Guinea Pig Dinner

Yummm. Guinea Pig. Who would've thought?

Hahaha. Just Kidding. I didn't eat Guinea Pig.

I've heard it tastes just like chicken though!

So, here's the thing...I don't cook. I live a pretty simple and standard bachelorette life. Some drinks in the fridge, and a can or two of soup, just in case I should starve.

However, as I get closer and closer to wanting a serious relationship, I've considered that I might *want* to cook for my man one day and I really wouldn't want to embarrass myself.

So, not too long ago I went to visit a friend in Austin, TX and she invited me to a Guinea Pig Dinner. A Guinea Pig Dinner is where everyone makes a dish they've NEVER made before and we all get to be the guinea pigs! This is where the cooks and the non-cooks have an equal opportunity to make something fabulous or not! (Was my thinking.)

Anyways, my friend picked me up from the airport and we headed straight to the supermarket. Thankfully, there were FREE recipe cards and I was able to pick out a dessert I knew I would like (and seemed easy enough to make) and picked up all the ingredients on the spot.

My friend left me to her kitchen, and she was no help at all!!!

Ok, I know that is the point, but I'd be meeting all these new people and I really wanted to make a good impression! Still, she left.

Well, guess what? The dog ate it.

Hahaha! No! Actually, it turned out great!!! Everyone ate it up!

Well, there were leftovers, but the host ate it up over the next few days! LOL!

Oh, you probably want to know what it was that I made, right?

Ready? Drumroll....

Cream Cheese Banana Pudding!

It was made with vanilla pudding, Nilla wafers, bananas, cream cheese, whipped topping, milk, sugar and bananas.

Sounds yummy, right? (And high in fat, but who cares?)

I even made a smiley face out of the bananas on top! LOL! Nothing says, "nice to meet you, I hope you like this" like a smiley face from cut-up bananas! ;)

In any case, I was so inspired by this idea (and that no one got poisoned), that I brought it back to NYC!

This past Saturday evening I hosted the 1st NYC Guinea Pig Dinner! It was a success too!!! 15 people came, and just about everyone made a dish. ALL the food was GREAT! The ones who didn't make a dish, bought dessert, but that was a last minute request of mine because I thought we might be lacking in that area.

Ya' see, when organizing for a dinner of this size, it's important everyone share what they're making (appetizer, main, side or dessert), so that not everyone brings the same thing. However, it is also just as important to share what food you are making because we ended up with 4 chicken dishes. Not that it's a bad thing, but variety is good too.

Ok, back to the story...

This time I made two dishes! I got courageous!!! ;)

They were easy, but yummy too!

I made "Annie's Fruit Salsa" (courtesy of www.allrecipes.com) and served it with Stacy's Cinnamon Sugar chips. A hit!

I also made Cilantro & Mint Melon Salad, (again, www.allrecipes.com) and even though I forgot to put it out (it was in the back of the fridge!) the after party enjoyed it!

So, the point is that I've been DREAMING of being comfortable cooking, confident that when the time comes, I can make my man a meal! Having these dinners is an easy way to learn, and without pressure! Everybody is in the same boat! And it's fun too!

Got questions about hosting your own Guinea Pig Dinner? Please feel free to ask!

'Til next time, thanks for reading and Happy Dreaming! :)

Yeah baby, I'm back!

Ok, let's talk about Turks & Caicos!

The beach was gorgeous, it was great seeing Shantelle, I got a great tan and we took a lot of fun pictures! Yay!

End of story.

Was that all? No! Of course not! Well, maybe...

LOL!

Ok, so it wasn't all it was cracked up to be, at least not to me. I don't want to talk bad about Club Med, so I'll leave it at that it's not the happening singles spot it used to be! However, if you're in a couple and you're athletic, it's great! Lots of activities, and did I mention the beach is GORGEOUS? Seriously, the sand is perfect, fine, white and pillow-y and the water is crystal clear!

Heaven!!! I've been to many beaches and I have to say this is by far the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen! So, if you like 'da beach, you must check it out! ;)

Well, since we like to talk about dreams on here, let me share with you my dreamy story!

It was my first day on the beach...

I had landed at 12p, and by 3p I was already taking some rays. Off in the distance, me and my girlfriend could hear reggae music and since Jamaica/Reggae is really our first love, we couldn't resist dancing to the tunes! Well, in fact, it was a yacht playing those sultry sounds and Shantelle's great moves enticed the Captain to jump ship and swim our way! Before we knew it, we were asked if we wanted a ride! Yes we sure did! Ha Ha!

So, as we climbed aboard, you would never guess it, but the name of this beautiful vessel was "Dream Aweigh"!

Seriously!

And that's exactly what happened as Shantelle and I took off from the beach of Club Med! We danced, chatted with the Captain, Kenard (www.kenardcruises.com) and his brother, took some great pictures and got to see a little more of the island!

It was the perfect way to start a dream vacation!

So, that's my dreamy story...

That's all folks!

Awww, did you say you wanted to hear more?

Well, unfortunately I don't think I have much else to share! :(

I knew as I sat down to write that this would be a quick blog, so maybe I could have prefaced with "Something dreamy happened, but search elsewhere for juicy details." :P

Um, and in case you're wondering...the G.O's didn't necessarily live up to my expectations. Nice guys, but nothing like I had imagined when I heard those stories from my childhood friend. Awww, shucks, darn!

Anyway, I'll be back shortly to share with y'all about more dreams I've been having, so stay tuned!

BTW, have you had any dreamy vacations you'd like to share?

I would love to hear about them!

'Til next time, thanks for reading and happy dreaming!

:)

Club Med Turks & Caicos!

Ok, so we all know that dreams come and go, right? What has them actually stick around and become real? We BELIEVE in them! It's like they always remain in the background somehow, someway, reminding you that "yes, you can have it!" or "you can accomplish this!" or "it IS totally possible!" 

However, many times we let our dreams pass us by...  

Why do we do that to ourselves?

Did someone say, "you can't do it" or "it's not worth it" or "you'll never make it"?

Is it Fear?

Rejection?

Fear of rejection? haha

Ok, this is NO laughing matter! Sorry...

Back to the nitty gritty...

Seriously, what is IT?

Ponder this for a moment...

So, what are your dreams? Or what are some dreams you had when you were younger that you forgot about? OR what are the dreams you had when you were younger AND you still think about them now?

One of the dreams I've had for the last few years has been to visit Club Med Turkoise (Turks & Caicos).  I don't know why it's been such a big deal to me, but it has been.  

Actually, I remember a childhood friend went on Club Med vacations with her family when we were younger and I was always so jealous because it sounded like so much fun and I remember she said the G.O.'s were HOT! 

LOL! THAT WAS IT!!! I wanted to meet the HOT G.O.'s!!! Hahaha! ;)

Ok, all joking aside, the other thing is that it's an "adult village". No kids.  So, I have a better chance of meeting someone that I can hang with who is possibly relatively close in age.  (BTW, I mean this in a strictly platonic way! Don't get any dirty ideas now...) 

Oh, and if visiting Jamaica 4 times in 2 years doesn't let you know that I love warm, tropical, sunny locations, well, then you're on your own with that one! ;)

So, my point is that recently I heard from a few people that Club Med T&C wasn't all that great like it used to be and I thought, well, maybe it's not meant to be then...

I was sad.

I put it in the back of my mind.  Took it off my list of places to visit.  :(

AND THEN, my wonderful friend Shantelle sent me a text that she ALWAYS wanted to go to Club Med T&C and could I get away in June or July?!?! 

I started jumping UP and DOWN because I knew I was going to be able to make THAT dream come true! Back of my mind, no more! :) I will be the judge of my own vacation! I have nothing to compare this trip to because it's my first Club Med vacation! Yippeee! HOT G.O.'s HERE I COME!!! Hahaha!

So, again, my point is that no matter how big or small you think your dreams might be, if you want them to come true, go for it!

What have you got to lose??? 

(Seriously, WHAT have you got to lose?)

Well, I'm off to bed to dream about turquoise waters and young men.  Noooo, just kidding! Just turquoise waters... :)

'Til next time, thanks for reading and Happy Dreaming!!! :)

First Post

Ha Ha. Hi! First post for the dreamer! :)

So, geez, where do I begin?

Ok, well I should start by sharing with y'all that my dreams ARE coming true!!! :)

The funny thing is that I started this blog because of a blog my friend created! She asked me to share a "FabBooWowU" moment: A moment when you achieved a personal victory or triumph that has WoWed U!

(Check her out! http://fabboowowu.blogspot.com)

I thought to myself that I have many FabBooWowU moments and I'd like a collective place to share them all, but more importantly, they are mostly dreams that have or are coming true and so, VOILA! Here we are!

So, here's my FabBooWowU moment that started it all...

I went to Jamaica in February of '08 to stay with a friend who had a home there, and two days into the trip, we didn't get along too well and I ended up solo on the beach of Negril for the remainder of my stay.

I was a mess with the situation. I didn't know anyone in Jamaica, had never been to Negril before, (though I had always dreamed of visiting), I had a rental car that I was afraid to drive (they drive on the left), and I had 6 days left!

That's when I called my FabBooWowU friend, Regina, and she convinced and 'coached' me to stay, to chat up the locals, to go visit different places and enjoy! After all, I was in Negril, one of my dream cities to visit, while it was COLD and SNOWY in NYC!

So, I stayed and here's what happened...

I was referred to the hotel I stayed in by someone I met in the beginning of the trip and she put me in touch with the hotel manager. Shortly after I arrived to the hotel, the hotel manager, Domain, came to my room and introduced himself and he was great! I explained the mess that had me end up at the hotel and he said, "Come to the bar and let me buy you a drink!" And so I went to the bar, which was right on the beach, had a drink and shared. He was a listening ear that I needed at that time and he did just that!

Later that evening, the girl who recommended the hotel came by for conversation too! I was not alone, at all!

The next morning I woke up and had a fabulous breakfast on the beach, took some sun, chatted up some people at the hotel and these great girls befriended me and invited me to hang out with them that night! It was a great night too! I met this cool author, Roland Reimer who wrote a book called "Walk Good" which is a book about his travels to Negril! So, I learned all about Negril and what's good!

The next day was also amazing! Not only did I run into the same people I met the night before and share breakfast and lunch with them, but I also decided to go jet skiing and it was a blast! I had a waterproof camera with me so I took some video of the island too! Fun stuff!

Then, in the evening while I was sitting at dinner, I noticed another young lady sitting and eating by herself. I asked Domain who she was and the introductions were made! I became fast friends with Shantelle, a beautiful and cool chica from CA! She was also traveling alone and we hit it off instantly! We hung out that night and the rest of the nights that we were both there! I even extended my trip a day so I could hang out with her a little longer! :)

Since returning to NYC, I have stayed in touch with just about everyone I met on that trip! The girl who referred me to the hotel has visited me in NYC and I have returned to Jamaica 3 times since, twice to meet up with Shantelle, once I met up with Roland and Domain has always been there for assistance, if I needed it!

So, a vacation that started out not-so-great, turned out to be the best vacation I had ever had! A true FabBOOWowU moment, and what's even better is that it all started because I had always dreamed of going to Negril!!!

What has evolved since then is my dream of traveling more! Not only have I been back to Jamaica 3 times, but I was invited by Shantelle to hang with her at Sundance this year in Utah, I travelled to London, Cyprus and Wales to visit friends (I saw one friend in London who I met on ANOTHER trip to JA too), and next month I'm meeting Shantelle in Turks & Caicos!!!

WooHoo!!!

So, I'm here to say, dreams DO come true!

Do you have a dream that has come true? Please comment and share!

'Til next time, thanks for reading, welcome to my blog and Happy Dreaming!!!

:)