Welcome to MIAMI!

Today  I arrived in sunny Miami for a weekend getaway trip. We arrived at the Trump International Beach Resort on Sunny Isle, let’s just say the room was really nice but nothing could beat the ocean view, I get to wake up to for the next few days. Check it out.

The beach is so gorgeous and the water is so clear and blue, there is just something so calming about the sound of the ocean. After flying the red eye, I was super hungry so I went down to Neumos and decided to treat myself to a very healthy breakfast buffet… wink wink. My breakfast of choice on vacation is always lox and bagel, so today was no different. I added some fresh fruit and some coffee to my breakfast and it was the perfect way to start off the day. I topped my bagel with some onions, capers, tomatoes and boiled egg… it was delicious.

After my perfect breakfast it was time to head to the pool. Unfortunately the big pool was out of service but the any pool will work in the hot sun! I also decided to read the second book to the Hunger Gamers, Catching Fire. I started it and had a hard time putting it down because it was so addicting.

But I somehow found a way, in order to make it to my spa treatment… an 80 minute massage. After my amazing massage I was treated to some sparkling wine and a couple of chocolates! Life is so rough on vacation. The only problem is that vacations go by too quickly.

While in Miami it was a goal to have some good Cuban food, so the concierge recommended Larios located on South Beach. I had heard a lot about South Beach but once I got there I understood why people/tourists think it is so fantastic. I mean who doesn’t love shopping and restaurants lining the streets with outdoor patios. We got a perfect spot on the patio of Larios, to enjoy the incredible weather and people watch. But as we ordered out Mojitos… the clouds rolled in and all the wait staff rushed us inside.

We couldn’t believe how fast the clouds, rain, thunder and lightning rolled in. The weather went from perfect to less than perfect in about 5 minutes. Oh well… indoor dining was just going to have to do. I ordered a Cuban Roasted Pork, the beau ordered Creole Seafood Combo and as we waited we were just so fascinated with this tropical weather.

As the food arrived I was super excited because my pork looked so tender and juicy, the sides of rice and fried plantains just made my mouth water. I dug into my food and was completely satisfied… all the flavors and textures complimented each other perfectly. You just don’t find pork like this on any menu… the beau’s Creole Seafood Combo was pretty darn tasty too!!

The ambiance of the restaurant was very Cuban, with the music and décor which was exactly what we were looking for. The wait staff was very attentive, the food was tasty and the price was reasonable. I have to give their staff credit because nobody panicked when the weather turned bad, they put the customers first.

I decided not to have actual dessert… but instead had a strawberry mojito that was the perfect amount of sweet! I recommend Larios to anyone who wants some good Cuban food with great service and an awesome patio. Maybe next time the weather will cooperate.

Look at how we captured the memories for $20... we are such tourists! :)

New Post: Peaks Frozen Yogurt

Today I started off the day with running around beautiful Greenlake 3x (9.63 miles). I am ramping up my mileage for the Nike Women's Half Marathon on October 16th. :) The weather was great and the run was pretty satisfying. As I was finishing up my third lap my beau was waiting for me with a Starbucks Strawberry Banana Smoothie and a water. That was such a wonderful surprise and both those drinks hit the spot.
I love starting off my day with some exercise so I can realize all day long. Next on the agenda was Moneyball with the timeless Brad Pitt and Peaks Frozen Yogurt for dessert.

I have to so that Moneyball was a great movie, I am such a sucker for great underdog sports story. And that is just what Moneyball is... Brad Pitt did a great job and Jonah Hill was the perfect sidekick. I recommend this movie to all Brad Pitt lovers and people who love underdog stories.

After the movie my beau treated me to my new favorite dessert... frozen yogurt. The new hot spot where we will live is Peaks Frozen Yogurt Bar. And last night around 9:00pm was no different the patio and store was packed. Peaks Frozen yogurt is a self service yogurt bar with 10 different kinds of rotating yogurt and over 30 toppings. I have to admit that I love the new concept of self service yogurt... because you have so many options. I decided to try their Angel food cake flavor and a little bit of strawberry and I was not disappointed. I headed to the toppings bar and I was overwhelmed so I decided to have a third of the bowl covered with fresh fruit, another third with gummy bears and the last third with mini chocolate chips.

They have unique yogurt flavors, the variety of toppings are sinful :), the price is reasonable (.45 cents an ounce) and the atmosphere and service is really friendly. Here are a few tips: at the checkout mention that you saw their ad in the Bellevue Reporter and you will get 20% off your purchase (good through Oct. 31st), try and exercise self control because it is easy to end up paying an insane amount if you aren't careful, try samples of all the yogurts so you aren't disappointed and lastly get a punch card because once you buy 10 the next on is free.

Peaks Frozen Yogurt was the perfect end to a very peaceful and relaxing Saturday. Frozen yogurt definitely is my dessert of choice and having Peaks within walking distance of my house could be dangerous. Check it out! :)

REVIEW: Portage Bay Brunchies

I have had the brunchies all week long. So today I finally gave in and decided to met my fellow foodie Tassoula for brunch at Portage Bay in the U-District.
However before brunch I decided to get my long run out of the way... today's goal 8 miles! I have the Nike Women's Marathon in less than a month so my training is in full gear. Let me tell you that I am so glad I got that run out of the way and had brunch to look forward to. :)

Before brunch Tassoula and I decided to meet at Greenlake to walk around the lake before stuffing our faces with delicious food. Fall was definitely in full effect today... the cloudy skies and the air was brisk. I guess I am okay with it because comfort food season is coming!! We chatted the entire 3.5 miles about everything under the sun. When we completed our mileage we jumped in the car and headed to Portage Bay.

Let me start by saying that I have heard so many rave reviews about this place I could barely contain myself when they seated us without a wait (there is always a wait). When I opened the menu my dilemma was obvious... carbs vs scrambles. I really wanted to try their famous fruit bar... where you can top your pancakes or french toast with anything you want. Check it out:

Yum!

I was trying to decided between the organic pancakes, lemon curd french toast and multiple scrambles. But after careful consideration I decided to go with the Chicken Sausage Scramble with red potatoes and toast. Check out what is inside the scramble: chicken sausage, red pepper pesto, roasted organic fennel, organic shiitake mushrooms and Spanish machego cheese. I couldn't wait for it to get in my belly. While we waited for our food... we sipped on our coffee. The mug just made me smile and love this place even more.

I want one of these ginormous mugs!!

After about 10 minutes our food arrived and let's just say it looked beautiful! And the best part was it tasted even better than it looked.

The portion was huge, the flavor was amazing, the price was reasonable and the service was very attentive but not annoying. :) I topped my eggs with a bit of hot sauce and then dug in. The combination of the mushrooms, sausage, fennel and red pepper pesto was to die for. I wanted to finish it all but it was just to much. This place really knows how to give a person the brunchies!! I will definitely be back soon because I can't wait to see how they integrate all the fall flavors.

Every foodie has to try out this place... you almost can eat guilt free because everything is locally grown and organic! Check it out next time you are in the mood for a tasty local favorite.



REVIEW: Piroshki for Breakfast!

Today I decided to head into work early and treat myself to breakfast. This has been a pretty long week and I have been working out hard and eating really clean so I decided to splurge on breakfast. I always walk past a Russian Bakery on my way to work and decided this was the spot I wanted to try.

Piroshki Cafe & Bakery on 3rd always has such a delicious display and today was no different. I walked in and the owner could tell this was my first time and simply asked me if I wanted to sweet or savory. She was very helpful and recommended I try the ham and cheese piroshki. I was like okay... I have no idea what a piroshki is. YIKES! It looked delicious so as she heated it up I decided that I wanted a fruit cup and an Americano.

What a great way to start the morning off right!

I was excited to try my piroshki... so I tore into it. And I loved it... the fried turnover was perfectly cooked and the filling of ham and cheese was yummy. It was full of chopped ham and the cheese wasn't to overwhelming.

No skimping on the meat... love that!

I have to say that I can't wait to try a sweet piroshki next time because the savory one hit the spot. It was so big and filling... I ended up only eating half of the turnover but I did eat all the filling. This breakfast was the perfect Friday TREAT.

I highly recommend Piroshki's Bakery and Cafe to anyone looking for an authentic meal. You can watch them make each piroshki and/or pastry. I really enjoy local authentic places! The service is good, price is very affordable, coffee is excellent, fruit cup was fresh and the piroshki was very delicious.

I can't wait to go back... I sort of want to try 2-3 of the bite size piroshkies because I want both sweet and savory. Sounds like a good plan!! 

 

So what is a piroshki? They are small baked or fried turnovers or dumplings with savory meat, vegetable or fruit filling.

Lake Serene & Bridal Veil Falls Hike

Today the Sunday hiking crew chose to take our hiking on the road. We decided to drive about an hour and forty minutes from Seattle to check out the Lake Serene & Bridal Viel Falls Hike. After reading some reviews of this hike we decided that we wanted to get a workout in and see some areas of Washington that we would normally not make it too.
The stats on the hike are as follows:

Location - Central Cascades - Stevens Pass - West
Distance - 7.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain - 2000 feet
The first 1.7 miles of the hike is mostly a glorified walk through some beautiful mossy woods. At the 1.7 point the hike splits and you can decide to continue .5 miles to Bridal Veil Falls or continue to Lake Serene. We decided to check out the falls and this is where the hike actually became a hike. It was nice to get the heart rate up. I had fairly low expectations of the falls but to my surprise the falls were beautiful. Be prepared to get wet and see a beautiful site!

Side view from the trail

Near the bottom of the falls

Tim being a crazy photographer... and a beautiful view.

Posing as normal by the falls!

As you can see we were all camera happy! The falls were pretty cool but hikers along the way said that Lake Serene is even better. So we decided to continue on another 2 miles up to find Lake Serene. We counted that along these 2 miles there are 27 switchbacks and within 1.5 miles you climb 1300 ft. This is a great hike and very challenging. As you are climbing this mountain you are wondering why a lake would be hidden in this tight basin. Once you reach 2700 feet you finally descend and see Lake Serene. It is beautiful... there was even a bit of snow left. This area is so peaceful and beautiful... tip bring bug spray... the bugs try and eat you alive. I suggest packing a lunch and enjoying the peaceful surrounding unfortunately we didn't pack lunches so we took some pics and turned around. :)

Breathtaking!

This hike is definitely challenging if you make the trek to Lake Serene... which I highly recommend. The trail does get busy so head out early and enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful trail. Again don't forget snacks, water and bug spray. I even suggest hiking boots because all the steps and rocks can be very slippery. I had some trouble on the descent because I kept slipping and sliding in my running shoes. I recommend this hike to anyone who is looking for a great day hike.



Shop Mapel

About two years ago I uncovered the cutest boutique in Leavenworth, WA called Mapel. They had such great clothes, accesories, jeans and even furniture. The prices are very reasonable and the service is always top-notch. I ended up signing up for their mailing list and I am so glad I did... because they have the best deals. They no longer have the Leavenworth store but they do have a great website. Below I am going to outline why you need to check out their site and order from this small boutique.
1) FREE Shipping - I mean no matter what your total is they do ground shipping for FREE. This is wonderful during the holiday season because you get to save a little money.

2) Happy Hour Shopping - Each week they send an email highlighting a style, designer or accessory and have special happy hour prices. For example, I ordered a shamrock necklace via their happy hour and recieved $5 off. AWESOME!!

3) Personalized Thank You Notes - Yep that's right... they send out personalized and handwritten notes for each order. I was shocked that they took the time to write me a personalized note thanking me for my $20 purchase. That is premium customer service and just one more reason why you have to check out this place.

4) Special Discounts - Last winter after I purchased a shirt they rewarded me by offering me $20 off any outerwear item. I mean that is a deep discount that really wowed me.

5) Support other Small Businesses - They promote local designers such as Two Sisters, I just love seeing small businesses helping each other. Also after my first purchase they offered me a chocolate that was made by a local chocolate store. The chocolate was delicious and a nice Thank You for coming in and a really nice way to showcase another local business... to promote shopping locally.

Mapel now has one store and it is located in Bridgeport, OR... I haven't made it there yet but they next time I am in Oregon I am making a special stop! They are always promoting fun events such as   Girls Night, Wine Night and they look like so much fun. Please check out their Facebook page too.

Red Rock Resort... AMAZING

I am finally in Vegas and woke up to the warm desert air and I couldn't wait to walk around the resort and soak up some sun! This trip the beau and I are staying off the strip at a really nice resort called Red Rock. It is about 20 minutes off the strip but this resort has everything... a movie theater, bowling alley, casino, spa, pool and to many restaurants to count. It has everything you could want or need.

First stop of the day... Red Rock's luxury spa! The beau decided this would be the best way to start off the morning and I have to agree with him. Before our 80 minute massage we both enjoyed the spa facilities that included everything you could imagine. I enjoyed the jacuzzi, cold bath, dry sauna, steam room and relaxed with a cup of hot herbal tea! Check out some pics below.

After my massage I was completely relaxed and feeling great. Next stop for me was to enjoy my tea outside in my robe. Check out the private spa pool and relaxing area... pretty dang impressive.

Next stop... the pool! I'm not even going to lie, the pool was amazing. Check it out!

The center pool was full of families and the younger crowd. But the pool area has so many surrounding pools that it makes it so easy to find the perfect spot to soak up the rays. The surrounding pools have less kids and a more reserved crowds... so we found a great spot in the corner that was super laid back. Now its time to enjoy the sun... next stop The Strip!

Book Review: The Hunger Games

This week I have been totally consumed with the book The Hunger Games. I know I should be embarassed but you know what I am going to own this decision to love this book. Because it is totally addicting... it maybe written for teens but this twenty-something loves it too.

I have heard about this young-adult science fiction trilogy for over  a year or so but I never could really grasp that this storyline would pull me in. I was completely wrong from page one of this book I was addicted and I wanted to get to know the characters on a deeper level and I couldn't wait to turn the page. I think the unpredictability of this book is what really kept my attention. Once you think that each character is safe and/or their fate is sealed you are thrown a curveball.

I really felt like I was experiencing The Hunger Games with Katniss because Suzanne Collins paints such a clear and vivid portait of each character and their surroundings at every moment. I can't wait to read the next book Catching Fire!

This is my next read!

I could not put this book down... it is such an easy read so it really is a no brainer that everyone that loves to read should give this trilogy a try. I mean it is written for a younger audience so its not super challenging but it is entertaining and well written. Two Thumbs UP for The Hunger Games.

Review: Anthony's at SeaTac

I am headed to Las Vegas this weekend for a quick getaway weekend with the beau. After I finished up at work I jumped on the Light Rail... and it is truly amazing. It took 25 minutes to get to the airport... no traffic and I got to read my NEW addiction The Hunger Games the entire way. :) I only wish that I could use the Light Rail more because it does make commuting a little more enjoyable.

After my quick adventure on the Light Rail I had arrived at SeaTac with a couple of hours to spare so I decided to grab a beer and some dinner at Anthony's. I quickly decided to enjoy a Hefeweizen and a salad with a cup of their famous chowder... and of course an order of bread. :) As I waited for my dinner to arrive I enjoyed the last few chapter of The Hunger Games... my review is coming soon.

My dinner arrived and I was pleasantly surprised that it looked so delicious. I ordered a crab, avocado and fresh grapefruit served on a bed of greens with a light balsalmic vinegarette. I was shocked at how much crab was on my plate and I quickly dove in... but I did take a picture before I demolished it.

The salad was delicious and remarkably fresh... for the airport. After enjoying the salad I enjoyed a piece of bread with some of the clam chowder... it was very tasty. But I didn't finish the cup because it just isn't that healthy. :) This dinner was very enjoyable and I would recommend trying Anthony's if you have a layover at SeaTac. It is spendy so be prepared to drop over $20 on dinner if you intend on having a beer/drink.

Off to Vegas stay tuned!

Review: Breakfast at Juno's

I started my Friday off right with a nice 4 mile run around the neighborhood. The weather in Seattle continues to be beautiful... I think we have had rain one time in the last month. After getting ready I decided to head into Seattle early so I could treat myself to breakfast. I walk past Juno's at the Artic Club Hotel everyday and today I decided this was the place that I was going to enjoy breakfast. Juno's is located right across from Pioneer Station.

I walked in and asked for a table for ONE... I didn't even feel insecure about this because I planned on reading my NEW guilty pleasure... The Hunger Games. So breakfast, The Hunger Games and me equals the best way to start off any Friday. Juno's breakfast menu has everything you could ever want for breakfast omeletes, benedict, french toast, waffles and oatmeal to name a few. Check out the interior of the restaurant below it was just the right mix of swanky and homey.

I decided to best meal to compliment my workout was the Continental Breakfast. It comes with oatmeal, fresh fruit, a pastry, juice and coffee all for $12.95. I felt like the meal was priced appropriately... I mean look at the fresh fruit bowl (its actually fresh) and the serving size of oatmeal. I think this meal could have fed at least two people.

This meal was very filling, delicious and had just the right amount of variety. The fresh fruit was the highlight for me because it was so fresh and every piece of was ripe. The service was also top-notch, they believe in team service. I never had to ask for anything because they filled my coffee and water before it was empty. :) I definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants to enjoy a nice and quiet breakfast. I also recommend dining by yourself on occasion, its very liberating and relaxing.

Off to work and then to VEGAS for some fun!!