You Must Try Dell'z

When my husband told me he wanted to try Dell'z California Grill(http://www.dellzcaliforniagrill.com/) in Vista for dinner, I have to tell you I was a bit skeptical. Gourmet food and the city of Vista are not usually mentioned in the same sentence, but this meal was extraordinary in every way. The dinner at Dell'z was one of the best meals I've had in several years, and that includes a lot of meals at a lot of excellent restaurants.

The restaurant is in a nondescript shopping center in an area of Vista surrounded by dozens of Mexican restaurants. The interior is dark (atmosphere), but the tables and chairs are very comfortable. There is a pianist every night from 6-9pm, but the music is background music, not anything that interferes with good conversation. The food is really what you go for.

We went with our friends Laurie and George, and all ordered something different so we could sample each other's entrees. The grilled romaine caesar salad ( half for $3.50 or full salad for $6.50) was a big hit with our group. The romaine is quickly grilled, then a caesar dressing with lots of fresh parmesean cheese is poured over the romaine leaves. An outstanding way to start a meal along with delicous warm rolls and butter. The entrees were all beautifully presented and perfectly prepared. We had lamb chops (8 of them) with spaetzel and vegetables with a lamb reduction sauce flavored with mint. Exquisite. Another entree was sea scallops over mushroom and pea risotto and vegetables. It was picture perfect. The filet mignon wrapped in bacon, served with smashed potatoes and Chinese broccoli was another winning dish. Finally, grilled halibut over risotto (a different risotto than the sea scallops) was served with perfectly prepared baby vegetables.

There was not a morsel of food left on anyone's plate. It was all so delicious. We were all full, but that didn't stop us from ordering two desserts for the table. One was a chocolate torte, the other was bread pudding with cranberries and vanilla ice cream. All I can say is WOW.

The entrees were all around $19, except for the lamb and steak that were a little bit higher. Dell'z coupons can be bought on Restaurant.com (http://www.restaurant.com/). You can purchase a $25 coupon for $3. That makes this restaurant not only one you will want to try for their excellent food, but because Dell'z is an excellent value. It's well worth a little added distance to experience this quality food at reasonable prices. If you try it and don't agree, please let me know! By the way, Dell'z is also open for lunch, and I can't wait to try it.

A French Film With Five Friends

What could be more fun in the middle of the week than going to see a foreign film with a couple of good friends? That's exactly what we did today. We went to La Jolla to see Summer Hours, with Juliette Binoche. We all enjoyed the movie, in fact we stayed in the theatre talking about it until we were kicked out by the cleaning crew, preparing the theatre for the next showing.

I was happy I didn't take Ron. He's an action/adventure/suspense kind of guy. If the movie doesn't have some killing, he'd rather stay home and watch reruns of Law and Order. I can just picture what his reaction to this movie would have been. After about 15 minutes he would turn and look at me with a look that said, "When do we leave?" I would tell him to sit still and try and enjoy the film. In another 15 minutes he would turn to me and say, "I'll meet you in the lobby when the movie is over." Now you know why I called a few friends to see this movie. Barbie, who saw the movie with me today, said her husband would have had a nice nap. Why is it that women enjoy a certain kind of movie (very talky) and most men don't? This movie was just about life. Maybe men are looking for escape. I really don't know, but I know I'm happier and Ron's happier if I go to this type of movie with my women friends.

Many years ago I bought Ron a little button that he kept on his desk until he retired. It said, "What are the chances of men and women understanding each other?" On the button was a picture of a tall, thin cowboy named Slim, and a Nun.

I saved $7.50 today by not going to the movie with Ron. I also saved myself the aggravation of having to explain to Ron how I could possibly like that movie.

Whoops

I forgot to mention the main reason I wrote the post about coupons today. I wanted to tell you about the special at restaurant.com(www.restaurant.com). They were running a Memorial
Weekend special, and they have extended it through this weekend. Buy any restaurant coupon for 80% off. That means that the $25 coupons will cost you $2. Just type the word SPECIAL in the box at checkout. This is a great chance to try a new restaurant or a pricy one that you're not sure about. I stocked up, although they were out of several of my favorites.

I can't believe I did that. My sole purpose for writing the prior post was to tell you about this special deal. It's the old story. You go into the kitchen looking for your glasses, and by the time you get there you forgot what you're looking for. I was going to tell you about one thing, got started on something else, and my mind took me in other directions. Well, that's how it goes!

More Coupons, More Savings

From time to time I will write about time sensitive coupons or specials at restaurants and stores. I have a few to tell you about today, hopefully one of which you can use. Some of these are also posted under "Coupons" on the left hand side of the blog.

A membership in AAA (http://www.aaa.com/) is more valuable than you know. It is good at so many parks, restaurants, and shops in California, it pays for itself many times over. For example, show your card at either Reebok or Rockport Outlet Stores, and save 20%. Go to the restaurant Champagne, show your card and save 10%. Be sure to ask at department stores, outlet malls, and restaurants if they give a discount for AAA members. You'll be surprised how many discounts you've been missing out on.

Barnes and Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) has a membership club which saves you big bucks. But you can save more by going to their website, clicking on "membership" and checking out the various savings they offer members.

One of my favorite sites for coupons is coupons.com(www.print.coupons.com/couponweb) They have tons of great coupons that change frequently, so print them when you see them. They may not be there when you go back.

Join ColdStone (http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/) ice cream's birthday club. This will entitle you to a free ice cream on your birthday. I hope some of these ideas will help you save on your shopping and dining. We've got to eat and shop, so let's enjoy it and save if we can.

Always a Great Meal at The Cottage

Today I took a group of six wonderful women to La Jolla, to view the 40 cows they have scattered around the town, and of course, do lunch. These San Diego artists are so creative, both in the designs they painted and the names they gave their artistic piece. Names like "Cowabunga "and "Flora, Fauna and Vaca" caught my eye. We even tried to guess the names by looking at the cows. Great fun.

From the minute we parked our car at 10:55am, until we actually sat down for lunch, talk was about where to have lunch. One of the women in our group knows La Jolla inside and out, and had lots of recommendations. We ended up at The Cottagehttp://www.cottagelajolla.com/), one of my favorite breakfast or lunch spots in town. The Cottage is housed in a cute old house, with lots of outdoor seating. Food is consistently good, with specials offered everyday. The waiters are helpful, friendly and willing to go the extra mile.

Hats off to our waiter. He served six women, each wanting their own separate check, and each wanting modifications to their entree. I ordered the killer tuna melt, served with homemade potato salad. A huge portion and so delicious. Other entrees included a chopped veggie salad, ahi tuna nachos, green salad with goat cheese, tomatoes, and various other veggies, and a shrimp dish on a bed of napa cabbage. Oh, the last item was a chicken salad on brioche. The modifications made to this entree were not made correctly in the kitchen, so the waiter took it back and had it remade. At the end of the meal the manager of the restaurant brought us two complimentary desserts. They were fabulous. I will remember this restaurant not just for it's delicious food, but for the wonderful waitstaff, gracious host, and their true desire to please the customer. Look out, La Jolla, we'll be back.

Vacation in Your Own Backyard

What are the two most expensive aspects of travel? Transportation and lodging. Solve the problem by taking a vacation at home. I did this a few years ago for three days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Here's what to do. Plan three days and nights of activities just as if you were in a foreign city. When you think of San Diego you usually don't think past the zoo and Sea World. But there is so much more to do. A few suggestions include the following

Historical tour of Coronado, museum hopping in Balboa Park, day trip to Orange County, including South Coast Plaza, Irvine Museum, and Rogers Gardens, touring wineries in Temecula, touring a Cheese Factory in Temecula, visit the Self Realization Temple gardens in Encinitas, play golf at a course you've never been to before, go to one of the many day spas for a massage, visit the Seaport Village area for shopping and beautiful outdoor sculptures, tour the UCSD campus (must be arranged), take a walking tour of La Jolla.

Evening entertainment, depending on time of year, could be taking in a Padre game, trying a new restaurant in a new part of town, preferably one with entertainment, getting tickets for the opera, symphony, or theatre, depending on what's available, or checking out the entertainment at the Center for the Performing Arts in Escondido, and trying one of the several fine restaurants in that area.

Eat all your meals out. This will give you an opportunity to try some new restaurants in some new areas. And the best part is coming home each night to your own bed. You really can splurge on meals and theatre. You're saving a fortune on hotel and travel. One last thing, no housework allowed. Call a cleaning service when you finish your three day vacation. That way you'll finish your vacation with a clean house, something that doesn't happen when you go away.

The Farmers Market

There are over 3,100 local farmers markets in the USA. I bet many of them are here in California, as there seems to be one in every town, big or small, and vary from just a few local farmers setting up a stand to the one in Santa Monica, which has several blocks devoted to the market. I was in LA for Mother's Day. My bachelor son made a great breakfast for the family, and after breakfast we walked over to the Brentwood Farmers Market. I was very impressed.

After spending the morning trying to explain to a 35 year single man why buying local is so important, we walked to the market so I could show him what he's been missing. Even he was impressed with the abundance and variety of produce. Do you know what an aprium is? It's a cross between an apricot and a plum, looks like an apricot but tastes more like a plum. We also saw small green fruit, very sour, about the size of a gumball, that originally comes from Iran. They also had beautiful local strawberries grown with no pesticides. Of course lettuce, tomatoes, beets (in several different colors), peppers, squash, and dozens of other veggies were all there and reasonably priced. I was even able to get dried persimmons, one of my favorites, but hard to find.

We all spent our $10 (the amount recommended to spend weekly to reduce our carbon footprint) at the local farmers market and came home with some new and interesting tastes to try. Saving money, eating healthy, and helping our planet. This is a habit worth keeping.

Popovers Extraordinaire

I hadn't had popovers in many years, since the days we used to go to Lawry's in Beverly Hills for a prime rib dinner. Now that I don't eat much meat, popovers were not something I thought much about. Then last year my mystery book club was reading a book called Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. The book was filled with delicious recipes, mostly cookies and bars. I tried several of the cookies, with the ginger snaps being the very best. Then I saw the recipe for the popovers and had to try them. I have made them at least six times since. They are easy, beautiful and versitle. One of my emergency dinners is omelettes with popovers. They can also be used in place of shortcake to make a fruit dessert with whipped cream. Try them, you'll like them.

Popovers Extraordinaire

• 2 eggs, beaten


• 1c. all purpose flour


• 1c. milk (low fat is fine)


• 1/2tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 450degrees. Grease muffin tins with shortening, or just spray well with cooking spray. Blend all ingredients by hand, making sure not to overmix. Pour batter into muffin tins, filling about 3/4 of the way. Place in oven and cook for 30minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DURING COOKING. Your popovers should be perfectly cooked. Remove and serve while hot. I like them with butter and some great jam. Enjoy.

The mystery book club enjoyed the recipes in this book so much that we had a party. Our leader Jean, offered to host a brunch at her home and everyone in the group made one recipe from the book. What a feast we had. Most of the the recipes from the book were delicious. Even if you don't care for the books in this mystery series, they're worth checking out for the recipes.

Thee Bungalow Special

A favorite restaurnt of mine, Thee Bungalow (www.cohnrestaurants.com), has a special you may not want to miss. It is only available Sunday-Thursday, until May 28. For $32.95 you are offered a three course meal, with three wine pairings, to accompany each course. This price does not include tax or tip, but is well priced for those who enjoy wine.

I have been to Thee Bungalow several times, usually during Restaurant Week. Normally a three course meal will cost somewhere around $50 per person. But with the specials they have created, their restaurants become more affordable. Keep your eye on the Cohn Restaurant group by checking their website frequently. They are constantly adding and changing their specials, and with so many good restaurants to choose from, you will surely find a special you can take advantage of.

Who's Eating My Squash? Garden Update

I started a small garden about a month ago. For the most part, it's thriving, however there are a few exceptions. So far so good with the tomatoes. They are growing quickly, some are almost two feet high, and have many flowers already. My yellow crookneck squash and japanese eggplant are also doing fine, as are my lettuce and herbs. Here's the problem. My zucchini plants and my pole beans have been totally decimated by some hungry invader. I suspect a rabbit or possibly a squirrel. Each morning I go out, and the plants are smaller than the day before. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. Whoever it is does not eat the whole plant in one sitting. He/she savors it over a few days, eating leaves, flowers, buds, until nothing is left but a little stalk.

All the plants that have been eaten are situated about 10 feet away from the house. I have another bed of plants against the house, but the critters don't seem to touch those. I guess the guilty party is afraid to get too close to the house. That dangerous dog I have inside might come out and catch them. Seriously, though, this is the big problem with growing organic food. How to control pests without insecticides. I have tried red pepper, that didn't work. I have tried human hair, that didn't work. And I'm too lazy to put up netting. I have to think that these creatures are clever, and will figure out how to eat them anyway. So for this year, I will make do with tomatoes, eggplant, squash (two kinds), cucumbers, lettuce and lots of herbs. Not enough to self sustain me, but it's a good start. Hopefully by next year I will figure out a way to grow everything I want without Peter Rabbit and his cronies ruining my garden.

Man's Best Friend

I have been a dog owner all my life. Even when I lived in a small apartment and had to hire someone to take my dog out while I was at work, I had a dog, and boy, was it worth it. Man's best friend is not called that without reason. I have had over a dozen dogs in my life, and each one has brought me joy beyond measure. If you're not a dog lover and are reading this, you're probably saying to yourself, "she must be crazy." No, I'm not crazy, but I am crazy about my dog, and realize that what he's given me for 18 years cannot be quantified.

Three years ago Barney needed very expensive spine surgery. I came home one day and he could not stand up. His hind end, legs and back, were paralyzed. We took him to Sorrento Valley to a wonderful spine specialist, Dr. Levitsky. The choice was to put him down, or do a very expensive surgery to reduce his buldging discs. He was 15 at the time, and in good health. It was a quick decision for us. We did the surgery, followed by several months of water therapy, and he was back on his feet.(in this picture you can see his shaved back. This picture was taken right after his surgery. He now has a white face) We felt that he had several good years left, and wanted to give him the opportunity to have that time. Friends and family did not all agree with our decision. One friend said dogs were nothing more than a piece of furniture. Another said I could just go to the pound and get another dog. Obviously these people did not understand the pleasure, companship and love a dog can give.

Now, at 18 1/2, everyday is a struggle for Barney. He walks like a drunken sailor (his hind legs are stiff and don't bend), and he is constantly out of breath. But his heart is strong. The vet has assured me he is not in pain (anymore than the rest of us), and that he will tell me when he's had enough. For now, we continue to walk every morning for 45 minutes. This is the highlight of his day (not mine), as he sees his friends and gets to smell the roses. The rest of the day he spends napping outside in the shade, or lying on the bed with one of us in the afternoon.

Much time and attention is now given to Barney because, as I said before, everything is a struggle for him. I do not care how much time and energy I spend to make sure he is taken care of. He's worth it. He has given me so much for all these years, it's the least I can do for him now.

The Brigantine's 40th Anniversary

I stopped by The Brigantine in Del Mar http://www.brigantine.com/ for lunch the other day with a few of my friends to enjoy one of their famous fish tacos. Delicious. During lunch I discovered a few specials that The Brig is offering to keep business brisk during this tight economy. First, it is their 40th anniversary. Here's how they're celebrating. On Thursday night only, they offer 40 for 40. What that means is a three course meal for two people, for $40. Pretty good deal, I think. You get a choice of three starters, three entrees, and either creme brulee or mud pie for dessert. This is definitely something to try.

The other special offered by The Brigantine is their early bird special, from 5-6:30pm everyday, where a three course meal starts at $19. The menu changes weekly. For example, this week they offer soup, caesar salad, or goat cheese and beet salad to start, followed by fish of the day, pasta dish, or steak, and for dessert creme brulee or mud pie.

If you've never been to The Brigantine, now is the time to try it. The price is reasonable and it has a great atmosphere. But go before racing season, which starts in mid July. While Del Mar is open you can't get near the place. Racegoers love it and customers wait hours to get in.

The Brigantine has seven locations, plus a number of other restaurants in their group, but the Del Mar location is the one to try. Enjoy.

The Best Airfare Deal I've EVER Seen

I have been in the travel business since 1989, and the deal I'm going to tell you about, thanks to my friend Carole, is the best I've ever seen. How about airfare from San Diego to Monterey, California, for $9 each way? Yes, that is correct. I just checked it again this morning, and although you will have to be flexible on travel dates, using this airfare and some reasonable hotels in the Carmel/Monterey area could land you a killer trip at an easy to live with price.

Allegiant Airlines(www.allegiantair.com) is the web site to go to. Now you must realize for this price you get absolutely nothing but a seat. Everything is extra. Extras include checked luggage and confirmed seating. So if you carry on your luggage, the roundtrip airfare is $18 plus tax. Make a wonderful three day trip by combining Carmel and Monterey. There is much to do there, especially with our beautiful weather, and some wonderful restaurants to explore. All you have to do is get a car (that's pretty cheap these days, try hotwire.com), and a hotel. Even in pricy Carmel hotels are hurting, so there are deals out there just waiting for you. This may be the best deal I ever come up with, so check it out. If you're on a budget, skip a round of golf at Pebble Beach. Just look. The view is magnificent.

Homemade Herbal Infusions

As I delve deeper into the world of gardening and organics, I found a new way to save big bucks on tea. Grow your own herbs and brew your own tea. It's technically not tea, but an herbal infusion, as there is no tea in the brew. If you have started a vegetable garden, or even if you haven't, you surely have room for a few herbs. Easy to grow are mint, oregano, parsley, basil and rosemary. Other herbs to consider are lemon balm, sage, marjoram and chives. These herbs, and some edible flowers, can be combined many ways to make new and interesting teas. Each batch will be different, so keep experimenting. Below are some possible combinations and instructions for brewing.

• dandelion leaves, watercress, parsley and birch leaves
• rose petals, dandelion blossoms, pansies
• mint, lemon balm and rosemary
• ginger, lemon balm
• mint, rosemary, ginger
• chamomile flowers, mint leaves

Put a handful of the herbs in a glass jar or pitcher, fill pot with cold water

Sit glass jar in the sun, allow to steep 3-6 hours.

Remove herbs and refrigerate.

Tea may be served hot or cold. For a sweeter taste, add honey or simple sugar to the brew. I just made a brew of mint and lemon peel, and left it in the sun for about four hours. I mixed it with low calorie lemonade, for a new twist on the Arnold Palmer. The drink was minty and refreshing. Experimentation will lead to some great new tastes.

Fish in Orange Sauce

This recipe was originally made with Shrimp, but since I am alergic to shrimp, I prepared it with salmon. It would be good with any fish or chicken. I served it with a couscous mixed with mint, feta cheese, cucumber, and tomato.

Fish in Orange Sauce

Ingredients

• 1-1 1/2 pounds salmon fillet


• 1T. olive oil


• 3/4 c. mayonnaise


• 1T. orange zest


• 2T. orange juice


• 1T. white wine vinegar


• 1/4c. minced dill


• 2T. capers, drained


• 2T. diced red onion

Directions

Prepare the fish filets. I poached the filets in water and lemon juice and allowed them to cool.

While the fish is cooling, make the sauce. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, orange zest and orange juice, vinegar, 1/2tsp. salt and 1/2tsp. pepper. Add the dill, capers, and red onion and toss well. Pour over salmon fillets. The flavors will improve if you allow the dish to sit at room temperature for an hour.

The original dish was made with shrimp, and the shrimp and sauce were combined and allowed to sit. Or you can lightly pan fry any white fish, then pour the sauce over the warm fish. Enjoy

Buying Local

I just started a book by one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver. Many of her books take place in the souhwest, but this one is a grand departure. The book is called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," and already it's got me thinking. Kingsolver moved her family to Appalacia a few years ago, and tried for one year to grow her own food, raise her own animals, and what she couldn't do herself, buy from local farmers' markets. I am already inspired. No, I don't think I can do what she and her family did, but I can a least make a dent in the carbon footprint I am creating. So I did a little research and want to share my findings with you, and hopefully inspire you to take the challenge.

The challenge is this. Buy at least $10 worth of your fruits, vegetables, and protein each week from local farmers. That means food that has travelled less than 57 miles to get to the consumer. It also means eating one day's worth of meals from food that has been locally grown. Why is this so important ? So many reasons, so little time. I will tell you about the important reasons buy local and reduce your carbon footprint.

• buy fruits and veggies from farmers' markets or natural food stores. This reduces wasteful packaging, long truck rides for the food which produces tons of CO2, and the need for preservatives to maintain freshness. Local produce is trucked less than 57 miles to it's final destination, where the average supermarket carrot travels 1800 miles to reach the consumer. Also, the need for less or no packaging saves paper and plastic, and the fact that produce reaches the consumer in less than 24 hours means there is no need for preservatives, in many cases.
• Go vegetarian one day a week. This is a tremendous savings, when you think about what is involved in getting an animal to market. The carbon footprint to produce animal protein is eight times greater than to produce fruits and vegetables. Animals also produce methane while digesting food. One vegetarian day per week can reduce your carbon footprint significantly. However, if you must eat meat, go for free range grazing animals which have the least impact on the environment.
• Buy produce that is in season. Don't buy apples from New Zealand when we grow apples here in California. When you buy in season there are no CO2 emissions from greenhouses.
• Plant your own garden. For some this is not practical, but for most a pot of tomatoes or a small plot in the backyard will produce months of wonderful veggies, with very little work. The satisfaction from growing something yourself cannot be measured.
• Finally, and I think very impotantly, buying from local growers helps support small farms and businesses that are vital to our economy. All things being equal, I would always choose to support small business.

So get with the program. Try to make one small change. Just buying $10 worth of produce from the local farmers' market will make a difference, and once you get into it, you will find many more ways to help the environment and maintain a healthy diet.

Some Restaurant Specials

Restaurants are fighting for their lives these days, as food costs rise and people have less money to spend. So what's a restaurant to do? Cut prices, of course. Many restaurants have found new and creative ways to keep old customers coming back and attract new customers as well. Here are a few I have found that offer good food and great value.

The Old Spaghetti Factory (http://www.osf.com/) has two locations, one in San Diego and one in San Marcos. This is a kid friendly restaurant that is very consistant. It is their 40th anniversary, and to celebrate they are offering 40% off pasta dishes on Tuesdays, for lunch and dinner. This special continues through May, and will drastically reduce the price of your total bill.

Vincents (http://www.vincentsongrand.com/) is one of my favorite restaurants in all of San Diego, but I usually go there only during restaurant week. Well, Vincents offers restaurant week prices every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Here are the details. You must be seated by 6pm, and you order from a special menu which changes weekly. For $30, a three course meal at Vincents is great value. Recently the menu included a choice of moules marinere, onion tart, or cold watercress soup to start. The entree choices were petit filet, sole a la meuniere, or veal prosciutto raviolis in cognac peppercorn sauce. The dessert choices were pavlova with mixed berries, creme brulee, or dessert du jour. Truly a great meal.

Blue Fire Grill (http://www.dinebluefire.com/) is located within the grounds of La Costa Resort and Spa. It is a very upscale restaurant, beautifully appointed, a wonderful place to take out of towners for a special meal. They are offering a three course meal on Wednesday and Thursday for $35. You can be seated any time, and their menu offers something for everyone. Recent menus are not printed, but you can look at their regular menu online to see what they offer.

There are many other restaurants out there with great deals for us to enjoy. So if you know of anything exceptional, please leave a comment and I will write more about other restaurants soon again. Happy eating.

What Birthdays Are All About

So many of my friends seem to be having a BIG birthday this year,and everyone seems to find their own way to celebrate. Here are some creative ways my friends have celebrated their big day. One friend of mine had a face lift for her 65th birthday. It was something she wanted very much, and decided to treat herself. Another friend took a trip to Africa for her 60th, something she had been talking about for years. A third friend of mine had a huge casino party to celebrate her big day. Finally, my friend Joan had a party at the park.

The park party was so much fun. Everyone met at a beautiful park, on a beautiful, sunny Southern California day, to celebrate Joan's induction into the Medicare ranks. Each person brought a delicious salad, Joan provided the drinks and dessert. Instead of traditional gifts, Joan wanted each person to bring a favorite doctor recommendation, as she was now free to choose her own doctors. What a great idea!! After a wonderful meal, the group headed to the beach, just a block away, for an afternoon beachwalk. What a perfect way to spend a birthday. Eating, drinking, walking and talking with the people you love the most. Just another way to keep costs under control and concentrate on what's really important, relationships.

Road Rallies Rule

I had never been on a road rally until last weekend. Was it a race? Was it a scavenger hunt? I wasn't sure, but being a lover of The Amazing Race I had to give it a try. It was everything I thought it was and more.

My team, The Mean Machines, was really into the rally. We arrived at the departure spot early, dressed to kill, with tattoes, head bands, and motorcycle garb, thanks to our costume designer, Fran. Did I mention the M and M bribes we brought for the judges? Didn't work. They only wanted money.

A road rally is NOT a race. In fact, the idea is to maintain the proper speed throughout, otherwise points are deducted for finishing too fast. We received a four page packet, containing directions to follow and 50 questions to answer. The organizers of the race did a fantastic job of plotting out the course and coming up with creative questions. Everyone finished the course without too much trouble, and got a chance to see parts of San Diego they had not seen before.

We finished second, but everyone who participated felt like a winner. The final destination was a Mexican restaurant in Escondido where we shared a drink, some great food, and stories. I call them "coulda, woulda, shoulda stories." We coulda won if we hadn't made a wrong turn, we woulda won if a train hadn't crossed our path and blocked our view and caused us to miss the clue. You get the picture. The same kind of stories you'll be hearing at Del Mar Racetrack in a few months.

This turned out to be a free afternoon in San Diego (except for lunch) that was absolutely priceless. Thanks to Debbie and Vivian and their boy toys for all their hard work and making our first annual road rally a great success.

AFew Travel Tidbits

From time to time I come across a few travel specials some of you may want to hear about. I keep up on travel industry, as I still work part time as a travel agent. So here are a few tips to save you lots of money.

Cars rentals have been creeping higher and higher. Finally, there is some relief. Hotwire(http://www.hotwire.com/) is renting cars for as little as $15 a day. I checked Denver ($30), Miami ($20), and San Francisco ($18). Apparently what they do is take the overstock of various rental companies and offer them at vastly reduced rates.

Want to try something new and luxurious in Las Vegas? Steve Wynn's latest hotel, The Encore Las Vegas, can be booked thru Travelocity for as little as $149. I hear it is spectacular.

Finally, as the temperature in the Carribbean rises, hotel prices drop dramatically. For everyone who loves heat and humidity (yes, there are some that love it), try Jamaica. Breezes Montego Bay and Breezes Runaway Bay, both beautiful luxury properties, are under $150 per room per night (not per person). All the Carribbean Islands are on sale from May-September, and if you like the warm weather, that is the place to go. I will continue to keep you posted on travel specials as I run across them, and wish you happy travels, wherever you go.

Going Organic

For years I have been fighting the urge to buy organic fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs, saying it was much more expensive and a waste of money. A bit of knowledge has taught me I was wrong. Yes, organic is more expensive, the food isn't always as appealing to look at, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Certified organic foods adhere to strict USDA guidlines to get their certification. No pesticides, toxins, or other chemicals are used in the production of organic food. Additionally, organic farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and conservation of soil and water. The best way to save money on organic fruits and veggies is to shop at the farmers markets. Here you will be buying produce that was just picked, and helping small farmers stay in business.

This month many businesses are focusing on what consumers can do to reduce their carbon footprint. A few easy suggestions follow.

• Recycle bags. This means always having a canvas bag with you and using it for all your groceries, drugstore items, even places like Costco. I know this creates a problem for dog owners, but many communities have doggie poop bags. Many stores give a small rebate for bringing your own bag.
• Buy from the bulk containers. This means no wasteful packaging.
• Buy local. Food that travels a short distance is fresher and usually less expensive
• Buy organic whenever possible

I am excited to challenge myself to create less waste, to reuse whenever possible, to grow my own food, in other words, to go green. I'll keep you posted on my garden as it progresses. My goal is to produce all my own vegetables from June-September. We'll see.

Tips You Probably Already Know

I thought I would share with you a few tips for saving money that I use regularly. You probably already do many of these things, but here they are anyway.

Are you meeting someone at an outdoor location for coffee or lunch? The Lumberyard, Del Mar Plaza, and the Forum come immediately to mind. Bring your own coffee, tea or water instead of buying it there. These are public spaces, and you can bring your own food or drink if you choose. This could save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. I remember many years ago when I would go to Century City for lunch, and I would see literally dozens of seniors who had brought their own bag lunches enjoying their friends and dining with them for free! I often like to get together with friends, but don't necessarily want to spend $10-$15 for lunch, and would often prefer to bring my own food. However, I rarely do it. Now that I have reminded you, and myself to do this, I will follow my own advice.

My Monday morning weight management group began bringing our own reusable cups to the meeting. The purpose was twofold. One, we were saving cups by not having to use a throwaway cup, and two, the coffee house where we meet, Java Depot in Solana Beach, gives us free refills, so you only have to buy the small size. I know this sounds like very little savings, but this is saving money and saving paper cups. Every little bit helps.

I usually have one day of the week when I do most of my errands. In the past, when gas was cheap and no one thought about driving all over town, I would go helter skelter from one place to another, in no particular order. Now, I actually have a plan. I plot out where I have to go, and try to proceed in a circle. This can save a great deal of time and gas. Simple, you probably already do this, but a little reminder sometimes gets you back to saving.

I'd love to hear some of your comments on money saving tips, so please leave them in the comments section. I share with you, you share with me, and we'll all save money.