Day One in Cabo San Lucas
My husband and I recently returned from a fun-filled trip to fabulous Cabo San Lucas. We did so much in the six days we were there, and there is so much to write about, I’m going to break this segment of my blog down by each day.
We actually started our trip in Seattle. Our flight was at 5:15 am Pacific Time so we drove into Seattle the night before and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express so we didn’t have to get up and drive 2 hours through the Cascades in the middle of the night. We went to bed at 8:30 pm, but didn’t get much sleep thanks to the people with the colicky baby staying on the floor above us. I really appreciated that since we had to get up at 2:30 to catch the shuttle at 3:00. I’m not sure I got much rest to make up for this while we were on our trip either. It was really cold in Seattle that morning so I wore jeans, a black tank top, and a light long sleeve black shirt, the latter coming off as soon as we landed in Cabo. I wore my tennis shoes so I wouldn’t have to pack them and also because it was a little cold for flip flops. I also wore a light denim black jacket, which I never wore again or the light sweater I brought, because it never got cool enough in Cabo to wear them. In fact, it was pretty warm in the evenings when we were there, contrary to what some people had advised. We departed on time in Seattle and changed planes in Phoenix for the hour and a half flight to our destination. When you’re on this flight they will hand out a tourist card to everyone. Don’t forget to bring a pen so you can fill this out. And do not lose it, because you can’t get back to the States without it. It is a big hassle to get one replaced and will also cost you about $60.
We arrived at the airport in San Jose Del Cabo about 12:30 Mountain Time. We actually paid extra to get to Cabo in about 6 hours. This was definitely worth the price. The other flights wanted us to layover overnight and would have taken a total of 12 -20 hours depending on which one we picked. When we landed and got through customs we walked out into another large room with counters on three sides and several people behind the counters. There are a group of people in the middle of the room who will catch you as you walk in and lead you to one of the people at the counter. They lead you to believe they are there to help you arrange transportation, but they are all time-share representatives. Every one of them. If you go there just walk straight outside and ignore anyone who comes up to talk to you. We had to walk away from about 3 or 4 guys, one of which I thought was going to chase after Mark as we walked out the door. There are also a horde of people outside all trying to convince you to sign up for timeshare meetings. This is the most annoying part of the trip. It’s best to make transportation arrangements before you leave and remember to print off the confirmation. It saves a lot of stress. And don’t do what my husband did and look at the travel paperwork after you arrive at the hotel and paid $40 for a shuttle, only to find out that transportation was already included in your package with a different shuttle company. So we made arrangements with a shuttle to take us to our hotel and we rode with 3 other couples, and two of them were from the Fort Worth Metroplex, and staying in the same hotel. We kept running into one of the couples a lot and ended up hanging out with them and another couple from Indiana on several occasions. One thing that I found out is, even if you don’t go with anyone else, you will definitely meet people here. We met several couples that we are now friends with.
It takes about 50 minutes to get to The Pueblo Bonito Sunset in Cabo San Lucas from the airport in San Jose Del Cabo. I’ll warn you, apparently stop signs are just a suggestion in Cabo. The cab drivers would just drive right through them. I would be grabbing the back of the seat and mouthing Oh My God! The whole trip. The intersections that didn’t have signs were the ones that everyone stopped at. Or should I say “slowed down at” more or less. Our shuttle driver slowed down at one intersection then continued through, and this truck coming the other way saw us go into the intersection and he just kept coming. He didn’t even slow down. So our driver stopped and let him through. Thank goodness. I said “Are you serious!?” Our driver said “Welcome to Cabo San Lucas!” and we all just laughed. But it is kind of a scary ride. I tried not to pay attention when we were taking a cab. otherwise I would be a nervous wreck. I was kind of glad we decided not to rent a car, because we probably would have been killed. And renting a Harley, which we were debating on doing, was out of the question now. We managed to arrive safely at the Pueblo Bonito Sunset and checked in at about 2:00 in the afternoon. We supposedly received $400 in credit to use at the resort. This is a scam. They send you to this other desk to get it validated by another person, who just happens to be, guess what, a time-share representative. And they ended only being for coupons of things we weren’t even interested in. Like $30 off fitness center, $30 off a facial, or $50 off a beach bed. If it was for a massage, or even restaurant, it would have been worth it. We finally gave the girl $20 to set up a meeting just to get her to leave us alone. You supposedly get your money back at the meeting. We ended up not going because our other friends told us later they went to one and it wasn’t worth it. It was a waste of 3 hours of precious vacation time. They only did it to get the discounts for the massage, and other activities, like the snorkeling and dinner cruise. But she said she would rather just pay the full price than sit through that again. And they wanted $90,000 for one week a year. Excuse me? If I’m going to spend $90,000 it’s going to be on a house that I can stay in every week a year. Anyway, after this we were never bothered by time-share people, other than having them call our room everyday after we didn’t show up to the meeting. Since we were never in our room. this didn’t bother us too much. We just had a message on our voice mail everyday.
Everyone at the Pueblo Bonito Sunset is very friendly, with exception of a few persons working at the Sky Pool, especially Andreas, the waiter. He really needs to find another job since he seems so unhappy here. The Sunset is a HUGE resort. It’s so spread out you can’t go anywhere without taking a cart, which are available 24/7. They don’t tell you this in any of the brochures. At first we were a little daunted by this. But, we got used to it. If you leave your room, make sure you have everything you will need, because going back can be a hassle not to mention time consuming. All the cart drivers were friendly and helpful, though. We learned real quick you can’t tip every time you ride. You will spend a fortune. They have a tip jar in the lobby and we contributed to that. The only time we really personally tipped the driver was when we first arrived; the driver of the cart brought our bags up and showed us the room and where everything was. One of the cool things about the rooms is when you open the door you put your key in this slot on the wall, and when you take it out when you leave it turns off all the lights, the fan and the a/c. None of these will work if you don’t put the key in the slot. They also have a safe in each room, which I highly recommend taking advantage of. We put our passports and tourist cards in here, along with our cameras when we weren’t using them, and my jewelry. The other time we tipped the driver personally was when we brought groceries back from Wal Mart and he helped us bring those up. We tipped about $10 each time and they seemed pleased with that. We also tipped the maids each day anywhere from 20 to 50 pesos depending on how messed up the room was. One day we had to leave early and I didn’t have time to clean the breakfast dishes so I left 50 pesos. And I think we left 100 pesos the day we left. She did a really good job.
The hotel boasts 5 pools. We went straight to the middle pool after settling in. There are two pools in this area one right above the other. One is adult only, but it doesn’t have a bar. We ended up at the “family pool” which had a swim-up bar, which didn’t make sense to us. We sat at the swim-up bar and drank some Pina Coladas. This swim-up bar seems to be the only one in the resort with a TV, and they just happened to have the Cowboys game on. I mean, how cool is it to sit at the bar, in the water, drink Pina Coladas, and watch football. We thought it was great, until the Cowboys lost. Good thing we had a steady supply of Pina Coladas. The bartenders, Omar and Federico, were very friendly and outgoing. We had a great time sitting there chatting with them. That evening we ate at The Manila, a restaurant that sits right by the main pool and looks out over the ocean. It has a wonderful atmosphere and excellent food. Mark had the steak and I had grilled shrimp. The only thing I didn’t like was the way they cut my potato. They cut it 3 times across instead of straight down the middle. So I had 4 round pieces of potato which is difficult to spread the butter and sour cream they provided on. Other than that it was an enjoyable experience and a perfect ending to our first day.
Tomorrow: Day two in Cabo San Lucas
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Mexican Vacation!
Good day everyone. I am pretty excited right now as I’m getting packed and ready for my trip to Cabo San Lucas in two days! This is the trip my husband and I have been talking about taking for over 6 years now.
I have been doing a lot of research for this trip, as I do for everything in my life. Thank God for the internet. Several websites I have found to be helpful are www.loscabosguide.com and http://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/los-cabos/. I found a facebook page called “All about Mexico” where you can talk to other people and get information and advice. This has been a great help. Thank you to my new friend, Maddie. We also purchased a book by Fodors featuring Cabo San Lucas and its sister city San Jose del Cabo. I would highly recommend this as it gives lots of valuable information regarding travel as it pertains to each particular destination. It also gives its recommendations for lodging, dining, and entertainment. It’s small enough to carry in my travel bag and it has common words and phrases in the back translated into Spanish with correct pronunciation. My two favorites are “Una mas cerveza por favor.” and “Donde esta el bano?” Two phrases I believe will come in handy on our trip.
Packing is always the most difficult part of traveling. I always want to be prepared for any occasion and temperature. This is what I am packing in my carry on: 3 sundresses, one of which is a cover up for my swimsuit, 1 sleeveless dress, 1 pair of white walking shorts, 1 multi-colored skirt, one multi-colored shirt to go with the shorts, one turquoise shirt that will go with the white shorts and multi-colored skirt, 1 pair of turquoise flip flops, one pair of black flip flops, and a swimsuit. Also 2 day’s worth of fitness clothes, which I can wash between each workout. Like I’m going to workout there, but my intentions are good. Since it will be cold when we leave Seattle, I’m wearing on the plane a pair of jeans, which I can roll up into capris when I get to Cabo, and a black tank top, that can also be worn with my shorts or skirt. I’m also wearing my tennis shoes so I don’t have to pack them. I’ve been advised through talking with people on All About Mexico’s Facebook page to bring a light jacket this time of year as it can get cool and breezy in the evenings, so I am wearing a light denim black jacket with crocheted panels on the plane, and I’m packing a light ¾ sleeve crocheted black sweater since I’m not sure how cool it will really get in the evening. Hopefully I won’t need either one. But it’s good to be prepared. Everything I brought is in the same turquoise and/or black color scheme, so I’m bringing a couple of pair of turquoise earrings, and a pair of black hoops and a pair of dressy hoops. Also a couple of necklaces, and bracelets, but I want to stay light on the jewelry so I didn’t bring anything too clunky. We’re going to be there for 6 days and I probably still packed too much, but I’d rather pack too much than not enough. And since it all fits in my carry on I’m not too worried about it. Fitting it in one bag is my main goal. Believe it or not they have a Wal Mart there. We decided not to bring too many toiletries other than toothbrushes and my makeup. We are going to purchase small travel size containers of other items we may need when we get there. Another piece of advice is be sure to make several copies of your passports before you go. Keep one in the safe in your hotel room, one in your luggage, and one on you . We will probably both carry a copy of each others. I’ve also been advised to keep your actual passport in the safe. Don’t carry it around with you. They also give you a tourist card when you arrive. Do not lose this. Keep it in the safe with your passport. It is a hassle to get a replacement and costs about $60. And you can’t get back home without it. Now I just need my camera and my sunglasses and I’m ready to go. Bon Voyage!
I have been doing a lot of research for this trip, as I do for everything in my life. Thank God for the internet. Several websites I have found to be helpful are www.loscabosguide.com and http://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/los-cabos/. I found a facebook page called “All about Mexico” where you can talk to other people and get information and advice. This has been a great help. Thank you to my new friend, Maddie. We also purchased a book by Fodors featuring Cabo San Lucas and its sister city San Jose del Cabo. I would highly recommend this as it gives lots of valuable information regarding travel as it pertains to each particular destination. It also gives its recommendations for lodging, dining, and entertainment. It’s small enough to carry in my travel bag and it has common words and phrases in the back translated into Spanish with correct pronunciation. My two favorites are “Una mas cerveza por favor.” and “Donde esta el bano?” Two phrases I believe will come in handy on our trip.
Packing is always the most difficult part of traveling. I always want to be prepared for any occasion and temperature. This is what I am packing in my carry on: 3 sundresses, one of which is a cover up for my swimsuit, 1 sleeveless dress, 1 pair of white walking shorts, 1 multi-colored skirt, one multi-colored shirt to go with the shorts, one turquoise shirt that will go with the white shorts and multi-colored skirt, 1 pair of turquoise flip flops, one pair of black flip flops, and a swimsuit. Also 2 day’s worth of fitness clothes, which I can wash between each workout. Like I’m going to workout there, but my intentions are good. Since it will be cold when we leave Seattle, I’m wearing on the plane a pair of jeans, which I can roll up into capris when I get to Cabo, and a black tank top, that can also be worn with my shorts or skirt. I’m also wearing my tennis shoes so I don’t have to pack them. I’ve been advised through talking with people on All About Mexico’s Facebook page to bring a light jacket this time of year as it can get cool and breezy in the evenings, so I am wearing a light denim black jacket with crocheted panels on the plane, and I’m packing a light ¾ sleeve crocheted black sweater since I’m not sure how cool it will really get in the evening. Hopefully I won’t need either one. But it’s good to be prepared. Everything I brought is in the same turquoise and/or black color scheme, so I’m bringing a couple of pair of turquoise earrings, and a pair of black hoops and a pair of dressy hoops. Also a couple of necklaces, and bracelets, but I want to stay light on the jewelry so I didn’t bring anything too clunky. We’re going to be there for 6 days and I probably still packed too much, but I’d rather pack too much than not enough. And since it all fits in my carry on I’m not too worried about it. Fitting it in one bag is my main goal. Believe it or not they have a Wal Mart there. We decided not to bring too many toiletries other than toothbrushes and my makeup. We are going to purchase small travel size containers of other items we may need when we get there. Another piece of advice is be sure to make several copies of your passports before you go. Keep one in the safe in your hotel room, one in your luggage, and one on you . We will probably both carry a copy of each others. I’ve also been advised to keep your actual passport in the safe. Don’t carry it around with you. They also give you a tourist card when you arrive. Do not lose this. Keep it in the safe with your passport. It is a hassle to get a replacement and costs about $60. And you can’t get back home without it. Now I just need my camera and my sunglasses and I’m ready to go. Bon Voyage!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Back from two week vacation
I recently returned from a two week vacation to Texas. It was great to be home and see my friends and family. Although gone for two weeks, I still did not have enough time to visit everyone I wanted. There are several friends I really wanted to see and we just could not coordinate our time, with people being sick, moving, and having prior commitments. This is frustrating as I don’t have any friends on the road and rarely get to visit with anyone. That’s just one of the drawbacks of they gypsy life. On the other hand I did get to see some people I haven’t seen in quite a while. I got to have dinner with my niece, who I’ve known since she was a baby and give her baby shower gift to her since I won’t be in town for the official shower. Her mother also joined us and that was nice because I haven’t seen her in almost 10 years. We had a lot of catching up to do. I had another opportunity to spend the day with another dear friend, who just had surgery. We had a nice long and fun-filled visit. It was great to see her since I haven’t seen her in over a year. So the trip to Texas wasn’t a complete waste.
I also took the opportunity to go up to Tulsa and visit some family I haven’t seen in a very long time. I had a nice visit with my grandparents, my aunts and my uncle. We had to make the traditional expedition to Coney Island in downtown Tulsa. It’s a locally famous restaurant where they have been making coneys since the 1920’s. There are 2 or 3 locations, but my family likes to go to the one in downtown Tulsa. If you’re in the area check it out.
While I was staying with my aunt in Tulsa she was showing off her new Kindle, which is a wireless reading device available through Amazon. I was quite impressed with this device as it is only 8.5 ounces and 1/3 of an inch thick. It could slip easily into a computer bag, carry on, or beach bag and can hold up to 3500 books. More than I could read in a lifetime. It reads like a paper with no glare and can be easily seen in bright sunlight as well as in your living room. One feature I like is you can set the font size to a level that suits you. No more reading glasses. You download books via wi-fi or 3G. The 3G is a bit more expensive than the straight wi-fi version. But books cost an average of about $6 which is considerably less than the hard cover books, and out-of-copyright books are free. This is the perfect device for the Gypsy Diva since it is so lightweight and versatile. It is going on my Christmas wish list. Go to Amazon.com for more information.
One of my missions while on my trip was to exchange my seasonal clothing. As fall is hitting the Northwest and soon it will be getting cold, I felt it was time to take my sundresses and shorts back to my storage and get my cooler weather clothing out and send it back to Washington. I decided to pack it up and mail it back in boxes rather than pay to check in bags at the airport. Depending on what airline you fly on, this could be less expensive. I think I broke even. But, I flew on Alaskan and I found out after the fact that they only charge $15 for bags. I flew Frontier on the way back and they charge $20. So I would recommend getting online and finding out what the charge is for bags. Unfortunately I forgot to do this. The girl at the post office tried to persuade me to overnight my packages at $60 a pop. A total of $120. This was on Friday and they would get there the following Monday. I decided I could wait 4 more days and save $44. Costing only $16 each package with guaranteed delivery on the following Friday. A total of $38. It was also worth an extra 80 cents for delivery confirmation. That way you can track where your package is. I received one package on Monday. I’m glad I didn’t pay $60 for that. I received the other package on Wednesday. I would recommend you not send anything fragile as I sent some of my favorite cooking utensils in one package, including a pampered chef garlic press. When I got it the hinge had completely fallen out of it. How hard do you have to throw a box around for a hinge to fall all the way out. Fortunately it was salvageable?
On my last day there, as I was getting ready to head to the airport, my step-dad handed me $20 and told me to use it buy me some Bloody Marys at the airport. I had two bags I was taking on the plane with me. One was a small suitcase carry-on and the other is a backpack, which I had pretty full and would have been a chore getting it stuffed under the seat on the plane. But, I’ve done it before so I wasn’t worried. However, I decided to use the $20 to check my carry-on luggage in. I put my magazines, books, iPod, computer, purse, and plastic bag of liquids-so they would be easier to get to at security- in a small reusable grocery bag, which fit easily under the seat and was a lot easier to manage than the back pack, which I put in the overhead bin. This was a lot more stress relieving than the alcohol would have been. Especially since I had to change planes in Denver and don’t like having to juggle two fairly heavy, not to mention packed-to-the-max bags. There are drawbacks to checking your bags in. One is the cost and the other is 30 minute wait to pick it up once you’ve landed. This is why I normally try to pack strategically on trips. But this trip was under different circumstances. While on the plane I took full advantage of the in-flight television provided by Direct TV. They have a lot of channels to choose from. Unfortunately I chose to watch the Cowboys get creamed by Chicago at 30,000 feet, while trying not to disturb the other passengers with my groans and cursing and beating my head on the back of the seat in front of me. This service only costs $6 and also lets you track of your flight on one of the channels provided. This is one of the reasons I love flying Frontier.
After my packages arrived in Washingto with my warmer weather clothing that had been sitting in storage for the past six months I had a lot of laundry to do. My least favorite activity especially while traveling. I would almost rather wash my clothes in the bathtub than use a Laundromat. Fortunately, we were blessed enough to find a place currently that has a washer and dryer included. So I can wash clothes at leisure, instead of having to load them all up and trying to get them all done at one sitting. One of my favorite laundry products for on the road is Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets. They have the detergent, fabric softener, and anti-static built right in one sheet. You just throw it in the washer, then it goes in the dryer with the clothes. No measuring or extra products needed. No heavy bottles full of liquid to haul around. This is great for going on trips, too. Just put a couple in a zip-loc bag and toss in your suitcase along with a pair or two of jeans, a couple of tank tops and, depending on the weather and the occasion, one or two longer sleeve shirts for layering and maybe a sundress and always a swimsuit. Jeans can be worn for a couple of days before washing and its suggested that you do this anyway to keep them from wearing out and getting baggy in the knees. I just spray them with a bottle of fabric freshener and hang them back up between wearings. It’s available in travel size and comes in a wrinkle release version. Perfect for trips. Then just wash a load of clothes half way through your trip using your pre-packed and compact laundry sheet. Costing only about $3-6 in quarters compared to up $50 you would pay for checking in bags full of enough clothes to last throughout your trip, leaving you with more money in your pocket for souvenirs or a nice dinner. What a great concept?
I also took the opportunity to go up to Tulsa and visit some family I haven’t seen in a very long time. I had a nice visit with my grandparents, my aunts and my uncle. We had to make the traditional expedition to Coney Island in downtown Tulsa. It’s a locally famous restaurant where they have been making coneys since the 1920’s. There are 2 or 3 locations, but my family likes to go to the one in downtown Tulsa. If you’re in the area check it out.
While I was staying with my aunt in Tulsa she was showing off her new Kindle, which is a wireless reading device available through Amazon. I was quite impressed with this device as it is only 8.5 ounces and 1/3 of an inch thick. It could slip easily into a computer bag, carry on, or beach bag and can hold up to 3500 books. More than I could read in a lifetime. It reads like a paper with no glare and can be easily seen in bright sunlight as well as in your living room. One feature I like is you can set the font size to a level that suits you. No more reading glasses. You download books via wi-fi or 3G. The 3G is a bit more expensive than the straight wi-fi version. But books cost an average of about $6 which is considerably less than the hard cover books, and out-of-copyright books are free. This is the perfect device for the Gypsy Diva since it is so lightweight and versatile. It is going on my Christmas wish list. Go to Amazon.com for more information.
One of my missions while on my trip was to exchange my seasonal clothing. As fall is hitting the Northwest and soon it will be getting cold, I felt it was time to take my sundresses and shorts back to my storage and get my cooler weather clothing out and send it back to Washington. I decided to pack it up and mail it back in boxes rather than pay to check in bags at the airport. Depending on what airline you fly on, this could be less expensive. I think I broke even. But, I flew on Alaskan and I found out after the fact that they only charge $15 for bags. I flew Frontier on the way back and they charge $20. So I would recommend getting online and finding out what the charge is for bags. Unfortunately I forgot to do this. The girl at the post office tried to persuade me to overnight my packages at $60 a pop. A total of $120. This was on Friday and they would get there the following Monday. I decided I could wait 4 more days and save $44. Costing only $16 each package with guaranteed delivery on the following Friday. A total of $38. It was also worth an extra 80 cents for delivery confirmation. That way you can track where your package is. I received one package on Monday. I’m glad I didn’t pay $60 for that. I received the other package on Wednesday. I would recommend you not send anything fragile as I sent some of my favorite cooking utensils in one package, including a pampered chef garlic press. When I got it the hinge had completely fallen out of it. How hard do you have to throw a box around for a hinge to fall all the way out. Fortunately it was salvageable?
On my last day there, as I was getting ready to head to the airport, my step-dad handed me $20 and told me to use it buy me some Bloody Marys at the airport. I had two bags I was taking on the plane with me. One was a small suitcase carry-on and the other is a backpack, which I had pretty full and would have been a chore getting it stuffed under the seat on the plane. But, I’ve done it before so I wasn’t worried. However, I decided to use the $20 to check my carry-on luggage in. I put my magazines, books, iPod, computer, purse, and plastic bag of liquids-so they would be easier to get to at security- in a small reusable grocery bag, which fit easily under the seat and was a lot easier to manage than the back pack, which I put in the overhead bin. This was a lot more stress relieving than the alcohol would have been. Especially since I had to change planes in Denver and don’t like having to juggle two fairly heavy, not to mention packed-to-the-max bags. There are drawbacks to checking your bags in. One is the cost and the other is 30 minute wait to pick it up once you’ve landed. This is why I normally try to pack strategically on trips. But this trip was under different circumstances. While on the plane I took full advantage of the in-flight television provided by Direct TV. They have a lot of channels to choose from. Unfortunately I chose to watch the Cowboys get creamed by Chicago at 30,000 feet, while trying not to disturb the other passengers with my groans and cursing and beating my head on the back of the seat in front of me. This service only costs $6 and also lets you track of your flight on one of the channels provided. This is one of the reasons I love flying Frontier.
After my packages arrived in Washingto with my warmer weather clothing that had been sitting in storage for the past six months I had a lot of laundry to do. My least favorite activity especially while traveling. I would almost rather wash my clothes in the bathtub than use a Laundromat. Fortunately, we were blessed enough to find a place currently that has a washer and dryer included. So I can wash clothes at leisure, instead of having to load them all up and trying to get them all done at one sitting. One of my favorite laundry products for on the road is Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets. They have the detergent, fabric softener, and anti-static built right in one sheet. You just throw it in the washer, then it goes in the dryer with the clothes. No measuring or extra products needed. No heavy bottles full of liquid to haul around. This is great for going on trips, too. Just put a couple in a zip-loc bag and toss in your suitcase along with a pair or two of jeans, a couple of tank tops and, depending on the weather and the occasion, one or two longer sleeve shirts for layering and maybe a sundress and always a swimsuit. Jeans can be worn for a couple of days before washing and its suggested that you do this anyway to keep them from wearing out and getting baggy in the knees. I just spray them with a bottle of fabric freshener and hang them back up between wearings. It’s available in travel size and comes in a wrinkle release version. Perfect for trips. Then just wash a load of clothes half way through your trip using your pre-packed and compact laundry sheet. Costing only about $3-6 in quarters compared to up $50 you would pay for checking in bags full of enough clothes to last throughout your trip, leaving you with more money in your pocket for souvenirs or a nice dinner. What a great concept?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
New product I love
I found a new product I absolutely love. I went to Snoqualmie Falls Theater last weekend with my friend whose brother is in the play. It’s in a highly wooded area and the mosquitoes are really bad at night so we stopped to bug repellant. I decided to try a Bug Band bracelet. You know what; I did not get bothered all night. It’s also waterproof and safe to use while swimming. I am impressed. I also bought some Off Smooth & Dry as a back up. My friend used it and he said he liked how it went on, well, smooth and dry. And it doesn’t have the harsh smell that most insect repellants have. I highly recommend either product.
The play was wonderful. We saw “The Wizard of Oz” and they did an outstanding job. I had a blast. Dinner was included with our tickets and I got the salmon which was really good. The others I went with got steak and chicken and everyone said their dinners were delicious. So if you’re in the Snoqualmie Falls area, check the theater out. It’s a wonderful experience.
We also went to the Aquafest in Lake Stevens, WA. They had contests on the lake such as water skiing competition and boat races. But the best part was all the vendors. That’s where I got a beautiful multi-jeweled bracelet for $15, a crystal necklace, and my fabulous bra purse. It’s the perfect size for just going out for the evening and holds my cell phone, ID, and lipstick. The best part is that all proceeds go to buy cancer patients care packages with items like anti nausea pills, lotion and other items. Purses ranged from $20 to $45. What a great find. I can’t wait till hubby takes me out someplace I can use it.
The play was wonderful. We saw “The Wizard of Oz” and they did an outstanding job. I had a blast. Dinner was included with our tickets and I got the salmon which was really good. The others I went with got steak and chicken and everyone said their dinners were delicious. So if you’re in the Snoqualmie Falls area, check the theater out. It’s a wonderful experience.
We also went to the Aquafest in Lake Stevens, WA. They had contests on the lake such as water skiing competition and boat races. But the best part was all the vendors. That’s where I got a beautiful multi-jeweled bracelet for $15, a crystal necklace, and my fabulous bra purse. It’s the perfect size for just going out for the evening and holds my cell phone, ID, and lipstick. The best part is that all proceeds go to buy cancer patients care packages with items like anti nausea pills, lotion and other items. Purses ranged from $20 to $45. What a great find. I can’t wait till hubby takes me out someplace I can use it.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Fish Tacos
I've had several people ask about my fish tacos, so I decided to post the recipe, or my version of it for everyone.
FISH TACOS
Fish: You can use any type of fish, although Tilapia is the most popular. Most people like to use a beer batter recipe for the fish. I don’t like to eat a lot of fried food, and to keep it simple I use Waterfront Bistro “Chili Lime Tortilla Crusted” Tilapia. Or I bake fish in the oven then coat it with corn meal and seasonings and throw them in a skillet with olive oil for a minute or two.
Shredded Red Cabbage. I can usually buy a half a head, shred it and throw what is left in salad the rest of the week. Or I just use spring mix. It tastes good too on fish tacos.
Corn tortillas: I put a little oil in a large pan and cook the tortilla a little on each side. Just enough to get it a little brown and crisp. But not too crispy so it won’t fold over.
Shredded cheddar cheese *optional
Spiced Yogurt and Mayo White Sauce
• fresh lime juice
• ½ cup yogurt
• ½ mayonnaise
• 1 habenero chili (use a milder one if you wish)
• ½ teaspoon - crushed oregano
• ½ teaspoon - ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon - dried, crushed dill
• ½ teaspoon - ground cayenne chile
• ground white pepper to taste
First mix the first three ingredients, aiming for a slightly runny consistency. Dice the chili and finely as possible and add it along with the remaining ingredients. Watch out for the habeneros, they can knock your tongue for a loop. You're done.
I use jalapenos instead of habeneros, it tastes just as good. And I don’t carry all the spices listed so I just use McCormick Perfect Pinch Savory All Purpose Seasoning. It tastes good as well. Lime juice is a must. It won’t taste right without the lime.
Hope you enjoy!
FISH TACOS
Fish: You can use any type of fish, although Tilapia is the most popular. Most people like to use a beer batter recipe for the fish. I don’t like to eat a lot of fried food, and to keep it simple I use Waterfront Bistro “Chili Lime Tortilla Crusted” Tilapia. Or I bake fish in the oven then coat it with corn meal and seasonings and throw them in a skillet with olive oil for a minute or two.
Shredded Red Cabbage. I can usually buy a half a head, shred it and throw what is left in salad the rest of the week. Or I just use spring mix. It tastes good too on fish tacos.
Corn tortillas: I put a little oil in a large pan and cook the tortilla a little on each side. Just enough to get it a little brown and crisp. But not too crispy so it won’t fold over.
Shredded cheddar cheese *optional
Spiced Yogurt and Mayo White Sauce
• fresh lime juice
• ½ cup yogurt
• ½ mayonnaise
• 1 habenero chili (use a milder one if you wish)
• ½ teaspoon - crushed oregano
• ½ teaspoon - ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon - dried, crushed dill
• ½ teaspoon - ground cayenne chile
• ground white pepper to taste
First mix the first three ingredients, aiming for a slightly runny consistency. Dice the chili and finely as possible and add it along with the remaining ingredients. Watch out for the habeneros, they can knock your tongue for a loop. You're done.
I use jalapenos instead of habeneros, it tastes just as good. And I don’t carry all the spices listed so I just use McCormick Perfect Pinch Savory All Purpose Seasoning. It tastes good as well. Lime juice is a must. It won’t taste right without the lime.
Hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Grocery Shopping
Not having a vehicle to drive can be very challenging to say the least, especially when the nearest grocery store is 2 miles away. But it does motivate me in a way to get some extra miles in on my daily walk. Since I can’t carry a cart load of groceries home on my back I only buy 2 or 3 days worth of groceries. This is also a good thing since we don’t like to keep a large supply of food because of our gypsy lifestyle. We could get a call and in two days be headed to the next town. It’s also not the most frugal lifestyle. I purchase the smallest container of each item available. It keeps me from carrying a heavy load and keeps me from having a lot of perishables I may have to throw away if we were to leave tomorrow.
I try to buy products with the least amount of ingredients. I try to avoid high fructose corn syrup (hfcs) and MSG, although that is not always possible. I don’t buy anything that’s fat free, or sugar free, unless it comes that way naturally. I’ve never lost weight by eating fat free or sugar free anything. And I don’t like artificial sweeteners. It has been shown that some artificial sweeteners can interfere with normal body processes. Sucralose, for instance, has been shown to impair thyroid function, and the body does not recognize artificial ingredients as food. These food-like substances are metabolized differently by the liver. They actually need to be detoxified. It is best to avoid artificial foods. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/43858-unhealthy-foods-avoid/#ixzz0tmL1xBwr.
Here are popular items on my grocery list and why.
Corn tortillas: they can be used for breakfast tacos and fajitas or eaten by themselves. I can also bake them in the oven at 400 degrees for 3 minutes on each side for crispy tortillas that are a lot less fattening than tortilla chips and have few ingredients, usually corn flour, water and salt.
Nature Valley Granola Bars: No hfcs, and contain less sugar than most yogurt. It’s a great alternative snack to candy bars or potato chips because they are sweet and crunchy. They’re great to take on road trips, to.
Egglands Best Eggs or similar product: They are higher in Omega 3’s and better for you. I eat the whole egg, too. If you just eat egg whites you’re losing most of the nutrients of the egg. Egg whites contain far fewer nutrients. The only thing that could justify their consumption is their attachment to their companion yolk. (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Egg_Yolk.html) Eggs are very versatile to cook with. I can make omelets for breakfast or dinner and add any of the following ingredients: bacon, ham, sausage, salmon, green pepper, mushroom, tomato, zucchini, onion, cheese. We also like to make breakfast sandwiches with eggs, sausage ham or bacon, veggies, and cheese on an English muffin are easy to make and can be taken with you when you’re on the go.
Hormel Natural Choice 100% Natural ham or turkey: No nitrates or nitrites, no artificial ingredients, no MSG, no hormones. I buy lunchmeat because my husband can’t take anything that must be heated to work since he is usually up tower in the windmills all day and doesn’t have access to a microwave. So he eats a lot of sandwiches. I can use it to make breakfast as well. You can cut it up and throw in omelets, throw it on a muffin or biscuit, or just eat it as a side piece of meat instead of bacon.
Whole grain English muffins: I use these to make breakfast sandwiches or just toast them and eat them with jelly.
Lucerne spreadable butter: It comes in an 8 oz container, and takes up little room. And its spreadable. In addition to spreading it on toast I use it to sauté vegetables, toss it in with green beans and some spices, and make garlic toast. Since I don’t eat it that much I don’t justify buying imitation butter at all. I don’t believe in anything imitation.
Extra Virgin Olive oil: I only use olive oil to cook with. I never buy cooking sprays for two reasons. They’re not supposed to be used on non-stick pans. They create a sticky residue that’s hard to get off if you do. And I don’t like to have extra containers in my kitchen that I’ll have to use up or throw away. Olive oil works just fine for cooking and has Vitamin E and Omega 3s. If I just need a hint of coating I use a cheap basting brush I got at the dollar store to spread the oil across the pan. I also have found small bottles of olive oil at Dollartree.
Triscuits: They only have 3 ingredients. Whole grain wheat, oil, salt. How much simpler can you get than that. Other crackers have a whole paragraph of ingredients, most of which I can’t pronounce, and if I can’t pronounce it I don’t want to eat it.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Preferably Kraft or Tillamook. They have the best flavor. Cheddar cheese goes great with Triscuits for a mid-afternoon snack. It can also be used in my breakfast menus. And sprinkled on baked corn tortillas and heated up with a variety of toppings. I like sharp because it gives me a good flavor when I’m cooking.
Black Beans: Are a great source of fiber and protein. I use them as a side dish for meals, and a topping with cheese and other ingredients on a baked corn tortilla. Again, read the label. I only buy the kind that say black beans, and whatever spices they use. If there is anything else like sugar or calcium chloride I don’t get it.
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice: I don’t buy this often. It has yeast extract, aka MSG, but if we’re staying someplace for only a few days these work great in a pinch and the MSG is not at the top of the list of ingredients. Just heat in the microwave for 90 seconds and you have brown rice. Regular brown rice takes about 45 minutes to cook and is hard to get perfect. When I find a brand that has no MSG I will let you know.
Birdseye or Green Giant frozen vegetables in steamer bags: Steams right in the bag in the microwave in less than 5 minutes. I only buy the bags whose ingredients list is: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc. If it has added salt or sugar I don’t buy it.
Greek yogurt; plain: Its thicker than regular yogurt and can be used as a replacement for sour cream on dishes and in sauces. I use it on my fajitas, tacos, and baked potatoes, and in my jalapeno white sauce for my fish tacos. It can also be mixed with ½ tablespoon sugar, agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup and ½ teaspoon of vanilla and used as a dip for fruit. I do not buy flavored yogurts due to the fact they have too many sugars or are sweetened with NutraSweet. They also have artificial colors and flavors. I would rather take acidophilus pills, which travel better anyway.
Boneless, skinless chicken breast: Chicken can be used in a variety of recipes. Any leftovers can be thrown in a salad, on a tortilla, or made into a sandwich the next day for lunch.
Waterfront Bistro frozen fish: They have plain and pre-seasoned. We like the Chili Lime Tortilla Crusted Tilapia. I use it to make my fish tacos, which my husband requests quite often. I use several other varieties and flavors as well. I believe this brand is exclusive to Safeway.
Fresh vegetables: My favorites are tomatoes, green peppers, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, cucumber and zucchini. I try to include veggies or fruit in every meal. I add green pepper and/or tomato to my breakfast sandwiches. I add lettuce, tomato, avacados and/or cucumber to sandwiches. I pick a couple different veggies each week and cut them up as soon as I get home and put them in zip loc baggies so I have them handy to grab and snack. If I bought a whole lot of vegetables I would be throwing away most of them at the end of the week. I have mentioned before that I like the pre-packaged salads. I am starting to re-think this. I’ve heard some bad things about them. Like the ingredients they use to wash their lettuce and some contain more bacteria and contaminates than we care to talk about. It’s less expensive to buy a head of lettuce and cut it up yourself. Throw it in a zip loc bag and you have a prepackaged salad. I mainly liked the ones that had the dressing and everything already included. But I can easily make a homemade dressing that is a lot healthier and I can make as much or as little as I want. I will post recipes on another blog.
Fruit: My favorites are watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, bananas, peaches, and apples. Fruit is always part of our breakfast. Any fruit that is on the verge of going bad gets cut up and put in the freezer for smoothies, if I have a blender handy.
Carol Shelby Chili kit: Occasionally we get a craving for chili, especially on those cold nights. I like this kit because you can make it as hot or as mild as you want and the only items on the ingredient list are spices like chili powder, onion powder, masa, etc. No MSG or artificial flavors. Just add a pound of ground beef or turkey, an 8 oz can of tomato sauce, and water.
Chips: My husband loves to have chips to accompany his sandwiches at lunch. Who doesn’t? The only chips I buy are Natural Ruffles potato chips and Fritos. They both only have 3 ingredients on the label.
Spices: I get most of my other spices at the dollar store or at Wal Mart. I don’t keep a lot in stock. Mainly garlic and onion powder, lemon pepper, salt and pepper.
I love tacos, and I used to buy the complete taco dinner, till I realized MSG was one of the first items in the ingredients. Most stores sell small packages of spices near the produce or on the Mexican food aisle for about $1.50. I get chili powder and cumin here. I make my own tacos or tostadas out of corn tortillas. I also get fresh spices like oregano, basil, and rosemary in the produce section for about $2.29 a package. I like to plan my meals that use the same ingredients where I will use most of these up within a week. Like pizza and spaghetti. Fresh basil tastes wonderful cut up and spread over a pizza on top of the sauce.
Whole Wheat Flour: Speaking of pizza. I love to make my whole grain pizza crust and add my own toppings. I can usually find a bulk section at one of the grocery stores where I can buy as much or as little whole wheat flour as I want. So this works out well if I just need 2 or 3 cups. Yeast is also sold in small packets. The only other ingredients are olive oil, salt, sugar and all-purpose flour which I can also find in the bulk section, and I use as well in my hash browns.
Vanilla: I do not buy the imitation variety. Vanilla tastes great in coffee with a little bit of milk and sugar or Agave nectar. I use it to make my yogurt dip for fruit, and to make French toast with milk, eggs, and a little sugar.
Whole Grain Frozen Waffles: I only buy these because my husband likes them and I don't travel with a waffle iron. I buy the ones with the least amount of artificial ingredients. They do make an easy, quick breakfast if you're in a hurry.
Maple syrup: I prefer Grade B maple syrup, but its not always easy to find. So I settle for the Grade A. A small bottle will not last long for us so I don’t worry about having to use it up. I will not buy the pancake syrup. Too many artificial ingredients.
Natural Peanut Butter: Most name brand peanut butter is nothing more than peanut flavored shortening. I can’t believe people feed this to their kids. Add the added sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and you have a really unhealthy snack. Natural peanut butter however is a healthy snack providing vitamin E, phosphorus, niacin, magnesium, and fiber. I like it on celery sticks, crackers, apples, or just a good ole peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It is very filling and tasty. Just don’t eat too much. When you first purchase it you will want to stir the oil into the peanut butter and then I store mine in the fridge to keep it from separating. Natural peanut butter should only have two ingredients: peanuts, salt, unless you get the salt free variety.
Jam or jelly: When we find a store that sells local made jam or jelly we try to buy a small jar of it. We recently bought some Plum jam. The only ingredients: Plums, water, lemon juice, pectin, sugar. And it doesn’t last long.
Milk: Make sure it’s hormone free. I usually end up buying a gallon, because it’s usually cheaper than a half gallon. Can someone explain this to me? I love milk. I drink it by the glassful. I also put it in my coffee along with ¼ teaspoon of vanilla instead of store bought creamers which are full of all kinds of artificial ingredients.
Coffee: I like the Millstone or similar variety. I can buy as much or as little as I need and I can grind it fresh in the store. It tastes so much better than the kind that has been sitting on the shelf for weeks after grinding.
I try to buy products with the least amount of ingredients. I try to avoid high fructose corn syrup (hfcs) and MSG, although that is not always possible. I don’t buy anything that’s fat free, or sugar free, unless it comes that way naturally. I’ve never lost weight by eating fat free or sugar free anything. And I don’t like artificial sweeteners. It has been shown that some artificial sweeteners can interfere with normal body processes. Sucralose, for instance, has been shown to impair thyroid function, and the body does not recognize artificial ingredients as food. These food-like substances are metabolized differently by the liver. They actually need to be detoxified. It is best to avoid artificial foods. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/43858-unhealthy-foods-avoid/#ixzz0tmL1xBwr.
Here are popular items on my grocery list and why.
Corn tortillas: they can be used for breakfast tacos and fajitas or eaten by themselves. I can also bake them in the oven at 400 degrees for 3 minutes on each side for crispy tortillas that are a lot less fattening than tortilla chips and have few ingredients, usually corn flour, water and salt.
Nature Valley Granola Bars: No hfcs, and contain less sugar than most yogurt. It’s a great alternative snack to candy bars or potato chips because they are sweet and crunchy. They’re great to take on road trips, to.
Egglands Best Eggs or similar product: They are higher in Omega 3’s and better for you. I eat the whole egg, too. If you just eat egg whites you’re losing most of the nutrients of the egg. Egg whites contain far fewer nutrients. The only thing that could justify their consumption is their attachment to their companion yolk. (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Egg_Yolk.html) Eggs are very versatile to cook with. I can make omelets for breakfast or dinner and add any of the following ingredients: bacon, ham, sausage, salmon, green pepper, mushroom, tomato, zucchini, onion, cheese. We also like to make breakfast sandwiches with eggs, sausage ham or bacon, veggies, and cheese on an English muffin are easy to make and can be taken with you when you’re on the go.
Hormel Natural Choice 100% Natural ham or turkey: No nitrates or nitrites, no artificial ingredients, no MSG, no hormones. I buy lunchmeat because my husband can’t take anything that must be heated to work since he is usually up tower in the windmills all day and doesn’t have access to a microwave. So he eats a lot of sandwiches. I can use it to make breakfast as well. You can cut it up and throw in omelets, throw it on a muffin or biscuit, or just eat it as a side piece of meat instead of bacon.
Whole grain English muffins: I use these to make breakfast sandwiches or just toast them and eat them with jelly.
Lucerne spreadable butter: It comes in an 8 oz container, and takes up little room. And its spreadable. In addition to spreading it on toast I use it to sauté vegetables, toss it in with green beans and some spices, and make garlic toast. Since I don’t eat it that much I don’t justify buying imitation butter at all. I don’t believe in anything imitation.
Extra Virgin Olive oil: I only use olive oil to cook with. I never buy cooking sprays for two reasons. They’re not supposed to be used on non-stick pans. They create a sticky residue that’s hard to get off if you do. And I don’t like to have extra containers in my kitchen that I’ll have to use up or throw away. Olive oil works just fine for cooking and has Vitamin E and Omega 3s. If I just need a hint of coating I use a cheap basting brush I got at the dollar store to spread the oil across the pan. I also have found small bottles of olive oil at Dollartree.
Triscuits: They only have 3 ingredients. Whole grain wheat, oil, salt. How much simpler can you get than that. Other crackers have a whole paragraph of ingredients, most of which I can’t pronounce, and if I can’t pronounce it I don’t want to eat it.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Preferably Kraft or Tillamook. They have the best flavor. Cheddar cheese goes great with Triscuits for a mid-afternoon snack. It can also be used in my breakfast menus. And sprinkled on baked corn tortillas and heated up with a variety of toppings. I like sharp because it gives me a good flavor when I’m cooking.
Black Beans: Are a great source of fiber and protein. I use them as a side dish for meals, and a topping with cheese and other ingredients on a baked corn tortilla. Again, read the label. I only buy the kind that say black beans, and whatever spices they use. If there is anything else like sugar or calcium chloride I don’t get it.
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice: I don’t buy this often. It has yeast extract, aka MSG, but if we’re staying someplace for only a few days these work great in a pinch and the MSG is not at the top of the list of ingredients. Just heat in the microwave for 90 seconds and you have brown rice. Regular brown rice takes about 45 minutes to cook and is hard to get perfect. When I find a brand that has no MSG I will let you know.
Birdseye or Green Giant frozen vegetables in steamer bags: Steams right in the bag in the microwave in less than 5 minutes. I only buy the bags whose ingredients list is: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc. If it has added salt or sugar I don’t buy it.
Greek yogurt; plain: Its thicker than regular yogurt and can be used as a replacement for sour cream on dishes and in sauces. I use it on my fajitas, tacos, and baked potatoes, and in my jalapeno white sauce for my fish tacos. It can also be mixed with ½ tablespoon sugar, agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup and ½ teaspoon of vanilla and used as a dip for fruit. I do not buy flavored yogurts due to the fact they have too many sugars or are sweetened with NutraSweet. They also have artificial colors and flavors. I would rather take acidophilus pills, which travel better anyway.
Boneless, skinless chicken breast: Chicken can be used in a variety of recipes. Any leftovers can be thrown in a salad, on a tortilla, or made into a sandwich the next day for lunch.
Waterfront Bistro frozen fish: They have plain and pre-seasoned. We like the Chili Lime Tortilla Crusted Tilapia. I use it to make my fish tacos, which my husband requests quite often. I use several other varieties and flavors as well. I believe this brand is exclusive to Safeway.
Fresh vegetables: My favorites are tomatoes, green peppers, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, cucumber and zucchini. I try to include veggies or fruit in every meal. I add green pepper and/or tomato to my breakfast sandwiches. I add lettuce, tomato, avacados and/or cucumber to sandwiches. I pick a couple different veggies each week and cut them up as soon as I get home and put them in zip loc baggies so I have them handy to grab and snack. If I bought a whole lot of vegetables I would be throwing away most of them at the end of the week. I have mentioned before that I like the pre-packaged salads. I am starting to re-think this. I’ve heard some bad things about them. Like the ingredients they use to wash their lettuce and some contain more bacteria and contaminates than we care to talk about. It’s less expensive to buy a head of lettuce and cut it up yourself. Throw it in a zip loc bag and you have a prepackaged salad. I mainly liked the ones that had the dressing and everything already included. But I can easily make a homemade dressing that is a lot healthier and I can make as much or as little as I want. I will post recipes on another blog.
Fruit: My favorites are watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, bananas, peaches, and apples. Fruit is always part of our breakfast. Any fruit that is on the verge of going bad gets cut up and put in the freezer for smoothies, if I have a blender handy.
Carol Shelby Chili kit: Occasionally we get a craving for chili, especially on those cold nights. I like this kit because you can make it as hot or as mild as you want and the only items on the ingredient list are spices like chili powder, onion powder, masa, etc. No MSG or artificial flavors. Just add a pound of ground beef or turkey, an 8 oz can of tomato sauce, and water.
Chips: My husband loves to have chips to accompany his sandwiches at lunch. Who doesn’t? The only chips I buy are Natural Ruffles potato chips and Fritos. They both only have 3 ingredients on the label.
Spices: I get most of my other spices at the dollar store or at Wal Mart. I don’t keep a lot in stock. Mainly garlic and onion powder, lemon pepper, salt and pepper.
I love tacos, and I used to buy the complete taco dinner, till I realized MSG was one of the first items in the ingredients. Most stores sell small packages of spices near the produce or on the Mexican food aisle for about $1.50. I get chili powder and cumin here. I make my own tacos or tostadas out of corn tortillas. I also get fresh spices like oregano, basil, and rosemary in the produce section for about $2.29 a package. I like to plan my meals that use the same ingredients where I will use most of these up within a week. Like pizza and spaghetti. Fresh basil tastes wonderful cut up and spread over a pizza on top of the sauce.
Whole Wheat Flour: Speaking of pizza. I love to make my whole grain pizza crust and add my own toppings. I can usually find a bulk section at one of the grocery stores where I can buy as much or as little whole wheat flour as I want. So this works out well if I just need 2 or 3 cups. Yeast is also sold in small packets. The only other ingredients are olive oil, salt, sugar and all-purpose flour which I can also find in the bulk section, and I use as well in my hash browns.
Vanilla: I do not buy the imitation variety. Vanilla tastes great in coffee with a little bit of milk and sugar or Agave nectar. I use it to make my yogurt dip for fruit, and to make French toast with milk, eggs, and a little sugar.
Whole Grain Frozen Waffles: I only buy these because my husband likes them and I don't travel with a waffle iron. I buy the ones with the least amount of artificial ingredients. They do make an easy, quick breakfast if you're in a hurry.
Maple syrup: I prefer Grade B maple syrup, but its not always easy to find. So I settle for the Grade A. A small bottle will not last long for us so I don’t worry about having to use it up. I will not buy the pancake syrup. Too many artificial ingredients.
Natural Peanut Butter: Most name brand peanut butter is nothing more than peanut flavored shortening. I can’t believe people feed this to their kids. Add the added sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and you have a really unhealthy snack. Natural peanut butter however is a healthy snack providing vitamin E, phosphorus, niacin, magnesium, and fiber. I like it on celery sticks, crackers, apples, or just a good ole peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It is very filling and tasty. Just don’t eat too much. When you first purchase it you will want to stir the oil into the peanut butter and then I store mine in the fridge to keep it from separating. Natural peanut butter should only have two ingredients: peanuts, salt, unless you get the salt free variety.
Jam or jelly: When we find a store that sells local made jam or jelly we try to buy a small jar of it. We recently bought some Plum jam. The only ingredients: Plums, water, lemon juice, pectin, sugar. And it doesn’t last long.
Milk: Make sure it’s hormone free. I usually end up buying a gallon, because it’s usually cheaper than a half gallon. Can someone explain this to me? I love milk. I drink it by the glassful. I also put it in my coffee along with ¼ teaspoon of vanilla instead of store bought creamers which are full of all kinds of artificial ingredients.
Coffee: I like the Millstone or similar variety. I can buy as much or as little as I need and I can grind it fresh in the store. It tastes so much better than the kind that has been sitting on the shelf for weeks after grinding.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Spontaneity
I haven’t been keeping up with my blog lately. My husband had some time off between sites and we decided to visit some of the local areas. He flew his parents up for their 50th wedding anniversary and they did some sightseeing with us. We drove around the Mt Hood area which is absolutely beautiful. We also took a trip to Goldendale Washington. If you ever find yourself driving through there be sure and stop at St John’s Greek Monastery on US 97. They own and operate the Greek Bakery which has the best baklava you’ve ever had. Another interesting and educational place to visit is the Goldendale Observatory. We however got there about 5 minutes after 5:00 and missed the opportunity. We recently returned from a spontaneous “day” trip to Seattle. Something I learned from that trip is I need to keep a small bag packed with a change of clothes, small antiperspirant, toothbrush, and travel size toothpaste, as well as a light jacket, work out clothes and swim suit. We have recently become increasingly spontaneous and have actually taken 3 trips where we ended up staying the night somewhere without a change of clothes, or a tooth brush. Most hotels will provide you with certain toiletry items at no charge, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and razors. But not all hotels do. The place we stayed had everything except deodorant. So I have decided to just stay prepared and keep a bag ready to go as soon as my hubby says “Let’s go for a ride.” Fortunately, this trip was so spontaneous and the drive so far I decided to just put my hair up in a ponytail and put my makeup on in the truck. So at least I had my makeup with me and didn’t have to worry about fixing my hair. I highly recommend bringing along healthy snacks when taking a long drive like this. I always carry with me some mixed nuts, fruit, and/or granola bars. I like the Nature Valley granola bars because they don’t have high fructose corn syrup, usually the first ingredient on most snack bars, and they have less sugars than most yogurts. Carrying snacks with me keeps me from grabbing unhealthy munchies at the convenience store like potato chips or cookies. I also bring lots of water, and stay away from sodas.
Seattle is a beautiful city, but the traffic is less than desirable. Almost as bad if not worse than Houston. Our trip also coincided with the annual gay pride parade and it was crazy in downtown Seattle. We didn’t get to do a lot of sightseeing because we were with his parents and they can’t do much walking. But we did get to go to the Pike Place Market where they have the “flying fish” where employees throw three-foot salmon and other fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. When a customer orders a fish, an employee at the Fish Market's ice-covered fish table picks up the fish and hurls it over the countertop, where another employee catches it and preps it for sale. According to the employees, this tradition started when the fishmongers got tired of having to walk out to the Market's fish table to retrieve a salmon each time someone ordered one. Eventually, the owner realized it was easier to station an employee at the table, to throw the fish over the counter. The "flying fish" have appeared in an episode of the television sitcom Frasier that was shot on location and have been featured on The Learning Channel. After that we took a trip up to the observation deck in infamous Space Needle. It was interesting and you get a great view of Seattle and the bay, but not sure its worth the $17 ticket price. I hope to go back to Seattle soon and experience the Underground Tour. It’s an hour and a half walking tour beneath Seattle's sidewalks and streets, so we didn’t get the opportunity to do this for obvious reasons. Since we are now about a 2 hour drive from Seattle I’m sure we’ll make several trips there. I'm looking forward to my next spontaneous trip and my bag is already prepared and ready to go.
Seattle is a beautiful city, but the traffic is less than desirable. Almost as bad if not worse than Houston. Our trip also coincided with the annual gay pride parade and it was crazy in downtown Seattle. We didn’t get to do a lot of sightseeing because we were with his parents and they can’t do much walking. But we did get to go to the Pike Place Market where they have the “flying fish” where employees throw three-foot salmon and other fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. When a customer orders a fish, an employee at the Fish Market's ice-covered fish table picks up the fish and hurls it over the countertop, where another employee catches it and preps it for sale. According to the employees, this tradition started when the fishmongers got tired of having to walk out to the Market's fish table to retrieve a salmon each time someone ordered one. Eventually, the owner realized it was easier to station an employee at the table, to throw the fish over the counter. The "flying fish" have appeared in an episode of the television sitcom Frasier that was shot on location and have been featured on The Learning Channel. After that we took a trip up to the observation deck in infamous Space Needle. It was interesting and you get a great view of Seattle and the bay, but not sure its worth the $17 ticket price. I hope to go back to Seattle soon and experience the Underground Tour. It’s an hour and a half walking tour beneath Seattle's sidewalks and streets, so we didn’t get the opportunity to do this for obvious reasons. Since we are now about a 2 hour drive from Seattle I’m sure we’ll make several trips there. I'm looking forward to my next spontaneous trip and my bag is already prepared and ready to go.
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