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Images courtesy of © 2012 Chateau de Victoria

{Restaurant Week 2012}

Indulge in...

Restaurant Week

I think my ultimate dream job would be to travel the world in order to try new foods and then brag (via blog, of course) about which ones I like most. But I wouldn't stop there. Oh no no. I'd also want to travel the world in order to try new wines and then brag even more about how amazing my job is. So what exactly am I doing working for the government? Good question. But I gotta start somewhere! So I'll go ahead and kick off my passion for indulging in the finest foods with Baltimore's Winter Restaurant Week 2012!

DC's phenomenal week of wining and dining has ended and now it's Baltimore's turn to provide us with awesome deals and fabulous meals. Who doesn't want to snag a $15 two-course lunch or $30 three-course dinner at an over-priced-but-highly-delicious eatery? Check out the list of participating restaurants and treat yourself for a price you can't refuse at a place you've never been before. If you're not from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, look online for the dates of your nearest city's restaurant week & book your reservations! Here are a few possible Baltimore jackpots I'm interested in...Bon Appetit!



PAZO

THE PRIME RIB

RA SUSHI

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." 
 -Voltaire

Images via Google

{California Dreamboat: Part III}

Travel Spotlight: California (cont.)

My California vacation couldn't have been more perfect.

From start to finish it was a blast.

I met awesome people, saw fabulous sights & simply let loose.

Thank you to everyone who hosted me or celebrated my visit!

I ended my trip in San Francisco...

...and I think I may have found a future home.

Ghirardelli Square

Touring Alcatraz

Exploring the island

On our way back to the wharf

In Napa!

Wine tastings galore

Private tour of Trinchero Winery

Walking around Chinatown

Bike day!

Along the Presidio

Biking across Golden Gate!

Walking around the Palace of Fine Arts

Touring the rest of the city via cable car :)

I'm having a blast going through the 500 pictures from my trip!

If you know me personally, check out my Facebook album in the near future!

Recap of some of the places I visited:

Laguna Niguel

Pacific Beach

San Diego

Coronado

La Jolla

Dana Point

Laguna Beach

Newport Beach

Huntington Beach

Hollywood

Beverly Hills

Santa Monica

Malibu

San Francisco

Napa Valley

All images courtesy of © 2011 Chateau de Victoria

{It's Five O'clock Somewhere}

There are many things to look forward to when it comes to Fall. I know it's a bummer that the sun continues to set earlier and earlier every night...but let's try and focus to the positives: fabulous shopping, football season, long drives through the countryside to see the array of colorful leaves, pumpkin picking/carving, costume designing, indulging in Thanksgiving foods, and drooling over the fact that some of your favorite Fall ingredients can be turned into these delicious cocktails:

Yes my friends...that last picture is a tray of wine jello shots! How about that s'more martini?! Or the apple cider?! If there is something I love more than the food or drink alone, it's the display. Sometimes a little creativity goes a long way! I need a volunteer who respects a good cocktail as much as I do so that we can get together and start making these drinks :-)

"If you want an interesting party sometime, combine cocktails and a fresh box of crayons for everyone."
-Robert Fulghum

Images via Pinterest

{The Little Things}

Sometimes I have to remind myself to be thankful for the little things in life. It is easy (especially in this country) to quickly forget to count our blessings when we are constantly trying to keep up with a fast-paced culture. There is always more we want, expect and feel that we need. This week, I am just happy to reflect on having a nice weekend away at the beach. Thankfully, there was plenty of sunbathing, eating, laughing and R&R! Just what my little heart desired...

Watching the sun set over the bay...

I certainly can appreciate spontaneity and acknowledge that "getting away" every now & then is something I treasure. Reason or no reason, it's nice to make an effort to spend time away...at least while young and with less responsibilities! However, it's also good to be reminded how simple things, such as sitting on the back porch with a glass of vino, can be just as lovely. It's not always about the big things, but the little things that make life a bit sweeter...

This Week's Little Things

My daily cups of tea

Surprises! Especially handmade cards!

The perfect gift to hold other little treasures!!!

Natural snack bars!

Looking forward to Fall collections...

Getting a haircut...to go shorter or not to go shorter?

And last but not least...

Who doesn't want to come home to this face?!

La vita é bella

Images courtesy of © 2011 Chateau de Victoria

{Sweet Summertime}

Hello, lovies! It has been a semi-busy week getting back into work mode after a nice, long weekend at the beach...it just doesn't feel like summer until you spend time in the sun & sand! Of course, none of us remembered to take pictures to capture the delish homemade meals, adult concoctions or fun on the shore, but it was quite a relaxing weekend. A few of us even tried paddle boarding; a lot of fun but quite difficult when going against the tide & wind!

A little exercise while getting your tan on...

...I think I'll wait for this kind of water next time!

How cute!

Of course, being in the sun for several days (despite a lot of sunscreen) often leaves my skin dry and, recently, with a few darker skin spots. I blogged here about my experience with tanning and the effects from unprotected sun exposure. Recently, one of those effects is darker spots that seem to surface during the prime summer months. Some sources say cocoa butter or lemon juice help lighten the skin, but I am debating whether or not to try out this recommended product:

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

If you have any other suggestions, let me know! It is hard to stay out of the sun, as there is so much to do outdoors! I am pretty much always in let's-go-on-vacation mode due to the fact I am permanently infected with the travel bug, but it has become increasingly difficult to plan for a getaway with a summer filled with all kinds of events! That's okay though, because the longer I wait to book a trip, the more vacation days I accrue...which means more time to do this:

Wine touring in Napa Valley, CA

Waterfall jumping in the Dominican Republic

Visiting Machu Picchu in Peru

Walking the Great Wall of China

Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef

So many fun possibilities to look forward to!

Images via Google