-
Trick or Treat, It’s Halloween!
Halloween has arrived here in Monterey County. When I was little and living in the Midwest, Halloween was one of the most important holidays. Why? It meant dressing up in costumes and going trick or treating for candy. There was nothing better than arriving home and dumping our bags of goodies on the floor, where we would meticulously poke through it all and discard the yucky ones or trade them for something better. There were also costume contests and parades at school, and bobbing for apples, hayrides, bonfires, and other fun activities that we kids just loved.
Historically, Halloween has its origins in Samhain, a festival celebrated by the ancient Celts. It was a time of bonfires and wearing disguises to protect oneself when the spirits of the dead revisited the earth. It is thought that trick or treating originated around this time. Guising, or mumming, involved dressing up in costumes and singing, playing card tricks, or telling stories in exchange for sweets. Trick or treating as a tradition did not become popular in the United States until around the 1920s. The demand for a treat meant that no trickery would befall the giver, including soap on their windows.
While I no longer go trick or treating, and can’t give out candy because I live in the country, I still enjoy all the other fun fall activities surrounding this day. One of my favorite things about Halloween is seeing all the festive decor people use to decorate their homes. From happy pumpkins to spooky ghouls, I just love seeing all the creative ways people show their Halloween enthusiasm.
A seaside home in Carmel featuring friendly skeletons. 
Another festive home in Carmel-by-the-Sea. 
A tower of pumpkins and squash looks simply gourd-geous at the local pumpkin patch. What are your favorite Halloween memories? Do you still dress up in a costume or hand out candy? Or do you like to decorate inside or outside your home? It’s hard not to feel excitement at this magical time of year, with the exception of my cat Georgie, below.
Georgie, my cat, is not feeling very festive in his Halloween costume. Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you have a very safe and happy Halloween. For more information on Halloween traditions, see Trick or Treating. You may also enjoy The Eight Most Haunted Places Near Monterey. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas.
-
Make Your Own Cinnamon Sugar Lip Scrub
With cooler fall and winter weather, lips can start to get dry and chapped. Sometimes, using balm just doesn’t do the trick. Using a scrub is a great way to exfoliate your lips. By removing dry, flaky skin, smoothing lines, and increasing blood flow, it will leave your lips feeling deliciously soft and healthy. My lip scrub recipe includes cinnamon essential oil because I happen to love cinnamon, but you can substitute any of your favorite essential oils.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive OR coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon raw honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons fine granulated sugar
1-2 drops cinnamon essential oil
Directions:
Combine the oil, honey, vanilla extract and essential oil until well mixed. Stir in the sugar until evenly combined. Store in an airtight container.
To Use:
Apply to your lips and massage in small, circular motions. Rinse well. Use this 1-2 times a week for the best results. The coconut or olive oil help protect against further chapping. You will love how soft your lips feel! (Do not use on severely chapped or split lips). Needless to say, this recipe makes an awesome gift as well. You can get creative and decorate cute containers for your homemade scrub.
How Long Does It Last?
This scrub will last for up to a year if you store it in a cool dark area, out of direct sunlight. To ensure freshness, do not let any water get into the jar. And don’t forget to label it!
Thank you for visiting my blog. You may also enjoy Get Super Healthy Hair With Herbal Vinegar! and Autumn Nail Trends You Should Try! Wishing you peace, love, happiness & beautiful vistas!
-
7 Seaside Restaurants with the Best Views
Monterey County is home to some of the most iconic and award winning restaurants ever. Enjoying a special meal involves not only delicious cuisine, but also ambiance. These 7 restaurants offer killer views that will impress you. Whether you are planning a get together with friends or family, or looking for a romantic place to enjoy a quiet meal, these are the very best restaurants for spectacular views as well as good food.
1. Nepenthe features jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean. Located 30 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Nepenthe is an ancient Greek word meaning an elixir for sorrow. This iconic restaurant has drawn creatives and writers since it opened in 1949. For more information, see Nepenthe.
2. Ventana lies further south of Nepenthe, and dazzles with breathtaking views of Big Sur. It first opened in 1975, and still features vestiges of its hippie beginnings. It has drawn celebrities throughout the decades, from Dennis Hopper to Taylor Swift. For more information, see Ventana.
.
3. Rocky Point lies just 10 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. This restaurant is perched on a cliff and features spectacular, panoramic views of the ocean. For more information, see Rocky Point.
4. The Inn at Spanish Bay, in Pebble Beach, features extraordinary views of the coastline. A bonus: just before sunset, a bagpiper plays Scottish tunes. Sit outside around the cozy fire pits and enjoy the views! For more information, see Spanish Bay.
5. The historic Mission Ranch in Carmel features pastoral views of sheep grazing, and beyond, striking views of the mountains and sea. Mission Ranch, owned by Clint Eastwood, lies just around the corner from the beautiful Carmel Mission Basilica. For more information, see Mission Ranch.
6. The Beach House in Pacific Grove overlooks gorgeous Lovers Point Park and Marine Reserve. You may spot sea otters, harbor seals, pelicans, cormorants and more while you dine. For more information, see Beach House.
7. Schooners was voted “best drink with a view’ in Monterey, and is is easy to see why. Located in Cannery Row at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, Schooners offers a great place to drink in the ocean air and enjoy all the breathtaking views of the bay.
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you are able to take in the views at one of these amazing restaurants. You may also enjoy The Most Beautiful Instagrammable Spots in Monterey!, The #1 Guide for What to See and Do in Romantic Carmel, Nepenthe’s Phoenix: Bohemian Bliss in Big Sur, Ventana in Beautiful Big Sur, Lovers Point: Legendary Park in Pacific Grove and Mission Ranch in Carmel, California. Wishing you peace, love, happiness & beautiful vistas!
-
Fresh Figs With Cheese, Honey & Thyme
The figs on my fig tree are just starting to ripen. For me, this means making one of my favorite dishes. I love that it only has five ingredients. It is super easy and super delicious and is great to serve along with a charcuterie board if you are having guests over.
Recipe
- 1/2 pound of soft dessert cheese such as brie. I used Brillat-Savarin, a triple cream dessert cheese from the ile de France region. It is very creamy, decadent and luxurious.
- 4-5 fresh figs, cut into quarters
- 1/2 cup organic honey
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 1/3 cup fragmented walnut pieces
Because it is still fairly warm here I don’t bake or warm the cheese, I just leave it out for about 15 minutes. If you would like to warm your cheese, you can cut off the top, then microwave for 10-15 seconds or bake at 350 for a few minutes. In my opinion, it is better to have a little bit of firmness than have the cheese completely melted. As Ina Garten, one of my favorite cooks says, “it should ooze but not melt”. Also, if you are planning to transfer the cheese to another platter, use parchment paper beneath it before warming it to ease the transfer process. Add your fresh figs. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the honey and the thyme until it is silky smooth and begins to bubble. This only takes a few minutes. Drizzle the honey over the cheese and figs and scatter with walnut pieces.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe. I just love it and try to only make small batches because it’s so hard to stop eating it! You may also enjoy Find Your Zen Zucchini Bread Recipe and Sugar & Spice: My Favorite Fall Flavors. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas.
-
The 8 Most Fantastic Rare Pumpkins
Back in the day, visiting the pumpkin patch was simple because there were not many choices. As long as it was round, orange, and capable of being carved into a jack-o-lantern it did the trick. Today we have so many more varieties available, including rare heirloom pumpkins. It’s so exciting to see all the new choices. You can’t help but fall in love with these beauties. Here is my list of the 8 most fantastic rare pumpkins!
1. Rouge Vif D’Etampes, also known the Cinderella pumpkin, was supposedly the most popular pumpkin in Parisian markets of the 1880s. It’s vivid red color makes it perfect for autumn displays. It is also quite tasty, and is a standard for French soup stocks.
2. Speckled Hound features a pale pink color splotched with blue green. I love the name and the color combination. It is also edible!
3. Zucca Barucca, also known as Marina de Chioggia, as well as “Holy” and “Sea” pumpkin, features bumpy green skin . It is said that the name may be derived from the Hebrew word for holy, “baruch” and that Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition brought them to Italy. It is also edible, with a silky, sweet flavor similar to butternut squash.
4. Lumina pumpkins are smooth and white on the outside and have delicious orange flesh within. Other white varieties include Ghost, Full Moon, Valencia, Silver Moon and Casper. White pumpkins were originally a mutation in classic orange pumpkins but are now much beloved for their ghostly hue.
5. Warty Goblin is a frightful, delightful variety that will charm you with its lumpy green bumps. Even though they look scary on the outside, they have a sweet and mild flavor that makes them good for roasting or baking.
6. Porcelain Doll is a fantastic shade of pink. So unique! And it is also edible and perfect for pies, soups and other fall fare.
7. Mint Prince pumpkins feature a lovely mint shade and deep ribbing. These have a flat shape that make them perfect for stacking. They are also good for baking, with smooth, creamy flesh.
8. La Estrella hails from sunny Florida and features subtle orange skin splashed with soft green and tan blotches. Is it edible? You bet!
Thank you for visiting my blog! You may also enjoy Fifteen Fabulous Pumpkin Designs For Halloween and Sugar & Spice: My Favorite Fall Flavors. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas.