Shake & Taste

Cristiano has a work Christmas party tonight and I didn't particulary feel like making anything for dinner so I opted for this Agita & Gusta ("Shake & Taste") salad. I normally don't like salad in a bag or too many ready-made meals but I was intrigued by this salad that could be prepared - condiment and all - "in four easy moves." You take the plastic off the bottom, construct the spork they provide, press the button that releases the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and then "taste." (I think I forgot to mention "shake" somewhere in there but vigorous shaking was involved). I ate with a real fork, thank you very much. Not bad but I prefer my veggies fresh.

On a less appetizing note...I'm trying to find a hotel for my weekend trip to London in January and I'm still reeling from the pictures of bed bugs one traveler posted in the comments section of Tripadvisor for a hotel I was actually set to book. Actually they weren't pictures of the bugs but all the bites on his body after staying in this hotel. Ewww. I'm all for budget travel but cleanliness is at the top of the priority list. I'm looking for spartan and that doesn't seem to be very common in London. Even that easyHotel wants almost 200 Euros a night to sleep in one of their little pods. But now any place I see with doilies, flowery drapes, wall-to-wall carpet or any other material that could trap, hide or camouflage mold and germs is setting off my bed-bug alarm. Red, itchy welts could ruin a girl's weekend.