The calm after the ATV storm…

So after recovering from our ATV adventure it was time for a little relaxation before our dinner reservations.

IMG_2882How gorgeous is the view from the Blair Hill Inn? The owners actually bought the house 13 years ago after just seeing the view alone during a trip out east from Chicago! IMG_2878 IMG_2879I wish I had a wrap around porch like this back in NYC! It was amazing, especially the porch swing!IMG_2880 IMG_2881

The wicker flower baskets were throughout the front and back porch. The owner apologized as they aren’t in full bloom yet. Really? I think these look just dandy!

We had 8pm reservations at the Northern Pride Lodge so we hurried off again to ensure they wouldn’t give away our reservations.

IMG_2886  Yes, this is the sign that greeted us as we turned into the restaurant.We knew it would be an interesting experience!IMG_2887IMG_2888   IMG_2889    Meow, this greeted us when we walked through the door. Yikes!IMG_2901        Oh wait, there were more! By this point we were all a little over taken with the animal paraphernalia thought it was appropriate for the location.  Our Inn had suggested we enjoy dinner at the local hunting lodge. They kind owner seated us in the dining room and insisted that we take our time but let her know when we were ready. The menu looked great but it was a little weird that we were the ONLY people dining there that night. She insisted that we weren’t interrupting her evening and that others had dined earlier.

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Some of the highlights included me trying cantaloupe for the billionth time and actually enjoying it. Thanks mom for insisting again! Maybe it was the caramel and melted brie?

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Mom and I both tried their salmon which was okay but unfortunately not amazing. In fact, the salmon needed seasoning or a sauce.

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However, the guys definitely loved their dinners. Bo and Dad went with the house specials- ribeye and duck. They both ate their entire meal!

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Overall, this lodge reaffirm our belief that you can’t judge a restaurant by it’s exterior or interior.

The next morning we were greeted bright and early by homemade blueberry coffee cake and fresh fruit. Ruth and her husband certainly knew how to delight their guests with fresh breakfasts!

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My dad doesn’t really believe in vacations. He believes in work free super adventures. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him sit still. This meant that we weren’t going to stay still all weekend either. Our plans for Saturday included lake fishing and a guided canoe moose hunt.

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Fishing was not exactly our favorite activity. We all love the adventure and fun of deep sea fishing but loathe lake fishing. IMG_2911I IMG_2912think by the end of the first hour we were all ready to jump off the boat due to boredom. Finally during the second hour we started catching some fish.

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Four hours later we called it quits and returned to land for lunch which included the best scallops I’ve ever had!

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We found some friendly moose who didn’t mind giving us a hug and a place to sit for a minute to catch our breath.

IMG_2938  So clearly my dad needs to practice taking photos more often. The only one that shows the moose is the one where I’m yelling at Bo for hurting my back! IMG_2936 IMG_2937

Yes, this is what love is all about!

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In the Morning Sun

After a wonderful night’s sleep, I was finally able to explore our room and the gorgeous inn! Breakfast was served from 8am-9am so I snagged a few moments before meeting my parents downstairs and captured our room’s adorable details on film. I love bed and breakfasts that understand the importance of details.

Blog Pictures 2010 452 Blog Pictures 2010 453 The bed was smaller than we are accustomed to but the feather bed was a treat! Blog Pictures 2010 454       Blog Pictures 2010 455 The bathroom includes a double soaking bath and a stall shower. Blog Pictures 2010 456 I love the double lamps in the bathroom.Blog Pictures 2010 457 The lobby is warm and inviting with the fresh flowers and warm hardwood floor. Blog Pictures 2010 458 Who is that dapper young man? 🙂 It’s amazing what a shower and good night’s rest can do for someone.Blog Pictures 2010 459

Their full bar which features an autographed picture of Jerry Garcia!

After my quick exploration it was time for a homemade breakfast in the sun lit breakfast nook. The area housed six tables included a four person round that suited our needs perfectly this morning.

The first course included fresh grapefruit broiled with brown sugar and Maine blueberries. I would love to recreate this at home as it gave the grapefruit a whole new flavor.

The second course was homemade blueberry waffles topped with toasted pecans and Maine maple syrup. I ate half of this one and half a piece of bacon before passing the rest to Bo and my dad.

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After breakfast Bo and I decided that a quick run would be the perfect way to take in the landscape. It also allowed me to use my new Garmin which worked perfectly.

Pre-Run

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The run was filled with hills. We ran 3.1 miles in about 34 minutes which wasn’t bad considering it included hills. We ran without headphones and chatted instead. Similar to Dori, I am trying to run without music more often.

Next up on our agenda was an ATV tour of Maine’s back woods. Mom, Bo, and I thought we were on our way to a two or three hour excursion. Hence our smile below,

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We’re about to leave for dinner so I can’t give a full recap but I’ll leave you with this picture which is worth 1,000 words.  Eight hours later our feet looked like this. Imagine what the rest of me looked like especially since my greatest fear happened and I was indeed thrown off of an ATV and then it proceeded to fall on me. 🙂

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Changing Up My Morning Routine

Most mornings, my routine looks like this:

5:20 alarm goes off

5:45-7 workout at gym

7:15-7:45 shower/dress/pack lunch/get ready for the day

7:45-8:00 morning commute

8:15 Quaker Oatmeal breakfast of champions

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My normal oatmeal mix isn’t pretty but it is definitely tasty and filling. It includes:

1/2 c Quaker Oats

1/2 c berries

3/4 c water

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp flax seed

a dollop of 0% Chobani yogurt

This mix has superb staying power because it has a mix of protein, carbs, and fiber. But, I wanted to change up my morning a bit and whipped out an easy breakfast sandwich instead.

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This simple breakfast included:

1 Arnold 100 calorie sandwich thin

1/3 c Egg Beaters Just Whites with a splash of hot sauce mixed in

1 slice Fat Free sharp cheddar cheese

1 thin spread of garlic hummus

It was absolutely delicious though was finished much faster than my oatmeal. It will be a good experiment to see if it has staying power. I’ll let you know later!

Do you ever get tired of your regular breakfast routine? Have a great day!

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