Love Affair with AirBnB

Last year I had a lovely mom, Sarah, who volunteered in my classroom on a weekly basis.  As the end of the school year drew near, we shared stories of what our summers would entail and I, of course, ended up sharing how much I love travel and how I was planning a summer in New Orleans, Spain, and then a "staycation" in Los Angeles.  During one of our conversations,  Sara bestowed upon me the greatest gift of knowledge for a lover of travel such as myself.  She told me about AirBnB.  This website is truly a wonder for those who have the travel bug.  It is a website full of wonderful vacation rentals that range from quirky, artsy bohemian lofts to elegant and ultra chic apartments, and everything in between.  Not only are there so many choices, but the price is so very right.  I have found that in most cities, the price of a two bedroom apartment is actually less expensive than a mid range hotel nearby.  Obviously you don't have the benefit of a maid service or a concierge, but every AirBnB at which I've stayed has had a wonderful host willing to help out with any information needed about the city.  Most hosts leave wonderful goody baskets, fresh linens and towels, and truly make their guests feel welcome.  My advice is to read the reviews carefully as fellow travelers are not usually shy about the pros and cons of a place.  You can rent just a room (if you are really on a budget) or you can reserve an entire apartment or house.  It is such a hidden gem and I just want to make sure all of my friends and family know about this wonderful site!  As most of you know, in August I will be embarking on a 10 month journey of traveling.  I start in Scotland, and eventually make my way to Spain.  I have reserved several AirBnB's for my journey and I'm thrilled with each of them!  I am staying with a friend at some of these locations so we opted for a little more space.  I've included links to a few of the places where I will be staying so you can check out what this wonderful site has to offer!!   I'm still looking for a location in San Sebastian, ES.  Also, in Nice, France, my friend and I decided to get a hotel, just for those 3 nights.  Otherwise, I'm AirBnB all the way!  Ask me questions if you want more information!  xoxo


Edinburgh, Scotland

Dublin, Ireland

London, England

Paris, France

Cannes, France

Aix-en-Provence, France

Bordeaux, France

San Sebastian, Spain

Madrid, Spain

Skid Row Experience

        Summer 2013 was an incredible journey for me.  I was able to spend substantial time in New Orleans with my beloved cousins, and then I was fortunate enough to travel to Spain, where I was able to explore Madrid and Barcelona, meet amazing people, and tap into strength that I didn’t even know I had.  The memories I created will last a lifetime.  The last leg of my wonderful summer vacation entailed renting a little studio in Los Feliz, an area of Los Angeles notoriously known for hipsters and night life.  While I was looking forward to participating in all things hipster, I also wanted to find an opportunity to give of myself and do something for others.  After all, in this fast paced, dog eat dog world that is inundated with social media, it is really easy to become self absorbed and closed off.  Our worlds, although broadened through the Internet, can almost become smaller...because instead of getting out there and forming communities, we are instead often staring at our screens, sort of swept up in a false sense of community.  Does this make sense?  Anyway, I could write a dissertation on that, but I will spare you.  :)  
I began searching for volunteer opportunities.  Boy, it can be difficult to give your time and help away for free!  Understandably, many organizations probably have a pretty strict filter system so that they procure volunteers who are trustworthy and reliable.  However, it can be tough and time consuming to go through an eight step process, interviews, finger prints, commitment of eight hours a week, just to help a cause you believe in.  Knowing I had limited time in Los Feliz, I was lucky enough to come across a group called Monday Night Mission that didn’t require any of the steps mentioned above.  Instead, their motto was basically, “Please help if you can!”  SOLD!  I read a little bit more about the group and learned that every night, Monday through Friday, a group of people get together at a Burger King in Downtown L.A., make as many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as their supplies will allow, and then head to skid row to feed the homeless.  The rules?  Donate what you can, even if it’s just a smile.  Wear closed toed shoes.  Be aware that you are putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, but that help is needed.  I signed up that very day.  
The plan was to meet at the Burger King at 7pm.  I went to Ralph’s and stocked up on ten loaves of bread, and three jumbo sized peanut butters and jellies.  I also brought a box of sandwich baggies.  Of course I was a little nervous about what I was getting myself into, but are we really living if we aren’t stretching ourselves?  Don’t they say life begins when you step outside of your comfort zone?  I pulled into the parking lot armed with supplies, tennis shoes and a sweatshirt.  I walked up to a group of people who were already starting to form a sandwich making assembly line.  These folks could not have been kinder, sweeter or more welcoming.  At the same time, they were there to work.  They had a goal, a job, and it was going to get done.  The volunteers I met that night were from all walks of life and mostly in their twenties and thirties.  I met a Time Warner executive, an aerospace engineer, a checker from Albertsons, and a Special Education teacher.  To be honest, our day jobs didn’t matter.  That evening we were sandwich makers and we were there to serve.  After about an hour, we had produced 400 sandwiches.  Other people had brought bottled water, boxes of fruit and one beautiful couple had put together baggies of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.  Can you imagine?  Imagine living without these items that we take for granted on the daily?  
Although the volunteers I was working beside were strangers, we quickly became one entity working toward a common goal.  After our PB&J building was done, the Monday Night Mission leader, Mel, brought the group together for a talk before heading down to skid row.  He gave us a little background on the group, on the homeless living on Skid Row, and once again warned us that we were going into a potentially dangerous situation and that it was very important to follow the leaders.  He graciously told us that if anyone didn’t feel comfortable making the trek into skid row that it was perfectly fine to leave now, that helping to make sandwiches was significantly generous enough.  No one moved an inch.  The more experienced volunteers (volunteers who do this several nights a week) took the lead and we caravanned from the Burger King parking lot to Skid Row.  I hopped into a car with three young men who were so kind and protective, knowing it was my first time volunteering and that I had come alone.  While I knew we were going into an unpleasant situation, I wasn’t entirely prepared for what came next.  
First, I must give huge props to the Monday Night Mission group.  Their operation runs like a well oiled machine.  We set up a folding table on the street and many of the male volunteers acted like shields while the women passed out the food.  As we pulled up to the area where we were going to pass out food, I was stunned to see a line of nearly 300 homeless people waiting.  According to my new friends that I was riding with, most of these people had been standing in line for hours, waiting for their first and only meal of the day.  Although it was shocking, I remembered what Mel said...that providing a sandwich and a smile to these folks was the best gift you could give.  So I got out of that car, plastered a smile on my face, and went to work.  As each person came through the line, one of the more experienced volunteers would ask for their name and then tell us their name so we could greet them.  Some of these people have almost entirely lost their identity, their dignity and their hope.  It was so important to smile, say their name, hand them a sandwich and most importantly, treat them like a human being.  There were men, women, young, old, crazy, insane, unclean, sad, happy, polite, and rude.  It was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life.  I was so grateful that I was able to stay at the front of the line almost the entire time and hand out food.  I was so grateful that I was able to look so many of these human beings who have fallen on hard times right in the eye, give them a smile, and hand them a meal.  The majority of the people I handed food to were kind, grateful and said a genuine, “thank you.”  I could see shame and despair in some of their eyes, and as my heart broke, I remembered to stay strong and look them in the eye, say their name and give them that smile.  I wasn’t scared if my hand touched their hand.  My goal was to make that moment a pleasant one, to show them a bit of love, to suspend time for just a second before they retreated back to their curb side home.   
I cannot and will not get into the politics regarding the homeless.  I have done some research, and I certainly have my opinions, but I don’t want to address that here.  However, I will comment on how much perspective one can gain when stepping away from their own lives and stepping up to help others.  It is the most fulfilling feeling one can have. I think it might be easy to be quick to judge...why doesn’t that lazy person get a job?  Why don’t they stop smoking crack and get a job?  I’ve worked hard for my money, why should I give it to someone on the streets?  I get it.  I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve had some of these thoughts myself.  However, we don’t truly know a persons path.  We don’t truly know what they have endured.  And while yes, I work hard for my money, I am also blessed with not wanting for much.  So why in the world wouldn’t I help those who are in need?  Because of my ego?  Because of my judgement?  Because of my assumptions regarding the “choices” they have made?  No.  I can’t think of a better use of my time, and a more fulfilling joy in my heart.  I am not here to preach, but I just wanted to share my experience with you.  With the holiday season approaching and colder nights being imminent, maybe you can find a way to give.  If you would like to head down to skid row with me, let me know.  I can promise you it will be an experience you will soon not forget.

Love. xo

“Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.” ~ Erich Fromm

All Hail the Croughnut

For the past year or so the word “croughnut” has been resounding in my brain.  When I first read of this miraculous anomaly I felt my taste buds go into overdrive.  The idea behind the croughnut is an exquisite blend of doughnut and croissant.  It holds true to the size and shape and sweetness of a doughnut, but infuses the buttery, flaky, fluffy goodness of a croissant.  Heavenly, right?  The problem with these angelic pastries was that they were only being created in New York?  Ex-SQUEEZE me?  I would continuously ask people, “WHEN is the croughnut coming to L.A. ? I mean something that comes from the heavens should reside in the city of angels, am I right?”  But no one could answer this question and my heart remained heavy.  For a year I have been continually teased and tempted and mocked by food diaries, blogs, articles and even tweets about the almighty croughnut. Until today.  Today I logged onto twitter and saw the words I’ve been anxiously awaiting.  Croughnut comes to Los Angeles!  What’s that I hear?  Angels singing??  To make the situation even more beautiful, the shop that is selling croughnuts is exactly 1.8 miles from the humble Los Feliz studio in which I’m currently dwelling.  I immediately hopped in my car and high tailed it to Kettle Glazed Doughnuts at 6211 Franklin Avenue.  My heart was literally racing as I was speeding along Franklin.  For a moment I thought that perhaps I should reassess just HOW excited I was about this croughnut.  Maybe it was a bit excessive.  But the truth is, there aren’t many things we have to wait for anymore.  We live in a time where we can get almost anything we want on the ready.  We can google something if we don’t know it, we can buy something on credit if we don’t have the cash, and we have access to transportation to take us just about anywhere.  We don’t get the gut wrenching pleasure and thrill of anticipation all that often anymore.  So I think the thrill of awaiting the croughnut for an entire year made the ability to go get one that much sweeter.  Plus, I knew it was going to be good.  How good?  Boy was I in for a shock.

Kettle Glazed is in a modest strip mall on Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles.  They have only been open for three days and the shop had a crisp clean feel upon entering.  A friendly employee welcomed me and I proceeded to quickly scan the gorgeous pastries looking for my precious croughnut. I ordered two, along with an iced coffee.  They sell Coffee Bean coffee, along with an assortment of other beverages.  I paid for my fare ($3.75 per croughnut), snapped a few pictures and left quickly.  The anticipation was starting to make me drool.  I’m just going to warn you now...what I’m about to tell you next isn’t pretty.  I jumped back into my car and tore into that first croughnut as though I was seeing a morsel of food for the first time after a sixty day fast.  Did I care that the man from the liquor store was staring at me through the window, mouth ajar?  Did I care that crumbs were falling all over my freshly washed car?  Nope.  Not even a little.  The supple sugary party that was commencing in my mouth took me to a place beyond reason.  Nirvana was dancing on my tongue.  The thing I usually don’t like about doughnuts is that they are too sweet and dense and leave me feeling sick.  But the croughnut, oh the croughnut.  It was the most perfect blend of sweet, flaky, airy awesomeness and it far exceeded my expectations.  It was genuinely amazing.  To have waited to try something for a year, and then have it exceed my expectations....well, I think I just might be smiling for the next year! I guess some things truly are worth the wait. If you are even remotely local, get yourself to Kettle Glazed Doughnuts, buy a croughnut or three, hop in your car, abandon all sense of propriety and enjoy!

Italian Zucchini Boats...

Based on the name...perhaps I should call these gondolas??  

I haven't shared a recipe in a while...probably because I haven't been doing much cooking!  Cooking is my love, my escape, my zen place!  Well, one of them!  Anyway, I'm back from New Orleans and Spain and boy do I have the cooking bug.  This recipe was oh so simple, but really delicious!  It's also something that you can definitely modify and make it your own!  This is a vegetarian recipe, but again, meat can always be added for the carnivores out there!!  :)

What You Will Need (to feed 5-6):

1.  6 - 7 hearty sized zucchinis
2.  4 cloves of fresh garlic, finely minced (garlic powder or paste can be substituted, but c'mon...let's keep it real!)
3.  1 can of quartered artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
4.  2 cans of crushed tomatoes, preferably the ones that already have oregano or garlic flavorings.  (Or if you want to keep it UBER clean, toss some tomatoes and seasonings into your food processor to make your own crushed tomatoes!)  
5.  3 teaspoons of olive oil
6.  Salt and Pepper to taste
7.  1 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs.  I used the panko type for better crunch.
8.  1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps:

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 350.
2.  Line a large baking tray with foil and spray the foil with non-stick spray (optional).
3.  Slice your zucchinis length wise in half (do this as evenly as possible).
4.  Using a spoon, scoop out the pulp of your zucchini halves into a bowl and place zucchini halves on your baking tray.

Your empty zucchini halves will look like this..

5.  In a large, non-stick pan, heat up your olive oil and minced garlic.  
6.  Add the zucchini pulp, chopped artichoke hearts, crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Let simmer for about 15 minutes until some of the juice has evaporated.  This is where you can get creative!  Add onion, oregano, thyme, corn, bacon bits, sausage, shredded carrots...WHATEVER YOUR HEART DESIRES!

7.  Next, ladle the hot filling into zucchini boats! Fill 'em up, don't be shy!

8.  Place filled zucchini boats in the oven for 20 minutes.

9.  After 20 minutes, remove zucchini boats from oven.  Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and bread crumbs all over boats.  

10.  Bake 10-12 more minutes.  Zucchini boats should be tender, but not mushy!  Bread crumbs and cheese should appear toasty!  Mmmmm!

11.  Serve this with a spinach salad to keep it green and low carb!  ENJOY and don't forget the vino!!!

Vaughan Town

This is going to be a short entry as the schedule at the language school is grueling and exhausting.  But make no mistake...there is no negative connotation with either of those adjectives.  It is grueling and exhausting in the most gratifying way!  It is Tuesday afternoon...we’ve only been at it for two and a half days, but it seems like two and a half weeks!  Again, I don’t mean this in a negative way.  This concept of putting Anglos and Spaniards together for hours on end only speaking English is the most difficult, complicated, rewarding, interesting and gratifying experience!  There are 14 Anglos (this refers to the English speaking volunteers) and 14 Spaniards.  Our Anglos are mostly from the U.S. or the U.K.  I believe we have one Anglo from Australia and one woman who is Polish, but speaks English well enough to be a volunteer.  Our Spaniards are from all over Spain, some from big cities such as Madrid and some from tiny villages.  In my last post I spoke about feeling nervous about this experience.  The unknown can be scary!  And even now, two days in, I still feel nervous in certain situations, especially with the Spaniards who don’t speak English very well.  Those one on one sessions are difficult!  Furthermore, the second night we were here I was asked to get up and sing a song (California Dreamin’) because I made the mistake of mentioning that I like to sing.  HA!!  However, this is one of those situations that you just need to jump in feet first.  And it has been such a pleasure so far!  Often when you visit a foreign place you don’t really get to know the people of that place.  You sign up for tours (which are usually with other tourists) or you hoof around the area on foot with your family or companion!  But this situation is truly giving me the opportunity to get to know the people of Spain and this is so exciting!  On a more logistical note, the rooms are lovely, the location is beautiful and rural, and the food is pretty good!  We sit down for three meals a day, and two of them are served as three course meals! Unlimited wine served with lunch and dinner!  It’s so nice!  More details and thoughts later, but so far I am SO happy!  One of the leaders has already spoken to me about coming to Spain permanently to teach English.  I guess it’s true that with the more risks you take, the more possibilities arise!  

We Have Nothing To Fear...But Fear Itself...Unless, Of Course, You Are Lost in a Foreign City!

This is my 19th night away from home and I’m struggling tonight.  I feel really homesick and I just have a general feeling of discomfort.  Nervous stomach, unable to sleep, headachey, etc.  I’m in this really odd hotel a bit outside of the city center, and just now I was sitting out on the patio hearing the cars go by and feeling a bit dishelveled.  Tomorrow I board the bus to Gredos for my week at the language school and I’m sure this is contributing to my weird feelings today.  I don’t fully know what to expect, what I’m walking into, how I will do speaking to Spaniards for hours on end, how the food will be, how well I will be able to sleep, etc.  While I’m there I don’t think I will have internet access and this makes me nervous.  How ridiculous am I?  There are people in this world who still sleep under thatch roofs in the jungle.  And I’m complaining about the fucking internet?  It’s making me giggle just typing this.  Which in turn is making me feel a bit better.  Yay, thanks blog!  To be honest, I know it would be incredibly healthy to be unplugged for a week.  But I’m just going to come clean and say the whole thing makes me a little nervous.  It’s funny...and PLEASE don’t think I sound conceited saying this...but I often have people tell me they think I’m very courageous. I do NOT say this to sound full of myself.  If you know me well, you know I am far from it.  Ew, cocky people are the worst.  But I guess some people think the things I do are pretty brave and that my life has influenced decisions they have made. I’ve received emails from people telling me about situations in which this happened.  And apparently thinking about what I might do in their situation helped them make the bolder decision that ended with an awesome result.  WHAT!?!  While this is so very flattering, it always catches me off guard because half of the time I walk around feeling pretty anxious about things.  Sometimes I catch myself in the situation that is so completely obscure I am literally chanting “What the hell am I doing?” in my head over and over and just wishing I could be at home on the couch watching Everybody Loves Raymond reruns.  

Let’s use last night as an example.  After the Flamenco show (more on that show in another blog) I was starving and looking for something easy to eat.  After walking several blocks I found myself in a totally unfamiliar area of Madrid.  I had accidentally left my guide book at home and my phone died (too many videos of the dancers I think!)  So I’m alone and lost in Madrid at midnight.  Awesome.  It is an insane feeling to feel completely lost in a foreign place, in a sea of people who don’t speak your language, without any tools other than your senses to get you safely home.  Madrid is not as English speaking friendly as Paris, so trying to explain to the taxi driver where my hotel was located was like trying to explain to my students why they are going to need to know cursive some day.  “Because I said so” doesn’t work with a cabbie.  Anyway, after circling around a bit I thought I saw something familiar so I had him drop me off.  Oops, nope.  Not familiar.  Lost again.  Holy cow was I starting to get nervous.  I could actually feel my brain starting to edge toward full blown panic mode.  I started to question myself...what was I doing, why did I take this trip, why did I travel alone, no one else I know is doing this, why do I always get into these crazy situations...blah, blah, blah.  That critical scared voice reared its ugly head.  But then I just sat down on a bench, focused my energy for a second, absorbed some possible outcomes, and decided to embrace the opportunity to explore and hope that my senses would see me home.  And guess what? I was back to my hotel within the hour...stopping first for some crazy delicious street pizza and to watch some dancers perform killer acts in the plaza.  Aw yes, see how it all worked out?  But believe me, it started with “What the hell am I doing?”  Lesson learned, stay calm, stay present, and trust your senses.  And think about how much better this experience was than sitting on the couch watching reruns!  The other lesson learned, keep your darn phone charged while traveling alone in a foreign county.  

I guess I just want to take this opportunity to be really honest about the fact that most of the stuff I do makes me pretty nervous.  Most of the things I have accomplished in my life have not been comfortable.  In fact, most have been difficult and scary and nerve wracking.  I’m kind of a chicken!!  But the decision I have made and tried to stick with is that fear will not stop me.  It will not create unnecessary road blocks.  And I am a firm believer that if you aren’t just the slightest bit uncomfortable, you probably aren’t growing much. So I’d like to think I’m on my way to an enlightened and brave life where fear does not drive my decisions.  There are areas of my life in which I have really implemented this thought process and have truly disallowed fear to inhibit me.  There are certainly other areas where those ugly walls ‘o fear are still stubbornly standing strong and need to be bulldozed.  Working on it.  I love the short and simple quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” This I will most definitely keep doing, for I feel it is the best way to be your absolute best self.  On that note, the knots in my stomach are just a bit looser, my mind feels just a little bit clearer and I think I can now grab a few zzzz’s before I begin my next adventure in the morning.  Thanks for reading.  xo

P.S.  I've included some oh so silly selfies…

Spain is Amazing

It's super hot!

I've been stranded in Madrid in 2 days with only the clothes on my back…making the best of it!!

Trying out the metro…which is only in Spanish

I am SO LOST

VERY VERY LOST….  LOL!!

The Big Easy is Easy to Love

I can’t believe my two weeks in New Orleans is over!  How did that happen?  Time always goes so much faster than you expect when you are enjoying yourself.  And what a lovely time I’ve had.  I’ve definitely learned a few things during my stay in the Big Easy.  For example, as much as I love to cook and as excited as I am to go home and whip up a cajun inspired meal, I definitely do NOT foresee any shrimp peeling attempts in the near future.  When faced with the task of peeling fresh shrimp for gumbo during my cooking class, my reaction was similar to someone who was about to make their first jump out of a plane. It was really quite embarrassing.  I felt shaky and my heart started to race as I willed myself to reach in the bag, pick up a shrimp and rip its head right off.  Good Lord, what a wimp!  My grandmother would be appalled.  :)

To make matters worse, mid shrimp peeling panic attack, I simultaneously had an allergic reaction on my hands.  It was very intense!  The feeling was reminiscent of the time I tripped in my kitchen a few years ago and landed palm down on a hot burner on the stove.  I’m pretty sure flames were lapping around my fingers.  OWWWW!  Luckily, our dear sioux chef doused my hand in milk and it provided almost immediate relief.  I’m sure the third glass of wine didn’t hurt either.  It was strange though.  I have never had any kind of allergic reaction to eating seafood in the past.  I’m really not sure what happened!  Perhaps my shaking hands (symptom of mini break down) were not primed for proper shrimp peeling and I may have given myself microscopic cuts from the shells.  Whatever it was, from this point on it’s pre-peeled shrimp for this California girl.  Despite the mini nervous breakdown and minor allergic reaction, we still had a wonderful time!  I’m so grateful that my cousin Karen was willing to take the class with me!  We made the most divine shrimp and sausage gumbo, exquisite crawfish étouffée, and magical chocolate chip bread pudding with a mocha brandy sauce!  Who’s coming over for dinner next month? 

  

Another thing I’ve learned is that New Orleans has a very distinct scent.  Of course any city is going to have typical metropolitan odors, but this scent I’m referring to is entirely different and most certainly unique.  To capture the scent in words is difficult, but if I had to describe it I would say it was a mixture of a fresh herb garden and well oiled wood furniture.  Perhaps how you might imagine an antique store might smell.  Although I only visited New Orleans a couple of times as a child, I think that smell was retained in my arsenal of olfactory associations, and now as an adult I recognize it in various parts of the city.  It’s a delightful old timey smell that makes me feel very nostalgic.  I love it.

Another lesson.  New Orleans is hot in the summer time.  And humid.  And hot.

Finally, as much as I have a love hate relationship with social media, I will be forever grateful to Facebook for allowing my family to reestablish relationships with our New Orleans family over the last several years.  Growing up I so desperately wished I had cousins in my every day life.  Our little family in California was so tiny.  Small, but mighty was our motto.  Of course I had the knowledge that I had a slew of cousins in New Orleans, but we just didn’t keep in touch with them and I always felt a little bit sad about that.  I will be forever grateful that Facebook has changed that several years ago.  And I know that no matter the distance, our futures will always be tied together and that fills me with utter joy.  It makes me infinitely happy to get to know these lovely people and see all of their talents and personalities.  Not only is this family of mine in New Orleans gorgeous to look at, but their talents are phenomenal and inspiring.  From artists to comedians to social workers to professors to fire captains.  My love grows in abundance and I have cherished this time with you all so very much.  While I may never visit again in the summertime, you can most definitely bet that I will be visiting again soon. :)  xoxo