Her Face, I forgot about Her face! So Frickin' Excited!

Last week my favorite Chagrin-ian, Abby Hudson came to visit. Typically I would have taken her to all the places that I thought were uniquely Cincinnati, and places I loved to go, but some how we ended up at a bunch of places that I have never been. Imagine that. Someone from out of town showing me the BEST things about my stomping grounds! First stop, The Root Beer Stand, Open since 1957 (approx.) who knew? Awesome Root Beer Floats right before dinner? Yes please!
Later that day Abby and I were on our way to Downtown Loveland, the closest area that could rival her Stars Hallow-esque town back home. But we made a detour when we saw the signs for the Loveland Castle. I might have been there once when I was young, and I just laugh when I see the signs for the infamous "Chateau la Roche" (aka Rock Castle). But, its actually pretty frickin' sweet, and I have now decided that I have to live in a castle just like that, my lover (yes, I believe its a "lover," not husband, when you live in a castle) will just have to deal.
Another thing I never knew, Hobby Lobby is a unique to Cincinnati, or at least they don't make them in Cleveland. Abby about flipped when she found out about this über craft warehouse! We spent about an hour and half among the stickers, fabrics, and decorations (Rodeo Themed Room in Chicago, Check!). This sort of set the mood for the rest of the visit, which turned out to be full of projects, heavy on the splatter paint.

So I discovered two new cites in Cincinnati while Abby was here, Mariemont and Madeira. Mariemont looks like Germany, no matter what anyone else says and Madeira is cute and kitschy. First we went to see the movie Babies, and I know this is hard to believe but I wanted one so frickin' bad afterwards! Below is the mischievous Mongolian child that I am planning on stealing, shh! After that, Jackie took us to the Dilly Deli, which was a precious as its name. Above the Dilly Deli is the Sweeterie, which was the cutest little cupcake shop I have ever seen. Abby got a cupcake that looked like a flower with a malted milk ball and mine tasted like Coffee and had a chocolate covered bean. Afterwards, it was raining but suddenly as we came upon the little town of Madeira t let up so we took that as a sign that we HAD to get out and explore. Good thing we did! Not only was there a little book shop, bead store and a paint your own pottery place called Mad Potters, there was also a Toy Store (where I have to admit we spent alot of our time).

Needless to say, our adventures rightly earned the title BEST DAY EVER!

Jackie painted the wolf-pack family crest on our kitchen table, Abby and I were great cheerleaders for her artisticness =)
Despite the odd stares we received from passing cars, splatter paining in my front yard proved to be extremely rewarding. Does mine look a little unique? Well that is probably due to the fact that the neighbors dog ran through it, mid splatter. You know what, I call that character.
Since we decided that the theme of our life was now going to be as chaotic as splatter paint, we finished the table with splattering the legs with black paint, I don't know if our bodies or the table got messier.
After the painting, still clad in the messy clothes and painted legs, Abby tasted her first bit of Skyline Heaven. Back in Chicago, Jackie and I had fed others the dip as a bit of foreplay, but nothing compares to that honest to goodness first bit of noodly, soupy chili topped with mile high cheese. Now doesn't that face just look like someone who is about to REALLY enjoy themselves?

Sadly after Skyline, it was time to part ways, but we already have ideas in the works for the next BEST TRIP EVER!