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.

      IMG_2890 IMG_2891 IMG_2893

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?

IMG_2894  IMG_2897

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

IMG_2899

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

IMG_2900

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!

IMG_2906

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.

IMG_2908IMG_2910

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.

IMG_2926     IMG_2914 IMG_2915 IMG_2919 IMG_2920 IMG_2921 IMG_2924 IMG_2925

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

IMG_2932

IMG_2933 

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!

Share Button
Follow:

Bucket List

Like many other people, I saw the movie Bucket List a few years ago. I really enjoyed the movie and characters. The fact that you have to live life to the fullest resonated with me and in fact it inspired me to create my own bucket list soon after.

My bucket list is a bit out of hand. At last pass, it had over 50 items on it. While I don’t necessarily need to narrow it down, I would like to compare mine with Bo’s. To give you a taste of some of my dreams, here are a few of mine:

-Rent a villa in Italy for a week

-Run and complete the NYC marathon

-Go on at least a week vacation with just my mom

-Visit every continent

-Go sky diving

-See a moose

See a moose? Yes you read it right. Over the past few years I’ve traveled to many areas that are supposedly filled with moose. In fact, they have so many moose that they have roadside warning signs!

My family has a house in the beautiful mountains of Vermont and I’ve camped and hiked throughout Yellowstone and Yosemite. Yet I’ve still never seen a moose! This became a running joke between Bo and I and therefore I included it on my bucket list. What’s on your bucket list?

Hopefully, I’ll be able to check this off my list by Sunday. Bo and I are on our way to spend a weekend on Moose Lake with my parents in Maine. It is our first visit to Maine and couldn’t come at a better time. The area looks absolutely gorgeous and our room has a king size bed, double bath, and overlooks the lake! I love cozy bed and breakfasts. But, what has me even more excited is this:

Moose Safaris – Whether you choose one of the areas slower paced pontoon excursions in search of moose with a drink in hand or prefer to be picked up at the Inn by our private guide and venture via canoe to the back ponds, you can be almost guaranteed to site moose, their young, and other wildlife. A moose safaris is truly a unique Maine experience.

Um, yes please! I can’t wait!

While Bo and I were waiting for our flight at LaGuardia we decided to grab some dinner. At first glance all we saw was McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Mex in the City. But, hidden between these we saw Cibo! We wanted to get the weekend started off right with a glass of wine so Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar seemed like the natural choice.

Blog Pictures 2010 445

Blog Pictures 2010 446 

The restaurant features a bar and seating for about 40 people.  The restaurant was packed which we thought to be a good sign. After finding a table we switched from work mode into weekend mode with a glass of sauvingon blanc.

Blog Pictures 2010 443Blog Pictures 2010 447 

Ahh,  it felt so nice to take a few minutes and enjoy a date night together even if it was in an airport restaurant.

Blog Pictures 2010 449       We both have a soft spot for goat cheese and beets. I love the crunchy texture mixed with the creaminess of the goat cheese and the way it coats all the lettuce. We started with this salad and the clams. Both were surprisingly good. In fact, I think they were gone in 5 minutes flat!Blog Pictures 2010 450

Check out our gorgeous view! Hello sunset and Manhattan skyline!

Blog Pictures 2010 448  

Blog Pictures 2010 451

I wasn’t really hungry by the time we ordered dinner so I told Bo I’d have a few bites of whatever he ordered. He went with his craving and chose the chicken marsala. It needed salt and didn’t hold a candle to the appetizers. I had a few, okay maybe a ton, of mushrooms and then called it quits.

Overall though, I was very impressed with Cibo and would highly recommend it if you’re in the US Airways terminal of LaGuardia. The service is slow when they’re packed but the view is great and the food is beyond your average airport farewithout breaking the bank.

 

Okay our flight is boarding! Have a great night and I’ll check in bright and early. I’m hoping to test out the Garmin in the backwoods of Maine tomorrow before breakfast with my parents.

Don’t forget to enter my smart girl skin care giveaway!

Share Button
Follow:

Reinventing the Basics

Today was all about reinventing the basics! This morning I switched up my normal oatmeal routine for a new breakfast sandwich bursting with protein and fiber. Now it was time to do the same at lunch!

My daily salad lunches are always filling, nutritious, and filled with volume but they can sometimes get boring and repetitive. Today, I decided to switch my Pax salad up a bit with some delicious additions and swaps!

Blog Pictures 2010 437Yes, I unfortunately eat lunch at my desk everyday either pounding through work or pushing through a meeting. Also, notice that awesome black and red North Face bottle in the background. This may be my favorite piece of swag we received during the North Face Endurance Challenge this weekend. It’s UGA colors and reminds me of all the fun we had!

Blog Pictures 2010 439  Blog Pictures 2010 438

This delicious mix included the following:

mixed greens, carrots, red onions, chicken, spinach, celery, 1/2 serving of olives, tomatoes, 1/2 serving of feta, and fat free lemon herb dressing

It was filled with bold flavors spread throughout and left my mouth satiated and smiling!

After a long day at work, I enjoyed a massage that went back to the basics. The beautiful Katherine dug deep at my knots and the tightness that many runners deal with day in day out. Before tonight I had only frequented spa settings for massages. But, when Katherine offered a practice session which would benefit both of us I was more than game. Well, an hour later, I felt better than I’ve ever felt after leaving a massage. She used deep pressure when needed on my quads and IT band area but then balanced it with smooth massage techniques in between. Thank you Katherine for my basic but divine massage. I have realized that I don’t need the scented lotions and oils of a spa in order to feel relief!

I didn’t get home until 9:30 and therefore was absolutely Hangry Pants when I walked through the door. Bo was just finishing his run so he felt the same. This meant it was time for a quick and resourceful meal since our fridge is pretty barren. We’ve been trying to eat down our produce and perishable products since we’ll be in Maine this weekend with my parents.

Freezer to the rescue! Bo discovered some delicious chicken cacciatore in the depths of the freezer. While defrosted it I made a makeshift salad from the leftovers in our produce bin. It consisted of celery, tomatoes, carrots, and a balsamic drizzle. This, when combined with the tomato flavors from the chicken, was absolute heaven! It took us less than 10 minutes and used ingredients we already had on hand!

Blog Pictures 2010 441 Blog Pictures 2010 442

Simple yet delicious! We need to remember to do this more often. Now I’m off to finish watching the Glee season finale! I wish Glee could be on year round!

Check back tomorrow for an awesome beauty giveaway that will keep your skin fresh all summer long!

Share Button
Follow: