mensweardog.tumbler.com

Love that site!  Gives great fashion advice for men too!

Resources:

mensweardog.tumbler.com

Elmwood Cafe, College Avenue, Berkeley

I was in the Elmwood Cafe again the other day, and I had a large cup of decaf chai!  The serve their warm drinks in extra special large cups which I've always loved.  They serve food and drinks from 11AM to 10PM, and the specials change daily.  They also serve beer and wine.  I like to cozy up to a window, have some food and write in my journal.  This place is also next to Mrs. Dolloways for  fun book shopping afterwards.  They also give you a chip to put in your favorite charity box, the winners get money from Elmwood Cafe.

Resources:

Elmwood Cafe
2900 College Avenue, Berkeley, CA  94705
(510) 843-1300
Food and drinks served from 11AM to 10PM

Ask a grandparent for advice.....

Sometimes we want to get advice from someone with decades of experience.  Elder Wisdom Circle, a nonprofit organization based in Walnut Creek, makes this advice available through the internet.  Five hundred volunteers are available from around the country that are age 60 to 100, to help answer questions about individual problems.

Resources:

www.elderwisdomcircle.org

warm feet, warm heart- wool socks

I love the Smartwool hiking socks!  I got a  pair for my husband and when I wore them I loved them! They are soft and warm!  These socks actually regulate your body temperature keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so you can wear them all year round.  My feet get really cold so wearing these felt so comfortable and cozy!   The company is also committed to using environmentally sensitive and renewable materials.


Resources:

Smartwool hiking socks
made in USA, imported yarn
Smartwool corporation
P.O. Box 774928
Steamboat Springs, Colorado  80477
1-866-298-9703
www.smartwool.com

Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, CA

At an event I went to last night I met a woman who went with her husband to the Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, CA.  It sounded amazing.  They didn't leave for three days since there was so much to do right on property!  The restaurant has its own garden!  There is a gorgeous spa.  Every night there is a s'more area set up by the fire so you can roast s'mores to your heart's delight.  She couldn't say enough wonderful things about the place!

Resources:

Carmel Valley Ranch
carmelvalleyranch.com

Last day to outdoor ice skate in Marin!

Today is the last day to skate outdoors at the Marin on Ice this season!  The most beautiful time is at night since they have twinkling lights that surround the ice skating rink.  Since the skating rink is at the mall, there are plenty of places to grab a meal or a dessert before or after skating.

Resources:

Marin on Ice
Dates open, November 10, 2012 to January 13, 2013
(Today is the last day of the season, the hours today are from 12 noon to 10 PM tonight)
Directions:  Marin on Ice is located at the Northgate Mall in San Rafael, CA, just off Hwy. 101.
Cost:  $15.00 per person, includes skating and ice skate rentals.  The skate buddies are $5.00.
Tip:  No lockers are available so leave valuable purses, shoes, and bags at home.  There are wood cubbies for shoes and jackets.

wet noses, warm hearts, pets always love you!

I'm writing today about ARF in Walnut Creek, CA.   I went there yesterday with my son as we are looking for a dog to join our family.  This is the second time we have visited and though we haven't found our dog soul-mate yet, we are still looking!

A few facts from the annual report from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 share why I think that ARF is such a wonderful place!
-1,974 dogs and cats were adopted from ARF  (Those dogs were from public shelters where they had run out of time)
-3,357 spay and neuter surgeries (they provide community low-cost services and $25 spay/neuter for Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas
-85,724 adult volunteer hours
-172,826 pounds of donated pet food (Distributed to local low-income families to provide for their pets)


Community Service at ARF-  There are four hour community service days to students grades 6-12.  Community service days create projects to benefit ARF shelter animals, such as creating enrichment items for ARF animals, baking dog treats, landscaping and animal care cleaning tasks, etc.  As everyone knows now, colleges are looking for not just grades but students with character.



Resources:

ARF
2890 Mitchell Drive
Walnut Creek, CA  94598
www.arf.net

Flu season- I'm sick!

I have the flu!  I can barely write as I feel so lousy.  My friend, a nurse practitioner, told me to drink ginger tea as my stomache hurts really bad!  Other things I'm trying to do is stay warm.  I asked my husband to pick up a hot water bottle for me a few days ago, he didn't, so I'm still cold at night.  I am going to make a big pot of chicken noodle soup today so I'll post the recipe later, if it is yummy.  I bought some ginger soda at Whole Foods, and that helped a little.  This flu that is going around is BAD!

Bellissima Zen Spa- Berkeley, CA

This past week I got a mani/pedi with Ana at Bellissima Zen Spa.  The place was really relaxing and I got a great treatment!

Resources:

Ana
Bellissima Zen Spa, for men and women
skin care, massage, body treatments, waxing, manicures, spa pedicures
3014 Shattuck Avenue at Ashby and Emerson
Berkeley, CA
Phone:  510-666-0338

Speisekammer restaurant and entertainment

Last night when I was having dinner with my son at Speisekammer, I noticed a brochure about how they also have entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights!

I loved my dinner last night, and it is a cozy atmosphere.  I want to go back soon!

Resources:

Speisekammer
2424 Lincoln Avenue
Alameda, CA  94501
lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday
(510)  522-1300

Music at Speisekammer, 8:30PM, no charge, this calender is through the month of January, see website for future entertainment.

Friday, Jan. 4  Atomic Junior, jump blues and swing (and Fri. 2/1)
Saturday, Jan. 5 Kit & The Branded Men, country, (and Sat. 2/2)
Thursday, Jan. 10 Le Jazz Hot Trio (guitar jazz in the vein of django reinhardt)
Friday, Jan. 11 Park Street Trio (cool jazz)
Saturday, Jan. 12  Americano Social Club (european cafe music)
Thursday, Jan. 17 Mitch Polzak & The Resonators (bluegrass) (& Fri 2/8)
Friday, Jan. 18 Jinx Jones Jazz-A-Billy All-Stars (& Fri. 12/15)
saturday, Jan. 19 Jimbo Trout & The Fish People (old timey roots music)
Friday, Jan. 25  Spill The Wine (party band, R&B,funk, soul)
Sat. Jan. 26, Howell Devine, (gritty missippippi blues) (& Sat. 2/23)
Thurs. Jan. 31, Michael Barrett & Shiplett (local singer songwriters)

Outdoor ice skating in Alameda until January 21st

Last night I went ice skating at the Little Ice Rink in Alameda with my son.  The rink is not that little and they take really good care of the ice.  After each session they groom the ice so it is really smooth skating.  It is beautiful being by the beach and smelling the fresh area, it really lifted my mood!

Resources:

The Little Ice Rink
523 South Shore Center West
Alameda, CA  94501
(510) 521-8100
The rink is open until January 21, 2013
The rink is available for parties, call (510) 872-1773, for more information

The ice rink is close to Speisekammer German Restaurant, which has yummy German food.  We went there last night and I thought it was delicious!  See next blog for more information!

German Restaurant with Stamptisch in Alameda, CA

Tonight I'm going to the Speisekammer Restaurant in Alameda, CA.  At 7:30PM on Thursdays they have Stamptisch, which is where a group of people speak German.  Anyone who speaks German or wants to practice their German is welcome.

Resources:

Speisekammer
2424 Lincoln Ave.
Alameda, CA

Where to outdoor skate in Alameda, CA?

The address for the Little Skate Outdoor Ice Skating is the following:

Little Skate
523 South Shore Center, West
Alameda, CA
94501

Outdoor ice skating rink in Alameda still open!

The ice skating rink in Alameda is still open, we are going there in a few hours!

Long Barn Lodge, Long Barn, CA

We just got back from Long Barn, CA.  It is a perfect solution for big city and suburban burn out!  After taking a walk in the snow, ice skating in the old barn (they even have these big true value white buckets that adults and children are using to help them skate so it is perfect if you are an adult beginner learning.)  Bring your own food and rent a cabin if you want to cook.  It is gorgeous up there and I wish I was still there!

Long Barn event center, weddings, ice skating, etc.

The Long Barn motel and ice skating rink is a great place for couples with children.  We stayed there and there are children everywhere!

In the spring, summer and early fall the ice skating rink on the property turns into an event center which holds up to 300 guests!

If you go and visit in the winter, there is an ice skating rink. The drive there can be icy so bring chains for your car.  Also, there are NO restaurants walking distance from the motel and cabins, so I highly recommend bringing food or takeout.  Some of the cabins have kitchens, but not all of them.

In 1925, rancher Warren Beal built the Long Barn Lodge so people driving over the Sonora Pass could stop for food and lodging.  Long Barn continues to be a fun, historical destination stop!


The ice rink opened on November 9, 2012 for the 42nd season!

Resources:
Long Barn Lodge
25957 Long Barn Rd.
Long Barn, CA
95335
www.longbarn.com/history.php
(209) 586-3533
Ice skating
www.longbarn.com/iceskating.php