Tag Archives: Free Stuff

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How Do You Celebrate the Fourth of July?

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Good morning everyone, happy Fourth of July!  Ever since I was a young kid, I have always loved the Fourth of July.  I love the great food, the warm weather, the loud noises, and the beautiful fireworks.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are late in the year, but the Fourth of July is a smack dab in the middle of the year.  I have celebrated the Fourth of July all over the country and over in Europe (they don’t care much about our Independence Day), but I always love coming to Southern California to see my family.

Yesterday was a really long day of travel.  I flew from Malta to Amsterdam to Seattle to Orange County.  That was a heck of a travel day, but I know the trip was worth it to be home for the Fourth of July holiday.  I don’t have big plans, maybe go to the beach for a few hours, then over to my grandparent’s house for a BBQ and to watch the fireworks.  It’s not the most amazing Fourth of July, but I always look forward to the holiday.

So enough about me.  How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?  Do you do a big BBQ?  Do you go on a harbor cruise to watch the fireworks?  Or go out to a baseball game with your friends and family?  Please share what the Fourth of July means to you, I would love to hear.  That’s all from me, go out, have fun and be safe!

a heart made of coffee beans

Shelli’s World Coffee Tour – Coffee Houses in Madrid, Spain

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I guess it’s time for a true confession. I’m a coffee snob. And when I travel, I have a passion for supporting local roasters and coffee houses. Let’s just say I’ve BEAN Around the World and I’m feeling like now is the time to start sharing the love… and caffeine, one city at a time. Recently, I had a wonderful holiday in Madrid, Spain. And though it was hard to tear myself away from the incredible pinchos and rioja, I did explore the coffee houses, and I’m glad I did. I drank plenty of coffee, talked with baristas, and I’ve got lots to share with you. Let’s open the TWG cafe society doors and talk coffee, Madrid style.

a cup of coffee with a note

Cortado at Faraday Coffee

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Minor Changes to Discover Banking Accounts Coming August 8, 2018

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Good afternoon everyone, I just got an email from Discover regarding changes to my deposit accounts.  I have 2 credit cards, 1 checking account, and 4 savings accounts with Discover (thanks to various account opening promotions), but these changes are not for Discover It Credit Card or Discover It Miles Credit Card holders, so if you only have those Discover accounts, this post is not for you.  But if you have a Discover checking, savings, money market, or IRA account, there are a few account announcements you should be aware of.  Here is the email I received from Discover, but the email only mentions which sections were changed, not what the actual changes are, so I logged into my Discover account to find all the details.

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Heading to Athens, Greece? Book the Small-Group Culinary Walking Tour

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Good morning from Athens, Greece (or as the Greeks would say “Καλημέρα από Αθήνα, Ελλάδα).  I am writing to you from the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens (35,000 IHG points/night).  If you are heading to Athens, Greece, I highly recommend the Athens Small-Group Culinary Walking Tour, where you walk around the city, lead by a local, English-speaking tour guide and try some of the best, most authentic Greek food in the world.

I am not going to cover everything we saw, ate, smelled or learned on the tour, but here some of my favorite photos.  Our tour guide handed us a piece of paper showing us which foods we would be experiencing on this tour (I will reference names and restaurants throughout the post).  At the beginning of the tour, we stopped by a local street vendor selling Koulouri, the “Greek breakfast” that is a round piece of bread covered in sesame seeds.  You can find Koulouri all around Athens, at any time of day, and the price is only 0.5 Euros.  I ate a few of these around Athens :)

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Don’t Leave These SPG Bonus Points on the Table–Register Now!

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What’s the best kind of bonus point? The ones that are free, of course. Free bonus points for what we’ll do or what we’d spend, anyway, are the best kind. Don’t forget to register for this SPG bonus Starpoints offer! It runs through July 20, and two of my favorite Sheraton properties are included. The Sheraton in Krakow is a beautiful property in a great location. And you all know how I feel about the Sheraton Lisboa after my fun trip to Portugal last year. So register for this promotion because generally speaking, if Starpoints are out there, it’s good to make sure they end up in our accounts!

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