My Favorite Benefits of a Quickie (Trip)!

Ok, folks, we all love a good quickie, am I right? Of course, I’m referring to a Quickie trip! Nowadays, millennials are by and large more attracted to a quick trip, two or three days, and one that is even spontaneously planned. Especially in 2020, due to the pandemic, people are more nervous to travel longer distances or for longer periods of time. Whereas a nearby trip, even one where a flight isn’t required, is looked upon more favorably. In fact, 89% of potential 2020 surveyed travelers state they want to take extra precautions with an upcoming trip.

So if a Quickie sounds right up your alley, here are even more benefits to a quick trip AND several things you can do even if you're not taking a lengthy vacation.

First off, you can save a LOT of money. Anytime I'm booking a short trip, OR a last-minute trip, I always use Hotwire and their Hot Rate Deals booking tool. It's the very best way to save on hotels and have the opportunity to stay in a 4 or 5-star hotel, for a 2 or 3-star price. You can actually save up to 60% on your room! The way this works is that you don't know the exact hotel until after you book, this allows you maximum savings. However, you will always know your hotel is one of two or three specific choices, so you'll never be disappointed.

With all the money you can save, here's what you can do with it! I love to spend the majority of my trip money on culinary explorations and expert imbibing...aka food and drink. The first thing I do after booking a trip, especially a short trip, is to plan where I'm going to eat. I check reviews, consult with friends, maybe throw out a post on Facebook, and even ask some chef buddies for their best recommendations. When you're on a Quickie Trip, EVERY meal is important and you don't have time to waste on non-memorable dining experiences. So make them count!

Naturally, all that extra money you save can be used on good old fashioned shopping. Only have a few days?? Don't waste time heading over to a mall or department store. Make sure you check out a store that is indigenous and unique to the area. Local boutiques and shops not only are more interesting and have special finds that will have all your friends asking; "Oh my gosh, where did you get THAT?!" But you will also likely find these shops in the "downtown" area so you can likely walk to several of these stores in a short period of time. PLUS, you're helping to support the local community.

Just because a trip lasts only a couple of days, doesn’t mean those days can’t be meaningful. On a Quickie you can still have enough time to reconnect with a loved one. Most people haven’t had a chance to travel in 2020, meaning no romantic getaways, no “sister trips,” no weekend rendezvous with a best friend. If you’re open to traveling, a couple of days is all you need to regroup, reconnect, and make some lasting memories.

If you are heading out on a romantic journey to spend time with your significant other. Use your quickie as the perfect opportunity for a safe yet enjoyable date night. Experience a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, check out a drive-in concert or show (they’re quite prevalent these days), and end the night with cocktails on a heated patio.

Finally, even during the days of COVID, there are so many activities that are still open and safe. Whether you’re on a solo or coupled quick trip, you can check out a museum while social distancing, or hit up the beach, or go on a hike, or even just take a sightseeing walk. Just because you’re not in a location very long doesn’t mean you still can’t soak up all the best a city or town has to offer.

So are you ready to plan your Quickie? The possibilities are endless and if you take all of the necessary and appropriate safety precautions, the time is now! There are so many incredible deals out there, you can take that mini-vacation you’ve probably been dreaming about since March…and for a fraction of the cost. You can save a ton of money on flights, hotels, and car rentals, and Hotwire is always there to help! Bon Voyage!

How To Throw the Perfect Backyard Fiesta!

I LOVE entertaining.  And I especially love it when I have friends come stay with me from out of town.  My favorite way to show them a good time is to take them on a tour of all my favorite Los Angeles sites one day, and the next day, hang out at my pool with delicious food and drinks.  Since we're in Southern California, and the weather almost always feels like summer, a backyard fiesta is ALWAYS the perfect vibe!  Here's how I put it together!

I start by making some "lite & fit" Piña Coladas: (about 1/2 the calories of a typical piña colada...perfect for a bikini day!)

4oz Coconut Rum

4oz pineapple juice

4oz unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup of ice

Put in a blender and blend until smooth!  Pour in a glass and garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

Next I served avocado chips with Yucatan Guacamole and a side of salsa.  This is the PERFECT snack while you work on your tan and get ready for lunch.  I am usually a huge advocate of making my famous fresh guacamole at home.  But occasionally when you're trying to spend time with a friend and you're enjoying the weather, you don't want to have to make it from scratch because it can be VERY time consuming.  (plus 1/2 the avocados I buy always end up going bad, ugh!).  I have never really found a brand of pre-made guacamole that I love until I discovered Yucatan.  You LITERALLY CANNOT TELL it was not homemade.  It tastes incredibly fresh and doesn't have that odd tangy flavor that a lot of pre-made brands can have. It's 100% hand scooped, GMO-free, and no artificial preservatives.  It's also made with 95% real Hass avocados.  Trust me, you can tell the difference.  

Next, it was time for lunch!  I made some delicious shrimp tacos with all the fixings.  

1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp.  Rinse and pat dry and season liberally with:

Cumin

Chili Powder

Salt and Pepper

Grill the shrimp (or cook in a cast iron skillet) until shrimp are cooked through & have a nice char.

Serve with:

Corn Tortillas (wrap in a damp paper town and steam in microwave for 45 secs)

Yucatan Guacamole- a BIG dollop (I used the Spicy one!)

Fresh lime wedges

Fat Free Greek Yogurt

Fresh Cilantro

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

Of course, we also cheers-ed with some of my favorite reposado tequila while we grubbed on the tasty tacos!  Then of course we relaxed by the pool and IN the pool for the rest of the day!  I'd have to say this may have been the best (relaxing) backyard fiesta ever!

Yucatan even makes little to-go guac packs that are PERFECT for a picnic, backyard snack, or if you just want a quick single serving.  I've even been dipping veggies and endive spears in mine!  You can pick some up and tons of stores nationwide like Whole Food, Ralph's, Jewel-Osco etc.  Or Click HERE for the Yucatan Guac Finder!

This post was sponsored by Yucatan Foods

Taking Taco Tuesday to a Whole New Level

Ok, so yeah, everyone knows I love tacos.  I mean, who doesn't?!  And Taco Tuesday is a weekly celebration of everything delicious that can be stuffed into a tortilla.  Sometimes it's fun to prepare the feast at home... with the whole fam or friends participating.  Or sometimes it's fun to go out to a restaurant and wash down those delicious Mexican creations with a cold margarita. But how can we switch things up a bit?  How can we take Taco Tuesday to a whole new level?! Well friends, I figured it out...

When I cook at home, I love to make a creation in my head come to life.  I'm also a stickler for balancing bold and unique flavors with healthy, organic, and SIMPLE ingredients.  (I'm sure any busy guy or gal out there can appreciate that last one.)  But that’s usually the challenge – combining convenience and wholesome ingredients so recipes actually TASTE amazing. Well friends, I found a way to up my taco game AND accomplish all of the above.  I have teamed up with  Seeds Of Change-  and organic seeds and food brand- to create some yummy concoctions with their brand new Organic Simmer Sauces.  There are several new and delicious flavors, like Sesame Ginger Teriyaki and Tikka Masala, that add bold authentic flavor to your favorite recipes and make preparing dishes a breeze, but for this recipe, I chose their Taco Roasted Chipotle Sauce.  Normally, I stay away from pre-packaged foods as I enjoy "starting from scratch" and making everything myself.  Plus packaged foods aren't always healthy or organic... they're usually filled with preservatives, ingredients you can't pronounce, and a ton of sodium. But Seeds of Change is different-their products are only made with certified organic ingredients, have no artificial colors or flavors and are grown by trusted farmers who share the brand’s passion for goodness. That's a HUGE change from what we're used to in the packaged food isle. I also love that Seeds of Change is a true seed-to-plate brand, committed to helping people cerate healthier and greener communities by donating 1 percent of sales to support and develop sustainable community based farming and growing programs across the country.  Eating well AND doing good all in one bite...love it.

 I decided to do a "4 Pepper Tacos" Recipe and let me tell you, it was delicioso y muy caliente!  What's cool is that even though I used a simmer sauce, I was still able to make the recipe my own and add my own personal touches.  Oh, and did I mention they were DELICIOUS?!

4 Pepper Tacos

1 lb ground organic ground turkey or chicken

1 poblano pepper (finely diced)

1 jalapeño pepper (finely diced)

1 yellow bell pepper (finely diced)

1/2 medium red onion (finely diced)

Seeds of Change Taco Roasted Chipotle Simmer Sauce packet

1/2 cup crumbled Cotija Cheese

1 avocado sliced

1 Cup of cherry tomatoes (halved)

1/2 cup of fat free Greek yogurt

6-8 corn/wheat tortillas

Brown ground turkey in a large skillet (until cooked through).  Add all veggies and sauté for 3-5 min over medium heat.  Add Seeds of Change Simmer Sauce and heat over low-med heat for 5-10 minutes.   Serve taco mixture on a platter along with all toppings including Cotija cheese, tomatoes, avocados, and Greek yogurt.  How easy was that?!  

And if you want to see an awesome and EASY recipe video using Seeds Of Change, just watch below to see how I made a simple Italian Shrimp Risotto.  

This post was sponsored by Seeds Of Change.

 

Detroit Renaissance

Detroit has long been one of those cities that has been very mysterious to me, so I partnered up with Pure Michigan to help me unravel it and learn more about this amazing city. It’s home to an abundance of world famous companies, franchises, and sounds: General Motors, The Red Wings and Motown, just to name a few. Surely it’s at the forefront of American prestige? Then you hear of the many struggles and hardships this working class city has endured over the last several decades. I’ve heard many things over the years but I’ve never SEEN Detroit first hand. Which I must admit, is a bit strange since I have lived in the closest major city to Detroit for almost 4 decades. I think Chicago and Detroit have always had a bit of a rivalry (Blackhawks-Red Wings, need I say more?!). But Chicago has been first to garner the spotlight on the economic, tourism, and food fronts. However, there’s a MASSIVE buzz on streets. Detroit is making a comeback. A big one. Just how big? Well I went there to see it for myself, thanks to #PureMichigan.

Naturally, if I’m going to a new city, I want to dive right into the food and music scenes; It's always my measure of having a good time. I also HATE feeling like a tourist; I love doing as the locals do. So in this case, I wanted to be like a “Detroiter”. I’ve heard that Detroit has been emerging as a foodie destination for a couple years now and I was definitely intrigued. My best friend Aggie (who is just as obsessed with food and music as I am) and I ventured out into Detroit to check it out first hand.

Cocktails at the Apparatus Room

Right when we arrived, we were impressed. I instantly felt the cool and edgy yet historic vibe the city gives off. Especially since our hotel was a part of history. We stayed at the newly opened Detroit Foundation Hotel. It is a renovated historic fire station that has been turned into THE place to see and be seen in Motor City. This also brought us to our first culinary experience. The Apparatus Room is the hotel’s very own restaurant/bar and it felt like it was Detroit’s own “Soho House”. The scene was hot with an artist/biz professional vibe. It reminded me of Chicago’s West Loop scene. Oh, and the food and cocktails were On-Point! I had their version of a Negroni (my go-to cocktail) that was so unique and flavorful. But WOW, their pasta! I had their Saffron Chitarra pasta with oysters, sea urchin, and fennel pollen. It was perfection.

Saffron Chitarra Pasta at the Apparatus Room

My other favorite meal was a simple surprise. We took a quick Uber to the hip yet established neighborhood of Royal Oak. We started off our Saturday afternoon with a quick brunch at the adorable Le Crepe. We got a sweet and a savory crepe and they were life changing! I love that the cutest little neighborhood spot was a perfect hidden gem. Now that we were full of yummy crepes, we figured it was time to get our beer on. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few decades, you’re aware that Michigan has one of the biggest craft beer scene in the country. So we headed to Royal Oak Brewery for a tour of their facility and to try a few expertly crafted cold ones. One of the many great things I learned about Royal Oak Brewery, from their head brewmaster Richard, is that they really stay true to the authentic German style of brewing. They keep it old-school legit. And it more than pays off as EVERY beer we tried was outstanding.

Monte Cristo Crepe at Le Crepe

The storied history of Motown’s music past is rich and diverse. What Berry Gordy and Motown Records did for music is like what Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino has done for film. They created something new and massive that will forever change our nation’s soundscape. And even though Motown left Detroit in the 70’s, it left a music culture so strong that it has also evolved into other genres. Aggie and I checked out St. Andrews, a rock club so edgy that we felt like we didn’t even have enough tattoos to get in (and we have a bunch). We also hit up a cool bar/venue called the Majestic to see Michelle Branch (a blast from 2003) but get this…her drummer is the one and only, Patrick Carney, drummer/co-founder of The Black Keys. It was ALL coming together.

Me at Dequindre Cut

Finally, we capped off our amazing experience by taking a stroll through the super cool Dequindre Cut nature path, along their beautiful river walk. This is not just any river walk…as you gaze across to the opposite river bank you realize you’re staring right into Canada. How cool is that?! A different country just across the river. But of course on the Detroit side, the monstrous and stunningly gorgeous towers of the Renaissance Center dwarf everything in its path and reminds you that Detroit IS American, it is a part of our history and a bigger part of our future, and it is here to stay.

This post is sponsored by Pure Michigan.

Danke Schön, Switzerland!

If you have followed any of my social media over the last 8 months you will know that I'm beyond obsessed with Switzerland.  I was fortunate enough to be invited TWICE by Switzerland Tourism to explore and fall deeply in love with their country.  

It's incredibly difficult to not be enchanted and immediately mesmerized by the scenery, the culture, the food, the adventure, and most of all, the people.  Truly some of the friendliest and well cultured people in all the world.  Since Switzerland is an international melting pot, you get to experience so many cultures, languages, cuisines, and people all within the borders of this tiny Alpine nation.  

The purpose of this blog is to help recreate my journey that traverses 4 cities and 2 seasons.  I intend to show you the extent of my adventures through the dynamic videos that my team and I created over our 2 visits to Switzerland.  

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I'll start with our most recent trip this winter in December 2016.  We started off in Zurich for the purpose of being the FIRST people to partake in the inaugural ride of high speed train that goes through the brand new Gotthard Base Tunnel.  This tunnel has been a dream of the Swiss for over a century and is finally a reality.  See why Swiss Travel System has been elevated by this incredible feat of engineering.  

Next, we took the Glacier Express train all the way to the Swiss/Italian border to the stunning Alpine city of Zermatt.  One of the most revered ski/snowboard resorts in the world.  Not only is the mountain infrastructure the most advanced I've seen at any ski resort, but the views were surreal.  Not to mention, waking up to the sight of the Matterhorn was like a dream in and of itself.  

Ahh Zurich. Cosmopolitan chic, yet culturally rich and historical.  One of my favorite cities on Earth, and incredibly livable.  Insanely easy transportation system, walkable, and AMAZING FOOD.  Always a must for me.  Check out where I went, where I stayed,  and what I ate below. 

And if you didn't see my Eat Travel Rock TV episodes from the summer, well, here you go! First up is the rolling hills of Bad Ragaz.  A breathtaking country side that was the backdrop for the world famous novel, Heidi.  Famous for their healing thermal waters, I indulged in the world's most luxurious spas.  This episode also features several Swiss Deluxe Hotels, not only in Bad Ragaz, but in Gstaad and Zurich.  This hotel company encompasses some of the most prestigious hotels in all of Europe.  

Gstaad is THE MOST picturesque town that is oozing with prestige and luxury that I have ever seen.  Not only does the small village house some of the world's most posh name brands, but the hotels and restaurants are in a class of their own.  However, in this episode, I explored the countryside, and even milked a goat... yes the ones used to make some of the greatest cheese on the planet.  You don't want to miss this one!

Hope you enjoyed my travels around Switzerland and I hope it inspires you to make it your next international destination.  If you've been to Switzerland or want to go, please comment below and let me know your thoughts, thanks!

Galentine's Day Party With My Fave Gals!

There really is nothing better than recharging and having a little down time with some of your best girlfriends.  And what better way to do that than having a spa night with delicious food, tons of laughs, hot tubs and saunas galore, and a movie night?!

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The day after Valentine's Day, I rounded up 4 of my besties (Erica, Brett, Tiffany, and Erin) to come join me at Parc Huron.  Probably THE MOST CHIC apartment building in Chicago's River North neighborhood.  I mean, who else has a spa like this?!?! 

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We had a delicious Mediterranean feast catered from Bernie's Lunch and Supper from right down the street.  We noshed on Paella, hummus, roasted chicken, grains and greens salad, and roasted cauliflower.  Pretty healthy for the most part since we were all in our bikinis and were about to hit up the hot tub.  

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Finally, after a hot dip, we cooled off in the Sauna ;)  Then made it up to the swanky theater room for a movie and a night cap.  Fortunately, we had the room all to ourselves so we were free to goof off without disturbing anyone.  

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All in all, it was truly a night to remember and we didn't even have to venture out to a bar, restaurant, or club.  We were able to stay cozy indoors at The Parc Huron and celebrate some good ole' fashioned female bonding!

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