Author Archives: tripsandtastes

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About tripsandtastes

Just a travel-loving foodie, living at the Jersey Shore.

Romance & Memory Loss… aka What I Read on Vacation

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One of my favorite things about being on vacation is being able to read.  I have a hard time finding the time (or staying awake long enough) to do this at home, so it’s a real treat to be able to polish off a couple of books while away.  I’m a pretty strict non-fiction reader (biographies, travel memoirs, history) but this past week on our Carnival cruise, I mixed it up a bit and went mainstream fiction for one and mushy romantic (although it is a true story) for the other.  I really enjoyed both, so I’m sharing…

20151108_174931 (1) (2)“Seven Letters from Paris” is part travel, part love story & amazingly, real life.  Samantha meets Jean-Luc while traveling thru Europe with a friend at the age of 19.  An intense 24 hours follows… beginning in a touristy cafe, traversing across Paris & ending on the platform of the train station.  Sam continues her trip but upon her return home, is greeted with the 1st of 7 letters from Jean-Luc, the classic French romantic, proclaiming his adoration for her.  The letters continue but Sam never replies, not even knowing what to say to someone who she can see no future with.

Fast forward 20 years… frustrated by her career & struggling with a failing marriage, Sam takes a leap of faith.  She decides to leave her husband & heads to the West Coast to straighten out her life.  While going thru her things, she comes across Jean-Luc’s letters, and with the help of the internet, decides to finally send him a reply.

Passion & chemistry have a way of holding on, and though their lives have taken various twists & turns, what they shared in Paris is easily reignited in this passionate true story. Old-fashioned romance, Jean-Luc’s actual letters & beautifully descriptive travel throughout France, make this a (guilty) pleasure to read.

whataliceforgotImagine waking up and having no memory from the previous 10 years of your life… That’s what happens to this mother of 3 in the fictional story, “What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty.

Thinking she’s happily married and pregnant with her first child, Alice slowly discovers that’s not exactly the case after falling & hitting her head at the gym.  Her friends, family relationships & social status have all changed, and some not necessarily for the better.  It’s crazy to think that your “old self” may be the person you prefer and that the life you’ve created seems to have gotten completely out of hand.

The way the story unravels is well written and follows several interesting main characters through Alice’s journey.  Any mom with school-aged children will appreciate the flurry of car pools, activities and moody pre-teens that Alice has to reacquaint herself with, as well as the toll that can take on any marriage.  This was an interesting read that really makes you think about your own life and how if you could possibly do it over, if you would make the same decisions and choices.  This one was recommended to me by several of my friends and I’m glad I listened… well worth the dip into fiction.

Guilty of a Little Self-Promotion…

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I love to travel… and I enjoy writing.  But can I make a career out of it?  Or at the very least, earn a few free trips?  Who knows, but I’m proud to say that I’ve taken the first step by landing a freelance writing position with a new travel web site called http://www.trip101.com.  They specialize in “recommendations” vs “reviews” & this, my very first article, was published this week.

https://trip101.com/article/adults-receive-royal-treatment-at-the-paradisus-cancun

Will do my best to keep them coming… Wish me luck!

– Kristin

I Love to Cruise, But I Hate the Packing!

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ourshipDon’t get me wrong… I love a good cruise.  The blue water, the exotic ports, the amazing food – it’s all fantastic.  There is one thing, however, that I wish I could somehow avoid… THE PACKING!

Packing for a cruise is difficult for several reasons.  First of all, there is some formality to these trips. Eating in the “Main Dining Room,” which I thoroughly enjoy, requires a dress code, and depending on your cruise line, that can vary from nice shorts to a suit & tie.  And if you’re sitting at an assigned table, where you’re going to dine with the same people every night?  That certainly means no repetition of any part of your wardrobe.  Luckily, we choose the flexible dining option where we enjoy a table for 3 and can wear the same black pants a few times without worry.

During the day, there are other obstacles.  Walking around the ship is a bit different than just hanging out at a beach resort.  You really need an “outfit” versus a “cover-up” over your bathing suit.  This is especially true if you’re planning to eat lunch inside or want to hit the casino for a few rounds as you’re passing through (and it always seems like we’re passing through, no matter where we’re going!)

Then there are your Port Days… something to wear while sightseeing, or shopping, and then something for the beach.  You need to pack a beach bag, possibly a few sand toys for the kids and a whole numerical range of sunscreen.  And don’t forget you’ll still need another outfit for dinner that night!

Planning to hit the gym during your cruise?  Add that stack of work-out clothes and those special sneakers to your pile.  And I haven’t even touched on shoes yet!  Dress shoes, sandals, flip flops, water shoes for the beach…  And the toiletries, and the first aid supplies, jewelry, toys, books, cameras, all the chargers, a power strip (cause there are never enough outlets), and don’t forget the “Rum Runner Flasks” to smuggle on a few cocktails!

So as our upcoming cruise rapidly approaches, I’m in that state of packing-hell, with piles of clothes and accessories taking over my home office, and the stress of fitting it all in the suitcase yet to come… oh and did I mention that we’re sailing on Halloween?  And that my son is a Giant Hot Dog?  That’s right… find a place for that costume in your suitcase!

All complaints aside, soon I’ll be on my balcony with my coffee or cocktail in hand, watching the sun rise & set over the ocean… and it’ll all be worth it!!!

Why You Should be Jealous of Seagulls

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I know… they’re dirty, disgusting scavengers.  They look their best from far away, as a silhouette in the sky.  But you know what?  I think they may just be on to something…

  • Seagulls spend every day at the beach, hanging out with their friends.
  • They get to swim, relax in the sun & blissfully stare out at the sea.
  • They can go to any beach, any time, any where.  Or even multiple beaches in the same day without having to set up, pack up or pay.
  • They have unlimited access to an all-u-can-eat, fresh seafood buffet.  For a change of pace, they can dip into any number of unattended snacks on the beach.
  • And they can fly.  I don’t know about you, but being able to soar through the sky and easily travel from place to place would be my dream come true.

So the next time one of these squawking birds walks over to your towel and tries to steal a piece of your sandwich, give him a little credit… he’s managed to take “beach life” to a whole new level!

September Summer :)

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For those of us who are lucky enough to live at the Jersey Shore year round, we know that September is one of the best months of the year here.  The weather is still warm enough to enjoy the beach during the day and cool enough to sleep with the windows open at night.  We fall back into our routines without having to deal with crowds, traffic or tourists.

IMG_20150905_160925This time of year you can visit the beach for free,
and without the fear of being impaled by hundreds
of poorly planted umbrellas. There aren’t any crazy tents or people painted white with sunscreen.  No one will be walking across your towel, feeding the seagulls right next to you or setting up shop so close that you can actually hold hands.  When you live here, beach etiquette is an unwritten rule that everyone knows how to follow.

Walking on the boardwalk or strolling around town is also more pleasurable now… you’re not sweating, or dodging in and out of crowds. No one is stopping suddenly, trying to figure out where they’re going or blocking the middle of the sidewalk while they wait for their party to catch up.  There aren’t any crazy lines for ice cream or for dinner.  You can eat anywhere, with little or no waiting, and park wherever you’d like.

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Tourism certainly helps fuel our economy so we really can’t knock this crazy influx of people during the summer months. However, once Labor Day has passed, it’s hard not to celebrate the return of our peaceful little paradise!

Sadly, the forecast looks rainy for the next few days but there will still be plenty of time to get out there and enjoy this magical month at the Jersey Shore!

A Little Bling Anyone?

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Free Spirit Fringe Necklace
Go For a Spin Ring
Virtuosity Necklace
Tan Lines & Navette Stretch Bracelets
Good As Gold Necklace
Dark Halo Earrings & Black Hex Ring
Patterned Pyrite Necklace
Cut Above, Bella & Pedal to the Metal Necklaces
Silpada’s Mens Collection

In addition to my love of travel and fine cuisine, I also have a little “thing” for jewelry.  It started long ago, influenced by my maternal grandmother who never left the house without her favorite pieces.  The bulk of my pre-motherhood career years were spent working for a jewelry manufacturer, where I was able to get my fill of silver, gold, diamonds and more… plus travel on a regular basis. Destinations like Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Toronto, Atlanta, Orlando & more were the norm… I even spent a week in Switzerland at the largest jewelry & watch show in the world.  And in all those places?  Amazing food to boot!

So once my son was settled into a full-day school routine, I felt the call to get back into the business.  I needed flexible hours and didn’t have too much time to spare, so I started looking at some direct sales companies.  Quality and customer service were of the utmost importance to me, and certainly Sterling Silver would be a bonus.  My perfect match? Silpada Designs.

Original Silpada Founders, Teresa & Bonnie (center) with their 2 girls, Kelsey & Ryane :)

Original Silpada Founders, Teresa Walsh & Bonnie Kelly (center) with their 2 girls, Kelsey (L) & Ryane (R) 🙂

Started by two moms, who met when their daughters were in the same kindergarten class, this Kansas City based company was the perfect fit.  I’d been to, and hosted a few parties, so I knew how it all worked & was pleased with the company policies and support. Bonnie & Teresa’s 2 daughters (the ones from kindergarten!) have recently taken on the roles of Co-Presidents & introduced a new Fashion Jewelry line, as well as a brand new scarf & bag line, to the original Sterling Silver Collection.

Every July, Silpada holds their National Conference for 4 days in Kansas City (here’s where the travel & food work their way in…).  I can’t say I was ever thrilled with the idea of going to the middle of the United States, in the middle of July, but I’ve found it to be a wonderful city with lots of great restaurants!  I just got back and want to give a shout out to our 2 favorite eateries…

IMG_20150715_192323On our 1st night in town, after a long day of traveling, I couldn’t wait to chill out at the Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen on Walnut St.  Who doesn’t love being able to order wine by the “taste”…  and have some great food to pair it with!  They have a nice outdoor seating area, but with temps in the 90s on this trip, we opted to sit inside & cool down.  We started with 3 tastes each, of our favorite reds, followed by an array of fresh, flavorful plates.  Everything was amazing & we rolled out completely stuffed & satisfied yet again. 🙂

Our trip to Kansas City wouldn’t be complete with a visit to La Bodega, on Southwest Blvd and our 3rd time here did not disappoint.  We LOVE the atmosphere at this chic little Spanish tapas restaurant and even though we had to eat at the bar (forgot to make a reservation!), the meal was still delightful.  They offer an amazing wine & drink menu to complement a delicious assortment of hot & cold small plates.  We enjoyed several fancy cocktails in addition to mussels with chorizo, grilled shrimp, scallops wrapped in Spanish ham, baked goat cheese & more… total yum!!!

La Fresa-tini… Muddled Strawberry & Basil with Cucumber Vodka in a Balsamic-rimmed glass. Delish!!!
Grilled Shrimp
Scallops wrapped in Spanish Ham
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Sheraton Crown Center Lobby

We stay at the Sheraton Crown Center when in town, with easy access to the Westin & its Crown Center Shops.  The hotel bar offers great service (shout out to Tamara) and its own delicious menu.

This trip is always a great refresher, both on the business and personal level.  I’m excited to share Silpada’s exciting new Fall Collection and offer the business opportunity to anyone who’s ever thought about starting a little something on the side.  Check out my web site, www.mysilpada.com/kristin.matteo for all the info or to order up a little “bling” of your own!

And stay on top of all the latest specials, promotions, sneak peaks and more on my Facebook page: Kristin Matteo’s Silver Scene.  Thanks & have a “Sterling” Day!

Truth!
Silpada girls know how to party!
Just one day’s jewels!
Me & my “Silpada Sister” Sue 🙂