Del Mar Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show Review

As I said I was going to do in my previous post, I visited Del Mar's Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show over the weekend. The event took place inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds inside one of the exhibit halls. It was jam packed with artisans showcasing their products and shoppers looking for some great finds. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures but there were a ton of things up for sale. Everything from clothing, gourmet food products, home decor, original art and bath products. Outside the hall there were several places to eat, think county fair food. There was also live music, a kid zone and a family juggling act. All in all my family and I had a nice time visiting and we even picked up some honey from Holy Honey because we couldn't resist after sampling their products. 

If you were not able to make it to this show there are still a few Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show events coming up around California. 

Pleasanton -October 25-27

San Mateo- November 15-17

Sacramento- November 22-24

San Jose- November 29- December 1

Pomona- December 6-8

Del Mar Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show

The Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show will be at the Del Mar Fairgrounds this weekend and so will I! I can't wait to stroll through all the artisanal products and crafts and of course do a little shopping. From October 11-13 southern California's Del Mar Fairgrounds will be featuring it's long loved indoor showcase of handmade creations from some of the best artisans out there. Alongside live entertainment, specialty foods and a fun KidZone. It is an event you won't want to miss.

General admission tickets are $9, Seniors (62+) and military are $7, Youths ages 13-17 are $4, and kids 12 and under are FREE. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Hours are Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm; and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

I am so excited for the opportunity to attend and make it a fun family weekend. If you are in or around the southern California area come and join me. You can even click on this link to receive $2.00 off of admission. Support handmade!

Sunless Tanning Towelettes Review

Summer is here! Time to pack up those layers and and pull out some lighter tops, flowy dresses and slip on some sandals. And since it is 2019 we all know the dangers of too much sun bathing, so go ahead and lather on that sunscreen too! Wait! How am I going to get that sun-kissed skin to go with my cute summer dresses you ask. I have the perfect solution, Comodynes Sunless Tanning Towlettes. 

These totally convenient and safe self-tanning wipes will leave your skin summer ready in less than 3 hours and without any help from those pesky UV rays. Sold in packs of 8 and individually wrapped so they are ready to toss into your purse, luggage or beach bag for some quick color. 

So I have to admit I don't wear dresses very often, in fact my legs are a totally different color than the rest of my body, and since I am not a fan of sitting out in the sun I usually have to live with the unsightly color difference when I do decide to show some leg. I was sent samples of these self-tanning towelettes for review and was pretty excited to try them out. You simply apply the tanning towelette in a circular motion starting from your feet and working your way up. I only used from my ankles up since my feet are already pretty tan. You wait about 10 minutes before dressing and your skin will gradually begin to reveal a faux glow. At first I only saw a slight difference but a few hours later I noticed my legs definitely looked more tan. It was that easy! I was also afraid that the towelette would leave my hands looking weirdly orange but there was no trace at all. Another bonus with these towelettes, they leave your skin feeling super soft. It is recommended to use a towelette every 3 to 4 days to keep up that sunbathed look. These also come in a intensive and fast bronzing option if you are are really looking for that deep tan. 

These are available online at www.comodynes.net and www.drugstore.com. 

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.