Treat Thursday- Fresh Blueberry muffins

Blueberries are in season and the pun nets are being sold cheap! Our neighbour had several pun nets left over from catering for a wedding and generously gave us 5!! Woohoo antioxidants galore!! Not only have we been eating them by the handful as a snack and with yogurt for breakfast, I thought I'd do some baking! 4 dozen muffins later- everyone gets a treat! 

Fresh blueberry muffins 

Makes 24 small muffins or 12 large 

Preheat oven 170C 

360g plain flour 

250g white sugar 

100g brown sugar 

1 tsp salt 

1 1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

284ml butter milk 

60ml whole milk 

1 egg 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

70g unsalted butter, melted 

250g fresh blue berries 

1. Mix all dry ingredients together

2. Mix all wet ingredients together

3. Beat wet ingredients into dry until fully blended. 

4. Add melted butter until fully blended 

5. Stir in blueberries by hand 

6. Spoon into cupcake cases or muffin cases depending if you're making one or two dozen. 

7. Bake for 20 minutes 

8. Enjoy! Bon appetite! 

WLFEO Wednesday- sisters

I was stuck about what to write today when my Dad phoned from Canada and our chat inspired me to write about the special friendships that blossom from our First and Finest sisterhood. 

I had always wanted to join a sorority when I went to University and was super excited to rush in the fall 2000! What I hadn't thought about was how strong the bond of sisterhood could be and about the lifelong friendships that it would lay the foundation for. 

The girls I met my freshman year through the sorority have remained in contact over 14 years later, they flew across the world to attend our wedding and are still there for support through the ups and downs that life presents. 

My Dad and I were talking about people, choices and friends- deep and meaningful start to the morning! Anyways, he mentioned that old saying about being able to count your true friends on one hand- you know it is so true. There aren't many friendships that withstand the various chapters throughout life. I chat to one particular sister and my BFF everyday thanks go the developments with technology today. 

I am so thankful to ADPi for this big Lion Sis- we've been through a lot together and no matter how many oceans apart we are- she's always there for me. Thank you! 

Travel Tuesday- Top 5 National Trust Places to visit

A few years ago I was introduced to the National Trust properties and bought an annual membership thinking it would make some nice ‘date days’ for my husband and I….he wasn’t interested.  So my Granny became Mr. Jenner for year and we went to all of the places in and around Hampshire and Dorset.  

National Trust properties are open March-October, so you have to go quite regularly to get full use out of your membership.  With your membership pack comes a half inch thick booklet about all of the places around the United Kingdom that you can visit.  My ‘Granny Days Out’ were just that- a day so we chose a maximum of 90 minute radius for our commute so that a day out was viable.  

The Top 5 favourites for the two southern England counties are as follows: 

1. Kingston Lacey- a gorgeous manor house that was built as a family home and has beautiful grounds to walk around throughout the year. 

Photo by Mike Harry 

2. Mottisfont House- a lovely house set near a river that displays art and changes its theme several times a year. They also have beautiful rose gardens that you can enjoy outdoor theatre performances during the summer. 

Photo by Simon Newman 

3. Brownsea Island- famous for their red squirrels, daffodil fields in the Spring and as a Scout’s Headquarters.  

Photo by John Millar

4. Corfe Castle- is basically just castle ruins with a stunning view of the Purbecks.  It is set in a little village with quaint shops and restaurants. 

Photo by National Trust- Will Wilkinson 

5. Golden Cap- is part of the Jurrasic Coastline along the Dorset front.  You can walk for miles along the cliff top, it is a hike to get up the hill but well worth is for the views and makes for a lovely long dog walk! 

Photo by National Trust- Joe Cornish 

Sunny Sunday- an afternoon in Milford

My brother & partner were down from London to stay with us for the weekend, and today was the Milford Music Festival and a glorious day, so we went for the afternoon. The Green was filled with stalls selling goodies like handbags and Pimms. They also had a stage was set up for groups to perform- some were better than others but it was well attended. 

We then wandered along the cliff top people watching & enjoying the view. 

The Westover Hall was taken over by a brewery a couple years ago, now called The Beach House, and has recently been refurbished so we went for drinks & nibbles. 

They've changed the service routine which makes it much more efficient for serving larger numbers and a higher turnover. You order drinks and food at the bar with a table number unless you're eating in the restaurant then it's the normal table service. They have moved the toilets to the basement and also have a outdoor exit so it's great for the flow if traffic and doesn't smell! 

It's a great venue for a private function, family occasion or just to relax and enjoy the view in the garden. If you're in town I would recommend stopping by for a drink or two! 

Special Saturday Feature: Shania Twain at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas!!

Encore performance of the evening!!

What a wonderful opportunity to have Shania Twain performing in Las Vegas! Shania’s amazing talents and fabulous show can be enjoyed during her limited residency at Caesar’s Palace.

The show began with Shania entering the stage on a suspended motorcycle. The sophisticated engineering was incredible to see and there were several set changes throughout the show!

Highlights of the night:

Shania's Fan Loyalty
Shania went around the theatre and took lots of selfies with fans. When she asked if there were any Canadians in the house, there were big cheers from the crowd. Canadian pride in Las Vegas!! 

The Cozy Campfire
 This was my favorite part of the evening, Shania brought up fans to the stage which was set as a campfire theme. The fans were so excited!! This one couple had just renewed their wedding vows and Shania promptly sang a few verses from the song "From this Moment". It was so sweet!! and Shania and the lucky fans sat in semi-circle while she preformed. There was even a campfire scent emitted in the theater!! 

The Music and More Great Music!! 
Smashing hits and original songs made the evening so enjoyable!! Fans were on their feet singing along and dancing, it was so much fun to experience the energy and immense happiness in the theater. Mom and I had such a fabulous time and we would go back again!!! 

Closing performance of the evening!!

Shania's "still the one", a class act and gifted artist and entertainer. 

CLICK Here to purchase tickets

Treat Thursday: Tea Room Review #4-English's at Town Square Las Vegas

We continue to share our experiences at tea rooms we have enjoyed in the US, UK, and beyond!
Today's review is about English's at Town Square Las Vegas.  I recently enjoyed a lovely afternoon with my mom and our friend.

Ambiance
English’s has a trendy chic atmosphere and is an enjoyable place for high tea.   During the cooler season in Las Vegas, you can opt to sit outside and enjoy a nice view.

Inside of English's at Las Vegas Town Square

Service
The staff was accommodating, two in our party preferred additional cucumber sandwiches instead of salmon sandwiches and there was no extra charge for the substitute. The staff is always friendly and happy!

Menu and Pricing
There are three options for tea service, served daily from 10:30am-6:00pm. I would recommend reservations for small groups, especially if you have any dietary restrictions.

We ordered traditional high tea service for the reasonable price of $20 which included three tiers of delicious treats and choice of tea from a list of all organic teas. Known as the English’s Cream Tea, we enjoyed an assortment of sandwiches, delicious plain and cranberry scones, and a variety of desserts. I have enjoyed high tea at English’s several times including for my birthday party and its always a delightful experience.

If you are interested in a more simple option you can enjoy the Sussex Cream Tea for $10 which includes tea served with a plain and cranberry scone. Or, if you want to add champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries to the English’s Cream Tea it cost $50 for two people.

I enjoyed the organic mint tea, delicious!

Presentation and Taste
The presentation is beautiful and everything taste as good as it looks! Plus, the house made strawberry jam is delicious and reminds me of the delectable strawberry jams I enjoy while visiting the UK.

Sussex Cream Tea

Overall Experience
English’s is a great option for high tea in Las Vegas and we had a delightful afternoon! I will continue going back!!

WLFEO Wednesday: Update on Sister Arianna and Adpi's EndearingSisterhood

Photo credit: iphonewall.net

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes for our Alpha Delta Pi Sister Arianna.

Photo credit: Arianna's Instagram photo. So happy she is on the road to recovery!

We are pleased to share that after eight hours of surgery, the doctors at UCLA Medical Center successfully removed the vein mass in her brain and she does not have cancer. Arianna will be recovering in California for the next few weeks before returning to Las Vegas. 

The power of prayer, family, and sisterhood! Arianna, we are so immensely proud of your strength and courage. The road to healing may have some speed bumps along the way but know you're in the thoughts and prayers of countless sisters worldwide. 

Photo credit: Arianna's Instagram photo with her diamond sister, Sam

Adpi's sisterhood is certainly special and unique. Regardless of the time or geography that seperate us from each other, the bond of sisterhood is always with us. WLFEO 

Travel Tuesday! The Adventures of Prague Part 2: A BVF Personal Story

The stories from our 2010 Annual Adventures continue. What a journey we had!! In Part 1 of our Adventures in Prague  http://bonvoyagefriends.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-adventures-of-prague-part-1-bvf.html , we shared some of the fun moments we had! 

The remainder of our trip was nothing short of uneventful, here are some highlights! 


We visited the Christmas Markets, the reason why we selected Prague to begin with. We found great gifts for family and friends.

Booth at the Prague Christmas Markets!

We discovered a great place to eat, relax,  and write postcards to family and friends. We liked Papa Giovanni so much we went back! Papa Giovanni had great food and was reasonably priced. Check out their site www.papagiovanni-praha.cz/

 

Minestrone soup and delicious flat bread.

 We always make sure to enjoy an extra nice meal out and went with to Palffy Palac, which was recommended by Frommer's. 

Traditions continue! We enjoyed bubbly at the lounge.

Then we headed to the St. Charles Bridge and experienced the beautiful view below.

View from the St. Charles Bridge.

Of course, no journey is complete without some local flare and street musicians! 

One man band performing on the St. Charles bridge.

The winter weather conditions began to worsen as we got closer to the end of our trip. 

Snowy view of the city.

Although the steps were icy, we made the trek to the top of the Prague Castle Compound. But as the snow was falling delicately, it was a breathtaking scene.

St. Vytus Cathedral at the Prague Castle compound.

 A perfect treat while wandering around the cold city was the stop we made at the famed Cafe Savoy, yummy!

Grand Marnier hot chocolate at Cafe Savoy, yummy!

The day we were heading back to Gatwick, the snow continued to fall and blanket the city. There was a period of time when the skies began to clear and we were able to visit the genius architectural design of the "Dancing House" also referred to "Fred and Ginger", in honor of the famed dancing duo. 

 The Nationale-Nederlanden building aka the "Dancing House"

Prague is a jewel in Eastern Europe. If you're considering visiting, you won't be disappointing by this quaint city, stunning architecture, variety of flavours, performing arts, and shops with unique finds. Bon Voyage!! 

Motivation Monday! The ABC's of Life that Traveling have Taught me:

I recently re-read one of my favorite books “All I need to Know, I  Learned in Kindergarten”, by Robert Fulghum. His simple yet critical teachings inspired me to think about the invaluable lessons traveling teaches.

The ABC's of Life that Traveling have Taught me:

Appreciate

Beauty

Culture

Discover

Embrace

Fun

Go

Happiness                                        

Inspire

Joyful

Knowledge

Live

Marvel

New

Openness

Patience

Question

Retreat

Savor

Try

Unite                                                       

Venture

Wander

Xanadu

Yearn

Zest 

During your future travel adventures, I hope you not only walk away richer in memories and experiences but with priceless lessons learned. Bon Voyage!                                                       

Savoury Saturday- Healthy Spicy Tuna Salad

This salad was inspired by a waitrose recipe card for Meditterranean tuna and giant couscous salad. 

Makes: 2 mains or 4 starter portions 

250g pouch Waitrose love life spelt, quinoa, red rice & wild rice 

160g tin John West tuna chunks in sunflower oil, drained 

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

1 tbsp sundried tomato paste 

1 tsp lemon juice 

160g bag beetroot, baby spinach & lettuce salad 

125g cherry tomatoes, quartered 

8cm cucumber, diced

1 clove garlic, squeezed 

1 small red chilli pepper, finely grated

2 spring onions, finely chopped 

1 1/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 

Dash fresh black pepper 

Dressing: 

1. Add EVOO, tomato paste, lemon juice, chilli and garlic 

2. Stir and set aside until salad is ready 

Salad: 

1. Plate up the lettuce salad 

2. Combine spelt mixture, tuna chucks, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion, Parmesan and black pepper 

3. Stir to combine all ingredients

4. Pour dressing in and mix together until salad is coated

5. Serve mixture on a bed of lettuce

6. Enjoy! 

Note: a seed mixture would also taste delicious in this salad. 

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

Monica at Le Palais Royal Paris

With just a few short months before our next annual adventure (less than 70 days to go), we love continuing to share our travel memories and tips we have learned along the way. Today we are featuring Monica of Bon Voyage Friends.

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

There are so many travel essentials! But the three things I can’t leave home without are anti-bacterial, because they come in so handy! Eye drops for dry weather and long-haul flights. Most importantly...my Nikon camera-with an extra memory card!

2. What do you get as souvenirs?

I love taking photos and capturing memories I can share with others and enjoy whenever I want to relive the beauty of each adventure. I always make sure to bring home a variety of edible treats from places I have visited. Just last week, I opened a jar of apricot jam I brought home from Lille, France. Delicious!

This is one of my favorite pictures taken during my trip to Paris in 2013. 

The Louvre at Dusk.

3. Where is your dream holiday spot?

My ultimate dream holiday would be to bring together a large group of family and friends and stay in a villa in Tuscany. It would be amazing to spend a few weeks enjoying the beauty of the region, wine tastings, cooking classes, family time, laughter, and so much more.

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

Tibet would be an incredible place to visit. The Tibetans and their unbroken spirit are an inspiration. Over a decade ago, Tibetan monks visited our university for a week. They spent their time meticulously creating a beautiful vibrant sand painting (similar to the one pictured below). To culminate their visit, they used a brush to combine the sand granules and then distributed sachets of sand. Over the years I misplaced the bag of sand I was given, but I hold onto the memories from that week and hope to visit Tibet someday. 

Monks creating a beautiful sand painting similar to what was done at UNLV. Photo courtesy of http://www.newportnet.com/archives/mandala/nancy/images/5heads-a.jpg

5. Number of countries visited.
  

I have been blessed with the opportunity of visiting 10 countries and I am so excited to keep discovering new places.

6. What are your top 3 best travel memories?

Every single travel adventure has afforded me endless joy. My top three experiences are:

The very first trip overseas to Finland in 2004, my desire for adventure was ignited. Traveling with my classmates and starting the tradition of our annual girly holiday with Di are priceless memories. The laughter we experienced the first night in Finland as we wandered around Porvoo-Borga, was a true telling sign of the adventures to come. I cherish this tradition!!

Our photo shoot in Paris! The day from beginning to end was simply fabulous, the photo posted at the top of this blog post was from the photo shoot. ICYMI, read about our photo shoot in Paris with Pierre here:

http://bonvoyagefriends.blogspot.com/2014/07/travel-tuesday-ooh-la-la-our.html

Traveling to Seattle, Washington with my mom was such a memorable trip. We had a grand time visiting Pike’s Market Place, trying different cuisines, and exploring downtown. It was a delightful time and I can’t wait for us to embark on a journey together again!!

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

Like Di, the restaurants she mentioned as her favorites are simply amazing and at the top of my favorite list. To read about our fav spots, check out:

http://bonvoyagefriends.blogspot.com/2014/06/feature-friday-q-and-with-diana-of-bon.html

To add one more to the list, there is a great restaurant in Paris called A Verse Tourjours and is located in the Latin Quarters. They have the best croque monsieur I have ever tried! As a bonus, it’s a great place to people watch! 

Croque monsieur at A Verse Tourjours

8. What inspires you to travel? 

Wanderlust and the desire to explore the endless beauty the world has to offer. I believe the travel bug needs one remedy, it needs to continuously be fed.

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

I don’t ever travel abroad without registering my trip with the US State Department’s STEP resource. We have mentioned this resource many times before in hopes of educating others to utilize this important tool. STEP is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and it’s free! STEP allows you to register each your trip and input passport information. In the event of a lost or stolen passport, the closest US embassy or consulate will have access to all of the information you submitted. Plus, as a bonus you receive electronic alerts of any safety concerns.  Other countries have similar programs offered, such as Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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

Try to find the balance between planning and leaving room to be spontaneous. Pack smartly and evaluate if you really need everything you have laid out. Utilize free resources such as Trip Advisor, travel blogs, and books at local libraries. 

Bon Voyage!

Treat Thursday- 3 cafés to try in Amsterdam

For those of you who follow our blog, this is a continuation of our day in Amsterdam. For those of you who are foodies and are just tuning in, I hope you enjoy these three reviews of cafés along our meander through the city. 

Our trip to the city was a family friendly day without the green leaf cafés, but with food and booze! 

If you haven't been pregnant, the baby bump has it's own agenda and as I produce big boys mine like to eat ALOT and when the bump is hungry it needs feeding NOW! So we had to stop frequently for refuelling about every 90 minutes, think it shocked my sister-in-law that in 6 hours we stopped 4 times!! 

Food stops:

1. Caffe Tazzina- was sidewalk cafe overlooking the canal and a mechanical bridge. It was right on the street but not one car passed and as the cyclist went by it didn't interrupt the quiet happenings of the neighbourhood. They offered a range of sandwiches and sweet options along with the local daily papers. There were several locals leisurely enjoying a coffee and the paper. Their loo is tiny and at the top if a vertically spiral staircase. Nice, friendly and English-speaking service. 

Super fresh mint tea! Great for digestion and you skin! 

Traditional ham and cheese toasted sandwich-yum! 

2. Cafe Hegeraad- was our next stop and they had tables on the edge of the square which is great for people watching and for my son who could run around & chase the pigeons! 

Beer o'clock- we sampled Amstel, the local beer (mines a mini beer 1/4 pint)! Another traditional snack to accommodate beers are bittenballen, they're deep fried balls of potato & meat that can be dipped in grey poupon mustard. It takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare, so they're not a quick snack but they are very moorish! Again this cafe environment is very relaxing with table service and a waitress who speaks moderate English. 

3. The ice cream and hotdog stand run by a family in the park. 

4. Blauwe Theehuis- is a big two story bar in the centre of Vondel Park where people congregate for drinks and nachos. It's a lovely sun trap and super busy, but enough traffic passes through that there's seating for everyone. Inside is a tiny bar that you order drinks and food from. The most popular snack is their 'nachos' which is actually tortilla chips with a side of guacamole. They have a simple selection of drinks with only one choice of each colour of wine, 4 beers on tap and a few common soft drinks, so it doesn't take long to be served and to receive your drinks. 

The park is on the opposite side of the city to the train station, but there are trams that take you door to door if you don't fancy the walk. Happy munching, Bon appetite! 

WLFEO Wed- sharing the strength & support of sisters

We often talk about how we met in Alpha Delta Pi and how proud we are to be sisters in the world's first secret society for college women. There's a saying often used in sorority and fraternity life "From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it."  

We have a story to share about one of our sister's from our chapter at UNLV and we hope it gives you a glimpse of the amazing sisterhood of Alpha Delta Pi. Arianna is a senior majoring in pre-biology and she is beautiful inside out. Arianna is a true inspiration. Tomorrow, she will undergo brain surgery at UCLA medical center and her immense strength, faith, positive outlook and sheer will are beyond admirable. 

Keep smiling Arianna! 

Although she's experiencing the unimaginable, we are moved by the support the sisters have given to her at UNLV and beyond. Her physician has given her supporters the nickname "Arianna's Army". 

The UCLA sisters have never met Arianna and they still jumped in to help.  They have opened their home for Las Vegas sisters to stay at so they can visit Arianna post surgery. The sisterhood of Alpha Delta Pi is more than a campus chapter and we are touched by the gesture of kindness the UCLA chapter has shown to Arianna. Thank you sisters!! 

For our readers outside the US and Canada who may not be familiar with what a sorority is. It may be easy to imagine a sorority is something like what you've seen in the movies. A sorority is a circle of sisterhood that not only creates lifelong friendships, it's a family that supports each other through the different roads of life-in happy and challenging times. 

Arianna, you have touched our hearts and know your sisters are cheering for you from all around the world. We know you are in the hands of the most gifted surgeons, surrounded by endless love from your family, and have strength in faith. 

To our readers and friends around the globe. Please keep our sister Arianna in your thoughts and prayers. WLFEO 

Travel Tuesday- Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam during the World Cup! 

My sister-in-law relocated to Holland at the end of last year and invited us over to visit now that the house renovations are complete. She and her partner live in Hilversum, which is a lovely rural area 20 minutes from Amsterdam. A day return into the city is €11 and the trains are overground two story trains, so you get to see a bit if the countryside on your journey. One of the most colourful views were different allotments with individual summer houses. What a lovely environment to garden in! Being pregnant I have a bladder the size of a peanut! Public toilets cost 50 cents but they are self cleaning between each use. It's run in a red, amber, green light system. It encourages people to wait and pay for a fresh toilet experience! 

The other option are the random men's pee screens throughout the city- I'll opt for the self cleaning loo thanks! 

I went to Amsterdam about 10 years ago with a friend and did all the traditional cultural things- Anne Frank museum, The Square, Van Gogh museum, Grasshopper Cafe, red light district, etc. On this trip I saw a very different side to the city, it's very residential! As we wandered through the neighbourhoods and down side streets we came across kids parks like this one. 

There were also boutique shops and cafés along the canals and at the bottom of 7 story apartments or houses. 

This shop sold handmade bags from all different types of material and patterns. 

It's a bit more difficult to see in this window, but it sold handmade felt clothing. 

Amsterdam is know as the most watery city in the world and the name originated from a centre focal point- the dam! You can read more about the history of this city at http://www.amsterdam.info/canals/. 

It's very picturesque and calming walking along the canals. In this photo you can see some of the canal boats people live on, the centre hasn't been rebuilt so it's very residential & has a relaxed atmosphere. These canal boats are like floating caravans, so much wider than UK narrow boats! 

This was a sculpture on top of one of the boats. 

Vondel park is in the centre of the city and it's buzzing with activity and there is art on display throughout the park. It's a very social place with groups of people having picnics, naps, sharing ice creams. A glorious way to share an afternoon in the sunshine! 

FYI- Two random things to know whilst staying here: 

1. They only accept Dutch credit or bank cards only in many places. 

2. Markt grocery stores are credit card only stores.