Today I'm recapping my glorious Memorial Day Sunday -- which we spent wine tasting all day in Napa Valley. My hubby and I started off the day at Crane Family Vineyards, a small winery we recently discovered at Trader Joe's and simply had to visit first and foremost because our last name is Crane. To taste there, you have to call and schedule an appointment beforehand, so I made it our first stop so that we'd be sure to make it on time. The winery is in an unassuming residential area, and as soon as we pulled up and saw the gorgeous view and quaint winery, I knew that I'd like it. When we arrived, the owner Tom greeted us and we quickly found out that he and his parents lived in New Jersey before moving to California. Jersey people unite! Our experience at Crane Family Vineyards ... [Read More]
Archives for May 2013
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
The first day of our Memorial Day weekend getaway, my hubby and I planned to spend the afternoon exploring the Muir Woods National Park, then head towards our hotel in Napa. In the morning, we dropped Harley off at the kennel - which was slightly traumatic because it's the first time we've taken her to a new kennel since moving. Our last kennel was pretty fancy schmancy and was called a ''pet resort" rather than a kennel. In contrast, this kennel is more like a ranch style kind of place where the dogs are allowed to run around together more freely. We were a little worried that Harley would display her typical only child syndrome and snap at another dog for taking a ball or something... but my excitement for our weekend plans overpowered my worry about my pup, and we quickly dropped ... [Read More]
Memorial Day Snapshots
Hellllooo friends! I hope that you all had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend. My getaway with my hubby to Napa was awesome! I can't wait to share some details about it, but right now, I'd like to pay tribute to this day. This year I didn't visit anywhere to honor Memorial Day, but I've certainly had the significance of this special day in my mind. I talked about it last year after spending the afternoon at Fort Rosecrans in San Diego, but I think it's so important to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. It's easy to go about your daily life and not think too much about men and women who are serving our country and protecting the freedoms that we so often take for granted. Having lived through it as a military wife, I'm often reminded of the daily sacrifices that military families ... [Read More]
Hearty Whole Wheat Waffles with Strawberry Sauce
It's officially Memorial Day weekend! I hope that all of you reading this who are living in the states have lots of fun plans for your [hopefully long] weekend. I am super excited for the next couple of days. In the morning Adam and I are heading up to Napa for the weekend! It is a much needed mini vacay for us, and will definitely be involving some of our favorite things - wine, hiking, food, and time together! I have the perfect recipe to share today for those of you looking for a fancy, healthy breakfast recipe to try out over this holiday weekend: A couple of days ago, I realized that I hadn't used my waffle maker in quite awhile. Obviously this realization called for my whipping up of a new waffle recipe ASAP. I mixed ingredients up as I went along, which can either turn out really ... [Read More]
Fruity Kale Salad with Pistachios
Up until recently, I was not a fan of kale. I was turned off by its bitterness and coarse texture. But once I began making green juices and getting used to them, I began to not dislike kale so much. It started to not be quite as scary to me, and I wound up ordering a couple of kale salads out at restaurants...and really enjoying them. Kale is a nutritional powerhouse. It provides you with tons of antioxidants and vitamins and is high in fiber. And while I wouldn't say that I'm in love with it, I certainly am finding ways to incorporate it into my diet more often. Enter this colorful salad: One of the things I'm trying to do when I experiment with kale is find ways to make it not quite so bitter, so that I can reap the benefits of the veggie AND actually kind of like eating it too. One ... [Read More]
PB Cherry Granola Apple Sandwiches
Hi friends! Today was just another manic Monday filled with the usual activities. I had a long, sweaty workout at the gym this evening, and now my body is feeling pretty tired. I think it's going to be one of those nights when laying down on the couch and watching some TV will feel great! But first, I want to share a healthy, easy snack/light meal combo that I make often... in fact, I had it for breakfast just this morning: I've seen variations of apple sandwiches around, and while I may have mentioned eating them on here before, I don't think I've ever shared my take on this yumminess. I think this combo is great for people who don't have time or energy to prep a healthy snack or late-night bite to eat. I also think this is a perfect thing to whip up for kiddos! Let's face it: A lot of ... [Read More]