Toby in our hotel room with a mask and sword he got in the Asakusa Shopping District

7 DAYS IN TOKYO… WITH KIDS!

Reflecting on seven unforgettable days spent in Tokyo with two young boys and a toddler girl, I am honestly asking myself just how the heck we did it. I visited the Land of the Rising Sun with my husband and sister during the second week of October 2022. It was three adults and three children, which seemed fairly manageable. We were there to explore a different part of the world but also because we were fulfilling a promise to my sons Benny and Toby, who had asked to visit Tokyo for a long time.

The trip was both exhausting and exhilarating! We used the services of a private tour guide who helped us secure tickets to theme parks & exclusive restaurants and showed us how to use Tokyo's train system. We also spent extra money on commodities such as a hotel with breakfast included, taxi rides (which are very expensive in Tokyo), spas, tea ceremonies and shopping. I share this because while there are plenty of free things to do in this amazing place— of the world's most populated cities, the dozen recommendations for families I’m highlighting below are likely to tug at your wallet.

At one of Tokyo’s train stations— From L to R: My son Toby, my sister Frances with her daughter Addie on the stroller, my son Benny, my husband Paul and Kyle, our tour guide.

For starters, the city is huge and overwhelming at first, but if you’ve spent time in Downtown LA you'll quickly get used to the hustle and bustle. The culture is unique, with a rich tradition of art, music, and dance. And the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. There is a collective philosophy where people think about the well-being of society before their own, individual well-being. The country is super clean, well-manicured and people are very trusting. In one incredible scene that I won't soon forget, a woman who about to board a theme park ride with her toddler at Puroland, left her gorgeous calfskin Chanel bag hanging on her stroller’s handle, completely unattended. She must have left it there for nearly an hour without a single concern about someone possibly stealing the $7K purse. Stealing and tampering with other people’s property simply doesn’t happen in Japan.

But I digress.

There are plenty of things to keep kids entertained, from outdoor Japanese gardens and public parks to museums, zoos and amusement parks. The food is also a big draw for kids, with plenty of tasty options to choose from.

Keep in mind, the history of Japan is both long and fascinating, dating back thousands of years. Its history involves periods of both isolation and great openness, and the country has been greatly influenced by both China and the West. The Edo period (1603-1868) saw very little contact with the outside world. During this time, Japan developed its own unique culture, which is still evident today in things like traditional architecture, cuisine, and art.

 You'll want to plan ahead and do plenty of research to make the most of your trip, but Tokyo is a great destination for families. With its mix of culture, history, and fun, you're sure to create long-lasting memories.

Here are twelve activities and experiences to enjoy with kids while in Tokyo:

1. Visit the Meiji Shrine

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Japan is the Meiji Shrine, which was built to honor Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken. The shrine is located in a large park in the center of Tokyo, and it's a peaceful oasis in the midst of all the city's chaos. Tip: Visit on a weekend where you will bump into dozens of locals wearing traditional kimonos.

2. Stroll through the Imperial Palace grounds

The Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Japanese Imperial family, but the public is allowed to enter the grounds. The palace is located in the center of Tokyo, and it's a great place to take a walk and enjoy some peace and quiet. Just be sure to stay on the designated paths. Toby and Addie enjoyed picking up tiny rocks and throwing them at each other.

3. Visit Ueno Park

If you make a trip to Ueno Park, you can check off several items in one go. The park is home to the Tokyo National Museum, the National Science Museum, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. It’s also the home of the tomb and statue of the Last Samurai, Saigo Takamori (see photo of my boys placing an offering at his memorial site). And if that's not enough, the park is also home to a zoo and an amusement park. A must visit place!

4. Enjoy a Calming Tea Ceremony Experience at Gionji Temple

One of the best ways to experience traditional Japanese culture is to participate in a tea ceremony. And what better place to do it than at Gionji Temple, which is located in the heart of Tokyo. The temple was founded in 1624. Tip: Make sure to take off your shoes before entering the temple. Also, the photos below are from a wonderful afternoon escape at local hotel’s Japanese garden.

5. Shop in Akihabara

For all anime fans, like my two boys, Akihabara is a must-see. This is the area of Tokyo where you'll find all things anime, manga, and video games. The shops are full of character goods, comics, and games. And if you're lucky, you might even spot a cosplayer or ten.

6. Take an elevator trip to the Skytower

Tokyo's Skytower is the tallest building in Japan, and it offers stunning views of the city from its observatory deck. The tower is located in the Roppongi district, which is also home to many shops, restaurants, and bars.

My Sweet Niece Addie enjoys the view from the Sky Tower’s viewing deck.

7. Attend a baseball game

Baseball games in Tokyo are a popular pastime, and the Tokyo Dome is the city's biggest stadium. The Yomiuri Giants are the most famous team, and they play their home games at the Tokyo Dome. Tickets are easy to get, and games are a great way to experience Japanese culture.

8. Eat at a Shabu Shabu restaurant

You can't visit Tokyo without enjoying a real authentic Shabu Shabu restaurant! These restaurants are very popular in Japan, and they're a great way to try a variety of foods. Customers are served several ingredients including cuts of beef, chicken, pork and fish as well as vegetables and we get to dip them briefly in simmering broth to cook in a pot at our very own table. The experience is fun, delicious and memorable, plus, if you ask for a cold Japanese beer to go with the meal you will be thoroughly pleased.

9. Experience the crowded Shibuya Crossing

The Shibuya Crossing is one of the most iconic images of Tokyo, and it's definitely worth seeing in person. Imagine this: hundreds of people crossing the street in various directions at numerous intersections at the same time! The crossing is located in front of the Shibuya train station and it's a great place to people watch. Tip: head to the second floor of the Starbucks across the street for a bird's eye view.

10. Dine at the Pokemon Cafe

If you are able to book a reservation for the Pokemon Cafe, you are in for a real treat. Themed restaurants are very popular in Japan, and the Pokemon Cafe does not disappoint. Everything in the cafe is Pokemon-themed, from the food to the drinks to the decor. And of course, there are plenty of photo opportunities. The cafe is located in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo.

11. Visit Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea

The Tokyo DisneySea theme park is the most popular tourist destination in Japan. It's located in the Tokyo Disney Resort in Chiba, about an hour outside of the city. The park is divided into seven themed areas, each based on a different legend or story. There's also a hotel and shopping district nearby. We were in awe at every corner and when we so much magic had us feeling overwhelmed, we stopped and had a fine dining experience at the S.S. Columbia dining room— an elegant restaurant inside a ship-shaped building.

12. Visit Hello Kitty's indoor theme park: "Puroland"

Puroland was built in 1990 as a theme park for the popular Japanese character, Hello Kitty. It's located in Tama, about an hour outside of Tokyo. The park is small, but it's perfect for young kids (and 40-something year olds who grew up loving Sanrio). There are rides, shows, and a parade, all featuring Hello Kitty and her friends.

A delicious meal from Puroland’s main dining hall

Tokyo is an amazing city with something for everyone!

The experience is certainly exhausting, especially if you're traveling on the train system with little ones. However, it's quite rewarding when you see your kids taking it all in, making new friends and asking to stay longer.

Tokyo can be tiring but it's also thrilling and unforgettable. Until we see you again, thank you, Land of the Rising Sun!

Arigatō Gozaimasu

 Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo.

-Anabel

How to make the most of 48 hours in the Land of Enchantment (with kids)

Very short trip, but very fun times.

Our journey to Albuquerque, New Mexico was our first family-of-four, out-of-state trip this year.

We’ve been contemplating visiting New Mexico during the International (Hot Air) Balloon Festival which takes place in October but we came across a great, last-minute flight deal and figured a winter visit would let us become familiar with Albuquerque and see if its worth a return trip in the Fall (Spoiler alert— IT IS, we definitely want to go back).

However, as life would have it, this trip had to be cut short (more on that in a bit). Still, we tried to enjoy as much as reasonably possible with young kids, in two days, without overdoing it.

For starters, the state of New Mexico has 19 pueblo tribes and each pueblo is a sovereign nation. With that said, Albuquerque is a major and incredible cultural center of the American Southwest!

Further, the city’s elevation is approximately 5,300 feet above sea level and it’s surrounded by the Rio Grande Valley and the Sandia Mountains in an ecosystem called a “bosque” (pronounced bos-kay and meaning forest). There are plenty of Wile E. Coyotes and Roadrunners in Albuquerque (Toby chased after a roadrunner but the avian creature was much faster than my 6-year old son, in case you were wondering). 

Lastly, its rich culture and unique architectural landscape showcasing clay-colored adobe-type homes anywhere you go, is very charming! All of these elements make Albuquerque a worthwhile trip.

Here are some of the highlights of our 2-day visit and a few recommendations:

Where to eat

Albuquerque is known for its unique take on blending Native American, Spanish and Mexican cuisine and some signature ingredients include blue corn as well as the ever popular red and green chiles. 

When you’re in town, try to enjoy:

*A bowl of Hatch Green Chile with chicken. You can generally find this at most local eateries but I recommend Sadie’s and Monroe’s (specifically because they each have a good kids’ menu). The green Chile bowl will likely be spicy but oh so good!

*Carne Adobada and a Sopapilla for dessert (Sopapilla is like a horn shaped beignet without sugar but you can add honey). 

*TAOS Snack Bars. Any local pharmacy or local market will carry these all-natural New Mexico-made snack bars. Delicious and nutritious and awesome for that moment in the day when the kids begin saying: “Im hungry!”.

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Where to Visit

There are plenty of things to do in Albuquerque, including museums, national monuments and the popular bosques. Here are some good starting points:

*The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. There are plenty of comfortable trails to hike and walk, an impressive Candelaria Wetlands Viewing Blind and a fantastic visitor center. You can make this a 30-minute stop or a three-hour journey. It’s awesome. 

*Petroglyph National Monument. This is one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring an impressive amount of volcanic rocks with carved designs done by Native Americans and Spanish settlers nearly 700 years ago. We went to the Boca Negra site which is a relatively easy hike and gives kids an up close and personal view of the petroglyphs. 

*Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It’s a museum, with a great deal of historic artifacts and exhibits. There’s also a good restaurant and an awesome gift shop. There are plenty of things for the kids to see including outdoor hand-made clay chimneys and Ristras (those famous arrangements of drying, hanging Chile peppers). 

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Where to shop

*Old Town Albuquerque. Once a bustling, busy tourist area with live music, restaurants and gift shops, Old Town Albuquerque was hit hard by the Pandemic and it shows. Fortunately, plenty of small shops still remain open. You can find anything from clay pottery and turquoise jewelry to Kachina dolls, hand-weaved blankets and Native American art there. We bought most gifts from a store called Chili Patch. 

*Rose’s Vintage Valley Antiques. I love vintage shopping so I was delighted to find this gem of a shop. It’s owned and operated by a lovely couple with a deep appreciation for quality collectibles and vintage goods. I found the coolest roadrunner & cactus brass figurine to bring home so it could remind me of our trip to New Mexico. Rose is a kind and generous woman who immediately made me feel at home, at her shop. Her husband David is awesome too. Stop here for local art and mid-century statement pieces. 

Address:

1836 Candelaria Rd., NW

Albuquerque, NM 87107

Rose and David Dominguez.

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Snap Some Photos!

Finally, I would recommend you take the opportunity to pose for pictures and take some selfies with the awesome natural terracotta colors of the Albuquerque landscape. Golden Hour is particularly beautiful with pretty views of the basin.

Here are some of my selfies:

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On a final note, our travel plans had to be cut short because I tested positive for COVID and later Paul did too. My symptoms were mostly mild and luckily, the kids never caught the virus.

This was a clear reminder that the Coronavirus is probably here to stay and it’s a stubborn son of a gun that can pose a health threat even to those who are vaccinated (like us) and ruin fun plans. We hope to return to Albuquerque soon. In the meantime, here are a few things we missed but hope to check out next time.

1. The National Rattlesnake Museum

2. Breaking Bad Landmarks

3. Sandia Moutain cable car ride

4. A trip to Santa Fe

I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

Stay safe, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Buick loaned me an Envision Avenir and I drove it to Ventura County to spend Mother’s Day Weekend, with my mami, near the beach. All opinions are my own.

#ThatsABuick #BuickEnvision

When I was pulling up to my mom’s house in Oxnard to spend Mother’s Day weekend, the left side of my seat on the 2021 Buick Envision Avenir FWD, made a vibrating motion. It startled me for a moment because I had never experienced a seat shaking beneath me as I attempted to parallel park. But the car was alerting me to another vehicle that was driving by too closely. I looked up at the screen on the dashboard and sure enough, there were red warning signs on the screen pointing at the direction to which it was not safe to veer. I thought, omg, they aren’t joking when they say the Buick Envision Avenir has a luxury interior with the driver in mind.

Drove the 2021 Buick Envision Avenir FWD to Oxnard for the weekend and my sweet baby niece Addy was at my mom’s house, ready for cuddles!!

Our Dia De Las Madres Beach Picnic

Receiving the Envision Avenir loan from Buick was a perfect excuse to drive to the beach and celebrate my beloved mami, Lupe Marquez. If you’ve taken a moment to go through the pages of my blog, you’ll notice I’ve also worked with Chevy on several occasions in the past and I’ve had the distinct pleasure of testing some awesome vehicles, enjoying unique experiences with the vehicles and offering honest reviews. I was thrilled to receive a Buick this time around because it’s super sleek, modern and comfortable.

For Mother’s Day weekend, my sisters and I wanted to keep things simple. We ordered food from Yardhouse and took blankets and other small furniture pieces to set-up a lovely picnic at the beach in honor of the woman who gave us life. We drove the Envision Avenir and comfortably fit my baby niece’s car seat. I drove my two sisters, baby niece and mom along the palm tree-lined streets of Oxnard Shores and found a perfect place to park overlooking the ocean waves.

Hi mamita querida!

Seafood by the sea :)

The boys joined us too. My dad, his grandsons and son-in-law were happy to take part in our Mother’s Day beach picnic and savor a yummy lunch with a toast in honor of our family matriarch. My dad was the only brave soul to dive into the ocean. The weather was perfect but the skies were gloomy which didn’t make an ocean swim feel too inviting. As a result, many of us opted for a drink instead.

Here’s Toby enjoying a Cookie Monster blue Gatorade in a glass!

After a few hours we decided to wrap things up and go for a drive around the beach area. Before getting back in the car, we bumped up the volume on the Envision Avenir (which features Carplay and was automatically linked to my cell phone’s iTunes library). We danced on the sand to Oye Mujer by Raymix but unfortunately, nobody took photos of that part. Lol. In any case, driving along the beach felt easy in the Envision. I labeled it the Premier Avenir and Benny, my son, dubbed it the “Cool Cat”.

The vehicle features all of the elements of modern day technology (Wifi, GPS navigation, heated steering wheel, blind spot alerts, back camera, etc.) with the ease of classic conveniences like cozy seats, automatic trunk closure and plenty of glove compartment space. Based on our use of the vehicle, it’s also pretty good on gas mileage!

From L to R: Frances, Irene and Anabel Marquez

About my Mom—

She’s a lovely and hard-working, Mexico-city born 64 year old queen. My mami Lupe is the most selfless person I know and she loves family above anything else. She will go out of her way to make her sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews feel loved and at home when they go visit her. Above all, she goes above and beyond for her three daughters. She guides us and helps us and supports us in any way possible. Feliz dia de las madres, querida mami! We love you!

En el mar, la vida es mas sabrosa!

More About the 2021 Buick Envision Avenir—

The truth of the matter is, you’d have to take this beauty out for a drive to really experience the finesse by which it operates. For more information on pricing and other SPECS visit the Buick Avenir site here.

KEY VEHICLE FEATURES

• Heated steering wheel

• Air ionizer. Americans spend approximately 10 hours a week in the car. With the introduction of an Air Quality Indicator, a first for Buick in the U.S., the air ionizer provides customers with peace of mind, enabling them to monitor the quality of the cabin’s air

• QuietTuning is standard on all trims – including active noise cancellation and strategically placed acoustic materials

• Rear Seat Reminder is standard on all trims

• Panoramic power moonroof

Grateful and happy!

It was a beautiful weekend with my faves and the drive to and from Ventura County was very memorable.

Thanks to our friends at Buick who made this vehicle loan possible. Our Dia De Las Madres beach weekend will forever remain among our fondest family memories.

Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Putting the #Silverado to Good Use in Very Unique Kinda’ Wayssss

The Multi-Flex Tailgate offers Silverado customers six unique functions, allowing for easier access to bed cargo.

Selfies, red coats, cowgirl vibes and wall murals…anything goes when there’s a 2021 Chevy Silverado in your driveway. #FindNewRoads

10 Fun Ways to Welcome a Cherry Red Chevy Silverado at Home for the Holidays:

1. Dress it up to showcase Christmas Cheer

The 2.7L Turbo adds thousands of pounds of trailering capacity to every configuration.

2. Then use it as a backdrop for holiday props and gifts

3. Have an impromptu photo shoot with a matching red faux fur coat

4. Then go for a drive to spot festive holiday decorations around town

The Siverado’s Cherry Red Tintcoat is one of three new exterior colors available for 2021.

5. Host a front yard viewing party with a projector and plenty of snacks to watch your favorite Holiday movie (you can also do this to watch the new Selena Series on Netflix)

6. Then let the kids play “cops and robbers” on the bed of the truck

The Trail Boss now offers 40/20/40 split-bench front seat and a new Safety Confidence Package which includes Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking and steering wheel audio controls.

7. Get into your cowgirl vaquera vibes and pose for a few shots

8. Then have a laughing attack when you try to explain to your husband how the Silverado’s amazing engine works

The 2.7L Turbo possesses better-than-expected cooling performance

9. Drive the Silverado down Van Nuys Blvd.’s “Mural Mile” (in Pacoima) to check out amazing artwork by local artists

LT Trail Boss are now available with 20-inch black wheels with Goodyear Territory MT Tires.

10. Then finish off your drive with a view of the San Fernando Valley after a hike at Wilson Canyon in Sylmar, CA

Adaptive Ride Control is available on High Country models with 22-inch wheels to provide extra ride comfort

Once you complete all activities on this list, prepare to Keep on Truckin’ in 2021 and #FindNewRoads with the Chevy Silverado. Q-Voooo!

Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Chevy sent us a Silverado and goodies to safely enjoy the premiere of the Selena series on Netflix. All opinions are my own. You can read about other awesome experiences I’ve had with Chevy Loans here, here, and here.

Vino Time!

The TOPA Mountain winery,

named after the Topatopa Mountains in Ventura County, it’s a serene and peaceful place to enjoy a crisp glass of local wine.

My sisters and I became members last year after indulging in several of their varietals and deciding we basically couldn’t continue this life without a membership. Their wine is delicious!

Pictured from L to R: Yours Truly (Anabel), Irene, and Frances Marquez

The winery had shut its doors due to COVID-19 but re-opened in late September/ early October with new rules & guidelines for social distancing.

We were looking for a place to celebrate my little sister Frances’ birthday and Topa Winery seemed like the ideal location.

To visit the winery, guests must make an online reservation ahead of time. Keep in mind the place is in high demand, so weekend reservations are usually booked up as soon as the winery releases available time slots (around noon on Thursdays).

Wine tastings are now served in individual plastic containers but guests are still welcome to bring their own food. My sister Irene made a delicious charcuterie board.

Prosciutto with a slice of Gorgonzola on a multi-grain cracker. This appetizer paired extremely well with Topa Winery’s 2017 Reserve Chardonnay, Bien Nacido.

Welcoming the sunset at Topa Winery is a must! The skies turn pink in Ventura County— a perfect opportunity to delight in their Rosé of Grenache

The winery itself is very flexible— they offer free Wi-Fi, the place is kid-friendly, pets are allowed, there’s plenty of parking available and the staff is lovely.

Plus, if you’re not into wine, you can enjoy a alcohol-free Rosé soda! My family had a wonderful time at Topa Winery and I hope we can return soon.

Check them out, friends... you’ll be glad you did.

Thanks for reading!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Our Great Escape

Camping. It’s not my favorite hobby but something the boys had been asking to do for a long time.

We headed out to Sequoia National Park, where a limited number of reservations are available in certain campgrounds. We stayed at the Sunset Campground located on the Kings Canyon side of the park near the General Grant Sequoia Tree (second largest tree in the world).

The campground area was quiet and serene.

There weren’t many people around, which was perfect for social distancing purposes. There was a bathroom available a short walk away but no showers. We had our own bear box, fire pit and picnic table. We also improvised our own shower using a water bag that hung from a tree and a blue tarp served as a shower curtain.

The kids played all day long.

Benny and Toby were super happy playing hide and seek, pretending to be huntsmen, building their own cabins out of sticks, painting rocks, blowing bubbles and collecting pine cones. There was no cell phone connection, no internet, no screens or tablets, no news alerts constantly making us aware of more bad news. It was just me and the boys at our campsite with the silent breeze from the trees, a few table games and plenty of ingredients to enthusiastically make S’mores…

We hiked up to see the General Grant tree.

We swam in a fresh water river (with actual trout swimming around us) and we cooked all our meals every single day. No Doordash deliveries or Uber Eats, just simple meals that made us look forward to sitting together three times a day.

It was inspiring to be in the middle of nowhere.

I can’t describe how pleasant it felt to experience the slow progression of an entire day with nothing to feel rushed or stressed about. It was also refreshing to see the kids connect with nature. The stars were bright and plentiful. The smell of fresh trees and clean air was really a thing.

After a couple of nights, however, sleeping inside a tent made me miss my bed.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t return. I’m actually very glad we went camping. A visit to the neighboring Giant Forest is a must-do for families. Being surrounded by such immense trees grounded me and reminded me that humans are but tiny creatures in a planet of fantastic and grandiose life forms. We are no more valuable than the majestic sequoias and no more important than the elements that have kept them alive and flourishing for hundreds of years.

Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

#FindNewRoads

 A Truckin’ Good Time!

Friends, I recently received another Chevrolet car loan! 

I did not think this experience would beat my last adventure with the Chevy Bolt EV, when I had a chance to finally get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. But I’ll just say driving a big, powerful truck was a lot of fun and equally empowering (read about my trip to Palm Springs here)!

Further, having the gorgeous red hot truck sitting in our driveway was way too inviting—we just had to create additional memories.

Here are five ways we enjoyed the All-New Chevy Silverado without having to leave our driveway. Feel free to try these at home, friends:

1.     A Spontaneous Puppet Show (organized by the kids)

Because who can resist sitting down on the driveway below and watching their children improvise silly acts that involve hysterical laughs and many references to the word “fart”?

The bed of the truck is super ample and climbing it is easy with CornerStep on the rear bumper.

2.     A Morning Yoga Session

Open the tailgate door on the back of the All-New Chevy Silverado, place a few mats and pillows and get your zen on. It may not be the obvious destination for Downward dog, but it’s definitely fun. If the neighbors look at you funny, just assume the Warrior pose.

3.     An Impromptu Beverage Bar After Yoga

I poured some Agua de Jamaica (fresh hibiscus drink) for Paul, Toby and I after the yoga experience on the bed of the truck. Benny was already at school so he missed out what turned out to be a colorful, flower-decorated beverage bar. The only thing missing were actual bar stools but it gave the truck a pretty sight.

4.     CPR Training Class

My husband Paul is a certified CPR instructor and when he saw the bed of the Chevy Silverado so ample and clean, he transferred his CPR class materials there which gave me an idea—honey, why don’t you teach your classes atop the Chevy Silverado? He wasn’t ready for that proposal but he agreed it would work exceptionally well in transporting many of his CPR dummies.

5.     Bonafide Make-up station

The All-New Chevy Silverado

has plenty of compartments on the front passenger side. There’s one that opens in an upward position, located above the regular glove compartment. Next to the compartments there’s a power outlet where you can connect hot tools to dry, straighten or curl your hair. And if you care about strategic placement, you can place a mirror on the dash board and hang your chandelier earrings while they wait… lol. Then you put on some lipstick to match your red hot truck and everything is Fire.

There are clearly many other things the truck can help you accomplish—

It can serve as campsite stage, a ball pit (Toby’s idea) or an arcade (Benny’s idea). Whatever it is, this truck is super legit and we fell in love with it. That is all.

Thank you, Chevrolet.

I hope we continue crossing paths and finding new roads together again! 

And thanks for reading, friends!

Xoxo,

-Anabel M.

I received a Chevy vehicle loan in exchange for a blog review. All Opinions are my own.

I Scream for Ice Cream

A New Ice Cream Experience

Museum of Ice Cream 2.0 launched recently in San Francisco, friends!

After welcoming 1.3 million guests across five locations and selling out for 12 months straight, Museum of Ice Cream made San Francisco its first permanent location in Fall 2018 and I couldn’t help but take the boys to check it out back then:

Now MOIC San Francisco

is introducing the next generation product, MOIC 2.0 featuring a newly reimagined experience including their largest Sprinkle Pool to date (4x the size), new installations, limited-run shows, brand new ice cream tastings, and a free and publicly accessible cafe and shop that will make foodies melt!!

What Museum of Ice Cream Has Accomplished:

• Built a Movement

  • The MOIC movement has spread across the globe. Having employed over 1,000 millennials, their #TEAMMOIC, experiences, products, and mission have reached every city in America and touched over 80 countries. 

  • Since launching in 2016, ice cream has remained the power force behind uniting communities, fulfilling the real meaning of MOIC: "Movement Of Imagination and Connection." They are on a mission to unite the world through its universal love of ice cream. 

• Created Unprecedented Demand

  • In New York City, Museum of Ice Cream faced a 200,000 person waitlist after its initial 2016 run. In Los Angeles, only 1 in 10 inquiries were able to secure tickets during its ten-month residency. Museum of Ice Cream then expanded to Miami Beach before arriving at its iconic, permanent home in San Francisco, in the heart of downtown San Francisco and right by Union Square.

• "Offline" Innovation

  • Museum of Ice Cream has sought to reignite innovation in the offline world, spurning entertainment and brand concepts to rethink a personal approach to retail, hospitality, and entertainment. 

Why San Francisco?, You ask.

• Well, let’s just say it sold 500,000 tickets over its first year. MOIC decided that its iconic location in the historic bank building in downtown San Francisco would be its first permanent flagship.

• According to the company, its presence there provides an alternative narrative to the tech conversation in San Francisco— “that social media or mobile technology can never replace or surpass human to human connection… or even compete with a delicious ice cream sundae with rainbow sprinkles.”

A first ever, limited-run immersive experience "Sprinkle Spectacular" is running now through May 27, their new characters will lead guests on an adventure through the Museum, ending in the world's largest sprinkle pool party!

See you at MOIC San Francisco?

I’m really thinking about returning for more photo sessions before the boys grow up and refuse to be dressed in pink and mint colors!

Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

A Pop of Color & Good Times!

Yay to Bread Bowls, Balloons and Beignets!

Sometimes it’s better to show good times than to write about them, right friends? For that, I thank the mighty iPhone camera which captured many awesome memories from our February 2019 trip to San Francisco.

We actually didn’t overbook ourselves with museum outings and exploration journeys. Instead we thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring few locations. Those included Chinatown, Fishermen’s Wharf and the Shipyard area of the city where my sister Irene’s fabulous apartment is located. Here are our 21 favorite moments from our most recent trip to the city.

1. Mad about having to take pictures in front of a Bruce Lee Mural in Chinatown

I mean, how can you enjoy shopping for fireworks and swords at the many shops in San Francisco’s Chinatown when you have to pose for pictures in front of a ginormous mural of Bruce Lee!? Benny wasn’t having it:

2. But happy to do a Michael Jackson dance in front of a Dragon Mural

Because after shopping for toys, fireworks and swords the world is a better place so now posing in front of a Chinatown mural isn’t enough, it takes dancing in front of a Chinatown Mural to show your happiness:

3. Ruining the perfect photo opportunity in front of a Trolley to look at Chinese Lanterns (which were located all over the place)

Toby simply would not turn to smile at the camera. Meanwhile, his fabulous auntie Irene kept a perfect pose…even after the Trolley left. Yasssss, queen:

4. Finding small outdoor chairs to take in the sun.

There’s a small convenience store in the Shipyard area of San Francisco where my sister lives. Outside of the store there are kid size tables and benches, which were quickly spotted and adequately used by these two to take in some sun in chilly weather:

5. Meeting two questionable characters

When Paul saw these two upon arriving at Fishermen’s Wharf, he jumped at the opportunity to pose for a picture… even if the suggested tip was $40 (ugh!). I was overall annoyed. Plus, I thought the character with the blonde hair should’ve been much taller and neither of them should ever be spotted in SF but weird things happen sometimes…

6. Letting the kids enjoy ice cream before lunchtime in very cold weather

The only condition was that they smile for the camera in front of the signature Ben & Jerry’s Cow logo (because it included a picture of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge). We ended up sharing a single scoop of their Cherry Garcia flavor.

7. Buying the kids extra-large balloon figures

Toby wanted Cookie Monster. Benny wanted an Octopus with pink tentacles. Both boys won the affection of the balloon maker and got free green swords in addition to their large balloons.

8. Refusing to leave the bench after winning a sword fight.

The boys had many balloon sword fights that often ended in passers-by getting a bit annoyed. Then we decided it was time to go but Toby didn’t want to step down from his pedestal. The balloons turned into the biggest inconvenience of the day. And every time cookie monster lost a limb, Toby would cry harder.

9. Discovering the Franciscan Crab House

This super cool restaurant is located across the street from the world-famous Boudin. But crossing the street to stand in a long line with two boys and four large balloons was a bit much so we opted for convenience and ate at the Franciscan Crab House. No regrets there.

10. The Franciscan Crab House’s Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl

This was honestly soooo delish. The boys didn’t eat fish (Benny has a shellfish allergy), we ordered “Chicken & Chips” for them which were very good.

11. The Beignets with powdered sugar and vanilla cream dip

Ok. Maybe they overdid it with the powdered sugar. But these were awesome. We shared an order of three beignets and enjoyed them a lot.

12. Discovering the Musée Mécanique

Just think of a huge arcade with nothing but antique games (which are all coin operated). This was probably more enjoyable for Paul and I but the boys had a blast… See below to learn why.

13. A big clown lady sings for only $0.25

This is kinda freaky and kind of amazing all at once. The puppet lady (left) moves and sings a haunting tune which probably would give me chills and nightmares in the dark.

14. Arm wrestling with a vintage luchador machine

Benny didn’t quite grasp the concept but he tried winning the match. It was too fun to watch.

15. Being declared a “LOVABLE” person after paying $0.50 to sit on the Throne of Love.

I mean, I coulda’ told you that about me (lol)…. but it’s always nice when a mysterious chair says it. Perhaps, the heavier the person, the nicer the results?

16. The Thimble Theater Dancing Men

The music, the dance moves, the craftsmanship to create these puppets… it’s all too great.

17. Peppy the Singing and Dancing Clown…That You Control

Patrons who pay a quarter can actually control the clown’s moves by pushing buttons to move its hands and legs. Its quite fantastic:

18. Visiting Spark Food Truck Park

This place has plenty of food trucks, a booze booth, games for the kids and an area to reserve your own swinging chairs around a bonfire where you’re provided with all the ingredients to make a one-of-a-kind S’mores creation.

19. When Benny asked a couple for marshmallows at Spark

The couple who had reserved the private area to enjoy swinging chairs around a bonfire said yes to letting Benny have a marshmallow. In turn, Benny invited his newfound friends to enjoy marshmallows too. He assumed of course, that if the couple had allowed him to eat, they would be okay having an additional three kids mooch off their sweet treats.

20. Toby deciding he didn’t want to sit with us.

Instead, he spent time crawling in and out of a tented table area. And interrupting us frequently so we could wave back at him.

21. Leaving San Francisco after the boys destroyed my sister’s apartment

She was so gracious about it. True story— in a span of three days, the boys slid down one of her living room walls, jumped on top of her microwave (don’t ask), one of the boys threw up on her gorgeous bed throw (it happens), they ate all her snacks, marked greasy hand prints on her dining room chairs and well, many more things… Thanks for being a great host, Irenee! Love you.

We were really tired

by the time we returned home from our trip. But it was worth it. Here’s a blog post where I explain why it’s worth the hassle to travel with little kids.

Thanks for reading friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M

Golden Memories

Benny & Toby boarding a plane in Burbank!

It’s worth the Stress!

Selfie with my little Toby

Let me keep it real, friends— A weekend getaway with my family generally means a lot of chasing after boys, messy and hyper hotel nights, running late to reservations plus a major test to our patience.

That’s because when we’re on ‘travel mode’ Paul and I have to manage the stress that comes with crises such as losing a toddler shoe and realizing it only after getting through airport security or managing fights that started because the younger kid got more M&Ms, or fixing diaper blowouts in a dirty public restroom in a shady part of an unfamiliar town, or the inevitable interruption of routine that includes a lack of necessary naps and downtime for the boys. Our Presidents Day weekend trip to San Francisco was no different. Traveling with kids is SO. MUCH. WORK!

But The thing about traveling with little ones

is that somewhere along the dreaded experience of getting through long lines at the airport and figuring out dinner for hungry and picky little palates, we really bond as a family unit. While we’re suddenly immersed in a world of unknowns one thing we do know is that we have each other no matter where we are— which is a very powerful energy to carry around, friends! The unique feeling of as-long-as-we’re-together-everything-will-be-okay, reaches level 1,000,000 and that’s when you realize Family. Is. Everything.

The unforgettable experiences we shared,

the hilarious things that happened and laughs we had are very much part of our memories now. Plus, the diversity of cultures, people, food and experiences we encountered in San Francisco helped our kids learn more about the world we live in.

Colorful buildings can be appreciated in San Francisco’s Chinatown

While staying home and avoiding a disruption

to what’s comfortable, familiar and safe is always easier, it’s also good to take a leap of faith in the name of giving our kids new things to learn, experience and enjoy. That’s not saying I could handle doing this several times a month or anything like that— my goodness, just the packing and unpacking alone is a humongous task. What I’m saying is that traveling with kids can be a lot fun. Remember that in these days of fast communications and problem solving technology— there’s nothing you can’t fix while out of town. Yes, you’ll be tired and perhaps a little grouchy at the end of each day… but not without having seen your kids laugh and thrive in an environment that’s not their own. That’s my two cents.

Benny enjoys a tour of the cockpit with a special opportunity to take the Captain’s seat.

The captain even lent his hat for a photo-op!

Thanks for reading, friends!

Click here for funny stories and good memories of our February 2019 trip to San Francisco.

Xo,

-Anabel M.

A First Class Adventure (Part 3 of 3)

To Teotihuacan (Place of the Gods)…

A Trip to Mexico City certainly wouldn’t have been complete without our fix of magical Indigenous history.

Our dear cousin Gabi, aunt Rosi, uncle Mace and goddaughter Monse picked us up and drove us to Teotihuacan, land of the Majestic Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Teotihuacan is located about 30 miles Northeast of Mexico City.

For this journey, we booked a tour guide who walked us through some of the ancient history and shared incredible stories that helped us begin to understand how a civilization without technology as we know it today— could have built such a sophisticated system with urban and economic structures.

We learned the Valley of Teotihuacan was built by hand

by a civilization of people that ultimately abandoned it. Nobody really knows why the Teotihuacanos left such an incredible place they had created from scratch. All we know is that 1,000 years later, the Aztecs discovered this ancient city and basically moved in!

They turned it into the powerful Aztec Empire we’ve heard about and admired…A place where people thrived and also where many spiritual ceremonies of worship and sacrifice took place.

We tried climbing the Pyramid of the Sun but

it was a Sunday afternoon which meant it was an extremely busy day. Locals get in free on Sundays, the weather was warm and inviting and dozens of tourist buses could be seen lining up near the entrance. Our wait time to climb to the top of the pyramid was two hours.

We decided to only climb halfway. That would give us time to explore more areas and enjoy a nice local meal.

After our Pyramid quest,

we headed to a nearby restaurant where we savored the likes of enchiladas, tostadas and Ranchera BBQ cuts with sides of rice, beans and salsa. My uncle also ordered a speciality dish called Escamoles. These are ant larvae (eggs). To be honest, I wasn’t feeling the dish but I also didn’t want to feel like I skipped on an opportunity to taste a local delicacy. So I went for it.

I’ll just say I probably won’t order Escamoles on my next trip to Mexico City but at least they’re off the bucket list!

The morning after visiting the Pyramids,

we woke up with MAJOR sunburns. Nobody warned us that the bright sun shining down over Teotihuacan would be so powerful… wow! Note to self: Don’t forget the suncreen next time. Fortunately, we were in Mexico so getting a hold of some fresh aloe vera was not a problem.

The time had arrived to head to the airport and return home. But we managed to take one last stroll around the Roma neighborhood and captured numerous colorful murals and artwork. Many of the works were created as part of a campaign to motivate the community after Mexico’s powerful 2018 earthquake. The following are some of my faves #VaPorLaRoma

Overall, our Mexico City trip was fantastic.

Ok, I may have gained a few pounds (again) but every culinary, cultural, musical and life experience in Mexico City was well worth it!

This trip only happened because I attended the 2018 We All Grow Latina Summit where Delta Airlines was a sponsor offering first-class rountrip airfare as raffle prizes.

Por sus atenciones y productos, oportunidades, muchísimas gracias We All Grow Latina Network y Gracias Delta Airlines.

Por tu magia y encantadora historia y cultura, ¡gracias México!

And to my sissy who’s become one heck of a badass travel buddy—

thanks for joining me, hermanita!

Thanks for following along our first class adventure and travel journey, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

P.S. For Part One of our First Class Adventure Click Here

For Part Two of our First Class Adventure Click Here

A First Class Adventure (Part 2 of 3)

How we did A LOT in a Single Day in Mexico City

On our first day in Mexico City (my sister Frances and I enjoyed a free trip thanks to a Delta Airlines raffle I won last year), we managed to do a whole lot of stuff. I think this had to do with several factors:

a) We used Uber for all our transportation needs, which was very affordable and convenient.

b) We stayed at an AirBnB in a very safe area called Roma Norte that was located near many great restaurants and bars

c) We did NOT have small children to watch (the kids stayed home with Paul).

Small shrines in honor of Mexico’s Patron Saint, The Virgin Mary of Guadalupe can be found throughout Mexico City’s neighborhoods, regardless of the colonia’s socioeconomic status.

This is how we enjoyed our Saturday:

We started off with a light breakfast at super fun restaurant called Lalo! Think of a hipster, colorful and crowded cafeteria style place with Mexican food options for breakfast like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros or simple a la carte selections like pastries and coffee (which is what we did).

After Lalo!, we headed out to the Museo de la Mujer,

It’s located in Downtown Mexico City (centro). The Museum of Women is rather small (a two-story historic building with about half a dozen small exhibit rooms) but it does a great job explaining how the women’s civil rights movement came to fruition in Mexico. For this museum, I recommend a lot of time to read through the many historical descriptions. There aren’t many photo ops at this museum and there’s definitely more to read than see. Still, a fantastic opportunity to enrich your Mexican girl power knowledge.

After the museum, we visited Mercado La Ciudadela—

The Mercado Artesanal La Ciudadela is an arts and crafts market that’s very safe, clean and features beautiful Mexican gifts and mementos— from handmade copper jewelry and Luchador masks, to furniture, pottery and leather goods. It’s really incredible.

Around the corner from La Ciudadela, we noticed a park…

The park seemed to be hosting a type of outdoor ballroom dancing event. We walked towards it and discovered a full-blown dancing fest. Turns out, every Saturday hundreds gather at La Plaza de a Ciudadela to dance to the tunes of Danzón, a genre of music from Cuba made popular in Mexico in the 30s and 40s. It that has hints of Rumba, Son and Cha-cha-cha. As you could imagine, the music got me and before I knew it, I was dancing with a friendly 80-year old man!

The good energy from the Danzón, got us hungry…

We headed to el Mercado de San Juan Gourmet for a bite or two. But upon discovering this ginormous market, we decided we wouldn’t eat there, but rather explore the many offerings each vendor presented. We found skinned rabbits, chocolate covered scorpions, deer meat, crocodile sausage and a bunch of other rare foods. We limited our palates to trying fruit from several stands— mmmm, the figs and berries were the best!

From there we decided to finally have lunch

We headed back to the area where we were staying and decided to explore Mercado Roma.

At Mercado Roma, we found an indoor gourmet food court with amazing options. Still, we couldn’t escape our craving for tacos. We went for tacos and beer. Our order came with three tacos and a Coronita… yum!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious churro from El Moro, which has been a landmark in the Roma area since 1935.

We were so stuffed from the tacos that we decided to walk home

We arrived back at our AirBnB apartment, took some time to relax and headed out to Mexico’s historic center for a drink at a bar called Xamán.

Since Frances and I have a history of discovering unique bars and ordering one-of-a-kind beverages (I’ll share our Hong Kong story later), we knew we had to keep the tradition alive. We ordered a drink that turned out to be a ginormous beverage that hung from the ceiling. The Cayuco drink was made with Havana 7 Rum, Mandarin Napoleon, Hibiscus Nectar, Lime Juice, Mandarin Juice, Quince Fruit Compote and Mineral Water. The way I would describe the taste is similar to that of a refreshing smoked Mai Tai:

After our fantastic drink at Xamán Bar, we headed out to Coyoacan

Coyoacan is a popular area of Mexico City mostly known for being the home of famed artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. At the center of Coyoacan is a popular plaza with restaurants, bars and live entertainment. There is also a two-story marketplace with Mexican crafts, clothing, toys and candy. To end the night, we dined at Cantina La Coyoacana. The restaurant offers a Mexican menu, an impressive tequila menu and a lively mariachi on weekends. Warning: The wait to dine here can be long. We waited for about an hour before getting seated… but it was totally worth it! The Molcajete we ordered arrived with plenty of cuts, chicharrón, cheese, grilled onions, hot sauce and tortillas to make it a most unforgettable dinner….

And that’s how we concluded Day One of our Mexico City Adventures!

Thanks for reading friends!

Kindly CLICK HERE to read about our Day Two adventures!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

A First Class Adventure! (Part 1 of 3)

Our First Night in Mexico City

Friends, every now and then I get lucky with amazing opportunities. I blame it the law of universal attraction and maybe a little bit of pixie dust.

Last Spring, I attended the incredible We All Grow Summit, a conference created by Bossmom Ana Flores for Latina influencers and content creators (currently listed as one of the best conferences for women by Forbes).

A Keynote speaker at the 2018 We All Grow Latina Summit

Delta Airlines was a sponsor at We All Grow Summit

and they had a really cool activation where conference attendees were able to learn more about the airline, its many flight features and even network with the airline’s PR reps. Before leaving the suite, guests had a chance to win a number of prizes by spinning a fun prize wheel.

When my sister Frances spun the wheel, she got a free Starbucks gift card (she was happy).

When I spun the wheel, I learned I would be entered into a separate raffle for a chance to win first-class, round trip tickets to one of many destinations.

Low and behold, a few weeks later, I received news that I’d won the raffle prize trip to Mexico City!

Fast forward to January 2019

and we arrived at LAX ready to embark on an adventure to Mexico City, a place we hold dear to our hearts because that’s where my mom is from. We’ve been visiting the Mexican Capitol (previously known as ‘El D.F.’) since we were little girls and there’s always so much to do and see!

To start the journey, we learned that with our First-class tickets, we’d have access to Delta Airline’s Sky Club, located on the 4th floor of Terminal 2 at LAX.

The selfie game turns up a notch when I’m on vacay mode!!!

The Delta Sky Club is an exclusive lounge

for Sky Priority Members (generally first class passengers and folks who’ve racked up a lot of Delta Sky points).

The Sky Club is a great place to work, rest, wine and dine!

Passengers can enjoy this area before it’s time to board the plane at their respective gates.

Offerings at the Delta Sky Club include:

Hot and cold food buffets, snacks, free publications like the L.A. Times and an open bar. Cheers, friends!

Once aboard the plane (we actually flew on an Aeromexico flight operated by Delta), we were thrilled to be seated at the very front row!

First class passengers get

very ample seats, a really nice meal and a wide selection of drinks (including alcoholic beverages).

Even though WiFi was not included on this particular flight, the airline’s internet service, GoGoFlight was very reasonably priced.

Overall, the 3-hour flight was smooth, except for maybe about 15 minutes of turbulence. I took a short nap and before I knew it, we were descending!

Our First Class lunch on Aeromexico operated by Delta

Upon arriving at the Benito Juarez International Airport,

getting to our luggage was easy since it was marked with a yellow “priority” tag. For this trip, we ordered a private car company to pick us up from the airport. We figured, if Delta had given us this unique opportunity to fly first class, might as well make it an all-around first-class adventure!

The Mexico City Airport has these huge colorful pots decorating many of the general areas!

For the next part of our Mexico City journey

which includes photos of our excursions, meals, tours, friends, art and cultural experiences, CLICK HERE!

Thanks for reading friends and thank you, Delta and We All Grow Latina for allowing these Latina sisters to visit our mami’s hometown!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Fun Times at the Vidanta Resort

Hello November in Mexico!

Friends, I went on a mini vacation with my husband and upon arriving, the man I’ve been married to for eleven years suddenly became my boyfriend again… Awwww.

 Paul and I were due for a getaway.

We needed to take a few days to reconnect and escape the many stressful factors that accompany demanding jobs, small children, general adult responsibilities and the ridiculously fast-paced Los Angeles life.

My sister and parents agreed to take care of the boys and off we went.

When we found ourselves inside a gorgeous tropical paradise with piña coladas awaiting— after having sat next to each other, laughed and flirted a little on the plane — we knew we had made the right decision to leave everything on hold and focus on each other. It took a little adjusting because, let’s face it, we’re used to disagreeing here and there, but once we arrived, I felt like his girlfriend again… it was so perfect!

Our friends Connie and Ricardo

own a timeshare at the Vidanta Resort in Puerto Vallarta and they invited us to travel and enjoy the many indulgences of this extraordinary complex of hotels, restaurants, shops, bars and swimming attractions. We stayed at the Grand Mayan Hotel within the Vidanta Resort.

We had a one-bedroom suite with a

soaking pool in our private terrace, a huge bathtub and a spacious kitchenette. Not too far was a fantastic “Shark” Bar; a Cantina-style restaurant that served steak Chicharrones (to die for) and held a nightly water show. In our building we had an arts & crafts room where guests could learn to make Mexican artwork (or pose for pictures like me…lol).

We met face-to-face with iguanas,

raccoons and hawks in a tropical jungle setting that featured a lazy river, numerous beautifully designed pools with a view of the ocean, gorgeous shows and lively nightly entertainment.

The food was great,

the ambiance was perfect and even though we missed our boys on Halloween night, we enjoyed taking the time to remind each other why we got married to begin with… he’s my better half!

Getting away from everything was necessary and something I recommend to all married couples.

The Vidanta Resort is beautiful, friends.

Reservations for non-members start at approximately $700/night for a one-bedroom suite at the Grand Mayan.

A brand-new, state-of-the-art Cirque du Soleil Theme Park is currently under construction and the first phase will be inaugurated in 2020…. I can’t wait to return!

 Thanks Connie & Ricardo…

We had a blast. Love you guys!

Thanks for reading, friends!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Fun in the Desert Sun!

Laughlin, Nevada for the Win

Nothing beats getting away for a weekend without going too far.

What I mean by that is–– while we'd be thrilled to visit Tokyo and Sao Paolo and Oahu, a vacation with kids is, well, hardly a vacation for mom and dad. It's a lot of work and stress and round-the-clock snack requests and bathroom trips and while seeing the little smiles on their faces makes it all worth it, returning home usually calls for another vacation just to give us a chance to decompress! We've ventured on several international trips with Benny but when Toby arrived we decided to keep things muuuuuuuch simpler and hassle-free.

These days,

a dream vacation means a road trip to San Francisco, where we make multiple stops along the way; or a train ride to San Diego where we end up at the Marina and enjoy arcade time and ice cream cones. Most recently, we were invited to hang out in Laughlin, Nevada, with some good friends who own a home & a boat near the Colorado River.

Our friend Laurie who's been enjoying the Mohave Lake since childhood!

It sounded like a perfect destination:

close enough to drive back home if an emergency occurred, but far away to feel the joy of being on family vacation-mode. The trip was so, so fun.

We hung out at Lake Mohave for two straight days-- cruising on our friends' boat, swimming for hours, enjoying adult beverages and letting the kids eat all the chips, snacks and juice they wanted (we actually had sandwiches, fruit and veggies too).

There's something about venturing off into the water

that is very relaxing. For one, there's no internet service in the lake, located in the middle of the desert.  That completely removes you from the tendency to check your phone every few minutes.

Fact: I still don't know how to swim! But life jackets are plentiful. There are even loaners for guests to use before heading out to the lake.

The desert heat is a whole other level of hot,

which makes you want to stay cool in the water and hug your kids in their adorable little floaties. Toby decided to throw rocks into the lake for about 30 minutes. He laughed every time a rock would hit the water.

Benny decided to play good guys v. bad guys using small water guns and exchanged water attacks with his new buddy Andrew. Then he hopped out of the water and joyfully acted as if he lived in, and owned the boat while we hung out in the water.

Lake Mohave offers

237 miles of shoreline and nearly 200 sandy beach cove areas that can only be accessed by boat. It's really fun to scope out the different beaches and decide where your crew will settle for the day.

Once you find a spot that everyone agrees on,

you basically mark your territory by parking the boat and setting up your fun zone, which usually includes tents, beach chairs, tables, coolers, water games and water toys. Those seeking bigger water thrills take their Jet Skis and Sea-Doo's.

A quick stop in front of this fun mural at a Jerky shop along Route 66 on our way home from Laughlin.

By the time you wrap up for the day

and arrive at your accommodations (we stayed at our friends' super comfy house), you've had plenty of fun in the sun and the only thing left to do is rest and relax some more.

Then if you have time the next morning, you can head over to Casino drive, enjoy a breakfast buffet and try your luck at a slot machine or Blackjack table before returning to Los Angeles.

It's exactly what we did and drove home $30 richer. Lol. It was an overall wonderful escape.

Thanks Alex and Laurie! We can't wait to hang out again!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Gimme Some Dim Sum!

Don’t we all love small bites?

I knew my first Dim Sum experience would be awesome because I love appetizers and finger foods. They make me feel as though I’m not eating a lot when in reality, I probably end up eating more than a regular meal.

But I digress.

Dim Sum is a Chinese cuisine where foods are prepared in small bite-sized portions. They generally consist of fried dumplings, steamed buns, rice rolls and sesame balls, each containing a filling, which can range from meat and veggies to sweet cream and fruit sauce. There are also cakes, puddings and tea to complement the Dim Sum Experience.

In Los Angeles, there are plenty of Chinese Restaurants that offer Dim Sum. However, it had never really appealed to me. I probably never gave it enough attention and always associated it with pork dumplings which I’m not too crazy about.

But over the summer, I visited Hong Kong with my little sister.

There was no avoiding it. If I was ever thinking of giving Dim Sum a try, then I’d better do it in China, the very country that invented it.

We went to Yum Cha (which stands for “Drink Tea” in Cantonese). It’s a fabulously chic and modern Dim Sum café known for its playful, cartoon-themed take on Dim Sum. I wanted to order everything from the menu but opted for only a few items and here’s a little about the experience:

The set-up was beautiful—

Neutral-toned decor with pastel colored china. Everything about the place was gorgeous. No wonder it’s one of the most instagrammed cafés in Hong Kong! The Dim Sum arrives in individual steamer baskets and small plates.

The BBQ Pork Buns

were delicious.

These are steamed buns (decorated to look like Piggies) filled with BBQ Pork. It tasted really good.

Dim Sum is not to be eaten, say, like sushi.

You don’t necessarily stick an entire food portion in your mouth at once. Taking small bites and savoring each dish is particularly fun and oftentimes encouraged.

The BBQ Pork Buns were almost too cute to eat though.

I felt like one of the buns was going to start squealing before I ate it. And, I must add, the buns are actually quite filling. I ate one and-a-half which was perfect to make room for tea and dessert.

The Hot Custard Buns

had a sweet mango custard filling.

They were heavenly. But it soon became apparent that we had ordered items to appease our sweet tooth rather than to fuel our long hike so we didn’t finish all of them, especially since we were still waiting on drum roll please…..

The Coconut Red Bean Cup and Cotton Cloud!

This was the dessert that gave us the ultimate sugar rush. Still, we carried on, eating a good portion of the red bean and coconut pudding (which you can hardly see because the cotton candy cloud is so large)… Yum!

So there you have it friends! My first Dim Sum in experience in Hong Kong, was delicious.

Stay tuned for more random posts of my summer Asia adventures!

Thanks for reading,

Xo,

-Anabel M.