Happy Earth Day!

I think every day should be Earth Day, but, I will use this opportunity to remind you to do your part in helping to slow down climate change.  Maybe today is the day to make a resolution to beef up your earth saving habits.  

Some of the things I try to do on a regular basis:

• Use reusable bags, not just at the grocery but at all stores.  Decline a bag when I can place an item into my tote.  I even have a reusable bag that rolls up into a small ball that I always carry around in case I need an extra bag.
• Don't drink from bottled water.  And I'm trying to expand to other plastic bottles
• Reduce the amount of energy used by always turning off lights, electronics and appliances and using power strips to reduce phantom power.
• I recently started growing my own herbs to use in my cooking (I'll be sure to post about this soon).
• Recycle as much as I can

One thing I would really like to be better at is to be a better consumer.  I'm going to try to not buy so much stuff.  Not that I already buy so much, but I figure if I buy just a little less, and focus on products that are more sustainable such as cleaning products with less toxins and items that will last longer and need to be replaced less frequently thereby reducing our waste (which may be more expensive, but if I buy less in general it will even out).  

Do you have any Earth Day resolutions?  Shariously let me know of any of your Earth Day suggestions!

Bye Bye Google Reader

If it weren't for google reader, I probably wouldn't be blogging to you today.  And now it's going away.

I know this news has been out for some time, but for the first few weeks after it was announced I was in denial.  Then I was determined to find a replacement.  I read a bunch of articles that were written within the first few days about where to turn and tried Feedly, The Old Reader and Bloglovin.  Feedly is pretty good.  The Old Reader took like a week to import from Google and then I wasn't impressed.  And Bloglovin needs a lot of work to catch up.  I'll stick with Feedly for now, it's growing on me.

Back in the summer of 2009 (I think) I saw the usual options at the top of my gmail page: search, images, calendar, documents; then over on the right I saw "Reader."  It probably had been there for a while, but I never noticed it.  I noted it and kind of forgot about it since I didn't really have any blogs that I followed.  My routine pretty much included checking NYTimes and Gothamist on a daily basis.

Every now and then I would get forwarded posts from failblog and When Parents Text, so a couple of months later I opened up reader again and decide to add those to my Reader.  It was so easy to use I decided to add gothamist, some friends' blogs and search some of the "recommended" items.  From there I learned about some of my favorite blogs and the list kept growing.  Then when NYTimes switched to a subscription mode I found out I could add NYTimes and all my favorite columns (and not have to pay).  Reader makes it so easy to scroll through and read so much so quickly!

As I started to follow personal bloggers, I learned about more and more of them/you and starting thinking about blogging, but never really acted on it.  Then, my blogging hobby started the same way my Reader obsession started; I clicked on the "more" button atop gmail and discovered blogger and created a blog!

What feed readers do you Shariously suggest I use?

PS - failblog and WPT like sites have migrated off my reader.

LED Shoelaces

A deal for these Light-Up LED shoelaces showed up in my inbox today ($10 for 2 pair if you're interested). I was intrigued.  Not because light-up shoelaces are super practical, but it got me wondering what else could technology like this be used for?  Or are we really headed into the future where are clothes look like the movies predicted (you know with all the lights and wires).

• Are these any different from L.A Lights (or whatever they are called now)?  Kids running around with shoes that light up
• Are the laces flexible or stiff like those glow necklaces you have to "break" to work.

What do you guys think?  Anything more practical that these could be used for?

European Vacation (Part Quatre)

You can catch up by reading Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Day 7

Park & Basilica

This day was all about reminiscing. First we took the Metro to Simonis, which was the stop I had lived at.  We met up with MDB and walked over to the house she grew up in and I had lived for a semester (her parents just recently sold it and moved to France).  Next up was a walk through the park to Basilica Koekelberg- Sacre Couer, one of the 10 largest churches in the world! I once had a view of this from my bedroom window.

Basilica up close

Once inside the basilica we were able to go up to the top which gives an amazing view of the city. Unfortunately the weather was not really cooperating while we were there, but we still got some cool views and a ride in the elevator with a glass top.

View from the top.  

In this picture see if you can see some silvery balls floating in the distance along the horizon (that would be our next stop).

After the basilica we had lunch at my favorite "Snack" shop (Snack Simonis) in all of Brussels. The frites and sandwiches were still as amazing as I had remembered and didn't measure up to any of the other places we tried on this trip.  

Atomium

Our next stop of the day was Atomium.  Just like the Eiffel Tower, Space Needle and the Unisphere in NY, this structure remains from the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.  The Atomium is an iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times.  Each of the spheres holds a different exhibit (the top one is the panorama view), some are permanent exhibits and others are temporary.  The "bonds" hold stairs, escalators or elevators including the one shown in the picture below which was fun to ride down. 

Cool escalator

After hanging out at Atomium, we headed back to downtown to visit the Musee Magritte Museum.  Rene Magritte has always been one of my favorite artists and I had been to the Magritte House which was his House in Brussels, but this new Museum has a much more extensive collection of his works. Overall I prefer the house tour to the full musuem, but enjoyed the museum (which is attached to the Beaux-Arts Museum). 

Since we only had one day left, we spent the rest of the evening doing some souvenir and chocolate shopping before having some more beer and great food.

Day 8

 For our last day :( we went over to the VUB (Free University of Brussels) where I went to school for the semester and I showed AG around campus, well what I remember about it.  After we went to Colruyt, a supermarket which is kind of like a cross between a Costco and Trader Joes, and stocked up on as much Belgian goodies that our suitcases could hold.  Later that day we got our first and only glimpse of blue sky before going to the chocolate museum.  The chocolate museum was interesting, but the best part was the copious amounts of chocolate samples.  

Brussels Ruins

For our final night, it was Museum Night Fever in Brussels where all the museums were open from 7pm to 1am and had all sorts of fun things going on with DJs and drinks.  We started out at the Jewish Museum, the Belgian Jewish community is very small and we learned a little about it, but since all the exhibits were only in French and Dutch it was a little hard to understand.  I got about 75% of it from my HS french knowledge, but AG was totally lost.  Next up we went to the Royal Library which is similar to the New York Public Library.  They had a fun activity where you could make pop up books or pins from old books.  Our last stop before the museums closed was the Belvue museum of Belgium.  The coolest part of this museum was that is is built on top of an archaeological site which you can explore.  The weirdest part of this museum was that for the event they had Aliens on exhibit??

Are they Belgians or Aliens?

That night/morning we had to say goodbye to MDB and pack up for our flight back to NY. I could go on all day about the trip so let me know if you want to learn more.

It was Shariously an amazing trip - time to start planning the next vacation!

European Vacation (Part Drie)

Welcome back for more vacation recaps.  Drie is Dutch for Three.  Don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our European Highlights.

Day 5

Gravensteen Castle

We had a reservation in Bruges for the night of Day 5, and had planned to spend the day there when MDB suggested we go to Ghent as well on our way.  Since she has a special fondness of Ghent, I suggested she come with us to show us around then she could go back to Brussels when we moved on to Brugge.  For most of the day we visited the castle, Gravensteen!  It's a castle that has been around since the middle ages.  In addition to touring the castle's rooms, there is a torture exhibit - see AG with the Guillotine below.

View from the top

More from the top

After the castle we walked around more, had another amazing lunch and stopped in to some shops. At the end of the afternoon MDB parted ways back to Brussels and we caught the train to Bruges.  

Canal in Bruges

 Once in Bruges we walked a mile from the train to our hotel through the beautiful streets.  Bruges is an amazing city, and as one of the most intact medieval cities brings you back hundreds of years in the past.  We stayed at the wonderful Hotel Navarra which was beautiful and had a cool pool in the basement.  We had yet another great dinner at a Greek restaurant called The Olive Tree and walked around the quiet city at night.  Since it is often a day trip for tourists, it was very peaceful at night.

Hotel Pool

The Belfry

Bruges at Night

Bruges at Night

Day 6

Same spot as above during the day

This day was all about Bruges!  First up was a canal tour (you can see some of the canals in the pictures).  Then, we went all the way up to the top of the Belfry. The tall circular tower you see in most pictures here.  It is 366 steps to the top on a narrow staircase, and the only way down is the same way you go up! Our final attraction of the day was the Frites Museum.  For those of you who don't know, the "French Fry" was actually invented in Belgium and Belgians love their Frites!  You can see from the picture below, AG and I actually became Frites.  The museum was touristy, but fun and gave a pretty interesting history of potatoes and of course Frites at the end.

View from Belfry

Too many Frites

After a beautiful day in Bruges we headed back to Brussels and checked into our hotel near the Grand Place and did a little shopping. Back at MDB's apartment, she cooked us and her roommate an amazing meal of Spaghetti Bolognese; one of my favorite meals from when I lived with her and her family.

Only 1 more post of recaps to go - so Shariously stay tuned...

Happy Blogaversary!

Happy 1-Year Blogging to me!

(Actually this post is a week late)
It has been a great first year and I look forward to the next.

Stats from my first year:

• Total number of views: 3555
• Number of unique visitors: 400*
• Total number of posts: 61
• Average number of posts per week: 1.17
• Total number of comments: 13
• Number of states where blog was viewed: 30
• Number of searches that resulted in someone clicking my blog: 192
• Number of searches that don't include "shariously": 92

*Although not accounting for a visitor using multiple devices

Goals for second year:

• Gain more regular readership
• Average 2 posts per week
• Have more reader comments and interaction

How can you help?

You my devoted (hopefully) readers can help me attain these goals. Please leave your responses in the comments or email me.  You can post anonymously if you prefer. 

• What do you want to read more about? 
• Which posts are your favorite?
• Are there any topics you would like me to write about?

I thank you, Shariously, for all the support and help over the past year!

Kisses for all the support!

European Vacation (Part 2)

You can read Part 1 here. And now for European Vacation highlights Part 2

Day 3

Pancakes!

Our day started off at Pancakes! Amsterdam.  I didn't know they were so into pancakes in Amsterdam, but they are all over the place.  They are a cross between a French crepe and an American pancake.   After brunch we headed over to the Anne Frank Huis (House).  This is a really great museum.  You walk from room to room in the famous house and annex and really get a new perspective on how Anne and her family lived during the Holocaust.  One thing that's weird, is that even though I've now been to this museum twice, when I envision the attic, I still picture it as the way my imagination first envisioned it when I heard the story as a kid.

Apple pancake

 We walked around a little more and briefly visited the nearby cheese and tulip museums.

Cheese museum

Next up, we walked across the city to the Heineken Brewery, for the Heineken Experience. This was definitely a highlight of the trip.  The "experience" started out a little boring with the history and a bunch of displays about Heineken.  But then it got much better and interactive (you could eat raw barley yuck), with the ability to learn about the beer making process and a simulator ride where we were stuck inside the beer.  There were also tons of fun photos to take (like the ones below) an area where you could watch 50 years of Heineken commercials and the best part, 2 beers at the end.

Next Beer Label?

"Tasting Beers" Not included in the 2 free

 Day 4

After checking out of our hotel and having breakfast we headed to the train station to catch the Thalys to Brussels.  Just 2 hours later we arrived.  Our first stop was my "host sister's" apartment. (FYI - my host sister is one of the daughters, who still lived at home, of the host family that I lived with when I lived in Brussels).  Once in Brussels we had to get some frites, durum and beer right away.  We went to a local snack shop (a place where they sell frites and other kebab and pita foods) and I ordered 2 of my favorite lunchtime sandwiches (one for AG) - a durum poulet avec andaouse, salade et frites (a chicken wrap with andalouse sauce, salad and frites).  They put the frites right in the wrap, I don't know why this hasn't caught on over here. 

Next up was a visit to the Grand Place, Manneken Pis and a beer.  I took advantage of drinking kriek (cherry) bier right from the tap (nothing like the select brands they sell imported to the US).  My host-sister (MDB) took us on a long walk around all the sites and we ended up at another cafe for some more Belgian beer before ending the evening with dinner at a local restaurant and catching up back at MDB's apartment.

The Grande Place

Manneken Pis

If you have any questions about the trip or want some advice for your own Netherlands/Belgium trip - leave me a comment or send me an email.  Shariously, would love to help!