Food Truck Connection

Do you have a hankering for a hot dog? A craving for conch salad? Or do you go gaga over gelato?

I'm not sure there's a restaurant in town that would meet all three of these desires, but the Food Truck Connection can.

That's right, the food truck craze has come to Boynton Beach, and it stopped right in my backyard.

On the left, the food trucks, on the right, my neighborhood.  I took both
photos from the same spot in the parking lot.

This Wednesday, for only the fourth week ever, you can catch more than a dozen food trucks, lined up for your dining pleasure, at Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park (most Boynton residents know this as Boat Club Park), just south of Federal Highway and Gateway Boulevard, on the Intracoastal.  As you walk around, you can sample everything from ordinary the extraordinary.

That, my friends, is a veggie dog loaded with
spicy mayo, barbecue sauce, relish, and crushed
potato chips.  They call it the "Substitute
Teacher."  I call it "insanely delicious!"

That little piece of scrumptiousness came from P.S. 561.  We paid just $9.50 for two dogs.  And it doesn’t stop there!  Over the course of two weeks, we also had conch ceviche from The Daily Special...

Just $10 for this huge serving!

Shrimp summer rolls from Spring In, Roll Out...

Again, I was astonished at the large portions
and the small price tag of just $9!

And sweet potato fries drizzled with marshmallow fluff from Lucille’s on Wheels.

Get. In. My. Belly.  For real.

My husband also decided to partake in bacon doughnuts, with maple bourbon jam, from Dough, which he was not very good about sharing.

Lucky for him, I'm a vegetarian!

But by far, the best truck was Hip Pops, where you pick your gelato bar, dip it in chocolate, and pop it with toppings.  Holy moly.  My inner fat girl wanted, like, thirty of these.

This little piece of heaven was priced at $5.  I would have spent $500.

The Food Truck Connection takes place every Wednesday from 5pm-9pm.  Next week, I'll be there, again.  For the third week in a row.  And I’ve got my eye on you, Hip Pops.

Total Cost: About $25 for two “main courses” and one dessert

Best Deal: Even the fish dishes are under $10 – we paid just $9 for salmon sausage from Pescados Unidos (https://www.facebook.com/pescadosunidosfoodtruck)

A Bar at a Salon = Dream Come True

Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly, cheese and crackers, alcohol and pedicures…

There’s a new salon in Boynton Beach called Tipsy Salon, Spa, and Lounge.  Now, instead of getting a mani/pedi sans drink, you can have a glass of wine as you color your nails and toes.

Now, if you’ve read this blog, oh, ever, you’ll know that I like a good drink.  You’ll also know that I really don’t indulge in spa services too often (though it definitely happens from time to time, like when I went to the Eau Spa at the Ritz Carlton.  I will definitely be going back to Tipsy though.

Because when I went, Tipsy was offering a special deal (half-off the first weeks they were open!), I did something a little more special than normal: an aromatherapy pedicure.  The service was pretty reasonable, $45 at full price.  It included a paraffin wax which felt amazing on my legs.

While I detoxified my legs, I intoxicated with the wine.  The drinks were cheaper than most bars I frequent, at $6 for a glass of wine.

At $6 a glass, I can have two!  Which I did.

Definitely check their Facebook page because Tipsy has been offering free drink specials if you mention you saw their status update.

Tipsy Salon offers other services as well, like haircuts, waxing, facials, and massages.  Tipsy also allows parties as well.  I think it would be so cool to bring your bachelorette party here, but I unfortunately, I’m already married.  So, I’ll just stick to imbibing by myself for now as I get my toes ready for spring!

Total Cost: $35 for a pedicure (half-off of $45) and two glasses of wine
Best Deal: A basic manicure is only $15 and a basic pedi is $25

Five Ways to Practice Yoga for Free (or Almost Free) in South Florida

I’ve been practicing yoga for about 12 years now.  I dearly love feeling center, challenging myself with side plank, and performing upward dogs.

But the price of yoga is ridiculous.  I remember when I took my first class out of college (where I had been practicing for free), it was $6 a class.  At a studio I went to a few months ago, I paid $17!  I joined the gym for a few years, but found the people there weren’t serious.  So, I started searching for ways to practice and not break the bank.  Here are five ways to get grounded without going broke.

1. Yoga at the West Palm Beach Library

Free

When I first went to the library to practice yoga, I expected the same crowd as the gym – a bunch of people who didn’t have their whole heart in their yoga practice.  I. Was. So. Wrong.  The instructor was amazing and the people in the class were serious business.  The West Palm Beach Library now offers four classes a week: on Tuesday at 5:45pm and 7:00pm and on Saturday at 9:45am and 11:00am. 

Click here for more information about yoga at the West Palm Beach Library.

2. Yoga Day in West Palm Beach

Free

 

This is by far the most awesome yoga event I’ve ever been to.  Thousands of yogis, dozens of vendors, and several amazing instructors get together to put this event on every year at the Meyer Amphitheater in downtown West Palm Beach.  You’ll find several different yoga sessions going on at once, from classes for kids to partner yoga.  On the main lawn, there’s always a huge class, led by very talented professionals.

 

Did I mention this is free?!  I usually attend two classes (which would normally run about $34 at a studio), but you could stay all day and attend five classes if you want and save $85 in yoga fees!  Yoga Day has much more than yoga too, they also featured aerial yoga (which I hope to do soon), hula hooping and balancing.

You’ll also find food trucks specializing in healthy food!

 

Yoga Day this year has passed (it was February 24), but it will be back.  Maybe even Frank will join again.

 

Click here for more information about Yoga Day.

3. Yoga at Community School

Less than $4 per class

If you live in Palm Beach County and haven’t taken a class at a community school, you are missing the deal of a lifetime.  Not only have I taken several (cake decorating, salsa dancing, French, and Italian), it is dirt cheap.

You probably get the flyer in the mail every semester, but if you don’t, you can check it out online.  More than 18 yoga classes are being offered for the spring semester (which officially begins April 15), one as low as $26 for 8 weeks – that comes out to $3.25 a class!  While that particular class is at Seminole Ridge Community High School, which isn't close to most people, there is almost guaranteed to be a class at a school year you!

Click here for more information about yoga at community school.
 

4. Yoga Fest 2013

As little as $5 for a class

Yoga Fest takes place in Fort Lauderdale and is in its third year.  I’ve never been before (and won’t be able to go this year because of prior obligations), but my studio puts it on, so I know it will be great!

I’ve already seen discount tickets available on Living Social - only one day left!), but if you pay full price, you’ll shell out only $20 for a whole day of yoga.  If you arrive after 3:30pm, you’ll pay only $5!  That late in the day, there is one class left, yoga with Keith Fox, who runs Yoga Fox, where I practice!

Click here for more information about Yoga Fest.

5. Connected Warriors

Free yoga for veterans and their families

This is something I learned about at Yoga Day this year.  The group, Connected Warriors, works to secure free yoga classes for veterans at studios all across the nation.

 

Though I’ve seen better organized websites, you can search by state to see which studios offer free yoga in your area.  I found a class on Fridays at 2pm at Yoga South in Boca Raton, which is a truly wonderful studio (it’s also where I found the classes for $17!).

Click here for more information about yoga through Connected Warriors.

Hopefully this list helps you explore this wonderful, and sometimes pricey, practice a little more economically… Namaste! 

Experience Gifts for the Holidays – Crafting Class

You may have read about the fun I had at a painting class this year.  I bought a Groupon to Uptown Art for my sister-in-law for her birthday.  But what fun is drinking and painting without me?  So I bought one for my husband and myself as well!  I liked the class so much, I bought a similar Groupon for my best friend’s birthday to Vino’s Picasso in Ft. Myers.

These painting classes are popping up all over South Florida.  They are also popping up all over Groupon, which makes them an economical gift worth giving this holiday.

Right now, Talin Tropic in Boca Raton is offering painting classes for just $19 per person – a $26 discount from the normal price of $45.  The deal is through Gotta Half It and ends tomorrow.

Don’t just limit yourself to painting canvas… Art-Sea Living in Boynton Beach offers wine glass painting classes.  Right now, Groupon is offering the class for two people for just $25, but act fast, because this one is for a “limited time” only.  Still, the deal isn’t so bad without a Groupon either - $25 each.  Art-Sea Living also offers a variety of other crafting classes though, like pottery painting and even ornament-making (to which you can bring your own booze!).  Check out their calendar here.

Looking for something a little more intense?  At McMow Art Glass in Lake Worth, you can fuse glass to create unique plates and other artwork.  Groupon is offering a deal at McMow Art Glass that also runs only for a “limited time.”  For just $35, you get a two-hour class, half off the normal price. 

There may not be a Groupon involved, but the arts and crafts store Michaels (located in Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and other areas around South Florida) offers plenty of classes.  The cake decorating is one of their most popular.

I didn't take my cake decorating class at Michaels, but my teacher had taught at Michaels before and used mostly
Wilton products, which is what you'll use at Michaels.

The cost is $22.50 per class.  Michaels recommends four classes for each of their four courses.  That means for less than $100, you could buy someone one complete course.  Michaels also offers crochet classes, beading classes, and a variety of classes for kids.

JoAnn Fabrics also offers classes, for a slightly more economical price.  In January and February, you can buy a cake decorating class for just $17.50. 

Personally, I'd much rather get an "experience," like a crafting class, mini golf, trapeze teachings, or a spa day before another Christmas sweater (do people give those anymore?!?!).  And one of the best things about buying someone an "experience," especially on Groupon?  It normally includes two for one, which means you can participate in the gift as well!

Did I miss anything?  What other craft classes are out there or would you want to take?

Experience Gifts for the Holidays – Mini Golf

If the spa isn’t your thing, and heights freak you out, and you’re still looking for an economical gift, may I suggest golf and beer? 

Putt’n Around is a mini-golf course in Delray Beach, just north of Atlantic Avenue, full of fun, friendly competition, and most importantly, booze.

What can we say?  We like cider!

Putt’n Around places a priority on drinking while golfing, which is why this ranks as one of my favorite “experience” gifts for the holidays.  While you are golfing on one of the two 18-hole courses, you can sip your beer along the route.

Her score was probably 100, but she has a beer
in hand, so she's still smiling!

The course itself isn’t very challenging – even the youngest players can guide their balls across the green.

That kid is my brother-in-law... he's only 7, but
totally fits the part of a golfer with that hat!

But the actual course isn’t the allure at Putt’n Around.  If you’re on the 5^th hole and you run out of alcohol (it happens!), you just call the front desk and they deliver your drinks. 

There is no way we can walk away from a game like this! 
Course service, please!

This mini-golf mecca is always offering great specials.  I’ve purchased deals through Groupon (two for one), but you can also get great deals just by becoming Facebook friends with Putt’n Around.  If you are forced to pay regular price, it’s only $9.85 per person for 18 holes.

Is that Tiger Woods I see?

Total Cost: $9.85/person, plus drinks

Best Deal:  Getting a round for as little as $5.30, just by checking Putt’n Around’s Facebook page (I saw that deal there myself!)

Experience Gifts for the Holidays – Woman on the Flying Trapeze

Wow.  This past weekend, Frank and I took a trapeze class and let’s just say, he wants his next birthday there.  This is the ultimate gift experience for someone on your holiday list if you want to impress with minimal impact to your wallet.

Aerial Trapeze Academy is located very far west in Royal Palm Beach.  It pretty much looks like it’s in someone’s backyard.  No, wait.  It is definitely in someone’s backyard.

Frank and I were a little confused about the area, seeing as how it looked nothing like one would expect a trapeze set-up to look like.  The area was residential, very spread out, and on a canal… But, alas, the team behind Aerial Trapeze Academy was professional, funny, and extremely talented.

They started by helping us do a basic hang… very close to the ground.

From there, we wasted no time climbing an extremely tall ladder for our first trick.

 At the top, you look down about 30 feet below to where you could plummet to your death.

Thankfully, you have a net and safety harness!
I didn't feel the least bit in danger!

But even the safety precautions don’t make you feel any easier when you do a back flip for the first time.  Once the instructor says “Hep!” (they don’t use “go” because it sounds like “no”), it’s time to rock.

Did you hear me freak out as I flipped off the trapeze?  I think I scared the small children attending the class.  But it was SO exhilarating!  The crew made us practice a few rounds of hanging from the bar and then doing a back flip and then they decided if we were “catcher ready.”  That is, ready to fly from the trapeze into someone’s arms.

See that chalk on our arms?  That said we were
ready for the catcher!  We tried not to wash
it off all day!

Frank went first, out of the six people who were considered “catcher ready.”  They were pretty lenient with who went, unless you couldn’t hang from the trapeze (in which case, you should not consider joining a circus... I, however, am considering it now!).

The guy who caught Frank was a little dude, but I wouldn’t want to get in a scrap with him – he was strong.  He held on to Frank tightly, and even Frank was a little surprised to pull the whole thing off.

Then it was my turn.

That was it, I was hooked.  For $50 for two people (we bought a Living Social), we had the time of our lives for two hours.  Next up, I’m thinking the Circus Sampler - trampoline, hoops and the trapeze?  Yes, please!

Total Cost: Without any coupons, the class is $50 a head

Best Deal: As the slogan for Aerial Trapeze Academy goes, we joined the circus and were home in time for dinner!

Experience Gifts for the Holidays – The Spa

Because I will be in Ireland this holiday season, I am trying to find “experience” gifts for my in-laws – gifts I don’t have to cart overseas.  Something I’ve been given as a present more than once is a spa day.  And this gift never gets old.  My favorite spa of all time is the Eau Spa at the Ritz-Carlton on Palm Beach.

Okay, okay, can’t afford the Ritz?  Neither can I!  Luckily, my in-laws gave me a gift certificate awhile back.  That’s when I found out you can spend a day at the Eau Spa without going into debt.

My sister-in-law is just as much of an economical explorer as
I am!  Both of us like to save our money for drinking!

It’s called a “day pass.”  It costs $50, but if you want a gift that will knock the socks off your friend, husband, wife, mother-in-law, whoever, this is it.

Will also knock your clothes off, as you get to
put on this comfy robe!

The day pass covers every area of the 42,000 square foot spa – you just don’t get an actual massage.

We started in the Bath Lounge.

Rubber duckie, you're the one!

This giant jacuzzi features a shower pouring down on you, while jets massage your body.  In the background of that picture you see two “lounge chairs.”  They are made of cement, and while that may not sound comfortable, they are heated and I almost fell asleep on one.  After warming up there, we went to the Relaxation Lounge.

I know, I know, I look like a fat kid shoving cupcakes in my mouth!

This room is aptly named, as it is beyond relaxing.  There is refreshing flavored water and cute little mini cupcakes.  I ate about 10.  There are plenty of couches in the Relaxation Lounge as well.  We sat down for a bit before going to the Self-Centered Garden.

It's all about me here!

I brought a magazine and hung out for a bit, then took a nap.  There are lots of little areas with different water features, including a small pool and fountain.  But nothing beats swinging in a little egg over a pool of water.

Along the sides of this little pool, you'll find water running down the walls, which creates an awesome feeling over your fingers.

We were having a photo shoot with ourselves!

Of course, you can eat at the Eau Spa, but I’m too cheap for that, so we hung up our robes momentarily and walked over to Dune Deck Café, which is next door.

Then, back at the Eau Spa, we jumped in the showers, used all the luxurious Ritz products, and headed on our way. 

The spa is open 8am to 9pm, so you could stay all day if you want.  And most of the night.  But, you must reserve a spot for the day pass, and the spots do fill up, so make sure to book ahead of time.

Total Cost: $50 for a day pass, $10 for lunch

Best Deal: Feeling rich, without paying the price

Boynton Beach Holiday Parade

This weekend, I went to the library, beach, bar, dinner and the Boynton Beach Holiday Parade without pulling my car out of the driveway – I rode my bike everywhere (economical and environmentally friendly)!  And whether you’re on foot, on two wheels, or four, you can now see the Christmas tree in Boynton Beach lit up for the holidays.

Not as impressive as Delray's 100-foot tree,
but my awful measuring skills would
estimate this one is about 60-feet tall

The tree is located on Ocean Avenue, just east of Seacrest, across the street from the Boynton Beach City Library.

As for the parade, it was pretty much what you can expect from a small city.  However, only in South Florida can you see a holiday parade with a beautiful sunset in the background, while enjoying 70° temperatures.

Virginia and Jason from the KVJ show on Wild 95.5 in the morning were the masters of ceremonies.  As promised, I did stalk them.  Actually, we happened to park our bikes, and our water bottles filled with wine, right across the street from them.  Their antics were just as funny as on the morning show.

We saw lots of school marching bands perform, but Frank felt none of them were as good as the band in Drumline.  The band from Roosevelt Middle came pretty close.

Forgive my awesome video skills, as I had a water bottle filled with wine. 

My favorite float was from Jazzercise, and was entitled “My Christmas Wish List 1985.

Yep, that's a Smurf in front and Strawberry Shortcake to your left.
And a Rubik's Cube!  Pretty sure I got all of those things on
Christmas morning in 1985!

There were also pirates representing.

Nothing screams "Merry Christmas" more than someone
making you walk the plank!

Next up, the Boynton and Delray Beach Boat Parade!  It’s this Friday at 6:30pm, and if you need a place to watch it, you can meet me on my dock!

Total Cost: Free!

Best Deal: Bringing our own wine in water bottles