Dreaming About Orlando

I'm Friday Daydreaming about our NEXT family vacation. A vacation that I was moments away from buying airline tickets for earlier this week. Twice.

 Keith has been telling the kids that we will take them to Orlando to see Harry Potter's house. They talk about little else (except Aunt Bobbi visiting next week) because they get to ride on an AIRPLANE.

Credit 

Twice this week, I found dirt cheap airfare to Orlando in November.  We worked up a budget and we talked and talked about it.  Then....we measured our 5 year old daughter. 

She's only 45 and a half inches. 

She needs to be 48 inches to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  At this point....that ride IS the Forbidden Journey.

I suggested platform shoes and a bouffant hairdo.  

Instead, we decided to wait until she grows the 2.5 inches because we don't want her to miss out.

So I sit here.....dreaming about Universal Studios Orlando and The Hard Rock Hotel.

Linking up with my buddy Becca at R We There Yet Mom?

The Canyon is Grand

Linking up with Becca at R We There Yet Mom? for Friday Daydreamin'.

One of the highlights of our trip was seeing The Grand Canyon.

Keith and I had never been there before so it was a first for our entire family!

I was surprised to learn that you have to drive through a national forest to get there.  A two lane highway....through the mountains and your ears will pop.  Bring gum.

There was snow!

We arrived in Tusayan around lunch time and we were super hungry!  The kids saw a sign for pizza and we thought that sounded great! We Cook Pizza and Pasta is a great little spot to stop before you hit the park and they have a salad bar and booze too.

Keith and I were excited to try beer from The Grand Canyon Brewing Company.  They're based out of Williams Arizona and we liked both the Amber Ale and Pilsner very much.

The Canyon is spectacular! 

 There is lots of walking to do so don't be a dork and wear your wedges.  

Bring some water bottles so that you can fill them with the best tasting water you've ever had.  They have a pretty neat book store but the visitor center seems to be under construction.

Further into the park is a store and a restaurant or two.

I'd love to stay in the park sometime or take a train ride there!

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?

Bravo Farms and Cheese Factory

My in laws live in a tiny town near Fresno.  We left LA and google maps told us the most direct way was to take why 99 just outside of Bakersfield.  It ran slower than the interstate but it's really a pretty drive because now....you are in farm country!

We started seeing signs for Bravo Farms a couple miles out and it implored us to stop.  But we were in a hurry to see the grandparents so we decided we'd try to come back another day for lunch.

SO glad that we did!

From the outside, Bravo Farms just looks like a small restaurant in an old building.  You will be shocked when you step inside because you will be transported back in time!  This place has four wings that form a square with a big courtyard in the middle.   The courtyard is so freaking cool that you won't believe your eyes.

It has a multi-story treehouse.

There are antiques everywhere!

And chickens, a turkey and billy goats.

It also has a back porch with more antiques.

The kids loved this old milk truck!

One wing contains the restaurant and an ice cream shop.  We ate lunch on the front patio not realizing there were a bunch of picnic tables in the courtyard.  At this point....we had not yet found the courtyard!

The nachos were great!  And the salsa they bring to the table is spicy and fresh.

Another wing showcases the cheese that Bravo Farms makes.  I love cheese and this was some of the best I've ever had.  I selected the Cabernet Cheddar, Dutch-Style Gouda and White Cheese Curds.  Some of these cheeses can be ordered online.  For more about what we ate on our trip....visit The Rookie Foodie.

This little store also had chocolate, nuts, jam and other specialty food.  And it serves as a gift shop with toys, knick knacks, books and housewares.

Such a hidden gem and a definite highlight of our trip!

Bravo Farms
36005 Hwy 99
Traver, CA 93673
1-866-898-MILK


Hours:
The Shoppe and Cafe  7am-7pm daily
Cheese Factory  8am-5pm Mon-Fri

Linking up with Becca at R We There Yet Mom?

Friday Daydreamin': Fried Cheese Curds

I lived in Utah for almost 4 years. I will tell you right now that Utah is NOT known for their food. It's a beautiful place to visit if you are into skiing, hiking and other outdoorsy activities.

I don't do any of those things. I lived within 10 minutes of a ski resort and still didn't find a reason to learn to ski.

Many people that go to Utah to ski or drive through the state on their way to somewhere else; find themselves in Ogden.

If this happens to you, I highly recommend staying near Downtown on Historic 25th Street because the best restaurants are in this area. There is also a movie theater, bowling alley and a little shopping.

If you DO find yourself in Ogden Utah, you MUST find Soul and Bones BBQ. Do not let the fact that it is next door to a strip club deter you. You have to order the Fried Beehive Cheese Curds! They are little bits of white cheddar cheese that is beer battered and fried. It's served with dipping sauces and is the only thing I miss about the state of Utah.  I'm sorry to tell you that you can't order a beer with your curds because Utah is stingy with their liquor licenses,  but there IS a beer pub a block away....or you can hit up the strip club.  I KID!

Becca at R We There Yet Mom? wants to know about the things you love. Link up!

Friday Daydreamin': Where Do You Love?

My dear friend and role model for PTA President, Becca from R We There Yet Mom, wants to know about the places that you LOVE!

I was going through a box of photos the other day and found family pictures from when I was in junior high school. It was spring break 1985 and we were in Lake Powell!  Twice during my teen years, we visited Lake Powell and rented a houseboat.

I'm obviously not going to make it on the boat.  Can someone give me a hand?  As you can see...eons before blogging was invented, parents took pictures of their kids in a predicament BEFORE helping them.

This must be where I got my love of visiting places in the OFF SEASON because a year later we'd visit Lake Powell during Thanksgiving.  It is cold in November and March but the prices can't be beat!  You also have the entire lake to yourself!

Here we are in a dinghy. It's windy and my hair is getting messed up and those are my actual sunglasses and yes, my pink collar is popped.  The 80's were very good to me. 

I have amazing memories from these trips!  I spent hours and hours reading, eating oreos and drinking hot tea.  I also spent hours practicing my cheers because I was going to try out for cheerleading and I wrote GREG AND CONNIE in the sand every chance I got.  Sadly, Greg never loved me back......

One Of These Places Is Not Like The Other

I have been in the worst mood this week.  I blame January and all of it's super long days and cold bitter winds.  It's so bad that I left the house yesterday in yoga pants and a pony tail!  THE HORROR!

The only good thing is that I have TWO trips to California to look forward to.  Yes, I'm a lucky girl!

One of my trips is with my 6 best friends to this location.

photo credit

My second trip one month later is to this location.

my in laws house

photo credit

I'm sure you can guess which one I'm daydreaming about??

Are you dreaming about a vacation you are taking this year? Find a picture of it and LINK UP with R We There Yet Mom? !

Friday Daydreamin'...Halloween Past

Becca from R We There Yet Mom is changing things up this week and having a Halloween theme! Post your favorite or memorable Halloween picture!

iKeith and I had been dating for roughly 4 weeks when he invited me to his friends' annual Halloween Party.

Of course I picked out our costumes without consulting him.

We had a lovely time making out in the corner...causing quite a stir. And we ran into my sister who was dressed as a hooker. We tried to save her....

Sister Mary Connie

Friday Daydreamin' : The Painted Lady

I promised you another Friday Daydreamin' vacation picture and I know you all have been waiting with bated breath for it. (what does that even mean?)

Two years ago, I went on a Family Vacation with ALL of iKeith's family. We rented a house on the lake in Wisconsin were Keith's Dad grew up. We had a great time seeing all of his old hang outs and hearing stories about his childhood.

iKeith couldn't wait to show the kids one of the docks on the lake.

This little beauty has been here for many years!  Isn't she pretty?

This week....I'm daydreaming about Lake Okauchee! 

Do you have a vacation memory that you'd like to share today?  Becca at R We There Yet Mom? is waiting for your post. 

Friday Daydreamin': Between a Rock and a Soft Place

It's Friday so that means it's time to do a little daydreamin about vacations past! I thought that I was out of fun vacation pictures but I was soooo wrong. I found TWO but you don't get to see the other one until next week.

Once upon a time, two years ago this month. A little known blogger with no a small following went to her first blog conference. A little thing called Sitscation which has now morphed into the fabulous and amazing Bloggy Boot Camp!

After a long day of listening to many inspiring people talk about blogging...this little blogger needed to burn off some steam. She had a couple beers and when she was walking back to The Venetian Hotel....this happened.

The Rock is a lot hard than you would think.  And please notice where he has his hand!  

This week....I'm daydreamin' about Vegas Baby! 

I know you have a vacation picture you can share!  Link up with Becca at R We There Yet Mom!  

Friday Daydreamin: Fall Colors

I'm daydreaming today about seeing the fall colors last weekend!  Aspens turning are one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen!

This picture was taken from our room at The Ameristar Resort and Casino.  I wish I was there right now, enjoying a spa treatment or sitting on the 32nd floor patio with a drink in my hand!

Instead....I'm freezing my badonkadonk off and my daughter is throwing a fit while her cereal gets soggy.

Ameristar.....take me away!

Are you day dreaming about a trip you've taken? Link it up with Becca at R We There Yet Mom!

Friday Daydreamin' : White Water Rafting

Linking up with Becca from R We There Yet Mom for Friday Daydreamin'!

In 2002, I lost a bunch of weight and decided that I was going to be athletic.  When my friends talked about going White Water Rafting in the mountains of Colorado....I said Heck Yeah!

Who can go wrong with a place called Good Times Rafting? 

My friends on this trip were my very hot friend Sean (seated in front of me) and my two best friends. 

We stayed a couple nights in Winter Park and I might have danced on a bar and sang Rocky Mountain High.


The rafting part of this adventure was really fun and exciting but the best part was when we got to a section of the river where we pulled over, hiked up the hill and jumped 30 feet into the river.


YES!  I did this!  I had just gone through a bad divorce and I imagined that I was leaving my old life at the top of that cliff and jumping into my new life where all of my dreams were going to come true.


And they did.  A year later....I met iKeith.

Smiley face to protect former best friend who became my boss and had me fired when I was 6 weeks pregnant with Alex because she was jealous of me.

Friday Daydreamin': New York

This Friday....I'm dreaming about one of my favorite places on earth. 

NEW YORK

When I met iKeith and we started to get serious we talked about his West Point Reunion.  Before I knew it that time was upon us and I happened to be 11 weeks pregnant with Alex.  Luckily, my morning sickness ended right before the trip and I got to buy a bunch of new clothes and shoes because my Colorado outfits were not good enough for New York!

I'm sharing more than one picture today because there was no way to just pick one.  I loved every minute of our trip even though it rained almost the entire time.

I got to see Keith's dorm room, where he studied, where he ate and where he walked in a square when he got in trouble.

So much history in one place and the stone buildings are breathtaking! It kind of reminds me of Hogworts!

Then we spent two days in THE CITY.  We walked and ate and walked and had the most amazing cup of coffee from a little place in Grand Central Station and I saw Mama Mia.

I loved Central Park and wanted to spend the entire day there.

Do you have a favorite vacation picture? Link up with Becca at R We There Yet Mom and tell us all about it!