December Foodie Penpal

For the past few months I have participated in the foodie penpals.  (See November's box and October's box here.)  I sent a box of local Ohio goodies to Alexis @ Fit-Possible (Check out her blog here to see what I sent her!)  My penpal this month was Tara @ A Daily Dose of Fit!  She sent me a fun travel-themed box with lots of things that are easy to pack for trips - what a fun idea!!  

Glittery Card :)

My box contained:

Christmas Crunch:  Christmas Crunch is caramel popcorn with nuts and dried cherries that are drizzled with chocolate.  This delicious treat did not last very long at my house.  :)

Starbucks Via Colombian Coffee (pictured above):  I have seen these at the store and have been wanting to try them.  It is actually quite good for instant coffee.  I will definitely pack some the next time I am taking a trip!

Fruit Leather - Mixed Berry (pictured above):  A nice little snack.  I have tried the pomegranate ones before but not the mixed berry.  Both have good flavor.

Flax Seed Packet (pictured above):  I'm not exactly sure what to do with this - I'd love for some suggestions!

Justin's Peanut Butter (pictured below):  Brilliant idea from Justin's Nut Butter - a little portable packet of peanut butter!  I am saving these for my trip to Nashville in two weeks.

Blueberry Jam: Blueberry Jam from Radtke Farms - has good taste and texture.  I am planning to try it mixed in to some yogurt or even warmed up on vanilla ice cream.  :)  

Thanks again to Tara for sending me some tasty treats!

If you are interested in joining the Foodie Penpals program, here are some details:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. *US Residents only please at this time- hopefully we can expand soon!*

For more information on the foodie penpals, check out the details on The Lean Green Bean.

If you’re interested in participating in December's foodie penpals, please send Lindsay an email at theleangreenbean@gmail.com by January 4th and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)

Challenge: San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas

I spent a week this past February exploring San Francisco and the surround areas with my husband, and we absolutely fell in love with the region!  We were warned by several people about chilly weather, but since we were coming from winter in Ohio we thought it was beautiful outside!
This is a slightly different format.  I have select three areas for 2-night stays.  These can either be used separately as weekend trips or all three options could be combined into a week-long trip.

Criteria: These are 2-night trips priced on travel from San Francisco, CA

Needs/Wants: We would like a nice blend of indoor/outdoor activities.

Time Frame:  Friday, March 23, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012

Budget: $500 for a weekend trip of 2nts/3days for 2 people

 Option #1: Downtown San Francisco, CA (City)

Golden Gate Bridge - Photo taken by me Feb 2011

Hotel:  Park Hotel - 1D with private bath @ regular-rate (no breakfast); Central location near Chinatown and Union Square; TripAdvisor Reviews  $180.80 TL (estimated 13% tax)

Transportation: Public Transit (includes BART, Trolley, etc)  $50 TL

Food: Breakfast (B): $5/day (2); Lunch (L): $20/day (3); Dinner (D): $45/day (3); Drinks (Dr): $15/day (2)  ~$235TL (for two people)
Based on Day 1 (L/D/Dr), Day 2 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 3 (B/L/D)

Activities: Alcatraz Tour-Daytime Tour $26pp; Walk on Golden Gate Bridge $0; Coit Tower  $52 TL

Trip Total:  $517.80 TL

Option #2: Sonoma Valley, CA (Wine Country)

Vineyard in Northern Sonoma County - Photo taken by me Feb 2011

Hotel:  Zinscape - Garden Room with 1Q @ Winter Special rate; continental breakfast; small bed & breakfast style place; TripAdvisor Reviews  $192.10 TL (estimated 13% tax)

Car: City Rent-a-Car; Economy Car; 2-day weekend; no additional insurance  $49.89 TL

Gas: 75 miles each way (~1.5hr); round trip 150 miles with 25mpg at $3.50/gal  $21 TL

Parking:  Free parking  $0

Food: Breakfast (B): $0/day (2); Lunch (L): $20/day (3); Dinner (D): $45/day (3); Drinks (Dr): $15/day (2)  ~$225TL (for two people)
Based on Day 1 (L/D/Dr), Day 2 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 3 (B/L/D)

Activities: Tour Wineries and have samples $ varies (find wineries with free samples and tours like Korbel Champagne Cellars)  $0 

Trip Total:  $487.99 TL

Option #3: Bodega Bay, CA (Coast)

Pacific Ocean at Bodega Bay - Photo taken by me Feb 2011

Hotel:  Bodega Harbor Inn - Water Tower Room with 1Q @ regular-rate (breakfast only on weekends during winter); public spaces with chairs and picnic tables over looking water; TripAdvisor Reviews  $199.80 TL

Car: City Rent-a-Car; Economy Car, 2-day weekend; no additional insurance  $49.89 TL
Gas: 66 miles each way (~1.5hr); round trip 132 miles with 25 mpg at $3.50/gal  $18.48 TL
Parking:  Hotel Parking  $0

Food: Breakfast (B): $0/day (2); Lunch (L): $20/day (3); Dinner (D): $45/day (3); Drinks (Dr): $15/day (2)  ~$225TL (for two people)

Based on Day 1 (L/D/Dr), Day 2 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 3 (B/L/D)
Activities: Walking trails around coast $0pp  $0

Trip Total:  $493.14 TL

November Foodie Penpals

Where did November go?!  It seems like this month just flew by!  One bit of exciting news is that I got accepted into my grad school program!  I will be a (part-time) student starting in January - YIKES! 

So, I had so much fun last month that I decided to participate in the foodie penpals again!  (See below for more details.)  This month Sarah @ sarah learns sent me some delicious treats from Wisconsin!  I was so excited to try everything!  (Sorry that some of the items are open and partially eaten - I couldn't find my camera right away and couldn't resist sampling.)

My box contained:

Organic Tamari-roasted Almonds (aka: DELICIOUS!):  I had to hide these from my husband, and he is already asking if we can find these in Ohio! I have been eating a small handful of these to give me a boost before I work out.  (I work out at my office gym during my lunch hour and these help me survive until I have lunch afterwards.)

Sesame Bar with Date Syrup:  I have to admit that I was a little nervous about trying these as I did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.  They were quite tasty.

Dagoba organic chocolate - Superfruit:  This is "rich dark chocolate, acai, currants, & goji berries" and it is tied for my favorite item in the box! :)  

Christine's Coffee Toffee:  This is what tied with the Dagoba bar.  It is a thin layer of toffee with small coffee bean pieces on one side and a thin layer of dark chocolate on the other.  Made with Wisconsin butter and coffee! (Got to love local!)

Semolina Pizza Crust Mix:  Haven't gotten to try this yet, but it claims you only need to add water - sounds easy enough.

Slack's Red Raspberry Jam:  I love raspberries (good guess Sarah!) and this jam is full of favor.  I ate it for breakfast on bagels this past week. 

Thanks again Sarah for all the delicious Wisconsin treats!  It is always fun to see local favorites from other places. :)

She even included this cute little pocket guide of local Southern Wisconsin restaurants that use local ingredients!  What a great idea. :)

If you are interested in joining the Foodie Penpals program, here are some details:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. *US Residents only please at this time- hopefully we can expand soon!*

For more information on the foodie penpals, check out the details on The Lean Green Bean.

If you’re interested in participating in December's foodie penpals, please send Lindsay an email at theleangreenbean@gmail.com by December 4th and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)

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UPDATE:  Since it is not letting me comment on my own post:

@ sarahlearns:  The chocolate was wonderful.  I finally ate the last bite today and am sad that it is gone!

@ Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean: The toffee was delicious!  Maybe you will get lucky and have Sarah as your penpal one month! :)

@ Sarah:  I would definitely recommend trying them if you like almonds - they are almost addicting!

@ Kimberly: AGREED!  :)

Saving for Trips

Having money to travel is like saving for anything else - you need to do it on purpose.  Rarely is there just enough spare money in your bank account to take a trip.  I choose to save money every month because for me travel is a priority.  I even have a separate savings account that is labeled as our "Trip Fund".  I understand that not everyone is that dedicated to their vacations, but even being able to get away every once and a while is nice.
 

Fortunately, it doesn't take much money for it to add up though.  I think some people would be surprised at how little you would need to put away when you break it down per day or per week.  For the previous post (Challenge: Romantic Getaway) the budget was $1500 by late August.  At first that amount may seem daunting, but if you save just $5/day ($35/week) then by the end of August you would have the $1500 for the trip (or at least pretty darn close).

For a shorter trip like Option #3 to Niagara Falls (Challenge: Niagara Falls) you would need about $600.  To reach $650 by the trip on May 10th, you would only need to save about $25/week ($3.57/day) and this even gives you a little extra.  If you wanted to take that same trip in the fall (assuming same prices) you could put away only $2/day and still have $650 by the end of September!  These are some examples of items most of us usually wouldn't think twice about buying:

-Starbucks drink: usually around $4
-Chipotle: $6 without a drink or chips
-Hallmark card: $3-5

-2 for $20 Meals: ~$25 with tax+tip
-New Shirt: $15 for even an average shirt at Kohl's or Target

While it is unlikely that you will stop buying these things completely, it just gives an idea of areas you could find a few dollars to save a for a trip - even if you only pick one!  So now instead of spending that money, put it away in your trip fund.  If you get a few dollars for a birthday or holiday put that directly into the fund, too.  It can help you save up to your goal quicker or give yourself a few days off from saving.

Anyone else saving up for a special trip?  If so, where are you planning to visit?  

I always have a hard time deciding where to go next, but my husband and I are thinking maybe New York City or Boston.

Challenge: Romantic Getaway

This is a request for a friend in D.C. Her and her husband are hoping to take a trip together during late Summer 2012. By waiting to travel until the end of summer, places are usually a little less crowded and most children have started back to school. While these trip are not overly romantic, they offer quiet time to enjoy the sun while relaxing together.

Criteria: Week-long romantic getaway

Needs/Wants: Sunshine - either a beach or cruise

Time Frame: Last-summer / early-autumn 2012

Budget: $1500 TL for two (Based on travel from Washington D.C.)

Option #1: Myrtle Beach, SC
(8/25/12-9/1/12)

This photo of Myrtle Beach is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Hotel: Dunes Village Resort - Oceanfront Deluxe 1K Studio @ "25+5 Online Early Booking Special"-rate; Kitchen; Spa; Golf; Indoor water park; TripAdvisor award $737.27TL
Option to add breakfast for $9pp/day

Car/Gas: 415 mile each way (~7.5hr); round trip 830 miles with 27mpg at $3.50/gal $107.59 TL
Parking: Optional Unlimited Valet $10/day $70+tip (Could not find details on other parking options)

Food: Breakfast: $5/day (7day = $35); Lunch: $15/day (8days = $120); Dinner: $40/day (7days = $280); Drinks: $10/day (6days = $60) ~$495TL = $90/day
To afford a nicer meal out, consider eating during lunch - same food for better prices. Then have dinner back at the hotel...you can eat while watching the sun set from your balcony.
See Challenge: National Parks for additional suggestions on food when you have a kitchen!

Activities: IMAX 3D $13pp (online prices); Tanger Outlet Mall; Myrtle Beach Visitors' Guide ~$26TL

Trip Total: $1435.86 TL

Option #2: Caribbean Cruise
(9/3/12-9/8/12)

This photo of Grand Turk is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Cruise: Carnival - 5 Day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, FL (9/3/12-9/8/12) - Interior Porthole Cabin @ Early Saver rate $945.14TL
Price includes round trip cruise transfers ($64) and gratuity ($115)
w/o transfers or gratuity =$766.14TL

Vacation Protection: $98TL (Optional)
Airfare: American Airlines - Washington DC (DCA) to Miami (MIA) Nonstop Flights $302.80TL

Food: Included with cruise $0pp
Beverages: Based on 2 drinks per person per day at $5/drink $100TL

Activities: Included with cruise $0pp
Passport: Passport Card (Valid for travel to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, or Bermuda by land or sea ONLY) $55p
Trip Total: $1445.94TL (including vacation protection but not passport costs)