Five Favorite Things Friday: Tulum, I'm glad I did, dumplings, power of love

Hello and happy Friday! Hell's breaking loose all over the Cube Farm today BUT...BUT, BUT I'm keeping my chin up. My hubby comes home tonight from a week-long trip and I get to have happy hour(s) with my girlfriends. Hooray for the things that make us happy! So, hey YOU! Yeah, YOU! Turn that frown upside down!! Enjoy!

Favorite Travel Picture

Tulum, Mexico is a fantastic place to relax, laze in a hammock, and sip on some cold bevies—at your own pace. It’s rich in history, and has beautiful beaches and absolutely amazing turquoise water, and is so darn much more peaceful that its northern neighbors.

Tulum beach hammocks waiting for me.

Favorite Quote

Will you look back on life and say “I wish I had,” or “I’m glad I did?” –Zig Ziglar

Favorite Recipe

Homemade Chinese pork dumplings—thanks to a thoughtful Farm mate! Even the wrappers were made by hand. Yummo!

Favorite Story

The power of love: 77-year-old William Larry Swilling walked 7.5 miles last Friday to find a kidney for his wife. And he’d walk many more if he’d have to. “I love her more now than I believe when I married her because we’re not two. We’re one. We need each other and we’ve been together so long.” The Swillings are getting the paperwork together so potential donors can be tested.

Favorite Random

My favorite person—my hubby, of course—is coming home from his biz trip to Switzerland! I hope he brings me Swiss chocolates! Or cheese!

http://thatslikewhoa.com/swiss-chocolate-knife/

Five Favorite Things Friday

Happy Friday! Wow, what a week: Syria attacked Turkey, the jobless rate fell, gas prices rose by 20 cents overnight in California, two actors duked it out for the next presidential role -- oh wait, that's not what this blog is for. Sorry guys! Enjoy your weekend and this week's edition of FFTF!

Favorite Travel Picture

Pictures I love aren't always about landscapes and sunsets; sometimes they just tell a story. Like these ashtrays that were made by a St. Lucian resident who worked hard every day, trying to earn enough to feed his family. The ashtrays were made from local bamboo that he hand sanded, shaped, smoothed, and "stamped" using a permanent marker. He gave just as much care to his necklaces, bracelets, and carved art.

He's one of the most genuine and nicest guys you'll meet in St. Lucia. The hubby and I were fortunate enough to have shared a few cocktails and a lot of laughter with him. If you go, look for him!

Favorite Quote

I am not interested in money, I just want to be wonderful. – Marilyn Monroe

Favorite Recipe

Seriously easy breakfast burrito

 

scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and your favorite salsa

wrap it up, chomp, and ejoy!

Favorite Story

This is Tucker. He is a week-old puppy that was found alive thanks to his whimpering. Police who were destroying evidence in a dirt pit heard his cries and saved him just in time. There’s a $2,000 reward being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the jackasses that tried to bury Tucker alive.

Adorable Tucker

Favorite Random

Match book nail files: How cute are these? And practical too. Thanks to my very chic and fun sis, my nails can always look fab. Just drop them in your purse and go!

Five Favorite Things Friday

Happy Friday! I can't believe it's already Sept. 21! Wow, I totally agree with the saying, "the days are long but the years are short!" It reminds me not to fuss too much on the turmoil and nonsense that happens every day at the Cute Farm and to focus more on the things that bring good cheer and make happy memories. So I hope you enjoy some of my favorite happy things! 

Favorite Travel Picture

I have a thing for sunrises this week! Here's another beautiful one I saw in Mykonos, Greece.

Sunrise Over Mykonos; View from Our Inn

Favorite Quote

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama

Favorite Recipe

Bellini Surgelato (Frozen Peach Bellini), courtesy of Chef Alexis Starkey at Farm to Feast Catering. A Bellini cocktail is a mixture of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach purée which originated in Venice, Italy.

I Made These Peach Bellinis!

Bellini Surgelato (Frozen Peach Bellini)

Serves 4

1/2 cup peach puree - chilled 

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 

1/4 cup peach schnapps 

1 cup crushed ice - more if necessary 

1 cup Prosecco - chilled - more reserved for topping off glasses 

Add sugar to peach puree and place in refrigerator to chill completely.

When your Prosecco and peach puree are completely chilled and you are ready to make drinks, add: peach puree, lemon juice, peach schnapps, crushed ice and Prosecco to blender. Pulse to combine.

Pour mixture into champagne flutes and top off with additional Prosecco. Garnish with thinly sliced peach wedges if desired. Enjoy with good company!

Favorite Story

Patrick--the deserted pit bull, found emaciated and almost dead--has fully recovered. Hooray Patrick!

Patrick, the Miraculous Pit Bull

Favorite Random

My favorite season is just around the corner. Come on Autumn!

So thrifty

We did find time during our Colonial Beach trip to do a little shopping in the form of thrift shops and antique stores. My hubby is not really into shopping so I enjoyed this more than he did—but he did get into the spirit for a few minutes and walked away with an electrical wire stripper for two bux from the Red Barn.

I scored this authentic 1950s gold plated clutch/coin purse from Esco Limited for under ten bux:

And got a steal on these vintage liquor bottles along with a dozen one-of-a-kind books (a couple from the 1800s!) from McGinniss's Barn, located on Rt. 3, four miles east of U.S. 301 (tele: 540-775-7710). He has rooms and rooms and rooms full of furniture (seriously think some are from when the first president was in office), glassware, and a gazillion other unique finds. You won't be able to find this place using a web search (thanks to innkeeper Anne for the tip) so put this on your list. The nicest, most charming man by the name of Murray (I don't know how old he was, but he was definitely grampa old) runs this antiques shop—and only during the weekends. Happy hunting! 

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday! It’s back to the Cube Farm and it’s time for me to get organized and ready for another week. I admit Mondays are tough, especially if I’m rolling off a busy weekend. But, I had such a nice two days in Colonial Beach that I’m feeling a little more refreshed than usual. It’s hard to not to take it back a pace when there’s no wifi or cell service. I have a ton of pictures to share and once I’m fully connected, I’ll upload them. Before I get ready to organize my day: let’s start out with fresh brewed coffee (thank you Cube Farm for the endless flow of Kuerig coffee), a recap of the news, and shuffle on my Pandora playlist. Have a great Monday!

P.S. The Bell House Bed and Breakfast was great. The sunrise from the front porch was stunning! More posts about them soon...

And we're off to the beach...

Colonial Beach, Va. Sunset (Photo courtesy of menupix.com) 

I love to explore new things, whether it be a new city, restaurant, people, or idea. So, after work today, we (the hubby and I) are dashing off to Colonial Beach, Va. for a much needed weekend of R and R. I had never heard of Colonial Beach until last week. I only came across it when I was researching bed and breakfasts within a couple of hours from Washington, D.C. I must have spent hours scouring the web for ideas, plotted numerous driving directions for the most efficacious trip route (if you have ever tried going over the Chesapeake Bay Bridges on a Friday, you will understand), and read several dozen reviews--before I discovered this hidden gem.

There's a fascinating history about Colonial Beach. It earned its moniker, "Playground on the Potomac," in the 19th century, and was once a very fashionable and go-to gambling destination. The town, nestled between the Potomac River and the Bay, is dotted with Victorian-style structures and is home to nearly 3,300 residents, according to the 2000 census. Also notable is the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, which is now the Bell House Bed and Breakfast, which also is  THE place where we'll be staying this weekend. (TripAdvisor reviews ranked it #1 so that's more kudos!)

The Bell House Bed and Breakfast (Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com)

I'm looking forward to exploring this now sleepy town (sleepier than its old moniker implies) and the abundance of history which surrounds it. I have, however, that visitors are starting to come back. Oh, did I mention that it's designated as golf cart town? Yes, it's legal to drive your golf cart all over town! Check back; I'll post pictures of our trip.

Read more about Colonial Beach, Va.:

• Visitors Info
• Chamber of Commerce