Amsterdam – Good eats!

This is my second visit to Amsterdam and I continue to love this city so much!

I noticed a slight change in the city since my last visit in 2007, particularly the food scene. There is still an abundance of different ethnic cuisines, but I found a ton of new (what I think of as) “California style” restaurants and really enjoyed them. People tend to give the Dutch a hard time about their food but I love all the options this area has to offer!

So you all already know I basically pac-manned my way through France! Well, do not fret because I was almost as gluttonous in Amsterdam as well!

Here are some fun food pics:

Dutch pancakes – Sweet & Savory!

Cheese, please!

Hot chocolate!

Waffle a la mode complete with Nutella!

Lovely healthy dinner

And then we may have dabbled in some other delicacies while there…

While on the topic of good eats… Found this in a window front of a store! LMAO! Hope there’s no one sensitive reading!

#goorganic

Stay tuned for pics around town!

XO

Athena

Keys Life

I’ve been negligent of my blogging duties… It’s been a fun summer. I’ve had my kids all summer long during the day and Grayheart and I continued or arrangement of splitting weekends. During my “time off” from the kids, I mainly spend it in the Keys with Captain. 

Captain usually rents a house each year with some friends for a month in Key West.  I hadn’t been down there in over a decade and forgot just how much fun it is!

 

90 miles to Cuba!

I am very much into outdoor adventures and grew up around the water. So to be out there snorkeling, boating, fishing, bike riding everywhere and just smelling the salt water… Sigh… It was truly relaxing and restorative.

 

Catch & release of a jack!

 

Snorkeling!

  

Snorkeled around mangroves

  

See the little lemon shark?! Saw lots of em!

 
 

By the docks

  

These lil dudes are everywhere!

  

See the tarpon?

 
  I had a fantastic time just relaxing and came back to my kids in such a good mood. It’s amazing what proper rest can do for your soul!

 

Little Palm Island ferry

  

View at brunch

  

Protected key deer

 
By the way, there’s been a lot going on and I’ve had many ups and downs during the divorce process these last few months. It’s certainly not been all roses and daisies. I’m just sometimes too worked up to even write. I will get back on it but, for now, I’m trying to focus on the positive and things that aren’t so heavy. 

xoxo

Dear Austin, TX – I love you

  
I just got back from an amazing several days in Austin, Texas with Captain.  To say I loved Austin and had a phenomenal time is an understatement.   

I’ve never been to a town where there was such an incredible combination of positive characteristics:  the friendliest people, amazing food, outstanding live music, tons of fun outdoorsy things to do, great college campus, youthful and fresh influence, politics… Jeez, where do I stop?! 

  
Austin is unapologetically and proudly bizarre.  I know the slogan “Keep Austin weird” but it’s just too cool to sum it up as weird.  

   

  

  

   
I won’t bore you with extensive details of the trip but I’ll sum it up by saying that we did Sixth and Rainey street, toured UT, went to a comedy club, rode bike around town galore, ate more red meat and drank more beer in those days than I ever thought humanly possible, watched the largest urban bat population take off for their evening search for food, stayed at the gorgeous Driskill hotel, ate and ate more, watched tons of live local music and had a very romantic time with my man.  It was about as perfect as a getaway could get.

    

    
(Pardon my crappy photography skills.)

Austin, I love you!

PS- I’m still in awe that this is my life post Grayheart.  There is hope after divorce, y’all!

Besos!