Otto's for Sunday Brunch

This Sunday my homies and I went out for a Sunday Brunch at Otto's in Mainstrasse Village. My homies being my husband and two daughters. It's a cafe, or a bar, or something; but they have killer brunch on Sundays. Their website can be found here.

If I had to describe this place in one word.... hmm, I couldn't. Home-y, artsy, quaint, southern friendly- like you're in the south. I mean they do serve Shrimp n Grits for dinner after all. I love Shrimp n Grits. I was meant to live in a big Georgia mansion in another lifetime, except I don't believe in other lifetimes, but you know, I can still use the saying.

If only my wiggly worm would stay still for 5 seconds for my camera to auto focus, this would be my ultimate favorite picture. It's still pretty up there on the list though.

We had a good time and kids were civilized halfway into my Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast, so I'd call it a win for a restaurant outing.

The french toast was unreals. It should defiantly make it to the Food Network in my opinion.They also served fresh peach sangria that made the meal perfect. As my side I got a potato cake full of creamy potato and peppers. 

Hub and the girls got Belgian Waffles topped with strawberries and blueberries and that crispy little tart is a piece of goetta. Although I love food, I can't consider myself a foodie because I couldn't tell you what makes a waffle Belgian as appose to a regular ole' waffle. One day I'll learn all the secrets. 

We love to go to and contribute to small businesses around the city. That being said, we of course occasion Cracker Barrel and IHop from time to time, but there is just something you can get from these places that you can't get from the big chains. I would definitly suggest it as one of my little gems in our city to visit.

The Root Beer Stand

Last week, or well I guess it was this week, being that it's still Saturday and all, a bunch of us went to a place in Cincinnati that I have only heard tales of. I have been wanting to see if it could be true for the longest time, really a place that makes homemade root beer?

It was true and it was wonderful.

It truly is a stand, very small and cozy inside with a counter and only about 20 of these stools around it. There is seating outside on picnic tables, but we choose to go with the nostalgia of it all and sit inside. Apparently, the Root Beer Stand is the place to be and they take the stand part of their name very seriously, as we had to stand and wait for a place to sit for awhile. haha

The wait was well worth it though for the creamy goodness that was their homemade root beer. It tasted almost like drinking a cream soda flooded with vanilla.

They sell footlongs and burgers, popcorn, and few other menu items. They also make homemade lemonade and orange soda, and you can of course get a root beer float.

These are my nephews and niece, unfortunatly Riley missed out on the Root Beer Stand because she was hanging out with her other cousin for the day, but she has reminded me that she missed out on it more than once, so we'll of course have to go back, twist my arm...

Raigan's faces as of late have been cracking me up, she gives me these when she doesn't want me to photograph her, I'm assuming, because she doesn't tell me. There are times when this 1 1/2 year old will say, "No picture!" So I just click away the cuteness unless she tells me otherwise.

If you live in the Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky area, this place is a must try, especially if you have little ones. Classic stands like this are hard to come by, and home made root beer is too.

It's located in Sharonville right off I-275.

Here is their website for more details: http://www.therootbeerstand.com

A Few Things I love the Most!

My girlies, summertime, sunshine, the pool. 

 Even though the package says not to, I take my Mya Wrap into the pool. Raigan will fall asleep in it anywhere, even while swimming, like she did on this day. haha I should get compensated from the people at May Wrap all the suggesting I do to other mommies haha, but seriously I couldn't love it enough. Or my girls, or summer, or the pool, or relaxing Saturdays with my family. Life doesn't get much better than this.

Embshoff Woods

Ok, so this is a park of my childhood as well. But it's new for my girls. I remember going here when I was super little. They had a huge play ship designed play structure.

But now it's gone. They replaced it with this crazy cool contraption:

I think it's supposed to be designed as a spider, or a spider web.

Riley had so much fun with her cousins, and Raigan did too, but that's another post.

Off now to clean my house. I am having a Mary Kay party here tonight. I have been coveting their extra super crazy curling mascara.

Summer Afternoon

Of course I didn't waste any time trying out the new lens! I even nicknamed it the nifty fifty. Okay, okay I stole it from a review I read of the lens, but how clever! I never buy anything anymore without reading a review on it... I'm pretty sure that makes me old, but not positive.

I was totally out of my freaking mind brave to take my camera to the pool a few afternoons ago to try out my new lens. It's taking a little to get used to that it is fixed, the view is super up close, so you have to stand wayyy back to get a lot in the shot. I love the super low f stop though, so it's worth it. Here is what I came up with. (These are unedited too... straight out of the camera- not bad if I do say so myself)

Sweet Summertime