lifestyle and travel

Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

Once again, thanks to you all and your gorgeous eyeballs for stopping by to see what’s on this week’s list of Friday Faves. I’ve heard from so many of you that while you love the recipes her la foodie de la crush, it’s this list that keeps you coming back to check in each and every week. And who can blame you? It’s our little spot on the interwebs for some uplifting brightness to lighten our load. And new favorite shoes. Because who doesn’t love shoes??!!

If you ever have any faves you’d like me to share, please e-mail me, leave a comment, or send your suggestion by carrier pigeon. But please no soliciting of weirdo products, money making scams, or hocus pocus self promotion because that won’t ever make the list.

A few weeks ago I asked if you’d like to see a few themed Friday Faves and you gave me a resounding thumbs up. And if you don’t, well then you people need to speak up or you’ll never get what you want.

So that’s why this week I’m sharing a bunch of fun centered around why most of us put in all the time at the daily grind: to get away and escape it all and TRAVEL!

For me, travel has become an increasingly important part of my business running this blog, to learn from and connect with fellow entrepreneurs, other online influencers, and the brands and companies I work with or hope to one day. But even more, it’s the travel opportunities I’m so lucky to have with my family that really keeps this FoodieCrush train pushing forward and chug-a-lug-lugging. Because whether it’s a day trip to Park City or Southern Utah, or a weekend in our beloved San Francisco, or flying half way around the world for Christmas in Vietnam and New Years in Cambodia, the memories created by sharing new experiences while traveling are the memories that last a lifetime.

So with summer travel season about to set upon us, let’s get our gas tanks filled, our camping gear cleaned out or our passports in order, and let’s dig into this week’s list of traveling Friday Faves.

But before I dig into this week’s theme, I just have to share one thing that made my weekly highlight reel.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Friday Faves and Sunriver Resort, OR

Hello friends, and happy Friday.

Who else is with me in welcoming this change of seasons? Hopefully it will help us all literally turn a new leaf, including Mother Nature, who has been wrecking her wrath and like I said last week, leaving me to think she is truly trying to impress upon us the only way she knows how that change needs to be made and shaking us all up.

My heart goes out to all of those who are in the midst of the ravages nature has posed upon us, from Mexico to Texas, to the Caribbean. For those who are living through it, their loved ones who are worried how they’re doing it, and those who will help us all rebuild.

Signs like this make me realize how lucky I am. And also that I need to get earthquake insurance. Utah is primed for an earthquake and 80% of residents live along one of the most active earthquake areas in the U.S. called the Wasatch Fault, a 25 miles stretch along the mountains that has been designated as having the greatest earthquake risk in all of the interior of the Western United States. Oh hi. I LIVE RIGHT ON THE FAULT! YIKES! May I get my winner’s trophy please? (P.S. my geologist sister is beaming at my investigative knowledge right now!)

So while I love Utah, once Smudge is finished with high school, it might be time to find a new place to live. And after last weekend’s stay at Sunriver Resort, I think I may have found it and a few of this week’s Friday Faves.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves and Sunriver Resort, OR

New York City to the Hamptons 4-Day Retreat

If you’d have told me 10 years ago while I was working for “the man” that in just a few short years I would be my own boss and creating the community that FoodieCrush has become (thank you, thank you to all of you who are here!) I would have frozen in fear of leaving the traditional workforce and leaping into the unknown world of entrepreneurship.

But times change, and so did I.

Today, I thank my lucky stars each and every time I open my computer to work on the blog, hop onto Facebook, or scroll through Instagram for the opportunity to share recipes, swap stories, inspire and be inspired thanks to every one of the online connections we share.

Some people prefer the support of a co-working office situation. I prefer working on my own. And while some feel working from home to be an isolating job, surprisingly, it’s the exact reason I’ve created some amazing in real life relationships, thanks to the introductions made via this weird world of the webisphere.

Tips for a 4 Day Trip to NYC and The Hamptons

Last month I had the opportunity to meet up with a few of my blogging counterparts at a small retreat in New York City and then onto The Hamptons. Small retreats like these are a favorite component of my blogging business.continue to the recipe… about New York City to the Hamptons 4-Day Retreat

48 Hour Getaway in Austin, Texas

Mixing work with pleasure is one of the best parts of my job as a food photographer and blogger who works solo behind a computer screen most of my days. For many of us, conferences are the perfect excuse to connect in person. It’s a time to network, learn insider tips from other solopreneurs on the front lines, and spend time with friends, old and new, brought together in person thanks to the connection of our online businesses.

It’s what took me to Austin, TX where I spoke at the Indulge Food Blogging Conference and spent time with some of my many online friends. More than just the home of SXSW, Austin is a mecca for anyone into taco joints and food trucks, trendy boutiques, music of all genres, and all things Instagram-able.continue to the recipe… about 48 Hour Getaway in Austin, Texas

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Francisco & Oakland, CA

The classic Tony Bennett tune “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” rings true to millions of travelers for a reason. Just about anyone who’s had the fortune of visiting The Golden City can sympathize — the eclectic architecture, amazing dim sum, majestic, fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge — all of it, will steal your heart and leave you aching for more.

Perched on the tip of a peninsula and sandwiched between the Pacific and the San Francisco Bay, SF is a funky melting pot of artists, hippies, hipsters, immigrants, entrepreneurs, young startup founders and more. And the city beholds endless possibilities for amusement — people watching in Dolores Park, admiring the famous Painted Ladies and other ornate brownstones that seem to be in every color scheme imaginable, or strolling down the rainbow studded sidewalks of the Castro.

Sure, the weather can be a little finicky (SF has its own microclimate after all), and some streets are so steep you have to hunch down to walk up, but it’s all worth it. Especially once you find yourself in burrito bliss in the Mission, or pastry nirvana at the temple (AKA Tartine Bakery), as you bite into the best croissant of your life, flakey shards of pastry strewn all over your lap. It’s a wonderfully quirky and colorful city.

A quick jaunt over the bridge (no, not Big Red, that other one), will lead you into Oakland — San Francisco’s scrappy little sister who’s growing into her own. Other than the Golden State Warriors, Oakland didn’t have much to offer and no one ventured there unless they were trying to skirt the steep hotel costs in SF.

But things have changed. The formerly gritty town not even on tourists’ radars is now a place people make a point to visit when they’re in the Bay Area. Having undergone (and still undergoing) a revitalization, Oakland has attracted tourists, foodies, and residents as it continues to be a city on the rise. Sure, it’s still a bit rough around the edges, but the hip neighborhoods, diverse culture, killer food scene, and more affordable curb appeal, have people comparing it to Brooklyn.

So are you ready to pack your bags and have a love affair with these cities by the bay? Happy trails!

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Francisco & Oakland, CA

Friday Faves

Happy Friday friends!

If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking it sure does feel good to be here. Here, as in, TGIF!

It seems like everyone is talking about the heat. So. Much. Heat. And how they’re escaping it. It’s that time of year, am I right?

Last weekend we headed to the mountains and Deer Valley for a little overnight getaway. A staycation. They’re all the rage. But man, when it’s time to head OUT of the state, anywhere The Montage has a property is where I want to go.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Salt Lake City, UT

Just minutes from summer’s outdoor adventure and winter’s world-class ski resorts with what is known world over as “The Greatest Snow On Earth”, Salt Lake City hasn’t relied solely on what mother nature has provided to feed the souls of local residents and worldwide visitors.

In this mountain city that just happens to border the desert, the restaurants and diners, bars and brewpubs, coffee shops and bakeries are just as vital to the local climate and lifestyle as skiing and biking and hiking in the towering Wasatch mountains of which the city is best known for.

As the epicenter of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—aka the Mormons—Salt Lake City may be considered modest by some larger city’s standards.

Far from mundane or chaste, Salt Lake City’s original landscape was ripe with a convivial spirit, even boasting a stretch of what is now downtown’s Main Street as “Whiskey Street”, named by the founder of Salt Lake City himself, Brigham Young, where gentiles (including Mr. Young) were able to quench their thirst and enjoy in the revelry.

Today, that spirit for food and drink is alive and well and totally on point with those bigger locales thanks to award-winning craft breweries, nationally recognized 4-diamond restaurants, plus favorite local haunts that have stood the test of time.

Following are a few Salt Lake City standouts from local food bloggers, who are dining in and dining out, and always taking in the scene.

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Salt Lake City, UT

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Asheville, NC

Calling all beer and nature lovers! If you appreciate 19th century mansions all decked out for the holidays, fresh mountain air and craft suds, you might want to book a trip to Asheville, stat.

Perched in the Western nook of North Carolina in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a land bustling with beards and brews (Asheville has more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the States)! Beer connoisseurs flock to Asheville so they can geek out over dozens of breweries, and around 100 local craft beers. Nature lovers rejoice over the countless hiking trails boasting sweeping mountainous views.

Asheville is a progressive, eclectic and environmentally-concious city, with an approachable small town vibe. It’s extremely dog and cyclist friendly, much like Portland, Oregon. With the endless options of things to do, it’s easy to forget that it’s a small city. There’s no shortage of entertainment, from floating down the French Broad River and zip lining through tree canopies, to perusing art galleries and antique stores and exploring the countless new restaurants and breweries that continue to sprout up daily.

Downtown Asheville’s pulse is always beating with street performers and festivals, and on Friday nights, locals and tourists alike gather around Pritchard Park for a lively drum circle. And of course, Asheville also boasts a phenomenal food scene, featuring some of the best chefs in the nation.

Ready to channel your inner hippie? Read on to find out exactly where to go to sip and nosh your way through this kooky, cool city!

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Asheville, NC

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Chicago, IL

We think Frank Sinatra was onto something when he sang, “Chicago is my kind of town.” The Windy City, the latest spot in our where to eat city guide series is our kind of town as well.

With over 2.7 million residents, it’s the busiest city in the entire Midwest, but it somehow manages to feel less crowded and overwhelming than some of its other big city counterparts. Buzzing with culture, it’s known for its killer standup comedy (thank you Chi-town for giving us Tina Fey), jazz and blues clubs, and an array of contemporary art galleries. And that’s just half the appeal — Chicago is as beautiful as it is entertaining.

The scenic Chicago River runs right down the middle of the city, boasting stunning views of Lake Michigan, and one heck of a skyline (the first skyscraper in the world was built in Chicago). And you don’t have to venture far to enjoy the beach—there are over 20 beaches to lounge on when you need a break from all the hustle and bustle of the city.

If all that weren’t enough, Chicago is also home to a flourishing food scene, including a slew of diverse ethnic restaurants. From Greektown and Indo-Pak, to the authentic Mexican joints dotting Little Village and Pilsen, to the classic Chicago dog (found on just about any street corner), Chicago is an epicurean’s delight. Da Bears! The Cubbies! Deep-dish pizza! What else do you need?

We recently asked three food bloggers and proud Chicagoans about their favorite food joints in the Second City, and now we’re hungry to hop on a plane!

Ready to pack your bags?! Let’s take a tour of the FoodieCrush Guide to Where to Eat in Chicago.

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Chicago, IL

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Portland, OR

Last month we launched our new City Guide series, where food bloggers showed you how to eat your way through sunny San Diego. This month, we’re excited to feature four bloggers sharing their favorite food and drink picks in the City of Roses!

Nestled in the evergreen-laden Willamette Valley, near the Pacific, Portland is surrounded by greenery, mountains and rivers. The sweeping views are enough to make you feel like Julie Andrews, singing on top of a mountain (only in this scenario, that mountain you’re standing on is probably Mt. Hood, or Mt. Saint Helens).

Amid historic state parks, hiking trails and rugged terrain lies a vibrantly eclectic city. Portland definitely has its quirks (the city’s motto is “keep Portland weird”), but there’s so much more than what you see on Portlandia. True, you will find a good number of hippies, hipsters and perfectly coifed lumberjack beards, but you’ll also find a friendly city with strong eco-friendly values, an impressive bicycling culture, and an even more impressive food scene.

Besides its breathtaking views and numerous outdoorsy activities, PDX is also famous for its quirky doughnuts, killer coffee and a vast number of microbreweries and wineries. Portland’s also known for its food carts (there are currently over 600!), and happens to be one of the most vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurants in the country.

Ready to pack your bags yet? Read on to find out exactly where you should sip and sup throughout this wonderfully weird city!

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Portland, OR

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Diego

Three local food bloggers share their favorite San Diego restaurants, cafés and bars, plus tips about these spots that only the locals know.

We love travel. And when we travel, our first item on the agenda is figuring out where to eat. So we couldn’t be more thrilled to share with you our new City Guide series, sharing local food bloggers’ favorite recommendations of our featured city’s food fare.

We believe one of the best ways to soak up a city is to eat your way through it, so we decided to zero in on the real pulse of this city — its culinary scene. And who better to get recommendations from than the locals? So, we turned to three San Diego bloggers to get the lowdown on the best places to guzzle and grub in America’s finest city!

We’re kicking off this traveling eating series with this university town known for its sunshine and beaches, near perfect temperatures and some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico.

Situated along California’s southern coast, San Diego is the birthplace of California, and is known for its picturesque views of the Pacific, diverse culture and friendly residents. We have a feeling it’s all due to the sun and sushi.

So grab the GPS and punch these destinations into Google maps. Because this is how to eat your way through our beloved San Diego.

continue to the recipe… about Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Diego

Kohler Food and Wine Experience and Cook Like Cat Cora Giveaway

Last fall I was invited on a once in a lifetime trip with a few other food bloggers to visit The American Club and the Kohler Food and Wine Experience in Kohler, WI.

But I must admit, at first I was a bit puzzled.

After completing four home remodels and choosing luxe Kohler tubs for the last of the two (this girl LOVES her tubs), I obviously knew that Kohler created kitchen sinks, baths and toilets. But there’s a town named Kohler? With a wine and food festival featuring celebrity chefs (Cat Cora and Jacques Pépin) who the average person (me) could get up close and personal with? And a luxury resort that had just been named Condé Nast’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Resort in the Midwest?

This trip was something I was totally down with experiencing. But I had no idea of the level of me being spoiled that were in store…did I really deserve this foodie’s dream?

This year, the 2014 Kohler Food and Wine Experience is set for October 23-26, with tickets on sale now. And I’m about to tell you why you should really consider hitting the road—or the air—to check it out for yourself, and maybe get a selfie with this year’s celeb chefs like America’s Test Kitchens’ Christopher Kimball or clink wine glasses with Iron Chefs Graham Elliott and Geoffrey Zakarian.

Or be like me and just get spoiled rotten with a weekend of serious R&R and a dose of red, rosé and white.

Stay tuned ‘til the end of the post to enter my Cook Like Cat Cora giveaway.

But first, let’s visit Kohler, WI and see what some famous chefs had to say…

continue to the recipe… about Kohler Food and Wine Experience and Cook Like Cat Cora Giveaway

What to Eat, See and Do In Seaside Florida and a Weekend Vacation Giveaway

Sugar-fine sand to dig your feet into, casual beach vibes and amazing dining, great shopping and stuff to do. My weekend vacation to Seaside, Florida was the best weekend getaway I’ve had in a while. And when you enter this giveaway for a weekend getaway in Seaside, YOU’ll have the chance to enjoy it.

Man, we packed a lot into a long weekend, with tons of eating and sight-seeing. Enjoying it with a few food blogging friends made it all the sweeter. But after learning it was named Travel & Leisure‘s Best Family Beach, I must say, I can’t wait to take the fam back for a visit. To see more of our food loving adventure, check out the hashtag #SeasideGirlsGetaway on Instagram.

Because the beach is where it’s at! Am I right, or am I right?

Here’s my guide of what to do, see and eat on a long weekend in Seaside, Florida.

continue to the recipe… about What to Eat, See and Do In Seaside Florida and a Weekend Vacation Giveaway

The American Farmer and Iowa Corn Quest Tour

Although he’s officially handed over the reins, 82 year old farmer Bill Rempp still continues to work alongside his son Kevin on the 1,200 acre family farm in central Iowa, better known as the heartland of America. And some days—when he’s lucky—you just might find his 6-month-old great grandson, Will, in the bucket seat next to him.

Will is poised to be a seventh generation farmer in the Rempp family tree and his great grandpa proudly shared this photo with me.

I was one of several invited food bloggers who traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to learn about Iowa corn and farm-fresh foods from farmers like Bill Rempp on the annual Iowa Corn Quest Tour sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

I’m an inquisitive sort, so meeting food producers and getting to know more about where my food comes from is one of my favorite parts of this job. I think everyone can admit that there’s room for improvement when it comes to transparency in food and agriculture. And happily, that same belief was one I heard from the farmers themselves.

Doesn’t most everyone who isn’t a farmer have an idyllic take on what living on a farm would be like?

continue to the recipe… about The American Farmer and Iowa Corn Quest Tour

Hotel Inspired White Peach Sangria with Harry & David

The weekend started innocently enough. We landed. We checked in. And then, we discovered our gift boxes. And that’s when the party started.

Sweet Riesling, sparklin peach juice, fresh fruit and a few resourceful food bloggers. I smelled Sangria, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

back row: Rebecca, Kristen, Jenna, Lori, me and Bridget front row: Maria, Sandy, Rachel, Jessica, and Amy

This was a weekend of food bloggers on a trip to learn about a storied company. Yeah, you’ve heard about these gigs before. Well, this was my first one. The newbie in “the group.” A little trepidatious and a lot honored at being asked to go. I mean who am I? I’m just someone who likes to tell people about cool recipes and food bloggers. I’m not of “their” echelon.

But guess what? They didn’t have an echelon. They were just real. Live. And lovely. And thanks to our hosts, Harry & David and Sandy and Paul, I figured that out really quickly.

And yes, the sangria didn’t hurt either.

continue to the recipe… about Hotel Inspired White Peach Sangria with Harry & David

Friday Faves

Friday Faves and Sunriver Resort, OR

New York City to the Hamptons 4-Day Retreat

Tips for a 4 Day Trip to NYC and The Hamptons

48 Hour Getaway in Austin, Texas

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Francisco & Oakland, CA

Friday Faves

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Salt Lake City, UT

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Asheville, NC

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Chicago, IL

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in Portland, OR

Food Bloggers’ Guide of Where to Eat in San Diego

Kohler Food and Wine Experience and Cook Like Cat Cora Giveaway

What to Eat, See and Do In Seaside Florida and a Weekend Vacation Giveaway

The American Farmer and Iowa Corn Quest Tour

Will is poised to be a seventh generation farmer in the Rempp family tree and his great grandpa proudly shared this photo with me.

Hotel Inspired White Peach Sangria with Harry & David

How to Make the Best Potato Salad

How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad

How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon

The Best Greek Chicken Marinade

lifestyle and travel

Tips for a 4 Day Trip to NYC and The Hamptons

Will is poised to be a seventh generation farmer in the Rempp family tree and his great grandpa proudly shared this photo with me.

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