A Clean Slate 365

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II

Much has been said this past week about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The grace, dignity, and constancy of the Queen has been repeated many times. I do not know a time without the Queen as she has been the monarch for my entire life and that of most others.

Being an American, I am watching the events of her funeral take place on TV. However, if I were there, I would be one in the queue to pay my respects because as so many have stated, she may not have been my Queen but she was THE QUEEN. A true leader who persevered, reassured, and rose above politics. A constant in a sea of turmoil and change. A shining beacon of grace and dignity in a world where it seems to be lacking everywhere. An example to so many across the planet.

I am also amazed at the British people for their outpouring of love and admiration for their Queen. To see national unity in this way is quite refreshing and inspiring. So, that’s what it looks like?

I am in awe of the pageantry and processionals. Rehearsed. Perfected. Honorable. It is something that the British should be proud of as it’s not seen in most countries, especially not mine.

Lastly, the relentless tributes that the Royal Family has paid to their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother are heartfelt. To grieve with cameras watching your every move has to be difficult, especially for the newly crowned King Charles. Here’s hoping that he is able to fill the very big void that his mother has left behind. It seems though, he couldn’t have had a better teacher.

RIP Queen Elizabeth. You will be missed.

In honor of the Queen, let’s look at some of her favorite things:

Scotland

The Queen’s love of long walks in the Scottish countryside at Balmoral were said to be some of her favorites, usually with her dogs in tow. The Queen found calm and serenity here in the Scottish highlands and every morning, her wake-up call was bagpipes played by “Pipe Major” at 9:00 am.

Her Corgi’s and Horses

The Queen loved animals in general and has had over 30 dogs in her life, mostly Corgi’s. She was also a lover of horses and one of her horses even won Royal Ascot in 2013 (the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup). By the way, it has been reported that Prince Andrew will be taking and caring for the Queen’s dogs following her passing.

Earl Grey Tea and Chocolate Biscuit Cake

According to Royal Chef Darren McGrady, afternoon tea was likely the Queen’s favorite meal of the day. McGrady also went on to share the menu for Queen Elizabeth’s daily afternoon tea which included two types of sandwiches, scones, a small cake, and Earl Grey tea. McGrady said that Earl Grey tea and Chocolate Biscuit Cake were her favorite. The recipe for the cake can be found on Chef Darren McGrady’s website.

A Gin and Dubonnet Cocktail

The Queen would indulge in this cocktail before lunch. Her Majesty preferred a 2:1 ration of Dubonnet to gin, for a lower alcohol serve, along with a slice of lemon. If you make one, raise your glass and toast The Queen.

Sapphire Blues

Her beloved father noticed the cornflower blue gemstones, which represent love, purity, and wisdom, and said they matched his daughter’s eyes. She considered it her lucky color and often wore it to Royal Ascot.

Downton Abbey, Coronation Street, and early James Bond films

We have all heard about Her Majesty’s sense of humor and it was on full display during the Olympics when she and James Bond actor, Daniel Craig, filmed their famous video for the 20212 London Olympics. But apparently, the Queen also enjoyed early James Bond films as well as Downton Abbey and Coronation Street as well. It is said that she would sometimes point out discrepancies in the show since she was well versed in royal protocol, of course.

The Queen and James Bond

Jam Pennies

The Queen’s favorite snack, Jam Pennies (jam sandwiches), of which Royal Chef, Darren McGrady, states she ate every single day. Two slices of white bread, butter, and strawberry jam. Easy enough yet fit for a Queen.

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia

Also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia, is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. She was in service from 1954 until 1997. The yacht was retired in 1997. It was so beloved by the Queen that during the retirement ceremony, it was one of the only times that the Queen was noticed shedding a tear.

Her Pearl Necklace

Although her collection was vast, the Queen was rarely seen without her favorite three-strand pearl necklace, given to her by her beloved father, King George VI. Leslie Field, author of The Queen’s Jewels, stated “She wants to wear pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her. She wouldn’t wear a diamond necklace to go to a charity lunch – it is simply traditional that a lady would wear pearls during the day.”

Totchos for the Win

Homemade Totchos, with a side of broccoli, were on the menu last night. I know this is a dinner that both boys will eat. While it’s not the healthiest dinner I’ve ever cooked, it’s fun and tasty and well, why not?

In case you were wondering, Totchos are “nachos” made with tater tots instead of tortilla chips. Add whatever nacho toppings you like to make this dish your own. We eat nachos quite a bit in our house so I decided to change things up a bit with the totchos.

This recipe is based off of Woody’s Lunchbox Totchos at Hollywood Studios. FYI…I decided to stick with just cheddar cheese here since the original recipe calls for a jar of queso dip (of which I’m not a huge fan).

So, here it goes….

Ingredients:

1 (2 lb bag) of tater tots
1.5 cups of Frito Corn Chips
1 can of chili (your favorite or homemade)
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
6 Tbs of sour cream
2 Tbs of chopped green onions
Broccoli or any other green veggie to add as a side

Steps:

Cook tater tots according to package directions.
Warm up the chili while the tater tots are cooking.
Once the tater tots are done, divide them evenly among 4-5 bowls.
Top with corn chips.
Add the chili on top.
Sprinkle on the cheddar cheese.
Add a dollop of sour cream.
Top with chopped green onions.
Add a side on the side.

Viola! Dinner is served and you won’t have to tell them twice that it’s time to eat.

Dole Whip Delight

The iconic Disney Pineapple Dole Whip, a pineapple flavored soft serve ice cream, can easily be made at home with only a few simple ingredients. This sweet, frosty fruit treat is the perfect dessert to cool off on a hot summer day or especially when in the Disney parks.

Dole Whip was originally created by the fruit company, Dole, but became available at Disneyland’s Tiki Bar in 1986. It has become a staple at Disney parks and fans will wait in a very long line just to get one on a hot day. Disney has now added different flavors to this dessert including raspberry, cherry, and mango.

Ingredients

4 ounces pineapple juice
1 big scoop vanilla ice cream (about 3/4 cup)
2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
2 tablespoons sugar , optional
splash of lemon juice

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and ultra creamy.
At this point you can pour into dessert cups or freeze the mixture for 30-40 minutes. Once frozen, then transfer to a piping bag with a 1M “star” tip (to get that iconic Dole Whip swirl.)
Swirl into glasses or freeze in Popsicle molds.

Enjoy!

Summer Movie Binge

I’ve seen more movies in the the theater this summer than the past two years combined and I’m sure quite a few people can say that as well. I’m a firm believer in choosing the big screen over watching a ‘new release’ at home on my own TV. I love nothing more than seeing one on the big screen, snuggled up in the recliner chair and with a popcorn, ice cold Coke, and some candy.

Here are a few of the ones that we’ve seen or plan to see this summer.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

I cannot wait to see this one. Based on the 1958 book, The Poseidon Adventure, this movie follows Mrs. Harris as she, after learning the fate of her missing husband of 10 years, chases a dream of owning a haute-couture Dior dress from Paris. But, after arriving, she realizes her dream of owning one it’s not as easy as she’d imagined. This movie provides hope for those who have worked too hard or who may be thinking that they are too old to have a dream or purchase nice things. Nonsense. Do as Mrs. Harris and follow that dream!

Top Gun: Maverick

Has anyone not heard of this movie? No way. To be honest, I didn’t think this would be a keeper for me but I was pleasantly surprised. Not being a huge Tom Cruise fan, I thought he did a good job reprising the role of Maverick. It was nice to see Val Kilmer as Iceman again too. This movie has done so well at the box office which makes me believe that people just want to see a good action movie, with a feel good, happy ending without all of the sex, violence, and some agenda begin through at us. Keep on making’em like this.

Jurassic World Dominion

I don’t know why this movie received such negative reviews. I liked the fact that this film brought both casts, Jurassic Park/Jurassic World, together for the final movie. I do think it started off a bit slow but quickly picked up in the middle and towards the end with lots of dinosaur action. I also liked that the movie shows how we need to learn to live with nature even when we’ve created the environment that is less than ideal. I enjoyed seeing Chris Pratt, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jeff Goldblum together fighting to save the dinosaurs, and each other, from man made greed threatening to ruin the planet.

Downton Abbey: A New Era

The Crawley’s are setting out for a new adventure. The family travels to the south of France to learn the reasoning behind why the dowager countess has inherited a villa from a man she knew briefly in her younger days. This movie is like being welcomed back home by family and I enjoyed the escape to a time when manners and decorum still meant something. The scenery alone makes this movie worth watching and leaves us all wishing we could inherit a villa in France.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Did someone say Thor? Yes, I’ll watch please! Having followed the MCU since the inception of Captain America and the Avengers, this one is a must see. Thor, who is seeking inner peace and retirement, has a rude awakening as Gorr the God Butcher seeks to rid the universe of gods. He must recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster, who can now wield his magical hammer, to defeat Gorr and restore peace.

These are my summer movie picks. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Wilderness Lodge is an escape to the Pacific Northwest and draws inspiration from some of America’s national parks. This resort is considered a deluxe resort and like everything Disney created, the attention to detail here is incredible and immense. The lobby is massive with its totem poles, stately fireplace, plush sofas, and old fashioned rocking chairs.

Mercantile gift shop

Room with a View

The rooms at this resort have recently been updated with hardwood floors, bright colors, contemporary bathrooms, and modern amenities. I was happy that our room had a balcony with a castle view and a coffee machine.

Room with a view

Park Access

Wilderness Lodge is located closet to the Magic Kingdom, which can be accessed via bus or boat. This resort is very convenient in that regard. A walk to the back of the resort, along an elevated boardwalk and through the trees, lands you at the dock where you board a ferry for a quick 15 minute ride to MK.

Beautiful walk to the ferry

Restaurants

There are multiple restaurants at Wilderness Lodge including Whispering Canyon Cafe, Geyser Point Bar and Grill, Artist Point/ Storybook Dining with Snow White, and Roaring Fork. We chose to eat dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe and what a delicious meal it was.

For anyone familiar with Whispering Canyons Cafe, you will remember that it was a lively restaurant with lots of ketchup bottle throwing shenanigans. We didn’t see much of that going on during out visit but it was still very loud and very kid friendly. I especially liked the kids parade through the dining room while riding their pony sticks. The highlight was when half of the kids decided to go left rather than right and the servers had to get them and redirect them back into the dining room… a bit like herding cats : )

My salmon and farro was excellent and we especially enjoyed the brownie and ice cream dessert.

This place is not quaint and quiet so if that is what you are seeking, I’d look elsewhere. The food was very good and the menu focused on Western themed food with lots of skillets.

Recreation and Grounds

There are numerous recreational activities here including 2 pools, fishing excursions, a shooting geyser (just like Yellowstone), ping pong tables, corn hole, movies under the stars, and a campfire for smore’s roasting.

Fire Rock Geyser is located just behind Copper Creek Pool and erupts every hour starting at 7:00am – 10:00pm.

One of my favorite things to do was to walk the grounds of this lovely resort and talk in the views. I especially liked the river and water views. This is an excellent place to grab a drink and relax a little at one of the outdoor tables next to the water.

Fire Rock Geyser

Fireworks and Electric Water Pageant

An additional bonus to staying at this resort includes viewing the Electric Water Pageant right from the resort. You can also view Magic Kingdom fireworks from your balcony if you have one facing the castle. I found the absolute best firework viewing location was from the ferry taking us back to the resort as we were leaving MK. It was a beautiful night and from the boat, we could see the entire show.

Summary

This was my first time staying at this resort and I highly recommend it. Yes, you will pay a little more for it than other resorts on property but I found that the rustic theming, proximity to MK, and variety of restaurants and amenities to be well worth the cost. It was a magical stay.

Summer Newsletter

“Summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English Language.” ~ Henry James

Is it hot where you are? Here in Florida, we are well into the long, sunny summer days. Sleeping late. Afternoons at the beach. Crisp, summer salads. Sandals and summer dresses. It’s a time to relax and unwind. Its SUMMERTIME!

Tribute to Tucker

When I started writing this post, my dog Tucker, was right next to me on the sofa as i typed. I started the post, saved it as a draft, and thought I would finish it the next day. Except the next day, Tucker had an emergency and had to be taken to the ER. We do not know what happened as he wasn’t even 4 years old. He died that evening, June 22nd, and left us devastated. I had no idea that afternoon would be my last with him. We still have no idea what went wrong as I was with him all day. We believe it was something internal that we did not know about, an immune reaction to something perhaps? Still, it was like someone reached in and ripped my heart out. I did not want to believe it.

Needless to say, I cried for days. Everywhere I looked and still look, I still see my beautiful, loving dog. I’ve made tributes to him on Rainbow’s Bridge, bought a wind chime with his name engraved, gave donations to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in his honor but it still hurts. I love and miss my dog. I believe he is in heaven and that we will see him again one day. Until then, he will be our guardian angel watching over us.

We love and miss you, Tucker but I know you are chasing tennis balls and frisbee’s over the Rainbow Bridge.

July 4th

Independence Day is almost here and like most folks, hot dogs and hamburgers are the star of our July 4th menu. Patriotic bunting and sunflowers add to the festive look and what summer holiday would be complete without watermelon? Add in some sangria, strawberries, and triple berry crisps for dessert and we are all set. Let the fireworks begin!

Heading out to a July 4th BBQ? Here are a few patriotic, yet comfortable looks for the summer holiday.

Lou and Grey Star V Neck Sweater and Cotton Terry Shorts – Ann Taylor Loft

Clip Strappy Button Midi Dress – Ann Taylor Loft

Star and Stripes Shell – Talbots

Wimbledon

The sporting event that I most look forward to watching in summertime is, without a doubt, Wimbledon. The grandeur of this venue, the level of play, the strawberries and cream, what’s not to love about Wimbledon? This year Wimbledon will be celebrating 100 years of Centre Court. Incredible when you stop and think about how many tennis champions have been crowned in this marvelous stadium.

Please check Wimbledon for more info on news, players, scores, and schedules.

Summer Reads

Don’t forget your book when you head out to the beach or the pool. Here are a few that I recommend.

The Couple at Table Six – I read this one for my book group. If you enjoy a good whodunit with a twist, I recommend this one.

All the Flowers in Paris – I bought this book yesterday and plan to read it on my cruise. Set in World War II Paris, this romantic tale tells the story of love and loss.

One Italian Summer – Set in stunning Italy, this is a story about unconditional love and finding a way forward.

Summer Decor

The coastal grandmother look seems to be the decor of choice at the moment. Living in Florida, it’s a style that is easily achievable all year round. Here are a few ideas to add some coastal decor to your home.

Throw Pillows

One of the easiest ways to change your decor with the seasons is to upgrade your throw pillows. Check out some of these sites below:

Linen and Cloth

Pottery Barn

McGee & Company

Candles

Create a calm, refreshing atmosphere by allowing the scents of summer to waft through your house. Here are some of my favorites:

Pottery Barn – Seagrass

One of my favorites candle scents.

Jo Malone – Lime Basil & Mandarin Home Candle

Yankee Candle Company – Mediterranean Breeze

Wicker Furniture and Trays

Wicker anything speaks volumes for summer entertaining and relaxation. Here are a few ideas for upgrading your wicker collection:

Wayfair – Wicker Trays

Serena and Lily – Outdoor Sofa and Swivel Chairs

Grandin Road – Wicker Lounge Chair

I hope these ideas provide some summertime inspiration for you. Enjoy your summer and Happy July 4th!

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside – Resort Review

On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, we had a chance to stay at Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside resort. I’ve stayed at this resort before but its been years since the last time. Being from Louisiana originally, this resort reminds me of home so I was happy to book a room here. This was also the first time that I’ve used the Disney App/Online check in for any Disney resort which was a bit of a lesson as well.

First of all, the grounds, landscaping, bridges, and lush wooded areas make for a lovely, peaceful walk to your room as you stroll along the Sassagoula River. The buildings are designed to resemble stately mansions and backwoods cottages from Louisiana. This resort has a natural appeal and a calming ambiance. Keep in mind that this resort is BIG so you may want to ask directions before dragging your luggage across this resort (you can always have your bags delivered to your room as well).

The main lobby area includes check in, Fulton’s General Store (gift shop), Boatwright’s Dining Hall (table service restaurant), Riverside Mill (food court), River Roost (lounge), and the Medicine Show Arcade.

Fulton’s General Store

As you cross over the river, you land on ‘Ol Man Island, which includes the main swimming pool at Riverside, Muddy Rivers poolside bar, Fishing Hole, playground, and Campfire on de Bayou. This island is surrounded by the river, and like Magic Kingdom, provides the hub/spoke design to the hotel villages, Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou, and the Lobby.

Our room was a standard room (2 queen beds) in the Magnolia Bend section. The room was clean and provided all that we needed for our stay. It was also towards the back of the resort, which allowed for a quiet night, and not far from the bus stop which was very convenient for us. The beds were comfortable but the pillows were heavenly ( I love a good pillow).

By the way, have you ever wanted to bring your dog to Disney? Well you can at this resort which offers pet friendly rooms. Disney also has Best Friends Pet Care very nearby that can help with doggie daycare needs while you are at the park. For more information, please call Disney reservations.

Our Room

Our Room con’t

There are five pools at this resort and we tried two of them. The main pool is kiddie central with a water slide and fountains, etc. There is also a hot tub and it is located next to Muddy Rivers poolside bar. This pool offers a daily pool party, evening campfire nearby, and movie screening on select nights. The five other pools are located throughout the resort with 3 in Alligator Bayou and 2 in Magnolia Bend. All provide complimentary towels which is always a plus and one less thing to pack!

There are a variety of recreational activities at this resort from Horse Drawn carriage rides to fishing and bike riding. Carriage rides can be made in advance by calling the Disney reservations line. I highly recommend this activity. This is a wonderful, romantic option especially for you and your loved one.

One disappointing feature at this resort was the check in and food. I used the online check in once we left the park at 3:00 ( which I thought was check in time) only to find out that our room was not ready. I was told that housekeeping has between 3:00 and 5:00 to get the room ready for us. It ended up being 4;30 before we were able to finally access our room.

During that time, we decided to get a late lunch at the food court. Considering this is a Louisiana themed resort, I thought there would be more options for Louisiana cuisine but there were few to be found. The food court offered standard pizza, burgers, pasta, desserts, with 2 options for Cajun food. Those included the Jambalaya and Pimento BLT, which I ordered. This sandwich was not good and I do not recommend it. There was little pimento cheese and the bacon was cold and looked like it had just been pulled from the refrigerator after 3 days. Not something I would recommend. I then tried to fill up my water bottle only to find that all 4 water fountains did not work. I brought this to the attention of one of the cast members but we left before it got fixed.

Breakfast was not much better and we learned that was the last day that Port Orleans was offering Mickey Waffles! Even the cast member was not excited about this change and its one I do NOT understand. Why would they get rid of this fan favorite? I hope they reconsider this decision. We did not dine at Boatwright’s during our stay but I would imagine this would be the wiser choice if you are looking for authentic Louisiana cuisine.

Overall, I recommend this resort as a comfortable location with beautiful surroundings and fun recreational activities. Hopefully the food court will up its game with better offerings very soon.

See ya real soon Port Orleans and maybe next time, with my dog!

End of School Ice Cream Celebration

They made it! The end of school has arrived and the boys are ready for summer. It was a tough year but they persevered. Even though they are teenagers now, I still had to show some appreciation for getting through 7th and 10th. We don’t go to the toy store anymore to pick out a toy on the last day of school but I knew I couldn’t go wrong with food. Specifically, ice cream!

I bought a gallon of 1/2 vanilla and 1/2 chocolate (something for everyone) and all the toppings.

As you can see, they enjoyed their end of school treat.

Let Summer Begin!

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Hola amigos! Happy Cinco de Mayo. How are you celebrating today?

In case you didn’t know why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, let me share a little history with you.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s unexpected victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is NOT Mexican Independence Day which is Sept 16th. The conflict between the two countries had begun in 1861, after Benito Juárez, then the president of Mexico, suspended the nation’s foreign debt payments, and Napoleon III responded by sending French troops to invade.

The victory in Puebla galvanized the Mexican forces but turned out to be short-lived, and France later occupied the country, installing Maximilian I as emperor. Not until 1867 did the new Mexican Republic finally expel the French, execute Maximilian I and regain control of the country.

Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely victory occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration.

Our Cinco de Mayo Dinner

I set everything up on the island in the kitchen. I added festive place mats and my Happy Everything platter for serving. We enjoyed chips, soft tacos (mine were veggie), churros with chocolate sauce, and margaritas with a special mix that we wanted to try. Alexa was playing some Mariachi music as an added festive addition to our celebration.

To make the Churro’s:

1 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon divided
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
½ cup sugar

Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1 ½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring pot to rolling boil. Reduce heat to low.
Add flour and stir until mix forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 min. Add eggs, one at a time and stir until combined. Set aside.
Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚F.
Spoon dough into piping bag fitted with large star tip (I did not have one so I rolled the dough into strips). Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer and drain churro bites on paper towel.
Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.

To make the Margarita’s:

The Resident Chef’s Margarita mix
Patron Tequila
Limes

Mix 1 cup of the mix with 2 cups of Tequila.
Add 6 cups of water.
Add the juice of 1 lime.
Place in the freezer until slushy or serve over ice.
Enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed a nice celebration too!

Star Wars Day Dinner

Happy Star Wars Day, otherwise known as May 4th.

In celebration of this day, i decided to make a special, Star Wars themed dinner. On the menu: Chewbacca Chicken, Boba Fettuccine, Jedi Juice, and Cookie cake.

As for the theming, I raided my son’s room and pulled out a few Star Wars themed items for the table.

The Wookie Chicken was fried chicken with panko breading. I fried some bacon and which i wrapped around the chicken to resemble Chewbaccas’s belt. The Boba Fettuccine was a simple alfredo sauce with lemon.

I picked up green apple sodas (Jedi Juice which resembled the color of a Jedi light saber) and a Cookie Cake from Publix.

This was a quick and easy meal to put together but the Star Wars theme made it out of this world special. My crew like it. May the 4th Be With You!