Tag Archives: road trip

This here is the Perfectly Flawed weekly round-up, so if you missed me on Pinterest & Facebook, this is where I’ll be sharing some of that LOVE on Fridays. Enjoy!

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Earth Day crafts, Chipotle, and More!

This week was the first week of Earth Month. This month for Natural Living Tips I’ll be covering how to green your clean. Yep, we’ll be making homemade cleaning products. Good for the planet and your loved ones!

The family is getting itchy, we need to travel:-). Though we’re taking a family trip to Key West in a few weeks, I can’t help but be thinking of the kids and I’s road trip this summer. I’m having visions of places like these:

After seeing this image on Pinterest, I now must read A Street Cat Named Bob. I’m thinking it may provoke tears in a way Dewey did.

Yesterday the kids and I stocked up on the veggies needed to make our own natural egg dyes. Beets, carrots, red cabbage, yellow onions and spinach. Take a look see here for more.

There is still time to get in on Hybrid Rasta Mama’s giveaway. A one-gallon bucket of Gold Label coconut oil and her e-book. You can enter through April 9th!

Until the 14th to purchase one of Chipotle’s upcycled/repurposed lunch bags, made out of old billboards. With your purchase you get a coupon for a free burrito on Earth Day, April 22nd.

Do you need some cool Earth Day craft ideas for kids? Here you go!

Leaving you with this picture of Addy getting ready to feed the Tarpons in the Florida Keys. She really did love it, can’t you tell:-)?

Peace!

This here is the Perfectly Flawed weekly round-up, so if you missed me on Pinterest & Facebook, this is where I’ll be sharing some of that LOVE on Fridays. Enjoy!

Butter, Uganda & Road Trippin’!

Earlier this week I stumbled upon this perfectly funny blog post. Do you, would you, could you? Hee hee!

After the very dramatic day of posting the Kony 2012 video, I found a very beautiful way to help support the women of Uganda in a much less political way!

Oh yes! White butter:-)

I made butter with my kitchen aid. Beginning with fresh cream from the Dam Ranch, our neighbor. It’s whipped until it collapses, pour off the buttermilk (use it in home-made pancakes:-) then add ice cold water and re-whip until the liquid pours off clear. Look it’s WHITE!!

A goal in life is to have a pantry like this, NO plastic!

My friend Rosemary and I launched our new blog segment Natural Living Tips this week. We even made videos, check out our debut on how to make a home-made coconut oil body scrub, then try it yourself! What essential oil combinations do you love? (See her blog here)

Have been continuing the planning of the kids and I’s Summer 2012 road trip, 8000 miles, 60 days. It’s starting to come together. Here’s a peek, it’s not complete. Makes me want to have one of these or these someday, well I’ve wanted one for a long time actually, ha.

Summer 2012

I’d love some must see’s, if you’ve done this before, tips, etc. Thanks!

And since I’m thinking of travel, I’ll leave you with this!

Happy Weekend,
Peace!

So, I’m 40! I’m not too surprised that I’m embracing it with love, I have been working towards this acceptance after all. I wanted to ring in this next decade in a BIG way, so off to Northern Cali I went. My first three days were spent alone in the Redwoods between Carmel and Big Sur California, one of my favorite places. Landing in San Francisco around 12:30 my first stop was Baja Fresh for lunch. I can’t help it, ever since PFMan and I lived in Vegas, years ago, I have loved BF and don’t miss a chance to eat the veggie burrito. Then down the coast I go. HWY 17 is spectacular, a curvy, tree-lined drive, just breathtaking. I arrive in Carmel to do some shopping for my stay. I’m determined to go veggie while I’m here so I stock my cart with organic produce, strawberries, asparagus, & pistachios. I’ve brought my herbal teas from home as well, oh and chocolate with sea salt:-). I turn down Palo Colorado Rd. to head to Don Loui’s. This image above is the point where Palo Colorado Rd. meets the Pacific Coast Hwy. Turning off down Palo Colorado was magical. See I’m a dreamer in the sense that I love environments that transport me, and when you turn onto this road you are placed immediately into towering redwoods, like a land of fairies. You twist and wind amongst the quiet giants, houses placed into the sides of the mountains like they’ve been there forever, all blending in with the trees, completely part of the forest.

Here I have my bag of goodies, camera & backpack (which was packed in my luggage and now used to haul only the few items I’d need for this portion of my trip), and up the mountain I go. Not too bad, about five steep switchbacks, with little treasures at every corner. Then the Dragon House appears, unbelievable! I’m through the Dragon house tunnel and onto the Rainbow House where I’m staying. Don, the innkeeper, is an eccentric. He’s been on this property since 1983. Then it was him, the land and a tent. The Rainbow house he built first. Yes, him and his son. Previously he was a contractor and landscaper by trade and it shows. Today there are 4 buildings, The Rainbow & Dragon House (rentals), his own home and an octagon above the rest with windows looking out over the mountain and Pacific Ocean, used for yoga and/or meditation. Beautiful, peaceful! He’s created many trails all around the property as well.

Though I highly recommend staying here alone, as a couple or small family, this is not for everyone. Forget a warm shower and none at all in the Rainbow House. Luckily I like going rough and dirty, ha. There is no oven and only a propane burner for stove top, and it’s QUIET (aside from the very loud frogs and owls at night:-). I like to think of the house like a tree house on crack, seriously! And since I like being transported, it was perfect for me, like a kid again.

So what’s a girl to do all alone in the mountains? Hike, hike, eat at her favorite restaurant in Big Sur, play words with friends, ha, take lots of pictures and hike some more. To my chagrin there was no big AHA moment or anything, just time with myself which in itself is a BIG deal for me. In my past being along has been very difficult. A good friend of mine text-ed me while there questioning how I was doing alone. He said he talks to himself a lot when alone, lol. Me too:-). And I did, much of it in my head, some out loud. But I was comfortable with it, the oneness, and that’s a BIG deal!

Please enjoy some of the many photos I took while on this part of my trip and look for a post on me joining the girls in Wine Country soon:-)!

Peace!

Previous trip to Big Sur with my honey:-)!

The PFFamily in Key West - May 2011

I was up pretty late last night, four glasses of wine not settling well in my belly. I read, actually finished my current book, A Modern Witch, and then turned to my I-phone for a little research on a couple of things I wish to begin in the new year.

Last year around this time I posted about how I’m really not into making New Year’s Resolutions. I still refuse to put that much pressure on myself, but I do have a laundry list of things I’d like to do, change, see, stop doing, etc.

Before I begin my list for 2012, let’s see how I did in 2011.

Things I will be working on in 2011:

Family – Feel good about this. We moved to the country and began homeschooling, lot’s of family time.
Travel – Good here too. We began our yearly family trip overseas with Ireland in March, road trip over the summer along with nine days in N. California with PFMan celebrating an early 15 year anniversary. We took two cruises with a highlight on one out of San Juan, taking us to Curacao, Dominica & Aruba. To round it out, we also took a couple of much needed camping trips, one to North Georgia, one to Ginnie Springs in North Florida. Ahhhh….
Positive energy & intentions – This a failed miserably, well not entirely because I still have intent and know my triggers to self destruction.
Eating clean -Did well for a few months only. I did really well with giving up coffee and drinking more tea. Got to August then crashed. Have to reboot this one.
Organization – This will be a never ending battle, lol.

So what about 2012?

There are many personal accomplishments I would like to achieve this year. In the kitchen I want to learn how to make Thai and Indian food, get better at meal/menu planning and stocking the kitchen, learn to make bread, start canning regularly, shop at farmer’s markets and from local ranches and farms more often and consistently. This year is the year to get the chicken coop and run built, I’d like to have 3-5 egg layers:-). Also, get the hydroponic garden started and plant the Meyer lemon trees. We’re thinking things like, sweet potatoes, lettuce, strawberries, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs at least. Going along with natural/sustainable trend we need to get the compost reinstated too!

Other Personal plans: Begin yoga and stick with it, it WILL be tough for me but I must prevail. Part of the Self-help, positive energy & intentions theme. Thinking about Tai Chi as well. Michael and I will get bikes, the kids are just getting them on New Years Eve (we’re celebrating our family Christmas when we return from NY).

In the house we need to get the great room painted and focus on the meditation garden off the master bedroom and Asian decor in the master bedroom/bathroom. I need to get the studio organized too, both the Tails Collection shooting/office areas, as well as organizing the arts/crafts area for Addy and I. There is so much space to work with, so I will most certainly get a bit overwhelmed, ha.

Travel plans! To start off the year and celebrate my 40th b-day, I’m heading to Big Sur for three nights! Doing a hike-in and staying ALONE, to reflect and get centered, hopefully, ha:-). Then driving north to meet my girlfriends for some time in wine country. The kids and I have a 6-8 week road trip planned for the June/July. Heading back to Big Sur, taking 2ish weeks to get there, stopping in AL, LA, TX, AR, UT and CO. PFMan will meet us out west for a 10 day California Adventure, then the kids and I will head back. I CAN’T wait!! And cross our fingers for Vienna/Paris for the Holidays.

Now I realize this is super loaded, these are just top priorities, which change, we tend to be indecisive at best, or as I like to say, Perfectly Flawed. Some things may not happen, others may be added, but at the end of the day or year, it will all be another super adventure, surrounded by my PFFamily and that makes me smile.

Happy New Year everyone!
Buon Anno!
Ein glückliches neues Jahr!
Feliz año nuevo!
Bonne année!

We’ve made it to NY. My family lives in Yonkers, just 10 miles away from the George Washington Bridge. The road trip was a short and sweet, three days, stopping in Savannah, GA and Virginia Beach, VA. Loved Savannah! Would love to return for a longer stay, we only were in town for about five hours. Saw Chippewa Square, the spot Forest Gump’s Bench was in, had our picture taken:-)! We ate at the Moon River Brewing Co., sub-par food, good beer, haunted, then found the famous Leopold’s ice cream, founded in 1919. Kids enjoyed some sugar! For our accommodations we stayed at the Savannah KOA, just 20 minutes from the city. We chose a cabin, no frills, just beds, bring your own linens. Beautiful, in the trees, lots of ducks, geese and swans. They sold honey from the Savannah Bee Co. and Preserves by Paula Deen. We purchased some blueberry preserves, we’re all suckers for jams, jellies and preserves, get them everywhere we go!

Next up Virgina Beach! We made it out the beach by 7:30 that evening. Wholy Moly, the summer crowd had arrived! I have to say, we didn’t make it to the more pristine beaches of V. Beach, just to touristville and growing up going to New Symrna and Daytona, this was that with a boardwalk. I loved the boardwalk, the darker sand with substance and the pier, but could have done without everything else. Though we happened upon a newer restaurant right on the boardwalk, 11th Street Taphouse, it was great! Super beer selection and the food was REALLY good!

We enjoyed our first time crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. Long and Beautiful! Loved Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia). So much farm land, corn crops everywhere! We had to stop and take a peek. We also lucked out when we stopped to pee and get gas. We happened upon a popular restaurant inside called Sting Ray’s. Good ole’ Southern food. I really wish we could have stayed for lunch, fried catfish…. Hello!

We caught horrible traffic on the NJ Turnpike and then we arrived:-)!

Love road trips, but mostly when there is time to stop along the way and explore. Even when we drive home from the mountains in GA or TN we make time to stop in Peach County GA to visit Lane Southern Orchards. They have the best Peach ice cream and you can watch them package the peaches too!

The kids and I leave in the morning on our two-day road trip to NY. They are staying with the g-parents for a couple of weeks and PFMan and I are flying to N. CA next Thursday. On our road trip up to NY we will stop in Savannah, GA and Virginia Beach. I think it’s kinda absurd that I’ve been in FL most of my life and here in St. Pete for 11 years and I haven’t yet been to Savannah. It’s only 6 hours away!! I would love to stop at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House for lunch. They are only open M-F from 11-2, so the goal is to leave early enough to get there in time. Mrs. Wilkes is known for the best in Southern eats! They always have a super long line to get in, it’s served family style. Here’s the description from the website:

Inside Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, four generations of the Wilkes family have worked the ground-floor, keeping the restaurant’s tables laden with platters of Mrs. Wilkes’ legendary fried chicken, beef stew and biscuits. Friends, family and fellow diners pass bowls brimming with her butter beans, collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes and banana pudding.

Hello!  I’m there!  I love to eat regional food while I’m traveling and the kiddos love to try new things too, yay!  I want to live like a local everywhere I go.  I mean really,  stop eating at the chains and seek out the local eats!! 

I haven’t figured out V Beach yet. Probably just tool around the boardwalk, head to the beach, Chesapeake Bay, etc. I’m actually more excited to cross the Bay Bridge-Tunnel, it’s known as one of the seven engineering wonders of the world.

Ciao!

How much can happen in one month? So much. School has come to an end and we finally mailed out the Letter of Intent to Home School to the Superintendent. So it’s official now. We’ve been to Key West and camping at the top of Black Rock Mountain in north Georgia, so much fun! The kids have been attending camp so far this summer, science and art camps and next week we’re off on our month long adventure to NY and Northern CA. The kids and I are taking off next Friday morning on a short road trip to Yonkers, NY. We’ll stop over in Savannah, GA and Virginia Beach, VA. On the 14th, PFman and I fly to N. CA to celebrate our 15th anniversary, kid-less while they’re with my parents:-)! Our anniversary is actually Dec. 1, but we have to take advantage of them being with mema and pop-pop. We’ll spend time in each Big Sur, Guenerville and Sonoma and I’m hoping to make the 5-hour trek to the Redwood Forest:-). I’ll be returning with the kiddos and my niece via the Blue Ridge Parkway with stops in four campgrounds. So the month of July is accounted for, we can’t wait.

What else has been happening? Well, we are slowly decreasing our dependency on plastic, Yay! I recently completed both watching and reading the No Impact Man. Very inspirational, a must read! Our tenants are moving out of our little house and upon our return we will begin to slowly move in, cleansing as we go. By that I mean getting rid of a ton of STUFF. I’m still on the path to minimalism with the biggest results happening with the move. We’re having a HUGE yard sale the last week of August! It all must go, so excited to simplify!

And on an accumulating note, we adopted a kitten. Thank you to Pet Pal Animal Shelter for Harry our little gray fluff ball with BIG personality!