ROAD TRIP - HOME

The final day of our trip was full of:

more cousin time, 

a rainy drive to Monterey and Carmel

for some delicious lunch at the Hog's Breath Inn,

(most likely the only time I'll ever order a "Dirty Hairy" Burger at a restaurant), 

a drive through the city we used to live in*

 with a peek at our old house,

 and LOTS of driving.

Thank you for the fun, California, but it's time to go back to Utah.

*Some schools have mascots that are strong and can beat up other school's mascots. My school was not one of these...panda power!

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER & OAKLAND

Last night, my mother and I could only find 1 hotel with a room for us to sleep in. Apparently, there was a big baseball game and kite festival in Berkeley that weekend.

 We left our fancy 1-star hotel

 to had lunch at Nation's Giant Hamburgers...and giant they were!

We still had a couple hours before the party for Aunt Helen today so we drove to Oakland to another one of my favorite places.

The Oakland temple

The flowers and palm trees on the grounds are gorgeous.

While it is sad that Aunt Helen passed, she did live 99 great years. She was a kind woman who had a love for travel, knowledge, service, and cats.

 During the celebration, my mother and I were able to visit with family members to look at photos and share stories.

I'm a Mormon kid. In my religion, we believe families are forever and even though some leave the earth, we will see each other again one day.

SAN FRANCISCO TREAT

After a delicious pancake breakfast and a little more cousin time, the moms and I headed to San Francisco. This is my favorite city. Here is a little secret about me: when I travel to a new place, I usually have a list of 3 things I want to see, eat, or do and then everything else that happens there is a bonus. This is partly because I'm not a big planner. At the end of the day, if I have completed those 3 goals, I can check off seeing that city or country. San Francisco (and Philadelphia) are so interesting and have so many more things that I couldn't possible see in just 1 day.

Anyway, I won tickets to Ride the Ducks. It's a tour in a vehicle that travels on land and in water. I invited my friend Sean, who recently moved there, to join us.

 It was pretty touristy, but the driver was really fun. The tour starts and ends at Fisherman's Wharf and goes all over town, dipping in the bay where you can get a good view of the city skyline and Bay Bridge.

Sometimes having crabs is a good thing.

After the tour, we drove around to see the "Painted Ladies" which you might recognize from the Full House opening credits.

The actual house the Tanner family lived in has been painted purple. Have Mercy!

 A quick stop at Coit Tower

and then a walk around my favorite bridge - the Golden Gate Bridge.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - RENO

We were planning on going to Aunt Helen's 100th birthday party in Berkley, CA. Unfortunately, she passed 10 days before her birthday. My mother and I still hit the road to make it to a party in her memory. We drove to Reno and slept at the fabulous Circus Circus. They have rooms for $40 - incredible!

 We walked around the city in the morning and found a treat!

Raise your hand if you joined a senior citizen flash mob dance to Staying Alive this morning.

ME!

 After checking out of our room, we walked around the Midway Circus area and caught a few of the free shows they offer.

 There is a super cute show dog show

and a gravity-defying acrobat show.

After a quick stop for lunch at Jack-in-the-Box (don't judge me), we were on the road again.  

Our next stop was at the Penny Candy Store near Live Oak, CA. My parents used to take my brother's  and me here whenever we would visit my grandparents.

My mom gave me a whole dollar to spend just like the old days!

We made one final stop before going to my cousin's house to spend the night with family at the 99 cent only store. Back in the day, I bought a hair crimper here for 99 cents. Best deal ever.

Cousin time.

SLIDE THE CITY

I heard there was going to be a giant (like 1000 ft) slip & slide in downtown Salt Lake City.

So I grabbed my bathing suit, inflatable tube, and headed down.

Slide the city is traveling to various cities across the country. Check out to see if it is coming near you! I said a slide slide slippity slide.

Book-Shaped Cake Pan / GoneReading.com GIVEAWAY

Do you or do you know someone who loves reading? Well, I have a product that might make an avid reader happy. It will allow them to read their book and eat it too!

You can now bring a favorite book or author to life with this this book-shaped cake pan and a bit of  creativity.  

This might be perfect for a birthday, book club meeting, read-a-thon, Dr. Seuss birthday party...you name it! I'm totally singing the Reading Rainbow theme song right now (take a look, it's in a book...). I'm really not that old.*

This is my attempt at baking a book cake. I am not a professional cake decorator, so don't judge me.

BEFORE

AFTER

Each book-shaped cake pan is approximately 16″ wide x 12″ tall x 2-1/2″ deep. It takes three cake mixes and includes some decorating instructions.

*I actually am that old.

The nice people at Gonereading are allowing me to give a $20 eGift Coupon Code for shopping at their site to ONE lucky reader. 

ENTER BELOW:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

LAVISHY Poppy/ Passion Vintage Set GIVEAWAY

From ancient times and into the modern times, flower symbolism has been a significant part of cultures around the world. We see it in weddings, funerals, holidays, and anniversaries, to name a few. I saw it was different when I lived in the Czech Republic from the United Sates.

Since I am really into jewelry and accessorizing lately, I found the LAVISHY Secret Garden series. Pictured is the poppy/passion vintage set. It features hand crafted double sided pendants with matching earrings and rings with a beautiful flower relief on one side and a positive message on the other. You might have seen this in popular bracelets recently. Super cool, right?! You can wear jewelry that has meaning and inspiration that will never end.

Pendant: 2 x 2 cm
Chain: fine 18 inch with 2 inch extension and cute LAVISHY logo tag.

 Pendant Measurement: 2 x 2 cm

Adjustable to fit finger

Pendant Measurement: 2 x 2 cm for pierced ears

The necklace, earrings, ring all come with a #LAVISHY gift box, are designed in Canada, come in silver or gold, and are nickel free & lead free (hypoallergenic / allergy free).

I think these would make great graduation, birthday, or "just because" gifts.

WANT TO WIN A SET? ENTER BELOW:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

LIFE & FOOD GARCINIA CAMBOGIA

Now that I'm back from the cruise and the 24/7 eating experience, it is time to get back to my normal routine. It is said that people return from cruising with an average of 5 lb. weight gain. UGH. You might have heard about the new Garcinia Cambogia pill. Well, here is one you want to try:

WHY CHOOSE LIFE & FOOD GARCINIA CAMBOGIA 1600 MG?

The use an 800mg rather than 500mg pill. The upgraded strength formula enhances the effects and accounts for reduced absorption rates when taken by various individuals. They use high quality ingredients and contains no gluten, wheat, soy, or sugar and is made in the USA. They use a vegetable capsule with no fillers or binders, mixing Garcinia Cambogia fruit rind with calcium and potassium for added absorption your body needs. It is safe to use and will help you lose weight without any side effects.

For best results, you take 2 capsules daily (preferably before meals). It will help curb your appetite and allow you to balance your mood and not worry about food all day. I love that. Gotta stay bikini ready EVERY day and this #garcinia will help! I wouldn't tell you about it unless I tested it and it worked. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.