All posts filed under: Blogging with WordPress

Travel: The Art of Solo Travel

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My friend of 20 plus years used to travel alone, through unique road trips she plotted out herself. I couldn’t wait until she returned from one of her excursions so she can whisk me away with her stories, over Mexican dinner and a pitcher of margarita. So today’s collection of articles is in honor of my friend and her solo fascinating trips…     Have you traveled solo? Where to? And do you recommend it? This is something I’m debating for the first time this year – finger’s crossed   {featured image source}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Beef Stew Updated

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My mother is so cute. She attempted a beef stew last night and when I walked into her kitchen to check in on her after the craziness called my life, she told me she had no idea why the meal tasted bland. I took a peek into the pot and noticed, a dozen pieces of cubed beef simply boiled with a few slices of onion and peppercorn – which makes the best of broth, but not really the ideal beef stew without the veggies and some sort of sauce. I reassured her that I could salvage the boiled beef cubes by turning it into a mouth-watering meal with a side of mashed potatoes (her eyes lit up). So guess what’s happening for dinner tonight? INGREDIENTS 3 pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cubed kosher salt and black pepper 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 shallots, thinly sliced 6 carrots, chopped 2 cups apple cider 1 cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon can also use beef broth 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato …

Happy Blogging Anniversary To Me

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Just sayin’ Although I’ve been with WP for seven years, I’ve actually been blogging for twelve. I started with Blogger, creating several blogs at a time when everything about blogging was basic and really mostly BETA. Then someone told me about WP, and I decided to move Rawsilkandsaffron here, and leave the other one with Blogger. I love the idea of exciting topics to talk about, and re-designing my blog every few years, adding all of the features offered to create a fun place to maintain and share. And although sometimes I second-guess the nature of the topics – in terms of what to share and what to keep private, at the end of the day we are all the same people – in good and in bad times. So, thank you for staying loyal, and adding your comments and clicking away the like button, and even sending me personal emails. I appreciate all of you and I look forward to the next decade or so of keeping you entertained. Here’s to hoping blogging never …

Sunday Thoughts

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I’ve been pretty quiet for the past week…I suppose because life’s obligations has consumed me enough to put aside some things in order to juggle the most important of things.  And then I realized one sleepless night that  RawSilk&Saffron is one of the most important aspects of my life, and it was time I shifted my focus from all of the negative and  determine how far I want to take my site. So I’ve begun discussions with various website hosting companies, and other designers to…update my site to welcome more visitors, and engage on a level, I am too excited about. I am also in the process of putting a solid team together of those interested in contributing to RawSilk&Saffron. Please reach out to me if you are interested. You see there is still so much to do and say here, and I am taking a few more days to finalize the direction I plan to go…so stay tuned if you are a dedicated reader of RS&S, or sign up, if you aren’t.   There …

Travel: A Week To Relax by Poolside and Some European Football

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Lots was going on last week. I was on vacation, and I mean vacation. The vegging out, not doing much of anything except laying by the pool and well, eating and drinking, and of course working out. It was the best week I’ve had in a long while, and wished I could extend my stay for a month, believe it or not down south, at a resort type hotel. The thing I like about relaxing vacations is that it gives me time to think about the  direction I intend to go or follow in the upcoming months. Whether it be for the blog, or the next novel or even regarding my trip to Europe in a few months. The fact I lounge around, and I am away from the normal stress, I can focus on the creative side of me and my hectic life. So, with that said I am excited to report, there will be changes coming your way with my blog of course, and the outline for the fourth novel has been created. …

one thousand blog posts and i keep on going

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I got excited yesterday when WordPress congratulated me on reaching 1000 blog posts – in four years – almost every day Monday through Friday. I think I am proud of this accomplishment. Because as you know, staying creative is difficult, finding topics to talk about a challenge, and the time put into blogging a true dedication. I have to also say that I don’t regret being a blogger. In fact, I am now contemplating how far to take my blog. I know I can, and I want to, and in 2015 I am up for the challenge. So, stay tuned, there is more, much more coming your way. Thank you for following my blog, commenting, liking, and sharing. I appreciate you all.  

happy thoughts – the best therapy

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I’ve been extra busy this week and by the time Friday rolled around, I couldn’t  believe it was already here. Anyway, if you are interested in finding out what’s made me busy, please click here. If you aren’t interested, then simply stare at the photo below and know that this happy thought keeps me going, no matter what. What keeps you going? Have a great weekend and I will see you here on Monday.

europe trip – here and there

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London day 6 proved to be a better day, although very cold, I walked mostly through the financial district, modern apartment and condo neighborhoods and wondered what it would be like to live in the city, since I’m also considering information for my future move to Europe. Mostly to live somewhere I can speak the language – England or France. So, I have to say I was enlightened by every detail and have now added London to a possibility for my move – of course that is if they will have me also 🙂 Until my flight to Paris, I have decided to add a few night photos of the city of London – a surely romantic stroll along the river, proving it to be worth while.

edinburgh scotland – day one

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It mattered not the weather is cold for a San Franciscan, we bundled up and left the hotel a little after ten in the morning to do, as usual, a walking tour – not really with any particular place in mind. It was enlightening, beautiful and I returned to my hotel finally after eight at night, understanding the ties between Montreal, Canada and Scotland.  Edinburgh and Montreal are for sure sister cities, very identical in so many ways. Oh and the food in Edinburgh, has to be the best I’ve had in Europe. Sorry Italy and France.