-
Cycling Southern Utah
Mountain biking in the desert of Southern Utah isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving activity, but it certainly is one worth considering. I had a blast! Let me tell you about it… First; Southern Utah is a mountain biker’s heaven. From the western corner of St. George, just two-hours drive from Las Vegas, across to Moab on the east side, Utah has a lot to offer when it comes to riding for activity, sport, or sight-seeing. Utah boasts some of the most picturesque trail riding in the world, including petrified sand dunes, wooded forest, deeply-eroded canyons and high mountain tops. All colored in brilliant red sand and world-class geology. With a hundred…
-
The Majestic Kelp Forests Of Catalina
Not many people realize that one of the most beautiful forests in California is the one under the water, just off shore. -That’s right, the pacific coast is home to one of the most beautiful kelp forests on the planet, and most people watch those beautiful sunsets without the slightest idea that the sun is setting on a whole new world under there. I just got back from a three-day live-aboard dive trip near Catalina, an island off the coast of Los Angeles. I was aboard The Sand Dollar, a dive boat that provides live-aboard diving excursions nearly 365 days a year. Before I get to the sights, let me…
-
Gluten-Free S’mores Monkey Bread
While spending a few minutes on Pinterest the other day, I stumbled upon a delicious looking recipe for S’mores Monkey Bread from recipesnobs.com. The pictures looked so delicious that I thought I would see if it would work as a gluten-free dessert. Not all recipes work well for a gluten-free swap, but I was thrilled with this one. I also used a gluten-free flour that I have found works well with a cup for cup exchange, so keep that in mind if you are not familiar with how your gluten-free flour will work in your recipe. Most do not work well. This recipe also calls for graham crackers, so I…
-
Caramel Apple Salad
Fall is the perfect time for apples. Crisp red or green; I love them all. And I can’t think of anything better to go with apples than caramel. Dreamy caramel. Add a few snickers, and some vanilla pudding and viola; a dessert (or salad) that will compliment any gathering. Ingredients: 6 Snickers Candy Bars (regular size) 6 apples (any kind of apple that you love) 1 package Vanilla Instant Pudding (5 oz.) 1/2 cup milk 1 tub cool whip (12 oz.) 1/2 cup caramel topping (I make my own, but you can buy ice cream topping if you want) Instructions: Whisk vanilla pudding packet and 1/2 cup milk together. And…
-
A Beautiful Fall In Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but Fall is especially nice with beautiful, warm days and lots of fun activities. While it can get a little nippy at night with the ocean breeze, a sweatshirt or light sweater will usually be enough. Santa Monica hosts many fun activities through the months of October through November. If you missed the Halloween fun, be sure to check out the Thanksgiving and Christmas activities. Every year, Downtown Santa Monica creates a little piece of heaven known as ‘ICE at Santa Monica‘ right on the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue. This incredible outdoor skating rink gives tourists…
-
Add Sparkle To Your Home When You Shine Your Sink!
My sister introduced me to The Fly Lady a long time ago, and I wanted to share a few things that I have learned from this fun and incredibly helpful website. The Fly Lady site is loaded with many tricks, tips and ideas that can help make your life easier. One thing that has helped me in my house is to shine my sink every night. It might sound like a little thing, and to be honest, when I first read about it I thought it was nuts. But I decided to give it a try and I have to say that waking up to a shiny sink has indeed been wonderful. My kitchen might…