Like many families in America, one of our favorite indulgent treats was that special time of year when the Girl Scouts came around selling Girl Scout Cookies and there was one cookie in particular that we just had to have: Thin Mints. There was something about Thin Mints that once you opened the box and […]
Thin Mint Cake
Seaside, OR
Weather
Seaside, OR – Forecast7 – Wunderground
Surf Report – Surfline Seaside – Magic Seaweed North coastal Oregon – Seaside Cove
Webcams
Beach Connection Oregon Coast Sky cams
Hiking
Tillamook Head: OregonHikers.org – AllTrails – OutdoorProject – Modern Hiker
Places to Stay
Things to do: SeasideOR.com –
Azores Sept 2017
- https://www.sata.pt/en/press-releases/grupo-sata-revises-surfboard-transport-fees
- https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en/information/baggage/sporting-equipment
Our Honeymoon: South Africa & Maldives – April 22-May 9, 2017
South Africa
- Address: Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
- GPS Coordinates: 33º58’59.37” S , 18º21’31.43” E
- Platteklip Gorge 1.5 hours – cable car back down
- blue flag = clear visibility, no shark sighting.
- Black flag = water was cloudy/murky/poor visibility but no shark sightings.
- Red flag = shark sighting recently, but ok to get back into the water after 2 hours.
- White flag = shark sighting now; sirens will go off; everyone out of the water
43 Sandstone Drive, Boskloof Estate, Somerset West, 7130, South Africa – Show directions
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Phone: +27827831048
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- TripAdvisor recs
- * Enchantment Tours* – map and itinerary
- GoToAfrica.com
- Johnny Africa blog
- Lonely Planet
- Show Me South Africa
- African Budget Safaris
- Fodors
- Southern Circle
- Flyer talk
- Route 62
- Kuoni — definitely check out this list: http://www.kuoni.co.uk/maldives/hotels
- TripAdvisor
- Telegraph
- VirtualTourist
- Conde Nast Traveler
- CNN Travel
- Tiny Travellers Top 10
- Per Aquum Niyama: http://www.minorhotels.com/en/peraquum/niyama/offers
- Six Senses Laamu: http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/laamu/experiences
- Baros Maldives: http://www.baros.com/
- Como Cocoa Islands: http://www.comohotels.com/cocoaisland/experiences
- Four seasons resort Maldives Kuda Huraa: http://www.fourseasons.com/maldiveskh/landing_3/?source=dis_mal_tripadvisor_acr_tabl-website
- Kurumba Maldives: http://www.kurumba.com/
- Constance Moofushi:
- Kandolhu Maldives
- Milaidhoo Island Maldives
- Constance Halaveli
- Gili Lankanfushi
- Taj Exotica
- Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru
Paleo Chocolate chip banana bread — aka Black Bottom Banana Bread (paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free)
Yes, it’s paleo. I was super excited and intrigued! This came out so moist and delicious; I just had to share!
Recipe from Living Healthy with Chocolate
Black Bottom Banana Bread (paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free)
- 1½ cups blanched almond flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- 1½ cups ripe bananas*
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- in a medium bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking soda and salt
- add the bananas, coconut oil, vanilla, egg and honey to a food processor and pulse to combine ingredients
- mix together the wet and dry ingredients using a spoon to form a batter. Be careful not to over mix or the batter will become oily and dense.
- divide the batter in half. Add the cacao powder and chocolate chips to half and pour into the bottom of an 8½” x 4½”-inch medium loaf pan greased or lined with parchment paper
- spoon remaining batter on top and bake at 350°F until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 45 minutes.
* To measure 1½ cups of bananas, chop the banana into small pieces and fill the measuring cup.
Apple bananas enhances the flavor of this bread, so make sure to use it if you can find it for sale at your local stores.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins
My Bear absolutely loves sweets. I’m currently still in the transition of going paleo and eating clean, however, one can indulge every now and then, right? Last Thanksgiving, we hosted both our families and I was stressing to figure out what to prepare. I have minimal baking experience. So I needed something easy and straightforward and most of all tasty! I stumbled upon this recipe and it was a hit. It’s one of my Bear’s fave fall recipes — and he loves cream cheese. It was a great compromise for flavor (cheese cake is appalling to me, but it’s my Bear’s fave) and texture. For all the new bakers out there, give this recipe a try (see link at the bottom: huge props to The Novice Chef for this outstanding recipe!).
PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE SWIRL MUFFINS
yield: 18 MUFFINS
prep time: 12 MINUTES
cook time: 18 MINUTES
total time: 30 MINUTES
INGREDIENTS:
- FOR THE MUFFINS
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- FOR THE FROSTING/SWIRL
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
- Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier.
- Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
© The Novice Chef – http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2015/11/pumpkin-cream-cheese-swirl-muffins/
Mimi’s Chinese Chicken
This was one of my childhood favorites. If I wasn’t feeling well, I would drink the broth. I loved the tenderness of the chicken after being boiled. There was a ton of flavor! And I used to love pouring the sauce over rice as I really disliked the texture and blandness of white rice. Thank you Mimi for teaching me one of my faves!
INGREDIENTS
- 5 drumsticks (may be frozen or thawed)
- 5 star anise
- 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
- One Thai Chile or red pepper flakes
- One small dab of honey or agave (very small)
- 1/2 to 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- One bag of Asian spice pouch (either brand found at the Asian market) — see pics below
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a 3 quart sauce pan, place drumsticks in water (just enough to cover the drumsticks). Cover pan and bring to boil (med-high heat).
2. Once boiling, skim off fat before adding spices.
3. Add all spices. Stir well to make sure all ingredients are mixed. Water should still be boiling at this point. Boil one minute longer after all ingredients mixed well.
4. Decrease temperature to med-low for 30 minutes (if frozen or until chicken meat looks like it’s almost falling off the bone). Keep lid on (do not lift lid to check on meat).
5. Turn off heat after 30 minutes.
You may use liquid as broth. It’s great for soup, broth to drink, rice topper, seasoning of veggies, etc.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
Patagonia – December 2016
Company
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Cost pp
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W Trek
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Added activities
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All inclusive?
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tent?
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$3345-3500
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yes
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kayak iceberg
walk glaciers
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$3500 for porter, $300 for regional flights; can add rafting or horseback riding in Chilean Lakes District; wine country
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Tent vs. backcountry refugees
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Hotel IF Patagonia
Calle Magallanes 73, XII Región Puerto Natales, CHILE
Email: reservas@hotelifpatagonia.com
Phone: +5661 2410312, Fax: —
They have a sauna – super hip and modern!!
11am – meet at Eberhard #230 office for group orientation.
Day 1:
Starting from Puerto Natales at 12 PM or from Cerro Castillo at 1PM, we drive all the way to Torres del Paine National Park. We will drive through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias), and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the nandu, (rare South American ostrich). We will follow an unpaved road heading to Refugio Las Torres to spend our first night. Upon entering the park we will have excellent photographic and bird-watching opportunities as we drive alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. Today’s hike is on a gentle trail following the border of the park and offers opportunities to see guanacos (Llama family) andthe Andean Condor.
2 hours private transfer to Torres del Paine
Hike duration: 3 hours
Accommodation: Refugio Las Torres
Day 2:
We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900m), excellent for picture taking. At this point, we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850m) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the same path back to the hut.
Hike duration: 7-8 hours 18 km
Accommodation: Refugio las Torres
Day 3:
We will start early morning to enjoy, weather permitting, a magnificent dawn filled with orange-pink colors. As we leave the campground we will arrive at Inge lagoon. Chances are, on this path, we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. We follow a well-marked trail ascending (around 200m) from the base of Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750m), crossing the Bader River to arrive at Refugio Los Cuernos where we will stay overnight.
Hike duration: 5 hours 11km (500m difference of level)
Accommodation: Refugio los Cuernos
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 4:
We will start our day with a 2-hour walk going to an undulating path until reaching the French River for our first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300m,) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French Valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with good possibilities of seeing avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west side of the Cuernos (2600m), Espada (2400m) and Fortaleza (2800m). Our way back will be the same until we reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different path around the South-West side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the shore of the Pehoe Lake.
Hike duration: 7 hours 18 km
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande
Day 5:
We will begin early in the morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially ascending 200mts up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, a place where we will observe the first glimpses of the South Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests and rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier viewpoint. We will have lunch at this place to and hopefully catch sight of ice calving from the huge glacier wall. Right after lunch we start an exciting adventure by boat. We will navigate for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve. Our return journey offers views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushrooms and we sail through icebergs of different tones of blue. Then we will take a transfer back to Puerto Natales.
Hike duration: 4 hours 12 km
Boat trip duration: 2 hours
Transfer duration: 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch
SALIDA | LLEGADA | SERVICIOS | PRECIO | ||
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Puerto Natales 30.12.2016, 21:00 Terminal Rodoviario Puerto Natales |
Punta Arenas 31.12.2016, 00:15 Terminal Bus-Sur Punta Arenas |
Telefono / Telephone: +56 61 2723100, Dirección / Address: Ignacio Carrera Pinto #351, Punta Arenas – Patagonia – Chile.
E-mail: reservas@ilaiapatagoni
FLIGHT | DATE | CLASS | CONNECTIONS | DEPARTURE TIME | ARRIVAL TIME |
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SKY 004 | 31/12/2016 | L | – | 10:10 | 13:30 |
8pMaralegre Restaurant
Higueras Street #133, Cerro Alegre
Valparaíso
Phone: (56-32)2365350 / +56969091501
Tues, Jan 3, 2016
- Fruity chards
- Sauv blancs
- Pinots
- Town of Pirque as central locale
Renaissance Santiago Hotel Avenida Presidente Kennedy 4700, Vitacura . Santiago 7630454 Chile Reservation Confirmation: 84481467 |
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Oregon – October 2016
- St. Innocent — 11-5p daily
- Brooks — 11-5p daily
- JK Carriers — Fri & Sat 11-4p
- Shea — the shit — Ressies Thurs, Fri, Sat
- The Rocks – Syrah
- Gramercy Cellars — syrah
- Resties: Wild Ginger, Canlis, EMP museum
- Pok Pok
- Distillery Row — ginger liqueur
- Double Mountain http://www.doublemountainbrewery.com/ – Hood River and Woodstock
- 10 Barrel Brewing http://www.10barrel.com/ – Portland and Bend
- Pelican Brewing http://pelicanbrewing.com/ – Cannon Beach and Pacific City
- Hair of the Dog https://www.hairofthedog.com/ – Portland
- Deschutes https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/ – Portland and Bend
- Multnomah Falls
- Get this guide: Scott Cook’s guidebooks Bend Overall and Curious Gorge offer detailed (and irreverent) info, direx, and fun facts about all kinds of adventures you can have in two of the areas we’ll focus on in this loop: Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge respectively. They’re available at Powell’s in Portland and almost every coffee shop in the town of Hood River.
From Outside Magazine: best state parks per state:
THE ITINERARY
Ph: 1-800-633-3466 | Fx: 503-436-9711
info@stephanieinn.com | www.stephanieinn.com
Please review the following information for accuracy.
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• The Inn provides a completely smoke and pet-free environment.
• We welcome children over the age of 12.
• Check-in time is after 4:00pm. Check-out time is 12:00 noon.
• All reservations with a credit card on file will be guaranteed for late arrival.
• Reservations will not be honored if credit card declines or a deposit check is returned for any reason.
• Cancellations: We adhere to a 7 day cancellation policy. Should you have a change of plans, please advise us no later than 7 days prior to your date of arrival. This will enable us to refund your entire deposit.
Best convenient meals that work for me
Everyone seems to be busy these days. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re a student, professional, stay-at-home… everyone is running around in the rat race of life. When I lived in Boston, I would have a delivery service called PeaPod deliver my groceries typically on my postcall day bc I knew that’s when I’d be home. But today, delivery services have improved! I’ll go through each of my favorites:
GOBBLE
For the person or couple or family who likes the idea of cooking and/or cooking together, Gobble makes it super easy to whip together a delicious meal that takes all the menu planning, grocery shopping, portion controlling out of it. It’s my go-to date night meal.
FRESHLY
Freshly is a more Paleo focused meal that offers single serving portions of breakfast, lunch, or dinner that is super quick and convenient! Some of the best parts about this delivery service: high quality protein, no refined sugars or artificial sweeteners, always gluten free, low-glycemic carbohydrates, and nutrient-rich veggies. Need I say more?
FRESH AND FIT
Fresh and Fit meals are more a local delivery food service that is super convenient and served in single serving containers. It’s all natural and organic, seasonal, and comes from local, sustainable farms. It’s more veggie intensive and they taste delicious!
DAILY HARVEST
Daily Harvest is a wonderful way to blend up healthy stuff that’s super convenient and perfect for that sweet tooth craving! Usually I’ll whip one of these up in the morning — either with water or coconut water or almond milk. The directions are on each cup. Oftentimes I’ll add my own protein powder, chia seeds, flax seed, etc. to boost my nutrition. These shakes taste delicious — almost like a decadent milkshake (but one that’s actually healthy and good for you!). So go ahead and have one for dessert!
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*** UPDATE March 2017 ***
SUN BASKET
This is now our go-to meal planner for the week! We love the nutritious aspect of this quick throw together meal delivery kit. It’s faster to prep than Blue Apron, but slightly longer to make than Gobble. The sunbasket ingredients are organic and as expected have a longer shelf life in the fridge. The recipes are super delicious and diverse. I prefer a paleo delivery kit and this one delivers!!