Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #4-2

It is hard to believe that I only have one month left before it is my birthday! Just three acts to complete and one new challenge.

For the month of December I wanted to carry over the spirit of giving, and continue with holiday themed acts.

#4 - A coworker told me about the organization Project Linus. It is a nationwide group that collects and makes handmade blankets to give to children in need. This is such a great organization, I think I may make this an annual tradition to make a blanket. I picked out a mixed yarn color of browns and reds that was neutral and festive. After I was finished crocheting I dropped it off at the local donation site which happened to be a fire station. I haven't crocheted in a few years so it was very fun to get back into it.

#3 - I made Christmas cookies to bring to two local fire stations. One batch I brought to the Project Linus donation site, and the second batch I brought to the fire station a few blocks from our apartment. I hope they tasted good!

#2 - For the first time ever I donated blood. It was kind of intimidating going for the first time, but I was glad to do it. In a previous blog post I mentioned how I tried donating blood a few months ago but did not have a high enough iron count. This time I made sure to take iron pills all week, and eat a carbohydrate lunch to help with the my blood level. I successfully passed this time and they scooted right off to the donation table. They had Planet of the Apes playing while I donated, and I got to eat cookies after. As an added bonus, anyone who donated on the date I went got a $10 Olive Garden gift card. It was a nice surprise!

Teacup of Fun - #2 Bearing Arms

This past weekend I took on a scary task and learned how to shoot a fire arm. I have never shot a gun before, and have very little knowledge on how they work. I was interested in learning more about them, the safety of the items, and how to shoot.

I met my coworker and her husband at their home for a safety tutorial. Her husband owns a couple guns, and goes hunting occasionally in the woods. He was a very instructive on how to operate each gun, and the safety features. Most importantly we learned what not to do - for instance never put your finger on the trigger until you are absolutely ready to fire.

We went to a gun range in Carol County, which they had never been there before either. When we arrived we headed to the rifle shooting where we shot three different guns. We had the opportunity to shoot a 1907 rifle, and then two other large rifles. It was very surprising how much force were behind them. It really makes you think about how powerful these items are, and the importance of knowing how they work.

After firing the rifles, we walked over to the hand gun area. We put up targets and each got to fire a few different times. As the day went on I felt like my aim was getting better, but it was quite difficult.

I do feel like if I were ever to be in a situation where I would need to know how to operate a gun I would have a small inkling on what to do. Also, what not to do! The actual firing of the gun is what is the most shocking.

We did take some photos of our day, but I had mixed feelings about adding them to this post. I feel like owning and using guns is a touchy subject with some people, and thought it would be best to share our experience rather then show through photos.

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #6-5

I was getting in the thankful spirit of Thanksgiving, and thinking of ways I can give back. I am so grateful to have so many blessings in my life I wanted to show my appreciation for others.

I was hoping to complete three kindness acts this month, but time got away from me and unfortunately was able to do two
. Which means, good news, more holiday related acts in December!

#6 - One weekend day my fiance and I went to Small Miracles Animal Shelter in Ellicott City to donate items. We brought canned dog food, canned cat food, dog toys, cat toys, and poop bags for their walks. While we were there we were invited to visit with some of the cats and dogs. It took all of our strength not to leave with a new addition to our family, but maybe one day in the future we will have a cat or dog in our home.

#5 - A coworker of mine gave me the suggestion to write holiday cards to veterans. She sent me information for Holiday Mail for Heroes. I bought a pack of holiday cards, and sent out about 15 to the address. I felt very nostalgic after writing these cards. It was great to be able to send to those who may not receive a holiday card, and express my appreciation for all that they do and their sacrifices.

Teacup of Fun #3 - Zip lining!

This past month I kept thinking I need to do something crazy. What would be the whole point of this year if I didn't face a fear and do something equally as fun!

Sky diving- not ready!
Bungee jumping - not yet!

What is a modest alternative? I went zip lining with two of my best friends and fiance. We went to Terrapin Adventures in Laurel, MD. They have a huge ropes course and giant swing there as well, but we opted for the zip line.

When we first got there they fitted us with helmets and a harness. We then walked to the other side of the parking lot where the zip lining takes places. My fiance had been watching YouTube movies before we went of the zip line, so my nerves were completely jumbled as we walked over. Luckily one of our friends we went with had been zip lining before, so she was there to act as our rock.

I went second down the zip line which I am glad I did. I had been saying I needed to go second or I would chicken out. I was able to watch my friend do it once, and then be bold and head up the ladder myself. You were hooked on to a rope so the whole time you were climbing the ladder and walking across the ropes you were attached to a hook. That didn't make it any less scary! As you climbed the ladder you had to step onto a platform on a tree. Then you scaled across a rope in between two trees to the other side where the zip line starts. I was shaking the whole way across the ropes (and I know this because I could feel the ropes shaking). I thought it took me forever to get across the ropes, but when I finally did I knew the worst part was over. I don't do so well with heights, so just scaling the ropes was a big deal for me.

The zip lining part was super fun. They hook you to the cord, and then you basically walk off the platform into the air. This was a short line so we went about the length of the parking lot, and then came back halfway to finish. It was over so quickly, but well worth the experience. I'm ready to try a more lengthy zip line, or ropes course now!

Teacup of Fun -#4 Sushi Making Class

I've always wanted to take a food making class. I pictured myself sauteing chicken, dicing vegetables, or melting chocolate. Since I'm a part of a "couple" I thought it would be a fun activity for the two of us to share. I did not get to make my Italian or Mexican dream meal, instead we opted for sushi. To be honest that was the only way I could get him to take a "cooking" class with me. However, it was A LOT of fun.

We arrived at Tatu in downtown Baltimore just a few minutes before the class began. There were long tables set up inside the restaurant for people to sit down in groups. We joined a table of an older couple, a college aged couple, and a group of four friends. On the table there were sushi rollers, rice, and gloves. Luckily the chef had his table set up right next to our table so we could directly see what was going on.

The first roll we made was a crab and avocado roll, and then a cucumber roll. The class was a little slow moving because the chef had to walk around to each table to demonstrate the rolling technique. But it made the class last longer, and gave us a chance to talk with the other couples at the table.

It was really neat seeing how the rolls were made, and the technique involved.  The sticky rice was a little hard to control because it literally stuck to everything. There was special water on the table we would stick our gloves into to help roll the rice onto our seaweed paper. You had to get the rice just right on the roll to ensure when your rolled it the two ends sealed, as well as to not over stuff your roll. I always wondered how the sushi roller mats worked, and it was quite easy to do (however getting your roll perfectly round and getting the two sides to connect was another story).

After we were finished making our two sushi rolls they brought out bowls of edamame, and then two different types of sake. We had a champagne sake which was really good, and then a warm sake. The bartender came around to each table and described each type of sake, and why it was served chilled or warm. Afterwards we could all dig into our personally made sushi rolls.

Sushi success!

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #9-7

I am getting towards the end of the year and it is becoming a little challenging thinking of random acts of kindness to complete. To help motivate and inspire ideas, I've decided to center the last few months around themes. For October I dedicated it to service. I volunteered for three different activities, and had a great time getting back into service. In high and college I was a member of a volunteer organization, and it felt good to be contributing my time to service projects again!

#9 -  I volunteered at Manna Food Bank in Gaithersburg, MD with some coworkers. A colleague put together a service project for us to go to the food bank, and sort food for families. There was probably 15 of us that worked that evening, and we created 195 boxes to send to families. That is 195 families that are receiving food items. We paired off in teams, and it was so much fun working together to complete the task. We put items such as pasta, canned spinach, cereal, carrots, vegetable oil, and then a few "fun items". These items could be cookie mix, potato chips, hot chocolate etc. Afterwards we taped up all of the boxes, and loaded them onto pallets to be put into their trucks.






#8 - My fiance and I went to Cherry Hill Park one morning and helped plant trees with Blue Water Baltimore. The purpose of the organization is to build up the greenery along the park so that it prevents run off into the Patapsco River. The organization does this every weekend or so, and sometimes travels to other parks. When we first arrived at the park we got a quick tutorial on how to plant a tree. I am glad that we worked in pairs because it definitely would have taken me twice as long to do one tree all by myself. We ended the day with planting three trees, and then assisting with watering three of the trees that were planted that day. Hopefully we are able to go back another weekend to assist because it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Not only that but I felt like it was a good activity for my fiance and I to spend time together.

#7 - October is national breast cancer awareness month. I knew I wanted to do something that contributed to breast cancer awareness, but was not sure how to get involved. Luckily I came across the Breast Cancer Mt. Airy walk that was still in need of volunteers. I worked the registration table with a group of ladies one Sunday morning. I arrived bright and early at 7:30AM and helped fold T-shirts at the survivor's tent, then helped set up registration and work it until the start of the race, and then last but not least I helped put out the snacks and water for the walkers when they returned. A lot of the volunteers walked in the 5K which I wish I would have thought of. They came early to help set up and volunteer, and then left at the start of the walk to complete the route. That is something to think about next year if I am able to help at the same walk. They had over 900 people walk that day!

Teacup of Fun -#5 Painting Class

For my friend's 30th birthday she asked that we go to a paint nite at Leinenkugel Beer Garden. This was exciting because I have always wanted to take a painting class, but also it was at the beer garden!

There were four us which was awesome because we could have a whole table to ourselves. They had an example of the painting on display for all of us to look at so we could get an idea of what we would be creating. As the class started the teacher introduced herself, and explained the structure of the class. She would demonstrate one part of the painting, and then walk around to watch all of us as we did it. It was a little challenging following along with her as the class was so large, but she was great coming around to do one on one demonstrations.

It was really neat taking a look around at all of the different paintings and how different they were. Everyone had different style trees, different shades of green, etc. They all were the same basic painting, but each was a little bit different.

This was a really fun class to take because not only was it really great to spend time with friends, it was quite challenging. Halfway through the class I somehow forgot how to make the color brown which was a little frustrating. All of my trees were coming out purple or grey. Then I just started mixing red/yellow/blue until I finally got a dark brown. It was quite the learning experience of mixing colors, and painting free hand. I wish my painting had turned out more like the example, but that is the whole point of the class, to make something that is unique to you.

Teacup of Kindess - Randomoness #12-10

Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year. The days are getting shorter, leaves are turning color, and 'sweater weather' is almost here (my label for crisp weather). Except for today, it was almost 80 degrees, but we're almost there to the season change.

Since it is the turn of the season I thought what better way to celebrate Fall then to pay it forward this month. 

#12- The lucky penny! I always get really excited when I find a penny heads side up in my travels. I suppose other people may have the same reaction, as it means you have good luck for the rest of the day. Wherever I went this month I left a penny or two heads side up on the sidewalk or parking lot. I figured the next person to pass by, sit down, or park will enjoy finding a little piece of luck and brighten the rest of their day. 

#11 - Last week I was in Frederick to see the re-release of Wizard of Oz on the big screen. I knew starting this challenge I wanted to pay for someone behind me in line (at a fast food chain, Starbucks, etc). I have always been intimated about doing it as I didn't want the person to follow me out ( I like being anonymous), or the person behind the counter to tell me no, or worse they not actually use the money to pay for the person behind me. I finally decided to take a leap, and while I was waiting for my friend to arrive I went to Starbucks for a coffee. I asked to pay for the order behind me, but the cashier returned to the window to hand me almost all of my change back. He said that they had a pretty hefty order and maybe I wanted to rethink my purchase. I asked how much they had purchased which turned out to be close to $18.00. I didn't even think twice before I handed him back my money, and to just tell them Happy Friday. You shouldn't get to pick who you surprise with a random act, and I hope they paid for the person behind them too. 

#10 - When the boyfriend and I were at Wegman's earlier this month to do some shopping I wanted to surprise the next shopper to use our cart. I didn't want to buy a gift card for the person behind me in line, but rather put our shopping cart back and leave a gift card in there for the next person. I put the gift card in an envelope and wrote 'Dear stranger, have a great shopping trip." 

Teacup of Fun - #6a Bikram Yoga

This month I tried something I have been wanting to do for years. I bought a living social voucher for 15 classes, and attended my first of many, Bikram Yoga class.

Where I used to live I would drive by the Bikram Yoga studio every week, and think I would really like to try a class. I never went in because I thought I was not athletic enough or too big to participate. This was one of those moments where I had to tell the voice inside my head to shut up and just try it. The studio I attended was very welcoming, and I especially liked that there were people of varying sizes and athletic builds in the class. I always pictured yoga classes being tiny women with ponytails and super muscular guys. Granted there were a few of those in there, but the ages and styles of people were varied which made it more comforting. Also, the instructor was super nice and welcoming as well. She even came up to me after the class and asked if I enjoyed my first time, and hoped I'd come back.

Bikram Yoga is different then regular yoga as you do it in a studio that is 105 degrees. When I first got there they told me that since this was my first time the goal was just to stay in the studio the entire class time (90 minutes). I was really proud of myself because I not only stayed in the class for the entire time, but I also did most of the moves. At any time I felt like I was getting light headed or could not do a position I would sit down on my mat and just focus on my breathing. I felt like that got me through most of the class of just focusing on my breathing and not how warm it was.

I felt really great as I left the studio and walked to my car. I am one of those people that really likes to sweat because it makes me feel like I had a good work out. I had bought a special hot yoga towel from Target and I was really glad I did. Best purchase I made to do something like this. The towel was soaked, the hand towel I brought to wipe my face was soaked, and my clothes were definitely soaked. Sounds gross, and next time I'll consider bringing a change of clothes, but I definitely felt like I had sweated out some toxins and learned something new.

For anyone that is thinking about trying a Bikram Yoga class I highly recommend it. You have to like to sweat, no really... you have to like to really sweat. Once you get over the initial hurdle of how hot the room is and how how much you are sweating it is a really fun experience. I can't wait to go back again for another class.

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #15-13

It is exciting to know that I am halfway through my year of challenges and random acts. In July I had mentioned in a previous post that I hit a few bumps in the road, but August has really refreshed my desire to keep the ball rolling!

#15- In July I put together little gift bags to give away to people as I passed through town. These bags consisted of crackers, sunglasses, rain poncho, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc. I also packed a big cooler bag full of water, and headed out to town. Andrew and I had brunch in the city, and then proceeded to walk from one end of the harbor to the other. I was hoping to hand the gift bags out to people who were in need, and if I saw workers out and about hand them water (police directing traffic etc). Low and behold we did not come across a single person. I was a little upset, but thought I'll do this another day (Andrew brought up a very good point that were not any events going on for there to be people out and about like I was expecting). I put the items in my car and drove around for a week hoping to give them out when I was stopped at a light. I'm pretty sure either every road I travel, or the times I am driving, people were avoiding me. I think it's just been poor planning on my part. I have since left the items in my car and given out a few bottles of water to people that I passed. I was not going to count the bags and the few bottles I've given out because it has been so few. But I think as long as I keep them in car, and distribute to those that need them, my goal has been achieved.

#14- I made myself a cheerleader this month for a local race. Andrew and I went to Centennial Park at 7AM one morning and cheered on those that were participating in the Iron Girl. We had two friends that were running, and I thought it would be fun to go early to cheer on everyone as they came through the finish. When we first got to the event we watched the racers come out of the water and run to their bikes. Then we watched some of the racers take off on their bikes and head to the road. After a bit we walked over to the finish line, and stood pretty close to the finish. As racers began to come through, we cheered for each one as they came through and clapped. A few of the ladies as we cheered held up their hands and cheered back as they ran through the finish. We screamed extra hard when our friends came through the finish line as well. When we were walking back to our car we continued to cheer on the bikers as we passed, and some even waved back. Every race I run I always feel more motivated when people are rooting for me to finish strong. I am glad I was able to return the favor to some awesome ladies!

#13- I did something I labeled "quarter-bombing". While we were on vacation a few weeks ago I left quarters in the pressed penny machines, and the binocular machines. As we were eating lunch by the lake I was able to watch a few kids walk up to the machine and get super excited when they could see to the other side of the lake! In addition I left quarters in the soda machines at work, and in the fish food machines around the lake. I thought this one was really fun because I imagine the people who came to the machines got a really nice surprise, and hopefully it brightened their day.

Teacup of Trendy: Foodie Review

Restaurant: The Pit

For this little ditty I thought I'd make note of a really good restaurant in the south. We first went to Raleigh, NC two years ago for my boyfriend's godson's birthday. This was our first time in Raleigh, NC and we were trying to find a good place to try BBQ. So what does anyone do when they are in a new town? Check out the Man vs. Food and the Diners, Drive-ins, and Dive websites for dining choices of course!

In fact, it was so good, I went back again this year when I was in Raleigh, NC.

The restaurant is tucked away in the southern part of the city on Davies Street. When you first arrive you have the option of valet parking or finding metered parking on the street. The first time we went we parked on the side of the street in a metered spot, the second time we did valet. Either way it is pretty easy to find parking at this restaurant.

When you walk in the decor and atmosphere are really one of a kind. It is upscale classy mixed with warm colors and down-home cooking. You have the option of hanging out in the bar, or sitting in the dining area. A neat feature of their restaurant is their wine cellar in the middle of the restaurant that you can look through to view their selections. It looks very high tech, but I'm sure it involves a step ladder.

All of the staff that I have encountered are very friendly, and knowledgeable about the area. Our server was very attentive, and gave us just enough space that she didn't feel like she hovering (which is one of my biggest pet peeves). Each time that I went we were able to be seated immediately, didn't have a wait. I imagine on the weekends the wait time is pretty long, but it is well worth it to enjoy the food.


The first time I went we shared a plate of fried green tomatoes, which did not disappoint. For my main course I enjoyed the chopped pit turkey with sides of mac n cheese and sweet potato fries. I do like my carbs. This was probably some of the best BBQ I have had in a long time.

The second time I visited we shared the pumpkin skillet cornbread. If you go, please order this, it is delicious. For the entree I got the fried chicken with sweet potato fries and mac n cheese. These two sides were so good I had to get them twice. The fried chicken was so fresh, and the skin was very crispy. Both dishes I have ordered from here were not rushed, and tasted as if thought was put into them.

Most of the time when we go to new cities I like to try new restaurants, but we will be going back here again. This is a restaurant that provides a new experience each time you go!

Rating: FULL CUP OF TEA

Teacup of Fun - #6b Food Fight!

I think my favorite thing about Livingsocial or Groupon is that they always have a great list of fun things to do. I wish I could buy them all up, but I do have to be picky. That is where I stumbled upon this little gem... Tomato Bash. This is a giant tomato food fight at the Frederick Fairgrounds where you literally turn yourself into a giant ketchup packet.

My boyfriend and I got tickets to this event, and I found out that a few of my high school friends were going. Super fun time full speed ahead!

We got there a few hours before the event started to enjoy the pre-fight festivities. I'm pretty sure we could have just walked in without paying as no one was regulating the gate, but I am glad I could contribute to the tomato purchase for the day. There was a DJ playing music, a costume costume (and there were some pretty hilarious costumes), a beer garden, and of course a foam machine. It rained the entire time we were there, and luckily it stopped right before the fight started.

We got into the arena a few minutes after the tomato fight began and it seemed like all of the tomatoes were already gone. It was basically scooping up chunks of tomato or tomato sauce and throwing it at people near you. Because the tarps on the ground were so slippery they were turned into a slip n slide. I tried going down them a few times but ended up doing a belly flop the first time, and then only slide a few feet the second time losing my shoes in the process.

This was an awesome event, and I was able to check something off my bucket list... participate in a giant food fight!

Teacup of Fun - #7 Paddle boating

When coming up with an idea of June, I originally planned to donate blood. When I arrived at the Red Cross I went through my pre-screening assessment, and turned out my iron count was too low! Feeling disappointed that my plan did not work out, I headed to Target to buy iron pills. I hope to try again later this year, but what can I do on such short notice?

I am blessed to have a supportive boyfriend who not only inspires me through my tasks, but also has great ideas. He says to me, hey you haven't been paddle boating before... so that is what we did!

There is a local park near our apartment that has a lake. We headed down to the dock to purchase a rental for a half hour, and were handed our life jackets. I won't sugar coat it, I was quite scared. After my boyfriend climbed in the boat I stood on the dock shaking my head and saying it was a terrible idea! After some encouraging, and one of the staff members promising there was no way we would tip over I finally climbed in.

We paddled around the lake for about a half an hour, and it wasn't until about 20 minutes into the ride I finally felt at ease. It was fun to see the park from a different angle, and it was quite relaxing. Well, relaxing after I calmed down. There was a lot of why aren't you controlling the rudder, you're aiming for that canoe, there is a fisherman there watch out!

We had enough time to paddle from one end of the lake back to the dock. I am glad that we did it at the park where there was not a lot of traffic and no motor boats. I could not imagine doing that at the Inner Harbor, or a busier park. It was just us and a few other paddle boats out on the water. I would be interested in doing it again, but maybe in a bigger boat!

Teacup of Trendy: Foodie Review

Restaurant: Galway Irish Bay Irish Pub

I’ll admit, the draw for going here was definitely the fact that it was Diners, Drive-Ins and, Dives. And I will say it did not disappoint!

Parking is always a challenge when going to Annapolis as it is all metered street parking or garage. I am starting to get bitter in my old age about having to parallel park or pay for parking. Why should I have to pay to go to your restaurant when I am already paying for the food? That’s my old lady rant for the moment.

The inside of the pub reminds me of being in Ireland. It is old wood, with an old world feel. The restaurant is divided into sections as you walk in. If you go to the left you are in the dining room, when you go to the right you are in the bar. We opted for bar seating. Mainly because I thought it would be more relaxed with great ambiance.

We crammed into a booth and marveled at the different options. The friends I was with ordered some traditional Irish ales and ciders, and I took the dive to drink a Guinness. We started off with some oysters (which were yummy) and the Killarney Cabbage Wraps.  The wraps were so tasty, and something I had not seen anywhere else. It was corned beef and potato wrapped in cabbages leaves, drizzled with a mustard sauce. I would go back again just to eat these. For my main course I ordered the fish and chips. A few of my friends had been there before and were raving about this dish. Again, did not disappoint! If I ever get a craving for fish and chips I will drive us back down to Annapolis for their food.  Everything tasted fresh, not frozen, and had a lot of heart in their traditional Irish

fare.

Overall, I would highly suggest checking this place out. It has a fun and upbeat atmosphere, and the staff were super friendly. I am hoping to make it back again soon to check out some of the other menu options, as I went straight for the fish and chips. If any of the other lunch or dinner options tasted like what I got, they’ll have a repeat customer for life out of me!

Rating: FULL Teacup

Teacup of Fun - #8 Animal Adventures!

This post is a tad delayed as I have been away for over a week. I wanted to write about my June new challenge/fun before leaving for Maine, but best laid plans...

I bought tickets for a special event at the Baltimore Zoo called Breakfast with the Chimps. I have been eyeing up these events for years now always wanting to go, but never just picking a date. My boyfriend loves monkeys so I thought this would be the perfect breakfast to go to (even though I would have preferred the elephants haha!)

This was the greatest experience at the zoo! We arrived before the zoo opened and took the shuttle to the top of the gate. Zoo staff personally escorted us to the Monkey House where tables were set up next to the glass where we would have a great view of the monkeys. As everyone was seated they opened the exhibit and all of the monkeys ran out giving us an up close view of them! We enjoyed a breakfast buffet and watched them eat their breakfast and play in their enclosure. After hearing about the chimps and asking our own questions, we were led out onto the walking path next to the open air enclosure. Kids and adults were able to make enrichment treats to give out to the chimps. We all waited patiently next to the glass and then the chimps filed out one by one into the large play area. This was interesting to watch, and we were able to take great photos as we were the only guests within the park!

After the park opened we got to wander around the rest of the zoo and enjoy the nice weather. I thought this would be a perfect time to continue to do other activities I always wished to do, but never did. I jumped a board a camel and took a five minute ride. We also waited patiently three times to feed the giraffes who never came to our side of the fence. I did appreciate that if the giraffes were not on the feeding side of the fence the zoo staff would not sell you the stalk. Sadly we did not get to feed the giraffes, but standing their watching them was a lot of fun! Hopefully the next time we venture to the zoo I'll get to do that one last thing there, and feed them.

Additionally, this did not happen in June, but since this seems to be animal based post and it applies... I held a baby gator in March when we were in Florida! I thought I would throw this in there as I debated for about 5 minutes whether to hold it or not, and ultimately got too excited not to!

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #18-16

Almost halfway there! As it is the end of June, I am excited that I've stayed on track with my random acts of kindness. I must admit, it is hard to come up with ideas that don't revolve around money and/or will actually make a small difference.

This month I surrounded my acts around picking up after other people. What an interesting concept, it was almost like playing "mom" to people around me!

#18 - Store pick up - As I walked around stores in my travels the month of June I made sure to put things back. If I saw a cucumber in the cereal aisle, I walked back to the produce area. If I saw a movie in the shoe department, I walked the movie back. Even though the stores staff people to tidy up each night after everyone leaves, I figured it would help that one person get out a few minutes faster at the end of their shift. Plus, it just makes the stores look nicer. I actually find it annoying when I'm shopping and I see things drastically out of place (more so at the people then the staff of the store).

#17- Store pick up part 2 - Whenever I was in the parking lot I would make sure to return the carts to their proper area. I actually had an elderly man watch me rather confused as I pushed two carts from my parking spot at Michael's to the front door of the store, only to return to my car. Why did I do this? So that they don't crash into other cars, or clutter up the parking lot as people are trying to find parking. Again, I'm sure they have staff that periodically come out to check the parking lots for carts. But I'm sure coming out and finding that the carts where they were suppose to be allowed them to return to their job, and it spared someone from getting a nice dent in their car from a runaway cart.

#16- Trash pick up - As I walked from my car, around the neighborhood, to lunch, or anywhere for that matter I made sure I picked up trash that was in my path. Usually it was only one or two pieces as I went, but every little bit helps. Baltimore County/City had a trash clean up project where they asked every person to pick up one piece of trash a day. Just think how clean our streets would be if everyone did this. The other day I picked up an Arizona Tea can that was covered in ants, and quickly ran it to the dumpster. May not have been the smartest thing I've ever done, but guess what, no one else would have probably done this.

Yesterday as I was driving to the grocery store I saw a man walking down our street with a trash bag and a stick. He was walking up and down the road collecting trash. It made me smile knowing someone else is trying to make his neighborhood a cleaner place, and inspired me to do more. I think I will continue to pick up trash as I go about my days as it is something everyone should do on a daily basis. Just becasue you didn't put it there, doesn't mean it's not your responsibility to throw it away. Every little bit helps!

Teacup of Trendy : Movie Review of THE KINGS OF SUMMER

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. If you get a chance to see this film, GO! 

Some well known faces that appear in the film are Nick Offerman (you may know him as Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec) who plays Frank a sarcastic, uninvolved father of Joe (Nick Robinson). And  there is Megan Mullaly (Will and Grace) as Mrs. Kennan an overbearing mother of Joe's best friend Patrick (Grabriel Basso) The film stars Joe who is having a hard time adjusting to his life in general. His father has started dating a new woman, his sister lives far away with her boyfriend, he gets picked on at school, and generally it appears he just feels smothered by his life.

Parallel to Joe's life is his best friend Patrick who IS actually smothered by his life. His overbearing parents micromanage his life, and ask trivial questions all throughout the film like oh you eat your burger first before eating your fries? The poor boy has started to get hives over the attention! Both boys in the film you can easily tell are trying to find their place in life amongst their chaotic living conditions, and come to terms with growing up. What better way to escape from your home life, but to build a house in the middle of the woods!

After a late night party in the woods, Joe finds himself with Biaggio, the school nerd from what you can tell. At first I was like who is the actor playing Biaggio and why does he look so familiar? OH it is Rico from Hannah Montana! What a different and serious role for him. He definitely came out of his shell and showed a completely different side to his range of acting. He was more of the odd sidekick who kept the boys on their toes during the film, while showing extreme loyalty to his new found friends. One of the comical parts of the film was when Patrick asks Joe where Briaggio came from, and Joe says I don't know but I'm scared to ask him to leave!

After Briaggio and Joe find the woods in the film, this is when the film really takes off. The three boys start building their home in the woods that is paired with a great montage of scenes and music. As a participant in their wild ride, you really start to feel a connection with the boys and their need to escape away from their lives. After they have finished building their home in the woods, they decide upon a night to finally leave their parents. It is pouring rain and you think this is where they discover they can't make this happen. But behold, when they wake from their sleep it is a brightly sunny day! They spend the next four weeks living in the woods from the stolen goods and money they got from their parents. Again, another great montage of hanging out in the woods, bonding, and obstacles they overcome tell the story of their time together. The artistry of the scenes really brings you into the film as you enjoy running through the fields, jumping off of rocks, and hiking through the woods with these boys.

There is a twist to this story. A love interest of course. Before Joe leaves you are introduced to Kelly (Erin Moriarty) who Joe has a crush on. She is why he ventured out of his house to the party that night, and she is why he leaves the confines of the woods to go talk to her. Joe invites Kelly and her friends back to their house in the woods for a night of partying and drinking. He day dreams about their time together, and how he vanquishes Frank when he tries to come between him and Kelly. Once at the party, you realize that Kelly has other plans. I do not like to do spoiler alerts, but things do not go the way Joe plans. Even though Joe does not want to be like his father, he finds himself acting like Frank and drives his friends away after an angry outburst. Joe now alone in the woods, slowly starts to realize that you can not push everyone away that you care for and still expect to be happy. You do need to rely on others for help and support.

At the end of the film you find yourself thinking, how are they going to rap this up? How are they going to bring everyone back together after living for four weeks in the woods? Kelly not wanting to lose her friendship with Joe,  tells Frank where Joe has been hiding after Patrick and Briaggio return home. Frank has been relying on Joe's sister Heather (Alison Brie) for emotional support, and has come to terms with his bully-ing behavior after a sarcastic outburst towards Heather and her boyfriend. Kelly leads Frank to the woods, and finds Joe in a duel between him and a poisonous snake. In an effort to not sound cheesy, you'll have to see the film to figure out how this situation ends.

This was one of the most refreshing, well crafted, and lighthearted films that I have seen in a while. My biggest gripe with the entertainment industry lately is how unoriginal films have been lately. This was a saving grace for me that there is still some great filmmakers out there that can pull you in emotionally to the characters, and leave you laughing and smiling through a plot line.

Rating: FULL Teacup

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #20-19

For my random acts this month I wanted to do something special as a gift for people.

#20 - While out and about during this month I left random sticky notes in bathrooms of locations. On the sticky notes I wrote positive messages, or simple things like "Smile, you are beautiful". I considered this polite vandalism that hopefully changed someone's outlook of their day. I'd like to think the person who needed the inspiration took the sticky note with them.

#19 - During Mother's Day my boyfriend and I went down to Baltimore, and were walking around. We happen to pass a flower cart in Federal Hill, and I had the idea to purchase flowers and give them out to moms as we passed them. We gave out 11 roses, and saved the last one for my boyfriend's mom. The reactions we got were so diverse -- from "oh my gosh how sweet of you" to "uh, thanks". It wasn't for the response that we did, but more the fun adventure of wandering around the inner harbor and handing a flower to a complete stranger! It was interesting to see how people reacted to a surprise rose as they were walking.

Teacup of Trendy: Foodie Review

Restaurant: Pusser's located in Annapolis, MD

Our restaurant club decided to take an adventure to Annapolis a couple Sunday's ago. We thought summer weather, good food, and good company would make for an awesome end of the weekend.

 

My boyfriend and I were the first to arrive in Annapolis and it just happened to be at the end of a boat show. This is a good lesson to learn ... find out what is going on in a touristy town before going there. Then you can plan ahead for parking, time, crazy people, etc and not be caught off guard. We drove up and down the streets for a bit looking for parking. We eventually gave up and parked in the 'yacht parking lot' for an inflated $20. The cost of parking was a small price to pay for sanity. TIP: The Marriott Annapolis Waterfront has valet parking that is only $14 which is cheaper, or there are metered spots along the road. Try to avoid parking in the parking lot to the right of the hotel.

 

When we first arrived I had to use the rest rooms. They were so disheveled I was shocked by their appearance. The floors were wet and dirty, the sinks had wet paper towels all over them, and there was toilet paper thrown all over the stalls. As we leave from the bathrooms disgusted, we then stand at the hostess stand for about five minutes waiting for someone to greet us. A few servers walked by, someone who looked like a shift leader made eye contact with us  but did not stop to talk, and both hostesses passed us by. HELLO?! I finally stopped the first person who came by the counter and said pardon me are you on a wait? She then grabbed five menus and walked us out into the balcony seating where we stood for a minute watching her search for empty tables, then back into the dining room where she spun in a circle looking at tables, before she finally said 'I guess you guys can sit here'.

 

After being seated it took a full 10 minutes before a server even came over to the two of us to get our drinks. I kept telling myself it was because they could tell our full party had not been seated yet, and they were waiting for everyone to arrive. Granted this is the opposite of what you want to do, but I was hoping this was the case. Our server eventually came to our table, and she was very pleasant and helpful. However, into the course of our dinner I realized she had someone following her around. It might have been good for her to let us know she had a trainee. This would have probably made me tip more as to leave some extra for the trainee (I worked in restaurants for many years, and know that when you are training you don't get tips!). Both her and her trainee were more then attentive with refilling our drinks, clearing our plates, and not being too obtrusive. Her friendly attitude definitely turned the meal from drab to fab.

 

The atmosphere of the restaurant was fun/casual. They had nautical theme decor, and TVs on so we could watch the Oriole's game. It was quite loud, so I wouldn't recommend going here for a romantic or intimate dinner. If you are looking for a quick place to eat or somewhere to bring your out of town friends/family on the water in Annapolis then this is your spot. This probably is even an awesome place to go at night for drinks. Their bar area looked very spacious, and I could see people walking in and out of the bar seating. If you are wandering around downtown and looking for happy hour or late night drinks, this could be a fun hang out spot.

 

The drinks were also a little to be desired. I ordered a strawberry rum crush. The drink tasted like watered down rum. There were muddled strawberries at the bottom of the glass that you could easily suck up with your straw, but the drink was way too strong. Again if you went for happy hour or drinks late at night this would be awesome. But a pre-meal drink, not a good idea. My friends around the table all ordered drinks as well and I could not help but notice that no one got a refill.

 

The food definitely is not a highlight of this restaurant. My boyfriend and I ordered the Maryland crab dip to start. I was really in the mood for seafood and hoped this would be yummy. It was cream cheese with peppers, with a few chunks of crab. Luckily the baguette it was served with was quite good. We ate up the crab dip as we did not want to waste it, but I will not be ordering this from the menu again. For my main course I was torn between the coconut fried shrimp or the barbecued salmon tower. In the end as the server asked me what to eat I panic ordered and got the salmon tower. By the time it came I had filled up on our dip and bread that I was not hungry. I ate my soggy vegetables, and decided to take the salmon home for lunch the next day. I ate two bites of it though to try, and I must say it was better then I expected. It was not too dry, and the BBQ sauce was quite tasty. It did not blow me away, nor would I probably order it again, but compared to the dip it was great. Downside... I asked for a to go box since we filled up on the appetizer. Rookie mistake, I forgot to put the box immediately by my purse so I would remember it. I left it on the table! No fault of the staff for throwing it away, just a lessen to be learned when taking boxes home.

 

Overall I would say the restaurant is not terrible. I can not say I would return unless we were already in Annapolis, and/or someone else suggests it. As I previously said if you are bringing out of town-ers or going for drinks I'm sure it is a fun restaurant. For a local Marylander going with friends for a nice dinner, I was not impressed.

 

In speaking with some friends who have gone to this restaurant, they did not share favorable reviews as well. I think a change of attitude and an upgrade in the kitchen would probably do this place wonders.

 

Rating: EMPTY tea cup

Teacup of Fun - #9 Helicopter Ride

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling for work. It was an east coast road trip with a coworker that started in Charleston, SC and ended at BWI Airport in Baltimore, MD. I must admit, I was a little nervous at the prospect of spending 5 days on the road with a coworker. Even though we were traveling for work it was a great time! We got to spend the days in the car chatting, ate at amazing restaurants, got to meet with some of our colleagues, and best of all we were surprised by one of our General Managers with a helicopter ride!

On the first day of our trip we drove from Charleston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC. When we arrived our General Manager of that hotel said he had an adventure in store for us. He drove us over to the airfield, and before I could process what was happening we were up in the air high above the town.

In retrospect, if I had time to think about what was happening I probably would have talked myself out of it. While up in the air it felt like we were in a tiny toy car being pushed around by the wind. That didn't take away from the ride at hand thankfully! The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the tour guide kept us engaged throughout the tour pointing out spots in the town. The helicopter took the three of us above Myrtle Beach and flew over the boardwalk, across the water, over the town, and back again. It was about 15 minutes long, but it felt like much longer.

I am glad that my sense of whimsy kicked in and I was able to go with the flow. If anyone has ever thought about doing it, I would highly recommend it. This was an amazing experience, one I will remember for a long time!

Teacup of Trendy : Movie Review of BUTTER

In scrolling through my Netflix recommendations I came across this little gem Butter. It has a list of a stellar cast, interesting plot, and I had a free Friday night to spare. I was surprised on how entertaining it was, and why this is below the radar of many people's movie watching lists.

 

The film stars Jennifer Garner and Ty Burrell (this was the draw to the film, I do love me some Modern Family). Ty plays Bob a professional butter sculptor in Iowa who is married to Jennifer Garner's character Laura. This led me to do a little research...If you are asking yourself the same question, yes this is an actual event at State Fairs across the country!

 

Bob and Laura are big town celebrities that bring home the State Butter Sculpting Championship every year. Interlaced in Bob and Laura's story you meet Destiny and her dream to finally have a family. While on a trip to the State Fair she meets Bob and sees his butter sculptures. This inspires her to follow in the same hobby, and ultimately find a place to belong. Bob decides to retire due to pressure from the State Fair board, and finds solace in the arms of Brooke (Olivia Wilde). Brooke works at the local strip club and ends up in the backseat of Bob's car with him. Laura is quite upset from Bob's bombshell of retiring, and while she is driving around town she finds Bob and Brooke in his car. While Laura forgives Bob for his transgressions, she decides SHE will enter the butter competition and bring home the crown. Her dreams of being butter queen are quickly dashed on registration day (registration led by Phyllis Smith of The Office) when she sees Destiny coming to register, and Brooke! Destiny is being encouraged by her foster parents Jill and Ethan (Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry), and Brooke has a vendetta against the 'butter' family for not receiving payment by Bob.

As the film progresses you soon learn that Destiny has a great talent for butter sculpting, and Laura will stop at nothing to become champion. I will avoid spoiler alerts as this film weaves an intricate web of competition, laughs, and awesome stars (did I mention Hugh Jackman plays Laura's high school sweetheart!).  

 

If you are looking for a fun watch on the sofa in your PJs with a big bowl of popcorn, I would highly recommend giving this one a spin.

 

Rating : FULL teacup

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #25-21

Below are my random acts of kindness for April. I really enjoyed this month as it was a mix between doing something personable for people I know and acts of kindness that were fun!

#25 - I left a 100% tip for a server at the Early Bird Diner in Charleston, SC. I was passing through for breakfast, and thought the server was awesome. I worked as a server for 15+ years and know that the job has its up and downs, more so then most sometimes. Our server was friendly, kept my coffee filled, and wasn't overly annoying with checking up on us. This was first thing in the morning so hopefully it made the rest of her day happy. Next time I go I'll be trying the Oreo pancakes!

#24 - My boyfriend headed over to the local library to pick up the latest installment of 'Game of Thrones'. While he was waiting in line to pick up the DVD, I wandered around the library leaving surprises in some of my favorite books. I left four $5 Starbucks gift cards in books throughout the library. I figured whoever checked out the book could also enjoy a nice beverage!

#23 - An old friend's little brother was having some down luck. Even though I could not donate material items I was able to lend a helping hand for groceries!

#22 - For work I had to travel for a week throughout the south, which meant being a way from my boyfriend. I sent him an 'I love you' card in the mail while I was away. I wanted to make sure he knew i appreciated everything he does and was thinking about him.

#21- Rather then bringing items to Goodwill to be sold I dropped off items at the local donation bins. That way the items go directly to the organizations that are in need.

Teacup of Fun - #10 Claymaking Class

For the month of April I decided to channel my inner artist. I have not taken a pottery class since middle school, so it was definitely a learning process.

My friend and I bought a groupon for a studio in Ellicott City, MD for a BYOB clay making class. We both tackled the potters wheel, and made different bowls for our projects. The instructor was very friendly, super helpful, and she made it a fun learning environment. My friend had taken ceramics in high school so I think she picked it up much quicker then I did. The instructor first did a demonstration on the wheel with clay, and then we took our places. Halfway through the class I realized that I was trying to do everything with my left hand, and that was probably why I destroyed the two pieces of clay (I am right handed). You need to be graceful with your hands and gently mold the clay. I was decapitating the tops of the bowls as it spun because I was pressing too hard on the sides. Luckily the first bowl I made the instructor talked me through and it turned out great! I can't wait to go back to the studio to glaze our items, and take them home for use.

This has definitely inspired me to take another art class later on down the road. I crochet and scrapbook, but this is a different level of creativity that challenges you.

Teacup of Trendy - Movie Review of THE HOST

I have not yet read The Host. Mainly because the back log of books I have been wanting to read is growing by the week. I was hoping when I saw the film it would not matter that I did not read the book. Overall, I think I followed it quite well, but it does leave you feeling as if you are missing some key plot points.

The movie does not start out the way I thought it would. From the trailers it seems like a basic girl meets boy, boy helps girl survive the end of world, and then something terrible happens plot line. The something terrible happens to Melanie, the leading lady, at the start of the film and the story is told through flashbacks. I actually felt this made the movie more entertaining as you were left in your seat trying to figure out why the aliens are here and why are they inhabiting our bodies. I really enjoy Saoirse Ronan as a leading actress, and she did a good job playing multiple personalities on screen.

After Melanie/Wanda escape from the main city and the bad guys, they make their way to find her beau and brother. All while doing so having an external internal debate on screen. You would think this would be distracting, hearing the main character debate with the voice in her head. At times it was hard to focus on the action at hand, but it did help move the film along.

I especially liked how the characters interacted with each other. It felt like a community on the run (not quite like Rick and the zombie crew from Walking Dead), but it didn't feel fake. Melanie's uncle Jeb played good cop while her aunt Maggie played bad cop when Melanie/Wanda are introduced to the group. This adds to the dynamic of the film as the community struggles to survive, as well as come to terms with learning more about the aliens that have come to Earth.

In true Stephanie Myers fashion there is a love triangle. I kept waiting for some big macho blow out to happen over Melanie/Wanda. I will not give a way any spoiler alerts,  but let's just say it works itself in the end.

The movie as a whole was not terrible. I can not say I loved it, but I definitely did not hate it either. We went before 2PM at AMC which meant a $6.00 movie. That was about what I would pay for it, or a $1.00 from the Redbox. I think the crowd you are with helps too. I went with friends who had read the book so it made it more fun to watch.

I did not walk out of the theater dissatisfied, so I was happy to have sat through it. I wouldn't recommend this is as a bro film, or older adult crowd. This is aimed at the younger audience or 'young adult' fans of the YA genre.

Rating: half a teacup

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #29-26

Doing random acts in the month of March...

#29 - As a special treat over Easter weekend I taped packs of popcorn to Redbox locations. I picked two outside locations to visit. I didn't want to do them in indoor locations as I was afraid the clerks would think the person was stealing from them (haha). I hope those who rented a movie had a fun surprise!

#28 - I put together a goodie bag for our postman. I wanted to thank him for going through the wind, rain, and snow to deliver our mail.

#27 - We went to Florida at the end of March with our group of friends. I thought it would be a fun idea to bring back gifts for some of my close friends who didn't ask for anything. Not only would this be unexpected, but remind them I value our relationship (friendship, family, etc.)

#26 - I acted polite for a whole week. This seems like an easy thing to do, but I think it gets lost in our society with technology and everyone being in a rush. I feel like I am a very polite person, but I realized that politeness and being nice are two different things. For a whole week while driving to work I tried to be a polite driver by not tailgating, letting people go in front of me, not speeding or cutting people off, etc. This is surprisingly hard when you have a 40 minute commute to work! I also made sure I held the door open for people when I could, and when possible thanked people for their actions. How you treat others says a lot about you, and hopefully I put a smile on someone's face.

Teacup of Fun - #11 CPR Certified

Nobody panic! I am CPR certified as of last week.

What I found interesting about the class (besides the fact I now know CPR, how to operate an AED, and how to perform these actions on small children) is the laws behind people aiding other individuals.

What are the three things everyone is afraid of when giving CPR? Probably that you would hurt someone, further hurt someone, or they sue you for injury. What is the alternative to you not helping? Death! Any help is better than no help. Also, a law was passed that if you are helping someone they can not turn around and sue you. You are protected under the Good Samaritan act. I did find this interesting because that was always a secret thought in the back of my head, what if I tried to help this person and by doing so I break their rib and they sue me? (If you are interested I would recommend going to the American Heart Association website to learn more about becoming certified, and laws in place).

The certification is good for two years, and well worth the experience! 

Teacup of Kindness - Randomness #30

I love my friends with all of my heart. They are my sanity, my laughs, and shenanigan goers in my life.

It just so happens a small group of us have a restaurant club that every month we try a new place around town by taking turns selecting locations. I could not think of a better way to start my random acts of kindness then to steal the bill at the end of dinner and pay for the check.

Like most large groups we do the typical dance of passing the bill (adding up our total, was tip included, did everyone include tax in their total, etc.) and then at the end pay by five credit cards. This past time when we went out for February at THE OWL BAR I made sure I was the last one getting the bill. My boyfriend was not aware I was doing this either, so he was equally as surprised at the end. When I slipped my card into the pile I made a note to the server to charge it all to my credit card. I was more than happy to surprise my friends with this treat of dinner, but slightly disappointed that only a small number of us made it out. Usually there are close to ten of us that enjoy the restaurant outings, and I would have loved to have included them. However, the five of us had an excellent time enjoying each other’s company and dined on delicious food! What a great way to start my kindness challenge then surprising those who are dear to me.

Teacup of Fun - #12 Snow Tubing

Snow activities make me nervous, and I don’t mean ice skating with hot chocolate. The thought of climbing to the top of a giant hill and sliding down at high speeds always put a knot in my stomach.

When I was younger I tried snow tubing. I went with my Girl Scout troop in elementary school way over yonder in Minot, ND. Needless to say I do not remember the entire adventure, but I remember the afternoon being filled with fun. We would climb to the top of the hill, and go whizzing down at high speeds at least a dozen times or so. The last time I went up the hill I must have been careless (how careful can you be when you’re 10) and went flying off of the tube. I quite vividly recall skidding down the hill on my back to a screeching halt at the bottom with the wind knocked out of me. To a 10 year old this whole experience was very traumatic.  

A few years ago I attempted snowboarding with a coworker and her friends. We arrived late to the Ski Resort and I missed the beginners’ class on what to do once you’re on the board. Feeling excited about the prospect of trying something new, and thinking I had mad skills, I hopped on the ski lift with my friends and went to the top of the hill. This was no bunny hill, definitely not a black diamond, but it was way beyond my beginner self. I jumped off the lift, held my balance on the board, and then fell straight on to my face. My eagerness very quickly faded and I realized I may be way out of my league. Once we slowly shuffled to the starting point of the hill my fear got the best of me and I knew there was no way I could make it down the hill with my feet strapped to the skinny board. My coworker slowly made her way down the hill with her friend, leaving me at the top of the hill to fend for myself. (She didn't leave me stranded intentionally as her other friend was also new at snowboarding, and she wanted to make sure she got down the hill.) My nerves and fear of breaking something took over all rational thoughts, and a little over an hour later I was at the bottom of the hill. I made this achievement by either walking down the hill or using the snow board as a sled. I sat for the rest of the evening at the lodge waiting to run into my friend.  

Both of these experiences left a sour taste in my mouth when it came to a giant mountain of snow, and having to slide down it to get to the bottom. I was willing to conquer my nerves and hesitation for my friend’s

party. She had chosen to go to Deep Creek Lake for a weekend of fun, snow tubing, and mayhem. I could not have asked for a more perfect venue then Wisp Resort. There were people of varying ages of 10 -50 years old which made it feel more welcoming. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the hill was not scary looking. As soon as we got our snow tubes we loaded ourselves onto a conveyor belt that led us to the top of the hill. This is a brilliant invention because you do not get tired from having to haul yourself and the tube back up the hill time after time. The hill itself was made up of different lanes that prevented people from colliding in to each other. The first few times down the hill I was screaming quietly to myself inside my head, but at the end of the second run I was having an amazing time. I think what added to the fun was all of the girls waited for each other at the bottom of the hill so we could keep going up together as a group. That way no one felt alone or missing out on all the fun! I even was so bold as to try going down on stomach so I was face first down the hill. I was very proud of myself for sucking it up and giving snow another try… it was even more awesome that my friend had such a great time at her party!