Weighing Your Luggage

 This is an absolute must when you travel by plane.  How much does your luggage weigh?  And if it weighs too much...how much extra is it going to cost you?  Why worry about that.  How many times have you seen people scrambling at the ticket counter....holding up the line while they pull stuff out of their suitcases to get beneath the 50 pounds.

This portable, light weight scale has a handle you hold, a hook you put through the handle of your suitcase so it's easy to see how much your luggage weighs.  Take it with you, pack it.  Why?  I know everyone thinks well if it was ok at home...it will be ok on the return.............not so.  Why?  Dirty close weigh more then clean close and you bought souvenirs, and you don't know how much your little gifts for the neighbor watching your house or pets weighs.

People can use the home scale to weigh themselves, then get back on with their suitcase and weigh again, subtract their weight to determine how much the luggage weighs; but........that's not always accurate and it's not all that easy.  I've seen people tell the folks at the ticket counter, I weigh it at home...blah blah blah.  Plus, you can't do that for the return trip.  Well, maybe where you're staying has a work out room and you can pack your suitcase, take it to the gym area and repeat the process there.........but really, talk about a nuisance.

Prices vary for portable luggage scales, this one was under $15.00, though some digital ones may be closer to $20.00, still it's money well spent.  I've seen a price tag of $25.00-$125.00 for luggage weighing over 50 pounds depending on the airlines and whether it's the first or 2nd bag or domestic or international travel.........so go buy the portable scale and use it.  You'll be glad you did.  I like to have at least 5-8 pounds of wiggle room so I know I won't have trouble.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Cafe Coyote

Welcome to Cafe Coyote in Olde Town San Diego, located at 2461 San Diego Avenue.  The restaurant is family owned and has received best Mexican Food awards in 2005-2006-2008-2009-2010-2011- and 2012.  There inside areas, sorta outside areas, definitely outside areas, smaller rooms and the various bar areas.  It's HUGE.

There's lots of art work both in and out.

It's open for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  We shared one meal for breakfast that was fantastic....and still, neither hubby or I were able to eat our full half portion.  Prices are very reasonable.  The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere casual.

More painted murals on the walls.

The inside inside bar area.  Look at the bar folks, they boast 100 different Tequila's.  Though we sample any, since we were there for breakfast, lol.  In the evenings they have life music.

This is the sorta in sorta outside area.  Open air dining, but with a roof.  Heaters available for the evenings help make people enjoy both in and out.  Fresh hand made Tortilla's.  Not only can you watch them being made from your table, you walk up from the sidewalk in front and order one to go.

Cafe Coyote has something for everyone, from small groups to large, from adults to children.  It's located on a busy corner in Old Town San Diego, where the city first began.  Lots of local color in this area.  The area gets 6,000,000 visitors annually, double what the popular and very well know San Diego Zoo and Sea World get.   The restaurant is popular with locals and tourists. 

I highly recommend this restaurant and hope to return on another trip to San Diego.  Will plan to try it out for dinner next time round. 

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Shopping While Vacationing

On our January trip to Hilton Head, we picked up some fun cocktail napkins.

If you read my blog very often, you know hubby and I enjoy our "cocktails".  Specifically we enjoy our Martini's.  I make a really good one, by the way; always better then what you get when you order out.  They don't have or don't take the time to properly chill the martini glasses, which is a key component of a really good martini. 

Since we were there in January, you can see a Christmas flare to our fun cocktail napkins.  Hubby likes a Gin Martini, shaken not stirred and I prefer a Vodka Martini.  Most of the time I like a Lemon-Drop Martini, but am also partial to a Dirty Martini with nice olives stuffed with blue cheese.

While vacationing, one should purchase souvenirs that reflect the fun of the trip and make you smile.  We smile every time we use our fun cocktail napkins........even if they are "out of season".

Cafe Osage in St. Louis

 Doesn't this plate make you want to pick up a fork?  Mixed grain pancakes with bananas foster type compote.  It was absolutely yummy.  Darling Daughter and I had a fantastic brunch at Cafe Osage in the Central West End in St. Louis. 

 Now that most interesting thing is...when you first walk in, you're in a nursery.  See seeds!

 A nice gift shop, both of garden and non garden related items.  During warm months you can dine outside on their patio among the beautiful plantings.

 Shop before or after you dine, there's plenty to pick from.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served. I highly recommend Cafe Osage and hope to return.