Holiday End

It was a lot of fun getting out of town. 

Now it is time to go back to reality, i.e. work. We're headed home.

The good thing about taking an extended weekend is returning to a short work week. Then it is the weekend again! I like to plan my time that way in order to maximize the experience. 

Long Weekend Memorial Day

We're off on an adventure for extended time off for Memorial Day weekend. 

My morning looks like this. I still had some credit on my Starbucks app from rebate apps. It makes for a nice breakfast at the airport. 

Be back soon!

Far & Away: Niagara Falls, Canada

This destination never feels far and away for me. I grew up about an hour away from Niagara Falls. I've frequented the falls since I was a small child. As a family, we would venture out with a picnic for the day. 

It is the pride of the region since visitors worldwide come to view the falls. I have been privileged to take a few visitors from other countries to experience the falls for themselves. Most recently, I took my husband to see them. 

We started by parking in Niagara Falls, New York and walking across the Rainbow Bridge. On the bridge you stand at the border of the 2 countries and then pass through border control. 

Once at the falls, you can take a boat ride up to the falls, view the gardens, walk the pathways along the falls, zipline, visit the floral clock, experience the butterfly conservatory, and more!

Clifton Hill is the tourist section descending to the falls. Here you'll find Hard Rock Café, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Rainforest Café, museums, and gift shops. 

It is always a pleasure to visit Niagara Falls. Even for a few moments to take a look at the breath taking view. 

Bathing Differences

My husband's family introduced me to a bathing net that exfoliates the skin in an amazing way. My husband always has such soft skin. The length lends itself to reaching all surfaces of the skin. 

Unlike bath scrunchies in the US, these are a long net and a harder texture. They come in nylon (hardest) and cotton (softest). 

We purchased mine in the general open air market in Lomé, Togo. We paid about 1000 CFA (local currency) which equates $1.75 (depending on the exchange rate). 

It is a worthwhile purchase because it lasts a few years. Mine was purchased in 2015. My husband has one that he purchased in 2014 and it still does the job. 

Here is a video of a vendor in West Africa who calls it éponge in French and akusa in Ewe. 

Far & Away: Haiti

I have had the great blessing of going to Haiti 4 times. It is a beautiful country with wonderfully warm people. 

Haiti is a place that has enjoyed lush greenery, multiple natural ports, and the title of being the first Black Republic in the world. The Haitians have the same fortitude today as they did when they defeated Napoleon's army. 

There are so many non-profit organizations working in Haiti. Some are doing good while others are not helping in the long-term. There is much poverty in Haiti. There is also much wealth. 

Despite what is being said on the news, Haiti is a place where the happiest kids live. They value life and relationships instead of possessions and achievements. They have a different perspective on life. 

Haitian food is delicious! The hospitality is world class. The history is rich. The beaches are beautiful.

I have worked with various non-profit organizations to deliver professional development to teachers in Haiti. These teachers were intelligent and professional. I didn't feel that I could add a whole lot of value once I learned of their talent and knowledge. We had a great time nonetheless. 

Taken in Marchand Dessalines

A wedding I attended in Marchand Dessalines

Taken in Jacmel

Taken in Port au Prince

Delicious dish made by my hostess in Ouanaminthe

Salmon with Mustard and Beer Sauce

We eat fish and seafood at our house exclusively. No meat of any kind. I am always looking for different ways to prepare a fish fillet. 

I was looking to imitate a delicious mustard and beer salmon recipe that I had at a restaurant (read more here). In searching, I ran across this recipe with mustard and beer as a glaze. 

The ingredients are olive oil, mustard, beer, orange juice, honey, and butter. I added lime juice as well. It is an easy glaze that will transform these basic ingredients into a gourmet dish.

I roasted Brussels sprouts and made garlic flavored plantains to accompany the salmon. 

It was a successful dinner that pleased our guest and us!

Owning Possessions

I was driving one day and saw this sticker on the back of a truck. It intrigued me because I forget that I possess things because God lent it to me. 

Hebrews 2 tells us that it is through God and for God that all things were made. I need to remind myself of this more often. 

Beauty in the Midst of Chaos

I was at the beach recently and standing on a wooden overlook peering at the ocean. I looked down and there was weeds, reeds, plants in a chaotic, unkempt mess. As I stared at it longer, I noticed a small purple flower. It was the unsung part of the thicket. 

We find ourselves in the storm of life periodically. One moment we're wading in the water, letting the waves lap on our toes. The next moment, a wave takes us under. 

We find in scripture that Jesus was with his disciples on a boat in Mark 4, which was Jesus' idea by the way. Some of the disciples are seasoned fishermen and are no stranger to water, waves, and storms. 

That particular day, the storm was so threatening that the disciples were fearing for their lives. Remember, they were experienced. 

They look to Jesus knowing he's done miracles before. He's the savior--he can help somehow. Lo and behold, Jesus is asleep. The disciples anxiety climbs through the roof because the savior is not in a position to save. 

Jesus wakes up in the midst of chaos. He speaks to the waves and calms the storm. The disciples are astonished that Jesus spoke to the waves and they obeyed. They didn't know how he could help but they were sure he could help somehow. That was not what they expected. 

In the midst of the chaos is where we glean lessons in life. The Israelites learned in the midst of the dessert. Rachel grew stronger in the midst of her infertility.

At first glance, the chaos is the star of the show. At a closer look, there are pearls of wisdom and treasures to behold.

While you're in the midst of chaos, take a closer look. There may be a treasure waiting for you.

Reheated Pizza

We have pizza periodically sometimes with leftovers and sometimes not. This occasion left us with leftovers. 

I like pizza crust crispy and tend to reheat it in the oven. Since the temperatures are heating up, I'm not sure I want to heat the oven for pizza. 

I have read alternatives by adding a cup of water in the microwave. I still am not convinced that the pizza will be crispy enough in the microwave. 

Finally, I found a hack that might be a viable option. Reheating pizza in a frying pan on the stove. I decided to give it a try. 

Set the stove burner to medium heat and place the pizza in it.

Place the lid over the frying pan. It is helpful if it is a glass lid to ensure the cheese is melted. 

After about 5 minutes in the pan, the pizza was crispy and the cheese was melted. This hack works!

Buon appetito!

Hot Peppercorns

One of my husband's relatives went back to Africa to visit recently. Upon his return, comforts from home were brought to our house. 

One of these comforts was a package of hot peppercorns that is sure to spice up anything. 

I was advised that the best way to use it and store it is by making a paste. I ground the peppercorns and then added water. Soon a paste was made and stored in the fridge. 

We've been able to add it to sauces and other food to kick it up a notch (read: several notches). 

It is amazing what you find out in God's big world!

Fog Smoke Ahead

I saw this sign tipped over on the expressway this past week. In Florida, we haven't had a lot of rain lately which has caused forest and brush fires. 

I got thinking to myself how nice it would be if we had this type of warning in our lives.

Fight ahead.

Abuse ahead.

Tragedy ahead.

Struggle ahead.

Broken heart ahead.

Family division ahead.

Financial difficulty ahead.

Loss of a loved one ahead.

Scripture tells us that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). God gives us what we need to know at that moment but not before. 

God's will may not be fulfilled if we have too much notice of blessings and difficulties in our lives. God keeps us on a "need to know" basis to protect us.

God loves us.

God is love.

Pan Searing Flour

My family is from Rochester, New York, the home of Wegmans. 

Wegmans has so many products of their own that turn your ordinary cooking into a gourmet experience. I love their finishing butter, basting oil, and so many other items. 

One of my favorite products is the pan searing flour. It is a simple product that any meat into a crispy filet without batter or deep frying. 

First, I seasoned a filet of flounder with Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute. I drizzled olive oil into a small frying pan and heated it. 

Next, I coated each side of the filet with the pan searing flour. 

I placed the coated filet into the frying pan and seared it for a few minutes on each side. I seared each side a couple times. 

I served the pan seared flounder with fried plantains and a salad. The seared flounder was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was perfect!

Run the Race

Life is a journey. Some view it as a race. 

Paul refers to life as a race in Acts 20:24 and in 1 Corinthians 9:24. 

Let us run the race with the Lord's help!

Beach Blessing

My husband and I like to go to the beach when we get a chance. One weekend, we took a trip to the beach for some R&R. 

We lay on the sand, read, discuss, laugh, snack, and swim. 

We stayed late into the evening and as the sun was going down, we caught a glimpse of a pair of dolphins swimming. It was close enough to see but far enough for a good photo. 

Nonetheless, it was a perfect ending to a perfect day. It was our beach blessing. A gift from God to us. Thank you, God!

Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, this video is so spot on for mothers everywhere. Enjoy!

Cold Stone Creamery Deal

Our local Cold Stone Creamery has a punch card that provides a free ice cream after a purchase of 10. 

I'm also on the email (see more about email freebies here) distribution list that sends coupons periodically. This week I received a coupon for a BOGO. 

I already had 8 punches on my punch card. The BOGO would bring me up to 10 punches which results in a free one. 

The BOGO and punch card resulted in 3 Gotta Have It sizes for the price of 1!

That gives us 6 servings at our house. We cut the bowl in have and share. 

Far & Away: France

France is one of my favorite places. I refer to it as the mother land since our family is partially French. 

The first time I went to France was for a study abroad program when I was 20. I have since been a few more times for various reasons. 

France has a lot of charm, history, beautiful sights, and delicious food. I have been fortunate enough to visit several villages, towns, and cities in France. Not nearly enough, though. 

I went back to France to study as an adult and chronicled my time in France in my first blog rachaelfrance.blogspot.com. It was a nice way to keep family and friends updated on what I was doing since the first time I went technology was not as it is now. 

For your viewing pleasure: 

Taken in Paris

Taken in Guérande

Taken in La Rochelle

Taken in Chenonceaux

Taken in Angers

Couponing: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a fun holiday if you love Mexican food. 

I usually stock my kitchen full of Old El Paso dinner kits and other Old El Paso products. They are frequently BOGO at Publix. There are frequently coupons to go along with an already great deal. 

This time around, they were BOGO and there was a rebate on SavingStar for $1 off 2.  

Here is the breakdown: 

   $3.19 for 2 dinner kits on BOGO (out of pocket)

-  $1 SavingStar rebate

= $2.19 for 2 dinner kits or $1.10 each

Makes for great food on Cinco de Mayo...or any day really. 

Sick!

Good thing I stocked up on cold medication in my couponing adventures. Perhaps it was prophetic. 

Scene at the office. 

Far and Away: Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful country! If you're looking for an ecological vacation, this is it!

The country has lush greenery everywhere, rain forests, beaches, mountains and volcanos. The outdoor activities are everywhere: zip lining, rafting, hiking, swimming, bathing in volcanic hot springs. 

It is such a lovely place. As the locals say pura vida which means pure life! Well said!

 Taken in Cartago

Taken at the Manuel Antonio National Park 

Taken at the hot springs near the Arenal volcano

Far & Away: Morocco

I have had the great fortune of traveling to a lot of interesting places. One of the most exotic places I visited was Morocco. 

I have a friend from France who has a sister that is a teacher. She has taught in many different countries. While she was in Morocco, we were in touch and I received an invitation to come visit. 

It was a wonderful visit that lasted 2 weeks. It was enough to get an appreciation of the Moroccan culture and people but not enough time to explore it all. 

I was able to visit Marrakesh, Agadir, and Essaouira. 

I learned some Arabic phrases. I ate on the floor out of a tajine dish. I cooled off in the many fountains. I shopped in the souks. I wiled away the hours talking to an elderly man. I watched a skilled snake charmer do his thing. 

Amazing country with beautiful people. 

Taken in Marrakesh

 Taken in Marrakesh

Taken in Essaouira

The Reality of Couponing

The thing with couponing is there are great deals and better deals. 

You don't always get the best deal. After you make a purchase, there may be a better deal in the next week's ad. It can be a gamble. 

The good news is that you're always saving money--regardless. 

With a stockpile in place, your family has enough and you're in a position to give to others. We are blessed to bless others! There have been a lot of occasions where I donated items because I had them on hand (see more here).

Couponing: Cold Medication

When you get sick, you have to have the right medication. Many people have certain first aid items in the home. When it comes to being sick, it is the time to buy new medication because there either isn't any or it is expired. 

Advil Allergy & Congestion priced at $6.49. There is a manufacturer coupon for $3 off and a Publix coupon for $2 off. 

Here is breakdown: 

   $6.49

-  $3 off manufacturer coupon

= $3.49

-  $2 Publix coupon

= $1.49 out of pocket

Couponing: Allergy Medication

There comes a time when medication is necessary. Those times usually mean that the price is high. 

Fortunately, it is allergy season which means there are deals on allergy medication. 

I purchased 1 Nasacort nose spray at $14.39. There was a $2 manufacturer coupon on the package. 

After paying $12.39 out of pocket, I submitted receipts for rebates on both SavingStar and MobiSave. SavingStar had a $2 rebate and MobiSave had a $3 rebate. 

Although I paid $12.39 out of pocket, I got back $5 in rebates. It's like paying $7.39 for the nasal spray!