Aimless Outing

One thing I really love to do is explore a town/city with a friend. No gameplan. No directions. Just shut up and drive. Haha. I did have one thing in mind however, a mission: find and eat some Macarons. Not to be confused with Macaroons. The former is a light cream filled cookie and the latter is a coconut cookie. This is a fact. 

It's all in the pronunciation. 

Anyways I have an absolutely gorgeous and talented friend (mashAllah) that accompanied me on this trip.

Nida and I after our Macaron high.

Hey that rhymed! Totally off the fly! xD

Yes we were successful in locating a Macaron bakery. It wasn't exclusively for Macarons but they had them there. This particular bakery had moved and google had the old address so we stopped random people to ask for directions and eventually found it. I gotta say, there's too much hype for nothing special. The macarons to me were dry and flavorless. They had a tiny squirt of flavor that only one tidbit of your tongue will grasp. 

One thing I can say though is that it is a pretty cookie.

We also hit up a cafe for lunch that had literally like 8 parking spots. It was so tiny and the cafe was so busy I don't know where these people were parking or if they carpooled or what. I just remember parking was insane. Then we visited random stores, I really like antique stores. They have unique and interesting items to see. I bought two gag gifts. A cricket lollypop. Yes it had a real cricket in the middle of the lolly and I bribed my guy cousin to eat it. xD Then another candy that holds a bug inside. I just like scaring people. It's so fun. It backfired on my mom though. I gave it to her and she gave it someone who really needed candy because their sugar content was low and out popped a bug instead. I felt bad about that. :/

Before I end this I want to talk about one last thing. How talented Nida is. She creates these beautiful works of Islamic art and sells them. She does have a public page on Facebook in which you can browse different pieces she's made and request to purchase it. I'll have the link ready below. 

Islamic Contemporary Art

I love the color purple so when I saw this piece I just had to have it. 

She truly is a one of a kind friend. So sweet and nice. It's never a bore with her. I remember once taking an Al-Maghrib class with her and a few other girls, come lunch time we couldn't decide where to eat and this girl blurts out "I have pizza hut on speed dial!" I'll never forget that. She's a funny gal. Now I have pizza hut on speed dial too. Haha. She got married in 2014 and is now a Canadian. I still have her wedding card. Well it's more like a wedding box card if you know what I mean. Maybe I can send it to her for her two year anniversary. Hmmm. 

Ciao! 

Florida '15

This is the more the merrier type of excitement. I've been to the Florida theme parks with my family multiple times and they were pretty fun but when you go with a big posse it's like REALLY fun.  If you're desi you most likely have a big family with aunts and uncles and cousins galore. A road trip + vacation = AWESOMENESS.

We rented a giant 15 seater van. So let me count how many people there were. My aunt and uncle, my second aunt and uncle and their daughter, my third aunt and uncle and their daughter and son and lastly my fourth aunt and her three daughters then me. I was the only one to go from my family. So together that makes: 14! The drive was about thirteen hours long. We stopped at a rest stop two or three times to use the restrooms, eat and stretch. I was all the way in the back of the van with three other cousins. Here is a picture: 

We look a hot mess haha.

We had a blast catching up. 

My cousins taught me how to snapchat.

We arrived to Florida safe and sound alhumdulillah. We rented a cool little bungalow that had a pool (that nobody swam in because no one knows how to swim and it was cold) and a jacuzzi (that everyone sat in because it was wonderful). It had four bedrooms. All the kids slept in the living room. Two on the sofa the rest on the floor because we didn't realize until the end of the trip that the sofa was a pull out bed. Haha.

Everyone was taking family pictures and then there's me, lol.

Here is the posse all together with the Harry Potter castle in the back.

Can you see me? I'm the tall one in the back bc that's where tall peeps go.

Okay story time. So there's a popeye ride in which you get absolutely SOAKED. I convinced my family that you only get wet "a little bit". I don't remember getting as wet as we did this time as when I had gone with my immediate family. Well turns out when you fit 14 people into the round boat with weight being distributed more in some areas than others, it makes for a very rocky trip down the current. We were drenched from head to toe and our shoes squeaked the rest of the day. It was a blast though. I wish I had a picture of it. I DO however have a candid picture of the gang that brings tears to my eyes from laughing so hard. It was on another ride. 

I again convinced my family that the Jurassic Park ride is just a little scenic boat ride through the jungle with a T-Rex at the end. I didn't mention the drop down the waterfall or how they take your picture while we're falling. I did tell my cousin Anum though, so we were prepared with smiles and were the only ones, haha. Check it out: 

Our group filled up the first three rows. The second to last row is pretty comical too. One of my aunt's has her arms crossed like a boss! Ohmygoodness. I need a minute to collect myself I'm dying. xD

This trip has so many moments that make me smile. 

We also went to a water park (fully dressed like the desi's we are). 

We bought some cool ice cream. 

Yeah I had to get Sonic the Hedgehog. ;)

On our way back home we stopped by to enjoy the beach and watch the sunset.

We arrived fully clothed as usual haha. It has it's perks. People run away from you.

A pic of the "swimmers"

The ones that went into the water.

Zainy Brainy took the pic.

You can see a ship in the back.

The water felt ice cold at first but then it was pure bliss.

Look how clear it is too. It was a great end to the trip.

Bye bye butterfly! Haha. :)

Kayaking Picnic

One of my favorite things to do is be outside, particularly on the lake. 

My first experience kayaking was a little less than two years ago.

Since then I try and make time to go whenever I can. :)

What's better than going alone? Going with a friend and having a picnic!

Life can't get much better than that. Simplicity at it's best. 

One of my best friend's, Ana, is someone I love spending time with.

We met when we were nineteen, first year of college & have been friends since.

We grabbed lunch from Noodles & Company, couple of chocolate bars and Ben & Jerry's ice cream! 

I picked up the Spinach and Fresh Fruit Salad with Breadcrumbs. The dressing was a little too sweet for my liking but overall it was refreshing. I've been obsessed with coconut and chocolate as of late so I grabbed that as well. Kayaking is definitely a workout for your arms! I'm embarrassed to say we had to take several breaks paddling our way to the other side of the lake! It's quite nice though sitting on the water, enjoying the breeze, watching ducks and geese dive for bugs and fish. We also saw fish jumping out of the water to grab bugs! 

 It was a perfect day. Warm, breezy, beautiful nature with the sun shining it's bright rays.

 Spending time with a wonderful, beautiful friend inside and out! 

One of the many reasons she's a bestie. Friend's don't let friend's do silly things alone!

Bliss.

Alas the season for kayaking is over where I reside. Farewell, till next year.

The lake however will freeze over and make room for more opportunities of fun!

Kayaking!

I finally got to fulfill one of the things off my bucket list.

I was down at Needwood Lake in Derwood, Maryland. East of Rockville.

74 acres of lush green grass, stunning views of the lake and peaceful serenity.

I wanted to make a light snack to have at the lake, something delicious and sweet. Pistachio Cranberry Cookies! These were deliciously light and everyone that ate them loved them! This is one that is definitely making it into my Family Cookbook.

 

I put in less of what was required in the recipe and it turned out really great, so here it is:

1 Pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 Box Pistachio and Pie Pudding Mix

1/2 Cup Dry Roasted Pistachio Nuts

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup Butter Melted

1/4 Cup Flour

2 Eggs

Heat oven at 350° and bake for 8-10 minutes! :D

The underside will be golden brown not the top of the cookie!

Makes around thirty cookies. Won't even last two days I guarantee!

I forgot to take a finished look of the cookies and by the time I remembered they were all gone. 

Getting back to the kayaking part, the park was absolutely beautiful!! 

They had all different kinds of boats. Kayaks, the Classic and some Paddle Boats too.

They had this shed full of life jackets with every size available.

They were all clean looking too! It worked for my germ-a-phobic self.

It was chilly in the air but out on the lake the sun shone brightly and warmed me up.

The clouds were so pretty, it was the brightest sky blue color I've seen with puffy white clouds.

The water was calm and peaceful. The sun shone down and made it sparkle like diamonds.

It was so breathtaking being out on the water, so wonderful.

I just wanted to pull out a book and read or just doze off in the sun.

I found a few birds swimming out on the lake and decided to follow them.

The white one is so hilarious, it's like an outcast poor thing, following other ducks.

It's quack was so different! It reminded me of how Goofy laughs. QuackQuackQuack. LOL.

 I also saw a few people with remote controlled sailboats!

 Absolutely loved kayaking so much! It was the epitome of exquisite scenery.

I saw two men fishing in the woods around the lake.

Just look at that scene. How peaceful. I love it.

After I was dried off from the sun's warming rays I decided to stop for a late lunch.

There's this adorable café called Melt not but ten minutes away from the Park.

It was quaint and clean and wonderfully priced. :)

 I chose the Tuna Melt. It was delicious and fresh.

It was an absolutely wonderful day. I loved it so much. Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

It was a great finish to the end of summer and a grand beginning to the start of fall! :D

❤ Me

Pick-Me Upper

So my weekend didn't start off too great.

Friday and Saturday I was annoyed to say the least.

Most definitely cutting negative people from my life asap.

I went down to the "Rio" once more in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

It was a much needed day to recuperate from the previous days events.

The weather was amazing and everything was just perfect. :D

Remember the bird boats I talked about the last time I came to the Rio?

It seems they were in full swing, swans, flamingos, ducks!

I wanted to ride one but I didn't want to ride alone lol.

 They also had a choo-choo train that you could ride around in for $3.
I wanted to ride that too but I think I might have looked out of place with the toddlers. 

 I stopped by at Potbelly for some lunch since I was starving, lol.

I got the Mediterranean Sandwich (delish!) 

Afterwards I bought a ticket at the cinema and had a bit of time to pass.

So I waltzed into a Barnes and Noble bookstore across the street.

They had such a pretty fountain with a tier of mini waterfalls.

I (finally) picked up the amazing Divergent series!! :)

Right next to the movie theatre they had a Haagen-Dazs!

A bit pricy though, $6 for a size regular, eek! :/

I got me a Mango & Lemon Sorbet.

It was pretty good. :)

 This was the theatre from the outside.

(taken after the movie finished).

Bethesda Row Cinema
7235 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(I rate the theatre a 10/10! It's awesome!)

This place is absolutely AMAZING. I cannot explain it. Actually yes I can. It is unlike any movie theatre I've ever been to. They give you a custom first class experience - unimaginable. They have a bar (with non-alcoholic beverages) where you can take drinks to your seat. And the seats themselves? Oh my. Made me feel like I was sitting in a luxury new BMW with black leather seats. They have assigned seating which you may think is bizarre, but it's really great they have it so organized.  Everything was immaculately clean and that's saying something cause I'm the biggest germ-a-phob.

The theatre does cater to independent films instead of mainstream which can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste. For me it didn't really matter as much. It was an alright movie. I saw The Spectacular Now. 

Crab Feast

Topic of the Day: Seafood!

Living in the state of Maryland one would expect every citizen to have tried crab since day one. I can shamefully say I've never had the crabalicious full blown experience of sitting on a bench with a bib having seafood dumped at your table where you need utensils to crack open the shells and take the meat out yourself. But I've gotten closer to having that experience! Over the weekend I was down and around looking for a place to eat and a friend and I came across Joe's Crab Shack located in Gaithersburg at the "Rio". I knew I wanted to eat here the instant I saw it. It had a gorgeous view of a lake with swans and geese swimming around with a fountain and boats that resembled birds that you could peddle in like a flamingo, swan, etc. Looked like fun!

That was the view from where I was sitting! :D
They had all these mini shops centered around the lake.

I wanted as much of the full experience as I could get. They had a few different varieties, I opted for a bucket of steamed lobster, snow crab legs, shrimp, a corn on the cob and two potatoes! (The food was a bit smaller than expected).

It was pretty delicious. For $30 it wasn't huge but at least it was fresh. They gave a nutcracker and a little yellow knife thing that could dig inside the shell to bring out meat. The lobster was a hassle to cut and gave such little meat. The crab was good I really enjoyed it though it wasn't a lot. 

I'm the Queen Crab!

  

I do hope I can go to Ocean City where I hear has the best fresh crab where they give buckets of the real deal, the whole body with a hammer and everything to tear them apart. Eek I get so excited thinking about it! It really was a fun experience and I'm happy I got to do it! My dream would be to catch the crab myself, take it home to steam and then cut it open myself! :)

After dinner I caught a late night movie, Now You See Me. I highly recommend it, it's a movie I could watch over again, great plot, amazing twist at the end never would have expected it. Definitely one to buy on DVD. With Morgan Freeman and the actor that plays Alfred! Aww. I love Alfred, he's so old and cute. It's nice to see him play a different role. On that note - goodnight!