Perfect Timing

So Riley got another Little Passports in the mail the other day. She gets so excited when she gets mail; like mother like daughter. Her little passport this month was from Japan and it couldn't have come at a better timing, as I will be in Japan next week.

Let me just say that again, I will be in Japan next week. That's so crazy. I spent most of my evening last night making treat bags for my girls for each day that I'm gone. I write little notes and printed maps and did a concept similar to Little Passports, so my girls know what city I'm in that particular day and how I will be missing them terribly. I plan to pick up some little toys and treats to put in there for them too. I hope they enjoy them and enjoy spending the week with my husband.

I plan to share my little treat bags here as soon as I'm finished with them so other mommies can use it if they ever travel away from their littles.

I love how excited my girls (and my brother in law, Mark) are about learning geography and I love that this little teaching tool makes it so fun. They talked about sushi, Children's Day, fish markets, and had an activity to help better understand the concept of the exchange between Dollars and Yen. Some of the activities I think are geared more towards older children, but Riley totally grasps the concept of the general geography and most of the items included.

Usually they give a clue as to which country is next, but this time they left it to be a mystery. I think there' s a little bit of fun not knowing totally what you're getting yourself into. At least that's what I keep telling myself, as I will be flying halfway across the world to a country where I don't speak the language and don't even know what to pack for, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I just cannot pass up.

I'm not sure where it got started, but I have been wanting to get an authentic Philly Cheese Steak for awhile now.I had a little giggle when I searched my blog and found that I have even mentioned it more than once before here and here. This weekend Brandon and I went on a little get away, and on our way we stopped in, non other than, South Philly.

There was a stretch before we got rid of cable (but now have it back, since it ended up being cheaper than without it, go figure cable company- but I still hardly ever ever watch TV these days)  that I used to watch The Food Network all the time. There was an episode of something or another where they showed these two dueling Philly Cheese Stake spots that are directly across the street from one another and compete for business all 24 hours of the day. I was super intrigued because they sold food that I have been coveting for such awhile.

On a side note, I realize that I'm totally weird that I am this interested in a bun filled with meat, cheese, and oiniony goodness. Glad we clarified that, moving on.

So when we took a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey this weekend we stopped in Philadelphia for some cheese stakes. We bought one from Geno's:

And one from Pat's, cut them in half, a half from each stand for each of us, and compared the two. I honestly was a little concerned that the other place wasn't going to let us bring the other sandwich onto their property haha but I think they don't take the competition as seriously as the food network made it out to be.

Here is my hub in all his taste testing glory.

Doesn't it just make your mouth water looking at it. And the smell, oh my goodness, I wish I could convey the smell to you.

Honestly I thought the two looked the exact same and tasted almost identical, but if I was forced to choose one or the other I would have to say Geno's, the flashier, brightly orange stand would have to win the toss up because it was juicier. I would a cheese stake from either place all day long though, just sayin'.

So next time you're in Philly stop on this street corner and enjoy some realllly delicious Philly Cheese Stakes from Pat's or Geno's because they are both cheese melty, perfectly cooked oiniony, seasoned steak goodness.

Bryson City, NC

I love to travel. Well, let me tell you a little secret about myself; I hate to travel, but love being other places. Perhaps I should invent a teleportation device, because I hate being in the car, I hate getting onto a plane, I hate the time it takes to get to places, but the places? I freaking love the places.

So, my problem solving self searched our usual route to Hilton Head Island and found somewhere half way through the 12 hour drive to stop. That placed just happened to be Bryson City, NC. We only spent a part of a day there, but we will be back for sure. It's a little river town tucked away in the heart of the Smokies and home to lots of waterfalls. Like this one:

It wasn't so painful to get back in the car and finish the drive after hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains, enjoying the perfect weather under the shade of these trees, and skipping rocks in the creeks, like this one:

In this little river town you can rent tubes and float down the creeks from adorable, legitimate general stores like this one:

There are horses on the small country roads that are literally within arm's reach from the car like this beautiful one:

They also have the cutest little downtown area with specialty shops, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and they even have a Bojangals. Riley ate two portions of their dirty rice along with her chicken and biscuits; a record for her food consumption in one sitting.  

Brandon and I decided that we will be back for a weekend and spend it in the little cabins they have along the river. I wouldn't say it was the best part of our trip to Hilton Head this time, because it wasn't even in Hilton Head, but it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the week.

Something Lighter

I hope not to take away from our reason of going out of town this weekend, the March for Life, but to share some of the other things we did this weekend. We traveled up north in the winter not cause we are crazy but to stand up for our beliefs. 

We did march up Constitution Ave towards the Capitol Building with the best Pro Life signs we could carry, our two beautiful girls. 

The March for Life was our primary focus, but it was nice though to enjoy the city of Baltimore as a bonus and to make a nice family weekend out of it.

We went to the children's museum, climbed the World Trade Building of Baltimore and got to see this amazing view of the Inner Harbor, and ate the very best meal I have ever had in my life: 

the Maryland crab cake from Mo's Seafood.

Riley took this picture of Hub, I, and Raigan sleeping in the back of our stroller. I think it's pretty impressive for a 3 year old.

The big shark in the background was a submarine in the bay. 

On a side note: Isn't Riley the cutest? I just want to eat her up!

Our Weekend

We were in Baltimore, Maryland this weekend and while there we visited their Childrens Museum,  

Port Discovery.

I was very impressed. 

They have a wide variety of exhibits that were all very engaging and educational and they had this huge jungle gym-tree house- climbing thing that went up three floors. Brandon and I even climbed in it with our girls and all four of us had a wonderful time.

I am really into nutrition and educating Riley and Raigan about healthy eating. Port discovery had this awesome exhibit that made making healthy food choices so fun.

I wish Riley’s preschool could go on a field trip there! I mean it’s only 9 hours away…

They have a play store set up to shop for foods, you checked out, and then categorized the foods you purchased into their respective food groups.

They had healthy eating tips for parents and kids. 

They had the typical water play exhibit like they do at all other children’s museums and Raigan enjoyed standing there playing in the stream. Although this exhibit was generic they did have this really cool HUGE bubble maker. Riley and I got a pretty good one going before she just couldn’t take the anticipation anymore and kicked it.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the huge room filled with drums too. Raigan is not walking yet but she cruises along almost anything. She is just not at all interested at walking yet, which I can’t really blame her since she has whomever she wants carry her. She is a super fast crawler too so she just sees no need I guess.

Super fast drummer too. 

These last two photos are darker because we were in an Egyptian tomb where we could do hieroglyphics.

I could go on and on about this place. If you are in the Baltimore area it’s for sure worth it to stop by. We spent literally hours there and I’m so glad we did.

My View From Here