Jasmine The Invincible

Summer is just getting started - have you planned out your adventures yet? If you are short on annual leave, or even short on funds, this list will help you channel your explorer mojo into planning an exciting series of day trips in Maryland. Have a solo experience, or even bring friends and family along for the ride! Walk in Her Shoes - Harriet Tubman Byway Image from Visit Maryland Not only was Harriet Tubman the frontwoman of the Underground Railroad (a network of safe houses and individuals dedicated to helping enslaved black men and women escape and gain their freedom) but she was also a nurse employed by the Union Army during the American Civil War and later -- a spy, scout, and militia commander.  Believe it or not, much of Tubman's "railroad conductor" work happened right in Maryland. While leading others to freedom, she traveled through Dorchester and Caroline counties in Maryland before heading into Deleware, and then into Pennsylvania.  This su...

I'm proud to introduce my UNpacked series! In UNpacked , I will tackle issues concerning race, gender, socio-economic status, etc that I uncover or grapple with during my travels. I hope it sparks a dialogue for you to have with your loved ones, or even encourages you to do research and further educate yourself about the topic. * * * While doing research for future road trips, I found myself visiting Virginia's official tourism website for ideas. After clicking through a few pages I came across a listing of African American historic sites that I was initially very excited to explore. No matter where I vacation I ALWAYS visit black historic sites. It is my way of feeling in touch with my heritage, as well as learning more about the history of the travel destination. However, what I found on the Virginia webpage gave me pause. In an overview of Monticello, located in Charlottesville, VA, I read the following: See Monticello through the lens of the Hemings Family, the best docum...

  Jasmine reflects and reflects and reflects. Can you believe it's actually August ? It seems it was not that long ago that I was making plans to work from home for what appeared to be a couple of weeks or so. I remember putting on my jacket, grabbing a few things from my cubicle at the office -- only to never return again. In the time since March, the days have zoomed past at break-neck speed. My husband and I had to cancel our anniversary celebration and to add insult to injury I barely remember holidays like Easter or Memorial Day weekend. I think the pandemic quarantine or "Coronatine" (as I like to call it) has caused this phenomenon where we lose a sense of time due to the monotony of our schedules and increased time indoors. According to health professionals, this is the safest method for curbing the spread of the virus. This fact brings us to our topic at hand. Even though most states are at level 3+ of re-opening, does that mean we can go back pre-pandemic life? ...

While I love the joy and fulfillment that comes with working for non-profit organizations, I understand how difficult it can be to make the time (and save the money) necessary to travel frequently. That being said, when my fiance and I wanted to have a quick beach vacation and save a bit of loot in the process - I took it as a challenge! In 2017, we visited the Rehoboth Beach area for the first time and have been itching to get back ever since! The boo and I packed up the car on a Thursday afternoon in late April and started our pilgrimage to Deleware. The traffic was a mess all the way there but with great tunes and even better company, we arrived just in time for check-in. I'd heard many positive things about Dewey Beach, and decided to book at Beach House Dewey using Groupon. This is a motel with an updated, boutique-light look.  The rooms are fairly spacious with modern furnishings, but none of the rooms have a beach or ocean view.  Unfortunately, w...

Image from @TwinValleyDist Twin Valley Distillers, a whiskey distillery located in Rockville, is now making hand sanitizer on-site instead of its usual spirits. According to WJLA's live broadcast on March 23rd, the company is selling 4 oz bottles of hand sanitizer today at 8AM. This will be the third batch of hand sanitizer sold by Twin Valley. Bottles are $4 each and limited to 2 per customer. * * * Via WJLA -- ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABC7) — It started as a joke, but Twin Valley Distillers has turned its production line of whiskeys, bourbons, and rums into a hand sanitizer factory, helping alleviate strained supply chains across Maryland. The locally-owned business — and Montgomery County's only distillery — began tinkering with ingredients in recent days. It simultaneously applied for, and quickly received, federal approval to make the sanitizing product. it is using a recipe of ethanol, glycerol, aloe vera gel, lemongrass oil, and Vitamin E oil. "The federal gove...

This whole grocery store situation has been super apocalyptic, and because of it, this morning I caught the holy spirit (for the first time in my life) over some toilet paper. Two weeks ago, Chris tried to get a leg up on the then possible threat of a TP shortage. He went to the commissary and accidentally bought two packs of paper towels. To his credit, Scott paper towels look exactly like Scott toilet paper at first glance. I wasn't tripping at first because we had about 8 rolls of TP left in the house. Again, this was close to 2 weeks ago...and things dwindle. I tried to do my best to conserve but I'm a BBW and use more than the average person. This week we were down to 4 rolls. We have 3 bathrooms in the house...so I was starting to feel anxious. Amazon didn't have any TP. We tried ordering them from Instacart and that didn't work either. I really didn't want to wait until Amazon emailed me to say they had toilet paper in stock. I needed some right now. ...

Price gouging occurs when sellers (individuals) increase the cost of goods, services or commodities to a level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair. It typically occurs after a demand or supply shock and is considered exploitative and unethical. Businesses are not allowed to take advantage of the public during a national crisis or natural disaster by increasing the cost of essential items to turn a profit. This could include (but is not limited to) gas, toilet paper, surgical masks, hand sanitizer, or non-perishables. If you feel you have been a victim of price gouging, or you have witnessed a business take advantage of the public, reach out to your local attorney general. Links for DMV area attorney generals are provided below: Washington, D.C. Attorney General, Karl A. Racine Consumer Protection Consumer Protection Hotline: (202)442-9828 Mon-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm phone: (202) 727-3400 Fax: (202) 347-8922 TTY: (202) 727-3400 Email: oag@dc.gov Website ...

Not a Maryland crab cake I always get highly upset when I go to a restaurant and they say they have Maryland crab cakes...when they actually just have crab patties made with Maryland blue crab loaded down with tons of filler. It is an OUTRAGE and the next time it happens, I am calling the POLICE! For those who aren't aware, a real Maryland crab cake has the following qualities: Is made with LUMP Maryland blue crab meat (not backfin). Has little to no filler and usually has mostly egg binding instead of breadcrumb (or in some cases a little of both). Is served  broiled , not fried.  It is served browned . It isn't white , or light tan , it is GOLDEN BROWN  cot dangit. (If someone brings me a white crab cake, I'm flipping over the table and knocking over every water pitcher in sight!) You don't get any bites of crab shell. Only delicious, sweet crab. That being said, here is a list of restaurants where you can go and expect to have an au...

The older I grow, the more I enjoy the great outdoors -- especially when it comes to experiences specific to the region in which I live. Maryland, DC, and Virginia offer an array of natural wonders perfect for every level of adventurer. Whether you enjoy scenic, simple walks -- or rafting through bubbling, whitewater rapids -- the sites on this list are sure to add some excitement to your summer! Assateague Island, MD Image from  Visit Worcester Assateague is a natural barrier island a few miles south of Ocean City, MD. Tourists often gather on its famous beaches for the chance to catch a glimpse of wild ponies. On your next trip, consider visiting the Assateague Lighthouse or renting a bike and pedaling around Assateague Park! Admission is $20 per vehicle. Calvert Cliffs State Park, MD  Image from  Pinterest Located in Lusby, Maryland, the Calvert Cliffs State Park is well known for its diverse ecosystem (including beaches, marshes...