Carmel-by-the-Sea Vacation and Hofsas House Review

So a couple of weeks ago I posted about how I and my family had been invited to visit the quaint town of Carmel-by-the-Sea and stay at Hofsas House Hotel. Well, we did and guess what?! It was amazing! First I need to tell you about the charming place that is Carmel-by-the Sea. I grew up in southern California however, I lived in San Francisco for a few years during my late teens, early twenties. Despite San Francisco only being about two hours away from Carmel I never visited, but now that I have I can't imagine why no one ever mentioned it to me. It is the most adorable seaside town located in Monterey County. A peaceful hamlet that is picturesque and clean and reminds me of a fairytale village. 

 












It has numerous restaurants, art galleries and shops all in close walking distance. It is also super dog friendly and I saw so many locals walking the uneven paved streets with their four legged companions. More on that later... Many of the homes in the area are cute cottages and Tudor style that remind me of something out of Hansel & Gretel. In fact, the houses don't even have addresses instead they have cute names like Dream Catcher or Robins Nest. They have a local post office where you can stroll to and pick up your mail, so who needs an address, right? I also learned that they do  not allow chain restaurants because they want to keep that small town vibe going. I love this! Another fun fact is that as of 1963 it is actually illegal to to wear high heels. What?! That's right a municipal code bans shoes with heels taller than 2 inches or with a base of of less than 1 square inch. This law was put into place to protect the city from lawsuits due to the irregular pavement and tree roots that have grown through the sidewalk. Don't worry though, local police do  not enforce the law, however if you want to be on the safe side you can actually visit city hall and get a permit to wear said high heels. I really wanted to get a permit as a souvenir however city hall is closed on the weekends. One more thing you may not know about Carmel-by-the-sea, from 1986-1988 Clint Eastwood was mayor. Did that make your day? 

Now there are several places to stay when visiting Carmel-by-the-sea but my suggestion for you would be to stay at the Hofsas House Hotel. 

   












This Family run Bavarian inspired hotel fits Carmel-by-the-Sea's setting perfectly. Built by Donna Hofsas and her then husband in 1957 it is now run by her granddaughter Carrie Theis. Today they are celebrating 70 years of hospitality. During your stay be sure and have Carrie share the hotels history with you. She is absolutely lovely and you can tell she is proud of the grand accomplishment that is Hofsas House. The room we stayed in was one of the larger ones 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a wood burning fire place. All the rooms have these cute dutch doors. 

Our room had a balcony and ocean view ideal for enjoying Carmel's beautiful sunsets. 

I loved the traditional old world vibe of the room and it was really comfy. We were greeted with this fabulous gift. 

One of their additional add-ons that can be added to your room when booking. This was their Champagne & Cheese Pairing complete with champagne from a local winery and cheese from the local cheese shop. Yummy! As you can see they also gifted us with a Frisbee to take home to our pups. The hotel is also dog friendly however our dogs are the size of mini horses and they would have never fit in the car up. In addition to the wonderful offerings that can be added to your room Hofsas House also has special packages available; The Artsy Package, The Wine and Chocolate Package, The Tail Wagging Package and a Cinq Mondes Spa Package. Inquire about them when you are booking your stay. Amenities include on and off street parking, on-site meeting room, free wireless and a heated pool. My daughter loved taking advantage of the heated pool because although the local beaches are picturesque, the water sure is awfully cold. 

They also have a complimentary continental breakfast complete with pastries and muffins from the local bakery, yogurt and coffee and juice. Delicious! 

We were also invited to visit a local gem, Lugano Swiss Bistro. Here, you can find authentic Swiss food in a rustic setting. 

Of course we had to partake in some fondue! Just an FYI when you are planning your trip, Lugano's is closed on Mondays, and the 4 Course Fondue Dinner is the way to go. 

Our stay was fabulous and I truly want to think owner Carrie for being so gracious and all the staff at Hofsas House for the world class hospitality. To the people of Carmel-by-the-Sea, I envy you and absolutely want to live in your beautiful oasis. 

I was provided a complimentary stay at the above mentioned hotel by the owner or PR company representing them.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Biore Facial Masks Review

A few months back I was introduced to the New Biore Blue Agave and Baking Soda Collection. The collection includes a Pore Cleanser, Instant Warming Clay Mask and a Nourishing Whipped Detox Mask. These products are meant to not only provide a deep clean but nourish the skin with the help of blue agave and baking soda. While the baking soda cleanses the blue agave provides skin conditioning making the perfect duo. These are especially nice for those of us with combination skin that need some exfoliation and deep cleaning while also moisturizing any dry patches on the face. 

I was sent both masks in the collection for my review. 

The Instant Clay Warming Mask is sold as 4 individual packets. It is designed to open pores and cleanse them removing dirt and grime and excess oil. Once the mask becomes activated it will start to warm up. You simply wet face, massage mask on to face for about a minute. It wills start to activate and warm up as you massage. Then simply rinse with warm water. This mask does not harden or dry up and is easily washed away. It leaves your skin feeling clean and smooth. I like the warming sensation and also like that you do not need to leave it on for to long and still get maximum results. 

The Whipped Nourishing Detox Mask is used for a deeper clean and unclogging those pores. It is sold in a 4 oz. tube and also contains menthol for a tingly clean. To use this one you want to wet your face and then lightly rub onto skin avoiding the area around your eyes. Leave on for 3-5 minutes and then rinse with warm water. This mask does dry a little on the face and is a litter tougher to remove. I used a warm washcloth to get it completely off. I like the tingly sensation it provides and it left my skin feeling refreshed. 

I know there is a lot of us out there that just love facial masks. I would definitely give these a go! They can be purchased at food, drug and mass merchant stores. Check out Biore online to learn more about these and other Biore products. 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Upcoming Holiday at Hofsas House

Can you believe school is almost out?! This is my daughters last week before summer begins and then we are kicking off summer break with a short road trip and mini vay-cay in Carmel,California My family and I were invited to stay as guests at The Hofsas House Hotel located  in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, on California's Monterey Peninsula. 

The Hofsas House Hotel is a family owned boutique inn with 38 rooms many of which have ocean views overlooking beautiful pines. Enjoy the fresh ocean air and take in breathtaking sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. Located just 3 blocks from Ocean avenue and walking distance to local restaurants and shops. It is also 8 blocks away from the sandy shores of Carmel beach. Guests are welcome to take in hotel amenities like their heated swimming pool, dry saunas and view deck areas as well as a continental breakfast which includes French roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and fresh pastries delivered from a local bakery. I am so excited about our upcoming travel itinerary which includes a road trip up the California coast, one of my favorite drives. A picnic upon arriving the hotel courtesy of 5th Ave. Deli, a meet and greet with owner Carrie, for a tour of the hotel, and a complimentary dinner at Lugano's Swiss Bistro.  In addition I am receiving complimentary passes to the Pacific Grove National History Museum. 

I am so eager to share our stay with you. In the meantime check out The Hofsas House Hotel website for more information.

Rebels Refinery 2- in-1 Body Wash and Shampoo Review

In case you missed it, you can check out my previous Rebels Refinery post here. Today, I am going to share the latest Rebels Refinery product I was sent for review, their 2-in-1 Body Wash and Shampoo. I decided to gift this to my husband and get his input. He works a 3 week hitch in Alaska and shares a bathroom with other oilfield workers so he doesn't have a lot of room to for toiletries, yes roughnecks use toiletries, at least mine does. I figured this would be a nice convenient addition to his Dopp Kit. The first thing he said when I asked him what he thought about the 2-in-1 Body Wash and Shampoo was that it smelled really good. I asked him what it smelled like, his response was "like a man". Interesting, the Rebels Refinery website states that you will smell fantastic after using this stuff, according to my husband they are right. My husband also has sensitive skin that tends to be irritated easily and Rebels Refinery products which are made with natural ingredients and free of the harmful ones are perfect. While Rebels Refinery are not solely products for men, their logo reads Premium Natural Skin Care For Humans, they do carry products specifically for men and their products seem to lean towards a male fan base. 

Fathers day is right around the corner and this as well as other Rebels Refinery products would make a great gift for the man in your life. 

In fact, this Essential Rebels Kit sells for only $40 and would up any mans grooming game. Check out more of their products online. You can also find them at Target stores nationwide. 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Writing Gloves Giveaway

Literary Book Gifts offers a selection of unique gifts for all you book lovers and authors out there. They have handy book bags to carry all your selections home from the library. (Yes, us bibliophiles  still visit the library.) They also have great t-shirts to profess your love of the written language. Like this Edgar Allan Poe shirt that I really really want. 

Recently I was contacted by the people over at Literary Book Gifts who asked me if I would like to host a giveaway of one of their products, Of course! When I found out what they were giving away I was even more excited. They are giving me the opportunity to provide one lucky Girly Girl reader with the chance to win a pair of their super stylish and functional writing gloves.

These fingerless writing gloves are made out of a combination of 35% cashmere wool, cotton, polyester and micro fiber. They come in several colors and are the perfect accessory to not only warm your hands but continue to let you do the things you need to do while wearing them. Handwriting, typing, even crafting and yes, you can even wear these while you navigate your touch screen devices. They are adorable and I am pretty sure I need a pair in black. Go check out Literary Book Gifts and see what color you would like to have when you win this giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mimzi by Marguerite Germaine Perfume Review

Dr. Marguerite Germaine is a board certified dermatologist and creator of a variety of skincare products. Practicing out of Charleston, South Carolina, she has been voted best dermatologist for 13 consecutive years. The latest addition to her accomplishments is the fragrance Mimzi by Marguerite Germaine, created in celebration of her mother, affectionately known as "Mimzi".  

The lovely 1.7 fl.oz. bottle is filled with a scent that combines citrus and floral. 

Top Notes: Citrus-floral, soft lemon, sweet orange, currant, watery, airy, fresh

Middle or Heart Notes:   tuberose, jasmine, grassy, light bitter orange

Base Notes:  sandalwood, light cedar, jasmine

To be honest I do not wear Perfume very often because I am very particular about what I like. I am not a fan of overly floral scents or anything too woods-y. I tend to stick to light airy scents with a touch of sweetness. However, I am really enjoying this perfume. It's floral notes are very light, the citrus notes smell of lemon. It smells wonderful and for some reason it makes me think of a fairy garden. Dr. Germaine did a great job honoring her mother with this enchanting perfume. You can purchase your bottle by visiting Germaine Dermatology online.  

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone