Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel by the Sea is one of our favorite hotels on the Central Coast. We’ve been back about a half-dozen times and we always refer it to our friends and family when they want a weekend getaway. Their rooms have a charm about them from the Dutch door to the fireplace (select rooms), […]
Food, Fun, and Self Serve Craft Beer at Lake Tahoe AleWorX
Beer and pizza go hand in hand, and it’s a combination that is off to a rip-roaring start at South Tahoe’s Lake Tahoe AleWorX! We’ve been driving up to Tahoe for decades, passing the Y to get ourselves to Stateline, only to stop for the occasional outlet mall visit or grabbing drive-thru on the way […]
Kayaking Zephyr Cove, South Lake Tahoe
It was a brisk morning. 10am and 39 degrees in South Lake Tahoe, one of our most favorite homes away from home! I’d watched the weather since I woke up at 6am when it was 31 degrees. I was hoping to get to the mid-forties by our launch time, but no chance. I dressed as […]
Travel
Win a Stay in Carmel by the Sea with the Hofsas House Hotel’s Pin It to Win It Contest
Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel by the Sea is one of our favorite hotels on the Central Coast. We’ve been back about a half-dozen times and we always refer it to our friends and family when they want a weekend getaway. Their rooms have a charm about them from the Dutch door to the fireplace (select rooms), […]
Kayaking Zephyr Cove, South Lake Tahoe
It was a brisk morning. 10am and 39 degrees in South Lake Tahoe, one of our most favorite homes away from home! I’d watched the weather since I woke up at 6am when it was 31 degrees. I was hoping to get to the mid-forties by our launch time, but no chance. I dressed as […]
Photography
9 Great Places to Take Photos in Oahu
I’m sure the first thing you thought when you read my title is, “there are only 9 great places to take photos in Oahu?!” Which of course isn’t the case. Every spot on the island is pretty magnificent, but while we visited in July, these were the spots that gave us frame-worthy travel shots! If […]
My Favorite Maui Vacation Photos
When my husband’s family decided to vacation together last December, it was go big or don’t go at all! There was 26 of us that traveled from California to Maui, Hawaii for 9 days of sun, sand, and surf. If you know me well, you know that Hawaii holds a special place in my heart […]
Food & Drink
Food, Fun, and Self Serve Craft Beer at Lake Tahoe AleWorX
Beer and pizza go hand in hand, and it’s a combination that is off to a rip-roaring start at South Tahoe’s Lake Tahoe AleWorX! We’ve been driving up to Tahoe for decades, passing the Y to get ourselves to Stateline, only to stop for the occasional outlet mall visit or grabbing drive-thru on the way […]
Flaherty’s Seafood Grill, Carmel by the Sea
If you’re looking for seafood that is fresh, delicious, sustainable, and with the best service in town, take a trip to Carmel by the Sea and to Flaherty’s Seafood Grill. Having been there a handful of times, the food is impressive each and every visit. Whether you’re looking for a platter of oysters (they have […]
Home & Family
Unique Party Ideas For Kids That Are Budget Friendly
Most of us remember the birthday parties we had as children, as one of the most fun parts of childhood. Most birthday parties had a cake, a few cheap games, (like Pin The Tail On The Donkey) presents and the Happy Birthday Song. Today’s parents feel they must provide professional entertainment, have a bounce house, […]
9 Easy Ways to Avoid Getting your Identity Stolen
Identity theft hit an all-time high in 2016. According to Javelin Strategy & Research, an estimated 15.4 million consumers were hit with some kind of identity theft last year, up from 13.1 million the year before. With these numbers on the rise, it is imperative that people learn to protect themselves, and there are a […]
Hotel & Resort Reviews
Hotel Avante: Business or Pleasure in the Heart of Silicon Valley
Our spring consists of week days spent on the baseball field and weekends at Bay Area convention centers for dance competitions. We found ourselves performing at the Flint Center in Cupertino just a few weeks ago and because of our long days and early mornings we chose to book a hotel rather than commute to […]
King George Hotel, San Francisco
I love to explore boutique hotels from a chain I’m familiar with, or have stayed in before. This was the case when we visited San Francisco and checked into the King George Hotel, one of many great Greystone Hotels that are spread throughout California and a few in Bend, Oregon. We’ve enjoyed the Hotel Griffon […]
Wine
Romantic Vendange Carmel: Holman Ranch Winery Themed Room
How many times do you revisit a special hotel in a special place because of it’s amenities, hospitality, or proximity to town? For us it’s often and we definitely have our favorite locations in Carmel by the Sea that we enjoy repeatedly for a romantic staycation. One in particular is the Vendange Carmel Inn and […]
Dates Announced: 2017 Masters Winemaker Dinner Series in Napa
The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California, is proud to announce its prestigious 2017 Masters Winemaker Dinner Series. Each event features a multicourse dinner expertly paired with the best in Napa Valley wines from well-known names like Silver Oak and Schramsberg to boutique winery and cult favorites like Peter Michael, Paul Hobbs and Palmaz. […]
Entertainment
25 Fun Facts about Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales + Family Friendly Activities
Dead Men Tell No Tales is in theaters TODAY! Who’s going? Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill fortune blowing strongly his way when […]
HBO’s Divorce Season 1 Review
My husband and I have always gotten hooked watching HBO Original Series shows. Our first was probably Sex and the City, then Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Flight of the Conchords to round out a great mix of comedy and drama. Watching them live and dying for the next episode, we […]
Cars
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review
When the Electric Storm blue 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD SUV pulled up into my driveway last month, I was so excited to get behind the wheel. The color just screamed exciting and yet calm and I knew our road trip was going to be both of those things. I am somewhat familiar with […]
A Few Great Things about the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT
I can’t believe that in just 2 short months my son will be getting his driver’s license. My oldest has been driving for two years now and commutes from college each weekend to work. More and more each day I respect cars and car manufacturers to keep my family comfortable but mostly safe on the […]
