August 2, 2015

BTW - We realize that the email had a glitch yesterday...Here is the LINK to yesterday's Daily Scoop

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 5 Days

Downtime (sort of)

HAPPY SUNDAY! 
Wow, I can't tell you the last time that I was home (which equates to being in-town) over a weekend. 
I have no clue the last time I was around on a Sunday - oh wait just remembered that I was local on Father's Day (that was the day before leaving for  Oslo, Norway). 

Anyhow, I've been local this weekend, and this weekend is sandwiched between just getting back from back to back to back to back trips in Europe and in Canada, and the MLB All Star Road Trip and the 4,000+ mile Eastern USA tour/visit!

AND leaving to go to Puerto Rico and then cruising St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten!
More on my trip details and plans on TRAVELIN TUESDAY!

So as this weekend would go, yesterday I had a really LONG board meeting for the International Peace Choir. 
This was pretty much the first board meeting for the "new" board and it was quite the welcome! 
I'm pretty sure that Dave sat there for all 7 hours wishing he had never volunteered to put his name on the ballot! 

Much was discussed, much on the to do list, and some progress was made. Of course plenty of un-necessary hen house chatter, but when the topic of travel was brought up - my ears had perked and they had my full attention. 

It appears that the membership has not made a commitment for the board to move forward with the 2016 upcoming America Sings Washington DC trip. Reasons unknown, but can be assumed. 

While it was the membership that chose this trip and it was the one trip that I refused to go on (because it overlapped with Chaplin's 5th birthday), I was plenty ok with us changing travel plans and going at another time - but I just don't understand the mindset of the individuals who choose to do something and then have zero commitment?! WTH??

So anyhow, speaking of my little Chaplin...
Once Dave and I got home from the meeting, our plans were to pick up the kids and head to the bookstore and to dinner - although I still hadn't settled on where I wanted to eat. 
There are a few restaurants in Los Angeles that I've been eager to try, but just wasn't in the mood to be in the car on the drive (which is usually full of traffic), yet I wasn't really in the mood for something local in Orange County. 

This is where Chaplin came into the picture, she is a rather inquisitive 4 year old and she was wondering where I was going. 
So we had a little discussion about my plans, and about her plans (with her mom and dad of course).

After a while I began to get the feeling that she was getting at something...
she had wanted us to all go to the same eatery and have dinner together!

While they were in fact heading to LA, and to Real Food Daily (which wasn't even on my list), I had agreed on the sole reason that my niece had asked me!

So off we went attempting to drive in a 2 car caravan to Santa Monica. 
Well, Dave isn't so good at the caravanning stuff and had lost the first car within the first few minutes of the drive! At least we all knew where we were going and we met at the restaurant.

Chaplin with her mom and dad being silly

Dominic and Andrew

Santa Monica was full of its usual freak show, and we had a great view of all the weird passerby's from our window side table. 
We've been to coming to this restaurant and it's other location for years, and the food is always good, but last night although the server was nice, she was incredibly SLOW!

The RFD Nachos are the Bomb!

Time to DIG in!

Cosette and her BIG Brownie Bowl

After dessert we had all headed back home and I dozed off in my seat. I have the hardest time staying awake as a passenger. 
Driving is a totally different story and I can drive the long haul. But as a passenger it is a completely different story.

As for today, we are heading to brunch at Seabirds, which we love at lunch and dinner, and have heard rave reviews about their brunch menu!
Read more about Seabirds HERE.

Then I think we will finally get to the bookstore, and then head to the movies later tonight. The kids have been eager to see ANTMAN! 
I personally am looking forward to Mission Impossible, but I guess we'll wait to see that one next..

Catch ya back here tomorrow, for the start of a new week!

B4N (bye for now,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: SEPTEMBER

Chillin' out...

It's Sunday and Sunny!!!

How are you today?  Boy, did I have a busy day yesterday!!! 
I did everything that was on my "to do" list.

I have to digress here folks.  I was talking to the women in the marble supply store and we were discussing how women always find the time to do everything they need to do - regardless if they are tired or busy.  I suppose that is the difference in the sexes.  But, boy does it annoy me.  I'm also not sure why men always need naps too.  

I left the house at 10:30 to go do my blog at Starbucks (yes, we still do not have a new router and now I'm sort of happy that  it's not working so I can get out of the house to have some time to myself), then from there, I went to the bank to get cash; then stopped home to see how the kids were doing.  

From home, I went to Stop & Shop to food shop; got home, brought the groceries in (single handedly) and put them away. 

I drove to the marble dealer to order my tiles for the bathroom, getting gas on the way.  Then to the craft store to get a few necessities for one of my entrepreneurial projects tomorrow (which I've told you about below). 

During that time, I managed to catch up via text and phone with several friends, my sister, and my Dad.

I got home thinking I could relax, when I saw the kids in my office with all of their new school supplies spread out all over the floor.  So for the next thirty minutes, instead of relaxing, I had to help them label everything, throw out the wrappings and packaging and help them pack their new backpacks.

Then I had to put up a load of laundry; clear out the sink and load the dishwasher and all the while, my husband took two bike rides and a nap.
REALLY?  

But I realized that in my experience and the experiences of other women, all men are the same!! They tire out easily and need naps regularly; they have no ability to manage time and they certainly cannot multi-task.

I'm sorry for the rant - especially to our male followers.  But...in the end, you men are still irresistible to us women :-)  So, it makes you wonder who the crazy ones are.

Onward... during all my running around yesterday, I managed to find these delicious chips - Luke's Kale Multigrain chips. 

Tanya and I love to share healthy snacks with you.  This company, was started by "Luke" who had celiacs disease from the time he was a kid, and made a commitment to make all natural and healthy snacks that "don't taste like cardboard."

I can attest that these are really good!! 
CLICK HERE for more information.

I ended my day with a little visit to my sister's house so the kids could all go night swimming!


Now, on to my day today...
As many of you may know, in addition to being a "Travelin' Cousin," I'm also an entrepreneur with a number of marketing ventures in the works.

One of these include a new cupcake accessory item that me and my partners (Lisa and John) are currently pitching to a major cookware corporation. 

Today, we are filming the video presentation, out in Hampton Bays!  I'll keep you posted on the progress we make and where you can buy these items at retail when they are available!!

Me with Lisa and John

Here's to a great day!!!  See ya back here tomorrow!

And if you missed any of our features this week, click below for the re-cap.

-E
xoxo

This Week's Re-Cap
Throwback Thursday: Worst Sunburn Ever: Thanks Puerto Rico

Foodie Friday: Kidó: Best Pistachio Ice Cream Ever