Reenie's Ramblings

Most of the time when we have that fun conversation about "what would you do if you won the lottery", every single person has travel in their list of things they would do once debts were paid and house/car etc were bought. So, if everyone wants to travel, why don't they?  Well it takes money, true... but here's what I've decided: Its just money.  We spend our money on so many frivolous things throughout a year, that if we saved it instead, we could go on one great trip a year (or 2 depending on financial situation and lifes unexpected events). Why I've started thinking this way: My husband and I have always said from the time we got married that we wanted to travel when we retired.  It was this long-away-in-the-future sort of dream that we aspired to attain... making sure we take care of things now so when that time comes we have the savings to travel the way we want.  This is a decent plan but something changed our thinking.  My parents wanted

This is a common chorus from stay at home mothers all over.  They are home with that new little baby and sleep-deprived, struggling to do the best they can and feeling like their man just doesn't understand how hard it is or what all they do. This is true. Most men don't have a clue what all us moms do in a day or what we juggle to keep it all together... but I've realized something lately that changed my perspective. There is a list of a TON of things I would NEVER want to do that my husband has to do in his job.  There are many days where I am sure I couldn't begin to understand the things he's had to troubleshoot, or the messes he's had to clean up or annoyances he's had to deal with.  You know the funny thing?  I've never heard him complain about it.... Sure, he's vented about frustrating parts but he has never said to me "you just don't understand how hard it is to get up early, go to work, face things I don't want to face

Having recently enjoyed a getaway in San Diego, I find it still lingering in my mind.  I had never been before and probably wouldn't have gone for a long time had I not earned the trip through Pampered Chef. There is SO MUCH in San Diego and the climate just makes everyone's mood different!  You hear about how the weather is moderate and its true.  The day we arrived, there was a little sprinkling of rain in the afternoon but it didn't last long.  The rest of the time, we enjoyed feeling the warmth of the sun with an occasional breeze that was near perfection! Once we spent a little time in the Gaslamp District, we discovered there is a LOT of great places to eat!  Any type of food you want to try, they have it! This is a jalepeno stuffed with cheese wrapped in bacon, pinto bean soup (amazingly good!) and corn with spices and cheese.  fantastic! Another place we ate was an AWESOME #Irishpub called the Field! Shepherds pie and Guinness The outside of

PASTA!  PASTA! #PASTA!  I had never made homemade pasta before and our friend Mary who took us to the Little Italy Markert (previous blogpost) was happy to bring us to her home and teach us how! It started with setting the mood first!  Had to get our American/Italian music going first! :)  Then spread some flour on the counter and get to it! Made a well in my flour!   Then added eggs and oil and started kneading!  My Husband Brent took over and became the Master Pasta maker!  So fun to watch as it all came together! coming together! Team Effort!   We also picked fresh greens from Marys garden, made a salad and then made a second batch of pasta with spinach!  YUM!  Started the same way with a well of flour then added spinach. Mary adding the spinach   Turns out pasta is a fun thing to make, and a fantastic difference in taste!  The spinach pasta ended up being my favorite!  We also enjoyed homemade bread this day made by Eva Yakutis (to die for good!), Itali

Once again we head down and enjoy an incredibly filling and fancy breakfast.  We then meet up with a wonderful lady we met on our Rome trip who happens to live in San Diego.  She picks us up at the hotel and takes us to Little Italy and we shop the entire market.  Fell in love with this area, this market and the hustle and bustle of it all.  There was live music, smells of food being prepared and a sunny day... perfection! The entrance to Little Italy     After this market we went to Mary's house to make homemade pasta!  I am going to do a separate blog for the pasta making portion of this day because I have so many pictures!

We wake up and head down to a HUGE breakfast buffet in a private hall for us.  Here we are AGAIN greeted with applause and cheers and welcoming smiling faces! There was every kind of fruit, pastry imaginable and meats, waffles, pancakes... my o my, everything you can think of for breakfast was available!  Very delicious, very filling and a perfect way to start our second day in San Diego! The sun was shining as we walked to meet our tour guide near the gaslamp district. This is the entrance to the Gaslamp District   Once we met up with our tour group, we headed out on an adventure of food, history and fun. We learned about how the bay was dredged to make san diego, where a lot of the speakeasies were, where the brothels were and how San Diego became the beautiful city it is.  The city blocks are smaller than most and there are 11 historical buildings throughout this area.  We got to sample several foods along the way on this tour and ended up at heavenly cupcakes where we ea

Day one of my first trip earned through the Pampered Chef!  I had heard about how great the trips are but wasn't sure what exactly to expect!  With an early flight out of Seattle, we arrived at the San Diego Airport at 8 am!  There was a shuttle there waiting to take use to the hotel! on the shuttle bus   Once we arrived at the hotel, as we entered the area to check in, we were greeted with cheers and applause!  What a welcome!  Once we checked in, received our packets and spending money, we arrived in our room and there were Chocolate covered Strawberries, gift card to the hotel restaurant and gift card to the Starbucks!  Already this trip was off to a GREAT start!   We stayed at the Marriot Marina and the staff was incredibly helpful, rooms were beautiful, beds comfortable and the pool area was amazing! small glimpse of pool area... this is about 1/5 of it all   After Checking out the hotel, pool and all, we hit the streets heading to the Gaslamp District w