Peaceful Beauty – The Loch Lein Country House Hotel

Posted on November 17, 2011 by venesueca

We chose Killarney as the next stop because it provided another excellent home base on our way to Cork, the final stop on the journey through Ireland. Little did we know that we could have easily spent more than 3 days there and still not lacked for interesting sites to visit! We decided to stay just a couple of miles away from the hustle and bustle of the main town so that we could experience Irish hospitality in a serene and beautiful setting. After quite a bit of research, we booked a stay at the Loch Lein Country House Hotel in Fossa.

Even before we arrived, our hosts (owners Paul and Annette) were extremely gracious and accommodating. Knowing that we would be arriving very late from our day at the Cliffs of Moher, I called ahead to make sure that our reservation was still confirmed and asked if there was anywhere nearby to eat. Paul assured us that our room was ready and waiting and that even though the dining room would be closed by then, he would be happy to prepare some sandwiches for us. I’m pretty sure I said, “awwww!” to my husband as soon as I got off the phone.

The feeling of coziness in this bed & breakfast cannot be exaggerated. Our hosts and their staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome, and we never lacked for anything… they even brought up a tea and coffee service with some snacks to our room free of charge! The breakfast was delicious, the simple bar service in the downstairs common area was perfect at the end of a long day, and their friendly suggestions on what to see and how to get there were invaluable.

I’m only posting a few pictures of this hotel because the professional photos on their website are much better and completely true-to-life. The view of the lake is stunning, and every detail–from the landscaping to the polished wood accents throughout the house–is meticulously cared for. If I had to change one thing it would have been the beds, since the one we had was a tad too firm for my taste, but I’m sure for some people it would be “juuuust right”, as Goldilocks would say. All in all, we were sad to leave and given the chance to visit Killarney again, we would happily stay at the Loch Lein Country House Hotel.

Link to Trip Advisor Reviews for this hotel

Link to my Trip Advisor Profile

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Are Pomegranates Making Your House Look Like a Crime Scene? – Update!

Posted on November 10, 2011 by venesueca

I LOVE fresh pomegranates. I do NOT love their unparalleled capacity to stain every surface of my home. After many frustrating attempts to open them carefully, eating over the kitchen sink, and furiously scrubbing red splatter marks for weeks, I decided there had to be a better way. Not surprisingly, a quick search online brought up a fool-proof method for enjoying this fruit without sharing it with your windows and cabinets.

UPDATE!!  I just found an amazingly quick new way to get the job done! Yes, you can still read on below for a potentially less messy way to de-seed a pomegranate, but this way will get you there in a fraction of the time (and if you stay close to the bowl of water, you shouldn’t get much splatter): http://www.blendtec.com/blog/2012/10/12/how-to-deseed-a-pomegranate/. Note: from my experience, it’s easier if you keep rotating the pom in your hand as you’re smacking it around!

METHOD 2:

Cut about half an inch off the top (on the pointy side) until you see the reddish seeds (technically called “arils”, but I’m still calling them seeds). I recommend covering the knife and pom with a paper towel in case you cut some seeds in the process. Then score it down the sides about 5 times, following the natural borderlines inside the fruit. Using a big bowl of cool water, dunk the whole thing under the surface and start breaking it apart, liberating the seeds from the skin. The skin and other unedible pieces will float to the top and the seeds will drop to the bottom, allowing you to strain it quickly and easily. The seeds that pop will be under water, so you won’t have to worry about finding stains well into next year!

For pictures and a more detailed explanation, go to: http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/cookingtechniques/ss/cutpomegranate.htm

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From Galway to Killarney

Posted on October 7, 2011 by venesueca

You won’t lack for things to do in Galway… we happened to be there during the Galway Arts Festival week, which takes place every year in July. It features artists from around the world in every field of art–theater, dance, music, film, comedy, visual arts, and more. The city also provides lots of venues for shopping, dining, sightseeing and entertainment, and it’s an excellent home base for day trips to visit places like Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park.

After a couple of nights there we headed to Killarney… with a few stops along the way, of course. We visited Dunguaire Castle, which is a beautifully restored 16th century castle in Kinvara, and then stopped for lunch at a little seaside restaurant recommended to us by one of the staff members at The g Hotel. (Almost everyone we encountered during our trip was very friendly, so I highly recommend asking the locals for their suggestions on places to eat and visit).

From there, we were on our way to see the famed Cliffs of Moher. This is a truly breathtaking natural attraction, and sadly, the weather and our dinky camera did not cooperate to do it justice in the pictures. Whatever the weather may be, though, it’s definitely worthwhile to visit the Cliffs.

After a tasty dinner at a small pub in Adare, we drove the rest of the way to Killarney. Total driving time without stops would have been about 3 hours, but since we stopped to eat lunch and visit the Castle and Cliffs, it took most of the day. I’ll be reviewing the hotel we stayed in next, so stay tuned for my next post!

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images.

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The g Hotel: Luxury That Won’t Break the Bank

Posted on October 3, 2011 by venesueca

The g Hotel in Galway was our absolute favorite of the five luxury hotels we stayed in. They
proved their commitment to service even before we got there, when I discovered a mistake I’d made in my booking the week before the trip (“sheer panic” barely describes how I was feeling). The hotel’s day manager personally helped me rebook the reservation, and when we got there, we found we had even been upgraded to a deluxe room! The hotel and its rooms truly look like the pictures on their website. The decor is modern but extremely comfortable, and its snazzy look in no way negatively affects their staff–whereas similar hotels in big cities might have snobby, uppity staff, the people at the G go out of their way to greet you with a smile and make sure you have everything you desire.

The room we got was very clean, roomy and well appointed. Decor, of course, was gorgeous, but the beds & furniture were also comfortable and easy to relax in. The bedding was great because they used a duvet cover on the fluffy comforter, which appeals to a clean freak like me (I hate seeing old, dingy quilts that I know haven’t been washed in eons!). It was also well insulated–we didn’t hear any noise at all from the street or from other
rooms/hallways.

If you book with breakfast included, you’ll be surprised to see the wide variety of quality food they offer. Locally sourced, well prepared, hot and cold choices, with impeccable service, to boot! Totally worth the money.

As for the location, yes, it is a few minutes from town, but we preferred it that way. You’re only 5-10 minutes by taxi or car to the center, and that way it’s easy to get in and out of Galway City if you’re driving (which we were). You can park your car for free or pay 10 euros to valet it for your entire stay, and they’ll take it in and out for you as many times as you want. We just left the car there and took a taxi for about 7 euros… it’s fast, you don’t
have to figure out where you’re going or where to park, and you save on gas, parking, and headaches.

I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone making Galway a part of their visit to Ireland. You will feel absolutely pampered by the staff and the hotel amenities!

Link to my Trip Advisor Review and others for this hotel

Link to my Trip Advisor Profile

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images

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Thinking About a Trip to Ireland?

Posted on September 30, 2011 by venesueca

Of all the places I have visited over the years, Ireland is without question one of my absolute favorites. It’s every bit as gorgeous as postcards and movies portray, and although its reputation for constant rain is fairly accurate, the common perception that Irish food is bland and unappetizing no longer holds true. The country is filled with beautiful landscapes, friendly people, delicious food, and enough activities to make you wish you never had to come home.

My husband and I landed in Dublin in July 2010, and after a few fun (ok, scary) adjustments to driving on the right side of the car and the left side of the road in a stick-shift car, we were on our way to a great adventure! After the first night, we drove from Dublin, on the eastern coast of the country, all the way to the other side of the country in less than 4 hours. Yes, people, 4 hours.

After a self-guided tour of the stunning ruins of Clonmacnoise, we headed to Galway for a few days of sightseeing. My next post will be a review of the hotel we stayed in, so stay tuned for more!

Click on the thumbnails below to see larger images.

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Save Money on Utilities AND Taxes!

Posted on September 29, 2011 by venesueca

Did you know that more than 70% of the energy used in our homes is for appliances, refrigeration, space heating, cooling, and water heating? Replacing old appliances and equipment with those that are ENERGY STAR labeled can help you save significantly on your utility bills. Each state and territory has selected its own set of ENERGY STAR qualified products to rebate, based on this DOE list of recommended appliances:

– Boilers
– Central air conditioners
– Clothes washers
– Dishwashers
– Freezers
– Furnaces (oil and gas)
– Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
– Refrigerators
– Room air conditioners
– Water heaters

To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. For more information on products and how you can save money and our earth, go to the EPA’s page on Energy Star: www.energystar.gov

Click here for information on 2011 Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits.

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Buyers Beware: Potential Pitfalls of Buying Distressed Properties

Posted on September 28, 2011 by venesueca

Yesterday I discussed some of the benefits of buying a foreclosure or a short sale property. Today I want to mention a few things to be aware of before committing to a distressed home.

1. Sometimes these types of properties are in very poor condition and require a lot of repairs to make them livable and comfortable. If you find one that you’re really interested in, you may want to take a qualified inspector or contractor to see it with you BEFORE you make an offer so you have an idea of what it will cost to fix it up. There’s no point in buying a place that will end up costing you more time and money than a comparable house in good condition.

2. Be prepared to wait. There’ s nothing “short” about a short sale, and even foreclosures can take longer than the typical home sale. If you have a lease that is about to run out, make sure you have alternative living arrangements in case your settlement takes longer than you expect.

3. Distressed properties can sometimes be tricky to finance. Unless you’re coming in with cash or getting a conventional loan, lenders may have trouble getting approval for a property that has major problems. Talk to your loan officer about the options available to you (including renovation loans) and find out what the potential repair requirements of your loan may be.

For more information, please feel free to visit my real estate website at www.baltimoreagent.net

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Scared of Buying a Short Sale or Foreclosure Property?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by venesueca

Depending on your perspective, buying a foreclosure or a short sale property may seem like either the best or the worst idea in the world. Today I will discuss a few benefits to buying in this type of market, and in an upcoming post I’ll discuss some of the things you should watch out for when buying a distressed home.

1. When properly researched, a distressed property may yield a significant amount of equity in a very short period of time. These homes have to be sold quickly, so the prices are often far below market value. Since real estate is widely considered an excellent way to invest, having equity in a market in which most people are losing value is a great advantage.

2. Although the term “distressed” often conjures up images of houses in bad areas on the verge of collapse, the reality is that the mortgage crisis has affected borrowers of all kinds. It’s not impossible to find a short sale or foreclosure in a desirable area that needs minimal repairs. This allows new or move-up buyers to purchase in areas that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

3. The government, various financial institutions, and savvy Realtors are working together to streamline the distressed property sale process. Although it’s by no means perfect, it’s starting to become easier to process these transactions in a shorter amount of time.

For more information, please feel free to visit my real estate website at www.baltimoreagent.net

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Looking for an Easy, Eco-Friendly Way to Clean Your Windows?

Posted on September 17, 2011 by venesueca

Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money or even a lot of time. Sometimes, you don’t have to look any further than your own pantry to find the ingredients you need! Here’s a basic “recipe” for a window cleaner; feel free to check out the whole article by visiting the link below.

The first time you clean your windows with a homemade vinegar solution, include a few drops of dish detergent to eliminate the waxy buildup. Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle for streak-free windows:

  • ¼-cup white vinegar
  • ¼- to ½-tsp. eco-friendly dish detergent (Costco sells a great one at their stores)
  • 2 cups water

After an inaugural washing, keep your windows spotless with a window cleaning solution made from 2 teaspoons white vinegar mixed in 1 quart warm water. (Too much vinegar can etch window glass, which results in clouding.)

Click here for the whole article. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and featured on my real estate blog, The Real Deal.

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You Don’t Have to be an Extreme Couponer to Save Money. Really.

Posted on September 16, 2011 by venesueca

Keep your sanity AND your hard-earned dough by getting FREE Vene-Savers! Several of the vendors I’ve featured this week have given me exclusive deals to pass on to my blog followers… get 10% off all spa services and products from Renee Snow, up to $25 off of makeup application from Nicole Palermo, a free logo design from Chip Thompson, or $50 off a photography package from James Berglie!

Subscribers will automatically receive these coupons via email next week, so if you haven’t already subscribed, feel free to sign up using the field on the right sidebar. You can also get them by emailing me at Michelle@venesueca.com and writing “coupons” in the subject line. There’s no cost, no catch, and you won’t be getting spammed every other day, either.

Happy Saving!

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