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:

The North Face Endurance Challenge : 11 Girls and 3 Relay Teams!

Welcome to all my new readers who may have found me through some of my marathon relay teammates! Yesterday was my highest number of readers ever and I hope you’ll continue to follow my journey as I strive for a healthy, happier life!

Today epitomized why I love blogging! The North Face Endurance Challenge brought together 11 bloggers and readers alike for a day of hot, humid fun and running! We made up three different teams as you can see from this picture. Blog Pictures 2010 304
The three teams were Run Bloggers Run, Run to Eat, and Team Awesome. Unfortunately, Lindsay was sick so Team Awesome was lacking a runner for the final leg of the relay. Luckily there were extras on hand from the Challenged Athlete Foundation and the guy below ran their final leg! He was awesome!
Blog Pictures 2010 336
This race was like none that I’ve ever done before in that it didn’t start until 11am. Normally, I’ve finished a race and showered by 11! We had to catch a lovely shuttle bus around 9:45. The bus reminded me of white water rafting trips or childhood field trips!
Blog Pictures 2010 296
Meghann clearly enjoyed herself!
The race was held in the Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling, Virginia. We assumed that we would be running through the scenic Great Falls area based on the course ratings:
The Great Falls sections are highlighted by some intense elevation changes, with steep-but-run-able climbs up to 300 feet. The River Trail covers what is widely held as the marquee section the event: up to three miles of tip-toeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River. The tedious-but-scenic time it takes to cover this section is more than offset by cruising sections of undulating trail in the river basin.
Unfortunately, the above review was not reflective of our terrain.
The starting and vendor area was a picnic/park area. But, it made for the perfect pre-race relaxation area and picture point!
Team AwesomeBlog Pictures 2010 300 Blog Pictures 2010 297 Heather getting ready with a smile! Blog Pictures 2010 298 Run To Eat: Leslie, Cara, Gretchen, and Amanda!Blog Pictures 2010 299 Run Bloggers Run: Meghann, Me, Heather, and Jes!
We all had a great time chatting and getting to know each other. I’d been talking with many of these ladies for the past few months so it was finally nice to put a name with a face and twitter name! 🙂 Before we knew it was 10:50 and time to get ready for the first leg!
Blog Pictures 2010 305
Last minute logistics and transition discussions!
Blog Pictures 2010 341  Blog Pictures 2010 306 Blog Pictures 2010 307   Blog Pictures 2010 309 Blog Pictures 2010 310
Some runners were a bit more intense than others! Our team was  about having fun!
Blog Pictures 2010 311Since there were no mile markers on the course almost EVERYONE used a Garmin. I had the chance to test out a Garmin by transitioning Jess’ ankle tracker and Garmin after she was done. Blog Pictures 2010 312     Blog Pictures 2010 317
Blog Pictures 2010 318 And they’re off like the wind. After the A leg took off we had some time to explore the vendor tents, take a last pit stop, and pose for pictures of course! We decided to run together since this was our first trail race and had both been randomly put in the B spot. Blog Pictures 2010 319 My goal for the race was to run the entire time and maintain under a 10:30 while also enjoying the course. I made a split minute decided to run sans headphones. This allowed me to hear the birds, other runners, and rustling bushes. I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Blog Pictures 2010 320 The scenic Potomac River as seen from the first mile of the trail.Blog Pictures 2010 321 After a brief grass stint we switched to a paved path along the golf  course and playing fields. I passed Eat to Run on my way out! This course wasn’t what I expected from a North Face Endurance Challenge. We were only in the actual woods and rocky terrain area for half the course while the rest wound in and out of playing fields and golf courses. I bet if we’d done the more hard core races, half marathon, marathon, 50K, or 50 miler we would have scene the water falls, hills, and course that fit North Face’s description better. But, considering this was my first trail run of any type it was probably better this way. Blog Pictures 2010 322 The trail reminded me of the South Georgia woods- humid, hot, and dense. The shade was a welcome treat during this portion.Blog Pictures 2010 323      We weren’t so hard core as to run through the river but we did cross it via bridge.trailrunfinish     As I was coming out of the woods I realized I had more juice so I upped the ante some. I finished strong and loved every minute!
  I would sign up for another trail run tomorrow if the opportunity presented itself! In fact, this evening we’ve all been tweeting about doing the half next year!
Each lady finished strong throughout the race and completed swift transitions!Blog Pictures 2010 325     Blog Pictures 2010 326 Blog Pictures 2010 327 Leslie finishing strong in her running skirt! This weekend she convinced me that I needed my own Jackson and a great running skirt.Blog Pictures 2010 328 Blog Pictures 2010 329    Cara, Run to Eat’s last lady heads off after the transition. Blog Pictures 2010 330
Our last lovely runner was all smiles and ready to get the show on the road! By the time the last leg started it was after 2pm and she was getting revved up. Go Meghann !Blog Pictures 2010 332  After Meghann hit the trail, Leslie, Heather and I enjoyed a much deserved free post race treat- beer!   Blog Pictures 2010 335        Her only request upon finishing was water and skittles. Luckily, these healthy living bloggers could deliver!  Blog Pictures 2010 337 Less than four hours later our last runner crosses the line!Blog Pictures 2010 338      Blog Pictures 2010 339 Blog Pictures 2010 340     After a long day out in the sun and barely any food, we were all craving a delicious, sit down lunch in the area. Five of us (Leslie, Meghann, Cara, me, and  Heather headed over to Reston Town Center for some much needed Mexican!
Blog Pictures 2010 343     Uncle Julio’s was able to answer our Mexican craving and impress us with their fresh tortillas! Yum!
unclejulios
Blog Pictures 2010 351
  Clearly we were hungry as this bowl of chips disappeared in about 5 minutes flat between the five of us. Their salsa was a fiery chipolte flavor that was a delicious complement to the salty chips. Blog Pictures 2010 344 A few of us ordered the vegetarian fajitas. I was excited that the fajitas included guacamole and portabella mushrooms, two of my favorite things. I was not excited when we realized the “cheese” on top of the vegetables was in fact butter. *sigh* Regardless, this was one of the best vegetable fajitas I’ve ever had. The veggies were all very fresh and the serving size was quite large. In fact, Meghann and I could have shared if we’d realized ahead of time.  Blog Pictures 2010 346     Delicious warm tortillas made fresh in house.  Blog Pictures 2010 348     Is there anything more delicious than this creamy and flavorful combination?

Blog Pictures 2010 350
We spent the lunch laughing and reminiscing over race memories before parting ways. Leslie was kind enough to drop Meghann and I off at the nearest Metro station so Part 2 of our Virginia adventure could begin. We were looking forward to meeting Jacquie in Georgetown!
Eleven girls met up this morning unfamiliar with the area and each other and then left the event friends and teammates! What a great day!

If you’re new to my blog, I’d love to know more about you! If you have any questions or topic requests for me please let me know! I hope you enjoy!

Share Button
Follow:
Share:
Comments Off on The North Face Endurance Challenge : 11 Girls and 3 Relay Teams!

Beware of Copperheads…

I woke up this morning like a little kid on Christmas Day. I was ready for the fun blogger gals weekend filled with car trips, running adventures, food, and the great city of Washington, DC.

This morning started with my first Bolt Bus experience. It was far better than I expected except for a few learnings:

-the plugs didn’t work

-the wireless didn’t work

-the reserved seats on the bus are given to “standby” passengers 15 minutes before the bus leaves

Luckily none of these affected my trip as I planned ahead and arrived 20 minutes early, charged my Blackberry and computer last night, and has my Kindle to keep my occupied.

As we crossed the Ben Franklin Bridge this morning I suddenly was filled with emotions. I forgot how much I love Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love.

Blog Pictures 2010 249 Blog Pictures 2010 242 Blog Pictures 2010 243

After arriving in Philadelphia I had these friendly faces greeting me:

Blog Pictures 2010 250

Leslie and her adorable pup Jackson were waiting for me at 30th Street. They make such a great team. Jackson is the perfect blend of dog for the couple like me and Bo. I want a cat because they like laps and don’t yap. Bo wants a dog because they have more personality and aren’t quite as independent. Well, I met my new love and I’m never letting him go. Sorry Leslie, I may hide him in my bag tomorrow. I mean really, how can you resist this face?

Blog Pictures 2010 262 Blog Pictures 2010 260

After a quick stop at Whole Foods for road trip necessities (Kombucha, Newman’s Own pretzels, and grapes) we hit the road for DC.

First stop upon arrival…

Blog Pictures 2010 251Blog Pictures 2010 252

Blog Pictures 2010 259   Blog Pictures 2010 253  Blog Pictures 2010 255 

Luckily the place wasn’t packed when I hopped in to grab Meghann, Leslie, and my bibs but there were was an interesting warning.

Blog Pictures 2010 254

Yeah, we were expecting a water warning or heat since it’s supposed to be 94 degrees tomorrow. But, instead we were greeted with this beauty of a sign and a verbal warning as well. Oh well, just keep running!

After this our afternoon included fun stops at places like Target, Potomac River Running Company, and some wedding dress shopping with Leslie’s parents.

By 5:30 we were starving and anxiously awaiting this pretty face…

Blog Pictures 2010 263

The Friday night trio was now complete and ready to take on the Fairfax food scene.  Cee Fine Thai Dining taught us to never judge a book by it’s cover. While this may be in an old fast food restaurant it is delicious. This is Leslie’s standby whenever she has friends or family in town and Meghann and I quickly learned why.

Blog Pictures 2010 264

Like I said, not the prettiest decor on the outside.

  threegirlsthaiBlog Pictures 2010 266 But the company was lovely and the chatter flowed as if we were old friends. That really is the magic of blogging. We were never short for words the entire car ride or throughout the day since we know so much about each other’s daily life already. While this may seem weird it’s also an amazing side effect. Blog Pictures 2010 271 We started with a delicious appetizer which included green onions, bean sprouts, and egg wrapped in rice paper and drizzled in a sweet sauce. Blog Pictures 2010 273 This was followed by two main courses we shared between the three of us, shrimp pad thai and green curry vegetables. The vegetables were quite spicy but when mixed with the nutty pad thai the combination had a perfect taste balance.Blog Pictures 2010 274Blog Pictures 2010 276 Blog Pictures 2010 277 Clearly we didn’t enjoy our meals. We were all proud clean plate club members tonight.  Leslie’s mom was too sweet and baked funfetti cupcakes! These were waiting on the counter, freshly cooled and iced, when we returned from dinner. There is something nostalgic and soothing found in a homemade funfetti cupcake. It may not have the aesthetic value that Crumbs, Magnolia, or Billie’s boast but it was moist and delicious. A perfect sweet ending to a perfect day with two wonderful gals.

Blog Pictures 2010 280 Blog Pictures 2010 281  Blog Pictures 2010 283

The clothes are set out and now we’re all perched throughout Leslie’s pretty pink childhood bedroom blogging away while Friends Season 1 plays in the background on VHS.

threebloggers

Goodnight and keep us in your thoughts tomorrow as we conquer the North Face Endurance challenge marathon relay. There are many different bloggers participating across four teams! 🙂

Share Button
Follow: