World’s Largest Outdoor Art Gallery

Posted in Travel & Philadelphia by Emily | Bites & Pieces

(Photo by David Graham)

Planning a trip to Philadelphia this summer? Put down the cheesesteak and step away from the Liberty Bell. Save some time to see some of the hidden gems that await you in the City of Brotherly Love. Started in 1984, the Mural Arts Program began as a way to eradicate the graffiti crisis plaguing the city. Fast forward 30 years and the Mural Arts Program has overseen the creation of over 3,800 pieces of art painted on sides of buildings. 2,000 are still viewable by the public, making this collection the “World’s Largest Outdoor Art Gallery.”

(Photo by Jack Ramsdale)

Support the city-wide initiative and the mission that “art ignites change” by purchasing a ticket to one of many tours offered. Experience these magnificent masterpieces by trolley, on foot, or on the unique Love Letter Train Tour where you can “view 50 romantic murals from the elevated train line and platforms on this one-of-a-kind subway tour.”

(Photo by Adam Wallacavage)

(Photo by Tom Crane)

(Photo by Jack Ramsdale)

As they say around here, “you’re gonna love the arts in Philadelphia.”

20Jun2014

Friday five

Posted in Odds & Ends by Emily | Bites & Pieces

1. Two awesome new Ben & Jerry’s flavors inspired by SNL skits // Delish

2. Repel unwanted dinner guests with these non-toxic, delightfully citrus sticks // Terrain

3. Major travel envy: Machu Picchu named “world’s top landmark” // CNN Travel

4. Super cute, majorly affordable jewels // SoCal Gems

5. Alton’s scientific mango-peeling technique unveiled // Eater
Have a great weekend!

19Jun2014

Lessons learned

Posted in Odds & Ends by Emily | Bites & Pieces

I just watched Charlie Day (of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fame) deliver the 2014 commencement address at his alma mater, Merrimack College. Now we all know stars are nothing like the rest of us (thanks Us Weekly for helping me realize this), but I was inspired by some of his closing remarks. He spoke about taking risks. “You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing what’s going to make you great,” he said. “You cannot succeed without this risk of failure. You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism and you cannot love without the risk of loss.” So true.

Being that it’s been 10 years since I graduated from college, I find myself doing quite a bit of reflecting lately. Reflecting on things I’ve achieved, lessons I’ve learned, and wondering what the future holds. So in conclusion; I don’t know where I’m going, but I sure know where I’ve been…gee, that’s sounds awfully familiar. 🙂 Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that I would tell my younger self.

People will try to discourage you. Don’t let them.

Worrying about what other people think of you is a waste of time and energy.

Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable, it means you’re learning and growing.

The struggle is part of the story.

Shots are never a good idea.

Have more than you show and speak less than you know.

Invest in yourself.

Don’t look for roommates on Craigslist.

Save some of your money.

Don’t quit your dream.

Wear more sunscreen and more importantly, avoid the tanning bed.

Ask for more money, get paid what you’re worth.

Stay weird.
What did I miss? What would you tell your younger self?

18Jun2014

Kitchen hack – egg slicer

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Why didn’t I think of this?! Had to share. This really is genius.

17Jun2014

Move over coconut water?

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Have you heard about this yet? Maple water. Because apparently coconut water is so last year! Maple water may soon be the new kid in town. I welcome the new addition to the plant-based-water market. Personally I can’t stand coconut water. I want to like it, but the flavor is just a little too funky for my palate.

Newly available in the US, maple water is essentially maple sap. Pure maple sap, which is water from the ground that has been filtered as it travels up the tree trunk and gets infused with sugar, calcium, potassium, magnesium and manganese along the way. It’s important to remember the difference between maple sap and thick, sticky, sugary maple syrup. Maple syrup is maple sap that’s been boiled down and super concentrated. [Side note: it takes 20 to 50 liters of sap to boil down into 1 liter of syrup…so obviously you can image the difference between the two.]

Drinking maple sap isn’t new, ancient cultures have been drinking this stuff for a long time, promoting it’s many health benefits. It’s filled with electrolytes and is great for hydration. It’s high in manganese, and a good source of calcium and iron. The taste (so I’m told) is just slightly sweet and has very little sugar and is low in calories.

These are the 3 brands I’ve seen penetrate the US market: Vertical Water, Drink Maple and Happy Tree. It’s only a matter of time until we see this trend pop up in recipes and beverages everywhere. Maple water popsicles, cocktails and smoothies….oh my!

Have you tried maple water? What do you think?

16Jun2014

Fast eating

Posted in Odds & Ends by Emily | Bites & Pieces

My name is Emily and I’m a fast eater. Phew! It feels good to come to terms with this. My husband often jokes that I could give Kobayashi a run for his money some days. Ugh. It’s a problem I’ve been trying to overcome for years. I just read an article in which a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating slower leads to lesser calorie consumption. It went on to say that, “if you rush through each meal, you could end up eating more calories than you need to sustain energy, and over time, these larger portions could lead to weight gain.” Turns out, in the movie Clueless, Cher was actually onto something when she told Dionne “you lose weight by doing it like this, cutting it really small.”

Here are 4 things I learned on how to slow down while eating:

1. Stop multitasking while eating. By focusing on your food and observing your portion size, you’ll force yourself to be more present while eating.

2. Drink more. By sipping your beverage in-between bites, you slow down your pace of eating.

3. Savor the flavor. Taking the time to experience your food makes it an experience you’ll want to savor and make last longer.

4. Put down the fork. The physical act of putting down and picking up your fork will slow your pace, according to a study published in Appetite. In fact, those who put their fork down in between each mouthful consumed 10 percent fewer calories than faster eaters.

Bon appétit!

13Jun2014

Friday five

Posted in Odds & Ends by Emily | Bites & Pieces

1. Ingenious way to sip fruit infused H2O on the go…the brainchild of a 15-year-old entrepreneur // Define Bottle

2. The prettiest, and oh-so-chic way to serve doughnuts // Glitter Guide

3. One of my favorite bloggers/cookbook authors wrote a cookbook (I’ve made many of her recipes) and now she’s started a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the project // The Yellow Table via Kickstarter

4. Jell-O shots using a hulled strawberry as the serving vessel. Stop it! // Popsugar/Yumsugar

5. In case you missed it…Jim Carrey & Jeff Daniels do Real People, Fake Arms on The Tonight Show // Mashable

Have a great weekend!