Hello, friends! 

As you have noticed I took my break to heart and took an actual break from Abbey on the Road while I have been enjoying spending quality time with friends and family back at home.

Here is a recap of what I have been up to while I have been away. 

Sorry in advance for the CHAPTER BOOK of a post...aka it's looooong, but here we go....

The day after I got home after my first semester of travels ended, I packed up my suitcase once again and embarked on a week long adventure of my own. 

My first stop was to one of my favorite places, New York City

Although this was my third trip to The City since July, there is NOTHING like NYC during CHRISTMAS TIME!!

I got to see the Rockefeller Tree

The Radio City ROCKETTES!

So. Many. Ice Skating. Rinks.

-Free activity for any frugal travelers... PEOPLE WATCH. You could be occupied for hours on end watching people of all ages attempt to turn into Kristi Yamaguchi (cracking myself up with this reference). 

 Experience the most HILARIOUS part of the trip, SantaCon NYC - in a BLIZZARD. 

Hundreds, maybe thousands of Santa's roamed the streets, got in and out of cabs, dined in local restaurants, filled the subways and of course the bars. 

SO DANG FUNNY. 

(This guy claims to be famous, but no one recognized him. If you have ANY idea who he is...I would love confirmation that he wasn't a creep that carried around a camera for fun). 

I never wanted to take off my Santa Suit

And best of all...my TWO worlds Collided - One of my newest and dearest friends, Dakota, (we travel as TLCs together) came along on the adventure and connected with friends from TCU. 

HOLLA FOR ZTA AND SISTERHOOD! 

Following the trip to NYC, Dakota and I headed to Atlantic City....Home of the Miss America Pageant and CRITTERS GALORE.

I didn't really know what to expect in AC, but I didn't picture anything like what we experienced, or to become a millionaire playing Black Jack ;) 

^ Breakin' all dem rulez takin' picz N Da Ca$iNo.

The last stop during our travels was Philadelphia.

A city full of History GALORE! 

I had a PHILLY CHEESESTEAK - Oh Em GEE! 

 Navigated the streets (This is Baxter history)...

We explored pretty much all of Downtown Philly...

 Finding this big statue

 AND BEN'S SCULPTED HEAD

 We mastered the train station and figured out that our tickets are not Bingo cards in disguise...

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, 

WE FOUND THE LIBERTY BELL. 

 OH, AND took a walk down the path that B Frank used to waltz down every day! 

The sign in this High Quality picture reads --

"Benjamin Franklin went to and from his house through this original passage"

The last adventure of our trip to Philly was a trip across the state line so I could mark Delaware off on my list of never-been-to states. 

After my week of travels I came back to Texas where I spent time with friends and family..

At the Gaylord..

Being fancy...

And more.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year! 

2013 was a year to remember!! Excited for what's to come!!

Peace, Love and BRING ON 2014! 

PART I Complete

After EIGHTEEN airports, over THIRTY flights, TEN states, FOURTEEN visits, AND SIX CAPITALS I have finished my first semester of traveling. 

My last week on the road I spent in Seattle at the University of Washington, home of the Huskies.

My visit was full of officer meetings with some inspiring leaders, as well as a little bit of learning how to be a Husky.

I attended a Volleyball Game, met the Mascot, Harry...AND was on the Jumbotron.

I got to see THE WORLD's LARGEST BOOK

(sorry about the glare and terrible pic)

And take a tour of this Harry Pooter, I mean Potter inspired library

I also found George (shown below), checked out the campus AND explored the stadium which overlooks the most beautiful waterfront..

Pillars.. just like the ones at Mizzou?

During my time here I had the opportunity to stay in my eighth ZTA house, BUT this one was not like the others. It has a SLEEPING PORCH instead of individual rooms with beds - talk about the ultimate sleepover!! 

So much fun!! It is so crazy that I can visit a place for a week and feel like I have been here for a lifetime!! This visit was the perfect way to end an amazing semester on the road!! 

Now I am headed back to Texas for two days to "rest" before heading back out on the road for fun! Oh and I am NOT sad that I missed the Arctic Blast of you people back home being stranded for days. It was below freezing here the whole time, but it didn't stop my shine!!

ALSO, PSA for the world. Not ONE drop of rain fell from the sky while I was in Seattle.

So, SHOUT OUT to all of the drama queens out there that persuaded me to sacrifice two outfits to pack my dang rain boots that I didn't need. 

Peace, Love & What in the world am I going to do in the same place aka HOME for three weeks....

PS I AM HAVING A HARD TIME CLICKING SUBMIT RIGHT NOW!! I am so sad that this semester is OVER!!! 

Est. 1971

Who knew that the FIRST Starbucks was here in Seattle???

Not this girl.... but I know now.

I have seriously had the FULL tourist experience here in Seattle. COMPLETE with a trip and a drink from the first Starbucks.

 My hands were too cold to capture pictures inside, so ya get what ya get.

 Usually the line out the door is WRAPPED around with tourists (I act like I am not one of them), but we happened to get there right before the rush. 

No peppermint hot chocolate (that I didn't even get kid's temp - unnecessary when the outdoor temp is colder than a refridgerator) tastes better than one from the ORIGINAL Starbucks, right ;)

Refueled.

Peace, Love & They Even Asked How To Spell My Name