Who is your favorite, butt-kicking, Bond Beauty?
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| Image Courtesy of Newslite.tv |
Happy Friday!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Global Bond Day!
Today is Global Bond Day and after listening to Europa Plus (Euro Trash alert!), I got inspired to post a question for everyone:
Who is your favorite, butt-kicking, Bond Beauty?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiM8G2KFfU8&feature=related - Great compilation of Bond Beauties :)
Who is your favorite, butt-kicking, Bond Beauty?
Friday, September 28, 2012
TGIF - B&B staycations
I meant for this Ritz and Rave to be posted much earlier, so that all of you good folk have a chance to book your staycations or at least browse but I had a date with my precious niece...
Ok... Focus!!!
So with this beautiful weather outside, bright foliage, fall festivals happening all around, why not escape to a local Bed & Breakfast to soak up the warmth of the autumn. Here is a quick review or our favorite.
Hollerstown Hill B&B, Frederick MD (http://www.hollerstownhill.com/)
Raves: Betty and Phil - the most gracious and nicest innkeepers that will entertain you with all kinds of stories, Betty's casseroles, charming breakfast table setting, beautiful historically restored house, amazing plumbing system that will put modern hotels to shame, little details in every room, Cottage Garden room - private bath and porch, far enough from the downtown Frederick to avoid the noise, WiFi - because we need to blog :)
Rants: Betty's collection of dolls (I like dolls just not in those quantities), dark interior - the rooms are a bit dark which makes it hard for us girls to freshen up, NOT walking distance from downtown Frederick - despite what the website says, and sorry to say but get the coffee out of Keurig machine unless you prefer coffee flavored hot water.
Hope you get to explore your part of town this fall season. As always, I would love to get more suggestions on all your Ritz and Raves :)
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| Polka Fist :) |
So with this beautiful weather outside, bright foliage, fall festivals happening all around, why not escape to a local Bed & Breakfast to soak up the warmth of the autumn. Here is a quick review or our favorite.
Hollerstown Hill B&B, Frederick MD (http://www.hollerstownhill.com/)
Raves: Betty and Phil - the most gracious and nicest innkeepers that will entertain you with all kinds of stories, Betty's casseroles, charming breakfast table setting, beautiful historically restored house, amazing plumbing system that will put modern hotels to shame, little details in every room, Cottage Garden room - private bath and porch, far enough from the downtown Frederick to avoid the noise, WiFi - because we need to blog :)
Rants: Betty's collection of dolls (I like dolls just not in those quantities), dark interior - the rooms are a bit dark which makes it hard for us girls to freshen up, NOT walking distance from downtown Frederick - despite what the website says, and sorry to say but get the coffee out of Keurig machine unless you prefer coffee flavored hot water.
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| Living Room |
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| Cottage Garden Room |
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| Tea Set |
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| Confederate Chess Set |
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| Clawfoot Bathtub |
Hope you get to explore your part of town this fall season. As always, I would love to get more suggestions on all your Ritz and Raves :)
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Special Rave in pictures - Voltaggio Virtue
Last week my Hubbs and I got a chance to go back and indulge ourselves in the culinary creations of Brian Voltaggio and his team, so here it is in pictures because let's be honest, who really reads when it comes to food :)
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| Bacon Brioche |
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| Bacon Brioche |
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| Blue Crab avocado, soy, yuzu, coriander |
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| Ravioli chanterelle mushroom, green garlic, corn |
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| Beef short rib kennebeck potato, maroon carrot, chive |
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| Beet goat cheese, coffee, navel orange |
And sweet extras
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| Thank you! |
http://www.voltaggiobrothers.com/
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
1st Edition of Autumn Raves
Fall is in the air and it is so lovely. I just love the rich palette of golds, greens, reds, and browns against a crisp blue sky. So it made perfect sense to spend last couple of days out and about. Here is a quick recap of our 1st Autumn Raves.
Chrysalis Vineyards, Middleburg, VA (http://www.chrysaliswine.com/)
Raves: great wine (although a bit overpriced), outdoor community grills, live music, breathtaking views.
Rants: wine prices - we thought that $37 for a table wine was a bit over the top, porter potties - again at $37 for a table wine they could splurge on a nicer version of a public restroom.
Quattro Goomba's Winery, Aldie VA (http://www.goombawine.com/)
Rave: QGW Frappe Vino, although the Hubbs does not approve, I absolutely loved the idea of a frozen wine cocktail, it's refreshing and a great alternative to a sangria, Quattro the Pizza Shop, a real restroom.
Rant: wine, it was terrible, I think it only works for the Frappe mix and to prove my theory, the Featured Staff Favorite was a Sonoma Cabernet... The place is small, with limited seating and parking, and did I mention that they have an actual restroom :)
And now to a more child friendly review, Homestead Farm, Poolesville MD (http://www.homestead-farm.net/)
Rave: nice apple orchard that offers a good variety of apples along with other produce, live animals, outdoor sinks with soap (for after you try to feed the goat), a good size produce store, and a very nice pick your own flower patch.
Rant: a bit pricey on the caramel apples ($3.50/pop), soap dispensers were out of soap, and slim pickings as far as staff on hand.
Chrysalis Vineyards, Middleburg, VA (http://www.chrysaliswine.com/)
Raves: great wine (although a bit overpriced), outdoor community grills, live music, breathtaking views.
Rants: wine prices - we thought that $37 for a table wine was a bit over the top, porter potties - again at $37 for a table wine they could splurge on a nicer version of a public restroom.
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| My apologies for the Packing Tape Pipe sculpture in the background (this was our 2nd vineyard...) |
Quattro Goomba's Winery, Aldie VA (http://www.goombawine.com/)
Rave: QGW Frappe Vino, although the Hubbs does not approve, I absolutely loved the idea of a frozen wine cocktail, it's refreshing and a great alternative to a sangria, Quattro the Pizza Shop, a real restroom.
Rant: wine, it was terrible, I think it only works for the Frappe mix and to prove my theory, the Featured Staff Favorite was a Sonoma Cabernet... The place is small, with limited seating and parking, and did I mention that they have an actual restroom :)
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| Frappe Vino Mix to take home |
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| Staff Favorite and my special napkins |
And now to a more child friendly review, Homestead Farm, Poolesville MD (http://www.homestead-farm.net/)
Rave: nice apple orchard that offers a good variety of apples along with other produce, live animals, outdoor sinks with soap (for after you try to feed the goat), a good size produce store, and a very nice pick your own flower patch.
Rant: a bit pricey on the caramel apples ($3.50/pop), soap dispensers were out of soap, and slim pickings as far as staff on hand.
HAPPY FALL TO EVERYONE!
Friday, September 14, 2012
TGIF Gangnam Style!
Yes, we are soooo jumping on the Gangnam bandwagon...
The biggest Rave to "Oppa, Gangnam Style!!!"
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Miami sans South Beach
So my incredible Hubbs decided to do a little getaway for Labor Day to Miami, to which I had little argument. However, this time we decided to forgo the craziness of South Beach and just try to enjoy Miami "old couple" style... shame on you if you are nodding your head, you are not supposed to agree :)
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| Here is an Instagram Collage of our Trip |
St. Regis Champagne Sabering Tradition,
American Charcuterie plate from the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne - which was very surprising for a chain restaurant.
Rants: overpriced winelist and pretensious staff at the Forge Restaurant (http://www.theforge.com/), automatically added gratuity of 20% (too bad for the times when we wanted to tip more), St. Regis waffle robe - why would one starch a bathrobe, and Miami International Airport - where you walk through a 10 mile maze before getting to the rental car lot/parking.
So there you have it, the list is small but we only spent 2 nights there. The clubs, the beach, and multitudes of half naked tourists were not missed one bit. It was nice to discover the other side of Miami, a more subdued and almost family friendly.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Weekend meals
One of my favorite summer vegetables to get from a farmer's market is corn. I could eat it grilled, boiled, in salad, salsas, as a side dish, any way, any time :) So here is a recipe that I got from www.allrecipes.com and tweaked a little to my taste. My son and Hubbs, who happen to be pretty picky, actually had more than one helping.
Summer Corn Salad
Ingredients:
3corn ears, husked and cleaned
1 large tomato, diced or cubed
half of onion, diced
1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs white vinegar
1 tbs italian dressing
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook corn, then drain, cool, and cut kernels off the cob with a sharp knife.
In a large bowl, toss together all of the ingredients.
Chill until serving.
Enjoy!
Summer Corn Salad
Ingredients:
3corn ears, husked and cleaned
1 large tomato, diced or cubed
half of onion, diced
1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs white vinegar
1 tbs italian dressing
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook corn, then drain, cool, and cut kernels off the cob with a sharp knife.
In a large bowl, toss together all of the ingredients.
Chill until serving.
Enjoy!
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