Staybridge Breakfast

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Morning!  After fishing my contacts out of their temporary home in hotel room coffee mugs (don’t judge!)…

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I got dressed in the same clothes as yesterday – ick! – and headed downstairs to the Staybridge Suites breakfast.

 

Interesting factoid about Staybridge Suites:  Remember when I blogged about the book Nickel and Dimed, which addresses the situation of the working poor in America?  Thanks to that book, I learned the reason why chains like Staybridge offer weekly rates in addition to nightly rates is that many families who survive on minimum wage actually end up living in Staybridges… they live paycheck-to-paycheck and can’t afford high security deposits for traditional rentals.  After learning that, I have a new understanding of (and appreciation for) Staybridges.  They are quite nice inside, and the front desk people are so helpful.  Also – stuff like that is why I love to read creative non-fiction.  Otherwise, I get stuck in a little bubble of my own life experiences. 

 

Each room in Staybridge has a kitchenette,  which I didn’t get to utilize this trip.  They also serve up a decent breakfast. 

 

My meal:

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Oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon.

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And a boiled egg with fruit:

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I headed to the airport, dropped off my car, and checked for my missing luggage.  No dice!  Here’s to hoping it’s waiting on my doorstep when I return.

 

And despite a little rain, we took off on time… Finally, a lucky break in my travel schedule.

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See you in the Queen City!

{ 64 comments }

 

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) May 26, 2011, 9:25 am

    I’m glad it sounds like this day or travel is already going much more smoothly than yesterday!

    Impressive breakfast for a hotel, I must say!

  • Cindy Robinson May 26, 2011, 9:30 am

    Hope your stuff arrives to you soon! I’ve done that coffee mug “trick” plenty of times. Funny story: once while on vacation, our friend had done the same thing with his contacts but using those clear hotel glasses….and told everyone before they went to bed “These are my contacts, please do not drink them”….needless to say he got up in the morning and one of the cups was moved…..he had to go the rest of the trip with one contact. And of course we gave the guy that drank his contact a hard time! 🙂

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat May 26, 2011, 9:47 am

    Not a bad little breakfast by the looks of it! I’m glad you managed to get on a flight that actually took off!! Safe travels Caitlin! 🙂

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) May 26, 2011, 9:50 am

    I’ll have to look into that chain when we travel some time. I like Hampton Inns since they offer an incredible breakfast spread and coffee/tea/hot chocolate service all day. Have a safe trip home!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg May 26, 2011, 9:53 am

    I have forgotten my contacts case so many times that I have used coffee cups a number of times! It works out fine. I just have to remind Jason a million times to please not drink my contacts!

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) May 26, 2011, 9:58 am

    I think it’s awesome that you remember that everyone has a different life path and that b/c of life circumstances, some ppl find themselves living in a week to week hotel/motel and it gives me pause to be incredibly grateful today and more humble. In San Diego where I live, it’s urban and I run past many similar type places and yes, I know ppl live in them long term.

    On lighter matters, have a great day today. You deserve an excellent one 🙂

  • Samantha Angela May 26, 2011, 9:59 am

    Whoa. Possible revelation here: Am I gross for sometimes wearing the same outfit two days in a row?

    • Amber K May 26, 2011, 10:58 am

      Nah, I do it all the time. It’s not like workout gear that you massively sweat in 😉

    • Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment May 26, 2011, 11:08 am

      Not at all — Fridays at work are casual day, and if I’m wearing a super cute outfit, you better believe I’m recycling it for Saturday shopping/errands!

    • E May 26, 2011, 11:57 am

      Yep, I do it, too…although usually not if I’ve had the outfit on for a long day (not that Caitlin could help it today!!)

      • Lindsey May 26, 2011, 2:26 pm

        I do the Friday work to Saturday errands thing all the time. My wardbrode is like 40% work clothes, 40% work out clothes on only 20% casual. So, repeats are necessary.

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:57 pm

      Naw I do it all the time at home… but travel clothes are geeeross.

  • Rachel @ The Perseverance Diaries May 26, 2011, 9:59 am

    I loved the book Nickel and Dimed because I used to wait tables at numerous restaurants. It’s a great book.

    Safe travels for you today 🙂

  • Claire @ Live and Love to Eat May 26, 2011, 10:04 am

    I’ve made contact cases out of stranger items before. Safe travels!

  • Halley (Blunder Construction) May 26, 2011, 10:11 am

    Icky, icky trip! Glad you are homebound… way to keep your chin up though. I probably would have cried (even in my big girl panties.)

  • jen @ taste life May 26, 2011, 10:24 am

    Years ago I was seriously dating a guy who was working on broadcast towers around the country. We’d move locations every two or three weeks, and would either stay in a weekly hotel type thing or sometimes camp. I saw heart-breaking things on the road, like the family that had two children, one in diapers, who was so poor they were literally living at KOA in Louisiana. I also saw people who could only afford to live in cheap hotels, and it made me thankful that our situation was temporary and actually kind of fun – we weren’t stuck forever in that situation.

    Good luck getting home on time and getting your luggage back!

  • Brianna May 26, 2011, 10:28 am

    I had a dream last nigh that they made a movie based on your blog! A sign of things to come? I hope so!!

  • Carrie S. May 26, 2011, 10:31 am

    No judgement with the contacts, I’ve totally done that. My sister accidentally drank one the morning after my bachelorette party. True story. 🙂

    • lynne @lgsmash May 26, 2011, 10:50 am

      My boyfriend has done the same thing!! I laughed SO hard! … until I realized I’d be blind the rest of our trip!

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:56 pm

      ewww lol

  • Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing May 26, 2011, 10:34 am

    My mom loved Nickel and Dimed; I’ll have to see if she still has a copy. Hope today is smoother travel-wise!!!

  • lynne @lgsmash May 26, 2011, 10:48 am

    I’ve used many a hotel cup/mug for my contacts – actually, on a weekend trip with my boyfriend and some friends, my boyfriend accidentally DRANK my contact and solution in the middle of the night, thinking it was a glass of water!!

    Good luck on your travels today!

  • Khushboo May 26, 2011, 10:52 am

    That’s a really neat concept of the hotel! I’m really intrigued about this book, going to definitely try and get my hands on a copy!

  • Amber K May 26, 2011, 10:58 am

    That’s exactly why I like to read non-fiction too. Opens my eyes to new things.

  • briana May 26, 2011, 11:00 am

    “Otherwise I get stuck in the little bubble of my own experiences.”

    so true!

    • Susan @ Saucy Living May 26, 2011, 12:50 pm

      Yes! I really like the way you put that!

      • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:55 pm

        whole world out there!

  • Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment May 26, 2011, 11:06 am

    I love the shoutout to the benefits of creative nonfiction!! I’ve been really into it lately, too! I just finished “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, which is about the life of the woman whose cells are responsible for many of the meds/scientific discoveries we take today, and how the process has affected her descendants. Besides being utterly fascinating (I actually work in translational research and just did a project dealing with patient consent, and HeLa cells have totally influenced our research), it was heartbreaking, moving and incredibly well-written. And now I’m finally reading “My Life in France” by Julia Child, which I’m so excited for!

    Aaaand I also leave my contacts in mugs, cups, bottlecaps….whatever you can find, right? I hope your trip home is better!

    • E May 26, 2011, 11:58 am

      Oh, I love the creative nonfiction these days, too! I read Nickle & Dimed a few years ago and have both the two you mentioned (Henrietta and My Life in France) waiting on my bookcase now (so many books, so little time!) 🙂

  • Erin @ Big Girl Feats May 26, 2011, 11:41 am

    Oh man, I hope you get home quickly and safely! Yesterday while I was cleaning up the clothes that my cat peed on (yeah), I was getting totally annoyed and pissed off. This post made me realize that a little cat pee never hurt anyone and I should be lucky I have a home, a partner, a cat and a place to sleep/live/love. And YAY for non-fiction! It’s my favorite.

  • Tori (Fresh Fruition) May 26, 2011, 11:48 am

    Fresh fruit is the best for breakfast 🙂 Have a safe flight!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing May 26, 2011, 12:03 pm

    Good luck with your travels!

  • Grapeful May 26, 2011, 12:05 pm

    I agree with some of the above posters. Re-wearing an outfit isn’t gross at all. In fact, I make it mandatory to wear shirts and pants more than once before going into the wash unless I perspired in them profusely. And don’t you all re-wear work-out clothes anyway? Same difference right?

    • Dori May 26, 2011, 3:36 pm

      Very true, and I re-wear clothing too… but I think there is definitely an element of grossness to clothing that spent hours on an airplane. i always feel so ick after a plane ride! I even wash my hair after one, which I usually avoid.

  • Leanne (Bride to Mrs,) May 26, 2011, 12:07 pm

    I’ve heard of families staying in hotels too (I know of some hotels that advertise monthly rates!). It’s really sad.

    I do think though, that places that employ bartenders/waiters/waitresses shouldn’t pay minimum wage, I don’t think it’s fair for any profession to rely on tips as a major part of their income. (my two cents!)

    I’m happy to hear that your morning is going better today! & seeing your contacts in the coffee mug made me laugh 🙂 have a great flight!

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:55 pm

      I agree that you shouldn’t pay minimum wage 🙂 my opinion too!!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) May 26, 2011, 12:18 pm

    What a travel nightmare! Fingers crossed your luggage is in Charlotte!

  • Erin May 26, 2011, 12:19 pm

    Fingers crossed for your luggage! Missing luggage is one of my biggest anxiety triggers.

    I’ve done the contacts in coffee mugs or water glasses before. Better than wearing your contacts while sleeping!

  • Natalia - a side of simple May 26, 2011, 12:26 pm

    Oh no, I hope you get your luggage! That happened to me when I got back from studying abroad last year. But I was so happy to see my family that I didn’t even care. I’ll say a little prayer to St. Anthony for a speedy find!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey May 26, 2011, 12:40 pm

    Glad your travels are a little bit easier than yesterday!!

  • Nicole May 26, 2011, 12:41 pm

    Hadn’t heard of Nickel and Dimed but sounds like a good read, just added it to my Amazon wish list.

  • Kim May 26, 2011, 12:51 pm

    Happy travels and yay for Target! You had a shoutie on Weddingbee today. The interweb is such a small world 🙂

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:54 pm

      That is so nice 🙂 Thank you for coming by!

  • Brittney May 26, 2011, 12:59 pm

    I’ve definitely done the “contacts in cups” method a time or two! Sorry your travels have been so rough, and I hope your luggage makes it home safely! Seems like you could use a glass of wine- let me know, I’m available this weekend 🙂

  • Katherine May 26, 2011, 1:13 pm

    Looks like a nomful breakfast 🙂

  • Cara May 26, 2011, 1:22 pm

    Looks like you’ve made the best of the situation! I hope your luggage and you gets home safely!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) May 26, 2011, 1:30 pm

    I loved Nickel and Dimed. Very sad, but very eye opening!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife May 26, 2011, 1:36 pm

    I hope your luggage is there too!!

    Your b-fast looks yumm 🙂

  • Colleen May 26, 2011, 2:25 pm

    I hope your return trip and all of your subsequent trips are VERY smooth! 🙂

  • delia May 26, 2011, 2:47 pm

    I’m sure when they crunch the numbers, the lower rate is attributed to not having to turn over their product (e. g. hotel room, car rental, etc.) as often.

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:53 pm

      definitely!

  • Johanna B May 26, 2011, 3:41 pm

    An airlines lost my luggage once on a trip to Seattle. When they finally found it several weeks later the bag was ripped down the front. They refused to compensate me because there was an eyeliner pencil in the bag and they said that’s what caused the problem. The eyeliner pencil didn’t cause them to lose the bag though did it? I’ve never flown with that particular airline again. Hope you have better luck.

  • Kaitlyn @ 7 Plates May 26, 2011, 3:41 pm

    Hey! I just found your blog.. I remember hearing about it from the Marie Claire stuff.. and don’t get me wrong, I’m loving it! 🙂 All these healthy living blogs are great! 🙂

    • Caitlin May 26, 2011, 3:52 pm

      hahah good things came out of that article 🙂 you!

  • Gillian May 26, 2011, 3:45 pm

    Hi Caitlin! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months or so and love it – but this is my first comment! I also read Nickel and Dimed in college and am a HUGE fan of creative non-fiction. Do you have other recommendations of books in that genre?

  • Gillian May 26, 2011, 3:53 pm

    Wow, thanks!

  • Abby May 26, 2011, 4:00 pm

    Thanks for sharing about people actually living in Staybridges. That is so interesting! I never knew places did things like that–very cool! 🙂

  • Parita @ myinnershakti May 26, 2011, 4:11 pm

    I have a new found appreciation of Staybridge Suites now too! That’s so awesome.

    Here’s to a better travel day!

  • Karlee @olivewineandfood May 26, 2011, 4:41 pm

    haha i put my contacts in cups too when i forget my case. have had them thrown away on accident a few times. and love oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon!

  • Cindy May 26, 2011, 6:28 pm

    I’ve done the contacts in a mug thing more times I care to count. I always forget my contacts case- and never want to spend any money to buy another one!

  • Alaina May 26, 2011, 8:26 pm

    I used to work for the company that owns Staybridge. I never stayed there but was impressed by the services that they offer at the price that they offer. I’ll probably stay there if the need came up. 🙂

    I have got to get a hold of that Nickle & Dimed book! Sounds like something I would want to read.

  • Allison @ Happy Tales May 26, 2011, 9:53 pm

    LOL i’ve so put my contacts in cups for soaking, too…

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