Fun trip; fun training

I was MIA last week in blogger land due to an unexpected group training trip.

My team had to travel to Whippany, NJ for some training.

We rented a van and off we went for the week...

We stopped for lunch at a little tavern/bar along the way...Toasted Monkey Tavern! The food was good, waitress was hilarious but food was really, really slow. To their benefit, they are not used to getting big groups on people on Monday afternoon...they are busy at night and weekends so I think that was the issue.

Little selfie with one of my co-workers...


We had an intense week of training. Seems weird right; training for employees when they are closing down our site? Well...we are losing a lot of people already and I think it is their way to keep us engaged and hopeful for the next year until the closing.  I figured if it is training on my resume...I'm in!

We had one really nice group dinner at a local Italian restaurant called Trattoria Toscana. It was amazing!!!! Seriously!! If you are ever in the Whippany, NJ area make reservations and go here! I think you have to have reservations...it is always busy and rightfully so!  

They start your table off with a complimentary order of bruschetta...it was sooo delicious! 

I ordered the capellini pasta with Gorgonzola sauce and shrimp! It was so creamy and delicious!



Thursday we began our drive back home.

On the way home; we stopped at Legends. My brother-in-law recommended it and it was fantastic bar food!

We all shared a bunch of appetizers.

Here are the fried pickles...



and fried onion blossom strips...


Before we left; we asked the waitress to get our picture as a group...here we are after eating tables full of fried deliciousness!!! My adorable co-workers!!! Dave on the far left, Matt next him and then me, Terri and Liz! Such a fun group of people I get to work with...at least for another few months!! :-)


Have a fantastic Tuesday - hugs to you all!

Do you ever splurge and eat "unhealthy food"? How often? Do you like fried pickles? What is your favorite fried appetizer? Do you like to try new places or always return to the same restaurants?

HUGS!!

Monday’s are for KC BBQ

Hi everyone!

I know...I know...my blog title may be deceiving since it is not Monday but I am re-capping a day late (HA! But, not a dollar short).

Here is where I parked my car...ad yes, it is the airport! After that crazy busy weekend of no sleep, off I flew to Kansas for work.

We have a conference there and I am actually so excited to be heading back after living and working there for three months last year.

Fingers crossed I can get time to head back to the office and visit all my favorite people in BI, Customer Service and Credit! 

We arrived around 5PM and checked into our hotel amid a huge storm! Apparently we will have storms and tornado warnings all week!!! WHAT?! Yes, crazy weather here!!

We went out to eat for.....yes, of course in Kansas....BBQ!!! We ate at Q39!

This place is in Overland Park, Kansas and it was SO DELICIOUS! Read more about it HERE! I got the brisket and burnt ends - it was melt in your mouth amazing!

I was in HEAVEN - such great BBQ! If you are ever in the area - definitely try this place!! Every seat was filled all night even though it was storming horribly!!

I hope everyone has a great week!! Now I am off to bed to get some rest in my big, fluffy Hilton bed before this week of workshops begins. PS-I am digging the fact that the toiletries in my room are Crabtree Evelyn...my favorite!

Anyone else collect hotel toiletries? Anyone have a favorite hotel chain? What are you up to today?

KC Trip and New Fall Hair

Happy Fall Ya'll!!! I got new Fall hair!!! I ditched the blonde and went with some new Fall colors!! I kinda LOVE my hairstylist!!! I kind of just let my hairstylist do whatever she wants and I LOVE what she did!!

I recently got to travel for work! It is a rare thing for me and I was so excited to go! I went to two different sites - Shawnee and Hawthorne. Shawnee, Kansas and Hawthorne, Missouri and it was awesome!!!!

We stayed in a hotel at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. This place was amazing!! Right outside of our hotel was about 100 stores (and GOOD stores) within a ten block radius!!! It was a shopping and dining mecca!!!! We wanted authentic BBQ and we had so many recommendations but overall, the majority recommended Jack Stack BBQ so off we went!

Before eating, we HAD to pose in front of the restaurant with this bull!!! The food was AMAZING! I highly recommend this place! I got the Jacks Best which was one Crown Prime Beef Rib, Pork
Baby Back Ribs, and Beef Burnt Ends. AAAAAAAAMAZING!

Here is a shot of my lovely hotel room at the Hampton Inn Suites! The hotel was beautiful and clean! Loved it here! I had a huge, cozy bed with about 10 pillows and huge flat screen TV in both the sitting area and bedroom! Love this hotel!

   
I will leave you with a little photo out of the plane window....heading home!

Hope I get to return someday! I have NEVER tasted BBQ that good!!

Anyone else never had REAL BBQ?
Favorite type of BBQ?
Love traveling for work?

Have a great week ya'll.