Emily Exploring Maryland!

​ I had the most wonderful experience making soy candles at Create a Candle in Hagerstown, Maryland! Create a Candle is owned by the sweetest married couple, Brittni Perkins-Butler and her husband Troy Butler Jr. They were so warm and welcoming, and the shop was designed so thoughtfully.  About Brittni and Troy  The masterminds behind Create a Candle are both extremely knowledgeable and take their weekend side hustle very seriously. Brittni is a Towson University art history alumni, who has lots of experience in the art world. From working at a museum and radio station, to interior designing, she makes your experience at Create a Candle fun and comfortable. Troy also has artistic knowledge and a background in customer service.  They opened Create a Candle at 9 Public Square Hagerstown, MD a little over two years ago, and have had great success with their small business! Their shop is open for classes from Thursday until Sunday and hours vary depending on the day.  Ca...

​ My family has stayed loyal and true to our all time favorite restaurant, Chiapparelli’s . This little gem is located in Little Italy, Baltimore on South High Street. Chiapparelli’s truly has the most amazing food and the environment inside of the restaurant is so cozy, warm and welcoming. I may be biased because it is a family tradition to celebrate birthdays at Chiapparelli’s, but it is one million percent worth a visit. (My family and I at Chiapparelli’s circa 2010!)   Chiapparelli’s Restaurant History  Chiapparelli’s was first opened in the early 1940’s as a pizza joint by Pasquale Chiapparelli’s and his brother. Pasquale, originally from Naples, Italy, moved to the United States in 1925 at the age of 26 years old. He moved to Baltimore to join many of his family members that had moved here prior to him. Pasquale married a woman known as Miss Nellie who worked with him in the restaurant making her speciality of daily fresh ravioli! Both Miss Nellie and Pasquale passed awa...

​ I unfortunately have not traveled out of the country, but, my uncle has had some of the most amazing travel experiences I’ve ever heard of! My uncle Mike has been traveling the world since I was a little girl. He first moved to San Diego, California, then made his way to living in Tijuana, Mexico for many years. He absolutely loves to experience new cultures and the art of solo travel. He meets new people wherever he goes, and has so many stories to tell. My uncles favorite place to go is Thailand, so today we are going to break down some of their unique traditions from his point of view! Why Thailand? Before we get into the festivals and traditions, I must tell you why uncle Mikes country of choice is Thailand. The simple answer is, it’s extremely cheap, and the scenery is stunning. My uncle is not a winter person, he despises cold weather, so warm places are where he chooses to spend most of his months out of the year.  Hotels According to a site called “ Thailand Starts H...