7 Things to Do in Mammoth When It’s Not Ski Season

June 28, 2016June 29, 20164 Comments

For Memorial Day Weekend, we took a trip up to Mammoth Lakes. Even at the end of May, there were still some snow caps and the mountain was open for half days. Aside from skiing and snowboarding, there was plenty to do around the area.

1. Gondola to Mammoth Mountain

At over 14,000 feet with some ridiculous drop offs for skiers, it’s pretty cool (and a little scary) to near to edges. But anything for a photo right?

2. Hiking

Less snow means easier hiking. And there’s plenty of it!

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3. Mammoth Brewing Company

With flights, Mammoth-made beer and corn hole overlooking a snowy mountain, how can you go wrong? Just keep in mind that 2 beers is more like 4 there. I may have forgotten the affect altitude has on alcohol tolerance…

4. Whitmore Hot Springs

About 20 minutes south of Mammoth is a really awesome place called Hot Creek. Scenic views? Check. Stunning winding creek? Check. Steaming geysers? Check!

5. Convict Lake

We only got to do a drive by of this lake but it was very visually pleasing. In case you’re curious how it got its name, it’s a story about inmates.

6. Twin Lakes

There are a couple places to check out at Twin Lakes – top of the waterfall, besides the waterfall, and on the bridges that look up to the waterfall. Any way you slice it, the waterfall is obviously the main feature and it’s a pretty great one.

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7. Visit Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is only 45 miles north of Mammoth! If you have the time, I highly recommend taking a half day to go explore. See photos from our trip to the park.

BONUS: Enjoy the Ride

Depending on where you’re coming from, the drive can be a bit long. From Southern California, we took the 395 north and packed the truck full of my old cds (think Brittany Spears, Elvis Presley, Now 6-14, and Garden State Soundtrack) and tons of snacks. It’s actually a very unique drive full of lots of surprises, including fun mini hills that make for a great little roller coaster ride.

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What’s your favorite thing to do in Mammoth? I’d love to hear!

ClaudettesCorner

June’s Dope Deals

June 23, 2016June 23, 20161 Comment

H&M

H&M has a TON of reasonably priced & cute sandals online. I got lucky and found these gems on sale for $7. Not only are they super summery, they’re surprisingly comfortable. They were practically begging me to buy them.

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Old Navy

It’s not the hippest place, but I love it. And their sales are amazing! I recently bought this whole outfit during their 40% off sale (minus shoes and jewelry) for under $50!

Shorts – $14.99

Cardigan – $17.99

Tank – $14.99

TJ Maxx

Since we have one only a few minutes from work, I find myself here more often than not. Sometimes I go with something in mind. But again,more often than not I’m finding things I probably don’t need, but are too good of a deal to pass up. Here’s what I’ve scored over the past couple weeks.

Summer Dinner Place Settings

Since Matt and I are super mature (said mut-ooer to be fancy), we can now have a more stylish dinner party with these bright and cheery place settings.

Place mats – $9.99

Napkins – $14.99

Comfy Basics

All women know it’s tough to find a pair of jeans that fits exactly right, so when you do, it’s an absolute necessity to buy them – even if you already have another eight pairs.

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Black tank – $9.99

Jeans – $24.99

Dress – $14.99

Where are your favorite places to shop for deals? Comment below – I’d love to hear!

ClaudettesCorner

DIY Summer Floral Wreath

June 20, 2016August 11, 20164 Comments

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Using the same process as I did for my Fall Wreath, I went for warm pinks and oranges in this summer wreath.

Supplies Needed:

Styrofoam floral wreath
Faux flowers (look for sales at Michael’s to get up to 75% off)
- You’ll need a good sized bouquet full
Wire cutters

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1. Cut your flower stem about 1/2 inch from the flower to you have enough to go into the Styrofoam.

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2. Arrange your flowers around the outside of the Styrofoam to get a sense for where you want everything. Begin by sticking the short stems into the foam. Place the flowers close together so the wreath looks full.

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3. Make sure the side and outside of the foam is covered. You may need to arrange the flowers slightly by sticking the stems in at a different angle.

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4. I chose to highlight a large orange flower by placing it at the top. You can choose ribbon, a bow or nothing, depending on your preference.

5. Hang it loud and proud for everyone to see!

*Check out my other DIY projects*

Cheers Claudette 2

Spiralizing 101

June 14, 2016June 2, 2016Leave a comment

Let me be the first to admit I don’t like zucchini. I love yellow and summer squash, but for some reason I’m just not a fan of the more widely used family member. So when I heard about turning zucchini into pasta noodles I poo-poo’d the idea immediately.

Fast forward a year or so and spiralizing came up again and I learned you can also spiralize other vegetables.

I decided to give it a go.

I didn’t want to fully commit, so I went with the handheld SpiraLife but also bought a cookbook to get my creative juices flowing…plus I literally had no idea what to do with the noodles once I had them.

First recipe I tried? Zucchini noodles with bacon bits and cheese. The result was life changing.

LIFE. CHANGING.

I made 3 more noodle dishes before taking my spiralizing to the next level with this heavy duty hand crank. I have to say, if you want to try making veggie noodles…go big with the hand crank. It makes life so much easier. Plus, it’s quick and fun! I still can’t help but giggle when I pull the core out.

I’m still a beginner, but I’ve quickly learned that there are going to be a million ways to use my new spiralizer. But for now, here are 3 easy, delicious and healthy ways to spice up your veggie noodle dish.

Pesto over cousa squash noodles, topped with mini heirloom tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
Salt & pepper over potato and zucchini noodles. With so much juicy flavor you really don’t need sauce!
Trader Joes Three Cheese red sauce and chicken over zucchini noodles. Originally tried this with parsnips. And boy, I do not like parsnips.

Can’t wait to try out the whole vegetable section at Ralph’s! Next up? Beets.

For more foodie favs, check out my favorite recipes.

Yosemite in a Day

June 7, 2016June 7, 20163 Comments

Can I first just say WOW!? Matt and I have never been to Yosemite National Park but it’s always been on the bucket list. When his family planned a trip up to Mammoth Lakes, it wasn’t long before I realized Yosemite is only an hour north – and a beautiful drive at that.

Since we had a few days in Mammoth over Memorial Day Weekend, we cruised up to Yosemite early one morning and spent half the day “driking” around the park. [Driking is a term we made up which means drive hiking – our favorite way to explore. Drive a bit, stop when we see something too pretty to resist, get out and explore the area, repeat.]

Every part of the Yosemite we were able to see was absolutely stunning. The constantly changing terrain which was absolutely incredible. One moment, you’re in a lush green valley and the next you’re standing high up on top of a snowy mountain. I am so glad I brought layers!

Since we entered on the East side, we walked around Lembert Dome, Tuolumne Meadows, Ellery Lake, John Muir Trail and Olmsted Point.

Here are a few of my favorite stops during our short time in the park.