TWTW - the one before my birthday

Friday MFD was in DC for the Native Nations Rise March so it was my job to get the dogs up, which he usually does. They were not pleased.

Friday night I organized going to the shore stuff (heart emojis for sea horse outdoor ottomans) and fell asleep on the couch watching the Golden Girls after food prep (see bottom of post for what I made).

MFD got home late and I ended up sleeping in, but by 10 am Saturday we were on the way to the shore. We did some stuff in the house and removed old porch furniture before having lunch at at Jon & Patty's.

We also hit the beach. It was so beautiful it hurt...or maybe that was the cold air on my face. Excuse me, I am being petty and ungrateful and battling a bad attitude about not being able to open the house this weekend and not spending my birthday there as planned due to stupid impending Snowstorm Stelllllaaaaaaa.

We were home by 3:30, and by 6 I was watching my niece Lola Jean, which is the next best thing if I can't be at the shore. MFD came over and we got Jay's cheesesteaks. The pretzel roll is clutch and Jay gives back to the community a lot, which we love.

The best time to go to the grocery store before an impending snowstorm is 10:30 on a Saturday night. Seriously. I got home and unpacked and went to bed around 11:30, but I could not go to sleep to save my life and I was still up when MFD got up at 1:30 to do his overnight Code Blue volunteering for the homeless with AHTN. Mae thinking she was a people and should share my pillow didn't help. 

Sunday morning I got a pedicure and perused the aisles of Ross. Now you know my toes had to be in bad shape for me to run errands with flip flops when temps were below freezing.

I also got flowers because if it's not going to act like spring outside damnit it will look like spring inside. I supplemented birthday flowers from Kim that arrived last week (top left pic). 

Sunday afternoon Mom & Rich took us out to Carlucci's to celebrate my birthday and Pop's 86th, which was Saturday. The seafood canneloni was amazing. I love their veggies and potatoes too.

After that I pulled the birthday card and made MFD go to HomeGoods. He was not amused but he did humor me and stand next to the letters someone made say ass. 

Weekly food prep: Breakfast is whole grain english muffins with PB and bananas; lunch is this one pan chicken and veggie meal over quinoa (I didn't love how this came out, I will likely prepare separately in the future);  snacks are blackberries, bell peppers, and yogurt; and dinner is chili and corned beef/cabbage/potatoes (not made yet). Some of that chili will go in the freezer for future lunches, and I made breakfast burritos to freeze too. I will be eating breakfast burritos from the freezer a lot because a) I love them, b) I don't mind eating the same thing daily, and c) they're the easiest to make ahead and freeze when I'm at the shore. 

Favorite day tomorrow! Show Us Your Books + Birthday Eve!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Yo Adrian! Let's go to the Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival

I know, I'm mixing my Philly things in the title. Yo! This weekend was the first annual Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival at the Linc. My friend Marla of Luck Fupus ordered us $40 Wiz Wit tickets, which entitled us to 10 samples of cheesesteaks and a free t-shirt.

I'm glad they finally did something like this, and judging by the shit ton of other people there, everyone else is too. We arrived right at 11 and stood in line for almost a half hour before getting in, even though it was supposed to start at 11.

The theme of the day was lines, which is to be expected at food festival type things. The different cheesesteak places were set up in tents or food trucks in K lot outside the Linc. There was a map of where everything was. What there was not was clear lines - by 1 p.m. we had no idea where lines started or ended. Marla and I ended up only using five of our 10 tickets for samples, and we weren't alone in that - others were trying to give away or sell their unused tickets.

Here's what we did try:

1. I don't give a fork - Mac & Cheesesteak - Tiniest portion of the day, barely any actual mac on there.

2. Rockin' Road Grill apparently boasts a celebrity chef (Eddie Berner, and I see looking at my own photo that he's a former guitarist for Flock of Seagulls). I didn't see him cook, I just saw him come out of the tour bus. They were doing steak with broccoli rabe (that belongs on pork)and wiz. It was the worst steak of the day and had so much garlic that I could have murdered a league of vampires on an exhale.

3. Jay's Steak and Hoagie Joint held two draws for us: it's owned by Marla's cousin, and their location is my home town of Penndel. This was my favorite out of the box steak of the day. The meat was good and served on a pretzel roll with just the right amount of salt, this was awesome. Their t-shirts were my favorite too. I will surely be visiting them soon.

4. Next up:  Oregon Steaks. Delicious flavor on the meat, good roll from Aversa's.

5. Dalesandro's was our final sample. The line was long and snakey and it was worth it. I was scooping this meat up and eating it with my fingers in public. It was my favorite traditional and that is absolutely due to their use of my favorite roll - Amoroso's.

Speaking of, there was a freaking Amoroso's windsock thing there. I was more excited about this than I should've been.

Marla & I had a good time sampling some cheesesteaks, having a beer, wandering around, and meeting up with some of her family and friends and Dani from Faster Than Forever and her friend. The people watching was outstanding. And Philly is serious as hell about its cheesesteaks. My favorite steak is Jim's on South Street. Jim's was not in attendance, because they know they're awesome. MFD did get me one on Sunday night though.

There was also entertainment, much of which sounded off and not good. At one point they were singing a made up Philly cheesesteak song and it was hilarious.

Dunkin Donuts was representing with free shots of coffee, and there were some t-shirt vendors too. I had to get in on that.

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Haikuesday

Good try but sorry... 

They are not Philly cheesesteaks

outside of Philly

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The crowd in general was pretty happy, which I wasn't expecting. I hope they do this every year, and that they figure out the line fuckery before next year.

What food is your town known for? Do they festival it up?

TWTW - the one with the shore house

Friday was one of the biggest days of my life as our biggest joint dream came true - we bought a MFing shore house (click here to see that post). After the closing, I grabbed the dogs and headed to the shore. Apparently both of our heads were all over the place because MFD left a book and his iPad on the roof of the car and I took off without noticing. Thank the lord for a kind stranger who rode up on my ass waving his hands in the air wildly to return them.

I did not celebrate with a fat joint despite the first photo - I did sage smudge the house though after we unloaded the random shit I either acquired in preceding months or felt needed to come this weekend. We measured for furniture and I made one zillion lists before I lost my pen and couldn't find it all weekend. One freaking pen between two cars and a house and it's gone. I also ate a bunch of gavescon because my nerves were not kind to my stomach. I ripped through the kitchen, discarding what was getting discarded, and cleaning here and there.

I think I slept about three minutes Friday night. My brain wouldn't shut off and the house was a mess. I don't sleep well when houses are messy and pillows are paper thin. No matter, I was up to see a gorgeous sunrise that I cried through. Sorry in advance for the sunrise pictures I will share many weekends from here to eternity.

But enough mushiness. After that I headed back to Philly to go to the first annual Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival with the one and only Marla of Luck Fupus. We also met Dani from Faster than Forever and her friend, so that was an awesome bonus. Full post on the festival tomorrow.

Before the festival I careened through Ikea like it was an Olympic sport, and after I made my way to the Marshalls and Target in Mays Landing on the way back to the shore. I also may have purchased two t-shirts I don't need but couldn't resist at the festival.

Saturday night I was spent. I ordered furniture over the phone because I couldn't face the furniture sales people in person. I tried to revive with coffee which kept me awake but didn't inspire actual movement. Luckily MFD and Joe put together Ikea purchases for me so I didn't have to throw a major fit trying and failing at it myself.

Sunday it rained, so I cleared up the shore house as best as I could, took stock of what still needs to be done, and headed home. I unloaded the car, dropped shit off to Goodwill, picked some stuff up at Marshalls, and got food for the week at Sam's.

Since I knew I'd be a whirling dervish this weekend, weekly food prep is a mix of prepared foods and stuff from the freezer. Breakfasts are breakfast sandwiches (freezer); lunches are chicken salad on multi grain bread, carrots, and oranges; snacks are power breakfast muffins and bell peppers; and dinners are blackened salmon with steamed broccoli and rice and veggie beef barley soup.

These dogs...they hate both the outside steps at the shore house and the two flights of steps inside. So I got extra exercise making at least four trips every time I wanted to go up or down stairs and had them with me. They're pissed because the floors are slippery so they can't get on the couches and MFD forgot their bed so they used the discarded pillows to their advantage. They also don't like pooping on a leash and Heebie Jeebie is afraid of the slats in the deck. All in good time.

Sunday night ended with a shower, packing lunch, and eating a steak from Jim's...like I didn't have enough cheesesteak already this weekend or something.

My head is still spinning. I cried like seven times this weekend. LOLOL some of them included
1. On the way down the shore Friday night listening to Tenth Avenue Freezeout live...when Bruce said "this is the most important part" before singing "when the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band" because I miss Clarence Clemens. What? I don't even know him.
2. Watching the sunrise Saturday morning.
3. Reading a text from Amanda
4. Perusing comments on FB people had left on MFD's post or mine announcing this life event. We didn't tell a lot of people before we bought this house because we didn't want to jinx it. I get really excited and happy for other people when something awesome happens in their life and when you feel that come back at you and see names that are always encouraging and supportive even if you don't talk to them on a regular basis, it's just really nice. Knowing those people are out there rocks. Good energy always makes me feel sappy and happy and grateful to know who I know.

This is all so good but a lot. I have to slow my roll - I don't relax or sleep well when a house is up in arms and this one will be for a while.

Tell me, how was your weekend?

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Philly Favorites

Have you ever been to Philadelphia? I grew up in the suburbs, have worked in Center City for the past six years, and live in the far Northeast. I could list 101 things to do here in town, many of them much more cultural than the things on this list, but if I was a tourist in my own town, here are some things I'd do...

1. Pose with the Rocky Statue and take pics on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I've never seen a town identify a movie character with itself like this one does. When you're finished with the Rocky stuff, wander into the Museum if that's your bag.

2. Walk the Parkway and pause in front of The Thinker at The Rodin Museum. You can see the Gates of Hell and The Thinker from outside the museum. Go in for more.

3. Stop in and tour The Barnes - make a reservation if you can. This eclectic collection and non-Museum feeling display are worth the trip in.

4. Visit LOVE Park and Logan Square (Swann Fountain) and get pictures taken in front of the fountains.

5. Pop in to see what's playing on the Video Wall at the Comcast Building, which boasts the largest four mm LED screen in the world.

6. Walk around City Hall to see William Penn at all angles, and go up to the City Hall Tower & Observation Deck.

7. Visit The Wanamaker Organ in Macy's. All of Macy's inside is actually a grand old store. I remember going to see the Christmas Light Show in Wanamaker's when I was a little girl.

8. Wander the aisles of Reading Terminal Market, eating freely.

9. Catch a glimpse of the Liberty Bell. I wouldn't wait in line for it though. It's a bell with a huge crack in it. What more do you need to know?

10. Walk down Elfreth's Alley, America's oldest continuously occupied residential block.

11. Visit Independence Hall and tramp around Independence National Historical Park. During the summer of 1776, 56 men gathered here to defy the King of England by issuing the Declaration of Independence. Eleven years later representatives from 12 states gathered here to shape the U.S. Constitution. You can see the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence as well as a draft of the Constitution here. You need a ticket to enter but the admission is free, unless you want to time it. Then it's a buck fifty.

12. Throw a penny on Ben Franklin's grave in Christ Church Burial Ground. As Ben himself said, "A penny saved is a penny earned," and even though you're throwing a penny away, what the hell? It's customary.

13. The Italian Market - 10 blocks along Ninth Street in South Philly - is one of the oldest and largest open air markets in America. You need cheese from DiBruno Bros. You can check out the infamous Pat's and Geno's while you're in this area too.

14. Go through the Magic Gardens - three lots on South Street, it's the biggest work of the mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Even if you're not into art it's cool to travel through the outdoor labyrinth. Cost: $7.

Via

15. People watch in Rittenhouse Square at lunch time.

16. Check out Boathouse Row at Twilight.

Photo taken by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

17. Watch out for murals. The Mural Arts Program is celebrating 30 years this year. You can even take a tour of the murals around town, touted as the world's largest collection of outdoor public art.

18. Have a cheesesteak. My favorite is at Jim's on South Street. Ask any Philly person and they'll give you a million more options. The best cheesesteak is a highly contested, feverish battle. However! If you come to this town and at Subway, we are through.

19. Soft pretzels - get 'em hot.

20. Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington Square Park.

A whole list with only mention of a cheesesteak and soft pretzels for sustenance? Shameful, I know. Philly has a ton of excellent restaurants. It truly has become a food town. Some of my favorites are Zahav, Honey's Sit 'N Eat for breakfast, Parc. I could go on and on because there are really so many good ones, but I won't.

There's much more to do here than this list - both higher and lower brow. I love this town and all of its history. I hope you visit from out of town or spend a day being a tourist in your own town and love it too. Fellow Philadelphians, what did I miss that would be on your must do list?



Linking up with

the Veterans Day weekend that was

After getting my car cleaned for the first time in like two years and picking up a few groceries at Redner's, I hightailed it to the Trenton Train Station to pick up my friend Misty. We got Steve's Steaks (too lazy to drive down to Jim's, my preferred cheesesteak), put pajamas on, drank liquor while lounging on the couch, and I forced Misty into Duck Dynasty reruns. 

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I haven't been sleeping well. Saturday was my only chance to sleep in and try to recoup.

Then the President of the Ahole Wakeup Committee decided otherwise. 

Thanks a lot Gus! Even Geege wanted to keep sleeping.

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No matter how many times I use it, this cup always makes me laugh. 

C O F F E E.

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Misty and I met Alicia, Amanda and Jennifer from our knot.com monthly wedding board for lunch

at the Cock 'n Bull in Lahaska. Are you laughing? I am because I'm five. 

The food was good and the company was lovely.

It was great to have a leisurely lunch with ladies I've talked to on the daily online 

since the year before our weddings.

We split baked brie as an app, and I had a side salad, beef burgundy and pumpkin pie.

The pie sent me into Food Coma territory, but I couldn't resist.

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Food prep, including hoagie dip. 

We MIGHT be able to get a sliver out mayo of the container in the fridge. Right?

Hoagie dip is super easy. Here's my version: 

1/2 lb cooked ham, 1/2 lb genoa salami, 3/4 lb american cheese, shredded lettuce, two tomatoes seeded and chopped, one onion chopped, oregano/S&P to taste, and 1-2 cups mayo.

The key to good hoagie dip is to cut everything super small. I do the lunchmeat and cheese in the food processor (thanks for the tip a few years ago Julie!). 

Mix it all together and serve with hoagie rolls.
I usually do the prep the day before and mix it on the day I'm serving it. 

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Bacon cheeseburger puffs from Plain Chicken. 

These were good, best eaten right away and served with ketchup. 

I used whole wheat baking mix, sauteed onion with the ground beef, and doubled the recipe. 

I flash froze the rest of the balls so they're ready to go when I need them next. 

I probably won't make them again after that - I prefer the bacon double cheeseburger dip.

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My Boston-based BFF and her man arrived to spend the night on their whirlwind tour of NJ & PA. 

It was so great to see them, we haven't seen them since WedFest in July.

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Other friends rolled in, and we had a fun night as always. 

I am beyond thankful for my friends. They are my family.

That includes you, Dutch.

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All fun must come to an end. Mine came at 6 a.m. when I got up to take Misty to the train station. We went to bed around 3. That was a rough ride! And foggy. 

The experience called for a pork roll egg and cheese and two more hours of sleep.

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After the fog burned off, Sunday was gorgeous. Amazing weather. Thank you universe!

I threw open all the windows, changed beds in both spare rooms, did a ton of wash, and watched some Bada Bling wedding show and a lot of Duck Dynasty with Michelle. 

Then I sat outside with my boys for a little, reading and enjoying the day.

I was going to dust the basement...dust will keep. Good weather won't.

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Nails - OPI Bubble Bath. Toes - Essie Raspberry

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Sixteen Candles

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Family dinner for my aunt's 50th at Taormina's.

If I'm eating at an italian restaurant, chances are very good that I'm getting the piccata dish.

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We're the land of the free because we're the home of the brave.

Thank you for your service and protection, Veterans.

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TV catch up and early to bed

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the weekend that was

No cooking, very limited sleep, minimal hausfrauing because MFD rocked and did most of it for me...just lots of quality time with friends and family that leaves me with a full heart.

Back on the chain gang. 

I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans, Five30three, and Join the Gossip for Weekend Update.