Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Lots to Update!

It’s been a crazy year trying to organize my work life and my health. I got tired (as I’m sure my readers have) of apologizing for not getting things done. It was time to streamline and not attempt to do more than I physically can, only to apologize when I don’t get it done!

I’ve been doing this blog for 14 years. I haven’t continued the way I’d like to and it’s not because I don’t consider it a priority. I’m only able to work part time now and I need to make sure I earn money during those hours.

I no longer want this blog to suffer so I’ve given up my time in the others, the most notable of which is Spiritstraveler. That column was all about products I discovered. The problem was that it took a lot of time and earned very little money.

I will still be doing some product reports, but it will only be on things I’m really interested in and you’ll see them floated here, on my Pinterest, and in my social media (@Spiritstraveler on everything). I will not be updating the Spiritstraveler blog.

I want to be able to spend more time on this blog in addition to paid stories on publications. (You can see those on the side of this page, under “Other Stories by Marcia,” or at my Linktree.) I’m also building up my YouTube channel.

The other thing I’ve been working on to try to monetize this blog are partnerships. These are only products I believe in and have a tie-in to travel. If they are things you could use, I’d appreciate your support:


World Is Wide Keepsakes


Kristie creates beautiful handmade travel products at very reasonable prices. Here’s the website. If you use my code at checkout (BAMF10), we both get 10%.

Amazon Influencers Page (I’ll be updating this page regularly)
These are all things I love, from travel gear to beauty products to pet products.


Viator
This tour company has inexpensive tours everywhere. Click on the link and search before your next trip.


Accessible Go
For accessible travel (something I know a lot about these days), Accessible Go can hook you up with everything from hotels to wheelchair vans. Click on this link.


Buy Me A Coffee
Or, if you want to see more blogs here and you don’t want to order products, you can always click and Buy Me A Coffee.


I have lots of fun stories coming up from the Midwest to Seattle and my bucket list 50th state: Alaska! I’ll be heading on the Royal Princess in less than two weeks.

It will be a bit before I have the blogs up while I get publication stories done, and prepare for two surgeries, but you can follow my journey in real time @Spiritstraveler on Twitter, Threads, Instagram & YouTube.

Best,
Marcia

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

2 for One: LeClaire and Clinton from the American Queen

After an unexpected day on the river, we had a busy day on and off the American Queen.


I got up early and went to breakfast in the dining room. It looked like another picture-perfect day and I sat by the window for my pancake breakfast. My friend Lynn joined me in a little while and then we headed off the boat to Clinton, Iowa.

The low water levels on the Mississippi had kept us from Dubuque the previous day and had changed the Bettendorf stop to Clinton on this way.  

I had made arrangements to visit Le Claire from our stop in Dubuque. It took some reorganizing, especially since the Clinton stop was shorter than Dubuque, but I was able to keep that appointment.



I still wanted to see some of Clinton, so I took my scooter around the scenic waterfront and a bit of the town. I saw the Veterans Memorial and lighthouse in a town that once had more millionaires than anywhere else in Iowa.

Lynn met me at the curb in front of the ship, where Bob Schiffe, Executive Director of the Buffalo Bill Museum, was waiting to drive us to Le Claire.



The Buffalo Bill Museum was the highlight of the town and it did not disappoint. Although Buffalo Bill, aka William F. Cody, spent most of his life in Colorado, he was born on his family’s homestead in Le Claire in 1846.



The museum offered many details and artifacts of the man who was a Border Scout during the Civil War and earned his nickname from all the buffalo he killed to supply meat to the Kansas Pacific Railroad. He would later go on to start and star in the Wild, Wild West Show.



Although most of the museum is dedicated to Buffalo Bill, it also offers history of Le Claire, the River Pilots that fought the strong rapids on the Mississippi in this area, and other famous natives, including inventor James J. Ryan III (seatbelts), Musician Cecile Fletcher, and American Pickers Mike Wolf.

I wish we had more time to explore the downtown restaurants, bars, and shops in Le Claire. Before leaving, I couldn’t resist stopping at The Shameless Chocoholic to pick up a few goodies, including their signature White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Truffle. We also made a quick stop at Mississippi River Distilling.



Bob took us back to the boat in time for lunch in the dining room. We spoke to some guests who stayed in Clinton and were able to go to the Windmill Cultural Center, Sawmill Museum, and George M Curtis Mansion on the complimentary hop on, hop off bus the cruise line provides at each stop.



Breakfast and lunch in the J.M. White Dining Room is a combination of table service and buffet. There are a few menu items (different each day) you can get delivered to your table and a nice spread (also changing each day) on the buffet. I usually had something from each.



I chose a little of everything for this lunch too. We went upstairs after for the traditional Calliope Sail Away but chose to go back and rest and shower before dinner, foregoing the activities of Match Game, Riverside Chat with Riverloarian Frank, and Jazz in the afternoon.



We made it to the cocktail hour and music before dinner. The food never let us down on the American Queen and my favorite part of this dinner was the short rib & polenta main course.



I liked all of the shows on the cruise, but this was the night of my favorite show, Curtain’s Up, Sounds of Broadway. The performances of top Broadway shows, in full costume, were outstanding.



After the show and our nightly ritual of a little music and a nightcap in the Engine Room Bar, we headed back to our cabin to get a good night’s rest for the next day on our American Queen Voyage.



I am beginning to expand my YouTube Channel.
Subscribe to see my past videos and many more to come.



I was hosted by American Queen on this voyage, but opinions are my own. 









Thursday, February 10, 2022

Welcome To Travel in 2022

Happy New Year! The last few years have been different for everyone around the world. This is especially true for those in the travel industry. I’ve stayed pretty close to home. 

 

I do not travel as much as I used to anyway.  I’m now looking for more accessible locations and needed to be cautious since I have autoimmune issues. 


Teddy

 

I’ve been using the time at home to train Teddy, so there will be a lot of pet friendly trips in the future! I’ll be catching up on previous travel soon. With everything I’ve learned since getting my first dog since I was a child, I decided to write a book. 12 Things You Must Know About Raising A Puppy will be out this spring. It’s filled with tips, stories, and hope. I’ll be posting when it’s out.

 

As for 2022 travel, I have some fun stuff coming up, including a very unusual cruise. 

 

If you’d like to know more about my health issues, read through my Medium page (there are some interesting travel stories there too).

 

Best,

Marcia

Friday, October 11, 2019

24 Hour Girls’ Getaway in Chicago, Part 2

It was a very comfortable night at the Hyatt Centric the Loop in Chicago.

We were able to take our time in the morning and I was excited to find out my friend and fellow writer, Kristine Hansen, was in town. We met for breakfast at Cochon Valent Brasserie, just downstairs from the hotel.

Their blueberry pancakes were loaded with fruit and as delicious as everything always is there.

My Joan picked something up to eat and relaxed in the room. and we met up to head over to the Art Institute of Chicago.


I have been to the Art Institute many times. I try to check out all of their special exhibits as well as some of the smaller ones. The exhibition that brought me here this time was Manet and Modern Beauty. 

Edouard Manet was a late 19th century painter known for what was a modern style at the time. He especially flourished when painting women.

The collection, the first of its kind in 50 years, was well worth a trip, but we decided to spend some time looking around. I stopped at some of my favorite classics, including Edward Hopper’s “Night Hawk” and Georgia O’Keefe’s “Cow’s Skull with Calico Roses.” We also saw a temporary exhibit dedicated to artist Jeanne Spring.

Before we left the museum, we stopped to take a look through the powerful display, “The AIDs Crisis Is Still Beginning.” It included newspaper clippings from around the world, showing the history of the crisis. George Bordowitz, I want to Be Well (after 1977 Ramones song) artist 30 years, spent half of his life with AIDS Professor at University of Chicago. Many pieces were from his own collection.


We checked out of the Hyatt Centric Loop. I wish we had been able to check out the Aire Rooftop Bar, but it had been closed before we got back the night before and hadn’t opened yet when we left. Next time!

We chose a very unusual place for lunch. Pinstripes in Chicago is a welcoming place for families or adults to have a lot of fun at, while enjoying good food. Think Chuck E Cheese for gourmets!

You can start here with the activity, food, or drinks. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time for the fun, but we did get to watch other people.

Pinstripes has bowling, even offering shoes for rent. There’s also bocce ball.

As for the food, we loved everything we had. The Stuffed Mushrooms were served warm and gooey, just out of the oven, and were stuffed with goat cheese, spinach, and zucchini.

For the main course, the wood fired oven, which is visible to guests, looked to good to pass up and we ordered pizzas.

I had the Eggplant Flatbread, which had pistachio sprinkled on top for extra flavor, and Joan went for the Margherita. We had plenty left to take home.

Joan agreed with the popular opinion that the Strawberry Shortcake, served in a jar, was fantastic.

Pinstripes Chicago has a full bar that includes many local beers, a selection of wine, and handcrafted cocktails. I sipped a Riesling while Joan thought the Limoncello Martini was great.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

24 Hour Girls’ Getaway in Chicago, Part 1


No matter how many times I go to Chicago, the minute I see the skyline there is an excitement that runs through my veins. I know I’ll always have a fun time in the Windy City.

This trip was for a 24-hour getaway with my friend Joan. We had the perfect mixture of food, activity, and chill time.


We started with lunch at Cantina Laredo. It had been years since I had been there and it was even more welcoming than I remembered, with our seats in front of a gas fireplace.

The waiter brought us tortilla chips and immediately suggested some of their famous margaritas with the current month’s guacamole. It was as delicious as it sounded, with cotija cheese and tomato, for a combination of sweet and a bit spicy.


I sipped one of their fruitful Pineapple Infused Ritas, a mixture of pineapple infused Avion Reposado Tequila and Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur. Joan had the current margarita special, which was Jalapeno.

Although we were starting to get full from devouring every bit of the guacamole, Joan loved the tamales, which were a bit spicy for me, but the Flautitas were amazing. They went especially well with the Passion Fruit Mojito.


Finally, a basket of warm Churros came out, with chocolate and mango sauces, as the perfect finish to our meal. We washed them down with Cantina Laredo’s house-blend coffee, a must try.


I had arranged for us to spend the night at the HyattCentric Loop in Chicago.  We checked in to our large modern room. I enjoyed the large soaking tub and their soft robes before a nap.

Refreshed for the evening, Joan and I headed to City Winery. I had never been there before and was excited to check out this all-inclusive location (winery, restaurant, and concert hall) that’s perfect for dates night or a girls’ getaway.


I had actually heard about City Winery from the representative of AJ Croce. The son of Jim Croce was performing there that night.

The building itself is large and well-appointed, with unique and modern artwork everywhere. The wine is made right here (the only winery in the city of Chicago) for sale and tasting at this location as well as the riverfront venue.

Equally fantastic is the food at City Winery, led by Chef Mark Mendez. Mendez, who previously worked at Carnivale and Vera, put his twists on some standard favorites that we really enjoyed.

I couldn’t say enough about the burrata and the shells and cheese. Joan, who is more of a steak eater than I, raved about the ribeye which was served with gorgonzola butter.

I was impressed with their selection of wine, which included reds, whites, and my favorite, the Riverwalk Rose.

The AJ Croce show, which was opened by the talented Adam Ezra, had the audience singing and laughing. We sipped wine and vowed to check out this newly discovered venue again soon, but that was it for the first half of our getaway, with ore to come in the morning.

For more on the concert and City Winery, read my story on Beat.  

Friday, March 22, 2019

Update...

I know, it's been a while since I've been here and I'm way behind on stories on past trip from the last few years. Health problems have slowed me to a snail's pace, but, eventually, I'll catch up!

In the meantime, check out this essay I wrote for Medium, which will also tell you a bit more about what's going on with me.

It’s not an ‘Opioid’ Crisis
https://link.medium.com/9cxk3YQwVU

Marcia Frost

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

How the Dosh App Saved My Night

...and Made Me Money


I’ve been using Dosh for months now and, truthfully, I’ve just gotten a little money here and there. I’d certainly never turn down cash, but I just didn’t have a lot I could use it for.

I know that over $15 million has been given out to Dosh users. I heard from people who have made thousands in money back and referrals.

I’m not in that group, but I’m also not one to give up easily. I’m glad I didn’t because this month Dosh gave me significant cash back – and some place to sleep.

In one night I found out what three million Dosh users already knew, the app is easy to use, offers great deals, and gives you cash for doing very little.

I was up in Green Bay, Wisconsin (story to come soon on that great trip). It had been a perfect weekend with a special friend and the weather cooperated the whole time.

I arrived at the airport a few hours early for my flights and was immediately greeted with the news that my flight was delayed. I would have about five hours to sit in Green Bay airport.

My ride was already on his way back to his home two hours away so that wasn’t an option. I was ready to get home, but thought I better make the best of it. I found a nice, comfortable desk with wi-fi and electricity. What more did I need?

I caught up with work and phone calls only to find that the flight wasn’t going to head out for another hour. I would not make the night’s last connecting flight to Champaign.

Since it was a weather problem where I was changing planes (Chicago), American Airlines was not responsible for putting me up overnight. I had a quick moment of panic. Cash was tight, and I had no idea what it was going to cost for a last-minute hotel.

As I waited online to secure my flight for the morning, I remembered the Dosh app. Not only did they have good deals on hotels, but there’s a $25 discount on your first hotel booking!

Before the person in front of me had finished getting their next flight secured, I had a room at the Radisson Conference Center Green Bay. Dosh had shown me a last minute available rate of only $74 for a room I’d get cash back on plus a $25 bonus for booking my first hotel through the application!

As if this wasn’t good enough, the hotel was just across the street from the airport and, within minutes, they sent a free shuttle to pick me up (and there was a shuttle to take me back to the airport for my early morning flight).

 I had a nice, convenient room without aggravation and, after my cash back, it was costing less than $50.

It’s no wonder Dosh has been all over Forbes, Business Insider, USA Today, and websites like The Pennyhoarder. It’s one of the easiest ways out there to make money.


Don’t wait any longer. If you haven’t downloaded the Dosh application yet, do it right now, sign up and (securely) enter your credit cards. Then, start telling your friends about it for some quick cash back. 


This is a sponsored post

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Welcoming in a New Year of Prosperity

Don’t get the headline wrong, I’m not one of those people who believe you make a resolution you’ll have more money and “poof,” it appears! I do believe that you have to do something to get something back, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult.

I’ve gone through many “cash back” sites and applications. Whether it was selling clothing and old electronics, or using coupons, scanning barcodes, and filling out rebate forms. I’ve added it up to a lot of time, effort, and aggravation.

I once spent days of emails and phone calls over a guy I sold my laptop to on eBay. He insisted there was a defect I hadn’t mentioned, and I should refund half of the price. I finally told him to send it back because I gave him a more than fair price. Suddenly, when he realized he wasn’t getting money back, I didn’t hear from him again!

This is why I like Dosh. It’s a set it and forget it app. (Of course, if you do go in and click through before you shop you can also earn additional cash.) You can safely enter your credit card information and then, whenever you go to a dosh participating store, activity, or restaurant with that card, you’ll automatically receive cash in your account.

Dosh cash can come right back to you, or go to charity for your next tax deduction – something we all may need more of next year.

There’s absolutely no cost or nothing to lose by downloading the Dosh application and signing up now. In fact, you can immediately load your Dosh bank by entering cards and sending your referral link to your friends. 

I also recommend you open Dosh at least once a week to see what’s new. Make sure the application is up to do and look for special offers, such as the current increase in referral fees to $15 each.

I’m curious to hear how you do with the Dosh app. As one of the original beta testers, I’m always looking for success stories. I’m also happy to pass along any problems you are having to the company.

Here’s to a prosperous 2018. In 2017, with Dosh only available to the general public for a couple of months, users received nearly $5 million cash back in their pockets.


P.S. It’s also a great time to take a little vacation (or staycation). Check out the hotel deals on Dosh. Not only will you save money, but you can get an additional $25 back for your first booking!


This is a sponsored post. 

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Farewell, 2017. Much More to come…

It’s been quite a year. Not all of it has been good, but I’m probably in a more positive state of mind than I ever have been.

I apologize for being so behind on this blog, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten anything! Unfortunately, I’m still dealing with health issues.*

I am traveling much less than I previously did, so I am slowly getting caught up. It’s now two stories forward and one behind!

You may have also noticed a lot of blogs here for the Dosh application. It’s noticeable because I’m behind on my trip reports. (Be assured that I will be “filling in” during the new year so it doesn’t look – or read – this way.)

I am very choosy about sponsored posts such as the ones for Dosh. I like to pay the bills as everyone else does, but you won’t find inappropriate ads or advertorials here (i.e. gambling sites). Dosh is an app that I feel is beneficial to my audience of travel, food, and fun lovers.

If you are looking for what’s to come, check out my “Upcoming Stories from the Wine & Spirits Traveler” on the right side of this blog. These are mostly places I have gone that you can look forward to stories on.

While I’m traveling dramatically less, I do have some things coming up soon so be sure to follow me @Spiritstraveler on Twitter and Instagram, as well as like Midwest Travel with Marcia Frost.

You’ll find my trips are different these days. Since I’m doing a lot less, it’s got to be right for me and my health.

I read a lot about adventure travel. I’ve learned over the last three years you don’t need to be adventurous to have fun. It’s more about relaxation and, of course, great food at great places!

There’s less wine and spirits tasting for me these days (it doesn’t mix well with my medications) and more spa time, museums, and scenery. My relaxing is more in the shade than the sun, but it's a chance to try out lots of floppy hats!

Most important of all, I’m taking the ones I care about with me. I've had the chance to build relationships and real stories on individual trips instead of following heavy press trip schedules. 

Finally, I hope that everyone has as wonderful a 2018 as I plan to. It’s not always about where you go, it’s about finding the best places there and enjoying them with the ones you love.



*I’m not going to bore everyone with the details of my health. You can find more information on my story on The Mighty. Since that time, unfortunately, I’ve dealt with more of from autoimmune diseases (consensus between my doctors seems to be Lupus and Sjogren’s), but am on an immunotherapy that is keeping it under control. 

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Ready for Holiday Shopping?

Remember to Download the Dosh App


Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday… they are just the beginning of a long holiday season that ends in the one thing you don’t want – bills.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could receive cash too? The Dosh app can help you do that and it requires very little work on your part. The list of stores offering cash back in your pocket is huge, and it includes stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond, The Body Shop, Speedo, Hollister, Neiman Marcus, Sam’s Club, Hallmark, and Cost Plus World Market.

Don’t forget when you are out and about shopping to check for the latest local restaurants and activities in your area that are giving cash back. Just keep your Dosh app up to date and press the “Nearby” button to see what’s there.

Cash back at restaurants is easier than you can imagine. Once you securely enter your credit card in the Dosh app, you don’t have to do anything else. There’s no coupons, scanning, or showing a card with Dosh. You simply go to the restaurant, pay with one of the credit cards you’ve entered in the Dosh app, and the cash back will automatically appear when you sign back into the app. From there, you can request your free money to go to your bank account, PayPal, or even donate it to charity.

In addition, Dosh currently has some special deals available for a limited time, making it even easier and more lucrative to use the application.

Through December 1st, you can earn extra cash for your holiday shopping. After you set up your account, simply send out the referral link to your friends and family. You will receive $15 for every person you refer who downloads Dosh and signs up. There is no cap on the number of people you can refer and earn $15 a piece from.

In addition to you receiving the referral fee, each person will get $5 in Dosh cash as soon as they link a credit card.

Another great deal going on at Dosh now is $25 cash back on your first hotel booking. The $25 dosh dollars (which can go into your bank account to help pay holiday bills) is in addition to cash back and discounts you’ll get for booking the hotel. Hotels all around the country and the world are participating in this deal.


Why not treat yourself to cash instead of just bills after the holidays?


This is a sponsored post. 

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Spooktacular Savings with Dosh

Happy Halloween! If you haven’t gotten your costume, candy, or even decorations, it’s not too late to get some great cash back with your purchase when you sign up and shop with the Dosh app.

In fact, you’ll even earn the same money at stores such as Target, Jelly Belly, Big Lots, Walmart, Jet.com (one of my favorites) when you purchase all those discount Halloween products when the holiday is over. Dosh money does not stop coming when the store slash prices.

If you haven’t checked out the Dosh app yet, there’s never been a better time. Halloween is just a start of the end of the year holidays. 

With all those gifts to buy, we all could use all the savings we can get. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a chunk of cash back to help with those credit card bills?

I didn’t do a lot of shopping this month (I’m saving my purchasing power for next month), but I did stop by Denny’s for some scrumptious pancakes. With my card registered at Dosh, that means 10% back on everything that went on my charge at the restaurant.

You can use the “nearby” tab to check what’s in your neighborhood for Dosh $. In addition to Denny’s, mine includes local Italian and pizza joints, Mexican food, Firehouse Subs and the Forever 21 store, perfect for shopping for the teens in your family.

Hallmark Cards has also joined the Dosh cash back team for the holidays. You can get 7% back on your purchases of holiday cards, ornaments, wrapping paper, and personalized books. That’s not for one shopping trip, it’s for every purchase you make with a linked card through at least the end of 2017.

Don’t forget to also think about treating yourself to a post or pre-holiday getaway. Check out the hard to pass up deals on hotels from Boston to Rome, and many cities in between. Just book through the application. You can also earn part of your car rental and meals back while traveling.


It’s never been easier to use an app for money back. After you sign up with Dosh, safely enter in your credit cards and you will automatically get cash when you use them at a participating store. 

The other option is to shop online through a link on the Dosh app.  Personally, I don’t want to take any chances that I’ll miss anything that offers money, so I do both!


This is a sponsored post. 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

A Full Final Day in Nova Scotia

It had been an exciting trip to Nova Scotia, a place I hadn’t visited in many years. 

My daughter, Sam, and I would be heading back to the States, but first we had a lot to see and do with our group at Fox Harb’r Resort.

We packed up our things and said goodbye to our one-bedroom suite. The view would definitely be missed.

The group convened in the Cape Cliff dining room for another delicious breakfast.

After we ate, Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director Shane Robilliard met with us to talk more about the cuisine of Fox Harb’r.

Chef Robilliard talked about how much he loves the opportunity at Fox Harb'r to work with the ingredients available to him, including the greenhouse, where nearly all his fruits, vegetables, and herbs come from.

He’s also proud that the resort uses sustainably harvested seafoods and local meats.

Our group then divided up for our last two activities at the resort. The first for us was fly fishing.

Sam always loved to fish so she was ready to try it.

It was a lot of fun, even if she didn’t catch anything. Fox Harb’r provides instruction to its guests (see video).

After the fishing, we went to the resort’s Sporting Lodge for clay shooting. I’m not a supporter of guns and didn’t want to partake, but those who did were given full instructions and really enjoyed it.

We all climbed into the van and headed to Jost Winery, who partners with Fox Harb’r, currently to provide wine and in the future to produce the wine from the resort’s new vineyard.

The wine pairing lunch showed off the selection at Jost, as well as their culinary offerings, including more Nova Scotia fish.

One of the wines that I especially loved was the Jost Tidal Bay.

Tidal Bay is a grape produced in Nova Scotia. It’s a bit of a cross between sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio – white, light, and fruity.

Immediately following lunch, Sam and I had to head to Halifax airport to catch our flights.

It was again another exhausting experience with Air Canada, but it certainly didn’t make us forget a wonderful trip to NovaScotia with Fox Harb’r Resort. 


Check the new TripAdvisor for great deals at Fox Harb'r Resort

Monday, July 31, 2017

Easy Cash in Your Bank Account

Honestly, there is no shortage of apps out there to help you earn cash. Some of them have been around for years and, yes, you can get money from them.

The problem is that “earn” is the key word. Most of them make you work hard to get a little money back. There are rebate forms to fill out, receipts to worry about, codes to remember, or cookies to clog up on your computer.  Dosh is different.

While you can definitely get some great deals on shopping, vacations, restaurants, and activities by clicking through on one of the fantastic offers on the Dosh app, you don’t have to work to earn money with this app.

You can receive cash back with Dosh by just living your life, spending money on things you always do.

With Dosh, you simply and safely link your credit and debit cards to the application. Then, every time you use it at a place that works with Dosh, money is automatically deposited in your account! No need to remember which places give you money and which don’t. The Dosh app does it all for you.

After the money accumulates in your Dosh account (you can see how much you’ve made as soon as you log in), you can request to have your easy cash sent right to your bank account or PayPal. There are no hassles, no waiting until the quarter is over, or until a check comes in the mail.

Once you start using Dosh and see the great offers, you’ll probably want to actually look at the app more often. New deals are added all the time. At this moment, for example, you can receive 3% cash at the Gap, 4.5% money back at Nike, and 5.2% of your purchase from Speedo.

It’s also not too late to wear that Speedo bathing suit on your summer vacation. 

Among the Dosh travel deals are hotels in New York City with up to 40% cash back and a Chicago Explorer Pass that offers $4.73 back in your wallet.  Or, how about getting $7.88 cash for taking a Viator VIP tour in Washington, DC. 

We usually come back from vacation facing bills, wouldn’t it be much better to come back and find out you have some surprise cash coming?

Whether or not you are traveling, we all need to eat and shop, so download the free Dosh app and get started receiving your cash back.


This is a sponsored post. 

Friday, July 21, 2017

Leaving Branson and Lunching at Twisted Ranch

It was the final day of my Branson, Missouri adventure with friends Brittany, Amanda, and Marsha. We had been out late celebrating Brittany’s 21st birthday, but sleeping in wasn’t on the schedule.

We packed up and said farewell to the Radisson Hotel Branson staff. 

It is a convenient hotel and they had done a good job of making it feel like home.

After we left the hotel, we drove down to Main Street, an area we had not previously made it to. 

We all looked at each other at once as we saw all the interesting shops, knowing that we would need to explore.

First, we were having breakfast with Tamra from the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. She had been the one who had worked so hard on providing us with a great itinerary of things to do over the last four days.

Tamra had also picked a great place for breakfast. The Farmhouse Restaurant is a popular spot in the city and their menu is inviting. She told me they were famous for their blackberry cobbler.

You never have to suggest to me more than once to have dessert for breakfast, but I added a scrambled egg on the side to make it a bit more nutritious. (It was truly delicious cobbler, and they also have it in cherry, and peach.)

Tamra joined me in blackberry cobbler, while everyone else ate a bit more traditionally, with biscuits and gravy, omelets, or pancakes.

After breakfast, we walked around town for about an hour, checking out some of the stores. We were especially drawn to Dick’s Old Time 5& 10, where we each picked up some candy and souvenirs.

I had asked Brittany to pick a place for her birthday lunch on the way home and she didn’t hesitate.

Twisted Ranch had been open in St. Louis about a year and the lines were regularly out the door.

I had contacted the manager and asked that we had a table reserved, but we arrived just before closing so there was room anyway.

The idea of Twisted Ranch is 27 types of ranch dressing you can use to dip all types of food. 

We were determined to try them all, but first we had to check out some of their cocktails.

While the food is based around ranch dressing, the drinks are centered around the location the restaurant is in. St. Louis Blues and the red Cardinals and Eagles are the basis of some very tasty libations.

We decided to go for the blue and red daquiris and margaritas, and they really hit the spot. We also were determined to go through all 27 flavors.

Since the flavor samplers came in assortments of 13, we had two, with the 27th one on the side.

Of course, we needed food to dip in the ranch.  We chose fries, mozzarella sticks (cut in squares, the most delicious I’ve ever had), and chicken wings.

We also couldn’t resist some of their Ranched Macaroni and Cheese, which included bacon and, of course, ranched dressing.

Everything at this restaurant was so good. We certainly understood where the daily lines were coming from.

As for the ranch dressings, we had our favorites: Greek, Creamy Balsamic, Buttermilk Basil, and Asian Zing.

Twisted Ranch was the perfect way to end an amazing trip to Missouri, as well as Brittany’s 21st birthday!