Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 95

We're Going Back to Hogwarts

Well, maybe not me, at least not at the moment But for those awesome little witches and wizards in the UK, the Hogwarts Express is speeding its way to that amazing castle we all know and love.



If you're headed back to school, good luck, have fun, and don't fix that broken Vanishing Cabinet, please. #19YearsLater

If you want some posts about my Harry Potter adventures, here's my latest. I figured out I would have been 3 years ahead of Harry if I'd gone to Hogwarts, studying in Ravenclaw Tower. W...

My Portland Coffee Tour Part 6

It's the time again. It may be super warm outside, but it's never stopped me from drinking coffee. I just switch mainly to iced. We have had a few cooler mornings that called for a hot cup of Joe, and I definitely took advantage of those, because iced coffee may be good, but it's not always as good as hot.

This month I took a few different turns around the city, including Beaverton (we're about 8 miles from actual downtown). 

Lionheart CoffeeThis adorable coffee house in Beaverton was one...

Are Postcards Extinct?

I get travel inspiration from a ton of different places: social media, travel deal emails, the Travel Channel, friends, travel magazines, the World's Strongest Man competition (hello, Malta...someday). I have a travel list a mile long. I also like to buy postcards, even if I don't send them. We have a friend that sends a postcard to us every time he takes a trip, but it seems like most people don't bother sending postcards anymore. Do you?

I use social media when I travel, mostly for work, but...

Free and Cheap Activities in Las Vegas

Okay, it's been a bit since I've been back from Vegas and I bet you thought I forgot about giving you all the dirty details of the free and cheap things we did there. I did not, but this month has been a crazy one, what with my annual Harry Potter party and other stuff going on. You'll notice that I somehow missed a few newsletters as well, and I apologize for that. Now I'm back to my normal schedule, so let's talk about Vegas.


Freebies can be found around ever corner in Sin City if one knows...

Taking An Amazing Italy Trip

Few travelers want to make brief jaunts through Italy when visiting this fascinating country. Instead, most want to see it all, and experience as much of the culture, cuisine, shopping, and art as they possibly can. Unfortunately, however, all vacations are limited in their duration and this means it won't be possible to fit absolutely everything in. Following are a few tips that will show you how to make the most of this life-changing excursion.

photo creditSchedule Your Itinerary According T...

How To Travel With Your Dog

If I could, I'd take my dog  everywhere. Unfortunately, she isn't welcome everywhere even though she's small and better behaved than most children.



When we travel, we usually leave her at home with my mom, but if we road trip it, chances are pretty good that she's going along for the ride. (See what I did there?) If your furry best friend likes to jump in the car and take a vacation (even a short one), here are some great tips to make it friendly and fun for them as well.
Look at this&nbs...

If I could, I'd take my dog everywhere. Unfortunate...

If I could, I'd take my dog  everywhere. Unfortunately, she isn't welcome everywhere even though she's small and better behaved than most children.



When we travel, we usually leave her at home with my mom, but if we road trip it, chances are pretty good that she's going along for the ride. (See what I did there?) If your furry best friend likes to jump in the car and take a vacation (even a short one), here are some great tips to make it friendly and fun for them as well.
Look at this&nbs...

Happy Blogaversary! STC Turns 7

I can't believe the day is here (well, a few days ago)! This blog has been running for seven whole years now. It's been fun, it's been hard, but I've also learned a lot and I hope you have too. 

Each year I try to share something interesting and fun on my birthday/anniversary post. For this, my 7th year, I want to talk about my next 7 (hopeful) vacations. We won't count Vegas, because you all know I am there several times a year. I post a lot of cheap eats and awesome activities, sin...

Actually Get Some Sleep On the Plane

If you're not like me, who can sleep anywhere, including a plane where a baby is screaming for 5 hours straight, you probably need some help catching your Zs when you really need to on the airplane. The following infographic can give you ideas on how to get comfortable and actually be refreshed when you arrive at your destination. If you are a light sleeper, you'll probably want to try a combination of these things. 


I always bring a neck pillow when I travel long distance. I have several...

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Harry Potter

So, it's time again for my mini celebration of Harry Potter. It's a bit late this year, because I've been planning my annual party, working on some costumes for Yule Ball and Rose City Comic Con and volunteering at a Harry Potter event for the Harry Potter Alliance. 


Now that I'm a bit more caught up with life, let's talk about my Potter-related activities this past year. 


Another (several) visits to my favorite Potter-themed coffee shop was on the docket. I've gone to Vegas three tim...