Author Archives: Victoria Dunmire

Europe 2016: Paris for a Day

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Originally, our trip to Europe was going to be London, Seville and Granada. Somewhere along the way and partially due to high costs of airfare to get from London to Madrid, I had the crazy and fun idea to take the Eurostar to Paris, spend a day there and then fly from there to Madrid. In hindsight, I would not have done this. I’ve done Paris in a day from London 3 times before, but I was 19 and 20. I think my downfall with this trip in general was that because I’d been to all these places before and generally knew the areas and how to get around, I was so confident we could do a lot. And we did – I was an efficiency queen and we were jam-packed every day. But as a result we didn’t really give Paris a chance and for that, I feel badly because Sean deserved to experience it in a better way. 

But, as the French say, c’est la vie. We went, we saw what we could, we exhausted ourselves and if we ever go back, we will stay longer. Continue reading →

Europe 2016: London

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Twelve years ago, I embarked on a journey that set my life on its present course. My first time in London was filled with wonder, learning, curiosity and a desire to see more of the world. It’s truly the greatest city in the world and was the perfect jumping-off-point for my formative college years. I went back 5 years ago and felt a contentment with my current life that made me love my memories that much more. 

I’ve wanted to show Sean this special place for a number of years and this trip was finally it. I showed him the city through my eyes and I think it actually was a disservice to him as he didn’t necessarily get to have his own unique experience. But 4 days isn’t much time and in the end we did a lot, saw a lot and made some great memories.  Continue reading →

Out and About: Tea Tastings at Zen Tea

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Sean and I try to go on a “date night” 3-4 times per month. It’s more than a quick dinner on Buford Highway – it’s planned out with reservations and is generally somewhere we have not been or something we haven’t done previously. This works great for us as a way to keep exploring Atlanta beyond our own favorites on Buford Highway.

One site I always check for fun and interesting date night ideas is Scoutmob and their “Hand-Picked” series. It goes beyond food to include activities, massages, music, museums, etc. and all for great prices. When I saw the Hand-Picked promotion for tea tastings at Zen Tea in downtown Chamblee, I knew it was perfect for date night. Continue reading →

Why I Won’t Be Flocking to Aldi to Buy Their New Organic Produce

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aldiIt’s been a long time since I’ve done a serious, non-lifestyle themed post.

But after reading the news of Aldi’s foray into organic foods, the $3 billion/500 stores growth plan and the many ways in which they keep their items cheap, I felt the need to highlight what those rock-bottom prices actually cost us – lest we forget. We’ve got to remember that fundamental Economics 101 fact – “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”  Continue reading →

Thai Coconut Curry Soup with Chicken Thighs, Mushrooms and Swiss Chard

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Thai red curry, coconut milk, fresh vegetables and delicious spices combine with chicken thighs and homemade chicken stock to make this rich and satisfying soup. There are a lot of ingredients in here and so it does take a good bit of prep time but it’s worth it. Plus, it makes a lot so you’ll have leftovers!

My first two times making this soup I used fewer vegetables and served it over buckwheat noodles. It was good but I prefer it without the noodles and with more veggies. You can try it either way! Continue reading →

New Year’s in the Outer Banks

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On November 29th, we were standing at the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California. One month later, we were standing at the Atlantic Ocean in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Coast to coast in such a short time span – what a treat!

The theme of the first half of 2016 was “new home” with us selling our home and buying a new one. The theme for the second half of 2015 was “travel” because we simply couldn’t get enough. So it made perfect sense to take a little trip to the Outer Banks and ring in the New Year with my mom, stepdad, sister and all the dogs.

Off season on Cape Hatteras is quiet and peaceful. Many things are closed and nearly all the tourists are gone. It’s a great time to relax and enjoy the empty beaches and mild weather. The first few days were cloudy and rainy, but warm so we had some fun time on the beach. Our last day was cold but sunny and we saw a fabulous sunset on the ferry from Ocracoke Island to Cape Hatteras. Enjoy the pictures and Happy 2016! Continue reading →

California Road Trip: San Diego

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I know I’m a bit behind on getting this final post of our California trip done, but here it is! Whew!

On Thanksgiving morning, we left Solvang early and got on the road. We drove through the hills back over to the Pacific Coast Highway, headed to San Diego. This would be the last leg of our trip and we were both excited to explore the city and its many unique neighborhoods. 

We stopped off at many spots along the way, including several beaches, to take in the sights and revel at being in this glorious place. Every corner we turned gave us another amazing view. And we loved each one! Continue reading →