Road Trip Snacks

As I've discussed before.. I have a tendency towards crazy. But unlike other kinds I prefer to call mine the "good kind of crazy" if you know what I mean. 

So here is the latest.. I have decided to drive home for the Thanksgiving holiday to be with my family and bring my boyfriend with me. Doesn't sound crazy yet, right? Well, driving home for me includes a 3,000 mile round-trip adventure from Northwest Montana to Chicago, IL when the weather looks a little less than fabulous. 


And there it is folks... that "good kind of crazy" I'm talking about. 
The good news is...

The sun has come out after days of snow and rain giving me the 'go ahead it's going to be a great trip' omen I was hoping for.

And I know how to pack road snacks for a three day road trip. Aren't we lucky?

I'll get on with it...  here is how I pack for a glorious and successful three day trip.. Take notes if you like or just use a few of the tips that I have included. Either way if you are making a road trip, even if it isn't over mountain passes in the dead of winter where you may slide out or get stranded (don't worry family.. I'll get there come hell or more likely snowy ice packed mountain passes).

Road Trip Snacks - The essentials


I happened to have a dislike for fast food. There is nothing that feels worse than being cooped up in a car for three days other than being cooped up and eating greasy food for those three days. 

So I pack lunch meat,

Whole wheat bread (I ran out of time and had to buy the bread, I know shame on me), mustard,

And sliced cheese to make sandwiches along the way. Please use sliced cheese. You don't want to use a knife while driving--it's just not a good idea kids. I also put all the meat and cheese in zip lock bags. I hate when the water from the cooler ruins my cheese!

I also pack cheese sticks (I happen to think I could conquer the world with cheese sticks alone).

 I also love celery for long road trips, so I pre-cut and bag them into ready to munch pieces!

Then, of course, I have some pretzels, apples, granola bars (special K and Adkins are my favorite for protein and balanced nutrition), and nuts (which I could also almost live on).

Next is the cooler. I include water, diet soda (Diet Sprite is my favorite), juice, and then last but not least... (drum roll here please....)

Wine.. Hey! What if we do get stranded! At least we'll have something to do!

That's it! Now all I have to do is pack up my clothes, hair dryer, self tanning lotion, and my laptop. I'm set to go. Hey - a girl has to be prepared for anything! 

All systems are ago! Wish us luck and enjoy your travels and be this safe this Thanksgiving holiday!


Mental Health Tip: I like to manifest a safe, easy, and fun travel by visualizing just that in my head. I play it all through and visualize laughter, clear roads, and blue skies. It usually works for me so I hope you follow my lead and visualize the trip and holiday of your dreams.. And watch as your dreams come true!

Trip to the Oregon Coast.. Country Style

Our long weekend trip continued onto the Oregon Coast after Portland. We loaded up in the van, we call her Ol' Suzanna and headed still west. We decided to forgo breakfast in luo of a seafood lunch on the ocean. I could hardly wait as we revved up Ol' Suzanna and headed out and as a generous kiss good-bye Mt. St. Helen's come out to wave us off and tell us.. "Y'all come back now, Ya Here!" (or something like that).

On the way we found a charming farmer's stand and fresh tickle-your-taste-buds apricots and I couldn't resist. We bought a whole bunch of them which inspired my Apricot Chocolate S'more that I made later in the trip. We also picked up some fresh sweet corn that inspired my Oven Roasted Cobs. I did a few cartwheels (yes, really) and we loaded back up and in a few short hours, we were on the coast where the smoke stacks were beyond imagination. Large majestic peaks in the middle of no where and the foggy dampness just added to the drama.

 We landed at Mo's Restaurant where they are famous for their clam chowder. And they should be the food was divine. We had blackened cod, garlic grilled shrimp, fish n' chips, and the top it off Marionberry Cobbler that was to die for (sorry no picture, we were too busy eating!)

 

After stuffing ourselves, my mom and I thirsted to touch the water. It was cold and rainy, but small things like that don't really stop anyone in our family and my mom and I went in. Okay, only to our shins, but the water was something like 60 degrees. My toes burned, but my face smiled. 

From there we are off to find our lodging. But on the way we see a sign that is irresistible even to us. It is like kryptonite... It reads "WINE TASTING" and we can't help it. We stop. And we find the wine masters that call themselves Hip Chicks Do Wine (I call them geniuses) and we have to try to Drop Dead Red. All of their wine is delicious and I am secretly envious of this brilliant idea! We have some around a camp fire hoping to wait out the rain.

We finally get to Jetty Fisheries where we had reserved cabins with a little bit of trouble. The person on the phone had been quite confused most times we had called. When we walked into the 'office' we understood. We checked in and were led to our cabins and given a 'grand tour' of the bathrooms all the while Scott is giving me sideways looks.

And after we are given the key and left alone, my dad walks over and says, "If you have ever wanted to stay in a gypsy camp, you can cross that off your list now." Scott laughs and I secretly think.. I am home. Not to mention they caught 33 crabs that day. Okay not only is that my magic number that is also a ton of crab. My favorite thing to eat on this planet!

But it's still raining and our dreams of cooking by the fire are squashed. Instead we find Pirate's Cove and let me say this was one of the ultimate highlights of my trip! My mom and I shared the steamed crab and drawn butter.

 While Scott had the Tuna wrapped in bacon.

My dad had the Blacked Sea Bass served with Shrimp (yes that is a GIANT shrimp). This meal and service was everything I had hoped for and more. At the end, I had a chance run in with our server who told us that we tipped her way to much. And there were so many things I wanted to say like.. You made our trip.. or.. There is no such thing as tipping too much (I'm a server too). But what I said instead was, "You totally deserve it." And I meant it.

The next morning we opted to leave Gypsy Fish Camp, although I will go back again and this time I will go crabbing. They were delightful and the experience was worth repeating, but the weather and our desire to be closer to home for our last day, made us journey forward. Not to mention the untouched wineries... Which we uncovered a little more of when we discovered Blue Heron French Cheese Company in Tillamook, OR.  

We tasted wine, cheese, and ate a delicious lunch of Caprese Sandwich (the best ever, just look at it!) 

and barbecue chicken with a roasted corn and black bean salad...

.

Of course a delicious cheese tray complete with cantelope, brie, grapes, and salami to name a few of the suspects that attended this glutenous party.

And then we were off again driving along the coast on route 101. We hiked to a lighthouse and saw views that were breathtaking just as the sun was peaking out from it's shy slumber.

I, of course, had to get my feet in the sand and the ocean one last time before we headed home. And I along with the baby sea turtles took one last dip in the vast ocean.

On the way to our lodging we stopped at the Powers and Badger Mountain Winery. They make all organic wines without sulfates. The taster was extremely knowledgeable (she is getting her PhD in wine making) and they sold boxed wine that was delicious! We purchased a few boxes for good measure and headed to the Vagabond Lodge in Hood River where we reserved a suite to sleep all of us for next to nothing. It overlooked the Columbia River Gorge and we sat watching the wind surfers work their behinds off. The suite was perfect and had a full kitchen where we could finally cook our brats and sour kraut.  The next morning, we couldn't leave the area without visiting one more winery.. the Apolloni Winery where we finally bought our bottle of the aclaimed 2006 Pinot Noir.

The first line from one of my favorite Anita Shreve's novels Fortune's Rock sums this trip up perfectly, "In the time it takes her to walk from the bath house at the seawall of Fortune's Rock, where she has left her boots and discreetly pulled off her stockings, to the waterline along which the sea continuously licks at the silver and pink sand, she learns about desire." And the sea does exactly what this quote does.. It leaves me wanting more... When we arrive home, we begin planning our next trip to the coast.


We shall return.. And I hope we have inspired you to take a trip, to the coast or somewhere else! Just pack a bag and get going!


More from the kitchen to come from our inspirations from the trip... Seafood and apricot delights are on the way...!


Wishing you safe and happy travels this summer,


~ "Too Lovely" Hot Messes back home

Perfect in Portland

We were locked and loaded, picked my honey up in Missoula and headed west. The first stop was the nearest Winery (pretty much), which happened to be Preston Winery which we learned was the 3rd winery in the washington valley.  We were met by one of the owner's daughters herself, the lovely Chenyn (yes! named after the wine). We tasted all of the wines they had to offer and I fell in love with the Long Tail Lizard line. The wine was fruity with lots of depth and the Mom's Cab 2005 was our ultimate love. You have to try it out! They do a fun and playful label with a yellow taxi cab and the wine is just as playful on your palet. We ended up with half a case just of the mom's cab.  And were pretty happy when we walked out of there!

On down the road we stumbled upon the Washington River Gorge and I took pictures out the window while my parents begged from the back for more wineries. We were on a mission, however and it had been a long day, so instead I made turkey and ham sandwiches on the road, we took a fee pee breaks, and muscled on.

Our first destination was the lovely Best Western right outside of Portland in Cascade Locks.  The hotel was wonderful. We each had a lovely view of the river from our rooms and due to a slight snafu at check in, my parents were bumped up to a room with a balcony. Inevitably, their room became the 'party room' as we called it. We planned to have dinner across the river in Stevenson, WA at the Big River Grill. They describe it as a 'high end road house' which is the perfect description as it is cozy, but we were able to order delicious steak and seafood and my dad hit the jackpot with a delicious spicy homemade tortellini special. We sampled the delicious Smoked Sturgeon Spread. A must try!

The next day we woke early and had Portland on our minds. We headed west again and stumbled into my dad's cousin, and Bite of Oregon, a huge taste of Portland Festival! I couldn't believe our luck!

We held back slightly and stopped first at the Japanese, Chinese, and Rose gardens. The gardens were gorgeous and of the three I have to say the rose garden was my favorite and completely free! What can I say, I must be a thrifty flower child! But don't get me wrong they are all worth seeing! It was gorgious day and the roses and gardens were breath taking.

Next stop was the Bite of Oregon and it was a complete blast! We had the opportunity to do a lot of wine tasting, eat Voodoo Donuts (famous Portland donuts!), craft beer from 14 different vendors (we loved the OREgasmic Ale by Rogue), and dance to the music from the DJ. He refused to play I'm on a Boat by The Lonely Island. He actually told me he was ashamed of me, but I told him it was my theme song and danced on down the road.

Dinner was at a fabulous Italian Restaurant called Palio di Portland at Nostrana where the owner-chef Cathy herself, sat us. We shared salad and delicious thin crust pizza using great fresh ingredients, thin and light dough and lots and lots of heat in a wood stove. The pizza was the best I ever tasted and the restaurant was magnificent! I would recommend this spot to anyone. Mom and I were swinging from the trees we were so happy!

It was a marvelous day until we attempted to find our hotel room by the airport. This story is for a whole separate blog entry, however I will say this... when things turned ugly and everyone was all sorts of out of their bubbles and my boyfriend just sat and laughed. When we finally arrived some thirty minutes later we all enjoyed a cocktail in our room together and Scott got to laugh at our family, 'out of bubble' experience.

Portland was great, the food was fabulous, the weather couldn't have been better, and the company was what made the trip fabulous... Next stop.... The Oregon Coast!

Mental Health Travel Tip: When traveling in mixed company.. basically any time you aren't alone. Be as flexible as you possibly can. The magic that comes from spontaneity are usually the special Lagniappes of the trip anyway! Keep a good attitude and forget your watch at home. Time is irrelevant when you're traveling. Just lay back and take a drink of refreshing life!

Stay Tuned for more tips from the Oregon Coast

~ Some "Hot Messes" On a Hot Trip!

The Longest Road Trip EVER... from Texas and Santa Fe

We are on the road again. Or should I say still... I am becoming strangly intimate with the back seat of our Chevy Lumina. We have developed a rather sensual relationship where the seat belt holds me close, the head rest carresses my hair, and the seat firmly cups my bottom. Okay, either that or I am just going a little stir crazy. Let's just call it the latter shall we? My view out my left window is baggage. Things are getting a little squirley to say the least.

We drove about 10 hours to lovely San Antonio, Texas. I have never been and we arrive late and famished. I am pretty exhausted and haven't had a moment of solitude since about March 17th. Yeah, things are getting a little hairy for me and my crabby-ness is starting to bubble over into the dealings of the day. Not to mention I am running out of money. To be exact, I have $2.16 in cash at the moment. The last of my life savings. I'm being a little dramatic, but not much. I am running out of cash... quick. My emergency plan is buying lotto tickets at the moment. Seems like the right thing to do. I am feeling lucky afterall?

We head to the river walk and pass by the Alamo taking pictures and reading the signs. We get to the river walk and head down the stairs. It is spectacular and suddenly I am back in Venice eating squid ink pasta on the ocean licking olive oil off the plate and sipping house wine served in a jug. That is how cool this river walk is. There are no pictures that can really do it justice. It is gorgeious. We sit down to eat at The Original Mexican Restaurant and a mariachi band comes to our table and asks us if we want a song. Everyone turns to me. Why? I have no idea. It isn't like I have been calling the shots around here for the past month or anything?  My mom smiles at me as if she wants to hear something even though I know she hates these bands. They drive her nuts. I choke, not in my right mind (I'm not sure I even have a 'right' mind), and say yes. After he leaves to go get the band I look at my parents, "Why did you let me make the decision? And mom, you hate these bands, why were you smiling at me?" Oh, well it was too late he was there and played a song and I gave him my last $2. When they leave my mom says, "And now she is officially out of money."

Yes, this is a great example of being out of sorts. I spent my last $2 on song performed by a mariachi band. It's time to get me home, immediately. Don't pass go, don't collect $200 (although that would be nice). Nope, get me home. We have some margaritas to calm me down and I have shrimp quesadillas that are delicious while my parents eat enchiladas. Overall, the food is great and the next time the mariachi band comes by to ask if we want another song, I find my 'right' mind for an instant and say "No". For one moment, I have clarity. It's still time to get me home though.

The next morning we get up and pack everything back into the car and head to Santa Fe, NM. This is another long trip and by the time we arrive to the hotel it is past 8 o'clock and all I want is a sip of cheap white wine (literally) and a hot bath. After that, I put myself right to bed. I can't function and sleep is the only thing that sounds good. Santa Fe and I will have to wait until the morning for our rondezvous.

The morning comes, thankfully, and my date with Santa Fe begins. The sun is shining and I am revived. We have decided to spend the day here and we walk to the downtown after several arguments regarding which is the best way to go. Finally, we get down town do some walking around and pop into the church to look around at the stained glass. My mom finds a zylaphone and we end up having to drag her out of there before she starts playing it and we all get kicked out!

After the near fiasco in the church, we decide that what we need now is a bucket of beer. Pretty much. We find a great little cafe outside and have the most delicious BBQ duck quesadillas and smoked chicken enchiladas. It is just what the doctor ordered! We sit in the sunshine, soak up some fresh new mexican fare, and delight in our surroundings.

After that we walk around and do some minor shopping, but because I am broke it really is just pure torture. On the way back to the hotel we decide that it's margarita-thirty and stop at The Cowgirl Cafe for another drink. More sunshine and smiles ensue. We are happy, relaxed and enjoying ourselves.

We decide to head out of town into the mountains for dinner. It is time for a little scenic drive and some serious mountain time. We dine on fresh guacamole that they make right in front of us and share the best chili renillos known to man-kind and roasted pork fajitas.

It is also time for another margarita. We want to make sure we can recreate the "New Mexico Margarita" accurately when we get home, so we must do our share of sampling. It seems like the right thing to do given the 'research' we are doing. The evening ends with a sense of peace, but knowing that we will once again be on the road tomorrow for another long drive to Boulder, CO. Santa Fe has sufficiently re-fueled our spirits and refreshed our attitudes. I am happy to have spent the day and happy to be continueing on what I am now calling "The longest road trip EVER"!

Mental Health Travel Tip: The most important thing that I packed on this trip doesn't take up a lot of room, I can easily carry it around with me, and has turned out to be the essential ingredient to making this road trip a success. It is my sense of humor. Without this, things would be far more chaotic. I encourage you to bring yours, not just on road trips, but to the grocery store, to work, and especially at home. Don't take yourself so seriously. Remember, none of us get out of this alive anyway, so I take myself far less seriously now. I end up laughing a lot more and my friends laugh a lot more too! All in all, it is really working for me and I encourage you to join me in my "It isn't that serious" campaign!

Laughing and smiling on "The Longest Road Trip EVER!"

~ "Too Lovely" Hot Messes on the road (still)