Good Morning Baltimore

....y'all know I couldn't resist that <3


How are you?? I'm bueno!  I can't believe Spring Break went by as quickly as it did.

Raise your hand if you need one more day week!

source

The good news is that only 8 more weeks until Summer Vacation!  

Anyway, back to the break.  This break was everything I needed.  Equal parts relaxing, hanging with friends, traveling, and chocolate.

A few weeks ago, one of my friends and I decided that we needed to get away over spring break.  Nothing crazy or far, just away.  We decided on Baltimore because it's far enough but can still be done in a day.  We found a hotel on Groupon (best.ever.) and headed down on Wednesday morning.  We didn't really have a plan (shocking for Little Miss Type A) but we knew we wanted ice cream, crab cakes, and brunch.  Not necessarily in that order, but that's what we wanted :)

First came crab cakes.  Can you really qualify it as a trip to Baltimore without crab cakes?  I don't think so.  We headed to Luna Del Sea for crab cakes.  They were $20 a cake (kinda expensive) but they were 98% crab!  Seriously, I cut into the crab cake and it fell apart because it was all crab.  The restaurant was empty...we were the only ones in it...and it kinda had a speakeasy vibe to it. The seats were black leather and the walls were a maroon red.  A little Fifty Shades meets HGTV, but you know...

Crabby cakes as big as our heads

  

I did my research (and we're back as a Type A-er) on the best ice cream in the city and found a place called The Charmery.  It is in the Hampdon neighborhood of Baltimore and a 3.5 mile trek from our hotel.  We came *this close* to walking there, but realized it crossed a major highway.  High fives for us participating in the ancient art of reading a map!  We drove over there and after 9 attempts to back in a spot (in my defense, it was a slanted and curved spot) we were on our way to get ice cream!  This place is really cool!  They make unique flavors, like buttered popcorn, and offer a vegan option every day.  

I rolled with 1 scoop of the Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cup and one scoop of the  Maryland Mud Pie with homemade hot fudge.  

Still drooling

Twas a great decision.  These scoops weren't wimpy little 120 calorie scoops either.  No no.  These were Erin sized ice cream scoops!  About the size of a softball.  Aly got a scoop of Green Apple Tequila ice cream.  I sampled it and it was delicious!  You could taste the tequila, but it wasn't overpowering.  

Yes the spoons change colors

After ice cream heaven, we went back to the hotel to get ready to go out.  We took a power nap and watched Friends, before heading out.  The hotel had really good lighting aka Silly Photo Shoot happened.

We don't do normal photos

Baltimore gets an A++++ for food, but a C- for Nightlife.  We realize it was a Wednesday, but there were no people out! I'm talking ZERO!  We went to happy hour and only passed 4 people on our 8 block stroll!  FOUR PEOPLE between 5-6 pm?  We chalked it up to being from NJ and the high concentration of people...but really?  There were 11 people at the first place we walked into.  Mind you, the Orioles game was starting in 5 minutes.  In NJ or Philly, places are packed and they have drink specials that go along with the games.  NADA.  We walked over to a place like Xfinity Live and guess what?  IT wasn't even open!  It's only open Thurs-Sunday!  WHAT?  We walked over to a place behind Camden Yards called Pickles Pub.  We were pleasantly surprised to find life.  We started watching the baseball game, but it was quickly changed to ALL HOCKEY!  All 7 TVs were now playing the same hockey game.  BUZZKILL.  The Orioles were in Cincy, but really?  Every TV has to be on hockey?  

The redeeming factor?  

Crabby Fries the MD way

We're still true to our Philly roots, but these crabby fries were face rocking!  Picture fries, covered in crab dip, covered in cheese, covered in Old Bay seasoning.  Now add a side of ranch dressing for dipping.  Plus, a few hidden pickles!  What?  DELISH!  

After this masterpiece of deliciousness, we headed back to the hotel.  We had plans to go karaokeing, but alas, we fell asleep.  

When we woke up the next morning, we knew what we wanted...BRUNCH!

We headed out to Miss Shirley's.  It was about a 20 minute wait on a Thursday at 11 am.  I decided to continue eating like a Frat Boy and ordered Buckwheat banana chocolate chip pancakes and a strawberry lemonade.

As good as they look...I ate 3.5 pancakes

Puply perfection

Aly got the strawberry pancakes.  We high fives over out good decision making skills.

After the food coma that was brunch, we headed to the aquarium to see the fishies.  

We saw a really cool shark that looks like bathroom tile.  He just hangs around until other fish try to eat his "coral" camouflage and then he eats them up.  

We came across a fish with RBF!  

RBF fish

We then came across the tropical rainforest.  I saw this sign...

Cacao...Food of the Gods
aka Chocolate gives you super powers

After the aquarium, we headed home.  It was a great trip and definitely what we needed.  

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend and enjoying what is left of Spring Break 2017!

xoxo,

e

 

Easter Weekend 2017

Happy Monday!!!

It's oxymoron day over here...or is it?  It's Spring Break Central, so I guess that qualifies as a Happy Monday!  Also, waking up at 10:45, eating some Gertrude Hawk Baseball Smidgens, and catching up on Designated Survivor (so.GOOD.) and then running to the gym to teach HIIT and do some upper body and Zumba does actually qualify as a Happy Monday!

How was everyone's Easter?

Insert caption about sibling Easter pics

This was our second Easter in NJ.  We used to go to PA to visit my Grammy for Easter, but after she died, we had one Easter in NJ.  After that, Dylan went to JMU and we went to visit him in VA.  Easter dinner was often had in Buffalo Wild Wings or Texas Roadhouse!   For our second NJ Easter, we headed to Cafe Madison for dinner.  So so so yummy!  We all had lobster bisque for an appetizer.  I had salmon with pureed tomatoes and fennel.  For dessert I had a flourless chocolate cake and half of Deb's cheesecake.  Can you tell I missed dessert for 40 days?

Key Lime Martini for me, grapefruit martini for Deb, coke for dad, and Mexican martini for Dylan

Cheesecake...I only ate 1/2 :)

 I had a friend filled weekend and that is exactly how I like it.  FriYAY started out earrrrrly.  I taught Spin from 5:30-6:15 am then I stayed to do some upper body work.  I came home, showered, ate the best breakfast ever and then headed to tutor.  The library was closed for Good Friday (bad Catholic over here didn't even think it would be closed) so I took my student to Starbucks where we sipped apple juices and crushed fractions.  After that I got my mani and then Deb and I headed to King of Prussia Mall for some Lilly Pulitzer and sneaker needs.

2 traffic filled hours later, we arrived.  After we got our Lilly and sneaker spoils, we headed to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner.  They have a SANGRIA FLIGHT!  THIS IS NOT A DRILL!  IT'S REAL LIFE!

3 oz each of Beehive Sangria, Red-Berry Sangria, and Orchard Sangria

Can we just make this a world wide thing?  Like the kale or quinoa movement of 2017?

After a long day of shopping (I think I'm getting old because I needed a nap after that mall trip), I came home and fell asleep.  Like at 8:30.  

Saturday was spent gymming it up.  Deb took my spin class!!  Then we did weights and Pilates.  I went food shopping and then got ready for dinner.  The best dinner.  OF.ALL.SUSHI.TIME.

Cait and I went to Oishii Poke in Philly for dinner.  A few weeks ago, Dylan went to this place for lunch.  When he got home he was raving about it and I snuck a sample.  It rocked my face off.  

This place is like a Pancheros but for sushi.  Everything is very fresh and clean.  You can get a sushi salad bowl, sushi burrito (basically uncut sushi) or a sushi bowl.  I opted for the bowl.  I got brown rice, raw salmon, boiled shrimp, lettuce, seaweed salad, spicy aioli, broccoli, cucumber, corn, mango, carrots, seaweed salad, crab salad, tobiko, and sesame seeds.  It was amazing!  The portions are generous, but not overwhelming.  It was also $9!  You can't get a sushi roll for $9!  I capped it off with a bottle of Watermelon Bai.  Insanely good!

Demolished in 3 minutes!

I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed your egg hunts, egg rolls, egg dyeing, and chocolate!  This Spring Break is shaping up to be a good one and it's only Monday!

XOXO,

e

IEP Day

Happy Tuesday!

Is everyone recovering from the sugar coma that is Easter?  After 40 days of peanut butter/chocolate/junk free I realized some things:

• I am not a peanut butter monster anymore!  I had it mixed into my oats this am and I was like, meh I prefer actual nuts in my oats.  
• I miss chocolate and sweets, but not candy.  I'd rather have cake, cookies, or a banana bread.
• Peanut Butter Overload Smidgens are just that:  an overload.  WAYYYY too sweet for me.  I mean I still ate 4, but no more.

After 5 hours of IEP writing, I went to the gym to shake it all out in Zumba and do some weights.  It was schweaty and perfect.  Exactly what I needed.

It was great to be back on a normal schedule.  Healthy, whole foods, gym sessions, and no processed junk.  Plus tons of water.  It's amazing how normal I feel after eating real foods.  

I also made my favorite banana bread.  Technically this is zuke bread, but I replace the zuke with bananas.  I also add organic chocolate chips ;)

Twas delish!

Since yesterday was a rainy, blah day I figured I would write IEPs for work.  I had my leggins, banana bread, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reruns to keep me company and occupied.  

Today I'm off to meet Jaclyn for lunch at my old stomping grounds!  Ole, ole, ole, ole, TCNJ!  This is my second time visiting TCNJ's new college town.  We're going to meet up at Panera which used to be our go to spot after Wednesday Night Women and Gender's class.  It will bring back memories for sure.  Love my, Jac!

xoxo,

e