UPDATE July, 2023: When we visited Soter Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon, we got to experience a very special wine tasting. At the time they were just beginning plans to expand into an even more unique experience, which is their MSR Provisions Tasting. Well, here we are nearly 8 years later and we've just returned from another 5 Heart Journey to Oregon, this time specifically the Willamette Valley wine region. I specifically designed the 4-day trip around Soter's Provisions Tasting and I have Read more [...]

Something happened to me in my adult life, especially the last decade, where I can't seem to get enough information. The more I learn, the more content, fulfilled, at peace, I seem to be. As a child I avoided reading like the plague. The weekly "bookmobile" to our school was the one thing I looked forward to the least while attending Catholic school. Think about that - the many church services, religion classes, and strict nuns paled in comparison to the anticipation of the dread I faced every Read more [...]

My daughter recently asked me if I had done a 5 Heart Rating on Chantecaille Lip Chic Lip Color yet. That right there says a lot. She's recommended maybe five 5 Heart Ratings in all the years I have been blogging. And since she does modeling, films, dance videos, and spokes modeling and swears by this lipstick for its long-lasting appeal, claiming it will last all day long on set, her opinion matters. She also thinks it feels great. I could not agree more. The Chantecaille creators are "WILD ABOUT Read more [...]

Today's theme for 5 Heart Ratings seems to be food. This one is not as obvious as watermelon. To say that I love cherries would be an understatement. When I was a little girl I was obsessed with the Hostess cherry pies and it was quite a treat when I got to have one. When my mom and I would take a taxi (she didn't drive at the time) downtown to visit my dad at the fire station or just to shop (My mom LOVED to shop, me not so much. Pretty sure she was happy when she had another daughter who does.), Read more [...]

Here's another one of those "Thank You Captain Obvious" 5 Heart Ratings. 🙂 Watermelon is one of my top 10 favorite foods. It's easy to eat requiring little preparation, is readily available (at least in the United States) year-round, and just tastes so good! As I type this, I'm trying to remember if anyone has ever said they do not like watermelon. Which is pretty amazing since I even know people who don't like ice cream, pizza, The Beatles! Not to mention the many health benefits! Did Read more [...]