Last weekend my daughter and I went out of town. Okay, so it was only to Selma, but that still counts as going out of town, right? 😉

My daughter has a love for theater. She’s been a part of many plays through school, as well as through CMT. We’ve also been to a handful of musicals at Fresno City College and the Saroyan Theatre. There is something so magical about the theater. When you watch a play or musical, there is an electric charge to the air. It’s all LIVE, and anything can happen. You will see the actors at their very best, doing what they love. Their voices are usually amazing, and often times I’ve been moved by what I’ve seen or heard. This desire to watch a live show was part of the reason why we went to Selma last weekend. (Well, that and my daughter has to watch a performance for one of her classes.)

While my daughter has been performing in CMT shows, she’s met a plethora of wonderful people. As it turns out, some of those people were in the musical we watched at The Selma Arts Center.

 

 

 

The Selma Arts Center is located in the heart of downtown/old town area of Selma. It’s a quaint part of town. There are antique shops, restaurants, and other little businesses lining the area. Before the play, we stopped off at Aimee’s Vanilla Bean Bakery.

How perfect was it that there was a cupcake place right by where we needed to be?! It’s like Selma knows me! So, when in Rome….My daughter and I treated ourselves to a couple of yummy cupcakes.

We also drove by a cute little burger place called Wilkin’s Drive-In. I wanted to stop, but we were on a mission to get somewhere else.

Making the drive to Selma made me realize that there is so much that small towns have to offer. I’ve driven through Selma a million times, but have not ever stopped. All I knew about Selma is that they have an Auto Mall. Turns out there were so many different places to visit! I think the next time we drive down to see a play (which we probably will…Check out what’s up and coming at the Selma Arts Center), I’m hoping to stop at a cute little burger place called Wilkin’s Drive-In. When I do, I’ll report back. Unless some of you have been there already and are willing to share! I also think that perhaps I make some trips to little towns around the Valley, as each place has something great to offer!

Last week I wrote about our family adopting two new doggies. After having to wait an extra week, this last Saturday we picked up our newest addition, Miss Claire! (As in eclair, which goes perfectly with Sugar.)

 

 

When we adopted both dogs, I was told that I could take them to the veterinarian for a free check up. Initially I wasn’t going to, but after I took Sugar to the groomer last week, they told me some news that concerned me. Usually most people only take their dogs (and kiddos) to the doctor when they are sick (or maybe it’s just me). However, being a new puppy mommy, I had a lot of questions. So, in an effort to establish a positive relationship with the veterinarian, I decided to take ACT up on the free visit.

Today I visited Pet Medical Center and Spa. (Around Palm and Nees.) Now, I’m pretty new at visiting the vet (I tend to go to doctors for humans….please tell me you’re laughing), so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yes, I do have cats, but I haven’t needed to take them in. (I pray I haven’t just jinxed myself.) Thankfully, when I entered Pet Medical Center, they helped me each step of the way. I was initially in awe of how nice the inside looked. There is a section to the left with some pet essentials, then to the right, there is a waiting area. In the waiting area they have a snack section for adults, and a little jar of treats for the furry clients. In the middle there is also an area for children, which is very thoughtful.

What caught my attention most were the two rooms for dog and cat boarding, and for doggie daycare. I peeked through the window of play time for the doggies, and it was fun to watch! It actually made me feel better seeing all the dogs rough (see what I did there) housing, as my two play as well, but I don’t always know if they’re really playing or being mean. Turns out my two are playing after all!

Doggie daycare consists of four hours of supervised playtime with other dogs. They break the time up in two sessions. One session for small dogs and one session for big dogs. I happened to be there during the big dog session, and those dogs were having so much fun! While I’m pretty sure I won’t need to use their boarding services, it feels good to know that if I do need to, I have a place to go. I was looking over the packages for boarding and they even offer VIP suites! Um, yes, I want my doggies to have the VIP treatment if I have to leave them for an extended period of time. What a treat!

Pet Medical Center and Spa is really that-a place to visit the vet, make new friends at doggie daycare, or be pampered by the groomer. Which leads me to a question for you guys. I took my dog to get groomed, and then had multiple friends tell me never to use that place again. (NOT at Pet Medical Center, a different place that I would rather not mention.) Since I’m new at owning a doggie that needs to be groomed, I have no idea where to take Sugar to get groomed. This is where I need your help. Which places would you recommend? When I picked up Sugar at the other groomer last week she seemed sad. She wasn’t herself for most of the day. The dogs I saw leaving the groomer today at the Pet Medical Center and Spa seemed happy, so I know this is a place I can trust. However, I’m curious about some of the other trust-worthy places around town. So, leave me a comment and let me know where else I can take Miss Sugar to get pretty!

In the mean time, if you’re looking for a veterinarian, check out Pet Medical Center and Spa. I really trusted the advice the vet gave me. She took her time to answer all of my questions, gave Sugar a thorough exam, and was so kind and gentle. She gave the kind of care I’d want for my pet, and I highly recommend her!

Here’s the proof-Sugar is calm during her visit!

Animal Compassion Team of California

There are two kinds of people in this world. Cat people and dog people. Sometimes someone fits into both categories, but usually, people pick a side.

I am team cat.

Growing up we had some dogs here and there, but never really a true family pet. Most of our dogs were outside dogs, and I don’t remember ever having a real connection to any of them. Then, my senior year of high school, I got 2 black cats. I instantly knew they had my heart. From then on, I’ve been a cat person. Cats are so much different than dogs. They don’t need a whole lot of attention, they bathe themselves, they potty where they’re suppose to, and they sleep-a lot. They really are the perfect pet.

Well, it so happens that I have a daughter who loves all animals. We’ve had fish, hermit crabs, a guinea pig, rats, hamsters, cats (of course), and even a dog for a short time. (She started biting people, so we had to re-home her.) For the last year or so, we kept our home a kitty only zone. However, I told my daughter that once we moved out of our apartment, and into a house, we would get a dog.

In February, we moved out of our apartment. During the moving process, both of my kids were asking me when we were going to get a dog. I’m telling you, they have the memory of an elephant! I made them wait for a while, and I recently decided that now was the time.

So what did we do?

We adopted two doggies!!

While I was looking into which breed of dog would be best for our family, I kept coming across the Animal Compassion Team of California website. ACT is one of the Valley’s most reputable adoption centers. In 2009, ACT became a non-profit organization to help save local homeless animals. Their mission (from their website) states that they are “to provide a safe haven for domestic animals, regardless of breed or species, through rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and sanctuary. To advocate for the humane treatment of animals and promote the human-animal bond. To educate the public about the importance of kindness, compassion, and responsible pet ownership which will emphasize spaying and neutering. To cooperate and work with other animal rescues and shelters towards the goal of becoming a no-kill nation.”

We decided to adopt from ACT because of how each animal has their description listed. I was able to find the right type of dog based on personality traits, and a little bit of extra research. They also provide pictures of each animal, which helps a lot! If you’re not sure what type of dog is right for you, there is also a Matchmaker form you can fill out. I love this idea!

ACT wants to make sure that you go home with the best animal for your family. They allow you to bring in your current pets (and children) to meet a possible new family member. You’re also able to spend time with the animals before adopting. There is even a park area to allow the doggies to play and run! They have the Sofia Adoption Center (2789 S Orange Ave, Fresno CA 93725) open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11-6. You can also find ACT animals around town, usually at the Petsmart in Riverpark. Before we actually adopted our fur-ever puppies, we went in to visit them at the Sofia Center to make sure they were right for us. While there my daughter gave some love to those friends who were hanging out.

 

 

 

My daughter loves animals and she can’t wait to volunteer some of her time with ACT. In fact, ACT is completely run by volunteers. The foster parents are volunteers as well, which is one of the things I like most about ACT. I like how not all of the dogs and cats are left at the adoption center. They are usually homed with foster parents until they find their forever home. This means they are loved on and taken care of while waiting for their new family.

In case you are looking to add to your family, I would highly suggest you check out the Animal Compassion Team of California. You will get the best service available, and you’ll know that the animals have been well taken care of.

On Saturday we came home with Sugar, and tomorrow we’ll come home with the other little puppy. We can’t wait! Look at this face! It’s no wonder I’m becoming team dog! (Shhhh…Don’t tell the cats.)

 

It should come as no surprise to any of you that I love Mediterranean food. I’ve written a post about the Fresno Greek Fest (which I attend every year), I’ve been to many Mediterranean restaurants around town, and all my friends know that I just love feta cheese. Having said that, it’s no wonder that I want to let you know about a local grocery store called Fresno Deli-International Grocery & Deli.

Fresno Deli is a small, family owned, grocery store where you can find many different types of Middle Eastern goodies. When I was last there, I chatted with the owner for a bit. She’s a nice Armenian woman, who I instantly wanted to be friends with. She was so nice and friendly to me. She answered any questions I had about some of the treats I was purchasing, and she gave me some advice on which treats were better than others.

Fresno Deli has foods from all over the Middle East, also including Italy and France, and I’d really love to share with you some of my favorite items on their shelves.

Rose Water. This is used in many Arabic desserts, often in conjunction with honey, as it intensifies the honey flavor.

Spices!!! If there is a specific Middle Eastern spice you’re looking for, I’m sure Fresno Deli has it.

 

So. Many. Sweets. I wanted to try so many different times from this rack of goodies. There were actually 2 racks, and I had a hard time deciding. I ended up bringing home some French rolled cookies. My daughter really liked them. They were coated in powdered sugar, with apricot filling.

I’ve purchased these before. These are the pickled turnips that are served at Broilers. Once I discovered that you can buy these at Fresno Deli, I’ve gotten them a handful of times. The only issue I ever have is that there is a lot of vinegar in the jar, so if not sealed properly, you could have a mess in your fridge. Hashtag, things I learn the hard way. 😉

Halva (or Halwa)-This is a candy made from tahini, or sesame paste. I had the great fortune to be able to visit Israel a few summers ago. While I was there, they sold this sweet goodness on the streets. There were so many different flavors to choose from, and it was fresh. At Fresno Deli, they had different brands and a few flavors. You should try it sometime, it really is good.

While I was in Israel, I was able to visit Palestine as well. While there, my friend shared this treat with me. It’s one of her favorites, and I wish I could send it to her, but summer time is a terrible time to ship chocolate. Anyway, I bought a couple of these for my daughter, as she loves chocolate. It’s a candy bar, made with flaky chocolate. It’s so soft, and the chocolate melts in your mouth. Yum.

Turkish Delights. These are small treats that are kind of hard to describe. The bottom part is gummy, with some having a rose water type flavor. You can purchase these in bulk, which is ideal if you want to try just one or two.

I don’t know the name of these, but the owner described this to me as Armenian donuts. I tried one, and they can best be described as a dense donut soaked in honey. I bet ice cream and pistachios would be a nice addition. Sounds like a sundae in the making!

 

 

 

There you have it-some of my favorites, and when I say some, I do mean that. While at Fresno Deli, I also purchased some Armenia string cheese and a few Yalanchis (also known as Dolmas). There is a whole deli section where you can get meats, salads, cheese, and desserts!

I would highly recommend visiting Fresno Deli.

They are located at 2450 E Gettysburg Ave, 93726.

559-225-7906

Hours are:
Monday-Friday  9-7
Saturday  9-6:30

Let me know if you go, and how you like it!