Darphynia's Diary

As the title reads, our spring giveaway has ended, and the winner has been announced on Instagram.  Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our winner!  If you didn't win this time around, there will be more giveaways in the no-so-distant future.  Plus, stay tuned because we have an amazing collaboration coming up. 

Just after opening. This year was the third annual SoCal Vegfest at the OC Fairplex .  Food, clothing, and advocate booths lined the hall.  Outside were a number of ice cream, pastry, hot food, and beverage stands.  Kettle One , one of the sponsors, was handing out samples of vodka+soda, with your choice of mix-ins.  While it was a fun event, and we were able to go both days, there was definitely room for improvement. K-Cup soup from Be Leaf. Free sample bag of Lakanto Erythritol + Monkfruit sweetener  Since VegFest took place on the same days as the swap meet, parking was a bit of a mess.  There were hardly any signs directing cars to the lot for VegFest goers.  There was also an option to park across the street at the college, but again, the lack of signs made it confusing.  On the first day there was a long line for those who purchased tickets.  The line soon became two, but there were three or four doors f...

Good morning, ocean! We only have two days left!  Well, one and the morning of another.  The time flew by, but at the same time didn't.  It's so hard to explain.  We woke up and got ready for our final visit to Palo.  I almost think it's worth it to eat every dinner (and brunch) during the duration of the cruise.  We had Samet as our server again, and he gave us a tour of the buffet and menu.  There was a full menu with calzone, pizza, steak, and more! Not to mention the delicious spread of imported cheeses, honeycomb, jumbo shrimp, homemade breads, king crab legs, desserts... the list is never-ending.  We stayed the entire duration brunch is served.  And no, it wasn't completely sold out, so nobody was waiting for our table.  We also got to talking to a couple from our FE group who happened to be dining at Palo as well.  It was like we had known them for ages.  Looking back, I wish we had talked to them more often. Spa...

The Halloween Tree. Lunch on the deck.  Heading towards Cabo.  It was a beautiful day at sea.  The water was calm, and we enjoyed a burger on the deck by the pool.  Since it was lunch time, we went to Cabanas to see what there was for lunch.  The carving stations were open, and there were several seafood options as well as kid-friendly foods (i.e. chicken strips, fries, macaroni & cheese, etc.) and desserts.  We sampled the shrimp dishes, which were well seasoned and not overcooked and a couple of pastries/puddings.  We never took large portions because (1)  You can come back for more, and (2)  We weren't sure if we were going to like it.  After walking around, we went back to the room for room service and a movie.  In case you couldn't see a pattern, we pretty much ate, explored, and slept.  Of course we participated in many activities, but there was method.  Why not live it up while you're on board...

Image courtesy of socalvegfest.org Who is excited for SoCal VegFest?  We are!  It is annual, and there are so many vendors, speakers, and food samplings.  SoCal VegFest seeks to inspire others towards healthful, conscious, compassionate, eco-friendly living.  You can read more about them in their About Us section.  If you are interested in attending, you can purchase tickets here .  Early bird tickets start at $5.00.  Military/Veterans (ID required), Kids (12 years and under), Seniors (65+ years), and Handicapped/Disabled individuals can attend for free, with no fees.  The VIP ticket is $40.00 plus $2.99 fee and is good for both days.  The VIP ticket also includes a goody bag valued at $100.00+!  Tickets will also be available at the door for $10.00.  See if your favorite vendor is attending by clicking here .  There will be Halloween fun, activities for kids, and so much more!  And no, this event isn't just for the...