Month: October 2013

Gift of Time with the Irobot Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot

As I write this post, I’m also doing a little housecleaning. Well, I AM not exactly doing the cleaning, my new 21st century pet, the Irobot Roomba 770 vacuum cleaning system is doing the legwork, err, ball-work while gliding atop my tiled and throw-rugged floors. In fact, it can do the cleaning when I’m sleeping […]

Zombie Crawling Under Car, Spooky Empire, Orlando, Fla., Oct. 26, 2013

Florida Fun Grab Bag

Spooky Empire in Orlando was Delightful, yet Disturbing

Attending Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando was delightful, yet disturbing. Food & Wine Weekends led me to the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek last weekend for a delicious experience. Central Florida is a hub of activity and taking place that same weekend was the horror fest. Typically, I would not have attended but my Sarasota friend Vi was attending in an effort to shop her screenplay and since she invited me to tag along I figured, why not?

Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge, Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Fla.

Culinary Travel Disclosure Featured Florida Fun Solo Travel

Food & Wine Weekend at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek: Sushi Pairing at Zeta Bar

Coinciding with Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival is the third annual Food & Wine Weekends at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. I was invited to experience this culinary celebration and began my visit satisfying my love of sushi with an evening at the Hilton’s Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge.

Culinary Travel Disclosure Featured

Embracing My Family Heritage through Ireland’s Food

Attending the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference in Dublin was my cover for traveling to Ireland earlier this month but it was my family roots driving my decision to learn more about my heritage. Honestly, I didn’t spend time finding my family roots or chasing branches up my family tree but I did connect with my heritage through tasting the flavors of traditional and new Ireland.

Featured Grab Bag

Find “Dead Sexy” Travel Deals to Some of America’s Most Haunted Hotels in Walking Dead Fan Book

”Dead Sexy: The Walking Dead Fan Guide to Zombie Style, Beauty, Parties and Ghoul-Lurching UnLifestyle” by Paula Conway offers tips for living a fab unlifestyle with the living along with drop-dead travel deals in this newly released Walking Dead fan book.

Grab Bag Health & Beauty

Green Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Here’s a healthy dose of fall for your NutriBullet , a Green Pumpkin Spice Smoothie recipe.

Culinary Travel Featured Solo Travel

Louisiana Travel: Slice of Cajun Life at Fred’s Lounge

Immediately stepping into Fred’s Lounge just shy of 9:30 on a Saturday morning a bath of smoke and Cajun music washed over me. A dozen couples danced around the five-piece band (the triangle player was apparently out with an illness) and nearly 100 patrons looked on either from the bar, a cluster of tables or the cushioned bench along the wall.Yes, this was a slice of Cajun life.

Culinary Travel Featured

Visiting Louisiana Spirits Distillery, Makers of Bayou Rum

“Sugar is part of our cultural heritage,” said Trey Litle, president of Louisiana Spirits just as we began a tour of the new 18,000-square-foot rum distillery located in the Southwest Louisiana town of Lacassine, about 50 miles west of Lafayette. Litle and two other founders, his brother Trey Litel and Skip Cortese, conceived of their own rum distillery in 2011 while discussing how the state is full of sugar cane fields and the need for a good quality, homegrown rum.

Nature Travel Solo Travel

Day Trip from Dublin: The Wild Wicklow Tour is a Must

Viewing Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains for the first time was magical. Translucent clouds hovered over the rounded peaks and the surrounding landscape was carpeted in hues of green, gold, auburn and purple intensified by a little Irish rain. I literally gasped seeing this picturesque scenery as it didn’t seem real but indeed, it’s very much real.

Featured Solo Travel

Roaming Around (and Dodging Raindrops) in Dublin, Ireland

Since landing late yesterday morning I’ve been roaming around, and dodging raindrops, in Dublin. The TBEX conference (Travel Blog Exchange) has led me to the Emerald Isle but an affinity to my Irish heritage brought me here a couple days in advance so I can explore. Being here is like getting a warm hug from my grandmother, even though today was a little damp.