A Day at the Fair Marks the End of Summer

Nothing screams the end of summer quite like the arrival of the Maryland State Fair to the Timonium Fairgrounds.

But where else can you experience horse racing, pig racing, concerts, rides, games, and fried Berger Cookies.  Yum!

You can see this ferris wheel from down the street.

 We had to try these fried Berger Cookies and oh my gosh, they were sooo good!

And no trip to the fair is complete without a funnel cake!

We had such a great time.

Oh yea, how could I forget the cows!

Hope everyone had a nice long weekend.  Was your weekend full of the beach or just a relaxing bar-b-q?

Taste of Three Cities

EVENTS

This past weekend I enjoyed waking through rows and rows of food trucks during the Taste of Three Cities here in Baltimore, Maryland.  

These colorful trucks represented Baltimore, DC, and Philly.

Right outside of the M&T Bank Stadium on a beautiful day we walked through crowds and ate some great food.

We walked in and decided to check everything out.  So we took a loop through all the trucks to get together our game plan.

Here are a couple places we stopped.

1. South Carolina Bar-B-Que from Maryland

This truck from Essex, MD won last year for the best BBQ, so we had to wait in line to taste something.  

Yum!  Pulled Pork anyone?  This sandwich was delicious.  I could go for more right now.  It had just the right amount of spice and flavor.  For our first stop, it was a great one! 

We then stopped for a little snack from 

2. The Cow and The Curd from Philly

It is NOT a mozzarella stick.

Fried cheese curds, how can you not have a taste?  They are served with a choice of dipping sides, included chipotle ranch.

3. Rito Loco from DC

This Rib Rito was so good.  Made from pulled baby back ribs and had such great flavor.

4. La Cakerie from Maryland

We had to end with some dessert and what better way then from a cupcake from one of my favorite spots.  (Bonus: Cupcake Wars winner, Jason, hopped in the window to serve some customers)

Such a great end to great food, Funfetti cupcake?  Yes, please!

It was a great day for great food.  We all had a great time and enjoyed everything that we tasted.  I would advise going with a group because it was fun to split food in order to try more food trucks.

I am glad we tried trucks from all places, Maryland, DC, and Philly.

Have you eaten from a great food truck?

Mouth Party Caramels

Have you heard of Mouth Party Caramels?

If not, you are missing out.  Mouth Party Caramels makes great tasting caramels!

They are located right here in Baltimore, Maryland and started in 2007.  The flavors are to die for; even the original is sinful.  It is a family recipe that we are lucky that they shared with us.

The flavors range from Original to Chocolate, from Old Bay to Sea Salt, and they have a variety of seasonal flavors.  Right now they have Orange and Lemon Rosemary.

On a marketing side, how cute is the packaging?

  

Anything with a bow gets my attention.

They will even do favors for your next event.  They provide bag and box options with a great selection of colors.

I used them at my wedding!  The people at Mouth Party were great to work with.  They provided samples and showed all the options available.  They were very helpful in the decision process.

I went with the Original flavor for my favors.  They were a hit!  People were calling to tell us how much they loved them and asking where to find them.

They also make caramel sauce! 

This is great for ice cream!

There is a bonus when it comes to Mouth Party Caramels.  Besides their great caramels, they also donate portions of their profit to cancer research.

Mouth Party Caramels is perfect for a little gift or a hostess gift.  Next time you need something, you can't go wrong with a bag of Mouth Party Caramels!

Unfortunately, Mouth Party Caramels is closed as of right now due to the major rainstorm we had a little while back.  Their facility flooded, but they have been rebuilding.  Once the doors are open again you will have to give them a try.  I know I am missing them!

Hurry back Mouth Party Caramels, my mouth is watering just waiting!

   

The Preakness Stakes

EVENTS

This Saturday is the 139th running of the Preakness.  This event takes place right here in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pimlico Race Course is the home of the Preakness.  Every year the place is packed full of people hoping to see a winner, hopefully a triple crown.  This year  California Chrome will line up to try and win the second race of the triple crown.  If he wins the journey will continue and after the race, my favorite part takes place, the painting of the weather vane.  Right after the winner is declared a painter climbs up to the weather vane and begins to paint the winner silks and the color of the winning horse.  This will remain until the next year.  

They will also be covered with a blanket of Black-Eyed Susans, our state flower.

There hasn't been a triple crown winner in years, the last one was in 1978! 

My grandparents used to go every year to watch the race.  I have a collection of these glasses and it just so happens that I have one from the last year of the triple crown winner!

How fun is that?

You will find people sipping on a signature cocktail while waiting and watching the race.  This cocktail is called The Black- Eyed Susan.  

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Vodka

1/2 oz St. Germain

2 oz Pineapple Juice

1/4 oz Lime Juice 

3/4 oz Orange Juice

Add a orange slice and sip

So lets wish California Chrome some luck this saturday and enjoy the race with a Black-Eyed Susan in hand.

Do you think California Chrome has what it takes?

Are you a horse racing fan like my family? 

Bosom Buddy Bags

HER

Baltimore, Maryland is a place full of surprises, from great food to beautiful accessories.  You never know what you are going to get, but with Bosom Buddy Bags you know you are going to get a classic bag.  These hand woven bags are hand adorned right here in MD.

These bags are so cute!  The have a classic prep look that will have everyone talking.

There are different ribbon options and adornments on each bag.  

The ribbon colors are endless.  

Striped or solid you have the option of pink, green, khaki, navy and white, black, white, turquoise and white, red, tan, coral, and the list goes on.

There are so many great options, but it doesn't stop there.  

The adornments make the bag.  The options are great.  An Anchor, bee, crab, Fleur de Lis, sand dollar, starfish, shell, gator, fox, and for a little edge a skull and bones.  But that isn't even all the options!  There is one for everybody.  

So if you find these bags as cute as I do you can find them here on their website, Bosom Buddy Bags.

On the site you will be able to find a store near you and look at the different sizes, colors, and adornment options.

Have fun looking around and let me know what you think.

Can you live without one?

Popsations Gourmet Popcorn

During the summer seasons my family and I go to the beach.  Now, when I think of the beach, I think of fudge and caramel popcorn.  I am sure many people do as well.  I don't know about your family, but caramel popcorn is a big hit with my family.  

Well what to do when it isn't the summer time?  Well.... exciting news!  There is a great (and I mean great!) popcorn place right here in our backyard.

Popsations Gourmet Popcorn is made right here in Maryland, Timonium to be exact!  I love local! 

But don't worry if you are not local to Maryland, you can order from their website.  Click here for the link.  With a variety of sizes, tins/bags, there is something for everyone.  

The flavors are wonderful, just delicious.

Flavor Choices:

Classic Caramel

 Great classic flavor.  Great for any caramel popcorn lover.

Crabby Caramel

A Maryland treat for sure!

Dark Chocolate Caramel

 Oh My Gosh! So good!  It is the perfect mix of salty and caramel. Delicious.

White Chocolate Peppermint

Great for the holidays (hostess gift) the amount of peppermint was perfect.

White Chocolate Caramel

They also make:

Classic Cheddar

White Cheddar

and a Classic Mix (Classic caramel and Classic Cheddar together) 

The flavors I have tried are the ones pictured and I can honestly say they are all great.  It is hard decision to only pick one.  If I were asked which one was my favorite it most defiantly would be the Dark Chocolate.  It was so good!  I could have eaten the whole bag myself.

 How can you go wrong with popcorn that is tied with a cute red and white bow! 

 

 How Cute!  That way if you are in a store you can't miss it.  So if you are in Maryland and your mouth is now watering, check out these places to buy by following this link to their in store location list.  And remember, don't worry if you aren't here in MD.  They Ship!  Just check their website and order.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

EVENTS

Thanksgiving eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year.  It is a night to go out and see all your friends that live out of town.  It is so exciting to see who is home!  During our years in college, Thanksgiving eve was big, I mean BIG.  We would all be home for the holiday and we would all go out the night before Thanksgiving.  Now the best part of this night is that you never know who you are going to see.  It is so exciting!  It is like high school reunion/parties all together in one.

So this year I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Eve. 
Have Fun!

Where did you go to school?

Where did you go to school?  In Maryland it is not where you went to college that we are asking about, it is where you went to high school that matters.  Here in Maryland we care to know about where you went to high school in order to find common people that we will know and to get to know you.  Certain high schools have reputations that reflect them and people will compare people according to their high school.

Now I am not really sure why this is, I think it is to really compare you to others (sad I know).  It has always been that way and people not from here don't understand why we care about high school so much.  I hate to say it, but going to certain high schools means different things.  You can tell a lot about a person from where they went to school.

 

  

The basic choices in MD are private, catholic, and public.  Now we are all friends with each other and have grown up together.  Baltimore is a small place.  We have friends that are in private, catholic, and public and we all hang out together, but people still ask where did you go to school.  People tend to believe that certain schools hold better reputations, which in some ways is true. 
Now just the other weekend I was out with some friends (we all didn't go to the same high school) and someone came up to me and we were talking for a little.  Soon we got to the normal Maryland conversation.  "Where did you go to school?" they asked.  I replied and from then on the conversation changed.  They didn't care for my high school.  I decided to ask where they went and after finding out the answer I then understood.  The conversation was not the same from that point on.
Now why do we do this?  Why are we putting people in categories due to their high school?  That I don't know.  Like I said, I have friends from all schools and we all get a long just fine.  But for some reason, every once and a while you will meet people who either love you for where to when to school or really dislike you for where you graduated from. 
 Oh Baltimore, you are confusing sometimes. 

To Do List: Fall Edition

HER/PLACES

So fall has arrived with colder weather and a lot of rain.  I have to say that I am truly a summer person, but I love scarves.  I am a little excited for colder weather, but I wish it was only for a couple weeks and then we would be back to summer.  

There are a couple things I am looking forward to this fall so here are 

5 things I would like to do.

1. I guess I need to try one of those pumpkin spice lattes people are talking about.  I have never had one and would love to try it.

2. I would like to go and visit some friends in New York.  I am planning my trip and can't wait to go shopping.  I am already planning my shopping stops.

3.  Go and pick out pumpkins and maybe a corn maze.  I love picking pumpkins and thinking about what/how I am going to carve or decorate them.  This is what I did the other year.

I figured I would show some love for VV.
Oh and I would also like to get some mums.

 

4.  I can't wait to hand out candy to the trick or treaters!  I just love seeing the little ones in their costumes- they are so cute.  I usually go over to my parents because they get a lot of trick or treaters.  I will keep you posted on the cute costumes.

5.  I would like to make something new in my crock pot.  This is a great fall/winter easy dinner maker.  The ideas are endless.  If you don't have one, get one.  All you do is throw things in and after a while it's ready.

I hope to cross all of these off my list this fall.  I will keep you all posted on how it goes. 

If you are in the area and are looking for places for pumpkins or other fall goodies there are plenty of places to go.

Family Fun:

Rodgers' Farms- Great corn maze that are made to show a Maryland theme and pumpkins

Weber's Farm- Apple picking, apple cider, pumpkins

Baugher's- Hay rides, pumpkins, petting zoo

But if you are looking to get in and out try:

Watsons

Valley View 

Just make sure you have fun while picking your pumpkins.  
What are some of your favorite fall activities?

Happy Hour: Natty Boh

HIM

National Bohemian is the beer of Baltimore.  Being originally brewed right here in the wonderful land of Maryland, it is very popular with the locals.  Reason being, it's cheap price tag wherever you go.  

You can't find someone that lives in Baltimore and hasn't had a "Natty Boh".  

Who is the man on the can? He is a well know man that you can see from most places downtown, especially Canton. Mr. Boh is his name and he is the one eyed face of Natty Boh.  He became the famous mascot of the beer in 1936 and has been a well know man ever since. He even has his own store in Canton.

 You can find shirts, koozies, pint glasses, and magnets in this Natty Boh store.  If you are in Baltimore stop by and pick something up to remember this man.

There he is keeping an eye out on downtown Baltimore and one of his stores.

Now what is so special about this beer?  To be honest, I don't really know.  I think it is a Baltimore thing.  People will drink it because of its cheap price and to feel connected to "the land of the pleasant living."

So next time you are in MD, let Natty Boh serve you up a nice National Bohemian on draft.

 

 You have to try it once in your life.

Baltimore Smalltimore

 

Baltimore, Smalltimore.  Enough said.  Growing up here in MD you really do meet your fair share of people.  These people range from new friends to old family friends.  My whole life is connected through people, places, and things.  It is a small world.

 

 

Now I am sure there are other places like this, but Baltimore is a true “Cheers” if you will.  Everyone knows your name, your parents, and things about you that you might not even know.  We have gone to school together our whole lives without even trying to.  I mean from preschool through high school.  We tend to run in the same crowd and know the same people.  Whenever I am out I seem to run into someone I know.  I can be at the mall or just running into Target and see someone I recognize. With that being said, everyone knows everyone and it continues throughout adulthood.

People tend to know your business and share it.  Gossip is everywhere, you have to be careful when talk about or to people because you never know who they know.  Lesson from blog- Watch what you say and whom you hang out with because Baltimore will catch up to you.

I wouldn’t change a thing when it comes down to it.  I love Baltimore and its traditional feelings.  You will have family and friends here in MD.  I feel like sometimes this close relationship of knowing people makes Baltimore a better place.  It has that comfortable feel, I guess like Cheers had which brought people to the bar.  That’s why we keep coming back to Bmore.  It’s comfortable, familiar, and normal.  Baltimore is our home and always will be.

 

Pick up a Tervis

HOME

I personally believe that Tervis Tumblers are the best things next to Styrofoam cups.  They really keep your drink cold on the hot summer days and your hot drinks nice during those cold winter nights.  Just the other night I made some soup and ended up putting in one of my large tumblers.  It was perfect, the extra noodle soup, a cold fall night, and a Maryland Tervis Tumbler.  What more could you ask for?

I have a collection of them in different sizes, but to be honest, I usually prefer the big 24- ounce because I need to have my Diet Pepsi and a good amount of it.  I can't function without my Diet Pepsi.

They make great gifts for anyone because you can personalize them.  They come in a range of different designs from football teams to Disney characters; there are even college designs.  There is something for every age. If you are looking for a hostess gift these cups are perfect.  You can get the cup and a matching lid and fill it up with a favorite candy.

 

 

Having the cup is one thing, but having the lid is the most important part.  If you buy a Tervis make sure you get a matching lid.  I always do!

 

You can find these great cups on the Tervis website, or in stores such as Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  One Tervis is never enough.