Driving on American Fork Canyon Trailhead - General/Family/Recommend

If you're in the Utah area, specifically the Salt Lake City area, then you need to travel south into the American Fork Mountains for some beginner trailheads along with some of the most peaceful and mind blowing views. If you're wanting some peace and quiet with a few dead zones but where you don't even realize you've spent almost four hours in the mountain this is the place for you.

Granted I'm not an experienced trailhead traveler by any means but this one will definitely teach you on whether or not you can trust yourself and if you trust your vehicle. You'll go up the mountain feeling confidant but let me tell you, you'll end up coming down the mountain humbled by its vast display of ginormous magnitude and in the fact that you weren't as experienced a driver as you thought! Where the adult/s may learn if you have children its a peaceful and truly fun experience-well depending how you make of it anyway.

I'm already in a sense incorporating homeschooling into my kids daily experiences and my mom is assisting or primarily enforcing them at this point because of my work. My youngest in 2020 is closing in on turning three when I decide to take this adventure. So I purposely ask for the day off and plan the adventure for my mom and two kiddos. We pack up snacks and lunches because along the route of this trailhead there's a beautiful riverbed/creek bed area; so my plan was for us to enjoy the trailhead in the vehicle and then on the turn back we have our picnic lunch by the river for the children to experience the quiet serene that is nature. I load up the vehicle with the necessities for emergencies: my kids extra pair of clothes (as my oldest is already potty trained and my youngest is almost perfect now at potty training), extra shoes to clean off dirt/dust, alcohol wipes, baby wipes, emergency water, water filled canteens, weatherproof warm jackets (because no joke the moment you enter the mouth of the mountains the temperatures drops from where you started), Clorox wipes, picnic cushion blanket, and my traveling toddler potty. My mom and kiddos are loaded up and we are rocking and rolling!

You'll drive towards the Lehi city and exit going towards W Timpanogos Hwy (92) where you'll enter into the Timpanogos Cave National Park and Mountain Ridges. Going through Lehi is beautiful and you won't forget it!

You'll go onto W Alpine Loop Rd to a trailhead entrance thats a dirt road and the journey begins into the American Fork Mountains. You'll be then officially taking the American Fork Canyon Rd and the entrance to the trailhead is after you pass a very cool mountain top lake (since the road takes you up in elevation before entering into the trailhead). 

My family and I had already taken the main road through these mountains but definitely not into this hidden gem. My mom was thinking it was going to be smooth sailing and no risk or concern...I pointed out the riverbed we would be stopping at on the way back when we starting our incline up the mountain on some of the narrow and rock edge areas of the trail. Lots of rock, bumpy ride, and the children excited at the views and at the drop off we are driving alongside! 

My mom being in the passenger seat is a little more on hedge but continually admits there is something so spell binding when you're up in the mountains (whether Utah, Colorado, New Mexico-just this specific experience is Utah). I think so many people focus on the red rock or red rock mountain areas of the state that they don't expand upon the other beautiful areas and mountain national parks, not just the ski cities like that of Park City. Don't get me wrong! We love the Park City area and the drive but that's not all that Utah has to offer...

Unfortunately we didn't get to go all the way to the end and then turn back, nope! The plan turned challenging and fun and courageous when we had to stop for a potty break. 

There was an easy turnaround at the end of the trailhead (which was only a 4.73 something mile long trailhead) but we had to make the turnaround at the halfway point! We had already finished the dangerous part of the incline and it wouldn't been some smooth sailing but my mother mentioned to us that as a way to get back and then enjoy the riverbed. So there I go driving into a turn around to go back down the mountain. Yes, you guessed it I didn't have some souped up SUV but I definitely tested the limits and constraints of a trust worthy manufacturer and their 4x4 all wheel drive. It didn't disappoint, oh and for the records the vehicles in the mountain states ARE different then the typical baseline vehicles I the southern states....

We made our way back down the mountain to the river bed. Now that for me I felt was the more treacherous part because of the breaking and ABS breaks kicking in but damn if I didn't trust my vehicle and my ability in this moment more than ever! My mom wasn't having mini heart attacks anymore being on thee drop off so she enjoyed the view more. Then we had the most fun when we had vehicles on our side, not once on the drive up but again on the drive back down. We parked at the little spot where the riverbed and check points was on the trailhead; I could almost feel my mom sigh in relief and I'm pretty sure she was tempted to kiss the ground at that point! 

We got out our stuff to set up, relax to the soothing sounds of nature and the peacefully eerie silence in the mountain...you don't get moments like that unless you're in the moment believe me...not even in some retreat is it the same. God truly made magnificence in areas such as these.

So if you live in Utah and you haven't ventured here, commit and take the drive! If you are looking for a unique experience and somewhere new this is a spot for you. Don't take my word for it though! Try it and let me know how your experience was!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Andalous Mediterranean Grill - Recommend/General/Family

If you're in the north DFW area in Texas and you're wanting quality, healthy, delicious, and a solid buffet price! This is the place for you-whether it's on a date night or with your friends and family!

Their selections are fewer than that of Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet off of 121 in Plano (on the south side) but as for quality, yeah, this one beats it by far! Their labels at Andalous are more accurate and as a fellow Celiac Disease individual they have my stamp of approval! Just like that of other locations drinks are included, although I'll admit that personally the delicious coffee blend is my highlight - whether I'm drinking it with my meal or as a dessert after the meal drink. Their selections of warm items are as I mentioned earlier, less but better quality. Fewer fish selections and a better variety of the chicken and meat protein selections. Their salads are cleaner and fresher, both in crunch and cleanliness of the vegetation. As for their dessert selection, Andalous hands down beats the other Mediterranean Buffet locations in the metroplex.

They are family friendly, and though my kiddos enjoy their fruit and dessert station my children truly enjoy the food there. Their location allows for ample space and a clear view for customers moving around your kids - which when mothers are just trying to enjoy their meal, this goes a long way! They have a large dining hall as well off the side of the main dining room which allows for the bigger and more noisy patrons as well. Overall, it's a must location and a return spot for delicious food!

I would say that Andalous gives Ali Baba's a run for their money and location, however where Ali Baba is more known and has some special items for their buffet, Andalous beats even them (in my opinion) because of the continued freshness and shoot even the space (especially when Ali Baba has customers that never fail all the time, to have annoying kids running around and screaming and hitting your chairs)! 

Don't take my word for it and try it yourself! Venture out and reward your palettes! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

At Home Coke Icee! - General/Family

So I saw this video at a Thai restaurant and in that video there's a side cart on the street in their native land with glass bottles of Coke and Dr. Pepper and even Root Bear, where they turn them into an instant icee to go in a cup! It's chemistry at work for sure while also being a cool trick to do at home. 

Without knowing for sure what they did or didn't do and after looking at some Thailand YouTube clips of the same side cart stand I did (2) different trials and only (1) of the (2) was successful. So I tried recreating the shaking/stirring machines with a large pot and filled it with ice all around the glass bottles. 

That was a cool chemical reaction to witness and feel as I was "stirring" up the coke bottles inside. Where the pot easily had a few from my spinning and turning once the cold started to seep into the enclosed space than the pot became even harder to spin back and forth in either direction. The top of the pot also seemed to create this sealed like reaction with minimal condensation and a lot of COLD to the touch. 

Well sadly I didn't have the additional assistance to keeping piling in ice and putting in some salt like I was supposed to- so all in all maybe this would be a success if you're willing to be there a while! While also having a second pair of hands to keeping piling in crushed ice to create the colder temperatures and also pour over some salt. Although with the frosted glass and pouring in what I did frost, some of the coke turned into nice cold icicles once poured into the frosted glass.

The second trial and error turned out to be a success even though I didn't have their freezing stirring/shaking tool. I ended up cheating and placed the glass bottles in the freezer. Removing them about 3.5 or 4 hours later. Now that was truly delicious! Once removing the glass bottles you lightly tap the edges of the glass bottle, then uncap the bottle cap slightly to allow air flow in and you'll instantly see a chemical reaction where the coke inside the bottle gets nicely frosted! 

Be careful of a little leaking or overflow but easily wipe it away and stick in your straw to enjoy! Try it for yourself, believe me as a kid it's a fun science experiment and as an adult! It's just freaking delicious!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Kids Needs to Stay Busy - General/Family

As you've seen in some of my other posts, I've tried since the beginning to always incorporate my children in tasks and especially daily chores. It all began once they started walking, the start of just loading dishes into the dishwasher and then they would graduate in tasks as they continued to prove to be trusted with newer and even more delicate tasks. 

I'm not saying you should be going against some child labor laws! I'm an advocate for educating a child to be a decent human being who can live without being a shadow behind Mommy. The child should be feeling confidence in what they're doing and it starts to spread in other things that they are doing in whatever is part of their day to day activities. Their first actual chore task was helping me with laundry; loading into the dryer from the washer and then also taking the clean newly tumbled clothes to the bedroom of whoever's clothes they were. They quickly graduated to the kitchen task of loading the dishwasher. This particular task is one of many benefits-its everyone's participation, lessons in the types of dishes and their cautions or concerns (like the simple butter knives, not sharp but still harmful if not properly handled). It was working together and a leaning curve - they began to understand glass items - both breakable and one to cause harm if broken. 

This task led to helping me to take out all the trash from inside the house and yes for the record they would wash their hands after helping, of course! With every new task they graduate to new levels leading to things that involve outside tasks and chores. I started teaching them how to clean out the car with the wiping down of the leather and glass along with the vacuum. The vacuum was always an interesting experience after I realized that was basically what my kids saw as playtime. They enjoyed the noise and the suction part of the vacuum. So that I could finish the tedious work, I would actually do all the vacuuming while they did the wipe downs, leaving some dirt/trash here and there so they knew that they still had the chore, but my favorite part was hearing their giggles and laughter while "working". 

Start them young, watch their little characters expand and fear of the unknown and challenges either going away or the child/ren coping with at least trying before even having the notion to allow fear to enter into their vocabulary/actions. Besides its not just about the task or chore or the educating aspect, its the fact that even in those things you create memories with it also being family time.

So don't go babying a child when it's not necessary, build them up! Have them build self-esteem, self confidence, and assertiveness in themselves and in whatever task that you've entrust to them. Otherwise you're doing an injustice to them in order for them to succeed in life and in the world without you (no matter how fucked up the world is). They will be able to handle anything and everything with what they've learned with you, coping with the turbulence and injustices of the world as well. You will have done your part as a parent raising a person who can live without being your shadow through life...

I feel that you are a successful parent when you see/hear your child/ren coming back to you to visit and tell you about their experiences instead of always relying on YOU to fix it for them and to make things better every time there's a hardship or difficulty. Did you do your job in providing them the mental and emotional tools to interpret and understand the powers at play? Or did you coddle them in your own fear of "it's getting hard for them"? It's a wonderful feeling when our child/ren need us parents but guess what, how much harm is it doing them when they are always relying on you as their peace, as their help-mate, as their partner, as their lifeline, as their life vests, or worse as if you are their spouse!...parents are to be the compass in their childrens lives-guiding them when they seem/feel lost and when the crazy world has given them whiplash in direction. They have to come to trust their own navigation (with minimal to none in bad decisions/choices) understanding that their own failures will just assist in their growth!

Our child/ren should look for us to basically feel like a little kid in a safe place, so that when they leave from visiting you they are renewed to take on any crazy! :) We as parents need to build/form/teach our child/ren in becoming decent human beings that can make something of themselves and contribute to making society better...they can't do that themselves (individually) if you're really the one always doing everything for them-just saying.

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

DIY Folding Clothes - Family Life/General

Before I begin we need to have an understanding on a few things...I'm not not like you're typical coddling and "time out" parent of today's world or the soft parenting type; I also believe in giving my children responsibilities (applicable to their age group of course) and chores. Chores dont warrant money rewards in my house but becomes parts of their routines and lifestyle - I mean last I checked the military isn't paying you at boot camp or BUDS to keep the place you sleep tidy and the discipline of self!...It starts at home and with that so does teaching your children coping mechanisms, but I digress because that's a separate post altogether. So since my children were able to sit up learning mechanisms began for tidiness and discipline, then when they began to walk cleaning up and learning chores around the house began.

My kiddos were helping with laundry loads (at least taking it to the laundry room and helping me or my mom load the washer and dryer. Fast forward to now and my kiddos responsibilities involving the laundry have increased. They are more than capable to doing the whole laundry routine themselves and for their own clothes!

So let's make it fun, entertaining, and easier. Chores in our home always involve music and sometimes goofiness (just depends on what the end goal is) so the kiddos get a little whiny from time to time but sometimes changing up the music or the routine of the chore helps. Hence the new family project to inspire a more encouraging and self satisfaction chore. 

Using up cardboard my kiddos and I created our very own folding boards (ironically on Labor Day weekend too). So it became an arts and crafts time with the excitement building to actually DO the laundry. We didn't use the exact measurements that a lot of videos and instructions stated-so I created our own design that would work for both their clothes and even mine! We also didn't use duct tape like literally all the instructions said. I found that the FedEx/clear packing tape was more foldable in its use and a cleaner look for what we wanted to do. Decorations were done by hand and just using the sharpie markers!

We did lots of laundry and the faces of the kiddos was so great! They were confidant in their work, they were fulfilled because they did it ALL themselves, AND the project alone was also their creation. Best way to build self-esteem, self accomplishment, AND humans that will be able to survive in society regardless of all the other wimps (male and female)...they won't need me to do their laundry but doesn't mean that I still won't enjoy doing it with them! :)

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

GrandLux Nails Salon McKinney - General/Family/Recommend

If you're looking for a nail salon that provides consistency and a crew that's more happy than most and a manager who knows how nails SHOULD be done then this is the place you should try and frequent. Welcome to GrandLux Nails off of Lake Forest in McKinney.

The manager here is both meticulous and can make great recommendations on her personnel as well as how the nails should be. Before being in the position she's in now, where she started is exactly how I came to know her. Since 2007 she's known my family (more specifically my mom and sister) and now more recently my kiddos. My mom and sister have always been pretty particular when it comes to their nails and how they look - hence Heather. She was and still is very skilled at her craft and she's been doing this for a very long time. So upon hearing that she was running her own nail salon now I asked her for a recommendation since she doesn't really do nails anymore since with her current position being what it is. 

Mike is the one to see for your manicure and hand nails needs. He's managed to maintain the high expectations that Heather placed when doing mine and my family's nails. He does great work with natural nails as well as with tips added. I can't speak on acrylic nails because I've never done with since their damaging to the nail and nail bed BUT that's another post for another time. He has an eye for color and seasons/style so you can also trust his recommendations or creations on what you tell him you need.

The photos below are of my natural nails before his handiwork and then the completed result. If you noticed I had two of the five nails messed up on one hand and he's able to make it all blend and look as naturally as possible, with the added two tips. 

So try something new or take a chance, you won't be disappointed!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Washington D.C. - General/Family/Recommend

If you haven't traveled to Washington D.C. then you definitely have to put it on your list of things to do. It's a magical wonderland of history, learning, beauty, and oddly some serene peace in the oddest of eerie of places throughout the national monuments. 

I feel that its a place of areas that you can venture through all in one day or feel free to break it up in two to three days worth so that you can really appreciate the views and the history behind it. That and it depends on when you venture there because you might be lucky with little to no big crowds or you have no clue where to park or walk.

We went during the school year and it was really just the perfect weather! I had one in the stroller and one walking and running around with some of the sweetest and cutest moments! I have heard its beautiful with those blossoms in the blossom trees - which living so close we never seemed to make it back out during the blooming season, so I have that as a personal goal on my to do list...my kiddos and I will go back for sure!

I know that I've posted about the Ritz not far from the memorial and national markers - so I highly recommend that spot! No! It's not because its some high end location-if you read my post you'll understand why BUT for all your lazy people who won't go look, long story short its a great spot (safe and family friendly). 

So do some research and enjoy so many things you can see! Believe me that you won't regret it!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman