text:
^^ This past weekend we celebrated our fifth (and final that we can actually attend) wedding celebration. This one was for my freshman college roommate, and it was held at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Tarrytown, NY. Although the day started out gloomy and rainy, by the time we all made it back to the Country Club for the outdoor cocktail hour and photos, the skies had cleared and the sun was glorious. It turned out to be a beautiful day! Congrats to Carla & Ryan — we love you guys!
U.S. Destinations
One Final Morning in Albuquerque
Hi friends,
So yesterday was my last day in Albuquerque.
It really was an amazing, educational and exciting trip. Between the gorgeous scenery, delicious food, tasty drinks and fun activities, I'm not sure if I could say exactly what my favorite part of the trip was — I just know that it was all pretty spectacular.
For my last morning in New Mexico, the Albuquerque Convention & Visitor's Bureau had set me up with an appointment at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. I would be having breakfast with Nancy, their director of hospitality and sustainability, but my itinerary mentioned that I might want to show up a bit early so I could take in the "beautiful grounds".
Ummm — they weren't kidding when they said beautiful. Before getting to the photos, let me share a little bit about the Inn and farm, in general. The land where the Inn & farm are currently located was originally inhabited by the Anasazi (ancient pueblo Indians) in the 14th century, and in 1716 it was made part of the Elena Gallegos land grant. The original rach was owned by Ambrosio and Juan Cristobal Armijo, but it was reassembled by Albert and Ruth Simms in the 1930s. Today the Ranch encompasses 25 acres, which includes both the Inn and a working farm. The area still features many important works of art and craftsmanship from back in the day, including John Gaw Meem (who was widely considered New Mexico's greatest 20th century architect), Walter Gilbert (one of the only Albuquerque artists to have worked at Los Poblanos) and Laura Gilpin (one of the most important photographers of the Southwest). The Greely Garden was created by Rose Greely, a pioneer female landscape architect and designer of the 1932 formal Spanish-style gardens at Los Poblanos.
In addition to the beautiful land and artwork, the restaurant menu changes daily, and always features fresh ingredients right off the farm including eggs, honey, fruits and vegetables from the fields.
^^ The lavender fields weren't in bloom right now, but how amazing are they?
^^ We had these fresh figs with our breakfast. And while of course the figs I ate in Calabria that were grown on my family farm will always be No. 1 … I must say these were a seriously close second.
^^ Although it was cold the morning I ate breakfast here, in warmer-weather months this portico is open to the Inn guests for them to eat their meals outside.
^^ Organic is the name of the game here, and Nancy, who I ate breakfast with, does a great job at making sure they Inn stays as up-to-date as possible with the newest and best sustainable, organic practices.
^^ This library. To. Die. For.
^^ The kitchen is a masterpiece, as well.
^^ Here is the chef, preparing meat for that day's meal. All of the meat is either locally grown or raised right on the farm.
^^ The Farm Shop is a must-visit if you're in the area. I learned about the different types of lavender (and got to smell them both) and tasted real balsamic vinegar — not that crap you buy in the store. Holy crap, friends — I don't think I'll ever feel the same way about the fake, store-bought kind again!
^^ Gorgeous lavender bundles! If only I weren't flying home!
And that, my friends, was it. Spending my last morning on the farm was a fantastic way to end the trip with a bang. And while I would highly recommend doing any one (or all!) of the things that were on my itinerary, if you do decide to visit Albuquerque (and you should!), there is so much else to explore … the possibilities are endless.
Thanks again so much to the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau — you sure weren't kidding when you said Albuquerque has a lot to offer!
Bis bald, friends — I'll see you soon!
Hot Air Balloon Rides, Corn Mazes, Farms and Food in Albuquerque
Welcome to my second day in Albuquerque, my friends, wherein I woke up supremely early to do something that I was in my heart of hearts really hoping I would get to do while I was here — a hot air balloon ride!
I rode with the Rainbow Ryders, and it was everything I had hoped it would be and (so much) more. Despite the fact that I was woefully unprepared for the frigid morning air (wear sweaters and coats and closed-toe shoes and scarves if you're lucky enough to go on a ride!), the weather warmed up pretty quickly, especially since we were standing right under blasting fire for an hour once we started on our way …
^^ Have I mentioned yet that it's almost Balloon Fiesta here in Albuquerque, wherein hundreds of thousands of people flock to the city to watch the world's largest (I can't back that up, but seems like it should be!) hot air balloon show? Anyway, the field where all of this will take place is where we all go to set up the balloons.
^^ Ours was the first of our whole group to head into the air. What can I say — we're overachievers ;)
^^ These balloons get up to 10,000 feet above sea level …
After the ride, we toasted with mimosas and muffins back in the Balloon Fiesta field, and they even gave us these cute certificates to take home. It was a truly Albuquerque-ian thing to do, and I'm so glad I got the chance.
After the ride (which starts at 6:15, but the way), I had a little time before my lunch meeting, so I took up one of the suggestions from the Albuquerque Convention & Visitor's Bureau (who invited me out here, if you'll remember) and visited Wagner's Farmland Experience. Even the road out to the farm is picturesque, with little fruit stops and restaurants on the way, and the farm itself had some pretty spectacular views.
^^ Who doesn't love a good petting zoo?
^^ The 2014 corn maze is up at Wagner's right now and I thought … "What the heck? It can't be that hard, right?" WRONG. I am seriously directionally challenged, my friends. Lucky for me a group of elementary school kids were tackling the maze and I followed them out of the thing. (Not without lots of confused looks and questions, though.) And a big shout out to my husband for trying to help me find the way out of the maze, from all the way back in Manhattan, using Google maps :) I'm not sure if that's cool or creepy …
^^ The end of the maze led you out to a cute little pumpkin patch.
So, once that adventure was over, it was back into the car to head to lunch at El Pinto, a spectacular New Mexican restaurant with an amazing outdoor garden and eating area (and even more amazing tequila, as I would come to find out).
^^ The house Margherita is anything but ordinary.
^^ Look at that bar, my friends! They've got 160 types of tequila here!
^^ They even bottle personal tequila for patrons who can purchase it at the restaurant and keep it there for any time they come in.
^^ Oh, and by the way, a warehouse in the back makes 25,000 cans of salsa each day to distribute. This is their special version specifically for Balloon Fiesta weekend.
^^ And here was my tequila tasting. All in a day's work, friends, all in a day's work.
^^ After lunch I was taken to the back to see the warehouse and the garden, where the restaurant is starting to try to grown some of the foods that they'll later prepare.
^^ Dessert was the restaurant's version of a tiramisu, called Levante. It's made with biscochitos, the traditional New Mexican cookie (they were declared so by the New Mexico Legislature in 1989, and were first introduced to Mexico by Spanish settlers who brought the recipe from Spain). This dessert was every bit as decadent as it looks, my friends.
After lunch I had stops at two breweries. The first was the Red Door Brewing Company, which actually just opened its doors about three weeks ago. Their cider was actually my favorite drink (that and the milk stout), and it actually has the highest alcohol content, as well. (Boy do I know how to pick 'em.) Since it was early when I got there (around 1:30), there weren't too many other people around yet, but three cyclists came in about 15 minutes before I had to leave, and it was really great talking to them. One of the two men in the group was with the traveling tour of Wicked, which is in town now, and the two others were taking him around on their own, self-made Breaking Bad bike tour. (Ummm, here's where I admit that I've never watched the show. Sorry Albuquerque! Before I come back I promise to give it a go!)
After Red Door I moved on to a brewery staple here in Albuquerque — Marble Brewery. This place had a nice patio outside where they bring live performers, too.
While I'd love to say that I kept going strong after Marble Brewery, the truth is, friends, that this gal needed a little nap. Unfortunately that means that I'll probably not get to make it out to the Nob Hill area of the city, which is disappointing. But I still have one more fun activity planned for tomorrow, so that leaves me with a bit of something to look forward to after what can only be described as an amazing, entertaining trip.
Dinner Wednesday night, by the way, was at Mas, the tapas restaurant right inside my hotel, and I was given a tour of the hotel as well, which turned out to be especially important since apparently I was seriously missing out on so many amazing facts about this place.
But let's start with dinner. Hot gouda apple bake w/ crostini, patatas bravas (crispy fried potatoes w/spicy mayo), bruschetta de la boca (toasted bread w/ mushroom-manchego cream, fried egg & truffle oil) and grilled artichokes w/spanish goat cheese, orange zest and mint.
And those were our appetizers.
Dinner for me was the classic veggie paella – and absolutely everything was to. die. for.
And now a bit more about this amazing hotel. The hotel has been around since 1939, when Conrad Hilton completed it as his first New Mexican hotel for $700,000. At the time, it was the tallest building in New Mexico, and the first in all of New Mexico to have air conditioning.
In 1984 the building was placed on the National register of Historic Places, and after being purchased a few additional times, it was finally sold to Gary Goodman in 2005 and promptly shut down for four years for $30 million-worth of renovations. Despite the renovations, though, a lot of the original existing structure runs throughout the hotel, still.
^^ While Goodman originally envisioned this room directly across from the restaurant to be open as a sort of nightclub to the general public, he quickly realized that the general public didn't necessarily mesh well with the upscale clientele staying at the hotel, and so now only private, ticketed events happen here.
^^ I know this isn't the greatest photo, but please stick with me here. So one of the hotel staff currently working at Andaluz actually has worked at this hotel ever since it first opened its doors. When Goodman purchased the hotel in '05, he turned to this staffer to learn more about what the place was like back in its heyday. During one of these conversations, he learned about a mural — this mural– that had been painted on one of the main walls as you enter the hotel and that had since been painted over. So he commissioned an artist to recreate the original painting from old photos. This is exactly as the photo was back when the hotel first opened, with the one small exception of the third figure's ankle, which is slightly off the ground. The artist did this to leave his mark on his work, but otherwise the painting is an exact replica.
^^ These casbahs can be rented out and hotel guests can have dinner and drinks in them privately.
^^ So this wooden structure — which is actually much larger than this photo lets on — was originally commissioned to hang in the elevators, but didn't pass fire code. So the panels were quickly removed and sent to the basement, where they spent many years until they were moved up to the main lobby for all to enjoy.
^^ So I know this might seem like a mistaken photo of the floor, but it's actually seriously cool! So back in the days when the hotel first opened, the reception area used to be where the casbahs are now situated. The bellman would stand in this one spot, because he had the perfect vantage point to see guests coming in from both entrances. And for this reason alone, that very spot is actually worn out in certain spots, and when you stand on it, you can feel the dipping where the bellman's standing has worn out the tile. That's pretty incredible, is it not?
^^ The library is definitely one of my favorite rooms.
^^ And this is Ibiza, the 2nd floor, outdoor rooftop bar for the hotel.
Which brings me to one final note about this awesome hotel – it's sustainability. From their solar heated water systems and compost system to the building's seriously advanced energy management system (the rooms literally use sensors to detect when a person is in the room or not and uses that to determine when lights/heat/air should be on and off), Andaluz is one of the greenest spots in Albuquerque hands down.
Alright friends — well that's been the bulk of my trip, for sure. I head back to good ole' NYC tomorrow after a quick pit stop at one more place. It's been a whirlwind, but it's been so much fun. It's been real, Albuquerque … and I have a definite feeling you'll be seeing me again some day!
Bis bald, friends!
Tramways, Breweries, Rattlesnakes and More in Albuquerque
Hi friends,
So these past few days have been a whirlwind, but I wanted to try to get stuff down as it's happening, so I'll do my best to get through this post (even though my eyes are drooping as I type — so please forgive any typos!). The good people at the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau so kindly invited me out to New Mexico for a press trip, which of course I happily accepted. I flew out early Monday morning and arrived around 5 p.m. Monday evening.
And I've been on the go ever since.
So of course I have about 1,000 photos to share, and I figured the best way to go about this (at least the first two-days' worth) is to explain via photo what I've done so far on my trip. For starters, I'm staying at Hotel Andaluz, which is located conveniently in downtown Albuquerque and is so stunningly modern and wonderful I can't stand it. I'll be having dinner at the restaurant here tomorrow night, too, so I'll be sure to share how that goes.
Anyway, on to a bit of what I've seen so far. Hold on to your hats kids — it's been a wild two days!
A Day Trip to Phoenicia and Otter Falls
This past Sunday, Chris took me on a little day trip to Phoenicia, New York [which is about an hour away from where my mom lives in Newburgh] and then to Otter Falls, where he and a bunch of his friends run a relay every year.
But first, we stopped for pancakes at Sweet Sue's Restaurant, which has a 24 Zagat rating for food and a seriously slammin' menu of pancake options.
^^ Gotta love a town that puts on a rubber duckie race.
(And clearly reuses the sign year after year — so economical!)
^^ That's a pretty spectacular backdrop for the Phoenicia Pharmacy, if I do say so myself.
^^ Cute little, awesome Sweet Sue's Restaurant.
^^ These were my — wait for it — carrot. cake. pancakes.
With cream cheese sauce. 'Nuff said.
^^ Chris went the savory route and got fresh corn cakes — equally delish.
^^ As of 2014, Phoenicia was home to 299 residents. I seriously love that.
^^ This eagle originated in Grand Central.
Here's how it ended up in Phoenicia.
After loading up on pancakes, we headed to Otter Falls, which is about a 20-minute drive from Phoenicia. Here's what the Hudson Valley Visit Vortex has to say about this swimming hole:
Located on state land, a small, but adventurous, side trail leads to the spectacular falls cascading down about 30 feet to a large deep basin measuring about 20 to 30 feet in diameter with a center depth between 6 and 8 feet. With recent rains it should be like a giant, cold-water Jacuzzi, say the locals. Otter Falls is only about a half-mile from the popular Giant Ledge trail parking area, making it an excellent stop after a hot, sweaty hike. Sundown, lat=42.0314, lon=-74.4201
Directions: From I-87, get off at Exit 19, Kingston exit, RT 28. Go northwest on RT 28 about 25 miles to Phoenicia. Then:To get here from RT 28 in Phoenicia: Continue west on Rt 28 through Shandaken to Big Indian. Turn south (left) on RT 47 (set odometer) and go about 6.6 miles to a telephone pole with mile post #167 1/2 on it. Other things to look for are the state land signs (the yellow ones with the DEC logo). This state land is the only State land on the west side of Route 47 in Big Indian Valley. (If you come to the "hairpin turn", an extremely sharp right hand turn, on RT 47, you have gone about .5 mile too far.)
To find it after you park, you walk along the highway and search for the tree with the 111A 167 1/2 numbers on it [which was my 'Photo of the Day' photo from yesterday]. It's a pretty fun, secluded little spot — definitely worth checking out.
^^ It's only about 500 meters from the highway to the waterfall so,
you know, my kind of hike!
^^ I kept this photo because that black and white blur at the bottom right of the photo is a butterfly that was buzzing all around me. I snapped this one shot quickly, not hopeful to actually capture the little booger, and this is what I got. I kinda love it.
^^ We played around in the water leading into the waterfall for a bit.
And when I say "we", I mean "Chris".
And that's about it, ya'll! I'd highly recommend a trip to the water hole on a hot summer day — nothing beats it.
Bis bald, friends!
Paddling in the Potomac
Morning friends! Exactly one week and one day ago (aka last Monday), I hopped on a Tripper bus out of the city headed to Arlington, Virginia (a suburb of the D.C. area).
Here's a little tip from a bus rider know-it-all: If you're on a bus (or in a car or any other form of automotive transportation) out of the city heading through the Holland Tunnel, be sure to sit on the right-hand side, because you'll be privy to this beauty of a view:
Anyway, as I mentioned in a post last week, when this particular friend and I get together, we generally do a whole lot of nothing. (Which is actually quite wonderful, as I'm sure most of you know.) I mean sure we eat and drink and chat and binge watch shoes (last week she introduced me to Revenge … why have I not been watching this all my life?), but there's generally very little by way of activity, other than a walk here and there.
Last week, though, we got creative. On the heels of our very active trip to Marathon Key at the beginning of April, we were eager to try one activity in particular all over again in a new spot — kayaking.
So we headed into Old Town Alexandria (which is about the cutest little place you'll ever go) and down to the Belle Haven Park and Marina, where we took a double-person kayak out on the Potomac River.
Let me tell you friends — it was something splendid, for sure.
^^ The water was pretty muddy after the torrential downpour we had the two days prior,
but it was still pretty splendid all the same.
^^I have to admit that this kayak adventure was harder for me, for some reason,
and I may not have been a ton of help when it came to rowing. Thanks for taking the lead, Lisa!
^^ We saw so, so, so many turtles on this trip!
^^ We may have ventured off the beaten trail into a tiny little area secluded by trees.
So peaceful.
So Lisa and I have pretty much decided this is our thing. Hopefully when she comes to visit me here in the city we'll take some kayaks out on the Hudson as well. It's always fun to have an activity to look forward to on a trip.
My time with Lisa was so fun, but it also went by so fast, and before I knew it I was back on a 2:30 bus on Saturday afternoon headed back to the city. After being dropped off near Penn Station around 7:30, I grabbed a ticket on the Long Island Railroad and headed back out, this time to meet up with Chris to spend the night in Long Island prior to his running the Long Island Marathon Sunday morning. My dad met us out there in the morning to watch, and we walked a grand total of 10 MILES around the course to catch Chris running at three different spots.
Oh, and Chris did pretty well, too ;) I mean, he broke his own personal record with a race time of 2:49:26!
I could not be more proud of him.
Bis bald, friends! Warmer weather is headed our way, and I hope everyone is getting excited for whatever plans you've concocted for the summer …
Our Final Days of Spring Break 2014: Denver, Colorado
Denver. Ah, Denver. Our third and final stop on our short little tour of Colorado.
You see, we've heard lots of amazing things about this city. We have a handful of friends and family members who live here, and they just seem to love, love, love, love, love it.
Like … really, they love it a lot.
So we had high expectations, to say the least.
We started our tour of Denver with a quick drive around the city to familiarize ourselves with it. We drove through Cheeseman Park (so cute!), and stopped off in the Capitol Hill area to take in a few of the more touristy aspects …
^^ Cheesy tourist photos — they're kind of a must … am I right?!
After hanging around on our own for a while, we met up Thursday evening with my brother-in-law's sister and her fiancee. (Did ya catch that?) Anyway, Rachel and Steve have lived in Denver for a bunch of years now, and they are two of those people I mentioned before who just love, love love it there ;)
They took us to the Vine Street Pub & Brewery for dinner, which was super chill and relaxed. We went outside with beers from the bar and watched people playing Cornhole while we waited for our table … it was that relaxed.
And that was about it for Thursday, since we didn't get into Denver until around 1 anyway. Friday, however, we had quite the touristy day. We woke up early so that we could head out to the Red Rocks Amphitheater, which was simply stunning.
^^ We were shocked at how much exercising went on here!
Seriously, people everywhere running up and down the stairs,
jumping the rocks, running every single row … fascinating!
I guess if you have to work out, you can't have a
better backdrop then at Red Rocks, right?
Red Rocks was about an hour outside of Denver, and we spent a couple hours there just taking it all in. So by the time we made it back into the city, we were starving!
Thank God for Mexican food when you're starving … am I right?! And Rio Grande in the LoDo section did not disappoint.
We sat outside under umbrellas in the 70-degree weather (hello, summer!), eating our burritos and drinking our margaritas. [A word to the wise: Watch it on the margaritas here. A single drink contains 3.5 shots of tequila! That's why they have a three drink maximum on the margs, particularly. We should know, we asked ;)]
After lunch I headed across the street to buy an outrageously expensive tee from Patagonia (I was desperate! I hadn't read the weather beforehand and was wearing two long-sleeved shirts … and I was sweltering!), and then we caught the free 16th Street MallRide shuttle over to Commons Park, where we hopped on bikes from the Denver Bike Share program and rode over the South Platte River to the section of Denver known as The Highlands.
And oh my goodness did we love it here, my friends! And it wasn't just because of Little Man Ice Cream (although that did help a lot ….)
This whole area had a very relaxed, young, happening atmosphere. It was very cool, to say the least.
So after scarfing down some ice cream (don't ask me how I did that after eating a ton of Mexican for lunch … I have a superhuman stomach, this is for certain), we hopped back on our bikes and rode as fast as possible back to the LoDo section to meet up with Chris's old boss for drinks at Freshcraft before heading off to the Washington Park section of Denver to meet up with our cousin and her husband and baby.
Sheesh we really crammed a lot into one full day, didn't we!?
Anyway, Courtney and Charlie's place was adorable, and they were so lovely to get a babysitter for the evening so that they could come back out with us for dinner at the Ale House and a couple of brewskies afterwards at Denver Beer Co. (Which, by the way, might have been my favorite brewery of all the ones we visited. It was late when we arrived — in fact we stayed until closing at midnight — but the big garage doors that make up the front of the place were thrown open from the warmer weather earlier in the day, and everyone was hanging out on picnic tables with their dogs. Very fun.)
And that, as they say, was that, my friends. It was a lot to do in one day, but I'm really glad that we got to fit in as much as we did on Friday. I wasn't convinced that we had seen everything Denver had to offer on Thursday (I mean that's a stupid thing to even write, because of course we didn't. It's impossible to see everything any city has to offer in one day), but Friday gave me a better look at the Denver that I had heard so much about.
And that I really, truly, look forward to going back to.
Okay friends, so I'm off again next week — wahoo! This time I'll be heading to Washington, D.C. to spend the week with a friend for her birthday. This is the friend I went to Florida with, and the one who when I visit we generally hang out and do nothing but eat and drink and chat. (Except for when she has me crafting like crazy for her sister's baby shower) — but this time we've promised each other that we will get out and about into the city to actually do something historical. Or fun. Or both.
But we'll just have to wait to see how that goes ;)
Bis bald, friends!
Spring Break Day 3: Breckenridge, Colorado
On our third day into our trip to Colorado last week, we loaded back into the car in Boulder and headed on the two hour ride to Breckenridge. (Thank you for always saying that you would drive, Brian! I absolutely did not love driving that tank of a car we got from the rental place!)
Anyway, the road into Breckenridge is a long, windy, at times hazardous one, and we've been told by the locals that during peak seasons, the traffic can get pretty backed up.
Which makes sense, because Breckenridge is amazing! Simply put — it's gorgeous. And quaint. And if you love snowboarding or skiing (which both Chris and my sister's boyfriend do), then there's almost nowhere better for that.
We checked into our hotel —the DoubleTree by Hilton … I love how they give you warm cookies when you check in! — and immediately turned the humidifier on in our room.
So a note about Breckenridge — it's high up in the air, friends. At 9,600 feet above sea level, lots of people (my sister included) tend to get altitude sickness here. You may get a headache or feel lightheaded. It could be difficult for you to catch your breathe, you might feel like you're breathing through a straw or your mouth and nose could get dry. Steph's altitude sickness wasn't too bad (just general tiredness and a headache), so that was lucky, and none of the rest of us seemed to feel it at all, which is great, because I was worried. Chris and I are heading off to climb Machu Picchu in the fall, so I was using this as a sort of test for how I might do in those high altitudes.
So far so good, friends. Phew!
Anyway, as the boys headed to the mountains (they could ski there directly from our hotel!), Steph and I hit up the outdoor hot tub at the hotel, then headed into the town (there was a free shuttle service both to and from our hotel as well, although it really wasn't all that much of a walk to get into town, anyway), for lunch and a little shopping.
^^ So cute — and look at those mountains in the distance!
^^ Meanwhile, the boys were here …
While in town Steph and I stumbled into one store in particular with a salesman who I can really truly only describe as curmudgeon-ey. He was an older gentleman — perhaps in his late 70s, early 80s — and when we told him we were from New York (he asked!), he proceeded to regale us with stories about how you can die from altitude sickness within 24 hours, and how the local doctor recommends drinking 8 ounces of water every hour, and how we really, really needed to be careful because it's actually quite scary ….
Thanks, Mr. Curmudgeon. We didn't actually ask you for that info … but thanks for sharing?
Anyway, it was pretty much right after that store that Steph decided she had had enough of the town and wanted to head back to the hotel to rest.
Coincidence? I think maybe not ;)
Anyway, I was happy to oblige. So off we went, back in the free shuttle (same driver. He was a young kid just out of college who had spent a semester traveling around Africa and his first winter break as a college graduate working the slopes at Breckenridge. His next plan was to move to Florida for the summer and get his license to work as a deckhand. Nice life, buddy!) to the hotel, where we chilled in the swampy, humidifed air until the boys came back. (With beers, of course!)
That night we headed back into the town to the Breckenridge Brewery, sans Stephanie, for dinner and drinks. The brewery was very chill, totally relaxed, and exactly as we had by now come to expect from the plethora of Colorado breweries.
We didn't hang out too long in town after dinner, since Steph was back at the hotel, but we did manage to talk the little one into coming back down to the hot tubs to hang out with us for the evening, which turned out to be quite lovely.
An outdoor hot tub. The setting sun. Some Colorado beer and your hubby. It's a pretty happy scene — am I right?!
The next morning we were checking out to make the approximately 90 minute drive to Denver, but first we headed to the Blue Moose Restaurant for breakfast. (And Bloody Mary's and coffee, of course!)
And that, my friends, was our Breckenridge experience. It was short, but oh so very sweet! (For those of us who didn't feel sick, of course. I think it's safe to say Steph may never be going back …)
Tomorrow it's on to Denver, my friends! Bis bald!
A Spring Break Trip to Boulder
Hi friends,
So … we're back! Last week Chris, my sister, her boyfriend and myself all took off on Spirit airlines (hold onto your hats, friends, because I plan to write an article about the notoriously low-rated airline and link to it here!) to head to Denver. Our itinerary for the week included trips to Boulder, Breckenridge and Denver. This was a particularly important trip, my friends, because Chris and I are planning a potential move to Colorado in the winter — but we had yet to actually visit the great state.
So you see — important!
Anyway, we were contemplating both Boulder and Denver as potential new cities for us, and Breckenridge was thrown in there so the boys could ski/snowboard for a day. We hit up Boulder first so that we would end the trip back in Denver, where we would be flying out of on Saturday.
I think probably the best way for me to tackle this trip is to take it by city — so Boulder today, Breckenridge tomorrow and Denver the next.
So Boulder first it is! After landing at the Denver airport and being conned into upgrading our rental car to an SUV (well maybe not so much conned — having the sturdier car to drive in the mountains to Breckenridge turned out to be not so much of a bad thing …), we hit the road for our 50 minute drive to Boulder.
Boulder is …. so many things. It's beautiful and open and entertaining and relaxing. It's a lot of things all rolled into one — it's just not a place that Chris and I can necessarily see ourselves living just yet. So as much as we liked it, I think it's safe to say Boulder was ruled out as a place for us to take up residence in a few months.
Here's a bit of what we did …
^^ The Twisted Pine Brewery is an absolute must if you're in Boulder.
For as many breweries as we ended up visiting, Chris and I both say
this was our favorite. We got the sampler for starters, which had so many
amazing beers for tasting. The food was pretty fantastic, as well.
Okay ya'll — here's where we have to discuss the big ole' elephant in the room, and that elephant, my friends, is marijuana. So as anyone who's from the U.S. and doesn't live under a rock will know, weed is now completely legal in the state of Colorado. This is of course infinitely amazing to some, completely annoying to others, and neither here nor there to even more. Whether or not it's amazing, annoying or neither here nor there to me wasn't really the point (although I guess if I were forced to pick a category, I'd have to go with neither here nor there …), because I'm pretty intrigued by it. Like, how does it work? What's it like to buy a drug that has always been illegal, legally? How much does it cost? How do they sell it? What kind of people go to these stores?
I had to know! So … we found one.
The experience of buying weed is, I guess I would have to say, a bit weird. For this particular store, we walked into the front room and were greeted by "security." (I use the term "security" loosely and with quotation marks because these guys were so friendly and chill, I can't imagine them ever actually getting security-ish about anything …). So we showed our IDs (you do at least have to be 21, after all), and headed into the small room where the weed was kept. There were, for lack of a better term, salesmen behind the counters whose job it was to point you in the right direction. How much were you interested in smoking? What type of weed were you interested in smoking? When was the last time you smoked, and how much do you think you could handle?
Completely and totally intriguing.
^^ Weed in the form of edibles. I still can't get over it.
Our entire experience lasted maybe 15 minutes, and we were out of there. We went in. We saw.
I've had enough ;)
That night we drove downtown to check out the Downtown Boulder area and the Pearl Street Mall, which was very adorable. We ate at West End Tavern under heat lamps in their upstairs, lofted area. It was super cute, and very tasty — I'd very much recommend it.
After a long day of traveling we were pretty exhausted, so we went to bed early so we could rise early for our amazing hike of the Flatirons Vista Loop.
The trail was amazing. Obviously very scenic, not too difficult and only somewhat muddied from the recent snow. I'm really glad we did it, though. After the hike we headed over to the Boulder Beer brewery, where we shared an appetizer and drank what turned out to be $1.50 beers.
ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS, PEOPLE! I'm not sure you can get gum for that much in the city, anymore.
We ended our last night in Boulder with another trip to the downtown area (to include the amazing Boulder Bookstore where I purchased two recent releases for less than $20!) for dinner and then drinks and Yahtzee at West Flanders Brewery.
And that was about it for our Boulder experience, my friends. Breweries, hikes and weed. I'd say that's a pretty good summary ;)
The next morning we were off bright and early to Breckenridge, and I'll update you all about that tomorrow.
Bis bald, friends!
P.S. In case anyone was wondering, we stayed at the La Quinta Inn that was actually in Louisville, Colorado, about a 10 minute drive from Boulder. The price was infinitely cheaper than anything we found directly in Boulder, though, so if you don't mind doing a little driving, I would highly recommend it.
Jupiter and Marathon Key
Well friends, I'm back from what can only be described as an epic girlfriend's trip. Although it did take both myself and my friend Lisa a couple days to unwind from a few recent projects that we only justbarely turned in before we left for Florida, once we did relax, it was resplendent.
The fact that I was gone for 10 days means that I can't really go through every single detail of the trip, but I did want to bring up a few important points, the first being about where Lisa's parents live:
- My friend's parents live in Jupiter, Florida, which is where we spent Thursday through Sunday at the beginning of our trip, as well as Saturday and Sunday at the end. If you happen to find yourself in Jupiter ever, you must visit Castaways (aka the Square Grouper Tiki Bar), Dune Dog Cafe and Guanabanas. [If you drive your boat to Guanabanas and dock it there, you get a 10% discount. Lisa's dad would have wanted me to tell you that ;)]
^^ Gorgeous flowers in the Gerry's backyard.
^^ How amazing is this? These are the mangroves that you walk through in
Lisa's parent's backyard to get to where their boat is docked.
^^ I could have ridden around on that boat all day, just checking out the gorgeous houses.
^^ Lisa's parents took us to Dune Dog's on our first night,
and Lisa taught me the proper way to crack crabs. Thanks, Lise!
^^ The famous Jupiter lighthouse.
^^ Oh my goodness you guys. Lisa's dad works on the Everglades Restoration,
so he's big into the environment. Lucky for me, because I'm pretty much obsessed with animals
and the environment. I loved hearing from him about all the work they're doing, as well as visiting the
Loggerhead Marinelife Center and turtle rehab hospital. All the sea turtles this organization has
rescued — or that people have rescued and brought there — are swimming around
in their own tanks in the Center as they rehabilitate. How. Adorable. Are. They??
^^ I also made my first visit to a Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. on this trip — wahoo!
This particular Bubba Gump's was right on the water and had live music.
We ordered every single appetizer on the menu and fancy Mojitos. Not too shabby.
Anyway, after checking out the amazingness of Jupiter for a few days, Lisa and I hopped into her mom's car and headed down South to our second stop — Marathon Key.
So this particular Key, my friends, is unlike Key West (if that's your only experience with the Keys, as was mine). This Key is much, much more … well, low key. Lisa's parents have owned this particular timeshare at Hawks Nest in Marathon since before Lisa was even born, and Lisa's whole family has been visiting her entire life. The 7-mile bridge is only a handful of feet from Hawks Nest (cars can no longer drive on the old bridge — which is right next to the newly constructed bridge — so it's only for walkers and bikers. The old bridge where you can walk is actually only a little over 2 miles in distance each way, so about a 4-mile round trip.), and Lisa and I walked that almost every day. We saw sharks and dolphins and manta rays and starfish and tarpon … it was just one of the most amazing things ….
^^ Where we plopped ourselves every single day after our bridge walk. Hello, ocean!
^^ I posted this little guy yesterday as my photo of the week, but how cute is he!?
He came up and swam with this group of children for over an hour,
letting them rub his belly and feed him fresh water from a hose.
^^ Did I mention it was my birthday while we were there? Ugh, I'm old ;)
But my sweet, sweet husband made me feel better about being old
by sending me a letter and necklace while I was away, as well as flowers
and he treated us to breakfast on my birthday, as well.
That's some hubby, I have!
^^ Beers with a view. (That's the 7-mile bridge in the background …)
^^ Iguanas were everywhere! We went kayaking through the mangroves
on my birthday (which was insanely awesome!) and our tour guide told us
that she had grown up in Marathon, but that the iguanas had really
become prolific lately, most likely due to people getting them as pets
and then releasing them in the wild once they get too big.
^^ Bloody Mary's at the Sunset Grille & Raw Bar right next to Hawks Nest on our last full day.
We won't go into detail in terms of how many of these we had …
^^ Cheeky French Toast on my birthday. Thanks husband!
^^ Lisa made shrimp boil for dinner on my birthday. Ummm … it's my new favorite thing!
^^And she made this delicious dessert with homemade whipped cream.
I'm seriously one spoiled lady …
^^ Lisa and I took a liking to swinging in the hammocks in the
late afternoon. This was our view.
^^ Fried Key Lime Pie at Burdine's Waterfront on our last full day.
It was every bit as delicious as it looks.
^^ We took in the spectacular sunset on our last night and caught
this man paddle boarding with his water-loving pup.
So cute!
^^Making pic stitch's of our time together may have become a theme ;)
After spending seven days in Marathon, I think it's safe to say all of our cares had melted away. Despite all our relaxation, though, we managed to fit a lot in as well, with the bridge walks and kayaking — we even made it to Key West one night to visit friends and have dinner at Blue Heaven. We left Saturday to drive back to Lisa's parents' place in Jupiter, where we once again took advantage of the fabulous weather to take one more long boat ride.
^^ This was an actual hot dog/hamburger stand in the middle of the water. Genius.
^^ Ahhh! We saw so many alligators on Saturday's boat ride! It was crazy!
Saturday night we watched True Lies with Lisa's parents, since the second to last scene in that movie actually takes place on the 7-mile bridge. So that's pretty cool.
And that was about it, my friends — our girlfriend's getaway in a nutshell. We head off to Colorado this upcoming Monday — Boulder, Breckenridge and Denver — with my sister and her bf, so that should be absolutely amazing, as well.
Bis bald, friends! Let me leave you with these awesome moments of beautifulness ….
Marathon Key … Tomorrow!
Hiya friends,
Things here have been a bit … hectic! We were in Pennsylvania this past weekend for our nephew's first birthday party, which was so cute and fun :
^^Photographers who can wrangle kids into taking awesome, synchronized photos deserve a medal.
^^ But the mayhem is fun, too ;)
Until Sunday night when my whole family started to drop like flies as we one-by-one contracted pretty much the same stomach bug.
Anyway, we're moving on from that, because thank goodness I'm better for tomorrow, when I fly out to Marathon Key! I'll be gone for 10 whole blissful days (yahoo!), and my best friend and I plan to do nothing but lay in the sun, go out on the boat, snorkel and drink tasty drinks the entire time, with maybe a little hiking thrown in here and there.
I'll be back in early April (holy cow, April!) to update you on the happenings in Marathon Key. Until then, bis bald, my friends!
Vacation on the Horizon …
Hi friends,
So winter is apparently determined to drag on. And on. And on and on and on. I mean …. I'm just about getting a little sick of it. In my mind, if it's not going to snow (don't be mad at me, I'm know you're all sick of the snow, too!), then there's just no point in having cold weather.
The point is — thanks goodness I'm headed to the Keys next week with my best friend! If you'll recall, I was in Key West a couple years back with my lovely sisters …
This time I'll be heading to Marathon Key, which I'm super excited to check out. Then, only one short week after getting back from Florida, Chris and I will head to Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge and Denver) with my sister and her boyfriend to check everything out.
Ah, the thrill of upcoming travel. It really does give us something to look forward to, doesn't it?
Bis bald, friends!
Blistery Hudson Views
I took a quick, impromptu trip upstate to visit with my family this past week, and you just know I had to snap some photos from the train of the gorgeous Hudson River along the way. Thought I'd share them here.
Bis bald, friends! Are you all taking as many pictures of the snow and ice as possible like I am?
An Anniversary Trip to Saratoga Springs, New York
Hey friends,
This past weekend Chris and I borrowed the little Matrix that we're planning to buy off my parents and took her for a spin up to Saratoga Springs. The whole idea for this trip came out of a deal for a Saratoga hotel on TripAdvisor that then led to me the Saratoga Arms hotel. (It's ranked as the No. 1 hotel in Saratoga on TripAdvisor.)
Anyway, we'll get to that later.
I had done some research on Saratoga ahead of time, and last weekend in Vermont my cousin recommended a couple places to us as well. (She lives in Albany, which is a hop, skip and a jump away from Saratoga.)
I think I should preface this post by saying that we had a deluge of snow the day before we drove to Saratoga, and pretty much every place looks magical in a snowy winter wonderland … am I right? Even without the snow, though, I know I would have fallen in love with Saratoga. The downtown area was so charming (and of course it was still decorated for Christmas with twinkling white lights and red bows everywhere … that certainly didn't hurt it), the people were so friendly and every place we went had really great food and drink.
Our first stop was a recommendation of my cousin's — Ravenous, for their crepes and Pommes Frittes. They come with all different kinds of dipping sauces. We tried the Aioli, Cajun Spicy Mayo and Mango Chutney. Seriously delicious.
^^ My warm apple cider with orange wasn't too shabby, either.
After stuffing our faces, we decided to check out the town for a bit before checking into our hotel.
^^ This hotel was closed for repairs, but I thought it was just so beautiful.
After our little introduction to the town we headed to the hotel.
So about the hotel. I feel like I should start by saying — it was perfectly lovely. Seriously, very lovely — charming even. I mean look at those cute horse wreathes that greet you at the front door! The building is kept locked at all times, and the friendly innkeeper lets you in when you arrive. There's a warm fireplace and classic, historic decorations — everything about this place is cute and cozy and nice.
I just have a small but. The thing is — we paid a lot for our room. Like … a lot. (It was $300 after taxes, and that was the lowest priced King room available.) And for some reason I had convinced myself that I booked a room with a jacuzzi tub, and you know how when you think you've done something, and get your hopes all up for it — well I just really wanted that jacuzzi tub! And I mean, the room was fine, people. Honestly, it was quite nice. Perfectly pleasant. Very well looked after. I guess I was just … expecting more. What can I say. I've spent a lot of time in a lot of hotels up to this point in my life, and I've spent a wide range of money on those hotels. All I'm saying is … besides location (and the seriously scrumptious breakfast that's included in the morning!), I'm just not quite sure this place was worth the price. That's all.
But moving on! Despite the disappointment of not having a jacuzzi (!), we still had a whole night ahead of us. Our first night stop would be to The Wine Bar — another of my cousin's recommendations. A huge plus of Saratoga Arms — all of our stops were within walking distance, even though it was about 0 degrees outside!
We sat by the fire and the white lights twinkled and our waitress was lovely. And we ordered the warm olive appetizer and Chris a Manhattan and me a glass of white wine. Then we both ordered another glass of wine — red this time– and here my friends is where I'll share a little something with you. It was here at The Wine Bar in Saratoga Springs, New York, that I had — ready for it? — the best wine of my life. I mean … seriously! This friggin' wine was so. amazingly. delicous. Even Chris was jealous. I had the waitress give me my menu back so I could write down exactly what it was, which was a Santa Julia Malbec from Argentina/Menoza. It also was organic, which I honestly think might have made a difference.
If you are in Saratoga and find yourself at The Wine Bar (which you should … thanks for the recommendation Alyssa!), you must, must, must try this wine! You'll thank me later, I promise.
Anyway, after warming up with wine, we headed back out into the cold to our dinner reservations at Mouzon House. Here's where I have to give Saratoga Arms another big shout out — about two days before we were meant to arrive I received a welcome email from them with parking instructions, town and weather information, as well as a list of local restaurants that they recommended, Mouzon House being one of them. They even called and made the reservation for us. (Am I being a hotel snob about this place? Probably. The more I write about it the more charming I feel like it was.)
Anyway, the Mouzon House. Another massive, humongous hit!
^^We were a tad early for our reservation, so we sat at the bar and ordered some drinks first. Our bartender told us she was also a realtor, and she had helped her friend purchase the restaurant. The building had formerly belonged to the Mouzon family, and the woman who they bought the house from was the first African American woman to graduate from the local community college. She said the fact that they wanted to keep the family name in the name of the restaurant was a big reason why she thinks they were given the deal in the first place. The majority of the house had been left as is — even the rooms upstairs were still in bedroom form. Oh, and there was a ghost. The ghost was a friendly ghost, Mrs. Bartender told us, but she didn't even have to say that .. Chris and I have a feeling about these things, and we already knew.
^^ Somehow the restaurant knew it was our one year anniversary — I guess the hotel told them when they called?Anyway, they gave us our creme brûlée with a candle in it, and that was super cute.
For dinner I ordered the vegetarian jambalaya, and Chris had the steak. We also ordered the asparagus appetizer and another bottle of wine, and everything was to die for. Perhaps even more amazing, though, was the fact that the couple sitting directly across from us was celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary — and they could not have been cuter. At one point I looked over and the woman was fixing her husband's shirt. When they left he helped her put her coat on.
If only Chris and I can get that lucky to be as in love as day one at our 56th anniversary.
So at this point in the evening, I had also wanted to check out the 9 Maple Ave. jazz bar, but unfortunately all the wine I had already consumed started to make me feel like the warm hotel was calling my name, so we called it a night.
The next morning we were up early though. Breakfast is served between 8 and 10 in the dining room, and it's a sit down, order type of breakfast. I got the oatmeal (remember I wasn't feeling well!), and Chris had the chef's special mushroom omelet which, in his words, was "the best omelet I ever had in my life."
Okay fine — so Saratoga Arms was quite lovely, I get it. It's just that when you're spending that much money, you might as well splurge an extra $50-$60 and get a room with a jacuzzi or a fireplace. That's just my opinion. Noted for next time.
After breakfast we packed up and checked out, and headed back into the town to check out a couple of other stores we had seen the day before. We even ended up finding an old vintage New York City map for $6 — the best find!
I also wanted to check back on this house we had passed when trying to find the parking garage for the hotel. I mean … check this place out …
Our googling has yet to turn up what this place actually is. Is it someone's home? Is it a business? Whatever it is, I envision this will be what my next home looks like. That's reasonable … right?
And that, my friends, was Saratoga. It was the perfect little getaway for an anniversary weekend, and I cannot wait to get back there at some point to explore in warmer weather!
Bis bald, my friends! Only only month until Iceland — I simply cannot wait!
The 52 Project: Jan. 6
The Year 2013: A Review
Hi friends,
Well it's that time of year again — the one where everyone takes a couple minutes to take stock of how the past 12 months have gone? This year has been a particularly important one for myself and Chris. It was our first year of married life. It was a year spent celebrating our marriage around the world with family and friends. It was a year that we made some pretty big decisions about our future (not yet shared here!), and one that had a lot of amazing traveling in it …
In February we took an amazing weekend trip to Tarrytown for our first Valentine's Day as a married couple, where I had one of my absolute favorite meals of this entire year.
In March I took a relaxing trip to visit my best friend in D.C., where we practiced wedding makeup for Chris and my upcoming wedding party in April.
April was a holy-cow-of-a-month for us! First, I turned 30 (ah!), and we celebrated with a gorgeous hike up Breakneck Ridge with friends.
Then Chris's parents came for a visit, and we all took a trip to London so that Chris could run the 5th race in his World Marathon series.
We also celebrated our marriage at Magnanini Winery in upstate NY with friends and family in April, but I didn't blog about that because I didn't have photos for a long time. I have them now, though! Here are some of my faves.
In June we celebrated our wedding in Jersey with some close friends and family. Here are some of my favorite shots from that party:
In July we took a trip out to Charlotte, N.C. and Arizona to visit an old, old friend of mine.
In August I took another trip back down to D.C. for a "sprinkle" baby celebration …
and we visited what has now become our new favorite upstate winery — Warwick Valley Winery.
Summer Happenings
I feel like I should take a moment to pay homage to all of the activities we took part in this summer that were right here in New York City, like seeing Shakespeare in the Park, hosting my nephew's very first trip to NYC, riding bikes through the park, seeing the NY Philharmonic in the park (are you sensing a "park" theme?!), checking out the Met, going for a sail from Pier 25 on the west side and strolling around DUMBO, Brooklyn … to name a few.
September was another busy month for us. First we took the ferry out to Governor's Island to go exploring.
We also headed to St. Augustine, Florida for the Gentleman of the Road Mumford & Sons tour for Chris's Super Secret 30th Birthday Trip … (also talked about here)
We headed to Australia (also here) at the end of September and into October to celebrate our wedding with Chris's side of the family, as well as to take a honeymoon trip to The Great Barrier Reef.
I headed to the suburbs of Philly in November to visit an old friend and her family, and we took a trip out to the Philadelphia Zoo while I was there …
and we celebrated Thanksgiving in both Newburgh and New Jersey.
This month we surprised my stepdad with a Super Secret weekend trip to Syracuse, his alma mater, for his 50th birthday.
And we took a Christmas trip to Stowe, Vermont with some family
And that about sums up 2013, friends! On the docket for 2014 so far is …
- A trip to Saratoga Springs the first weekend in January to celebrate our one year anniversary. I'm particularly excited about the hotel where we'll be staying — Saratoga Arms – it's gotten amazing reviews.
- Iceland in February!
- Denver in April with my sister and her boyfriend
- A trip out to Cape Cod for a friend's wedding (not to mention lots of other friends' weddings scattered throughout the year!)
- A potential 1.5-3 month trip in South America at the end of the year. Lots more on this to come.
Bis bald, friends! And may your new year be filled with fun travels, great friends and awesome experiences!
A Snowy Christmas Celebration in Stowe, Vermont
Hi friends,
Holy cow tomorrow is New Year's Eve.
Holy cow tomorrow is the very last day in 2013.
Holy cow as of tomorrow Chris and I will have been married for one. whole. year!
Just … that's a whole lotta holy cows!
So Chris and I had a lovely, action-packed holiday week last week, and the fun will continue this week with some anniversary activities. But last week …. let's see. We spent Christmas eve into Christmas morning in New Jersey with family, then hopped to upstate New York to spend the rest of Christmas with my mom and stepdad, and drove the day after Christmas to meet up with my aunt, uncle, two cousins and cousin's boyfriend for a little extra Christmas celebrating in Stowe, Vermont. My aunt had booked the place for us as our Christmas gift, and we stayed in a Stoneybrook cabin with a fireplace, huge kitchen and gorgeous views.
^^ The view from the back porch of our bedroom on Friday morning, after it had snowed all night.
My sister and her boyfriend, my uncle and Chris and I were excited to head up to the mountain to ski/snowboard. I would be taking another snowboarding lesson (I think after this time I finally got it down!), while the others went off and did their "we're already good at this" thing.
Unfortunately we arrived too late on Friday for me to catch the lesson. (Word to the wise for any of you snow bunnies who might want to take a lesson at Stowe — they start at 10 a.m. on Fridays — maybe every day but I can't say for sure — and they go for an hour and a half in the morning, then break and meet up again at 1 for another hour. And they're expensive! With my gear rental and the group lesson, I ended up paying around $230. Ouch … but worth it!)
Anyway, since I wouldn't be snowboarding on Friday, I did this instead:
^^Had an extremely delicious Bloody Mary while I waited for everyone to meet me for lunch.
Saturday was different, though, my friends — Saturday I actually took a lesson! And let me tell you — by the end of it I wasn't half bad ;) It ended up being a private lesson when no one else showed up for the class, so that's always a good thing.
Of course I never left the beginner's hill but hey — I need to leave something to aspire to, right?
Saturday night we headed into town to the Vermont Ale House, which had awesome beers, amazing music and tables made of chalkboard so you could draw on them. It was pretty much the best.
We left yesterday to make the drive back to the city (in a snow and rainstorm, no less!), but Chris still got in a half day of snowboarding, I took a hike with my uncle and cousin's boyfriend on the trails right near our cabin and Steph and I checked out a bit of the town.
I think it's safe to say Stowe was a major success, and that we'd all love more than anything to make this trip an annual thing.
Bis bald, friends! I seriously cannot believe that tomorrow will be my lost blog of 2013. Time really does fly when you're having fun …
My Second Super Secret Birthday Trip of 2013 — Complete!
Hi friends,
So this past weekend myself and Chris, my mom, sister and her boyfriend, my uncle, aunt and cousin, all surprised my stepdad for his 50th birthday with a trip to Syracuse (his alma mater) for a basketball game.
It was a pretty amazing trip — if I do say so myself! And while I'm not totally convinced that Robert didn't see much of the surprise coming, at the end of the day we all had an amazing time, so that's really all that matters, right?
^^ Surprise! We're kidnapping you and taking you to Syracuse!
At least he had already dressed for the part ;)
^^ We couldn't take our pooch Ranger with us,
but he supported the cause.
^^ Shenanigans will most definitely ensue when my mother is drinking!
^^ Auntie M and my cousin Nikki. Two amazing ladies.
^^ I think Robert was excited about our awesome seats (thank you StubHub!)
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, we also won the game ;)
We visited Faegan's Pub afterwards, which was fun, and we stayed at The Parkview Hotel, which was a seriously short cab ride to the Carrier Dome, and a very good price (plus free breakfast!).
Surprise birthday celebrations are pretty much the best.
Anyway, up and coming this week:
- A visit to a DIY cookie decorating/holiday party hosted by one of my favorite bloggers tomorrow
- Date night at this amazing place, courtesy of an episode of Sex and the City that made me feel like I just haddddd to go there!
- A visit to the David Zwimmer Gallery to see what all the fuss is about over Yayoi Kusama's "I Who Have Arrived in Heaven" exhibit
- Tasting The Great Pumpkin Drink at Please Don't Tell on this list
- A holiday get-together with family from upstate, Brooklyn, and even all the way from Calabria, Italy
- Dinner at Rolf's German Restaurant to check out all the awesome decorations
- Drinks at The Flatiron Room (because I feel like after seven years in NYC and a wedding photo in front of it, I should at least try a drink there ….)
- A very special Christmas celebration next Saturday with my family — and especially my nephew Rory for his first holiday trip into town! Oh my I have so many plans for that day!
We're off to Vermont the day after Christmas for some snowboarding, and we'll be heading to Iceland in February, which I seriously cannot wait for.
'Tis the season for dreams, wishes and plans, my friends!
Bis bald!
The Inspirational Animals of My Travels
As I sit here working on a passion project of mine — which, to be fair, I've been working on for the better part of a year now — I realized that I've up until this time passed up a perfectly lovely opportunity to give thanks to all the inspirational animals I've come across in my travels. These animals have been so much fun to meet and learn about, and I'm so grateful to them for being a part of the learning process that is traveling.
So without further ado, please meet some of my favorite animals I've met on my journeys:
^^ This is Shawn the Koala from the Koala Park Zoo in Sydney.
He's the animal that started my whole project idea.
^^ Can't you tell he's just whispering amazing ideas in my direction!
^^ This is a replica of a Kookaburra bird in the
Museum of Natural History. They're known for their good-natured,
hysterical laugh, which can sound a lot like a human's.
^^ This is a red panda — let's call her Jia. This photo is from the
Philadelphia Zoo, which is sort of cheating because my real
inspiration came from the red pandas at the Central Park Zoo.
This was a better photo, though.
^^ These are pigeons. And while yes, these pigeons are in London,
let's be honest — the real inspirational pigeons live right here in
good ole' NYC.
^^If we're being even more honest, my true obsession with pigeons began
when I was a toddler and my parents lost me in the Piazza San Marco
in Venice because I was chasing them. That's why I took this
dorky photo when we were back there in 2012.
What inspires you when you travel?
Bis bald, friends!
In the News: A Deadly Metro North Accident
^^Views from the Metro North train from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie
I've taken the Metro North Hudson Line train from Grand Central to Beacon and back more times than I could ever hope to count. This train takes me from my home in New York City to birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases and much more at my mom's house in upstate NY. I was on it last Tuesday, actually, as I traveled home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Yesterday, the 5:54 a.m. train from Poughkeepsie flew off its tracks in the Bronx, killing four people and injuring dozens more. It's the first time in the history of Metro-North that a passenger was killed in a crash.
Today, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is saying that it appeared that the train was traveling too fast as it hit a curve in the tracks, which likely caused it to tip over.
When things like this happen, it only makes sense to look for something — anything — to blame. A faulty break. An err in conductor judgement. An electrical issue. As someone who travels via mass transit practically daily — whether it's on a train, subway, bus or plane — I try hard to never think about what could go wrong. Of course buses have crashed. Trains have derailed. Planes have gone down. As a mass transit traveler, you're putting your life in the hands of someone else every single time you step on that train, bus, subway, etc.
And sometimes, accidents happen.
My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. In life, we don't get to pick when our time is up. I can only hope that for those who lost their lives, they were able to spend a truly fantastic holiday with everyone they loved the most over Thanksgiving.
The Philadelphia Zoo With Some Friends
Hi friends,
This past weekend I visited an old friend of mine (and her adorable almost-2-year-old son) at her home in the suburbs outside of Philly. Every single time I visit a friend's house in the 'burbs, I'm always struck by two things:
- They seem so much more grown up than I am
- I really enjoy seeing nature out my back window!
No. 2 is the reason I kept taking photos like this of said friend's backyard:
Anyway, between taking backyard photos we managed to do a lot of other things this past weekend, like head to the park, play a lot with the adorable Oliver, eat dinner out in Wayne and, my favorite, head over to the Philadelphia Zoo.
According to the Zoo's site, more than 1,300 animals live there, including many rare and endangered species. The Philly Zoo was also America's first zoo, established on March 21, 1859. It took another 15 years, though — thanks so the Civil War — for the zoo to actually open.
Here's a bit of what we saw:
And in other news, Chris and I booked our flights to Denver in April with my sister and her boyfriend — we're so excited to check it out! So far the itinerary includes Boulder and Breckinridge and Denver, with one or two other potential areas thrown in there somewhere.
Can't wait!
P.S. I feel obliged to say that these photos were all taken with my new iPhone 5C — not too shabby!
Pumpkins Galore!
If you guys are anything like me, you're akin to a kid in a candy store the second the calendar hits October 1. Who doesn't love the crisp fall air, the changing leaves, an extra hour of sleep, carving pumpkins, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin pie, pumpkin … anything!?
Which is why I'm ecstatic that my sister dragged the family to The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at the Van Cortlandt Manor upstate. I cannot tell a lie — at first I was dubious. I didn't actually believe that walking around and looking at some carved, lit pumpkins could be cool.
I can now admit that I was way wrong.
This exhibit features over 5,000 individually hand-carved pumpkins made into pretty much everything you can imagine.
Combine that with pumpkin and cider donuts and hot apple cider — which they also had — and you've pretty much got my perfect fall evening.
It's hard to take photos of carved, lit pumpkins. In the dark. On your iPhone. But I gave it a whirl. Here's some of what we saw last weekend ….
The exhibit runs for another two weeks — but good luck getting tickets, because they're pretty much sold out. Next year, however, if you happen to be in the area during the time it's running, I would highly recommend checking it out!
On the way back into the city early the following morning (to help my friend shop for a wedding dress … she found one!), I snapped this picture from the train:
Sheesh I love this time of year. I mean … come on now.
It's also worth mentioning that on Sunday we watched Chris's uncle run the New York City marathon (he came all the way from Australia to run) …. and he got a five-minute PR! Way to go, Matt!
Bis bald, friends! Hope everyone is making the most of these gorgeous fall days while we have 'em!
Back in the Borough: A Couple of Hot Spots
Hey friends!
Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I didn't get the memo that we were celebrating Halloween before it happens this year … silly me! Costumes were out and about this weekend! So fun!
We had a busy one ourselves. On Friday we continued celebrating the 30 years of Chris's life with friends down at Ace Bar in the East Village.
A second to make some comments about this bar. While it's not exactly right in the heart of the craziness that is the East Village, if you're walking here, you'll most likely be walking through the craziness that is the East Village, which can be really fun, especially on a Friday night. Some things you just might see:
- A really old man smoking a pipe while leaning against a tree
- A man with a cat on a leash who is climbing up a tree
- Throngs and throngs and throngs of people standing outside of some dumpling shop or another, just waiting to get their hands on some late-night delicious drunk food
It's really a hoot.
Ace Bar itself is cool too, with its pool tables and Skeeball machines, darts, pinball and other game. Needless to say, lots of fun was had by all.
On Saturday my sister and her boyfriend came for a visit with their new kitten (squeee!), and we took them to Merrion Square, a bar that is literally one block away. At MS you get a free burger (or veggie burger!) with any full-priced drink, and free wings with a full-price pitcher of beer. They're all about the games here, as well, with more pool, Skeeball machines and Duck Hunter. Plus they have 16 beers on tap, 58 types in bottles and 24 can varieties — so you know, you're covered there as well.
Sunday we spent mostly in Central Park with Chris's uncle, who is back in town to run the New York City Marathon this upcoming Sunday. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the New York City marathon ranks seriously high on my list of favorite days in this city. There's this feeling that everyone in the entire city is rooting for someone (or everyone!), and the crowd is so excited and happy. If you don't need to maneuver yourself around the city by car on the day of the race, it's really something that's amazing to be a part of.
And that about takes us into November friends. Can you even begin to believe that? I'm off to Van Cortlandt Manor in the Hudson Valley this weekend with my family for The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, then back to the city to watch a friend try on wedding dresses (another squeeee!) and for the marathon on Sunday.
Bis bald, my friends! Happy fall!
St. Augustine Follow-Up
Hi guys,
Since I ran out of photo space on the blog when I was trying to post about Chris's birthday trip to St. Augustine, I feel like I somewhat short-changed the update. I wanted to just add a couple more photos here from our time spent in Florida a few weekends ago, and to give another big shout-out to Mike's Yacht of Fun, which we did the Saturday we were there. That whole experience on the yacht really helped make our trip …
^^ You don't have to be 12 to enjoy a good handstand on the beach.
^^ Mike's yacht of fun. Seriously. Lots of fun.
^^ Manatee! I mean honestly, look how close we were!
^^ Pulling up to the Conch House for lunch.
^^ LOVE the Conch House. It's right on the water.The food is tasty and on Sundays they have live jazz music and a great bar.
Okay friends, now I'm done with my St. Augustine updates. Thank you for bearing with me.
Have a great weekend! Bis bald!
Australia … Tomorrow!
Hi friends,
So unfortunately it looks like updating this site isn't going to make it to the top of my list of things to do before we head off to Australia TOMORROW! Bummer. At any rate, to seriously super quickly sum up our Saturday in St. Augustine for Chris's birthday ….
- We rented Mike's Yacht of Fun, complete with boat driver Mike and his lovely wife, for the day Saturday. We drank some beer and ate some snacks, went swimming, saw some manatees, had lunch at The Conch House, and just had an amazing time in general. We also met Mike's son when he rode out on his jet ski to meet us when we were swimming, and he suggested that we all meet up later that night, after the concert, which we did. And it was amazing.
- The concert on Saturday was great! Mumford was totally amazing, and at the last minute the band Fun backed out, so John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame stepped in and was. awesome! He played a couple songs with Mumford and Sons, as well, and it was really just a very good festival — I would highly recommend it for next year!
- After the concert we met up with Riley (Mike's son) and Jon and Rachel at a bar and ate delicious fried pickles and fried green tomatoes, and drank A LOT of drinks. (Which may or may not have included Absinthe. It did include Absinthe. It was gross, because I hate black licorice, but it was fun to watch them melt sugar over the top!)
Anyway, I really wish I could have posted photos from the concert and our day sailing (we got SO CLOSE to the manatees!), but maybe after I update I will, and I wanted to get this last post up before we leave.
So that's it, friends! Tomorrow we're off for two weeks to Australia for our fourth and final wedding celebration, not to mention our honeymoon at the Great Barrier Reef …. awahooo!!!
In the meantime, I'll also be reading this NY Times piece about spending 36 hours in Reykjavik, Iceland, in preparation for our trip there in February.
Okay, bis bald, friends! Wish us a safe (and short!) flight, and I'll be back with updates (and photos!) soon!


text:
Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
Sort by: Date | Rating | Most Helpful
"great recipie! I`m making this recipie tonight."
"Try sauteing the sauerkraut in some rendered salt pork for a more traditional flavor. Awesome!"

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Advanced Search
Learning Resources | News
Lexia has released Lexia Reading 7.1, an update to the company's reading instruction and assessment software. This newest version features improved progress monitoring and new skills reports.
Lexia Reading provides exercises for pre-k to 12th grade students and includes ongoing performance assessments for individual students, classes, schools, or districts.
Version 7.1, which became available this week, gives teachers and administrators "real-time views of student performance by leveraging an unparalleled national database of student skills development," according to information released by the company.
The new version also includes:
Lexia reading is available with through a concurrent licensing program that allows students to access the program from home or school.
Lexia Reading 7.1 is available for Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and Windows XP (SP3), Vista, and Windows 7. It requires 256 MB RAM, 500 MB hard disk space, 32 MB accelerated video graphics card or better, and a headset or speakers.
Further information can be found here.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is the multimedia editor for Campus Technology and THE Journal. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
All Webcasts
Success in a 1-to-1 environment depends on strong leaders who build a culture of innovation and collaboration. Learn the key things that you need to know for a successful 1-to-1 rollout at your school.
Read more...
All Whitepapers
If you have comments or questions about our magazine features or stories, please e-mail the editorial staff at email@example.com. If you have any comments or questions about content found on this Web site, please e-mail David Nagel at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have any comments or questions about subscriptions, please e-mail email@example.com. Links to additional editorial, sales, and publishing contacts can be found here.
Contact the webmaster: [+] Site Feedback [+]
THE Journal | FETC | FETC Virtual Conference
Campus Technology | CT Summer Conference | CT Forum Conference | CT Leadership Symposium
©1994-2014 1105 Media Inc, Ed-Tech Group. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use


text:
Big Red Zone
Hundreds attend Goodwill's career fairUPDATED 6:51 PM CDT Jun 20, 2013
Nebraska boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but a career fair Thursday shows many in the metro have not stopped looking for work.Video Transcript
NEBRASKA BOASTS ONE OF THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE COUNTRY. BUT A CAREER FAIR EARLIER TODAY SHOWS MANY IN THE METRO HAVE NOT STOPPED LOOKING FOR WORK. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN'S KYLE GRAVLIN HAS THIS PROJECT ECONOMY REPORT. AT 3.7%, NEBRASKA HAS THE SECOND LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE U-S. BUT YOU'LL STILL FIND PLENTY OF JOB SEEKERS IN THE AREA. (Jazmin Dumas: I have a part-time job right now, and I'm looking for something to supplement that.) THAT'S WHY GOODWILL HOSTED A FREE CAREER FAIR THURSDAY NEAR 72ND AND AMES.. A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYERS TO CREATE FUTURE EMPLOYEES. (Rhonda Harvey: Actually, this is the number 1 tool that we have to gain employment for others.)(Kyle Gravlin: About 2 dozen local and national companies showed up at Goodwill for this job fair, which has already seen hundreds upon hundreds of participants.) MANY CAME PREPARED, RESUMES IN HAND, HOPING TO POSSIBLY SCORE AN ON-SITE INTERVIEW. JAZMIN DUMAS WAS HAPPY WITH ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THE FAIR OFFERED. (Jazmin Dumas: I'm having fun, I've got a lot of stuff, I've got plenty of applications filled out, plenty of email addresses so I'm all set.) AND EMPLOYERS EMPHASIZED THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS OUT THERE FOR ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE. (Keele Taylor: Now is an opportune time to get your foot in the door, or to utilize the experiences you have. Both entry level and professional.) BUT IN A JOB SEEKING WORLD GROWING INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT IN ONLINE APPLICATIONS ...(Kelly Nesbit: Yeah, I prefer talking to people and sitting down with an interview than doing everything over the computer.) THIS WAS A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO IMPRESS IN PERSON...INSTEAD OF JUST ON PAPER.. OR A COMPUTER SCREEN. IN OMAHA.. KYLE GRAVLIN, KETV NW7. IF YOU COULD NOT MAKE IT TO TODAY'S CAREER FAIR.. YOU CAN STILL APPLY - AT LEAST AT GOODWILL. WE'VE LINKED TO THEIR PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE - KETV DOT COM.
More Video
CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use. Your comment will not appear here until you verify your email address with Disqus. KETV NewsWatch 7 encourages users to report violations of our terms of use by flagging the inappropriate comment. Hold your mouse over the comment to reveal the flag on the right side, then click the flag.blog comments powered by Disqus
Latest from KETV Channel 7
AdvertisingBest 7's Sure Bets


text:
PLAINS, Ga, Jun 21, 2014 -- USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Lilian Salerno celebrated a Downtown Development plan that will stimulate the local economy and save and create jobs for tourist-friendly Plains, Georgia.
"This development plan is projected to save 8 jobs at the restaurant as well as promote rural tourism through safety, signage and lighting improvements." Administrator Salerno said.
Contingent upon meeting the terms of the grant agreement, Plains Better Hometown (PBH) Program will receive a $90,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to renew tourist interest in Plains, Georgia, famous hometown of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The PBH plan includes improvements to tourist destination, Mimmie's Diner; walkway repairs and beautification of the Main Street Block; and new tourist-friendly signage downtown.
Rural public entities, Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations for are eligible to apply for RBEG funding for projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses. For more about the USDA programs for businesses and cooperatives, see http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/LP_Subject_BusinessAndCooperativeAssistance.html .
President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.
USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users)


text:
Kate Voegele - Counting The Ways (© asn.Debbie) Standard Tuning + No Capo *Notes:* I'm not 100% sure about the chorus, so if you have any corrections, feel free to comment.. I love hearing from people, so please rate & comment. Chords used: G : 320033 Em7 : 022033 C : x32010 (Cadd9 : x32033) D : xx0232 [Intro] G | Em7 | C e|--------------------------------------| B|-------3-----------3----------1-----0-| G|-----0----0------0----0-----0----0----| D|---0-----------2----------2-----------| A|-------------2----------3-------------| E|-3------------------------------------| [Verse 1] G Em7 C D Oh my darling I'm so far in, I can't see my feet G Em7 C (D) Your water deep is washing over me G Em7 C D G Em7 Fifty states must separate us but it only makes me see C (D) How much you mean [Pre Chrorus 1] Em7 Cadd9 When your whisper brought me outta my slumber G D I stumbled under some kind of spell Em7 Cadd9 Now the distance gives me reason to wonder G D How I'll recover from our farewell ~[Chorus]~ G D Em7 Cause these days, doesn't matter what you say Cadd9 G I'm a mess when you're away D And unless you come back, Em7 Cadd9 G I'll be one step closer to insane D Em7 Cadd9 It's enough to keep me lyin' wide awake G D Counting the ways that I miss you babe [Verse 2] Complications, conversations, late into the night I'm over the same old hello goodbye So leave me speechless, I miss that feeling With each lonely evening that goes by, I can't describe [Pre Chorus 2] Well San Francisco has a way with the summer And fall does a number to New York City But regardless of the season above us You're doing something that's sure to get me ~[Chorus]~ Em7 Cadd9 G D Save me, give my troubled heart Em7 Cadd9 G D What it's been aching daily for Em7 Cadd9 G I'm hoping, you know me enough to see D That I can't be alone anymore ~[Chorus]~ (© asn.Debbie)
Popular Kate Voegele tabs & chords
Song lyrics
↑ Back to top | Tablatures and chords are parodies/interpretations of the original songs. You may use it for private study, scholarship, research or language learning purposes only


text:
Join/Renew AARP Today
Join/Renew for Just $16 A Year
- Discounts on travel and everyday savings
- Subscription to AARP The Magazine
- Free membership for your spouse or partner
Members can print free savings coupons
Learn how to live smart and stay sharp
Members save on e-
readers and tablets
Find the resources you need
Enter an ingredient, course or keyword and get cooking!
Learn how AARP Driver Safety can help you stay safe—and enter for a chance to win $1,000. See official rules.
Nothing has been viewed
Photo by: Joseph De Leo
A whole roast like this evokes a party for me–a couple more dishes such as eggplant involtini and a frittata with herbs, and you have a springtime feast. I like lamb medium-rare, not bloody, but if you want it rare, cook it for about 15 minutes less at 375°F, to an internal temperature of 115°F.
1. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, lemon, and rosemary. Add the lamb, turning to coat. Cover and let marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.
2. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
3. Remove the lamb from the marinade and season liberally with salt and pepper (discard the marinade). Place the lamb fat side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the pan and scatter the olives, shallots, and prunes around the lamb.
4. Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes. Lower the heat to 375°F, turn the lamb over, and cook for about 30 minutes more, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the leg reads 135°F. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
5. Meanwhile, pour the contents of the roasting pan into a 4-quart saucepan. Deglaze the roasting pan with the remaining 1 cup wine, scraping up the browned bits in the bottom of the pan, and add to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes to thicken slightly.
6. Slice the lamb and arrange on warmed plates. Spoon some sauce over each portion, and serve the remainder on the side.
Nutrients per serving (% daily value)
Nutritional information is based on 6 servings and includes 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving.
From companies that meet the high standards of service and quality set by AARP.
Members save 15% all day, every day when dining at participating Denny's restaurants.
Members get a FREE Donut with purchase of a L or XL beverage at Dunkin' Donuts.
Members can locate discounts via the AARP® Member Advantages Offer Finder mobile app.
Join or renew today! Members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50 and older improve the quality of their lives.


text:
Cycling Clothing
Triathlete Sports is your bike apparel headquarters. From shoes to helmets, we've got everything you need from head to toe. We offer a great selection of bike shorts, bibs, and tights to keep you cycling year round. Our selection of bike jerseys will allow you to find anything from a pro fit racing jersey to a more relaxed fit training jersey; we even offer a variety of long sleeve jerseys for when the weather starts to get cool.
Our bike apparel section also includes a great selection of bike jackets & vests to give riders that extra protection from the elements. Triathlete Sports offers customers a nice selection of cycling helmets as well as just bike apparel. We carry everything from entry level helmets to state of the art, ultra light weight, and incredibly breathable racing helmets; we also have a nice selection of Time Trail, aerodynamic, helmets. Our shoe & toe covers, gloves and sunglasses collections top off our bike apparel section and helps Triathlete Sports provide cyclist with everything you need for all of your rides.
Craft Women's Pro Zero Long Sleeve - 2015$54.99
Louis Garneau Men's Clean Imper Jacket - 2015$24.99
Louis Garneau Arm Warmers 2 - 2015$26.99
Louis Garneau Windscreen - 2015$44.99
Louis Garneau Sharp Helmet - 2015$94.99
Louis Garneau X-Lite Helmet - 2015$169.99
Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Arm Warmers - 2015$31.99
Louis Garneau 12C Air Gel Glove - 2015$34.99
Craft Women's Zero Extreme Concept Piece - 2015$74.99
Craft Men's Pro Zero Extreme Long Sleeve Crew - 2015$70.00
Craft Men's Pro Zero Extreme Long Underpant - 2015$70.00
Craft Women's Pro Zero Extreme Long Sleeve - 2015$69.99
Craft Women's Pro Zero Extreme Long Underpant - 2015$69.99
Craft Women's Pro Zero Extreme Short Sleeve - 2015$65.00
Craft Men's Pro Zero Extreme Short Sleeve Mockneck - 2015$65.00
Craft Men's Pro Zero Long Sleeve Crew - 2015$54.99
Shopping Options
- Category
- Bike (1388)
- Cycling Clothing
- Cycling Jerseys (38)
- Cycling Shorts (7)
- Arm & Leg Warmers/Coolers (15)
- Jackets & Vests (6)
- Helmets (31)
- Military Cycling Apparel (1)
- Youth Cycling Apparel (1)
- Cycling Accessories (119)
- Price
- Manufacturer
- Remove This Item Color Filter
- Gender
- Size
You have no items to compare.


text:
Corning Credit Union
10,000 - 50,000 downloadsAdd this app to your lists
+ By Corning Federal Credit Union
Manage your accounts, view transaction history, and pay your bills. CCU members can also deposit checks, make quick cross-member and intra-account transfers and find the closest ATM or branch in our network. CCU's mobile application is accessed using your existing eBranch login information.
SAFE and SECURE
CCU uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to communicate securely through all mobile service providers. Our network is protected with multiple security devices that block unauthorized access and protect your data, no matter how you access your accounts.
With a single click, you can find the surcharge-free ATMs near you and locate the closest CCU branch. Our search map provides addresses and branch contact information.
All CCU members may use our mobile application at no charge. Your wireless provider's messaging and data rates may apply.
Consult our Frequently Asked Questions for answers about CCU's mobile application.
Tags: www.corningcu.com, corning credit union ebranch, corning credit union ebranch login, corning ebranch, corning credit union login, corning credit union, nearest atm mobile app in mobiles, wescom credit union ebranch, corning glass credit union e branch login, corning ccu text.
* Minor wording change
(67 stars)
I Love everything about the app and the banks service's. I wouldn't bank anywhere else.
(67 stars)
What the F##k is "session timed out" and why does it say that right after i log in
(67 stars)
All good but ads? Really? Why would a bank have ads?
(67 stars)
I am still unable to see my transaction history. Every time I try it times out and goes back to the login screen. Please fix asap!
(67 stars)
I downloaded this app mainly for the mobile check deposit function, but whenever I open it, it tells me the function has been disabled. So disappointing.
(67 stars)
Great !!!!
(67 stars)
I really like everything about this app with the exceptions of the ads. A Credit Union app shouldn't have (or need) embedded ads. Other than that, it works as expected and designed. It's fat, relatively simple, and hassle free. I'd recommend it to all CCU account holders.


text:
Updated Fri, Mar 21, 2014 10:26 pm
Minneapolis, MN
Updated Fri, Mar 21, 2014 10:26 pm
Photo Credit:
Ohio Athletics
Sophomore Addy Ferguson will compete in the 100 fly and the 100 backstroke in the 2014 NCAA Swimming Championships
After a morning full of competition, Ohio swimmer Addy Ferguson finished her first NCAA Swimming Championships appearance, competing in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly.
Ferguson finished 38th in the backstroke with a time of 53.67. She later landed at 57th in the butterfly, at 54.6 seconds.
The sophomore did not make the finals in either event.


text:
Discover Chocolate and Live La Vida Cocoa!
Join The Chocolate Life
Hello, I would like to know if the Krebs LM3 hot CHOC is adequate for precoating centers before they are hand-dipped.
I'm in Canada.
Welcome toThe Chocolate Life
Sign Upor Sign In
Follow Clay on:
Twitter :: @DiscoverChoc
F'Book :: TheChocolateLife
F'Book Group :: LaVidaCocoa
Paper.li :: @DiscoverChoc
© 2014 Created by Clay Gordon.
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
Apprentice Electrician: Job Description and Education Requirements
Apprentice electricians work under the supervision of a licensed electrician to install or repair various electrical systems. Read on to learn more about this entry-level position and the education needed to get started.
Job Description
An apprentice electrician is an entry-level electrician enrolled in an apprenticeship program to learn the tools and skills necessary to becoming a certified electrician. As an apprentice, an electrician will receive a combination of classroom education and paid on-the-job experience. Skills that are typically covered in these programs include how to design, install and repair commercial or residential electrical systems, as well as how to install and maintain data-telecommunications wiring.
According to the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) there are four main apprenticeship tracts for interested future electricians, each of which specialize in a part of the process of conducting electricity from sources that generate power to local areas of need (www.njatc.org). The NJACTS tracts include outside linemen, inside wiremen, VDV or low-voltage data-telecommunications technicians and residential wiremen. Apprentice electricians work under the observation of a master electrician or journeyman, building up basic skills, gaining additional tasks and responsibilities as they improve.
Education Requirements
In order to qualify for an apprenticeship, aspiring electricians need to have completed a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Apprenticeship programs are offered through a number of technical or community colleges, organizations and unions. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) together sponsor programs of apprenticeship across the United States through the NJATC. These programs usually last four years and involve classroom education on mathematics, electrical code and theory, interpreting blueprints and principals of electrical installation, as well as specialized training depending on what tract of apprenticeship is chosen.
After completing 8,000 hours of apprenticeship work and graduating from an apprenticeship program, entry-level technicians are usually required to become licensed by their state. State requirements vary, but typically include a combination of education, experience and knowledge of state electrical codes.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
In 2012, electricians earned an annual median salary of $49,840, or $23.96 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Apprentices usually earn from 30%-50% of the full salary, until they've gained more skills, the BLS stated in 2010. From 2010-2020, the BLS projected 23% job growth for electricians.
Related to Apprentice Electrician: Job Description and Education Requirements
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Top Electrician School - Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Technology Centers has five campuses scattered throughout the Oklahoma City, OK, metropolitan area. High school students,...
Top Ranked Electrician School - Memphis, TN
Aspiring electricians can gain the training needed for careers in electricity through programs in community colleges. In...
Online Electrician Classes and Courses Overview
Online electrician classes and courses typically cover topics that include safety, electrical circuiting, blueprints or the...
Top Schools for Construction Trades Programs
Find information about construction trades programs, which can lead to a career in carpentry, electrical, or plumbing work....
Electrician: Online Diploma
- Electricians: Job Description & Requirements
- Online Journeyman Electrician Certification and Test Information
- Online Programs for Becoming a Master Electrician
- Top Accounting School - Omaha, NE
- Top Computer Drafting and Design School - Norfolk, VA
- Avionics Quality Engineer: Education and Career Information
- Insurance Claims Adjuster: Career Education Profile


text: Brad Goreski Is Engaged to Longtime Partner Gary Janetti! 5 Things We Can't Wait to See on the Return of Fashion Police! Joan Rivers & Kathy Griffin: Their Adorable Friendship in Photos! Kathy Griffin Named New Host of Fashion Police Bitch Stole My Look! Rihanna vs. Rosie in Nipple Pasties


text:
We all have our favourite version of potato salad. There's the creamy mayo and egg version "just like Mom use to make". Or that smoky and warm German masterpiece with a wine vinegar tang. Then, sometimes, trusting our tastebuds, we let potatoes shine tossed with Thai red curry paste and coconut milk, or a Mediterranean version with a generous squeeze of lemon juice and robust olive oil.
And then there's this, with the not-so-traditional role of the acid taken over by pickle juice.
I use a vinegar-free, sugar, and preservative-free kosher dill pickle that has garlic and dill in the ingredients. The brand is Bubbies, and I'm a fan because (a) they're really, really good and (b) they don't have vinegar, which normally overpowers the average pickle (for me). They have a fantastic zing and a delicious garlic flavor. If the pickles you are using lack garlic, you might want to add a minced clove or two to taste.
Picnic Potato Salad
The addition of pickle juice is what sets this potato salad apart. Served right away at room temperature, straight from the fridge, or on a paper plate in the afternoon sun are the best ways to enjoy it. Without having to worry about the mayo, it makes for the picnic side dish.
Makes 6 servings
2 1/2 pounds (1135g) waxy potatoes, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons (7mL) fine sea or Himalayan salt, plus more to taste
3 tablespoons (45mL) pickle juice
1 tablespoon (15mL) brown mustard
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 1/2 tablespoons (67mL) mild extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup (60mL) finely chopped red onion
3 tablespoons (45mL) finely chopped fresh dill
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 kosher pickle, finely chopped
Put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil with 1 teaspoon (5mL) of the salt. Reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and cool for about 10 minutes.
Put the pickle juice, mustard, remaining salt, and a few grinds of black pepper in a large bowl. Add the oil in a steady stream, whisking to emulsify. Mix in the onion, dill, celery, and pickle. Once the potatoes are cool, add them to the mixture. Toss to combine. Refrigerate until serving or packing for a picnic.


text:
Now Playing
Loading stream...
Connect with Us
HPPR hosts & contributors
Music Director and High Plains Morning Host
Western Swing & Other Things Host & Producer
Producer and host of High Plains History and Growing on the High Plains
Regional Programming Director
Open Range and High Plains Saturday Night Host
Silver Rails co-host
Silver Rails co-host
Friday Night Blues host
Operations Coordinator and Amarillo Symphony Presents host
Podcasts & RSS Feeds
|Sandhya Dirks
|All Content
|View all podcasts & RSS feeds
Sandhya Dirks
Sandhya Dirks arrived in Iowa in January of 2012 as a general assignment reporter. Since coming to Des Moines she has covered the Statehouse and traveled across Iowa to bring back stories for IPR. Sandhya was previously a reporter at KALW in San Francisco, covering education and criminal justice issues. Her work was awarded a SPJ Sigma Delta Chi and a regional Edward R. Murrow award.
Most recently, Sandhya earned her Master of Science from Columbia Journalism School in New York. Her master's project was an investigative documentary about international adoption for which she was awarded the Pasty Preston Pulitzer Documentary Fellowship.
Sandhya's favorite public radio program is Radiolab.


text:
1-1 of 1 two bedroom flats for sale found
£150,000 Offers Over
Offers Over £150,000
2 bedroom apartment for sale Odnall Lane, Clent
An attractive and well presented Ground Floor Apartment set within a converted house in the sought after Clent location and being set in beautiful landscaped grounds. Communal Entrance Hall, private door to Reception Hall, Lounge, fitted Kitchen, Two Bedrooms and Bathroom. Private Courtyard. More details ›
- 1
Thank you.
Your information has been sent to 0 out of 1 agents who have property to sell in the area you specified.