Huevos Rancheros

Warm Feet For February! Solar Radiant Heated Floors For the Winter

2009-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Well, we are experiencing some record low temperatures here in Asheville, NC. It has dropped below zero the past couple of nights, and I was walking around in 9 degree weather with a wind chill that made my face feel like it was going to fall off. I am a cold natured person with Caribbean blood, so winters like this are no fun for me. I would be miserable and freezing right now if it weren't for the NC alternative power company installing solor power, green power, wind power, radiant floors and photovoltaic cells that helped me rig up solar heating and solar heated water in my big old house I share with my grandfather. He had the hot water pump set so low I was avoiding showers for weeks and boiling water to wash the dishes- can you say "inefficient"?? We are always concerned about the energy bill, and trying to conserve energy but our old gas powered radiators just weren't doing the trick. I was wearing three pairs of socks last week, but now that I've got solar power, there is ample radiant heat keeping us irie and warm. Now I can move around freely, cooking huevos rancheros and brewing tea in the kitchen instead of hiding out watching Planet Earth all day huddled up in my bed, married to my heated mattress. Perhaps it was the marvelous beauty of nature that BBC captured so well that inspired me to go green. Green power is the hottest new thing- literally! Consider getting solar panels installed, or get up on this radiant floor tip. We love our new radiant floors. It works like this- they embedded special tubing in a thin concrete mixture on top of our wood-framed floors. Heated water (or a food-grade antifreeze mixture), heated by solar power, flows through this tubing, warming the thermal mass of the concrete.

Conventional forced-air systems, wood stoves, or other heating methods produce uneven heat, with the highest air temperatures near the ceilings. Radiant floor heating puts the heat in the floor under your tiny little feet, gently warming your toes, a room or a complete structure. Now it's even warmer and comfier in here, and we are not wasting energy and precious little money on monthly fuel bills. We count our coins now for luxuries like sauerkraut and brandy. I have bad circulation in my hands and feet, and when your feet are as tiny and cold as mine, you fall in love with these heated floors. No longer do I have to have my feet all bound up in a dozen layers of socks! They are happy, bare and getting bigger. Photovoltaics, which is a fancy word for solar panels, are really the way to go. With solar panels, you can get solar hot water!

Consider this. The sun is the biggest source of energy available on earth. For thousands of years humans have depended on solar energy to warm their homes. Back in the day, homes were sited to take advantage of natural solar heating. Since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas have been used instead. Fossil fuels are increasingly expensive, dirty, and difficult to extract. The coal industry, specifically, is a dirty business, presently destroying our precious mountains and poisoning our water. But there's hope! Today millions of people throughout the world are using solar energy to heat their homes and water and generate electricity. Viva green power!

Tra la la, a Trolley Tour through Asheville!

2009-01-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

I've been hearing a lot about historic trolley tours in Asheville, North Carolina with stops at historic sites including Pack Place, Grove Park Inn, and Asheville River Arts District. There's this totally sweet old school red trolley that cruises through town, it reminds me of the L train in San Francisco. I've never ridden it, but I've certainly harassed the passengers, as all good natured Asheville natives do. We do have quite a reputation to uphold as a weird wild and wonky little town. With the Fringe Festival coming up, it's a perfect time to come on up to Ashevegas and jump on a trolley sightseeing tour.
If it was closer to Halloween I would recommend the Asheville ghost trolley- you're sure to get thrills and chills while exploring the haunted side of this city. But as Valentines Day is approaching, it feels appropriate to mention the event and wedding charters available on these awesome trolleys. Imagine getting married on a crazy red trolley careening through the streets of the coolest town in the south east! Okay, okay do it in a church. But please then imagine at least piling the wedding party guests onto the trolley after the ceremony. Unforgettable! You could plan a rollicking valentine's day party trolley tour or plan an entire trolley vacation tour to be sure to see all of Asheville's historic sights and monuments. There's so much to explore! We've got the historic Montford district with its parks, punk rock parties and Jamaican noodle shops. There's the legendary Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa- this place is a trip! So elegant and decadent. We used to go every year at Christmas to see the gingerbread house contest winners. On your Asheville historic trolley sightseeing tour, you're sure to pass through the Urban Trail of downtown, bursting with Art Decho richness. You'll have a blast in the quaint and quite cute if unbelievably Bourgeois Biltmore Village (the McDonalds has a grand piano in it), or if that's not your cup of tea, you'll revel in the edgy and artsy River Arts District (think wearhouses, artist's studios, train tracks, graffiti, sculpture art). I remember being there on the set of my first ever photo shoot, I was modeling on a cloudy windy day in red silk, climbing the ladder of a broken down train car. We were going for an urban look. I've shot a few times around there, there's always something interesting to serve as a backdrop. Pack Place is another stop you'll be making, where you can check out the art museum and the theater. Take the time to educate yourself about this town. Learn about Asheville’s early settlers, famous citizens and illustrious authors through interesting stories and colorful anecdotes. See for yourself a city rich in architecture, history and the arts... alive and inviting! And don't miss The Thomas Wolfe Memorial. I think the red trolley that runs through town includes free admission. If I were a tourist in Asheville, I would jump on it.

Women's Only Rhino Safari in Namibia!

2008-10-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ladies! Ever been to south africa? Ever wanted to? Let me inform you on some of the adventures in store. There are women-only luxury travel companies out there offering jeep safari, wine tour, sea kayaking, whale watching, animal watching, and everything else you can imagine relating to african travel. Ever imagine yourself as a nature safari guide? Well, it's not THAT far fetched. Ready for a career change? Or maybe just out of curiosity, right when you need them, there are Southern Africa Guide Training Schools there for you. Would you like to know a bit more about basic tracking techniques and wilderness survival strategies? Then the Bush Skills Academy at Phinda Reserve in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa may be right up your alley. This 4 day, 3 night adventure, led on foot by a seasoned ranger, will teach you this as well as provide fascinating background on Phinda’s plants and animals. You can specialize in photography, or for those really hard-core gals trying to keep it real, you can learn such practical things as how to set up camp, basic rifle handling, radio procedures and basic 4X4 driving. Who knows what opportunities such training can offer! In Namibia, you can join a Save the Rhino Trust team on an eight day walk (complete with camel train) into the heart of the Namib Desert as the trackers research and monitor the rare desert adapted black rhino. Let's talk about this majestic creature. The black rhino is close in color to the white rhino with a grayish brown color to its skin. Several explanations are given for the origin of the name "black" rhinoceros. Some say it is because it is from the dark colored mud covering its skin after wallowing. Unlike the Northern and Southern white rhinos that have very separate ranges in Africa, the black rhino species boundaries do overlap in some areas. For example the South-western black rhinoceros lives in the desert and dry savannah areas of Namibia and south-western South Africa. This species is a little larger and its horns tend to be straighter than other species. Get to know this ancient, wise, dinosaur-like endangered animal and it's raw beauty, up close and personal. You'll be able to pass on these pictures, memories and stories to your grandkids, who probably will never see this animal. If your time is limited on your africa safari but you would still like to spend time amongst rhinos, you can participate in a rhino darting partnership program in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Play an important role in conservation by performing assigned tasks once a veterinarian safely anaesthetizes the rhino. When looking for a company offering africa vacations booking, make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to take a wine tour through the Cape of Good Hope. A good luxury travel service will take you on a journey through the Cape’s historic, breathtaking winelands as you cruise through green, fertile valleys nestled amongst dramatic mountain scapes. You will sample gourmet food in award-winning restaurants and taste wines at some of the finest Cape wine estates. I bet you never imagined that an african safari could include the beauty of raw nature AND visits to wineries, charming villages, monuments and museums! Whether you choose to camp in the winelands area for a few days or opt for a day’s tour from Cape Town, this is a truly astonishing part of the earth, so don't sleep.

Practicle, sassy shoes for the winter season.

2008-10-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

If you are a woman like me, you are constantly asking yourself, how can I get just the right mix of city sass and everyday comfort and practicality in my shoes? Well I'm here to tell you all about my two favorite new pairs of shoes. One is a Dansko clogs. Mary jane style, brownish black to match my mascara- what I love about this ambiguous, versitile color is that you can pull it off with black OR brown outfit and it matches both! Talk about a two for one. And they are soooo comfy AND classy that I can wear them at the office, where I have to be on my feet alot, and they are just as comfortable as wearing crocs or merrills, with the added classy touch of leather. We are talking quality footwear. Dansko, the daring danish drop kick of all casual footwear. Where did they come up with this? Well, a unique Danish clog was discovered by husband and wife team, Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup, in a tiny Denmark shop in the late 1980’s. The shoe took them by storm and they secured the exclusive rights to the design in 1991, when Dansko, Inc. was born. Within a few years, word had spread and you can now find many lines of Dansko footwear in retail shops worldwide as well as a multitude of online shoes retailers. Get to the shoe store! Oh, and you should all know by now, I'm gonna talk about boots. did I mention the knee high black walking boots they make?? FIERCE.
Now onto my second favorite new pair women's dress shoes. Cole Haan! I scored these insanely exquisite pair of leopard print flats by Cole Haan, and yes, I'm getting away with it at the office AND on the dance floor. Never heard of them? Cole Haan shoes have a long lasting reputation for quality, craftsmanship, service and style, with long line of products for men and women. In addition to footwear, Cole Haan also manufactures jewelry, handbags, outerwear, belts and hosiery. Currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Cole Haan products are available globally in the finest retail stores and online distributors. When talking quality and discount shoes, enough can not be said about Cole Haan. Their clogs are also completely sweet. They make stretch mule walking shoes, too, for the more athletic days. And of course there is a great men's line too, if you're looking to do some christmas shopping. When browsing for online shoes, look for style, comfort and quality. Try to find a good source for cheap shoes, with a good selection of casual shoes and cheap boots. I'm telling you, a great pair of clogs are a must have for winter fashion survival. If you don't have a good pair of ugg boots and at least a couple different colors of clogs, you should really invest now before the best stuff gets bought up. The secret is out! And ladies, we should be celebrating- the hottest new shoes are actually comfortable. Furry boots, clogs, flats. Yes! You won't catch me in those old blister giving old fashion heels. That's about as pas-e as smooth jazz. Unless of course it's halloween and I'm dressed up like a witch.

Elegant Home Accents for the Holidays!

2008-10-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

So many birthdays in October! My brother turns 22 next wednesday, and he says all he wants is to go out for sushi, but I'm sure what he's really hoping for is some elegant home accents to satisfy his secret love of home interior decorating. The big, beautiful Banana Mannor mansion where he lives could always use some more reproduction antique furniture, but maybe I'll wait for Christmas to drop that one. For now, we've got to get things looking great for the halloween pirate party bonanza. My garden is drying up with the cold weather, so I'm thinking, how am I supposed to create fabulous center pieces for the coctail station and dinner table? Well, I found some low cost silk flowers and a really sweet pumpkin wreath that really captures the essence of autumn. And if I don't have time to bake a pumpkin pie, I'll just bust out some seasonal scents, filling the manor with the scrumptious smell of pumpkin spice potpourri. Careful tho, it's an aphrodesiac! As for the lighting, well, ambience is EVERYTHING, I tell you. Especially when you're dealing with hosting a pirate party in an old historic mansion. With the accordian players wailing away, the fireplace roaring, the spiced rum being passed, the acrobats warming up, the geishas lounging around the hooka, and the exotic animals prowling around the staircase... what's missing? Well, amidst the merriment, the perfect finishing touch in this picture will be the candles. To heck with electricity, let's be authentic to the theme here. Being environmentally conscious AND having a taste for the finer things in life, my favorite kind of candles are soy candles, and clean burning organic candles. I always use glass votives and tall candelabras to prevent fire hazard...halloween parties can get pretty out of control, and tho we intend to raise some ruckus, we don't want the house to burn down literally. The neighbors are already pretty chilly towards us, and we can't afford another strike against the fire marshall!

And with Christmas coming right up, it's time to start considering last minute gift ideas . I'm always looking for something unique for my pops, who collects antiques. They've got ships in a bottle, old wild west relics, retro cuban theater posters, a huge collection of drums from all over the world, and some pretty phenominal persian rugs. Not to mention the furniture! It's like a museum in there. Well, he'll never know the difference- handmade antique reproduction furniture is absolutely the hottest new stuff on the market. I found this totally awesome blanket chest bench,
handcrafted from wood, manufactured in Indonesia of mahogany that has been kiln dried. Score! And don't worry about having to dig through dimly lit antique wearhouses full of termites, because beautiful hand crafted furniture is available on the internet! This piece I found shipped from Cashiers, NC and arrives in 10 days. Can't wait! And while I'm at it, I probably should be thinking of my mom as well...she's alot less materialistic and likes to keep it simple. I usually go for coffee, chocolate and candles for her. Maybe some french milled soap and a set of soy candles would do the trick. Happy Holidays for the whole family here in North Carolina!

How can I creatively commemorate the life of my beloved pet?

2008-10-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever had a beloved pet pass away knows the pain of such a loss, and sometimes we just don't know what we could possibly do to commemorate that celebrated animal friend we so dearly treasured. A pet's love is unconditional, and if you ask me, that's the best kind of love to have in this world. It's what really makes the world go round.
The way you memorialize your pets life can be as unique and meaningful as the pet you have known and loved his/herself. So, whether you bury or cremate, consider a decorative cremation urn for your pet. Hold the ashes in a ceremonial memorial vessel. Go for something extraordinary. Look in the right places and you will surely find cremation urn distributors producing unique Cremation urns, and be sure that you will find something perfect among the one of a kind works of art, which truly celebrate and honor the qualities of the individual spirit. Unique pet urns can be a reassuring, pleasant way to remember your dog or cat, especially when they are hand crafted with love by artisans who truly put great purpose and meaning into their work. These funeral urns are works of art as well, sitting beautifully and significantly on your mantle or altar. Discount cremation urns can also be tracked down through reliable cremation urn distributors.
And if you chose to bury, perhaps you would be interested in a burial urn for your pet. When my beloved family cat Fala died, I was searching for info on where I can buy urns
and I found a fabulous art urn among a fabulous selection of cat burial urns. But we didn't stop there, we worked with the artisans at a company called Shine On Brightly to make careful selections of the beautiful textiles, colors, and patterns, and even sent in a photo for a customized art quilt to hang above Fala's altar which holds a beautiful glass funeral urn
surrounded by candles, flowers and his favorite cat nip toys. Fala was a fat black and grey tabby cat, with large green eyes and the cutest toothy smile. Some people mislabeled him as surly, but I believe he just had emotional issues, which he struggled with his whole long life. Sometimes he just needed space. We let him go outside alot, where he got his aggression out by catching rodents and birds and leaving them lovingly at our door step as an offering.
When he died at the ripe old age of 17, we had to choose between ceramic, glass, and wooden urns, which were all clearly designed with love by artists who understand my cat's important role in my life and my refusal to forget Fala and move on as if nothing had happened. Finally somebody can support me in my attachment to my deceased feline friend. His artfully glazed and inscribed pet urn bears testament to Fala's happy place in cat heaven, where I'm sure he is happily curled in the everloving lap of the lord and sipping milk, rolling periodically in fields of catnip and frolicking in fields full of mice with all his fuzzy and content kitty friends. It makes me smile just to think. So come on now, make the impermanent permanent with a spectacular pet urn.

What's the Buzz about Call For Creativity?

2008-10-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Today at the coffee shop, while researching DIY publishing for my poetry, I discovered this rockin new website called Call for Creativity. This growing online networking device is one of the best artist resources out there on the web. You can post an article about a creative topic and it will not only appear in the Resources section, but will also be syndicated to various websites. Members create profiles which feature their artwork... this is wayyyy over myspace's head, guys. No obnoxious pop up ads or underweight desperate groupies or creepy stalkers or anything. They don't even try to sell you ipods. What a relief. It's strictly art, by and for artists. For art's sake. I've been looking for a legit artist social network lately, as its easy to get to feeling weighed down and drowned out in this sterile high tech fast moving cold hard capitalist society when you are a free spirited, sensitive butterfly like me. Browsing the artist directory at C4C, I don't feel quite so alone! You can find out a lot about these people in their special interest section of the extensive, descriptive, highly personalized profile. There's crazy artists like me, magical bartenders with secret side lives as knife makers and leathersmiths out there finding ways to fuse creativity with technology?! That's what I call evolution.
If you are looking to do some collaboration, or maybe you just need an answer to a creative inquiry, then, my friend, you can post a Call for Creativity and one someone from the network will respond to your call. And you want to holler at somebody in particular more casually, you can set up a conference call in that section. The support staff is always there to help make things happen! This is seriously THE underground spot for college social networking.
Not your average creative arts club! You will find plenty of fringe, so if you're feeling like the lone weirdo or underappreciated campus creative genius, get on the computer and start browsing the creative directory at C4C. Bikers, silversmiths, herbalists, bakers, fire dancers, collage artists, painters, jewelry makers, graffiti writes, human statues, sculptors, trapeze artists, poets, writers, lone trombonists, unite!
C4C can help connect you, the artist, to a gallery where you can display your work and increase your art sales. The networking potential is endless, kind of like a fractal. There is a great page of links to other interactive art organizations
and you always have a fair shot at being featured as a featured artist at C4C or getting your work on the website if you respond to the frequent artist call for entries. Call for Creativity is great for college students and outcasts alike. I've lived on the outside of institutionalized education more or less and had a pretty dang vibrant creative life anyways, but I never rule anything out. If I were an art student in college, I would be hitting up Call for Creativity's creative directory as a resource for all of my projects. And probably making alot of super hip friends and business connects in the process.

Leaf Season in Asheville!!! Bask in the spectacle.

2008-10-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Our leaf season is the most beautiful thing on the east coast. No joke. I've missed out on it 2 years in a row, and this year I'm sticking around for the spectacle. The most brilliant reds, yellows, oranges exploding in splashes of color, contrasting against the clear bright blue sky... hiking through the woods in the Blue Ridge Parkway is sure to amaze you. You will be stunned, impressed, and seduced by mother nature's colorful explosions in the mountains around Asheville, North Carolina.
Vacations are certainly not only for summer time! There is nothing like a weekend get-away,
and October is the perfect time for a mountain vacation.
Trust me... it's truly a splendor. I was impressed with the leaf season in Vermont, but it didn't compare with the majesty of ours. Witness the supreme majesty of the WNC mountains in October! And check out the LEAF festival while you're here. It's a swingin good time for the whole family. We have all kinds of Bed and Breakfast or Vacation Rentals to meet your style so start doing some research now. Places might get booked up as the word spreads that we have the most bangin boombasticly beautiful leaf seasons on earth. Anyone looking for great place to stay in Asheville would find plenty of cottages, rentals, and cabins in the woods if they are going for the nature immersion, and bed and breakfast options for the urbanites. Properties range from cottages with long-range views, to a bed and breakfast in walking distance to downtown.
Brilliant maple trees riot with red orange, and glowing yellow. Dogwood berries blossom bright red. Beautiful poplars, oaks, cedars and ferns line the paths and arc overhead, you will be amazed by our famous bright scarlet sumack. Joepye weed grows about 10 feet tall with purple heads that crane up to the heavens. You'll be naming your next kid after a tree, guaranteed.
Got your hiking shoes on yet? Really, don't miss out. Pack a picnic of fresh berries, vegetarian sandwiches with locally grown organic greens, olives, and of course some fine wine or locally brewed beer. Strap on a banjo or a baby acoustic and hike up to a perfect spot underneath a beautiful tree. Smoke one, strum some tunes to your honey, snack on wild growing chickweed, and relax in the sunshine filtering through the leaves, the glorious leaves. Can you hear the bluegrass in the background? Can you smell the crisp mountain air? Can you hear the crunch of leaves under your boots? Good vibes all around in the autumn of Asheville, NC. So seriously, folks, come on down for some swingin, gospel singin, sweet tea drinkin, banjo strummin, bootleg moonshine sippin, good old fashioned southern sight seeing. Need some inspiration? A Vacation? My advice for you? Take an hike!!

Get The Fall Fashion Before You Get Flashed On

2008-10-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

Boots with the fur.... everybody in da club was lookin at her.... T-pain said it best. Them fur boots are hotter than ever these days and if you don't already have some, its time to strut on down to the shoe store and cop a pair. Or two... And don't even think about packing away your favorite cute summer dress, chile, cause you gonna shut it down like this: rock a pair of tights and some ugg boots with that dress and throw on a couple layers on top and you're set. They go especially well with denim and khaki diggs. Avoid the hype, lines, high prices and devil worshipping goths at the mall - hit up a discount shoe, boot, and sandal store for women, men, children cause discount is the way to go. Why pay more?? These are brand names we're talking. Ugg, Dansko, Cole Haan, Merrell. Get them cheap now. I pretty much live in my Merrells. They work as slippers, hiking shoes, good for loafing, cruising around town, climbing trees, and dang, everythang! They look cute with yoga pants, jeans.... but when I rock a skirt I go for the fur boots or my timbs. Shoes. You gotta have them. I like to keep it simple, and with my back problems I can't wear alot of high heels. Anyway you never know when you're gonna need to bust a move and run, son ! Or break dance, or scale a fence... that's why I like practical, comfy shoes that don't mess us my posture or get in the way of my active lifestyle. Try walking into a yoga studio with heels.. you will get some funny looks. My footwear reflects my lifestyle of hustle and bustle. I'm ready for action in a good pair of boots. I like to check out the latest trends on the internet. Online shoes ! That way you get the hottest styles before everyone else even knows they are on the shelf. Quality footwear is important in this day and age! I just can't go loafing around in flip flops all year round (altho when I lived in the Carribean, I could...) One of the only things I like about cold weather is that you get to wear more layers, get more creative, accesorize. I might be a hardcore hustler but I'm still a girl. Not THAT girly tho, I mean my closet isn't full of every color of the rainbow. I lean toward brown, black and khaki casual shoes, and if I can't walk 10 blocks in them without whining, I probably don't own them. Okay fine.. I have a couple pairs of heels. But I don't really need them, I'm already tall! So gimme those Merrells and I'll make it through the day, shoot, I'll make it through the winter. Oh and Uggs at the club, no bad attitudes please. Instead of being jealous go on and get your own.. just better not be the same color.

4 Reasons Why Your Kids Really Need Back to School Shoes

2008-08-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

1 Summer, 2 Fall, 3 Winter, 4 Spring. Just kidding…..

1.Kids feet grow. They grow fast. The younger they are, the faster they grow! That pair of Nike’s that fit all summer will, indeed, shrink before your eyes. Kids with their tiny feet won’t notice until one day they start pinching. Wearing shoes that are too small for your tiny feet is, well, no fun. No fun at all! They might pinch at the heel or in the toes, or maybe it will dawn on you while huffing and puffing trying to pull on those little pink crocs. No sir… not today! Today it’s time to go out and scope through some discount shoes for children of all ages in the latest styles. Don’t forget to bring the kids!
Q. Should I bring the kids? What if they throw a fit/ get jealous/ beg for something they don’t need?
A. Yes, it’s definitely worth the risk. You want to have their physical foot present for a correct fitting. And while little mama is begging for some mini mouse tap shoes, calmly remind her that she will thank you later for her comfy, practical new back-to-school shoes.
2. The School Year presents a large variety of conditions that calls for you to have a variety of styles around in regards to your kids shoes. Running on the playground, climbing up a tree, stomping through rain puddles, dancing, playing soccer, and going to church. My favorite all purpose fall shoe are Merrils. They have a warm, fuzzy lining like a slipper and the tough, durable, hiking-friendly soles on the bottom. Your kid will never want to take them off, and neither will you! Winter is going to call for warm children’s shoes, so be prepared. That cold weather really sneaks up on us! Soccer cleats, balet shoes, baby birkenstocks? What will this school year require of your children’s tiny little busy feet? And full circle back round to spring, better have the crocs on hand!
3. All the other kids will have new shoes! Okay, don’t dismiss me for a consumerist sell out yet. There IS something really nice and special about that new shoes feeling, am I wrong? It puts a spring in your step and you know it. Your kids will feel special and loved if you open your wallet enough to give them something to excited about wearing on that first day of school… just as you would do the same for yourself on the first day of a new job!
4. Buying your kids shoes is a great excuse to pick up a new pair yourself. Be a responsible consumer and take advantage of a sale now, so that you won’t have to make extra trips back next week. Think about what you really need right now… and go for it ! I was always a minimalist, and since I travel frequently, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for me to have a lot of clothes and shoes to haul around. But when I do come home to change out my wardrobe and visit family, I always find a good use for the shoes I do have. I scored a really cute pair of turquoise and silver sandals myself the other day at Houser Shoes, and I get compliments every time I wear them. But back to the kids. This school year will go by that much more smoothly if you spend wisely on your kids shoes! Get the car seats and juice boxes, we’re getting our tiny feet out of here.

What Makes Lexington Avenue in Downtown Asheville a Stellar Shopping Destination?

2008-08-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

If you’ve been looking for a unique shopping adventure, look no further than Asheville, North Carolina’s quirky, classy, eclectic Lexington Avenue, affectionately known to locals as “L.A.” or “The Ave.” When planning your vacation in Asheville, you will want to make plenty of time in your schedule to visit the great outdoors AND get the urban experience! Asheville is a great place for a family vacation, so start getting the kids in shape now for some unforgettable trekking through the glorious fall colors of the Blue Ridge Parkway mountains, gallery walks and casual strolling through the unique, historic downtown area. Take it from me, I am a local! And one of the very few true natives. Every year, more people choose Asheville for a mountain vacation and more people migrate from neighboring states in search of something a little different. On that note, as I type from inside Izzy’s Coffee Den I have a classic view of Lexington Avenue and all its cultural richness. Across the street is Downtown Books and News, one of many treasured local small businesses. There, you can buy, sell, and trade books, new and used. The selection is enormous and very diverse. They carry magazines that are impossible to find elsewhere, ranging in topic from anime comics to great feminist publications to home made D.I.Y. punk rock zines. Next door is Spiritex, a clothing store that carries only sustainable threads (i.e. not made in sweat shops!). I remember buying a hemp mail carrier satchel there, for a trip to Spain and Morocco. Lexington Ave is peppered with unique, independently owned botiques, where you are sure to find one of a kind styles. The Honeypot, for example, carries second hand clothes and locally made clothes from Asheville designers. The Recyclone line is especially funky. Also at the Honeypot you can score feather earrings, vintage shoes, coats, parasols, and jewelry. Speaking of vintage, check out Hip Replacements! Their selection will send you back into the seventies for sure. I trust that you’re happy with the choice you made when selecting your bed and breakfast from the variety of family friendly lodgings that Asheville has to offer, and that you may be ready to head back for a nap by now. But for those cruising on, it’s lunch time. There is a huge variety of international cuisine available on this street. Mela Indian restaurant has great lunch buffet specials, and if a favorite for lunch breakers. Heawa Sushi has a charming, intimate atmosphere with an outdoor patio, and Rosetta’s Kitchen is the all time classic spot for vegan southern style soul food. Don’t even think about leaving town before you try their peanut butter tofu!

Looking for gifts or souveneirs? Scope the local music section at the record shops. Don’t let the punk rockers with pierced faces and panhandling hippies with backpacks and dogs scare you. They are a crucial part of the scenery, and local businesses are very careful of preventing any uncivil activity on their sidewalks and store fronts. Stop in at Izzy’s for a “shot in the dark,” espresso bomb in a cup of coffee. Zing!!! Dinner time brings you to the door of Bouchon, fine French dining with seating in the coolest most behind the scenes courtyard in town! Be sure to stop by the Courtyard Gallery while you’re down there, Thursday and Friday nights they offer multicultural, arts based entertainment.

As for nightlife, definitely check out the listings in the Mountain Express for hip happenings at Bobo’s, the gallery that brought us one of Asheville’s best beer and wine bars and a constant line up of diverse live music, ranging from electronic DJs to jazz groups to middle eastern bands and bellydancers! Also noteworthy is the Emerald Lounge, where you can catch local and regional Bluegrass, Funk, Hip Hop, Reggae, and Jazz bands and DJ’s almost every day of the week. On Fridays and Saturdays, be sure to pop in next door at Rosettas’ for Asheville’s Best Late Night Munchies (as rated by readers of the Mountain Xpress). Did I mention their awesome selection of international and local microbrews and wholesome, vegan sweets? Now the day is complete. Aren’t you glad you have a nice comfy bed waiting for you in a bed and breakfast in walking distance to Downtown? Now that’s good planning. Crash out and get back down here tomorrow before someone else scores that pair of second hand lightning bolt platform glittery golashas!

Imagine How a Safari Vacation to East Africa Could Change Your Life!

2008-08-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

You, a modern woman going through the motions of life, handling responsibilities at home, in the office, and in your community, or perhaps already having spent the better part of your life as a caring mother/ wife/ businesswoman, operating in “the grid” of western society in service to others, are realizing that your daily routine has become rather mundane and monotonous. In this moment of clarity, you may daydream about escaping from your life as you know it to travel to an exotic country. As curiosity is kindled in your wandering mind, you may experience a sense of envy for those “free spirits” that seam to roam the earth ready for adventure in any moment. You may think back to childhood fantasies of running away, joining the circus, throwing caution to the wind and jumping on a train headed far, far away.
Darling, there is no doubt about it--you need an African travel vacation.
And you may, at first, think of the family beach house, the same ski lodge, or an over commercialized tropical cruise. You will probably be tempted to bring the whole family, or your husband at least. But why settle for the same old vacation when you could take a African safari, exploring unknown territories beyond even your wildest dreams? Think: open grasslands sprinkled with snarling lions and sauntering giraffes. Elephant spotting, sea kayaking leisurely through the beautiful lakes of East Africa’s national parks, and exotic animal watching , are just some of the many, many activities you might enjoy while on an African safari.

You need to find a good company offering Africa vacations booking, ideally offering private lodging in a small group camp on large private reserves, so that you might get the comfort of luxury travel while all the wildness of Mama African still awaits right outside your cabin door. Excellent options for East African countries to visit for an unforgettable safari adventure include Kenya, gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda; Tanzania, and Zambia. Zambia boasts the three hundred and sixty foot plunge of majestically breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. This mile wide, thundering cascade is an excellent spectacular to behold during your unforgettable African travel experience.

You will encounter many companies that organize African safaris, and you can contact these companies directly. You want to be sure that you get everything you want from your chosen safari company so that you can simply spend a stress free luxury safari in Africa. Budget is a major concern in African safaris. Depending on your budget, you can search for an appropriate travel company that can provide the right guidance for your safari. It is a good idea to plan your African safari according to your age and health condition. This is especially important if you are in a group safari. Older women might want to avoid booking a safari with a company that serves the needs of a younger clientele, and if you might want to check and make sure the group you are going with has similar maturity level and similar desires and destination goals. There are so many countries to visit, yet so much diversity within each country. You want to make sure your safari company is dedicated to your immersion in everything Africa; you don’t want to miss a beat when it comes to the various landscapes, native populations, and exotic animal species that African safari can offer you a chance to see.