Category Archives: Travel

May 20 2013
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France, Reflections, Travel

Miss This Face

The morning I flew out to France this year was a mere two weeks ago.

I had a few hours to kill before Dan picked me up during his lunch break to drive me from our apartment to Hartsfield Jackson.

During that time I zipped up my toiletries, made sure my carry-ons were in order and went outside on the deck with my D90 in tow.

I snapped some photos of our recently planted red geranium flower boxes which oddly turned into an unplanned mini-photo shoot with my shadow…aka, our sweet puggle, Charley.

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Seriously. LOOK at that FACE. Ahhh! I miss that baby girl so much while I’m gone these two months each year.

I miss my husband a little too, I guess.  🙂

But, man oh man, that dog has my heart.  (I’ve switched back to talking about Charley now for those of you who may be suddenly questioning my marriage…)

Sitting in my French Riviera apartment tonight I came across these pre-departure photos on my camera as I was transferring some program stuff to my laptop and teared up looking at them.

Those big eyes, little forehead scrunches, the head tilt – it’s all there. So perfect and attentive and loving. Just waiting on what I will say to her next.

All my love to my little family back home in Atlanta!

I love you Dan.

I love you Charley.

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May 09 2013
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Cannes Film Festival, France, Juan-Les-Pins, Travel

Welcome to FRANCE, 2013

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I am posting this from my iPhone (yes, I have an iPhone now. Hell hath frozen over…) as I’ve yet to have any quality computer time in my first 48-hours here.

In this initial rush of preparations before the waves of students begin arriving on Saturday I have found it feasible to update my Instagram account fairly frequently and occasionally share it to my Off The Duff page on Facebook.

In layman’s terms for my parents or in-laws reading this…go to Instagram.com and search for the user: @abeavduff to see what yours truly has been doing – and, more importantly – EATING!

I hope to find the time to blog regularly now that I’m more technologically adept – even if it’s just with quick updates or photos from the Festival. I can be your own personal E! livestream for all things Cannes. Just call me Giuliana Rancic.

Anyway, I digress- it’s after 11pm France time and I’m still battling jetlag.

Check out Instagram and/or Facebook to catch up with me in the meantime. Talk soon!

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Mar 13 2013
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Observations, Travel

New Biz

(…card, that is.)

I am a big fan of ‘personal’ business cards. As a wearer of many hats, professionally-speaking (and, blog-header-speaking), I like to stay prepared for any type of networking interaction regardless of formality or industry.

Yes, I work in the Advertising/Marketing world of Atlanta. Yes, I also work in the study abroad/tour guide/travel guru/coordinator world of Cannes, France. And, sure, I keep my wallet stocked with ‘official’ business cards for these respective jobs at all times should a business opportunity present itself.

The thing is I’m also interested in about a thousand other types of jobs/industries that could potentially benefit from what I consider to be a unique and intriguing skill set (toot toot) and I like to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. You just never know who you’re going to meet, so having a ‘catch all’ business card to kind of sum up “you” is a tool with which I like to stay equipped.

Old Biz Card

(back from the good ol’ days as a “Beaver”)

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P.S. I landed at least one job because the interviewer loved this card so much. Of course ‘showing up’ via your resume and interview is essential, too, but giving a little taste of your personality never hurts, in my opinion (because, let’s be honest, mine isn’t going anywhere). Plus, even if a potential job doesn’t work out at least it helps you stay memorable to whomever the lucky recipient of your coveted card happens to be.

New Biz Card

(Gotta brand myself with the new last name!)

biz frontbiz back (no phone)

When I saw this card design initially I, too, thought the photo bomb on the front of the card was rather “aggressive.” As I went back and forth with it the creepiness factor somewhat diminished and it grew on me. So, voila. Take it or leave it.

Here’s to never ending ‘the search’ and to finding new opportunities in everything and everyone! If I didn’t live by this I never would have acquired an open invitation to go into the French bakery business should I ever move to San Francisco. (Another story for another day…)

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Mar 01 2013
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Travel, Visitors

Ello, Govnah!

It’s official!

Barca is out.  …but, London is IN!

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Image courtesy of Etsy

The Brothers Duffy and I are booked for a Nice to London one-way (on British Airways, no less) for a couple days of touristy travel at the end of my two-month stint in Cannes this year. So excited to visit a new city/country!

*Sidenote: I’ve always hyped up British Airways in my mind – probably since I’ve never flown it, but it just seems so damn fancy. I’m ecstatic. Take, for example the below ACTUAL pull-down menu from their site that I just had to fill in for our flight booking.

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While it’s excitement enough to fill in “Mrs” for the first time ever, I was SO tempted to fill in something like “Viscountess” for my title. I chickened out for fear it would disrupt our travel when my passport inevitably did not match up…but you have to admit, “Dame Duffy” has a nice ring to it…

Also – another random sidebar. I intended to book this $82 flight (yes, $82!!) through kayak.com, but when I got to the payment screen they only accepted Visa and MasterCard. Tisk tisk, Kayak. You lost my business to me booking directly through the British Airways site after seeing that they accept American Express. (Gotta rack up those miles!)

My point with this is – how weird is it that British Airways accepts AMEX, but Kayak, a company based in Norwalk, CT (thank you, Wikipedia), does not? Curious, to say the least.

Anyway, we’re booked – we’re booked – we’re booked! Hip hip hooray! Cheerio! Goodday! Tea & crumpets! Bollocks (wait, no, that’s a bad one…)

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Jun 14 2011
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Music, Travel, Visitors

Preview of Dan’s 2-Week Visit

Rooftop of my residence overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Juan-Les-Pins, FRANCE.
Touring around Cannes a week after the Film Festival chaos and hoopla had ceased.
Dan’s birthday celebration at Pam-Pam in JLP.
Leaving France via train – heading to Italy to experience Cinque Terre during my week off between programs.
Walking to dinner in Riomaggiore, ITALY (our town in Cinque Terre)
In Manarola, ITALY hiking on the Via dell’Amore (neighboring town in Cinque Terre)
Gondola ride our first morning in Venice, ITALY. This picture has not been edited.
Finding out that pigeons love Dan (and vice versa) in San Marco’s Square in Venice, ITALY.
On the Rialto Bridge overlooking the Grande Canal in Venice, ITALY heading to dinner.
Heineken Jammin’ Festival in Venice, ITALY to see Coldplay headlining on our last night in Italia.
“Yellow”
Back in France. Up early on June 12th so Dan can head home and I can check in more students for our second and final study abroad program, The Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.


All in all, one of the best two-week-stints of my life.
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