Motivation Monday- last minute travel

All my friends know that we don't need a second invite to come and visit- I'm booking tickets after the first invitation! My trip to Amsterdam tomorrow is no exception! 

I messaged my (ex) sister-in-law to let her know were expecting number 2 in November and besides the normal congratulations she said she missed us & we're welcome anytime. That was all I needed to get onto the Internet & book tickets. So my reply was great we'll be there in a couple weeks! 

I told my mother-in-law... Not like the dragons in the movies. I'm very blessed to have an AMAZING mother-in-law with whom I get on very well with. She wanted to come too, so tomorrow Alfie, Lou & I head to Amsterdam for a few days- woohoo! 

Life's too short, you've got to make things happen, so don't think about it- as Nike says 'just do it'! 

Savoury Saturday: Sambalatte Cafeé Lounge Review

The theme for Sambalatte is: Sip. Savour. Socialize. Perfectly fitting for this quaint coffee and tea lounge in Las Vegas. 

Although Sambalatte has been in Las Vegas for several years and recently opened another location at the Monte Carlo Hotel, it was a treat discovering a new place to go to for a nice latte and relaxing environment. I went to the Boca Park location with friends, last weekend and it felt as though I was sitting in a coffeehouse in Seattle or Chicago. What a fabulous place to have in Las Vegas!!

Ambiance 

The atmosphere is vibrant and relax. You can even pick something to read from their downstairs library. The decor is classy, yet eclectic at the same time. 

          View of the staircase leading to an         

                additional seating area. 

               Wall photo collage. 

                 Library at Sambalatte. 

Service 

I wish they had honored the reservation I made, four days prior for the upstairs seating area. Although the staff acknowledged my name was on their list, they did not reserve the seating area which would have been ideal for our group, the space was occupied by other patrons and it would have been rude to ask them to move. 

I was advised to call the day before next time, which I'm not sure if that would have made a difference since my name was on their reservation list, they just didn't honor the reservation. 

Presentation and Taste 

I had a decaf latte with almond milk, it was delightfully delicious!! It was nice having the options of either almond milk, soy milk, or milk. Look at the beautiful work of art below! 

                 Decaf almond milk latte. 

I didn't try any baked goods or pastries but they looked delicious! 

   My friends enjoyed some of the treats above, 

   yum! 

Menu and Pricing 

The menu offerings range from specialty coffee and organic teas to sandwiches and locally sourced pastries. Most prices are not listed on the menu, I asked the staff for the price ranges. 

Coffee: $2.50-$6.25

Organic Teas: $3.50-$4.50

Sandwiches: $8.50-$10.00

Soups and Salads: $6.75-$8.50

Macaroons: $1.50 

Pastries: $3.50-$7.50

                      Good menu variety. 

Overall Experience 

I would come back to Sambalatte for the ambiance alone! It's a wonderful place to grab a book and enjoy a cup of coffee, visit with friends, or have a light meal. 

Feature Friday: Q and A with Diana of Bon Voyage Friends

We love adventures and traveling and are excited to continuing sharing tips and personal experiences with you! Today we are featuring Diana of Bon Voyage Friends. 

1. What are your 3 "must have" items you pack?

I always make sure to pack moisturizer, a pashmina, and Lucas Paw Paw cream. Its important to keep your skin hydrated when traveling! Pashminas are a simple way to accessorize and come in handy for when temperatures drop unexpectedly. I take Lucas Paw Paw with me everywhere, it’s a versatile ointment that can be used for chapped lips, burns, nappy rashes, etc.

2. What do you get as souvenirs?

I always buy a magnet as a memento from the places I have visited. Each one represents so many wonderful memories!!

3. Where is your dream holiday spot?

I would love to spend a two-week holiday in Thailand. The beautiful beaches, history, cuisines, and culture are all appealing to me.

4. If you could spend a day anywhere in the world right now, for the next 24 hours, where would you go?

New York! There's always something different to see and do! The city is one of the most vibrant destinations I have been to. Whether its browsing stores, dining at delicious restaurants, or soaking up the art on Broadway- it's always a great time!

5. Number of countries visited.

I have had the good fortune of being able to visit 23 countries. I look forward to exploring new destinations throughout the world.

6. What are your top 3 best travel memories?

The memories from years of traveling are bountiful! The ones that quickly come to mind are:

The professional photo shoot during our 2012 annual holiday in Paris. Monica and I had so much fun taking glam photos throughout the city. Our photographer Pierre was fabulous, the picture at the top of this blog post is from the photo shoot! So much fun and priceless memories. 

My first couples holiday to Venice with my boyfriend that I fell in love with & is now my husband. Spending a two-week holiday in NYC with my husband is a memory I hold onto dearly. From waiting in line forever to eat pizza at a small pizzaria near the Brooklyn Bridge to attending a Knicks basketball game and Rangers hockey game- it was a wonderful and eventful holiday!  

I also will never forget the first time I visited Barbados- the white sand beaches were gorgeous and postcard perfect.

7. What is the best meal you've ever had while traveling?

There are so many great places around the world! I have three:

The Restaurant De Le Tour in Paris-  we went to this quaint family owned restaurant after our photo shoot. Everything was delicious!

http://www.restaurant-delatour.fr/

Relais de L'Entrecote- I discovered this restaurant while on holiday with my dad and brother in Paris.  Monica and I went there and she returned with friends the following year.

http://www.relaisentrecote.fr/

We like to share great restaurants with family and friends! While Monica visited Brussels her friend took her to Nuetnigenough and several months later, I went there with my dad and brother. Amazing cuisine!

www.nuetnigenough.be/

8. What inspires you to travel? 

I love new experiences!! As a former crew member for Virgin Atlantic, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to travel for a living.

9. What SIP Tip (Safety Is Priority) would you share with avid and new travelers alike?

A great tip I made to sure to implement from my crew days and continue to use today: 

Search your hotel room & always keep your wits about you.

10. What are 3 tips you can share for planning a holiday? 

Plan in advance, research where you're going & pack simply.

Bon Voyage!

Treat Thursday: Tea Room Review #2- Montague Arms

For Mother's Day my mom gave me a voucher for afternoon tea at The Montague Arms in Beaulieu, Hampshire. What a lovely treat to celebrate my first Mother's Day and yesterday we had a delicious meal in the garden. 

View from the back of the hotel, there's a croquet lawn too! 

We were able to choose the tea of our choice and there's a guide on the back of the menu to recommend teas with particular sandwiches etc. I chose the traditional English Breakfast and my mom had the Darjeeling, both of which were replenished half way through our meal to ensure we had fresh hot tea throughout.  

We were then treated to an unexpected Appetiser of lemon posset with raspberry coulis. It was delicious and a great way to cleanse the pallet before our sandwiches and cakes arrived. 

Because it was tea for two there were exactly two of each item which was much appreciated as we both wanted to try everything! The macaroons were lime & basil- absolutely delicious and refreshing at the end of the meal. 

The scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam arrived a little while later...I think my mom would've appreciated them a bit sooner, but they were worth the wait! 

The manager came over to us to check on our meal and thank us for visiting, and then checked back later on and the bottle of sparkling water we ordered was given to us complimentary. It's the little things that go along way! 

The traditional afternoon tea is only available when booked in advance, so bare that in mind if you're visiting the New Forest and want to treat yourself! Regardless of the season I would recommend the Montague Arms for tea because the have a lovely restaurant, lounge and conservatory where you can sit back and enjoy the afternoon. 

25 Summer Travel Ideas and Tips

Beach photos taken at the beautiful Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu, California. 

25 Summer Travel Ideas and Tips

 1. Take a spontaneous road trip

2. Visit a chapter house at a different campus

3. Travel abroad

4.Take photos using a disposable camera

5. Learn a new language

6. Find a pen pal in a different sorority at a different campus

7. Start a new travel tradition

8. Check out the CIA’s World Fact Book for facts about your destination abroad

9. Take a “Stay”cation

10. Make a time capsule with your fav memories, any mementos, etc. open in one year

11. Take a CPR class

12. Build a samdcastle 

13. Learn the emergency numbers for the countries you are visiting

14. Send postcards to your family and friends

15. Participate in a service project

16. Always have a travel buddy with you

17. Taste something you would never eat

18. Apply for a passport

19. Send a message in a bottle

20. Do a RAOK (Random Act Of Kindness)

21. Create a video of your adventures

22. Go strawberry picking-fresh strawberries are the best!

23. Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) or a similar program to register your travels abroad

24. Turn off your cell phone for 24 hours

25. Write about your travel experience and submit it for publication

Motivation Monday- Solo traveling: How and why I chose a farmhouse-cooking holiday in France.

Picture taken at the new Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas!

In approximately three months, I will be traveling to England for this year’s annual adventures! I’m so excited to visit Lymington and for the wonderful experiences ahead as Di and I continue the tradition we started so many years ago. I absolutely cherish the special tradition we have managed to maintain regardless of time and the 5,500-mile distance from each other.

I consider Lymington my second home and I look forward to seeing Di and her wonderful husband Phil-he has been so supportive of our holidays! I can’t wait to spend time with their beautiful son and my Godson, Alfie, visit with their wonderful families, and just enjoy being around great friends. After spending a few days in Di’s hometown, we will venture off to the Isle of Wight for a relaxing girly holiday.  Read more about our adventure in the Isle of Wight in a future post!

Di and Phil are expecting their second beautiful baby in early November, so she isn’t able to travel by plane. I wish she could join me as I venture beyond England, but since we are just a Whattsapp message or Facetime call away from each other, it will be as though she’s there!

After a week in the UK, I will head to Holland to meet friends in Amsterdam and then travel to France for a new experience. I thought it would be fun to try a completely different activity from previous trips abroad-but I am not too keen on traveling by myself, its much more fun to travel with friends!!

The first step was to research any existing organized options for solo travelers, safety is an absolute key and my biggest concern. As I began to research group holidays for solo travelers, I did a simple Google search using the key words: “solo travel” and “group travels for singles’, I came across a very resourceful article from The Telegraph. The article below provides a very helpful directory and I hope you are able to use this link in the future!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/solo-travel/10604222/Solo-travel-the-best-tour-operators-for-singles.html

I began looking through the suggested vendors and holidays- the site is organized by categories, under the Activity section the description for Go Learn To caught my eye. Its listed as follows:

Go Learn To (020 8144 5990; golearnto.com) A big choice of activity holidays that attract couples and singles from all over the world, some booking direct with the provider as well as through Go Learn To.

Options range from photography, cookery and painting courses to yoga, riding, surfing and scuba diving weeks. For dedicated singles departures there is no single supplement for a private room. Surfing and yoga holidays attract those in their thirties; creative options mostly attract the 40-65 age group. There is also a big choice of shorter breaks.

I went to the Go Learn To site and was immediately drawn to the different holiday packages they offered. First, I searched to see which holidays would be offered during my time in Europe. I came across a 4 day cooking holiday in France, near Bordeaux. 

Photo Credit: Go To Learn website, picture of the Lot-et-Garonne Farmhouse

Here is a description from the Go Learn To site “Stay in a restored 19th century farmhouse in the beautiful Lot-et-Garonne (the Garden of France) which is nestled between the sunflower fields and the beautiful pine forests of the Landes de Gascogne just one hour drive south east from Bordeaux. Learn to cook traditional French dishes and pastries with the fun and friendly chef Marlène, who is passionate about French cooking and welcomes you to her home for a cookery holiday with a difference.”

Link for the extensive slide show and more info visit the links below:

More info

http://www.golearnto.com/course/overview/2116/cooking+holiday

Slide show

http://www.golearnto.com/course/gallery/2116/cooking+holiday#

I contacted Go To Learn and corresponded with one of their representative's named Becky. She was extremly knowledgeable and helpful, after a few days of exchanging e mails I was ready to book my holiday and secured my reservation! Thank you to Becky for being so great! 

I chose this holiday for the appeal of staying outside of a larger city and for the desire to experience something out of my comfort zone. 

As a bonus, there isn't an extra charge for single travelers and there will be up to six students participating. Perfect! 

Since this was a new experience, I wanted to share some tip and thoughts on the upcoming cooking holiday.

5 Tips for Researching and Booking a Solo Traveler Holiday

·      Find a reputable company

·      E mail the representative or if possible the owner directly

·      Search for any reviews of the holiday

·      Especially for a cooking holiday, be sure to alert the company of any dietary restrictions or allergies

·      Read the small details, i.e. I had to request a train station return at the time of my reservation

What I Look Forward to Most

·      Meeting new people

·      Learning how to create some French Cuisines

·      Exploring a new place in France

·      Relaxing environment

·      Trying something out of my element

I look forward to blogging from the 

Farmhouse during my stay in October

and to sharing the experiences with you! 

Sunny Sunday- Wiltshire

Yesterday we went to a friends birthday in Wiltshire, it was a gorgeous two hour drive cross country. From the new forest in Hampshire where the cows and horses run free to the rolling fields of Wiltshire the drive couldn't have been more pleasant. 

Field of poppies and wild flowers was the odd splash of colour amongst the hay and other farming fields. They were all beautifully maintained (or so it looked from afar) and went on for miles. 

The party was being held by our lovely friends visiting from Japan (English ex-pats located out there for work) at a pub called The Greyhound in Bromham, Wiltshire. A tiny little village with only a pub, butcher's, post office, and church...not quite what I expected hearing they were having a carnival on the same day as the party! We arrived early to 'participate' in the events and to have a look around- that took us about 8 minutes and we'd visited the post office, looked around the flower display at the church, and circled back to the pub! I had looked at their website http://bromham.org.uk/page/Bromham-Carnival to check out the events and clearly didn't read the timing as everything started from 2.00! 

The Greyhound pub was lovely- friendly staff, great service, good food and a fun atmosphere. 

http://www.greyhoundbromham.co.uk It was very easy to find as it's signposted off of the main road and there's plenty of parking in the village car park out front. The pub has an excellent garden geared up for children and socialising. They had a bouncy castle, ball pit, kiddy slides, trikes, scooters, bikes, a playhouse all laid out for the kids to play while the parents can relax. Because of the events of the day they did a delicious hog roast for our party and with a stall on the street for the carnival viewers.  

If you ever find yourself up in Devises it's worth the short drive to this lovely little village! 

Savoury Saturday- Grannny's Venison Stew

Our neighbour was given some fresh venison, but doesn't like it so we inherited it! At first I couldn't think what to make and then I remembered Granny's venison stew recipe. It's one she usually makes for a family meal with the boys in mind! Being a hearty stew that's served with mash potatoes and vegetables I usually associate it with being an Autumnal or Winter recipe, but it was just as tasty in the summer and it makes great freezer meals. It does take several days to prepare, so bare that in mind when menu planning. 

Festive Friday- Round Island Race

Living down in Lymington we're on the border of the new forest and the coast, so there are two major loves- horses and boats. Tomorrow is the 83rd annual Round Island Race which starts off of Cowes, Isle of Wight and the boats sail anti-clockwise round the Island. It started in 1931 with only 25 entrants, this year there are almost 1600 boats of all shapes and sizes participating. Well known sailors such as the Olympian Sir Ben Ainsley take part as well as those just doing it for fun or as a day out with family and friends. Many people race for charity and over the past four years over £450,000 has been rised for various good causes. 

The race time is set early because some boats can take up to 12 hours to complete, but even with a 6.30am start the water is buzzing with activity from participants & spectators. Sailing in the Solent, the body of water located between Lymington and the Isle of Wight, is relatively calm because of the land surrounding it the waves aren't able to build up, but along the back of the Island (once you've passed the Needles) it's the English Channel and the waves are much bigger which for those with weak stomachs or new to sailing can cause seasickness! 

I borrowed this picture from the official race website. It's the view from the back of the Island watching as the boats sail around the needles- spectacular! There are loads of paparazzi style boats capturing the race and they whizz amongst the boats throughout the race. They sell the pictures to boat owners after the race, but at times it makes you feel a bit 'famous' having your picture taken from all angles! (Obviously they get more close ups of the professional and well-known sailors, but still one can pretend!) 

The official website http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk has lots of key information and recent updates about the race, along with a countdown clock, so you can get up to the second information! As technology advances more people have been able to get involved. It's known as the fourth largest participant sporting event in the UK with over 16,000 sailors out on the water! The website now has a spectator friendly viewing option when boats that have access to smartphones sign up to the GPS tracking system. This tracking enables land based spectators to follow the boats course and progress and the sailors can use it as a reflection tool to observe the boat's performance during the race. 

Again I've obtained this picture from the RIR website. To cycle round the island it's 67 miles in circumference. There are 50 nautical miles in the race course, which is not sailed directly but done in a zigzag fashion to keep wind in the sails hence the time it takes to complete the race. Last year Sir Ben Ainsley set the record completing the race in 2.52 hours. This year he was supposed to be sailing on the record winning Leopard, but due to rigging failure he's had to 'jump ship' onto a smaller boat! 

Treatday Thursday- French patisserie

I'm very lucky to have an amazing mother-in-law! We were sent into town by the boys to pick up supplies for the boat before we sailed off to Salcombe and typical guy style we were asked how long we'd be (me having spent the influential years with my Dad was specific & had the intention of being quick- no stops, just pick up supplies and return to the boat) my lovely mother-in-law had other intentions and was a bit more vague... So we ran errands girly style- got the jobs done, stopped for coffee & a pastry, shopped a bit, then ran an extra errand request for the boys and blamed our 'extended' errands trip on them! 

I had left my phone on charge, so I've had to borrow pictures from their website  http://www.saveurs.co.uk 

We went to this lovely authentic French Patisserie called Saveurs for coffee and croissants- yum! The smell of fresh brewed coffee and pastries hot from the oven wafted out into the streets and entices passers by to stop for a quick caffeine hit and treat. The delicatessen is located in the heart of a Dartmouth and is run by a very talented French couple. They not only operate as a bakery, they offer lunch a dinner meals as well! They also have a tastes wine menu, so you can have a leisurely continental meal. 

My friend Monica loves sweets and always buys little treats to sample (for quality control of course!) wherever we travel to not only try the local cuisine but also to help decide what treats to take home with her as little gifts. Well, I think she's rubbed off on me because I found myself staring at the macaroons debating which flavour to try! 

I chose Nutella and two other yummy flavours, but I know she would've bought these lovely little packages to take back with her. 

If you have the chance to stop for coffee or a meal I would recommend this quaint little boulangerie!!