What to Bring on a Winter Trip

Posted in California, Travel Tips, USA by meganandeggs

Packing for a winter trip is always a little tricky when you live in a place where the coldest it gets is usually 55 degrees like we do. Lucky for us, this weekend in Big Bear Lake wasn’t as cold as it has been in the past. To be honest, the day was pretty warm, but at night the temperature dropped below freezing and since our cabin was right on the lake, it was even colder. Being from the snowy East Coast, I knew there were things I would have to pack to be prepared for the weather.

L.L. Bean Woolies socks

I am obsessed. Anytime it gets around 40 degrees, which doesn’t happen too often here in SoCal, I pull these bad boys out and bask in my love for New England warmth!

Moisturizer for dry skin

Being in the dry cold at a high altitude can really kill your skin. I make sure to keep moisturizing throughout the day to make sure when I get back down to

Hats, gloves and scarves

Pretty obvious. Staying warm is the differences between getting sick on your trip or not on your vacation. Stay warm.

Layers

Cardigans, sweaters, t-shirts and long sleeves. I really bring them all when I go somewhere cold. You never know exactly how cold it is going to be and you can always remove layers so I just pile tees and sweaters on top of each other that way I am always comfortable.

What do you make sure you bring on a winter vacation?

25Feb2015

A Day in Big Bear Lake

Posted in California, Travel Tips, USA by meganandeggs

I know, I know, I am slacking again. I haven’t posted in over a week! But don’t worry, I’ve been working on some great things for you guys! To start, this week I am doing a little series about our mini “winter vacation.”

This weekend we went with a few of our friends to Big Bear Lake, CA for our annual weekend away in the snow… only due to Mother Nature’s lack of precipitation here in California there was, well, no snow. So we found other ways to keep ourselves occupied in the ski-resort town.

Friday Chris and I woke up early and headed up to the mountain before anyone else. We got into town around noon and spent the first part of the day walking around the village and checking out the little boutiques in town. Maybe because it was Friday, or maybe because it was 60 degrees but the town was absolutely dead compared to other years we have been up there. But no complaints here because that just meant it was easier to get around and shop through the stores.

After town we still couldn’t get into the cabin we were renting so we headed over to Big Bear Mountain Brewery to taste some local beer since Chris is getting more and more into appreciating local craft beers. It was located in a cute little house on the main road into the town. With only 6 tables and about 10 bar stools it had an awesome small town feel with simple foods like sweet potato fries, burgers and nachos. Chris, of course, got the sampler where for just $10 you can taste the 6 craft beers they brew.

After we met up with the first of our friends to show up and got settled into the cabin where we relaxed, cooked food, and hung out for Friday night and Saturday. Sunday we planned on heading to an Alpine Sledding mountain and taking a few rides down the mountain but instead we had to run down the mountain before an actual snow store started coming in. But now we have another reason to head up for a night or day.

Big Bear is one of my favorite getaways from the super urban life of living in LA or Orange County. I love getting up on the mountain and literally being in the forest and having beautiful, huge, mature trees all around us and the fresh mountain air. One day I do want to get up on skis or a snowboard and take that risk but this weekend sure wasn’t the weekend to try it. Two more years until I need to check that off my bucket list.

19Aug2014

Keeping Your Luggage Under 50 lbs

Posted in Travel Tips by meganandeggs

Keeping Your Luggage Under 50 lbs

As I mentioned earlier this month, we were off to Connecticut for a week. It was an amazing trip. New England is absolutely gorgeous in the summer. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow up! Last time I took Chris 3,000 miles away from home, it was the middle of winter. We didn’t adjust to the time change too well and the darkness of November definitely did a number on us. We joke that Chris flew all the way to Connecticut and saw one street. (But really he kind of did.)

So this trip I was determined to show him an amazing time. (Hell, he may not come back if I don’t.)

The thing I hate the most about traveling is packing. Not because I bring too much. I always have enough options and still have room in my suitcase on my way to the east coast. It’s the way back, after my mother has given me every last random thing she can think of that makes me nutzo! I always just barely can shut my luggage, after using the expanding zipper.

(A few things I have been known to come back to So Cal with after trips home are: nail polish, a hand blender, black socks, a meat tenderizer, and a cutting board – shaped like CT of course! Thanks mom! =] Yesterday we brought back CT wine and beers, a baking stone and new moisturizer. You would think we don’t have stores in California.) Continue reading →

11Aug2014

Smart Guide to Your Carry-On

Posted in Travel Tips by meganandeggs

Smart Guide to Your Carry-On

I once had to sleep in an airport… on the floor.. on Christmas night… in the middle of wht everyone was saying would be a blizzard, but the snow hadn’t started to fall yet.

Okay, let me rewind. It was the first Christmas I was living in California and it was the first time I wasn’t going to be spending the holiday with my family. But my mom and stepdad decided to that after 16 years of living in sin they were going to tie the knot on Christmas Eve. Of coarse I had to be there. But oh wait, I work in retail management. There is a not-so-unspoken rule that you aren’t able to take off from Nov. 1 to Jan. 1.

So I struck a deal with my boss and he allowed me to fly home the day before Christmas Eve on a redeye, spend the 24^th and 25^th with my family and fly back in time to close on the 26^th. 12 hours of fly time round trip with only 36 hours on the ground. Perfect.

I spent an amazing holiday with my family. Late on Christmas night my mom drove me back to JFK. She dropped me off at the terminal that I always fly out of and I was on my way home. I go inside, head to the kiosk to print my ticket and…. Nothing.

I don’t have a ticket.

I headed to the counter and because I had flown with that specific airline on my way to the east coast, they had my flight history on file. The lady confirmed I have a flight in an hour, out of another terminal with another airline.

So I ran to the tram, rode two terminals over and went to the kiosk there. Long story short, (and a three page complaint letter later) my mom was already home in Connecticut and I was stuck at JFK, on Christmas night and had missed flight.

Lucky for me I only had a carry-on so I had all of my clothes and toiletries but since that miserable 10 hours of sitting on chairs, the floor and pacing (I didn’t have a smart phone yet) I have been very specific about what I bring in my carry-on bag. Here is my smart guide to your carry-on.

12Jun2014

My Favorite Food at Disneyland

Posted in California, Travel Tips, USA by meganandeggs

When most people think of Disneyland they think rides, shows, and their favorite characters. Oh and standing in lines. My friends and I, however, we think about food. The Disney Resorts have some of the best food for hotels and definitely the best food for amusement parks. I am here today to tell you some of my favorite foods at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

1. Clam Chowder Bowl at Royal Street Veranda at New Orleans Square in Disneyland

This is my go to snack while waiting to watch Fantasmic! at night. We usually stay to watch the show & everyone is ready for a snack. So if it isn’t a churro or popcorn, we usually end up splitting a bread bowl & they are amazing. You can get gumbo also if you are adventurous but I like to stick with hearty clam chowder.

2. Corn Dog at Corn Dog Castle at Paradise Pier in Disney’s California Adventure

I literally die. I am not a big fan of greasy foods but the Disneyland Corn Dogs are no joke. Up until a few years ago there was only one spot you can grab these beauties… at the end of Main St. but now they have expanded to California Adventure also. Nothing is better than a Corn Dog & a Disneyland Margarita at the happiest place on earth!

3. Mac and Cheese at La Brea Bakery in Downtown Disney

If you are just looking for a snack I suggest grabbing a Mac and Cheese off of the kids menu, but if you are ready for a full blown, cheesey meal of deliciousness… get the big one. So good!

4. Holiday Turkey at Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney

Now that we live just 20 minutes from Downtown Disney there are days where I just run over to grab a sandwich at Earl. Now I am sure if you have been to Las Vegas’s Planet Hollywood you have tried it there too but these are way better than Subway!

5. Lobster Nachos at The Cove Bar on Paradise Pier in Disney’s California Adventure

Recently the Cove Bar in DCA underwent a little bit of a remodel & expanded their seating but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to wait for a table. Get there early enough because if you try to get seats around World of Color show times, you will be waiting in a long line. But if you do get in… you need to have the Lobster Nachos… Amazing!!

6. Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes at the Plaza Inn on Main Street in Disneyland

Always a good go to, the fried chicken with mashed potatoes at the Plaza Inn is the perfect dinner date. And if you time it right, you can even catch a glimpse of the fireworks from your seats.