I don’t like to use terms and words like hate, despise, etc. because I try to choose a positive and hopeful mindset about everything I can, but I have a confession; I REALLY don’t like the cold. I mean IÂ totally suck at it. I’m living in Chicago right now so that doesn’t make much sense, I know. I’ve never dreaded a season more than I dread the frigid temps I will experience these next few months, but I’m determined to embrace it and be a survivor! There’s a method to my madness for being here and a reason for everything- even torturing myself through the brutal misery of The Windy City winter. So I will keep my goals in mind as I cuddle in and do my best to stay cozy warm while I enjoy all the amazing sights, sounds, people, places and things around this awesome city.
Now I need boots.
I was in Maine at L.L. Bean a few weeks. Who doesn’t love Bean? At the time I couldn’t bring myself to by boots, because well- I don’t want to live in a place where you need things like boots, but attempting a Midwest winter without them would just be silly.
So I signed up for email alerts from Bean and have found a triple threat of deals that I’m going to take advantage of:
*FREE shipping, any size order
*10% off any order now through 11/13
$10 off any order of $50 or more for anyone who signs up for email alerts.
L.L.Bean is open 24/7 and 365. Yes- everyday, every hour, year round. There are no locks on the doors at the Freeport Maine flagship store. Even better you can return any thing and any time for any reason. No joke. When I was a teenager I had a backpack that I used for about 10 years. I actually cut the zipper with scissors one day because I kept getting it stuck. I sent it back to Bean, they didn’t even make the same bag anymore but with no questions asked sent me the most similar one to mine shiny and new. If you’re not satisfied they fix it plain and simple. They want you to be happy and confident with your purchase for it’s lifetime. (Or yours for that matter.) Do I feel confident in putting my hard earned money into a purchase at L.L. Bean? You betcha- and like no other company.
Now off to order my boots. Wish me luck this winter…
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Oh the stories and videos I have to post this week from my long weekend away in the Vacationland.
Life changing pizza in Portland, whoopie pie making and feasting in Cape Elizabeth, and parades with color guard teams flipping flags with Million Mile Joe’s head on them in Saco. All so fun.
Back in Chicago already and running off to job #2 now so more soon…
I am off to the festivities with Honda and the one and only Million Mile Joe! I can’t wait to take lots of videos and photos and bring good stories back here so check back in soon!
Turns out that Spirit Airlines is actually no b.s! Ok, so you don’t get any TV, drink or any other extras, but who likes that freeze dried chicken sandwich crap other airlines serve anyway? I’d rather have a $39 plane ticket for a quick flight and save my loot for the good food once I get “there” thankyouverymuch. So I am in Maine, flight Chicago to Boston was an easy breeze, direct too, departed and arrived within 1.5 hours or so. Fabulous. Spirit is going to stay on my radar for future quick, easy, cheap getaways for sure.
It’s near 3am, I must be up an atem early to help make (and sample of course) whoopie pies in last minute prep for Saturdays Harvest on the Harbor, so I will keep this short as I need to get some shut-eye. A big weekend is about to unfold here in the Vacationland of the Northeast. I was even contacted today by a radio show host and newspaper columnist in Bangor via someone in Detroit about the Honda fun and celebration with Million Mile Joe on Sunday. We shall see what happens with that.
Plenty to report back soon. I got to eat a preliminary BLR flavor whoopie tonight right out of the airport gate; Nutella filling squishing out of a chocolate cake. Mmmm….
I usually drive everywhere (as you have heard the Honda love and about all my road trips), but tomorrow I fly to Boston en route to Maine for this weekends Whoopsies/Harvest on the Harbor and Million Mile Joe festivities. I got a super last minute deal flight on Spirit Airlines (booked just last week) so we shall see how that goes. I already found out about some extra charges and fine print, but round trip even with those so far is looking like a total of $175 non-stop Chicago to Boston, so fingers crossed no more hidden fees. I will report back of course. You know I love getting the best deal around and that’s all I can afford anyway, so I believe in keeping all flights under $200 if humanly possible.
It’s hard to believe it’s coming up on a month since I’ve been back in Chicago from my BLR Honda September Adventure. It’s all been a whirlwind! Going back to job #1 slinging burgers and beers to pay the bills, finding an apartment. to home base in, run around the city finding furniture and all apartment furnishing, sleep for more than 2 minutes, run, Zumba, dance class, and of course job #2 BLR and working on fun things like b-day #3 and the launch of this sweet new whoopie pie, finagling to make it to Million Miles Joe’s day and yet another collaboration that’s been in the works for a while that I will be UBER excited to report on when I am able. I have a few wrap up videos from last months trip I owe here that will be posted within the next week. After vagabonding for so many years, I have to say it’s been nice to walk in and shut my own door of my own little home at night, and sleep in my own bed. (Yes! I got a bed! First time in a very long time. What a treat.)
Besides the treat of a bed and place to actually receive mail and shower where I don’t have to pack up my toiletries each day, my home base offers the #1 thing that I was looking for: A place to have all my things nice and organized so I have the foundation to work on and plan even more kick-ass adventures and projects! You didn’t actually think this was it/home base established/game over did you? Hee hee…of course not! BLR year 3 has got some serious momentum and oh the “places” we will go. The more time that passes, the more and more I see that everything is possible, so I fully plan to continue on taking in everything I can and encouraging you all to do the same.
Next time you see me here I’ll be stuffing my face with a BLR flavored whoopie pie!
I am happy to share the news that in honor of Blue Lollipop Road turning 3, My new and incredibly talented, sassy, fun friends at Whoopsies Gourmet Whoopie Pies are launching a new flavor called The Blue Lollipop Road!!!
YEAH!
If you have followed my journeys since the beginning, you know I am a chocolate and treat lover. My all-time favorite indulgence being Oreos dipped in Nutella. Well, during my BLR Honda September adventure last month I met Marcia and Berkeley (partners in de-lish whoopie pie making crime) who opened me into their sweet world to me. We became instant pals, I fell in love with their product, and of course during the time I spent in Marcia’s Portland Maine kitchen chatting away and noshing, we thought- what about a whoopie involving my ultimate favorite?
Done!
This is the official announcement for the Blue Lollipop Road whoopie pie flavor kick off. I will fly to Maine later this week to launch in person and work at Harvest on the Harbor with the Whoopsie crew on Saturday (the 22nd.) If you are around the Portland, Maine area- stop by and see us at this event! I am absolutely thrilled to work with such a fabulous company and people that make such a delicious product!
On Sunday (the 23rd) I will be with the other pal I made in Maine on my BLR Honda September Adventure; Million Mile Joe! As of this morning, he is literally just miles from hitting ONE MILLION MILES on his 1990 Honda Accord. Amazing! This weekend Honda is honoring Joe and his huge accomplishment that is just hours away in a big celebration and they’ve invited me. Of course I wouldn’t miss this event after meeting Joe and all the love I have for my own Honda. A few of us know about one big treat Joe is getting this Sunday, but there’s another super secret surprise for him Honda has kept that we are all looking forward to hearing about.
SO FUN! Here’s to big birthdays, super sweets, treats, and a million miles!
After months of looking forward to meeting the fellow-Honda loving Million Mile Joe- today was the day!
Joe and I made no absolutely no schedule or plans other than to meet at a local coffee shop and go from there. I got there early and anxiously awaited his arrival:
Joe came and we chatted for a long while. Even though it was a first time meeting, we talked and talked and laughed like old friends. We then decided to go explore a bit and check out each others cars, so we were off:
Joe turned out to be quite the tour guide! The first place he wanted to show me was Lake Pennesseewasee. (Called Lake Norway by locals.):
A gorgeous back drop for where older meets new Honda:
Joe’s quite the jokester. He pretends his car needs a push:
After the lake stop, it was a must to go to this well-known sign with all the countries (towns) in Maine:
Off we went to Joe’s house. Check out this fun sign Sharon (Joe’s wife) made to welcome me:
How sweet was that? (Thanks Sharon!)
I had to get a photo of Joe’s bumper, twin to mine with his URL:
…and one of the man and the car; uninterrupted:
Does that look like one happy guy or what?
First thing was first. A gift exchange!
Hours flew by as we shared stories and information about our lives in Honda. I jumped in Joe’s rig to give a thumbs up:
…and then thought I was funny to pretend I was cooly cruising down the road:
(Yes, I was in full geek-out mode!) I zoomed in on that odometer that’s so close to a million:
…and of course added a the blue lollipop:
I was very excited to see that Joe uses paper maps too:
Joe showed me the engine and parts that keep on trucking’:
…and showed me a few of the parts and pieces he’s used over the years:
Who’s Powered by Honda?
Joe is! There’s that famous hat. Who else is Powered by Honda?
I am! Yep- Joe let me borrow his hat for a few minutes. I need to get myself one of those…
After a whole bunch of car talk, Joe suggested we go explore a couple of local spots, so in the car we went buzzing down the back roads of Maine:
I like the sight of this; The special blue lollipop right in the mix of Joe’s console collection:
First stop what we though was going to be a Deer Farm that actually turned out to be an Elk Farm:
(This was a blast and as you heard in the video extra special for me in that I love when I visit people and it turns into an excuse for them to do something in their own town they haven’t done yet!)
After the Elk Farm, Joe took me to Snow Falls:
Here we are together!
…and the falls were that green New England nature that’s so nice and relaxing to breathe in:
Back to Joe’s house we went so he could show me his log books of all the miles he’s driven:
Quite the collection.
It was time for some last words for the day and bits of advice from the Pro Joe:
Do you love that Joe’s favorite are Snow Caps? Joe and I already got along famously, but when I learned his vice was chocolate just like me, our bond was certainly kicked up 100 notches! (Great minds think alike:)
Perhaps my favorite photo of the day, I had to get one with Joe and the blue Lollipop:
This picture really makes me smile.
What a blast of a day! So many great unexpected surprises for me. Joe and I spent way more hours together than I thought we would (and I was happy about that!) We had to practically force ourselves to step away because we could have talked forever, but I needed to get on the road to knock out some serious mileage. Like the sweet Dad he is (Joe has daughters my age)- he was sort of shooing me to go so I wouldn’t be driving too late. (My Parents will appreciate reading that. Thanks from my Mom before she even reads this Joe.)
I collected so much from the day, it’d take me forever to list here. The biggest thoughts from the day though, are that Joe and I might look different, but we are very much the same. We love our families, we’re regular people, hard workers, we have have cars that have been our partners in crime, that transportation that’s been reliable everyday that we never worry about, and we find joy in small things in life. No matter where I am on the road, I continue to meet people like Joe that I connect with that I never might expect to. This is always a welcomed surprise and one of the reasons I stay excited about getting up in the morning. Did I ever think I’d connect with a complete stranger in Maine because of the love I have for my Honda’s that’ve taken me to so many amazing places over the years? No. Am I happy that I have, and do I think I probably have a new friend for a very long to come that “gets” me in my quirky Honda loyalty because he has the same? Absolutely. That is awesome.
Even though I rolled out of Joe’s driveway much later than expected and was facing a long 10 hour drive, I felt like I was on a high as if I’d just finished a marathon. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It’s always a such a treat for me to be able to spend time with someone I can laugh with and that shares a similar passion to mine. I am quite confident Joe and I will see each other again, and I am looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for a great day Joe. I appreciate you letting me jump into your world and being able to share some of mine too. Let’s get together for some Snow Caps and whoopie pies soon? Until then, here’s to never giving up on a dream, and hitting that million miles. You deserve all the best and I can’t wait to watch you reach your big goal!
I am now that good exhausted after such a fantastic day and a drive until 4am all the way from Central Maine to Virginia. I’ve been invited to the Great Grapes, Wine, Art & Food Festival tomorrow, so off I go…
***Total miles driven today, day 9: 694
***Total miles driven since trip start (9/2/11): 1,562
***Total blue lollipops gifted/left behind since trip start (9/2/11): 13
My last day around the Portland area today was a fantastic one. To kick it off in a most lovely scene:
By now you all know that wandering and stopping at random roadside spots to talk to strangers or nosh on something delicious is one of my favorite hobbies. So how excited was I when fabulous local (Shay) took me to meet a Lobsterman who lives right next to her house in Scarborough:
Exactly what you’d picture but even nicer, meet the man who catches the delicious fresh dinner so many love:
I had absolutely no idea the amount of work, training, certification, waiting, etc. that went into Lobstering. This is why I love doing what I do. I’m alway learning there is an art, a patience, and mad skill to everything- and I’m constantly meeting such interesting and driven people! Eric prepping piles of buoys as we chatted:
A photo of his boat from inside the shack:
The tank full and ready for purchase:
Up close for you lobster lovers!
Apparently Eric cooks the lobster for guests too and gets everything table ready so you just sit down and eat! Right next to the shack is his vegetable garden as well. This guy does it all and he couldn’t have been nicer or more welcoming. To top it off there was a big ol’ sweet brown dog named Sam who was lingering around to make the whole scene picture perfect:
A friendly and hard-working Lobsterman in an LL Bean t-shirt, a shack with rocking chairs outside with a trap as a side table, a happy dog, and a beautiful Maine afternoon; Awesome. Thanks for the tour and time Eric!
After lobster time, my tour guide Shay whisked me off to Dean’s Sweets; A chocolate shop. (Go figure!):
We walked in and chatted with a nice woman inside (Dean’s wife) who fed us some delicious samples:
Dark chocolate salt caramels. (Jackpot!) Just when we were about to leave, in walked Dean himself. I told him I loved his chocolates and in conversation, I mentioned that Honda had loaned me a car to go on an adventure and that’s what had brought me in his store. His face lit up and he told me he drove a Honda. I looked out the window and there it was; A very loved, very well-used and appreciated Honda Accord Wagon. Naturally that got me excited so we had to go out and see:
Thanks for letting me squeeze in a video of you and your car for Blue Lollipop Road Dean! Even more, thanks for being a fellow chocolate and Honda lover! It’s a good life eh?
After I totally geeked out about that serendipitous meeting, we crossed the street to Duckfat for some of their famous fries:
…with a side of truffle ketchup:
I know right? Truffle ketchup?! Yeah- it was that good. (Thanks to reader Eliza for the suggestion! Yum!) I had to of course have a cold Allagash White, to pair with the fries. Allagash is brewed in Portland:
I thought Duckfat’s sandwich board sign was funny:
The noshing afternoon continued on to Caiola’s which has an incredible outside back patio, complete with table around giant tree in the middle of it:
The must-have at Caiola’s? Polenta fries I was told:
That is polenta fries with smoked paprika, cheddar cheese and a tomato and Red Pepper relish. Holy motherload. I know I have talked about a lot of food, and I rave and rave about lots of de-lish things, but I am telling you this dish is one of the top 5 things I have ever eaten when it comes to restaurant appetizers. Maybe it’s because sharp, sharp white cheddar is my absolute favorite cheese, maybe it’s because red peppers are one of my favorite veggies. I don’t know. Either way those polenta fries were so smack-yo-mamma good I had quite a moment eating them. If you live in, are going to, or might ever go to Portland Maine- run, don’t walk to Caiola’s for this plate of heaven.
Stuffed and happy with fries and chocolate, we headed to catch the sunset at the Black Point Inn. This was the view as we relaxed in big white chairs from the lawn:
I just sat there thinking to myself how beautiful the scene was, and how we all probably could use to stop and watch the sunsets a little more. Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe sights like this are free. Quite a scenic way to wrap up yet another fun and interesting day on the road.
Thanks for being such a fabulous tour guide Shay!
Tomorrow? Oh yeah- you know it! I am off to meet the one and only Million Mile Joe. I’ve been looking forward to this for months and can’t wait to share stories, photos and video here.
***Total miles driven today, day 8: 75
***Total miles driven since trip start (9/2/11): 868
***Total blue lollipops gifted/left behind since trip start (9/2/11): 12
…and then was off to Freeport for a dessert breakfast. (Hey, custard has milk in it, right? I think that’s a completely acceptable way to start the day!)
Off to Mainely Custard I went to take a peek behind the scenes of what keeps Owner Deb and her staff busy, and what keeps customers coming back for more. Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store! I was one happy camper getting schooled:
I had a run at making a waffle cone and found out very quickly that I shouldn’t quit my day job. I am SO much better at eating the cones, rather than making them:
…so that’s just what I did, after I had it filled with chocolate malt custard and topped with my favorite of all time krunch kote:
(That’s Marcia Wiggins and I. She’s my new friend and whoopie pie extraordinaire. Talk about crack each other up! We have had way too much fun together these past two days. I think we may have been separated at birth.)
Thanks to “Super Scoopers” Katie and Hope, and Owner Deb for schooling me and being part of the Blue Lollipop Road Adventure!
The day turned sunny and gorgeous, a perfect backdrop for a trip back to the lighthouse I went for a run by this morning. Portland Head Light:
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? I know right- is that fake? Unbelievably gorgeous! That blue sky, the water crashing and the sound of the fog horn- I had to make a video:
(That’s F-R-E-E. I really can spell:)
I cannot say enough that if you have never been to New England in the summer or fall it is a must do for a road trip. Hop in the car and go live in that that brochure life for a week or two. (Yes, it really is all that charming and quaint.) Stop at the roadside farm stands. (Sweet corn, apples and honor boxes!) Talk to the local sitting next to you on that stool in the diner. (He’s lived at least 88 years and has some hilarious and intriguing stories!) Wander into that Mom-and Pop shop. (Handmade/homemade/fresh-made gifts rock!) Go for a bike ride down a country dirt road. (Relax without your crackberry for a few hours!) Take a hike in the woods.(Maybe even lay in a field for a few minutes!) Sound good? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Tomorrow is another day wandering about The Vacationland. Million Mile Joe and I will be hanging in a little over 24 hours. I’ve taken it easy on my fabulous loaned Civic thus far in the miles department (at only near 800 after 7 days, that is very low for me) so after I meet Joe, I might have to let you in on a little secret about how I am going to rack up some serious mileage before the end of this current journey. (Now is the time right? I have an uber economical hybrid!)
Hint: Stripes.
***Total miles driven today, day 7: 68
***Total miles driven since trip start (9/2/11): 793
***Total blue lollipops gifted/left behind since trip start (9/2/11): 12
