vacation

A few weeks ago, tracking for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation was supposedly in the toilet. Early reports suggested that Tom Cruise’s fifth outing as super-spy Ethan Hunt was not getting people excited. This would be the end, the experts said, of a franchise that has kept Cruise’s career surging forward for the past two decades. Well, that was apparently a big load of crap because Rogue Nation opened well and opened in the same ballpark as the rest of the franchise. Even with inflation differences, this series keeps on hitting the same box office sweet spot.

Full disclosure: I missed the last 10 minutes of Vacation. Last night’s press screening started 20 minutes late, then began without any sound, which lead to a 10 minute delay to correct the technical difficulties. With an unbreakable engagement elsewhere, I had to sneak out right before the very last scene. So take this review with as many grains of salt as you’d like. If you think those final minutes might recontextualize everything that came before to transform a generally miserable comedy into a beacon of transcendent hilarity, so be it. Having sat through the previous 90 minutes, I’m of the opinion that nothing short of the long-lost missing footage from Orson Welles’ Magnificent Ambersons could have redeemed this dreadful film.

The new Vacation may bear the same name as the old Vacation, but it’s actually a sequel, taking place a few decades after the first ill-fated Griswold family trip to Walley World. The first trailer for this new version has arrived and while it has the same title and premise as its predecessor, it bends over backwards to let you know that Ed Helms is the same Rusty Griswold from 32 years ago, all grown up. Can we call this a rebootquel?

AWESOME!  I loved getting all your favorite summer photos.  Some made me smile, some made me melancholy and some even made me LOL.  That went so well, let's change the scenario, this time share your biggest summer bummer pic.  Mine was the HUGE wasp hive directly under our front door.  The picture doesn't do the size justice!!!  Share your misery with me.....

Hey gang, as I looked back at our two super hot days of summer and all the awesome facebook pics, I realized that due to work, vacations and LIFE, I may have missed some that you shared.  SO, I'm asking you to do me a favor and share one of your favorite outdoor activity pics with me.  Would you mind taking a second and doing that?  (choose a pic that's ok if other people see it, lol).  I'd LOVE I

It's hard not to notice Kellie Pickler's vacation pictures pop up on social media.  She definitely knows how to get our attention.  Check out some of the photos she's shared via Instagram.  Yowza!

I am Cathy Kates and I am addicted to cake.  I L O V E cake!!!  While on vacation recently we drove past this store while in the truck traveling to a friend's house.  I told my husband Homie, "we're definitely going there!!!"  But, when we came back through, it was closed.  I made sure to put it on the agenda for the next day, but what we encountered, I was NOT expecting!

Americans may not be working harder than ever, but it sure seems like we are working more than ever.

If you’re looking for a little international adventure, there’s one place you may be surprised to learn will welcome you with open arms.

With the holidays passing by, it’s now the perfect time to plan an all-inclusive vacation somewhere tropical before the winter lulls set in. Even just the brochures will make you feel better, but how can you make sure your dream escape doesn’t turn into a nightmare?

All things being equal, it doesn’t seem terribly likely that any of us will end up frolicking on in the surf with Taylor Swift anytime soon. Fortunately for anyone who’d like to have the chance, Taylor has been kind enough to share a few photos from her recent beach vacation.

Planning a vacation is a lot of fun.  It can also be exhausting and expensive, so you want to make sure you make the most of your time away.  This list should help you pinpoint places to avoid on your next adventure! See the full list after the jump.