March Foodie Penpals

It is time for another fun box from my foodie penpal!!  For the month of March, I was paired to send a box to Tasha @ Dine n Dash with T and received a box from Andrea @ Food. Travel. Life. Love.

This months box was a delight (as always!) to open.  Andrea is from the Seattle area and sent me some of her favorite local items.  Yay for supporting local businesses!!

CHOCOLATE!!

 Andrea included not one, but TWO delicious chocolate truffle bars from Seattle Chocolates.  Being a lover of dark chocolate, my favorite was the Coconut Macaroon bar, but the San Juan Sea Salt bar was wonderful as well!  If I make a trip out to Seattle, I would definitely buy both flavors along with trying anything else they make!  :)

Coffee:

 YUM!  I am a lover of both coffee and tea - I enjoy coffee in the morning and tea in the evenings.  The delicious Tangletown blend is from Zoka Coffee Roasters - roasted locally in Seattle, WA!  There is nothing better in the morning than the smell of a good coffee brewing - this was no exception.  It definitely makes my mornings a little more pleasant. :)


Scone Mix and Homemade Jam:

I learned that the Seattle fair has some famous Fisher scones.  Since I live all the way in Ohio, I had not hear of these before, but they sound great.  I can't wait to make them and try them with some of the homemade strawberry jam.

I also received a nice note from Andrea written on a postcard of the Spanish Step from Rome.  (I had the best cappuccino and tiramisu EVER at a little cafe by the Spanish Step a few years ago - this postcard brought back that wonderful memory.)  After tasting all this delicious food, I am even more convinced that I need to make a trip out to visit Seattle.   

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-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. 

-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

If you’re interested in participating for April, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.

You must submit your information by April 4th as pairings will be emailed on April 5th!

February Foodie Penpal

As life continues to get busy with work and grad school, I have less and less time to do fun things.  Luckily once a month I get a great box of goodies delivered to my door from another fellow food lover in the US.  I also have the excuse to go shopping for all the delicious things to put in my box.  (This month I mailed my box to Candy @ Healthy in Candyland from Ohio all the way to Washington!)   This is now my fifth month participating in the Foodie Penpal exchange.  I have to say each month has been extremely fun!!  Here are my past foodie penpals:

January's Box from Lauren @ Lawfully Wedding Wife

December's Box from Tara @ A Daily Dose of Fit

November's Box from Sarah @ sarah learns

October's Box from Erin @ Creative Soul in Motion

This month, my box was sent from Brooke @ Brooke Not On A Diet.  (She has such an inspirational story - I would recommended checking out her blog!)  I couldn't help but smile at all the stamp on the box, so I took a picture of them all. :)  She sent me some fantastic stuff from Illinois:

 

Teas:  

Brooke noticed on my last foodie penpal post that I enjoyed the tea I received from Lauren, so she sent me some, too!  She sent a chai black tea and a pomegranate raspberry green tea.  I was so excited when I saw the green tea because I am obsessed with pomegranates!

Breakfast Foods:

 Brooke sent me OatFit oatmeal in the cinnamon roll flavor.  (I personally thought this tasted much better than the Quaker brand.)  She also included a caramel apple breakfast cookie.  Now I have never heard of such a thing, but it was SO good!  My husband was so upset that I didn't save any to share with him. (It was just so good!)  I found a few recipes online, so I may try to make my own breakfast cookies now...we will see how it goes.

3-2-1 Cake Mix:

This is another delicious treat that I had never had before.  It is a cake mix that you can make it a coffee cup!  It is great for evenings when you just want a little something sweet.  My husband and I have enjoyed making a (coffee)"cup" cake to eat while watching our TV shows.

Other items included:

Single Serve Popcorn (I love popcorn!)

Asian Toasted Sesame salad dressing - I am normally very picky with salad dressings, but this was delicious.  I am hoping to use this to make an Asian chicken salad like Applebee's. (Sorry, it got cut out of the picture.)

Strawberry Fruit Strips - These worked great as a snack in between work and night classes.

Toasted Coconut Dream bar - Tasted similar to a Girl Scout Samoa cookie.

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut bar - Another snack between work and class.  I liked these so much that I am planning to go buy more :)

Milk Chocolate with Raspberry marshmallow Peep = YUM...do I really need to say more?  ;)
Two fitness magazines!

 Thanks again, Brooke, for sending all this wonderful food!!

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-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.
-Foodie Penpals is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

If you’re interested in participating for March, please send  an email to Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)
-WHETHER YOU ARE A US RESIDENT OR CANADIAN RESIDENT. - this is SUPER important so you get on the right list!

You must submit your information by March 4th as pairings will be emailed on March 5th!

***PLEASE NOTE: if you send an email, you WILL GET A RESPONSE within 48 hours. If you don't....please re-send your email or contact Lindsay via Twitter (@LeanGrnBeanBlog). Last month we had a few emails get lost as spam so we're trying to avoid that!

Challenge: Honeymoon in May

I had a Travel Challenge request for a week long honeymoon in May. Congratulations to the happy couple - I hope your wedding and honeymoon are just the start of many wonderful memories together!

Criteria: Honeymoon!
Needs/Wants: Requested a place that has "excursions" or other things to explore. Plus, they love photography, so I think some pretty views to photograph would be nice.
Time Frame: Sunday, May 13, 2012 - Saturday, May 19, 2012 OR Sunday, May 20, 2012
Budget: $2000ish for a week long trip of either 6nts/7days OR 7nts/8days for 2 people

Option #1: San Francisco and surrounding area, CA

This photo of San Francisco is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I think that San Francisco would be a perfect area to honeymoon, especially for anyone who loves photography! Within a couple hours drive you can see breathtaking views of the city, coastline, vineyards, and forests. I would recommend starting in San Francisco, then traveling to either Sonoma (or Napa) for two or three days. You could continue north to see the Avenue of the Giants or go southeast to visit Yosemite National Park (both are roughly 4 hours away from Napa but well worth the drive).  
(See my Challenge: San Francisco for more ideas!)

Hotel #1: Warwick San Francisco Hotel - 2nts & 1nts (3nts total) - 1Q @ Internet Saver-rate (no breakfast); Central location near Chinatown and Union Square; TripAdvisor Reviews  $343.04 TL (Includes internet)
Hotel #2: Zinscape - Stay 3 weekday nts - Guest Room with 1Q @ Mid-week multiple day rate; basic continental breakfast; private entrance and patio; TripAdvisor Reviews  $339.00 TL (estimated 13% tax)
Airfare: Delta Airlines - Departure Flight: Columbus (CMH) to Oakland (OAK) 1 layover; Return Flight: San Francisco (SFO) to Columbus (CMH) 1 layover (red-eye Sat pm to Sun am)  $724.40TL
Transportation: Public Transit (includes BART, Trolley, etc)  $20 TL
Car: City Rent-a-Car; Economy Car; 3-weekday rental; no additional insurance  $75 TL
Gas: 75 miles each way (~1.5hr); round trip 150 miles with 25mpg at $3.50/gal plus some extra   $30 TL
Food: Breakfast (B): $5/day (4); Lunch (L): $15/day (7); Dinner (D): $45/day (7)  ~$440TL (for two people)
Based on Sun (L/D), Mon (B/L/D), Tues (B/L/D), Wed (L/D), Thurs (L/D), Fri (L/D), Sat (B/L/D), Sun (B)
Activities: Tour Wineries and samples $ Price varies (find wineries with free samples and tours like Korbel Champagne Cellars) $0; Walking trails around coast near Bodega Bay $0pp; Alcatraz Tour-Daytime Tour $26pp; Walk on Golden Gate Bridge $0; TripAdvisor City Guide App has FREE self-guided tours (I used a tour from their app in NYC) $0  $52 TL
Trip Total: $2,023.44 TL

Option #2: Montreal,Quebec

This photo of Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame) is courtesy of TripAdvisor

If you are dreaming of honeymooning in Europe but just can afford the flights then try Montreal! It is a wonderful blend of North American and European feel! It is not surprising to find menus with both English and French, they have a Notre Dame Basilica, and Old Montreal is beautiful and historic. There is some gorgeous architecture to take photos. It is about a 12-13hr drive each way, so I'd recommend breaking up the trip with an overnight stop at Niagara Falls (roughly halfway between Columbus and Montreal).

Hotel #1: Habitation du Vieux Montreal - 5nts - Parisien, Apartment with 1Q @ regular rate; private apartment with kitchen; great corner view; walking distance to Place Jacques Cartier; TripAdvisor Reviews  $734.50CAD TL (estimated 13% tax) (Canadian or Caribbean apartment at same rate.)
Hotel #2a: Hampton Inn Batavia (NY) - 1nt on way up - 1K @ AAA-rate; breakfast included; right off highway on the way; decent reviews on TripAdvisor  $138.86 TL
Hotel #2b: Greystone Manor Bed and Breakfast - 1nt on way back - Topaz Guest Room 1Q @ TripAdvisor 15% off-rate (must pay in cash to received discount); private entrance; breakfast; mini-fridge and microwave; ranked as #1 B&B by the Niagara Falls on TripAdvisor  $124.30CAD TL (estimated 13% tax)
Gas: 700 miles each way (~12hr); round trip roughly 1500 miles with 25mpg at $3.50/gal  $210 TL
Parking: City parking not included with hotel   $50 TL
Transportation: Montreal Public Transit Occasional Smart Card for three days $16pp  $32 TL
Make sure you get the Occasional Smart Card not the Opus card. The Opus card is a permanent card that they charge you an additional $6 per person.
Food: Breakfast (B): $5/day (5); Lunch (L): $25/day (8); Dinner (D): $60/day (8)  ~$705TL (for two people)
Go across the street to the little market and grab food for breakfast.
Based on Sun (L/D), Mon (L/D), Tues (B/L/D), Wed (B/L/D), Thurs (B/L/D), Fri (B/L/D), Sat (B/L/D), Sun (L/D)
Activities: Walk around the park $0 (maybe pack a picnic lunch for one day); Check out free street entertainment at Place Jacques Cartier $0; Notre-Dame Basilica $5pp; Montreal Botanical Garden $16.50pp; Montreal Biodome $16.50; Montreal Insectarium $16.50pp (Get a "Nature Package" to the Garden, Biodome, and Insectarium for $28pp); Cirque du Soleil Show - Amaluna ~$100pp (this is the middle price range - there are some more or less expensive) $75TL (based on Basilica & Nature package w/o Cirque show)
Trip Total: $2,069.66 TL

Option #3: Caribbean Cruise

This photo of Ocho Rios is courtesy of TripAdvisor

While this may not be my personal preference, I know of many people that love to get away with some sunshine and minimal effort after all the headaches that can come with planning a wedding. A cruise is a great option to see multiple places without having to "waste" time travelling. You can enjoy plenty of activities on the boat or just sleep while you cruise to the next port, plus you only have to unpack once! This cruise would offer some beautiful sunset pictures for any photography lover!

Hotel: Carnival Cruise Line - 6 Day to Western Caribbean (5/13-5/19) - Interior Room with 1Q @ Fun Saver (they select your room at check-in)-rate $1347.48 TL
Flight: Delta Airlines - Flights from Columbus, OH (CMH) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) 1 layover $482.40 TL
Transport: Shuttle from Fort Lauderdale airport to cruise port - Included with price of cruise $0
Food: Included with price of the cruise; Prepaid gratuities included in price of cruise; some drinks additional ~$50TL (for two people)
Activities: Standard activities $0pp; Additional excursions such as Key West Para-sailing $89pp, Canopy Adventure in Jamaica $100pp, Dolphin Swim $varies depending on port ~$200 TL
Trip Total: $2,079.88 TL
Vacation Protection: Optional but not included in total price $130TL


I know some people do not believe in giving money as a wedding gift, BUT if you do get some cash, excursions and activities are a great thing to use your wedding money for...your trip basics (hotel, transportation, etc) are still set but you can enjoy the extras depending if you get any cash gifts.

January Foodie Penpal

For Foodie Penpals in January, I received a box from Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife.  She is from Virgina and sent me some fun things from the Williamsburg area!  

Adorable Mug and Teas:  

First of all, I love tea!  Not only did Lauren send me three different teas to try - Southern Mint, Bombay Chai, and Citrus Spice - but she also sent me a mug!!  This mug is now a permanent fixture on my desk at work.  :)  I have to say that my favorite flavor was the Southern Mint.

Pancake Mix:  

I am saving the pancake mix for this weekend.  I have actually been gone traveling the past few weekends and heaven knows that I cannot get up early enough to make pancakes before work. :)  I am sure they will taste delicious.  

Peanuts:  

Two types of peanuts from Williamsburg - Butter-Toffee and Chocolate-covered.  Luckily, Lauren sent two bags so I could share...my husband loves the chocolate-covered, and I love the butter-toffee.  We snacked on these on our trip this month.

Brochures & Magazine:

Tons of fun information about Williamsburg and a magazine about Richmond, VA.  This was my airplane ready material on the way to NYC.

Mug + Tea

Brochures!!

Local Butter-Toffee Peanuts and Chocolate-covered Peanuts! YUM :)

Thanks again to Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife!!  It was so much fun to go through everything she sent.  If you are interested in joining the Foodie Penpals, read below.  I highly encourage people to join, or at least try one month.  I have had so much fun with the program!


Foodie Penpal 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. 

*Breaking news! This month we're going to do a trial run for our Canadian friends. I'm still not exactly sure how it will work with shipping costs and stuff for you guys up North, but if you're willing to give it a try for a month and provide me with some feedback, that would be awesome! Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

If you’re interested in participating for February, please send  an email to Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)
-WHETHER YOU ARE A US RESIDENT OR CANADIAN RESIDENT. - this is SUPER important so I can get you on the right list!

I will need to hear from you by February 4th as pairings will be emailed on February 5th!

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)

------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

October Foodie Penpals

While I primarily write about travel, one of the joys of traveling for me is trying new food.  When I heard about Foodie Penpals, I thought it sounded like a fun way to try new foods from all over the United States.  October was my first month to participate and here is what I received:

My box was from Erin @ Creative Soul in Motion who lives in the Boston area.  She sent me a wonderful "I ♥ New England" themed package!

 

Item #1:  Maple Syrup - So far I have only used the syrup for Saturday morning pancakes, but I plan to use it for a few more recipes including a Maple-Simmered Chicken recipe from my Clean Eating magazine (Oct '11). It tastes much better than the artificially sweetened types.  

Item #2:  Apple Butter - This apple butter was delicious and perfect for fall!  I have been using it on my toast in the morning for breakfast.

Item #3: Apples - Fresh apples picked by Erin from Honey-Pot Hill Orchard...Yum!

Item #4: Homemade Muffins - I had these for breakfast.  My husband really liked these, too.  

Item #5: Honey - Sadly, the honey jar broke during shipping so I did not get to try it.  Since it smelled nice, I'm sure it would have tasted delicious... 

 Along with all my goodies, Erin included some information about her recommendations for restaurants and activities in Boston:

"...Start at the Flour Bakery in Fort Point for breakfast, meander over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum for the morning, stop by a farmers' market on the way to lunch at Cafe L'Aroma.  Then stroll through the gardens and explore Beacon Hill before going up to Cambridge for a fabulous dinner at Upstairs on the Square.  Then I would explore Harvard Square while the sun slowly sets."

This sounds like such a fun day in Boston!  She also included menus for:

-The Cottage  They have a delicious looking brunch menu - think Stuffed French Toast, Tuscan Omelette, and Maine Lobster BLT+A...yummy! (I love breakfast foods!)

-Cuchi Cuchi  A place meant to capture "old world beauty and early hollywood" which has international small pair&share dishes including mushroom risotto, thai mussels, and duck a l'orange crepes.  They even have vintage cocktails!  (Sounds like a fun place for a girls' evening out!)

- Dali  This restaurant and tapas bar is a sister restaurant of Cuchi Cuchi with many items to pick from including queso de cambra montañas (baked goat cheese w/ tomato & basil), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and conejo escabechado (braised rabbit w/ red wine, juniper, & garlic). 

 

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

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

Challenge: Niagara Falls, ON

The Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is a beautiful place. It was designated as a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice® 2011 Winner (Destination and Family Categories).  Since this is only a 6hr drive from Columbus, it makes an easy weekend trip.  There are many things to do in the area besides view the Falls.  Please remember that you now need a passport to travel to Canada.  (For questions about passports go to the US Dept of State's website.)   
While some items are priced in US Dollars (USD) and others are in Canadian Dollars (CAD) the exchange rate is currently very close to even, so I did not bother to adjust Canadian dollars into US dollars.  All prices are US dollars unless otherwise noted.

This photo of Niagara Falls is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Criteria:  Close to the falls and other activities.

Needs/Wants: Variety of activities beside seeing the Niagara Falls.

Time Frame:  Long weekend - prices based on May 10-13 (3nights/4days)

Budget:  #1 $1500 / #2 $1000 / #3 $600 TL for 2 people

Option #1: Niagara Fall - Fallsview

Hotel: The Tower Hotel - Standard 1Q Fallsview @ 20% for 3nt-rate (no breakfast); mostly positive TripAdvisor reviews   $622.92 TL

Car/Gas: 352 miles each way (~6hr); round trip 704 miles with 22mpg at $3.50/gal  $112.00 TL

Parking:  Valet Parking $15/day  $45

Transportation: Walking distance  $0 TL

Food: Breakfast (B): $10/day ($30); Lunch (L): $35/day ($105); Dinner (D): $60/day ($180); Drinks (Dr): $20/day ($60)  ~$375TL (for two people)
Based on Day 1 (D/Dr), Day 2 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 3 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 4 (B/L)

Activities: Maid of the Mist Tour $16.50CADpp; Niagara Wine Trail $0 OR use the Vino Visa Passport $25pp (Worth the money if you plan to visit multiple wineries for free tastings); Fallsview Casino $0 (unless you gamble); Niagara Sky Wheel $8.99pp (with $1off coupon on website); Butterfly Conservatory $12.25pp; Botanical Gardens $0; Niagara Helicopter Rides $132pp; Crystal Beach $0  $390 TL 

Trip Total:  $1544.92 TL

Option #2: Niagara Falls - B&B

Hotel: Greystone Manor Bed and Breakfast - Topaz Guest Room 1Q @ TripAdvisor 15% off-rate (must pay in cash to received discount); private entrance; breakfast; mini-fridge and microwave; ranked as #1 B&B by the Niagara Falls on TripAdvisor  $300CAD + 13% tax = $339CAD TL

Car/Gas: 352 miles each way (~6hr); round trip 704 miles with 22mpg at $3.50/gal  $112.00 TL

Parking:  Complimentary Off Street Parking  $0

Transportation: Walking $0 OR PeopleMover Buses  $8.85pp/day  $84 TL

Food: Breakfast (included): $0/day (0); Lunch: $30/day ($90); Dinner: $50/day ($150); Drinks: $15/day ($45)  ~$285TL (for two people)
Based on Day 1 (D/Dr), Day 2 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 3 (B/L/D/Dr), Day 4 (B/L)

Activities: Maid of the Mist Tour $16.50CADpp; Niagara Wine Trail $0 OR use the Vino Visa Passport $25pp (Worth the money if you plan to visit multiple wineries for free tastings); Fallsview Casino $0; Niagara Sky Wheel $8.99pp (with $1off coupon on website); Butterfly Conservatory $12.25pp; Botanical Gardens $0; Crystal Beach $0  $125 TL

Trip Total:  $915 TL

Option #3: Niagara Falls - Near Falls 

(may include long walk or very short drive)

Hotel: The Rex Motel - 1Q @ regular-rate; breakfast; mini-fridge and microwave; good value based on TripAdvisor reviews   $215CAD + 13% tax = $242.95CAD TL

Car/Gas: 352 miles each way (~6hr); round trip 704 miles with 22mpg at $3.50/gal  $112.00 TL

Parking:  Complimentary Parking  $0

Transportation: For parking if you do not feel like walking  $25 TL

Food: Breakfast (B): $5/day ($15); Lunch (L): $20/day ($60); Dinner (D): $40/day ($120); Drinks (Dr): $0/day (0)  ~$205TL (for two people)
Based on Day 1 (D), Day 2 (B/L/D), Day 3 (B/L/D), Day 4 (B/L)

Activities: Maid of the Mist Tour $16.50CADpp; Niagara Wine Trail $0; Fallsview Casino $0; Niagara Sky Wheel $8.99pp (with $1off coupon on website); Botanical Gardens $0; Crystal Beach $0  $75 TL 

Trip Total:  $605.45 TL