Sisters - time to get back to blogging about fun times with my sisters!

Gosh it is hard to believe that I haven't blogged since February. Everyday life including family and work got in the way. I have alot of information to share about fun things to do with your sisters or friends so I am planning to get back into posting information on a regular basis.

If anyone reads this blog, please let me know what types of fun things you do with your sisters or friends.

Have a great Week!

Debbie

Weekend Sisters Recommends 55 Degrees Wine Bar in Plano, TX

Recently, my husband and I discovered the 55 Degrees Wine Bar located on the NE corner of Preston and Parker Roads in Plano, TX. 55 Degrees is a little gem in the Plano suburbs that is a great place to go for a date night with your husband or for girls night out. Not only do they have a large selection of wines, they also serve appetizers, sandwiches, and dinner entrees.

55 Degrees has entertainment on weekends ranging from a solo sax or guitar player to a latin jazz band. There is even a small dance floor so that you practice your dance moves.

55 Degrees is a great little place to go for just one drink or to hang out for several hours enjoying the food, drinks, music and friends.

Weekend Sisters Recommends Spring Hill Suites in Chicago

I recently spent a weekend in Chicago with my son. We stayed at the Spring Hill Suites hotel on Dearborn. I had previously stayed at the hotel while traveling on business. I love this hotel since it is in a good location close to Michigan Avenue and it is priced reasonably. The rooms are nice and bright with a separate sleeping and lounging area including a desk, small fridge, and microwave. Free breakfast is included and there is a store in the lobby that sells beverages, snacks, and even frozen microwaveable foods.

Check out the marriott.com website for room rates and availability.

Weekend Sisters Recommends Pretti New Consignment in Plano and Frisco, TX

I just love Pretti New Consignment store in Plano, TX. The shop is located on McDermott and Independence in a small shopping center. I routinely clean out my closet and take my items to consign with Pretti New. The staff is very friendly and they have a regular clientele shopping for fashion at a bargain.

Pretti New carries a great selection of shirts, tops, jeans, pants, jackets, shoes, belts, jewelry and even home accessories. Not only is it a good store to consign your items, it is also a great store to shop! You will find items from Chicos's, Talbots, Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, etc.

Yesterday I visited their store located on Main St. in Frisco for the first time. It is smaller than the Plano store but it still has a nice selection of quality items.

Check out their website at prettinew.com!

Daytona Beach Dog Races

During our Spring Break trip, my sister and I went to the dog races at the Daytona Beach Kennel club. The races are now held at a very new location that also has poker available. You can also bet on all sorts of dog and horse races across the country. I was amazed and a little overwhelmed.

Dog races are a family affair unlike horse races. Families come to the races, especially those that are tourists. At first it looks like a fun actitivity. However, I have so many concerns about the greyhound dogs used for this "sport". I feel so sorry for them which is why I only go to these events once every 5 years or so.

There were also many people at the dog races who looked like they did not have the money to gamble. It looks like they come hoping to score a big win. We saw many of them leave very disappointed. Makes me wonder if that money was meant to pay the rent and now it is gone. I could see how people could get pulled in by the "rush". But these are the same people who can't manage their money, maybe depressed, etc.

People bet on a dog races using so many different methods. Some people go by the name of the dog, their number, or even those who get into all of the stats. I am somewhere in the middle. I try to look at the stats but to tell you the truth I really don't understand all of it. It becomes analysis paralysis. So then I look at the dog and it's name to see if I get a feel for the dog that will be the winner.

Well, needless to say, I was not lucky. I obviously did not have the right process to place bets. Hey but for $20 I had fun. My sister was much more lucky than I. It was a fun way to spend an evening.

Spring Break at Hammock Beach, Palm Coast Florida

I had the best time this Spring Break with my sister, Diane. We stayed at a condo at Hammock Beach which is an awesome resort located on Florida's east coast between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Check out their website at http://www.hammockbeach.com/.

We spent time reading and walking on the beach, reading and drinking by the pool, sightseeing, etc. It was the first time that two of us spent a whole week together without our husbands. It was also different since our other sister, Donna, was unable to come due to her work schedule.

One of our excursions was to the Daytona Beach Flea Market which is open every weekend. The flea market is spread over several large buidlings. There is everything from fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, vitamins, to discount tourist tshirts, jewelry, luggage, belts, etc. The only thing I bought were reading glasses which were a bargain at 2 pairs for $8!

Another excursion we took was to St. Augustine which is a beautiful historic city. I love looking in all of the little shops. There are also many photo opportunities in this town. I had the best hand scooped ice cream at Kirwin's. It hit the spot on a warm day.

The weather was great during our week at the beach. We couldn't have asked for a better week!