come out for a week or so to break up the six weeks that we would have been apart. He has been so incredibly supportive. But I knew he would be, because he's the best.

So follow along as Josh and I head to Hot-Lanta and start our new careers!

March Days

It has been so nice and warm here in New Mexico these days! I am such a warm-weather lover, so this 80-90 degree weather is just amazing for me. I'm even looking forward to the weather hitting 95 to 100 degrees!

Last November, we went to Seattle with Josh's mom (my MIL), and we had the very best time! We ate all kinds of seafood (especially salmon!) and spent a lot of time in a beautiful place. My MIL travels a LOT for work, and lives six hours from us, so the uninterrupted quality time was incredible. We had such a good time that this year, our family vacation plan is to head to sunny Oceanside, California!

Josh grew up going to Oceanside with his grandparents, so he has a lot of fond memories of the place, the beach and the pier. We're spending a week in August at a condo on the beach, and I am so excited! I guess it's just time to focus on eating healthy again so I can be more comfortable in my bathing suit, since I plan on being on the beach the entire week long :)

Ugh, I guess I better get back to homework. Be back soon!

Florida- Final Post!

Our Florida Adventure was amazing. Here are some of my Dos, Don'ts, and advice for your trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Do's

1. Make sure to buy a park hopper pass. Harry Potter Land is broken into two parts between the parks, so you need to be able to get onto Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. We bought a three day park hopper pass.

2. Use your thumb at the park. When you enter, they scan a fingerprint and you use that finger to enter/switch parks. I went first and used my index finger, but Jess, Ky and Josh all used their thumb and it makes it easier.

3. Go in the middle of the week. Trust me.

4. Go early. We entered the park right as it opened and got to ride our favorites several times.

5. Keep an early schedule. We ate breakfast at our AirBnb around 6:30, so by 11 we were ready for lunch. There was no wait at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, and the fish and chips were delicious!

6. On that note, eat at the Harry Potter parts. Josh and I paid like $33 for a butterbeer (like a milkshake, and the most expensive part at $6.50), a bottle of water, and two plates of fish and chips, which each came with three big pieces of delicious fish and some fries. The next day, we paid $41 for a pizza and two sodas. Yeah. 

7. Go for the frozen Butterbeer!

8. The Dragon Challenge and the Mummy Returns never had too long of a wait, and they were two of our favorites.

9. Be prepared to stuff your bags, etc in a locker for most rides. Luckily, most are free and again, rely on the fingerprint.

10. Plan for a break around 2:00. The parks are busy and it's hot and miserable. Our first day, we saw a movie, and the air conditioner and comfy seats for two hours was a lifesaver. Then we went back in refreshed!

11. Remember you can enter and leave the park as much as you want. This includes park hopping.

12. Bring water and snacks. There are fountains all over the park, so we didn't buy water often. It saved us a bunch of money. 

Don'ts!

1. Don't forget to wear sunscreen.

2. Don't mess with too much in your bag beyond the essentials. For me, this included my phone, sunglasses, ID, credit card, spray sunscreen. Optional other things include deodorant, wet wipes (I love those), lip balm, and a camera. 

3. Don't worry too much about following a schedule. We did the best when we made quick, spontaneous decisions, which led to our life-saving movie, taking the express to the other park at 10:00 am (so empty!), and riding the dragon coaster three times in a row because it was only a 10 minute wait.

4. Don't forget snacks. Ky brought Kind Bars since she eats on a regular schedule, and they were great for her!

5. Don't eat at noon or seven. The lines are out the door.

6. Don't forget to bring money for souvenirs! I bought sweatpants, a Ravenclaw quidditch shirt, a wand, a passport cover, a Hogwarts Express ornament, and Josh found random Avenger swim trunks. 

7. Don't be scared to take a water ride in the afternoon. It's hot. Get wet, and save yourself the afternoon of sweating. We dried pretty fast anyway.

Some other advice would be to ride everything at least once. Even our least favorite rides were fun. Also, we liked the Islands of Adventure part more. If we went back, I don't know if we'd even go to the other side again. It was great, but nothing compared to the other side! Also, if you eat at the Leaky Cauldron, eat the trifle tart. It's like bread pudding, and so so amazing. 

That's it! Enjoy your trip!

Florida Part 3

 Our second day of Harry Potter Land started very much like the first, with a quick ride on the dragon challenge and the hulk. We rushed over to Diagon Alley only to find the Gringotts ride closed! It remained that way the rest of the day, though we checked back often just in case.

Instead, we busied ourselves with the Mummy Returns and Transformers, which I will remember forever because we were so tired and complain-y the whole wait! But the ride itself was awesome, one of the best simulator rides. 

We also are pretty good pizza and hung out in Diagon Alley, shopping and drinking Butterbeer.

And we rode the Hogwarts Express back to Hogsmeade, which was awesome and included Dementors!

And then, being hot as hell, we rode the Jurassic Park water ride and got appropriately soaked!

Here's the problem: on Thursday, our first day, we were at the park open to close, roughly 12 hours. That was rough. We were not prepared. Side story: after our first ride on the Hulk, Jess had to find bandaids for a blister and Ky was sick (not from the ride, just exhaustion I think), plus I needed a bandaid. After the FIRST RIDE. We were broken.

Still, we toughed it out until almost five, when nachos and drinks called our names.

Saturday was our flight home :( but we couldn't stand the idea of leaving without riding the Gringotts ride! So we woke up early, used the last day of our passes (when we bought them, they were buy two days get one day free, so we got three days just in case, and thank goodness!), and went straight there! It was a long wait, with lots of rooms and waiting areas, but such a fun ride.

Then we took a quick ride on the Hogwarts express back to Hogsmeade.

Then we made the choice to finish out with our favorite: the dragon challenge, ending with a wait to ride in the very front, which is SO AWESOME. I never understood why people waited for the front but now I do. It was so awesome.

Then, straight to the airport for Jess and Ky :( and straight to food for us!

Josh had one request: to try alligator. On our last hour, we fulfilled it. 

It tastes like chicken-fish. Definitely a water creature. I had a yellowfin tuna sandwich and he ordered catfish for our lunch, and finished with some true Florida key lime pie.

Then, just like that, our weekend was over :( next post, I'll recap my tips for HPL and the souvenirs we bought!

Florida Part 2

We kicked off our Harry Potter Land visit bright and early, arriving at the park right as it opened and rushing to Hogsmeade. 

Hogsmeade is in the Islands of Adventure park, which was our favorite of the two! HPL is split into Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida, but Hogsmeade has the best rides: the Dragon Challenge (where you're a Triwizard Champion in the first task of the Goblet of Fire), the Forbidden Journey (a dark ride through the castle) and the Flight of the Hippogriff (for kids, but you pass Hagrid's Hut so totally worth it). Diagon Alley has the Escape from Gringotts ride which was also awesome.

Once in Hogsmeade, we rode rides, drank butterbeer and ate fish and chips at the Three Broomsticks:)

Our favorite ride was the dragon challenge... It's two coasters into one, and we rode this one four to five times, so eight to ten rides! It was so so fun.

We also took in lots of shopping and exploring.

We also explored other parts of the park! Our favorite? The Hulk! It was so awesome. 

Plus some Jurassic Park, which Jess said basically sums up her childhood.

We're pretty funny, if you ask me!

We took a small break around 2:00 to see a movie at the theater at the entrance to the park. We saw the Duff and it was super adorable. We had been exhausted, but after a 1.5 hour break... We were ready to go back! 

After riding the Forbidden Journey (castle halls and the entrance to Dumbledor's office above), we rode the Hogwarts express over to Diagon Alley and ate some fishermen pie and shepherds pie at the Leaky Cauldron and it was delicious park food, to be honest. Plus, the water looks like this.

Then we drank more beer (both butter and regular) and headed home to watch Broad City, while Jess picked through the bones of my fried chicken snack and was sad she didn't get any. Maybe you had to be there?

Florida Part 1

So.

This past weekend was the big event. The one we've all been waiting for. Our trek to Harry Potter Land!

*i know it's called the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I just like Harry Potter Land more.

My sister and ky came down late Tuesday, and we headed out to Florida first thing wednesday. After a little schoolwork for me, I was so ready to start our vacation! 

Airport selfies, am I right?

We met up with Jess and Ky in Florida and we were ready to vacation. First stop: the beach! 

We ate fish tacos and drank pina coladas at a place called Coconuts right on the beach, and it was amazing. After Jess collected about 100 seashells, we headed back to Orlando to our Airbnb condo.

Can I just tell you about Airbnb? It was such a lifesaver for us! We paid less than a hotel, plus we got two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a kitchen so we were able to cook at home every morning. So worth it! 

Part 2 will contain day one of HPL! Stay tuned!