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Fall in Love With Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel by the Sea

August 28, 2018 / California, Travel

I was provided with accommodations in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Do you ever feel like you need to get away from the “hustle and bustle” of your hectic everyday life? I’ll admit I often feel that way. So, when I received the invitation for our family to visit Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel, California, I was ecstatic!

“Carmel-by-the-Sea, this charming, seaside town’s full name, is located on the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California. The drive from Los Angeles is about 6 hours, so we had the opportunity to take in some beautiful scenery on our drive up north. Just thinking back on our stay there makes me miss it and I truly long to go back there sometime in the near future. I absolutely fell i love with Hofsas House Hotel. Hofsas House is the cutest place to stay! It’s painted pink, which is my absolute favorite color, and the Bavarian-inspired theme and decor of this family-run boutique inn were what reeled me in immediately. I also loved all of the beautiful landscaping around the premises, especially the flowers. Guests can book a stay in any of the 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms at Hofsas House. Guest rooms include amenities such as fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens, and patios and free WiFi. The shower/tubs have been upgraded nicely and you’re going to love the complimentary toiletries like shampoo,, body wash, makeup remover wipes and body lotion.
I think one of my favorite things are the pink Dutch doors in every room. They allow the ocean air into your room and make for a great photo opportunity. Don’t you agree? (Please note: room amenities vary per location on the property) Hofsas House also offers large suites, which are perfect for newlyweds or larger families. The hotel also features a swimming pool and dry saunas. If you’re a dog owner, or even a dog lover, you’ll be so excited to know Hofsas House is DOG FRIENDLY! Oh my goodness! Although we currently don’t have a dog, it’s great to know that when we do, we’ll be welcome to bring ours with us to stay. Also, if you aren’t a “dog person” please know that only certain rooms are reserved for guests bringing their pets, so there are plenty of rooms which haven’t had canines stay in them. This year, Hofsas House is celebrating seven decades of European hospitality. Guests will admire all of the personal touches around the property, including the beautiful welcome mural, on the wall in the driveway. This mural was painted by artist Maxine Albro, when she was commissioned to paint it back in the 1960’s by Hofsas House founder, Donna Hofsas,There are several other personal touches to discover around the property too. Another artist and photographer by the name of Fred, created the mosaic coats of arms which can be seen on the front of the hotel. Their Latin words translate into English as “Leisure with dignity”, These words described our stay there perfectly.

Our Accommodations
The room we stayed was a Deluxe Suite. This spacious 2-room, 2-bathroom (bathtub/shower with vanity area) suite included a king bed in one room and a sitting area furnished with either two day beds in the other room, as well as a wood-burning fireplace. The wet bar area features a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker and sink. The private balcony overlooks the Carmel pines, and has a private outdoor barbeque. *For a nominal fee, you can add another rollaway bed to make way for another person. Part of the Hofsas House hospitality is their daily continental breakfast, which is complimentary. Guests can stop by the office each morning and pick up French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and fresh pastries, delivered from a local bakery. You have the option of sitting in the hotel’s lobby to enjoy your breakfast or taking it back to your room. (Trays, mugs, and baskets are provided for carrying out.) With such a beautiful ocean view from our balcony, we opted to enjoy ours out there. It was a wonderful way to start our day together.Let’s Talk a Little Bit About the Town of Carmel
Since we’d never visited Carmel before, I didn’t know where anything was. Luckily Hofsas House is located within walking distance to anything you could possibly want to do in Carmel. It’s just a short walk to shops and restaurants and shops and art galleries. It’s also not very far from the beach, which is a must-visit on your trip. I loved being able to park our car there and not have to even think about driving anywhere until we checked out. Carmel is the kind of town where your kid will be so happy, she’ll skip down the sidewalk! Hofsas House is just minutes away from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. I did enjoy parking our car and just walking everywhere for 2 days, It’s also convenient to be that close to other points of interest and be able to reach them with just a short drive.

Sitting on our balcony at dusk enjoying some wine and cheese, taking in the beautiful ocean view and cotton candy sunset was amazing and just what I needed! In addition to a variety of guest rooms to book at Hofsas House Hotel, they also offer special add-on packages to enhance your stay. To learn more about this charming property, please visit their website here. A very special thank you to Hofsas House for their hospitality. It was such a treat to stay there and we hope to be back soon.

A Much-Needed Staycation at The Anaheim Marriot!

July 20, 2015 / California, Disney, Travel

I recently escaped my everyday life for a quick getaway at the Anaheim Marriot. You should never pass up an opportunity for a staycation because staycations are the best! The Anaheim Marriot is conveniently located in the hub of Anaheim, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, within walking distance to the Anaheim GardenWalk and just a hop, skip & a jump away from the Disneyland Resort.

The Anaheim Marriot is a great property to stay at whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, and when I say “pleasure” I’m most referring to Disneyland®, although there are a bunch of restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and even a bowling alley, all within walking distance of this hotel! Other popular places to visit within a short driving distance include Knott’s Berry Farm and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

After checking into the hotel, my daughter was immediately enamored by the uber cool elevator call button. It’s more like a computer and takes the guessing out of your wait for an elevator. You key in the floor you’re going to, the screen tells you which elevator you’ll be getting in, and then you head over to wait for it. Watch how it works!

Our guest room was absolutely perfect! With a modern decor throughout, it had 2 very comfortable beds with luxurious bedding, a nice sized desk, a giant LCD TV, and a cozy sitting area. My daughter was especially excited by the Minnie Mouse surprise that was awaiting her in the room! You can call ahead of time and arrange for a surprise of your own to be there for your child(ren).

The bathroom was very clean (that’s always a biggie for me) with marble countertops and there were premium toiletries set out for us to enjoy. I love hotel toiletries, especially when they’re aromatherapy! I always appreciate when hotels do their part to care for our planet, don’ t you?

Some other in-room amenities included a single cup coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, and High speed Wi-Fi (available for a fee). You have the option of ordering your breakfast to be delivered to the room when you wake up, as well as traditional room service any time of day.

The balcony area has a gorgeous view of the city of Anaheim and a bird’s-eye view of the pool area down below. It was relaxing to sit out there with a drink and take it all in. That’s what a staycation is for!

We’re very fortunate to have such great weather in Southern California, which makes it possible to enjoy the pool area of the hotel almost any day of the year.

The Oasis pool offers both an indoor, semi-covered area and an outdoor area. There’s also a jacuzzi. Both the pool and jacuzzi are equipped with an aquatic wheelchair to provide access for any guests with those needs.

There are lounge chairs for sunbathing all around the pool area, as well as tables where guests can enjoy food and drinks from the Oasis Pool Menu, and even some fire pits.

I couldn’t get enough of the food at the Marriot! They offer quick take away service inside the hotel from Pizza Hut and a Starbucks. However, my favorite spot to hit up for a meal was nFuse Bar and Kitchen, the main restaurant in the hotel. We actually ate there twice, once for dinner and another time for breakfast!

The restaurant was recently renovated and is beautiful! There’s a variety of seating areas for guests who are dining. When you walk into the restaurant, you notice several different intimate tables or “social lounges” available for guests to sit at and enjoy a drink or small plates if they wish.

We sat in the main dining area. I started with one of their handcrafted cocktails called the “California Love“. It came highly recommended by our server and as soon as I took the first sip, I knew why! It was delicious!

While I looked over the menu, I thoroughly enjoyed the homemade bread served with butter. I think you can tell what that was like by looking as this picture, right?

The menu had so many delicious plates to choose from! I decided to order the nFuse “Prime” Tenderloin Filet. It pretty much melted in my mouth. I also sampled some of my daughter’s Rigatoni with broccoli. The food was truly delicious and prepared just right. I would love to go back and try some of the other creations on the dinner menu.

Luckily it wasn’t long before we returned to nFuse for breakfast the next morning. NFuse offers a traditional breakfast menu with several gourmet creations on it, as well as an All American breakfast buffet. I can’t resist buffets so that’s what I chose.

Breakfast buffets always seem to be the most ideal when you have children in your party mostly because of all the choices. There was so much delicious fruit on the buffet. I also enjoyed the freshly baked pastries.

I think there are very few people who can walk by bacon that looks this good without stacking it high on their plate! Can you tell I’m a bacon lover?

My most favorite item at the buffet though were the fresh, made-to-0rder Belgium waffles. It’s fun to add toppings and create it just the way you like it.

My staycation at the Anaheim Marriot ended way too soon but I’m happy to say that it was a wonderful experience overall. The rooms are top-notch, the location is prime, the food is excellent, and I was well-rested after getting to escape from reality for a short time. I can’t wait to back for another stay!

Connect with the Anaheim Marriot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A sincere thank you to the general manager and entire staff at the Anaheim Marriot for your hospitality. You truly made my family and I feel welcomed.

Now You Can Stay in Your Robe ALL DAY With Winder Farms Home Delivery!

July 18, 2014 / Food, Product Reviews, Uncategorized

Disclosure: I received products to conduct a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting on the couch in my robe one morning with my cat (I do that a lot) and I tweeted something about having no milk or bread in the house and jokingly asked if someone could deliver some to my house so I could feed my kid.

That very same day, I received an email asking if I’d be interested in trying out Winder Farms Home Delivery for a review! What are the chances? I visited their website to check them out a little bit more. There, I came across a list of 20 Reasons Why Winder Farms? and there I was…#19: You can get groceries in your pajamas! OF COURSE I said “yes” to the delivery after that! It was totally meant to be!

On their website, Winder Farms states:

We are passionate about finding and delivering fresh, delicious food. Whether it’s been freshly picked, baked or squeezed, we are committed to delivering our customers the freshest food available.

As a company with a proud 130-year legacy, we understand the importance of long-term sustainability. We source locally whenever possible. We take cars off the road by having one truck do the job of 100 separate family vehicles. We are an active partner with local food banks, non-profit organizations, and community events.”

On the morning of my scheduled delivery, even though I knew it was coming, I was still surprised when I opened my front door and found this:

Wow, the giant cooler bags were filled with so many great products! There was a Winder Farms Organic Produce Box, a loaf of Winder Farms Fresh-Baked Honey Whole Wheat Bread, an assortment of Winder Farms Juices, a bottle of Green Unsweetened Honest Tea, a half-gallon of Silk coconut milk, some Winder Farms Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade, a variety of Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Smoothies, a dozen farm-fresh eggs, some Winder Farms honey-cured bacon and sirloin steaks, a Kale Chopped Salad, and a Winder Farms Chicken Teriyaki Meal Solutions, and a container of Chocolate Chip Cookies to try! There were so many good things, I wasn’t sure which to try first?

Obviously it’s convenient to have a home delivery service like this so that you have food in the house, but for me, it’s MORE important to have products delivered that are fresh and high quality! I also like the fact that Winder Farms supports local farms and makes quality a priority. In addition, I feel it’s important that the products you order be something kids will like.

My daughter LOVED the Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Smoothies and would grab one to take with her to swim practice. She also gobbled up the toast I made for her, using the Winder Farms Honey Whole Wheat bread in my order.

My husband added the Silk Coconut Milk to his regular protein shakes. He made me a fruit and spinach smoothie with the Stonyfield Organic Vanilla Yogurt Smoothie.

I loved making pancakes with Emi and watching her be so proud when she cracked BOTH eggs without dropping one single eggshell into the pancake batter!

One night I even went so far as to tip toe downstairs when everyone was asleep to eat one of the delicious plums from the Organic Produce Box…right before I broke open these cookies!

The Winder Farms fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were sealed with a label that said “Warning: Studies have shown that once seal is broken, cookies vanish!” I now know WHY they put that label on there! The cookies were so soft and fresh! I may have eaten more than one in a sitting but I’ll never tell!

If you live in California, Nevada, or Utah you can get Winder Farms delivered to your door too! You’ll get great quality farm fresh foods on your doorstep once a week AND if you sign up through this link, you’ll get a free $30 credit. (As with any subscription service, please read the Terms & Conditions before deciding if it’s right for you!) If you have any questions, check out their Frequently Asked Questions Page or give them a call at 1-800-WINDER1!

I’m already planning my next order from Winder Farms. I’ve been told that I MUST try the chocolate milk! It’s fresh and cold, all-natural, and comes in a glass milk bottle! Well, I know what’s first on my order list! You don’t have to twist my arm!

1st Grade is Where It’s At!

August 28, 2013 / Lifestyle, The Teacher in Me

Today was the 1st day of school for me as a teacher, the start of my 18th year! When I was first hired, I had JUST graduated with my BA in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in English-Spanish bilingual teacher. It was the year that California passed the 20:1 law and needed a MASS quantity of new teachers hired. For the first 8 years of my career, I taught bilingual first grade. This meant that all of the reading and writing and ‘rithmetic were all in Spanish. I actually really liked it and I LOVED all of my students so much. (I still do). Eventually, politics got kind of ugly about the whole “teaching in Spanish thing” and we became an all English school.
I still have the same type of students, I just have to push them even harder now. I sometimes think the general public only see my students as statistics….most of them are English Learners, all of them are impoverish, and perhaps many of them are in The U.S. illegally? I don’t know, it’s not my job to worry about that, because they are just kids and none of that is their fault or their doing. What I DO know is that my students are often doing TWICE the work of typical students who live in “regular areas”. Not only do they have to learn to read, write and do Math like all first graders are expected to do, but they also have to learn English too! Many of them succeed, some continue to struggle and, of course, some fail, most are doing it with very little or no parent support. I have hope for them though. This is why I keep going back to work there. I don’t live anywhere near where I teach. I pay $12.50 a day to take a toll road to get to work on time each morning and back in time to pick up my own daughter from school. Some days are harder than others, some years are too, but it can also be very rewarding. These students are so sweet and appreciative and make the job worth it!

Today I got a whole new group of kids. I can already tell it’s going to be great year.

Here’s some of what I see in my new students: