The Sweet & Sour Life

Alright, I'm back tracking on some of my posts. I've most definitely been slacking on keeping the world, or the small crowd that reads this, inspired by my travels, but at last more fun weekend excursions! Let's go with Emma and I's trip to Rome . It was simple. It was no rush, no fuss, it was amazing. As a small group, we have decided that all new cities deserve a good attempt at breakfast/brunch. If you've been to Italy, you know that's not so easy. I mean, how do people not eat freaking eggs and toast for breakfast? And, thank you America for the invention of Mimosas. If only the rest of the world would jump on board. Although, prosecco is SO much better than champagne, but beggars can't be choosers. In any case... we google & tripadvisor, and find the TOP place for breakfast and it's near our hotel. Double score. We spread the mimosa word to Julie, and she decides to for-go sleep for mimosa's, as any sane person would do. Baccano. That...

My Graceful European Bow Out.  Photo credit: Matt Lester. View from his apartment into the Bay. It's that time. Only a few days until April 29th. Sayonara Europe day. Between Europe and Asia, I've seen so much. Experienced even more. And learned a ton more than that. All the countries and cultures I've experienced while being stationed in Gaeta, no matter how I write them on paper (iPad), cannot come close to how amazing they all have been... In their own separate ways. But this tour means nothing without homeport, and how great and significant it is to my heart. Photo Credit: Matt Lester. That's Gaeta Vecchia, Castello & Monte Orlando. I leave Gaeta bittersweet in my heart. Bitter because everywhere I go or look I'm struck with sadness of memories and experiences with old friends. Living somewhere you can't help but grow fond of things because of important people. But I leave Gaeta mainly sweet. If it was possible, I'd be a maste...

OMGosh. Stunning. Amazing. Breathtaking. Other typical descriptive words.  (Me at the top of the Panatheniac Stadium. You can see Temple of Olympian Zeus & The Acropolis in the background.) Whenever I travel somewhere new, I start rating it against my top 5 favorite locations. Food, wine, events, weather, people, etc. all comes into play. Well, after my latest long weekend excursion, Athens has worked its way into the Top 5!! Welcome to the elite, Athens!! Before we left, Sara helped me go old school. We actually made print outs of food and wine recommendations. I carried around this stack of papers with the best street food and wine bars . Julie and I managed to hit nearly all of them. (We both equally love the Greek flag. The colors & the design. This flag flies at the top of The Acropolis.) For the meat & potatoes... Why did I love Athens?! Why is it Top 5 worthy?! FOOOOOOOOOD!! Souvlaki. It's like a Gyro, but the meat is different. W...

I write this as all 3 of us prepare our lives for new chapters. Georgia. California. Maryland. All nowhere near each other, but all equally excited for future adventures... and how they’ve just only begun.  One day, I had the novel idea to use all my baking supplies to bake for the entire USS Mount Whitney and all it’s departments delicious delights. Now, picture my baking supplies as a Hoarders Baking Edition. We had more than enough to make this happen. The most logical idea was to divide and conquer. You have to start off strong in this sort of event otherwise you’ll never get very far in the process.  So I barked orders, Emma started with peanut butter cookies, and Sara was in-charge of the Butter Pecan Fudge. Emma has become quite the baker, it was her ability to read and follow a recipe, Sara didn’t possess the same skills.  As you know when you make fudge, it takes a HOT minute to sit, harden, and cool to where it actually looks and taste like fudge. ...

Well… I seem to have “lost” the original writing of this below post. I was trying to be tech savvy and restore new iPad from old iPad and POOF! there goes the most epic first post for a blog possible. Here’s to hoping this rendition is as funny as I thought I was in the last writing.. (btw, has anyone ever listened to Tribute by Tenacious D? This is what they felt like.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lK4cX5xGiQ ). The 3 amigos set out on a wonderful… no, magical... Christmas adventure to Switzerland. Sure, we weren’t the homiest of homies, but despite being nervous about how the trip would go, it ended up being AMAZING & quite hilarious if you ask any of us. Here’s the few things Josh, Sara and I learned on this wee weekend excursion: Always bring Dramomine.. There’s always one person who gets motion sickness at the slightest things, like turning a direction to fast. 25 is hard, avoid carnival rides.. ALL carnival rides. Food is required before any in-motio...

Hello public community who have decided to read my blog... Bless you. I'm not really sure what I'm doing on this thing, but I figured "Hey! Why not?!" Honestly, this is my 2nd blog site. The first one, I wouldn't recommend to those not computer savvy (like me). I made the decision to start a blog to put the Sweet & Sour moments of my life adventures available for everyone to get a good laugh, maybe a cry, at. Plus, this helps everyone all over the world keep up-to-date with the world of Stacey, all while allowing me to be extremely lazy. A friend, Rachael, without knowing gave me the inspiration to start a blog. Everyone always wants to start a blog, but they never actually do. Especially never keep up with it, we will see how well I keep up this blog. In any case, enjoy the future articles I write & share this around! Right now, the site is rough around the edges, but I know I'll get better at this just like you'll enjoy the articles more and...