I of course took the seeds, cleaned them, then seasoned and baked them. That's my favorite part of carving pumpkins!
Located past some winding road through trees (just kidding it wasn’t that dramatic) my sis Ashley and Tu went to have a spa day. We got Herbology Retexturizing Body Treatment. Which is basically an herbal scrub. The outside looked like a small medical office building, but inside was a lavendar little fairy land.
We were moved to a nice oasis room, where we were given tea and forms to fill out while our therapists were getting ready. Each of us were ushered into our own rooms. Here you can pick out your own aromatherapy scent. I chose peppermint.
Most of my body scrubs have been done on vacation as a treat yourself, but this place is really nice, and did a great job, so I might get another one at the start of spring! She was very good, and I love that the crystallized herbs soak into your skin so you don’t have to shower off the scrub before the moisturizing massage. It was a much needed “treat yo self” place.
Calvert Rejuvenations
485 CARLISLE DR.
HERNDON, VA 20170
Okay, lets be honest. I don’t feel like what we did was really hiking, more like taking a stroll on rugged terrain. We were planning on going to the Shenandoahs this weekend but it was scheduled to rain. We still wanted to get out so we too the pup to Great Falls, VA.
Bawse got a new backpack and we wanted to test it out. It’s perfect. He can carry his own water, bowl, treats, food, and poop bags now yay! And he walks pretty normal with it. We got him the Kurgo Wander Dog Pack and it’s perfect for our pitbull.
Bawse was so excited, he basically pulled the whole time. Not fun for his daddy. For the most part he was good at ignoring the other dogs, unless he was allowed to meet them. He met a girl pitbull and he was totally smitten he didn’t wanna leave her to continue our walk.
There was one weird guy with a labradoodle that kind of annoyed me though. We saw them coming, so we stepped off trail, and had Bawse sit and focus on me. He was doing really well, and all would have been fine if they guy kept walking past. But no, he just stopped in front of us with his dog.
Like. Really bro, wtf. Keep it moving. He didn’t say anything he just stood in front of us. Bawse must have felt uncomfortable because after sitting for a little while and them not moving on Bawse went towards the other dog, who then tensed up and they lunged at each other. We decided to just start walking. That was weird. And annoying.
Other than that he did pretty good, he just needs practice and desensitize from all the excitement of the sights (which I doubt will ever happen because nature is too exciting)!
The best part is a worn out puppy afterwards!
I don’t drink anymore, so when I found out there was a brewery, that focuses on ROOT BEER, I was intrigued to know more. At the recent Yelp event, I got to meet Stephen Norborg and taste Thunder Beast root beer. Oh. My. Goodness. It was like nothing I’ve tasted before. Its smooth, with a hint of maple to start, sweet but not cloyingly so, and ends with a note of butterscotch. I’m not talking yellow wrapped grandma butterscotch candy, but like a smooth buttery one like a Werthers.
It’s a small, locally operated company, which is fine by me, because I think that’s what makes it so great. After talking to him you can tell he’s got a great passion for his craft, and you can taste the love he puts into his product. Currently they only have their root beer by the bottle, but I hear there’s a delicious ginger beer that shows up at farmers markets and trade shows. I gotta figure out how to get my hands on one!
According to their site:
Our root brewskis of freedom are:
I’m going to definitely need a keg of this in the near future. Maybe Mardi Gras!
In the 3 years that I have started this blog, I’ve been invited to many, many great food events. From huge events filled with local restaurants, to private charity events, to soft openings of new restaurants this little blog has tasted a lot. And I am so thankful for the opportunities to eat, meet and engage with awesome food enthused people!
Last night I attended Yelp’s Jet Set Fete, which was an event to benefit the DC Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing hunger with recycled food, training unemployed adults for culinary careers, serving healthy school meals, and rebuilding urban food systems through social enterprise.
The theme of the event was retro-chic vintage, exotic travel. It had cultural demonstrations from China, Japan and Indonesia to name a few. That combined with a plethora of food and drinks from local vendors, I forget that I am there for a good cause and just there for a good time!
Aside from the food, music, and flowing drinks, there was something for everyone. If you wanted a more mellow night, the other side included, painting, manicures, massages, and tarot card readings.
I definitely recommend any yelp events that YelpDC hosts. Its a guaranteed good time!
For those of you who have savored my guacamole, here’s my secret. THERE IS NO SECRET 🙂 All basic ingredients made with love. That’s why you think its good. When you cook with heart, you can taste it.
Ingredients:
Peel and chop the avocados, mix all the ingredients and season to taste. Enjoy!
Another soup to keep you warm? Crab bisque. This is a pretty quick easy way to do it. Again there are no measurements. Because I am using condensed Campbells soup, the more milk the better or it will be way too salty!!!
Stir in the lump crabmeat and heat on medium until steaming, do not let it boil.
Add curry powder and black pepper to taste. Easy right? You gotta keep tasting and alternating milk and curry until you get it the way you like. If it tastes bad, that is your fault not mine! Once you get it steaming and the taste you like, enjoy! I like it with a little bit of toasted, buttered, garlicky bread.
Crab Bisque
Ingredients:
1 can (10.5oz) of Condensed tomato soup
1 can (10.5oz) of Cream of mushroom
Lump cooked crabmeat
Whole milk
Salt
Pepper
Curry Powder
Directions:
In a pot whisk together the tomato soup and cream of mushroom. Add one can of milk to start. Whisk until well mixed. Add crabmeat, make sure not to add to much. You want it to be a good amount of crab per bite, not too much, not too little. Stir till well mixed, turn on the heat to medium. Bring it to steaming, NEVER LET IT BOIL. Stir frequently so it doesn’t burn on the bottom. Once hot, taste it. And add black pepper, salt, and curry to taste. If its still too salty, add milk to make it creamy.
I have found it. A croissant and pain au chocolat worth getting when I miss Paris. And it is at La Caprice DC. Right next door to the future home of Thip Khao. SUPER EXCITED. I was there the other day when I had to do some work at the new restaurant. Oh MY GOSH. I am so happy. And sad at the same time, because it’s not really convenient for me to go all the way to Columbia Heights when a wave of nostalgia for Paris hits. Someone wanna bring me some? Or can someone guide me to one in the Northern VA area? THANKS.
La Caprice DC
3460 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20010
