Show Me State

Growing up in Kansas, there isn't much in the way of vacation destinations nearby. Landlocked, FLAT and sparsely populated, there are no beaches or ski resorts or attractions within hundreds of miles. So spending time at lakes, of which there was no shortage, was a popular getaway. And the granddaddy of lake getaways in the midwest is Lake of the Ozarks in neighboring Missouri. But there's a lot more to that area than just beautiful lakes, so let's head on over to see Katherine in Springfield, Missouri!

Another Day, Another Moment

Please leave Katherine a comment and let her know the BlogTrotters have been through town!

And don't forget to come back on Friday to talk about your tips for traveling with children.

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies!

We're visiting Buckeye Mom in Columbus, Ohio today. I mentioned before my love of those tasty peanut butter and chocolate balls of sweet sweet heaven that are known as Buckeyes, but that love is part of a larger addiction: cookies! And our featured blogger today is going on a self-described Cookie Journey where she makes a new and different cookie each week for a year. How scrumptious is that?! So lets head on over to see her!

The Buckeye Five

And remember, the love you get is the love you give, so please leave Buckeye Mom a comment!

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And now for this week's Field Trip Friday topic:

What are your top five tips for traveling with children?

My husband, daughter and myself are off on a beach vacation next week. This is our first trip that didn't include visiting family. Needless to say, I'm more than a little anxious. So help me out, BlogTrotters, what are your recommendations, must haves, don't forgets?

Popping Into Vegas

I've only visited Las Vegas once -- over a decade ago with my parents and siblings for our family vacation that year. I enjoyed it and would be happy to return anytime. What I do not enjoy is the overuse of the phrases "Vegas, Baby!" and "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." I'm thinking that those phrases have to be the equivalent of fingernails on chalkboard for those who live in and around Las Vegas. Or not?

Maybe today's BlogTrotting tour guide can give us some insight. Let's learn about life near Vegas from Popping Bubbles, who actually does like to pop bubbles.

Popping Bubbles

Please leave Popping Bubbles a comment to let her know you popped in!

Come back tomorrow for a visit to the Buckeye State and for this week's Field Trip Friday topic.

Field Trip Friday -- Ice Cream "Graeter" Than Any Other!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

I don't actually "scream" for ice cream -- it's more like quietly going to the fridge every evening to dish up some Breyer's Heath Bar or Edy's Slow-Churned Caramel Delight. I try to savor it but end up eating a little too quickly. And since I eat it a little too quickly, I need to return the freezer (quietly, you know, because if you do it quietly, it's like you're not really doing it) and add just one more scoop.

I wonder why my baby weight keeps hanging around? That situation would be even more dire if I lived closer to the source of The best ice cream I ever ate . . . this week's Field Trip Friday Topic.

The best ice cream I ever ate was in Cincinnati, Ohio at Graeter's. There are Graeter's locations all over the Tri-State (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) area where I grew up. Plus, Graeter's is stocked in the Kroger stores all over town as well.

I'm sure I had Graeter's a few times growing up, but I really fell in love with Graeter's when I was living in my first apartment in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati. After grading a batch of papers or taking a walk or finishing a tasty dinner out or chilling with friends, I would walk to the Graeter's in Hyde Park Square and get a dish of my favorite Black Raspberry Chip ice cream. For me, Graeter's = Great Memories.

Why is Graeter's the best? First, it is truly premium ice cream. They use the very best ingredients and prepare the ice cream in some fancy way called a French Pot Process. Second, many of their flavors are of the "chip" variety, and these chips (chunks actually) of chocolate are HUGE and high quality. I am not kidding when I tell you that you can get a chip that is way bigger than your thumb.

My very favorite is Black Raspberry Chip, but the past few years I have become increasingly fond of Toffee Chip.

I don't have any further great insights into the ice cream beyond it's just so good. So good.

If you're not an ice cream fan or cannot tolerate dairy (which, really, isn't that the only reason one wouldn't be an ice cream fan?), you might enjoy some Graeter's sorbet. I think they have baked goods too, but can't attest to it because I walk in the door focused on the ice cream.

If you are ever in the Cincinnati or Tri-State area, you must try Graeter's. If you're really into ice cream, you could even order some and have it shipped to you on dry ice.

I'll be visiting in Ohio soon and can't wait to try the special seasonal flavors: Blackberry White Chocolate Chip and Strawberry Chip. I don't know if I'll make it inside an actual Graeter's location, but I know I can count on my mama to have some pints waiting in the freezer.

So, where is the best ice cream you've ever eaten? Share you answer in the comments or, better yet, blog about it and link up your post below!

Photos from graeters.com and from the Wikipedia entry on Graeter's. Sorry I could not find better (and bigger) photos and especially sorry that I couldn't photograph myself eating some Graeter's.

Here's the link up:

Ooooooklahoma!

"Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain!"

I don't know if I will ever be able to say the name of today's state without singing it. Its just so darn catchy. And as it turns out, the Rodgers and Hammerstein song from the musical was adopted as the state song, so evidently the folks there like it too.

We're visiting Brandy of You Don't Know in Tulsa, Oklahoma today. She's so cute and funny and has a precious little boy. So let's head on over to see her!

You Don't Know

Please leave Brandy a comment and let her know you appreciate the tour!

Come back tomorrow for our weekly Field Trip Friday. With all this heat, what better time to talk about the best ice cream you ever had!

My Kind of Town

If you ignore the humidity, there is no place like Chicago in the summer. Everyone here is just so happy that winter is over that the city explodes with people jogging along the lakefront, playing volleyball at the beach, heading to Cubs and Sox games, sitting outside at neighborhood bars enjoying some cold ones and maybe a meal, splashing in the fountain at Millennium Park, and just enjoying the season.

BlogTrotting has featured several Chicago tour guides so far (including yours truly), and I am so excited that we're back in the Windy City for today's tour. Our guide is Mashuga Mom, and I can't wait to see Chicago from her perspective.

Let's Go!

Mashuga Mom

Please leave Mashuga Mom a comment and let her know about summer in your corner of the world.

Consider coming back and linking up for this week's Field Trip Friday post. Your assignment is to finish this sentence: "The best ice cream I ever ate was in . . . " Please write up your response and link it up on Friday so I can plan my cross-country ice cream tour.

Metropolitan Mayhem

"Moments of serenity and hours of chaos." This is how our featured blogger, Mrs. Mayhem, describes life in her family. It is such an eloquent turn of phrase and so perfectly describes life with little ones in the house.

She lives in the northern Virginia suburbs of DC, so add another layer of insanity to the equation. Between the traffic, tourists and the politicians, OOF. She's going to give us an insider's tour of our nations capitol today, so let's head on over and see her! 

Mothering Mayhem

Please leave Mrs. Mayhem a comment and let her know you appreciate the tour!

BlogTrotter in Paradise

I have to confess that I am NOT a Jimmy Buffett fan, but despite this, whenever I think of southern Florida I can't help but think of his music. I suspect if I were actually eating a Cheeseburger while sipping a margarita IN southern Florida, my opinion might change, but who knows.

Our featured blogger today, Holly at Tropic of Mom, is a longtime bloggy friend of mine and I'm so delighted that she's going to give us a tour today because I've been looking at her pictures of the paradise she calls home for two years now and I want to know more!

So let's head on over to see her!

Tropic of Mom

Please leave Holly a comment and let her know what corner of the world you call home!

Field Trip Friday: Top Five Dream Destinations

I love to travel, obviously. I've been on some pretty amazing trips, but there are still a lot of places I haven't been. Like, oh, five other continents worth. I really do hope to get to all of these someday. It may take a lifetime, but I'm going to make it happen.

My top five dream vacation destinations:

1. Egypt - I have been fascinated by ancient Egypt for as long as I can remember. The collossal memorials to their leaders. The legends and curses. Stinky camels.

2. Moscow - I am a child of the cold war era. In fact, I lived in Germany when it was West Germany. I saw the wall and was very much aware of the secrecy behind the "iron curtain." Perhaps that's why I am so intrigued by this formerly forbidden country.

3. Rio De Janeiro -There's just something so sexy about Rio. Visiting Carnival is definitely on my bucket list.

4. Hong Kong - I've never been to any part of Asia and maybe this is jumping into the deep end, but Hong Kong seems to be such a vibrant blend of old world customs and modernity.

5. Venice - Although I have been to Rome, and what a trip it was, I have not visited any other part of Italy. I have always wanted to visit the city of canals. Riding around in a gondola, while my honey feeds me grapes. Bliss.

How about you? What are your top five dream vacation destinations? Respond in the comments or link to your post below!

A Lot of Vancouver

We're off to the other Vancouver today. That would be Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We're visiting a former executive turned stay at home mom, Marilyn, who began her blog to share the trials and tribulations of her new occupation. I know that story, as a former exec turned SAHM myself, who started my own blog to combat the loneliness and lack of intellectual stimulation I felt in those early months.

Marilyn is an interesting lady, she's sews and gardens and cooks, oh my! So let's go see her: 

A Lot of Loves

Please leave Marilyn a comment and let her know how much we appreciate the tour!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to link up your Field Trip Friday posts! The topic: Your top five dream vacation destinations.

More Than Casinos

We're taking the first of what I hope will be many special trips this summer. We'd love if you share your summer vacation posts with us. Please email links to me at carawb@gmail.com. And as always, we're over the moon when you mention and link back to BlogTrotting, so don't forget to include the BT widget!

Today's special trip is to a side of Las Vegas you don't see on CSI: Old Nevada. Quieter, more family friendly and hopefully no bodies. So let's head on over to visit Aine:


The Evolving Spirit

Please leave Aine a comment to let her know the BlogTrotting folks have been through town!

Are you thinking about your Field Trip Friday posts? What are your top five dream destinations? Come back Friday and link up!

California Dreamin'

Would you believe we are off to visit another yoga enthusiast? And the two share a further similarity in that the country of their birth is not where they currently reside. Today, we're visiting Savira, aka YogaSavy, in beautiful San Jose, California and she is one deep lady. She tackles some tough existential concepts on her blog. You'll definitely want to delve into her archives.

So let's head on over to see her:


Living Laughing Breathing!

Please leave Yogasavy a comment and let her know how much we appreciate the tour!

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And now for this week's Field Trip Friday topic!

What are your top five dream destinations?

Come back on Friday and link up your post and read others' responses! Also, if you're interested in guest posting with your own Field Trip Friday post here on BlogTrotting, let us know!

Charm City, Baby!

We've been all over the world, but it's been a while since we've visited my own town, Baltimore, also known as Charm City. Baltimore has plenty to offer, but one of the great events of the year is the Honfest which took place this past weekend. We left the kiddo at home with her grandparents and the hubs and I went out for some people watching and beer drinking. And we absolutely were not let down. By the end of the day, I was sunburned and headachey, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

So head on over to my own little slice of the internet and check out this UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING* post about this great event!

Land of Bean

Come back tomorrow, we'll be heading back out for more BlogTrotting fun!

*Shameless self-promotion.

Field Trip Friday: Passport to Peevishtown

Hubby and I were long distance for four years which required many flights and road trips. We were also fortunate to travel quite a bit in the early years of our marriage, mostly for fun with and/or to see friends. Truth be told, I don't do a lot of traveling these days beyond loading up the van and driving around the Midwest to visit family.

Rest assured I won't let my at-home lifestyle stop me from sharing my list of travel pet peeves.

MEP's Travel Pet Peeves (in no particular order)

1. I don't recline my seat on airplanes because I don't think reclining makes the flight much more comfortable. Why compromise the space of the person behind me if I don't need to? You can feel free to recline your seat, but please, if your child reclines his/her seat to the full extent, please make sure that child is reclining and not leaning forward and playing on his/her DS. Thanks.

2. "Someone" (not me, of course) forgets to charge the portable DVD player and/or fails to bring the appropriate adaptor, plug, or batteries.

3. I admit that I have rarely been in the following situation, but I do not enjoy traveling with people who are unwilling to stop as often as I need to stop. If I need to pee, I just want to pee. If I want a fountain Diet Coke, I want a fountain Diet Coke. I'm not talking about stopping every hour, but "making good time" does not have to mean "avoid stopping at all costs, nevermind the discomfort of the passengers." Related to this pet peeve is traveling with people who don't want to stop for fast food. If you want to pack your meals and snacks, go for it, but I like to eat French fries on the road.

4. People who sneak up the shoulder during traffic jams.

5. Drivers who enter the EZ Pass toll lane when they do not have an EZ Pass. I know it can be an honest mistake, but try to look at the signs and choose the ones that say "cash."

6. Husbands who refuse to stop at Cracker Barrel.

7. Husbands who sigh loudly when packing the car because "someone" (me?) should "really learn how to pack more efficiently."

8. Packing bags for children when you can't predict what weather, culture, and social occasions will present themselves upon arrival at the destination. More than that, having to remember every darn thing that kids need from sunscreen to comfort items to infant motrin.

9. Staying at hotels that only offer Pepsi products in their restaurants and vending machines.

10. Passengers who do a "number two" in an airplane bathroom when it really could wait. I understand that sometimes it can't wait, but if it can . . . Read my 2007 post entitled "Here and now . . . really?" for more on this important pet peeve.

* Also, I think Southwest now has a new boarding system, but it used to be a pet peeve of mine that people practically camped out to get a "good seat." Read all about that phenomenon if you wish.

Okay then, what are your travel pet peeves? Share in the comments or link up your own post below!

Reading about Reading!

Today's featured BlogTrotter is a Swede living in England. I have always been fascinated by people who move to new countries, whether for an extended visit or forever. I was actually thinking just last night how much I would love to live in Europe again, although I don't think I could do more than a year or so. Maybe someday.

So, as always, I live vicariously through your blogs. Maria has done a fabulous job of introducing us to her area of England, so let's head on over to see her!

Swedish Yogini in England

Please leave Maria a comment and let her know how much we appreciate the tour of her home!

Have you been thinking about your travel pet peeves? Come back tomorrow and link up your Field Trip Friday post!

Va Va Va Voom Vancouver! (Updated!! Her post is up!)

Don't ask me what I'm trying to suggest by the title above. Nothing. I just liked it.

I have been wanting to visit Vancouver for years, even more so now that my cousin lives there. I hear rave reviews of the people, the vibe, and the natural beauty. I'm really excited for today's virtual tour of Vancouver.

Shana of So Not Zen is our tour guide for today. Make sure you check out her haikus about moving into a townhouse -- hilarious. Notice as well that she also has a food blog called Rotisserie Chicken Is the New Black. Love that.

So don't be a chicken, go visit Shana and Vancouver . . .

So Not Zen

Please leave Shana a comment! Also, consider joining us and linking up your travel pet peeves post for Field Trip Friday.

Also, if you have a minute, check out my cousin's website. She's a Vancouver-based (BC not WA) photographer who does amazing work, soon to be featured in British Columbia Magazine.

Liberty and Prosperity

When I first saw our featured blogger's tag line, I knew we were going to be friends. I am quite certain that I say the wrong thing at every opportunity. Reading Amber's writing, however, I find it hard to believe. She is honest and eloquent.

Amber lives in the fine state of New Jersey. According to my reading, NJ has the most complex and dense highway system in the US. Which is probably why I get lost almost every time I visit there. Even with the GPS.

Bring your maps as we head out to visit:

The Unlikely Mama

Please leave Amber a comment so she knows the BlogTrotters have been through town!

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And now for the eagerly anticipated Field Trip Friday topic!

What is your biggest travel pet peeve(s)? 

Come back on Friday and link up your post and read others' responses! Also, if you're interested in guest posting with your own Field Trip Friday post here on BlogTrotting, let us know!

Turn Your Face to Knoxville

"Be like the flower; turn your face to the sun." These are the words on the header of today's featured blogger: Sarah from Small World at Home. Above these words is a beautiful collection of photographs. It is all really working for me, especially at this hopeful, sunny time of year.

Sarah's home is in Knoxville, TN, a place where I spent a beautiful and memorable sunny day back in 1999 for the Tennessee/Notre Dame football game, which was sort of my now-hubby's and my first date. Who doesn't love a first date in a parking lot full of football fans?

I'll always have a soft spot for Knoxville and am excited for today's tour by Sarah.

Let's Go!

Small World at Home

Please leave Sarah a comment!

Thanks for BlogTrotting. Tomorrow we announce the topic for this week's Field Trip Friday. If you have a suggestion, please let us know in the comments.

Field Trip Friday: Nosh!

When I thought of this topic for Field Trip Friday, I figured it would be a no brainer to come up with a meal from my travels that was my all time favorite. Surely, some dish stands out among the throngs as superior in every way. But I'll be honest with you, I couldn't pinpoint one exact dish. So I'm going to go on a little around the world trip for my meal, taking a course from here and there.

First Course: Costa Rica - Ceviche
My entire family: parents, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents visited Costa Rica for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary when I was 22. It's where they went for their honeymoon and they wanted to spend their 50th with all of their loved ones in a spot that held such fond memories. This trip is especially poignant for me because it was one of the last times we spent with my grandmother before Alzheimer's took her away from us.

The resort we stayed in was unbelievably gorgeous. A short distance from San Juan, it was surrounded by tropical rain forests. It was an oasis. In this resort were a couple of restaurants, one more casual for breakfast and lunch and one more fancy for dinner. We ate each morning in the more casual one, where they had a delicious buffet, and among the items on the spread was ceviche. Ceviche is a dish prepared by marinating seafood, in this case shrimp, in lime juice and then combining it with tomato, onions, peppers and cilantro. It is absolutely divine and I do believe I ate my weight in it during my stay. It is not a complicated dish, and I have had it since, but when I think of ceviche, I think of that trip. It. Was. Delicious.



Second Course: Colorado - Schnitzel
When I was a kid, we lived in Heidelburg, Germany for a year. Spending an extended time in a foreign country as a kid is an eye-opening experience. I was introduced to people and food that I would never have encountered otherwise. I wish I could say that I remember all of the German I learned while I was there, but the truth is that more than 20 years have passed and other than a few key phrases and numbers, I don't. I do hope to return there someday, if nothing else to partake of the hearty German food, which I fell in love with while we were there.

But there was one dish that found its way particularly into my heart: schnitzel. Schnitzel is thinly pounded veal that is breaded and fried. Again, this is not a terribly complicated dish, but one that is not found in many American restaurants. So imagine my surprise and delight when on a family ski vacation to Colorado, we stopped off in a small hotel/restaurant that had a primarily German menu, including schnitzel. We stopped at the same place several times over the years, and every time I got the schnitzel. I tried to find a picture that showed it in a slightly more enticing light, but this photo is EXACTLY how I like it. Don't waste time on anything extraneous on the plate, just throw down some meat and fries and be done with it. Just like the Germans, straightforward and fattening. (Okay, Germans aren't fattening, well, maybe they are, I've never actually tried to eat a German. But they are very straight to business folks. You get my point.)



Third Course: Scotland - Sticky Toffee Pudding
After too many years of reading trashy romance novels that took place in Scotland, my best friend and I decided to take a trip to the motherland. We didn't meet any lairds, but we saw plenty of lochs, and we ate. A lot.

On one of our day trips jaunting about the Scottish countryside, we stopped at a tiny rustic inn on the side of the road. There was nothing for kilometers and kilometers in either direction. It looked like it had been there forever and if the reception we got was any indication, they didn't get a lot of tourists and were not super excited about the two American chicks that came barreling into their establishment. We were not to be deterred, though, and went about enjoying our meal. We ordered typical Scottish inn fare, probably shepherd's pie or something. Frankly, whatever it was was completely overshadowed by the Sticky Toffee Pudding we had for dessert. It was chocolatey cake covered with caramel sauce goodness. They served it in a little cast iron skillet . It was divine. One of these days I am going to attempt to make it myself, until then I will savor the memories. Mmmm.



So that's my favorite vacation meal. How about you? Tell us in the comments or link up your Field Trip Friday post!

PS - If I were to actually attempt to eat this very meal, I would probably have the worst case of indigestion. EVER. Not to mention more calories than any one person should consume in a week, let alone one meal. A girl can dream, though.

Let's LAND in CleveLAND!

Ohio is an awesome state, and Cleveland rocks! We've already covered these facts here at BlogTrotting. New lesson: Prasti rocks! This mother of four not only has a fantastic blog, but she can sew and do origami. Please check out the awesome blocks she made for her son's first birthday. Love them. I don't think LeBron James could sew those blocks. Just saying.

And now, let's learn about Cleveland from Prasti's perspective.

Let's Go!

Here to There

Please leave Prasti a comment to let her know you stopped by. You checked out those blocks, right?

And remember, this week's Field Trip Friday is all about FOOD! Start planning your post about the best meal you've eaten on vacation.

Calgary Bound

We're off to Calgary today. Which as some of you might recall was the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Here is where I show my general ignorance about Canada, though. I know that Calgary is in the westish part of the country, but beyond that the details are a little fuzzy. So I'm hoping Shane can broaden my horizons today!

Shane has the most romantic story about how he met his wife and later proposed to her. So lets head on over to see him! 

Calgary Daddy

Please leave Shane a comment and let him know what part of the world you call home!

AND!

For this week's Field Trip Friday, the topic is FOOD! I love food. No, I LOOOOVE food. And I love enjoying food from around the world. So tell us about your favorite dish or meal you had while on vacation. Where was it? What was it? Who were you with? Inquiring minds want to know! Come back on Friday to link up and read others' responses.