Snippets

Random bits

My Random Thoughts on Social Media

Is Pinterest like the best thing ever? I’m such a late bloomer. I remember my aunt telling me over 3 years ago that I should be on Pinterest, and I had no idea. What did I do 6 months ago, before I could categorize all of my thoughts? How could I have truly appreciated the way I felt about a rainy day until I could display it to myself in 30 pictures? (And as ridiculous as that may sound, that is not sarcasm.) Love it!

I don’t even know where I’ve been. Literally. Everything is a blur, it’s going by so fast. Life. The kids. Thankfully modern media can remind me… where were you when you Pathed that picture? (Is that a word? Like when you tweet on twitter, do you path on Path?) Anyway, you catch my drift. Brilliant.

Does it amaze you the amount of information that scrolls through twitter? It’s overwhelming really. How much of it is actually useful? I have no idea. I might “click” on one thing a day. I must go past hundreds. Most of them I don’t even see I just press the icon that takes me to the top, and I might go down 2 or 3 images. Does everyone do that?

How annoying is Facebook? I mean at it’s best it’s wonderful. You can see family and friends, and their special moments and kids. That’s the good stuff for sure. And then there’s everyone’s opinions. I try so hard to not get political. I really do. Of course I have opinions. But I know not everybody wants to see them in some kitschy cartoon. And then I’ll see something clever, and think that’s cute/funny/fill-in-the-blank… so I’ll read another until I feel like I’ve really wasted too much time or even worse I see one of those really annoying everything against everything I believe in ones, ugh. It’s a love-hate thing.

Is everyone on Instagram? They should be. There are some amazingly talented people out there. And all you have to do is look. Here are a couple of my favorites: @awesome.earth – totes amaze; @puremichigan – I’m partial; @helloemilie – that mysterious girl in a hat, she’s been to some beautiful places.

And the Winner Is…

Thanks again to everyone for playing! I had a lot of fun reading your answers! Every eligible comment, new follower, like and share was assigned a numerical value. And I found a great website, www.random.org, where I could enter numbers from beginning to end and it would randomly select a number; which happened to be…

#7 Annie! Thanks for playing! You have won The Pioneer Woman pitcher! You can contact me at sadiesnest@yahoo.com.

Look forward to more giveaways in the future!

Love,

Sadie

Organic Vs. Non GMO

By now you know that I’m an advocate for organic eating. Trust me I understand economics (well enough anyway) to know that it’s not always the “affordable” option. But I do feel strongly that it is an important issue. I say with every recipe “as organic as possible,” because I believe every bit matters. We don’t even know what we are doing to ourselves (as in mankind) with all of the crazy things we are putting into our food and therefore into our bodies. Information is knowledge… (as long as it is truthful and accurate.)

Ok, enough from me. I came across this article from a food blogger making great strides in the world. Most recently she was a part of the movement to get Starbucks to take the harmful artificial coloring out of the pumpkin spice latte (it wasn’t adding flavor). And a catalyst in getting Subway to list their ingredients and remove the dangerous chemical azodicarbonamide from their bread. Bravo! (BTW that chemical is used for making yoga mats and shoe rubber, is not supposed to be eaten, and was only in bread served in North America, not Australia, EU or the UK. Thank you FDA.)

There’s a lot of confusion and debate about what non-GMO and organic labels really mean.
The labels are very different! It’s crucial to understand the difference if you want to pick out the healthiest and safest food for you and your family. Every time we decide to buy a product, we are supporting so much more than our bodies. We are shaping the landscape of the entire food system – everything from the environment, land, air, water to the farmers themselves. And this is why I want you to know the truth about the “Non-GMO” label and what it really means.

What exactly does the “Non-GMO Project” label mean?
The “Non-GMO Project” label only verifies that a product doesn’t contain genetically modified (GMO) ingredients (or technically less than 0.9% GMOs). While that is good, it’s not the whole story about what the product contains, how it was produced, and where it came from.

But when I have a choice, I always choose organic food because of these reasons…

10 reasons why “Organic” beats “Non-GMO” every time:

1. Certified organic foods are also non-GMO.

2. Organic crops cannot be grown with synthetic pesticides, and contain much lower pesticide residues overall.

3. The most widely-used herbicide on the planet – Glyphosate (Roundup) – is prohibited on organic crops.

4. Organic ingredients aren’t processed with toxic hexane.

5. Organic crops are prohibited from being fertilized with sewage sludge.

6. Organic meat isn’t produced with growth-promoting drugs, like ractopamine.

7. Organic animals aren’t fattened up with growth-promoting antibiotics.

8. The non-GMO label claim is unregulated.

9. Organic foods prohibit many of the chemicals known as “obesogens” that trigger our bodies to store fat.

10. By choosing organic food you’ll automatically avoid most of the “Sickening 15” … Chemicals like synthetic preservatives, synthetic pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics are not used in organic food…

For the original article and more information check out foodbabe.com

Also this Sadie’s Nest post was updated and amended from the original as Subway has removed azodicarbonamide from their bread! Hurray! Next maybe they will offer organic options?

Award Smorgasbord!

I have recently been awarded three nominations! Thank you so much to My Heart of Mexico and Healthy in All Hues for nominating me for the Starlight Blogger Award and Life Bellissima for nominating me for the Infinity Dreams Award. I am so honored by your support. You all have such unique and inspiring blogs, and I am grateful for your recognition!

Now here’s a lot of information about me.

The Starlight Blogger Award

These are the rules:
1. Thank the giver and link their blog to your post.
2. Answer the 3 original questions then the 3 new questions from your nominator given to you.
3. Pass the award on to 6 or more other bloggers of your choice and let them know that they have been nominated by you and add 3 new questions for your nominees.
4. Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog, please never alter the logo, never change the 3 original questions and never change the Award rules.
Please don’t delete this note: the design for the STARLIGHT Bloggers Award has been created from YesterdayAfter. It is a Copyright image. You cannot alter or change it in any way, just pass it to others that deserve this award.
Copyright 2015 YesterdayAfter.com – Design by Carolina Russo

These are the three original questions:

1 If you could describe or picture your inner soul how will you describe it?

Wow, that’s deep. I hope it is bright and pure, and because I am redeemed, it is spotless.

2 What are you working on right now?

Literally, this post. But as for my blog in general I am excited about my first giveaway!

3 What is your creative dream project?

Hmmm. Blogging about my farm life with a roadside cafe!

My questions from My Heart of Mexico:
1 What is your biggest challenge when it comes to blogging?

•I have so many ideas I’d like to make happen, but in reality I have a baby who needs me, a toddler who needs me, and home preschooler who needs me, a fourth grader who needs me, a husband who needs me… And I’d like to be a better photographer.
2 What advice would you give to newbie bloggers?

•I would say if you do this for fun, then you won’t be disappointed. If it stops being fun, don’t do it; life is too short!
3 What motivates you to keep blogging?

•I have this self determination thing that keeps me on my toes. I really want to do better, and share good information.

My questions from Healthy in All Hues

Here my questions for the nominees:
1 What advice would you give for people new to blogging?

•Again, I think it’s important to remember your goals. What do you want to share? What do you want people to know? Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Enjoy what you are doing.
2 What is one creative project you are working on?

•I am really excited about a giveaway I am working on! But trying to get down the logistics, a fair selection process, etc.  has taken some thought.
3 What is one goal you want to achieve by the end of the year?

•I’d like to take a writing and a photography class.

Thank you My Heart of Mexico and Healthy in All Hues!

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Rules for the Infinity Dreams Award
1 Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back.
2 Post the award badge and rules.
3 Tell 11 facts about yourself.
4 Answer the question that were set for you to answer.
5 Nominate 11 other bloggers and set questions for them.

Eleven facts about myself:

  1. I am thrilled that Barefoot Contessa’s Back to Basics series is on Netflix.
  2. Growing up, my back yard was the Great Lake Erie.
  3. I have over 150 cookbooks and counting.
  4. My favorite color is yellow, it’s so cheerful.
  5. I can knit a scarf, but don’t ask me to change colors.
  6. I started as a baker, but learned to love cooking since I couldn’t feed my family cookies and quick breads (in good conscience) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  7. I majored in French.
  8. God is amazing, but outer space kind of freaks me out.
  9. Blogging has put a damper on my laundry. There’s a damper on my hamper. (Oh yes I did)
  10. I can (obviously) be a total goofball.
  11. I want to try glass blowing.

My questions from Life Bellissima:
1. What inspired you to start a blog?
•My overwhelming desire to maintain adult communication.
2. A new recipe you would like to make that you’ve never tried before?
•Recently a friend of mine shared a curry shrimp recipe from Pinterest that I am excited to try!
3. Favorite travel destination(s)?
•You know, I am a huge fan of the state of Michigan, so it’s lucky for me that I live here.
4. A great weekend would include …?
•Coffee. Breakfast out with my kids and husband, then a babysitter. A nap. Trying a new recipe in a quiet kitchen. Time to shower and blow dry my hair. Dinner out with my husband, then pick up the kids. Movie night with popcorn! A good night’s sleep, and exploring a new town/park etc after church with the fam. I mean that’s not too much to ask for right? Sounds pretty great to me!
5. Favorite meal to cook for family and friends?
•Anything as long as I’m with my family and friends!
6. A favorite movie or book?
•Pride & Prejudice, Little Women…
7. Something you enjoy about each season?
•I’m blessed live in an area that really experiences each season to its fullest. I love a snowy white Christmas, snowmen, and hot chocolate in winter. I’m always happy to smell the warmth of spring when the frost starts to melt and the buds and flowers start to bloom. I love swimming, traveling, camping, bonfires, s’mores and cookouts to name a few in summer. And this time of year, autumn, is beautiful with all of the color changes; crisp and exciting. I really enjoy baking and cooking and the coziness of the kitchen.
8. If you had free airline tickets, where would you travel?
•New Zealand!
9. Name a favorite dessert. (I know it’s hard to pick only one!)
•I really enjoy a good chocolate layered cake.
10. Favorite cooking/baking gadget?
•I get a lot of use out of my whisks…

Thank you Life Bellissima!

Cheater alert! Since I have recently nominated every blog I love… I reserve the right to nominate deserving blogs in the future!

“If I had my life to live over…” Erma Bombeck

Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television … and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.

I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more I love yous … more I’m sorrys … more I’m listenings … but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it … look at it and really see it … try it on … live it … exhaust it … and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”
― Erma Bombeck, Eat Less Cottage Cheese and More Ice Cream: Thoughts on Life from Erma Bombeck, courtesy of goodreads.com

The Versatile Blogger Award

I am very thankful to be nominated by PetersFoodAdventures for my first Versatile Blogger Award! Peter has an amazing blog with as ethnically diverse recipes as Peter himself. He was born to Russian parents (who were born and raised in China). He was raised in Canada where he met his now wife on holiday from Australia; which is where they currently reside with their two sons. And I am envious of his garden. Thank you Peter!

Rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Show the award on your blog
2. Thank the person that has nominated you
3. Share 7 different facts about yourself
4. Nominate 15 blogs of your choice
5. Link your nominees and let them know of your nomination.

Seven facts about myself:

  1. I am concerned that after Peter’s introduction nothing I say will be interesting.
  2. Sometimes I think I could be a playwright.
  3. I used to dream in French. (But I haven’t spoken it in over 15 years!)
  4. My first and favorite paying job was as a dock hand at my family’s marina.
  5. I regularly find myself buying every unusual pantry item at the grocery store, and realize I have actually bought nothing to make for dinner.
  6. I was a flight attendant.
  7. I want to live near a lake on a self sustaining farm in the country side, like in a Jane Austin novel.

And now for my nominations:

  1. Life Bellissima
  2. Aromatic essence
  3. Marisa’s Italian Kitchen
  4. Indfused
  5. My Heart of Mexico
  6. What’s Bec Cooking
  7. A Taste of the Caribbean!
  8. Bright, Shiny Objects
  9. Chorizo & Thyme
  10. Emerging Adult Eats
  11. Smiling Notes
  12. The Richmond Avenue
  13. This kitchen is for dancing
  14. Stephysweetbakes
  15. The Travelling Pantry

Forty!

My husband turned 40 this week; which meant we could listen to Coach Mike Gundy’s sound bite incessantly, “I’m a Man! I’m 40!” (Are you familiar with the speech from a couple years ago? He was defending one of his young Oklahoma State players…) I think Owen even made it his ring tone for part of the day, because it was finally legitimate. It also meant that an event I had been planning for about a year was finally ready to come to fruition. I didn’t tell a soul until about 3 months ago, which was my mother, when I was confirming a babysitter. It seems like I plan a lot of events throughout the year, but this had to be special. I wanted it to be memorable (and something to commemorate his manhood, thank you Coach Gundy. -Honestly, I don’t think we could wear it out.) So when I was struck with the idea of a surprise private hot air balloon ride, I didn’t waiver!

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The other details took a little thought. Owen’s favorite food is pizza. I needed a place that could hold a crowd and be conveniently located by our landing site. I also needed a cake place that could pull off my Pinterest find and wouldn’t be far from the restaurant, because I wouldn’t be able to store it. Thankfully my sister offered to pick it up before dinner. There was the small issue of having the kids ready for the party before we left… but all of that could be worked out, no problem.

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So it was hard to believe that my parents were ill (exposed to Shingles/Chicken Pox), and couldn’t babysit. As well as my sister’s kids, so they couldn’t come and I would have to pick up the cake. The wind was too strong to go on the planned ride (a chance I knew I was taking). And the pizza place that we were supposed to meet everyone at afterwards had an oven fire and sprinkler situation. They called me the morning of to say they couldn’t serve us… What are the odds?

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However, our very accommodating friends made the switch to a different location without issue. (And BTW a huge shout-out to the Moosejaw employee who will never read this and who was working at the store when I received the phone call about the restaurant mishap. You are dear to my heart for making phone calls and getting us relocated, while keeping our children entertained with the store video games none-the-less!!) I’d also like to thank my in-laws who offered to watch our children in place of my parents, and although our flight was cancelled allowed us to have a lunch date. And last but not least I’d like to publicly express my gratitude for “Money” and “Clutch” (aka Nanny Tara and Molly O) who once again came through like champions on a perfect windless night so we could balloon high in the sky and I could actually give my gift to my husband on his actual birthday! (Not a bad ending after all.)

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Happy Birthday Owen, I love you!!

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A Failure and A Liebster Award

Sadly, I have to admit that my WordPress Cooking Challenge, to make the dishes of eight bloggers is a bust. At least for now. I was able to make seven great dishes by seven diverse and fantastic bloggers from around the world. It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s something I plan on continuing to do in the future! My last dish is from What’s Bec Cooking, one of my favorite blogs because of getting to know Bec; who is supportive and kind, and her dishes and desserts look amazing! I also have recently become a huge fan of some Indian curry chicken dishes. So, when I read the title for the recipe Quick and Easy Curry Chicken, I was enthusiastic to try this dish with an Asian twist. Unfortunately, I have been unable (to date) to locate Kaffir lime leaves and curry leaf stalks. You cannot imagine my disappointment!!! I’m not giving up, let’s just say I’m putting it on hold, until I can expand my ethnically diverse grocer options.
In better news, I have been nominated by Chronicles of a Keeper for another Liebster award! I’m so appreciative! She has a great blog about food, family and faith… My three favorite things! I also love sharing great blogs I find in hopes that others will enjoy them as much as I do!
The rules of the award are:
• Link back to the person who nominated you
• Include the instructions in your post
• Answer the 11 questions given to you by the nominator
• Display the Liebster award logo in your post
• Nominate up to 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers
• Create 11 questions for the nominees
• Notify all nominees via social media/blogs

Here are the questions for me to answer:
1 What brought you to the world of blogging?
I had very little knowledge of what blogging was about before I started. But I did have a strong desire to contribute in another way than just being “mom”- without quitting my day job.
2 What do you find to be the hardest part about keeping a blog?
Achieving the level of creativity I’d really like! My priority is still being a stay at home mom of four. I clean house, pack lunches, change diapers… it takes time, literally.
3 Do you try and mimic others’ writing style or do you thrive on being your own style of writer?
I wish I felt like I had a writing style! I keep thinking I should take a class (in my free time). I pretty much just write the way I speak and think.
4 If you were to ever host a “famous” writer for a guest post, who would you choose?
My leisure reading these days is pretty much limited to cookbooks, which is befitting for a guest post on my blog! Maybe Ina Garten, since she doesn’t have a blog of her own.
5 How does your faith impact your writing?
I want to be a light and a positive influence. I want to feel like anyone, children even, could read my blog and it would be safe. Jesus is the center of my life, but I didn’t start this blog to preach. I’m just sharing my life, and hopefully He shows.
6 How does your writing impact your faith?
Specifically, knowing that I’m putting my words “out there” maintains a level of accountability.
7 What other outlet do you have besides writing?
Baking and cooking, but I really keep telling myself I’m going to start regularly exercising.
8 Do you sometimes wonder you share too much in the blogosphere world?
Definitely. Almost daily. Four months ago I didn’t have a Facebook or an Instagram account, it’s a culture shock.
9 Do you sometimes feel that maybe you are too guarded in the blogosphere world?
No.
10 How did you decide on what (and how much to share) about your family?
I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. But I really have just taken it one story/event at a time. I decided the people I relate with most, and who I have connected with the most, and ultimately who have been the most helpful are those who have shared their experiences openly.
11 Do you have any blogs you really faithfully follow (as in actually consistantly read)? (If so, share!)
I follow about 100 blogs plus, I read at least half of them in their entirety (the majority being recipes). I consider many of them to be friends. Off the top of my head (including but not limited to and in no particular order): Natascha’s Palace, What’s Bec Cooking, Life Bellissima, Healthy in all Hues, Lynz Real Cooking, Quirky and Wonderful, OLD Country Girl, Old Orchard Chronicles, Chorizo & Thyme, The Richmond Avenue, Clair Neriah, Rachel Mankowitz, The Annalist, My French Heaven, Smiling Notes, Bright Shiny Objects, The Pioneer Woman, How Sweet Eats…

I think I have nominated most (if not all) of those blogs in the past, with the exception of Chorizo & Thyme. Which is why I’d like to nominate Roberta of Chorizo & Thyme for the Liebster Award!

Your 11 questions (should you choose to accept) are as follows:

  1. What got you into blogging?
  2. You’ve been at this a little while now. What drives you to keep posting?
  3. You’ve traveled quite a bit, where is your favorite place you’ve been?
  4. Where would you like to go that you haven’t been?
  5. Who do you love to read?
  6. You and a guest have just been awarded dinner anywhere in the world; Where are you dining and who are you bringing?
  7. The president of Malta has read your blog and is coming for a no fuss home cooked dinner, what are you making?
  8.  Are you more of a coffee or tea person?
  9. What bothers you most about being a blogger?
  10. Which is your favorite season, and why?
  11. It’s a perfect rainy afternoon all alone: do you pour yourself out over a typewriter, read a book or watch a movie?

Thanks again Chronicles of a Keeper!

Life Bellissima’s Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am loving my WordPress Cooking Challenge to make recipes of fellow bloggers! (Of course what’s not to love when you’re making chocolate chip cookies?) And I’m almost to the finish line! My seventh selection, out of eight recipes to try, was from Life Bellissima, a beautiful blog about her faith, family, recipes and life on a farm- including chickens (My dream! And, by the way, if she starts roasting coffee and opens a little cafe, I’m moving my family to Idaho!) Anna of Life Bellissima, is also an advocate of organic eating, just another thing we have in common. Sometimes you just have those instant connections, when you know you are kindred spirits (like from Anne of Green Gables). This is one of those times.

Going through this recipe was fun. Firstly, I rarely use almond milk in baking (for no particular reason). But it was fun to feel like I am making a treat with a different kind of nutritional value. It also called for coconut oil, which I have out on the counter top at all times, but I don’t think I’ve put in my cookies before. I love trying new things! However, the best part of this recipe is that there are no eggs, so it’s is nice to have a cookie recipe in case you are out of eggs (which Anna probably isn’t since she has chickens…). But is even better when you can without hesitation tell your assistant, aka your four year old daughter, that yes indeed she can eat taste the batter!

Anna did mention that she had to bake the cookies a little longer than the recipe she adapted these from, and I did too (about 14 mins, as opposed to 11). And even though I let them set for a while, they were still so soft and pliable that some of them could still fold and break… which was AWESOME! They were so soft and chewy! And very chocolate-y. I loved them and so did my my nine year old chocolate officiant. He aptly claimed they taste like “brownie cookies”!

For the original recipe and instructions visit Life Bellissima!

A Tale of Three Dishes Part III

The last of my trilogy in the Tale of Three Dishes of elusive foods from my travels is different from the rest. The other dishes are delicacies I have been unable to replicate. No amount of research and effort has allowed me the pleasure of recreating or enjoying them again. All I have is an increasingly distant memory of the taste and pleasure I received by eating them. This is an unfortunate tale of an edible experience I’ll never know.

Last year we had a family trip planned in the spring to finally see the Grand Canyon. It’s one of the wonders of the world that I’ve never been able to experience first hand, and it was finally time to be able to take in the beauty. The trip was still in the planning stages when Owen was informed that he was required to go to Porto, Portugal during the very same week of our projected vacation. Alas, my canyon experience would have to wait… looks like we’re all going to Portugal!

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As anyone traveling with children knows, it gets increasingly difficult with the more children you have, especially when they are young. I wasn’t willing to spend the money on the first class flight that Owen’s company was sending him on for myself and three children, so I began to research more affordable options. Our arrival time would be similar if I just planned to leave a little earlier, and it was actually more economical to book a hotel room in Frankfort to accommodate a long layover on our flight home. However, I started to get concerned about traveling alone with the kids. What if I had to go to the bathroom and the stroller holding the two babies didn’t fit? I didn’t want to leave Isaiah alone to watch them in an airport. Owen had to work many of the days we were there… The only thing to do was bring “Nanny” Tara. Believe it or not it was still a substantial cost savings over flying with Owen, and the peace of mind was priceless.

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Owen was able to meet us at the airport and we (luggage and all) were able to fit into a large taxi to drive us to our hotel. Gone are the days when we could get away with sleeping in the corporate hotel room, now we have to add on a suite. Fortunately the hotel was modern, beautiful and accommodating! There was plenty to do there, a swimming pool and restaurant; which is comforting to know when planning a trip with kids since you can’t always project what’s going to happen. But more impressively was that there was so much to do within walking distance, because we could always stay-in at home and we were here to see the city of Porto!

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It was also good to know that taxies were relatively inexpensive and could accommodate three children and two adults because shortly before I left for our trip I found out I was pregnant with our fourth child, and didn’t feel like walking! (Although I still did plenty of sight-seeing by foot.) The city was beautiful and had the best of what all European vacations had to offer in my opinion. There were sandy beaches and cafes full of pastries and good coffee; there was rich history and beautiful architecture; and there were plenty of parks and attractions (such as an aquarium and museums) to do with the kids.

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Almost everywhere we went offered a menu in English, which was very appreciated since I don’t speak any Portuguese. It is also one of my joys in life to try new cuisine. Sadly, however, my current condition, being with child, prevented me from being my usual adventurous self (it also prevented me from touring the wineries and enjoying the famous Port wine). Overall I was having quite a bit of food aversion so I tried to stick with dishes I knew. When I saw “Francesinha” on the menu of almost every Portuguese restaurant I was truly curious and my not-pregnant self would have tried it in a heartbeat. But it translated on all of the menus as “special sauce,” which was so (almost comically) non-discript that I couldn’t force my queasy stomach to do it. I did inquire further about the sauce on more than one occasion which was also funny because apparently many of the “special sauces” are a house secret, which only fueled the mystery. And when finally one of the descriptive words included liquor, well that was it. I didn’t think my sensitivity could handle it. So alas, I have regretted the not trying of the special sauce ever since, and unfortunately the Francesinha eludes me, and in truth I may never know what I have missed.