The 30th Annual California Strawberry Festival!


I love strawberries, and now that I am in California I love the fact that they’re grown so close.  When strawberry season comes around not only are the prices super cheap on strawberries, but I also have the opportunity to go strawberry picking if I wanted to.

With that being said this post is not a sponsored post, however, one reader will have a chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the California Strawberry festival.

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This year the California Strawberry Festival is taking place May 18th and 19th in Oxnard, California at the strawberry meadows of college park.  There are nearby shuttle stations that will drop you off and pick you up at the Strawberry Festival.

Last year, if you remember when I went, was my first time at the festival and I had so much fun.  From strawberry infused wine to strawberry nachos to strawberry shortcake there was a little something for everyone.

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During the festival you will be able to watch the final two contestants of the Berry Blast recipe contest.  The winner will win a family vacation getaway.  And it was so much fun watching last year as they created their recipes.  The best part was getting to try them afterwards.

And for those that love rides, have no fear, there are plenty to take part in while there:

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Live entertainment is available on the music stage to sit down with your favorite strawberry foods and enjoy the music happening around you.

There are also different art and craft vendor booths to walk through and take a peek at fun items.  Shop your heart out.

And for those that love strawberries, have no fear, you’ll have the opportunity to buy crates of them at the festival.  Don’t miss this fun festival that takes place every year.

This year marks their 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Ticket prices:

General Admission: 12 dollars

Seniors (62 and older) 8 dollars

Children (5-12) 5 dollars

Children 4 and under: FREE

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And now one of my lucky readers has the chance to win a family four pack of tickets:

Retail value: 48 dollars
a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary, void where prohibited.  Must be 18 years or older and reside in California.  Winner will be notified via email and chosen through the use of rafflecopter.  Tickets will be mailed to the winner.  Giveaway ends at 9pm PST on May 6th.

 

Categories: Events in LA, Fun Stuff, Giveaways | Tags: , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

I won the Liebster Award!


One thing I love about “Blog Parties” is that it gets you connected to other bloggers you may not have known about before.  And connections are made that can last a long time.

A Ray of Sunshine

With that being said, a blog who I met through the Ultimate Blog Party just nominated me for the Liebster award.  So a big thank you goes out to “She Became a Butterfly and Emerged Again” for the nomination.

This award is given out to other bloggers who you enjoy reading or really enjoy their blogs, usually under 200 followers, etc.

She gave me a series of questions to answer:

  1. How long have you been blogging and what did you talk about the most in your first blog?

Believe it or not this is still my first blog.  I’ve been blogging for a year and a half.  This started out as talking about various topics before I found exactly what I wanted to focus upon which is Photography, Wine, and Explorations around California.

  1. Have you ever met anyone of your online friends in real life? If so, how’d it go? If not, who would you like to meet & why?

The internet has been very much apart of my life since the age of 13.  It started with BBSing.  So I learned from a young age that it was okay to meet those you met from the internet, but using your common sense such as meeting in public places, etc.

I’ve met many people via online including my now fiance.  Yes, we met over the internet, and knowing my history it’s really not surprising.

But the best part is meeting your blogging friends in person especially if you’ve been following along with their blogs for the longest of times.  You get to know them through their blogs, so by the time you meet, it’s like getting together with an old friend.

3. What’s been your most unusual job?

Believe it or not I’ve only had 3 jobs in my entire life.  Working in Grocery Retail for 13 years where I started on the clean team.  YES, I pushed carts.  I drove a fork lift, and stocked milk 😉

And in college when I was a Resident Advisor to the job I now have which is in sales.

4. Please read one of my blog posts then come back here and tell me your opinion on it. Was it funny? Happy? Sad? What did it make you feel?

I read your post about “5 Letters to your YOunger Self.” And what an emotional roller coaster that one was.  From happy, sad, to happy again.  But very much reflects the journeys we go through in life.

5.If you could have 1 famous person follow you on twitter, who would it be and why?

Have I ever told you that I <3 Matthew McConaughey 😉 Been a fan of his for years.  Although I don’t follow him on twitter, I really don’t follow celebrities, I’d rather have real connections made via twitter.  But I’d love it if he followed back.  I hope he has a google alert on 😉 HAH

6. Who is the most important person to you in your life right now and why?

I can’t just name one.  It is my fiance, but also my parents.  We’ve been through a lot together, and I’m grateful for all of them.

7. What is your kryptonite? Chocolate? Relationships? What?

Wine.  =) Oh, and playing FoxyBingo

8. Look on my about page and list one thing we have in common so that I can learn more about you. :)

Although I am no musical theatre major, I actually do review theater performances from time to time over at this amazing site called “Life in LA.”

9. If you could give one piece of advice either to a specific person or to the world, what would it be?

Find the things you LOVE in life, and once you do, pursue them, and that’s the moment you will truly begin enjoying life.

10) What’s your favorite movie & favorite book?

I am one of those “Shawshank” girls 😉 And my book is the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

11) What are you doing when you’re the happiest? (Stolen from Taylor)

That’s easy.  Experiencing something new. =)

Okay, now I get to choose some blogs for this fun award:

1) Organized Island

2) Bibi’s Culinary Journey

3) Cid’s Style File

4) So There By Amy

5) Footprints in the Sand

6) Anne Hogan

7) Girls Best Friend And Co Blog

8) Beauty Flawed

9) The Lil Devil Mama

10) Along Comes Mary

11) Krug the Thinker

So I chose 11 bloggers.  When you do this, think of 11 bloggers to choose yourself.  And now the 11 Questions:

1) Tell me Your Blogging Story.  How did it all begin?

2) What’s something you wish you could have told your younger self?

3) Best piece of advice to give to someone?

4) What are your hobbies?

5) A blogger you can’t wait to meet in person?

6) Best Travel Experience you’ve ever had?

7) Are you good with the camera?

8) Best piece of fashion advice ever given or heard?

9) Favorite restaurant to eat out at?

10) Are you a white wine or red wine person? Or perhaps neither and just a beer person?

11) Best experience in life thus far?

Look forward to hearing your answers.  Leave a comment letting me know you saw this!

Categories: Fun Stuff, Life | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments

Making Memories in Malta


Disclosure: This is a sponsored Guest Post. 

There isn’t much that Malta isn’t good at. It’s got great beaches, cheerful holiday resorts, historical towns and cities, beautiful rural landscapes and a sizzling summer climate. What other reasons do you need to visit this fabulous place?

 Cliffs near Xlendi in Gozo, Malta

Sudika (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

 

If a small price tag is one of them, Malta has got that too. You’ll find plenty of Malta holiday deals online by searching for DIY breaks with scheduled flights and your own choice of hotel or apartment. This is a great way to cut costs and it means you can enjoy the utmost flexibility too, staying for as long as you like and with your choice of accommodation and location. Why not combine it with a hire car for even greater flexibility?

 

Of course you’ll find plenty of Malta holiday deals with package holiday tour operators too. Often some of the best prices and particularly the lowest last-minute deals can be found with large-scale tour operators, as they have better buying power and can often secure some of the best discounts for their customers.

 

Price aside, what can you expect to find on holiday in Malta?

 

Head to Valletta for a city break with a difference. Blending ancient with modern, this small cheerful city is all fortified walls, museums and fabulous boutiques. Enjoy a wander along tiny meandering alleyways, soak up its soul-stirring seascapes from its ancient city walls, or sip a glass of locally produced wine in a sun-drenched piazza.

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For a more traditional beach break, the popular resorts of Mellieha Bay, St Paul’s, Qawra, Bugibba, Sliema and St Julian’s serve up a fabulous coastal experience with superb hotels, a cheerful atmosphere and glorious beaches. Whether you’re after a bucket and spade holiday or a romantic five-star retreat, there’s something for everyone.

Why not come and make some fabulous new memories in magical Malta this summer?

 

For memorable Malta escapes, book with Thomas Cook and enjoy a vast array of holiday choices at your disposal, ranging from five-star luxury escapes to last-second getaways and tempting cut-price deals.

 

Categories: Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 4 Comments