Pilates in the Park

It's a good thing I watch the news and read newspapers. How would I know that it's freakin' hot outside without them?

It's day two of Hotmagaddon (it's like Snowpocalypse, only hotter) and I haven't completely melted yet. My subway car had no air conditioning this morning (awful!), but besides that, I'll keep praying to the A/C Gods that my little window A/C that could keeps pumping that sweet, sweet cold air.

Even with the temperature rising, I thought an 100 degree day was the perfect time to take a free outdoors pilates class. I'm serious.

The recently renovated Brooklyn Bridge Park is offering free pilates classes every Tuesday until Labor Day, and I would be a fool to pass up free gym classes. So I brought my mat to work and sprinted out of the office to make it to class on time.

I was sweaty by the time I got to class (not good); however, I hydrated all day at work (very good), so I was ready to face the heat. I hadn't been to the park before, but I had heard that it was very pretty and had great views of the bridge and downtown Manhattan, and it did not disappoint.

Pretty decent quality for a 2-year-old Sprint Flip Phone. Take that IPhone! And look how many people showed up! I'm not the only crazy one!

I made sure to get a spot next to the river so I could really feel the breeze from the water. Granted, it wasn't much cooler than the air temperature, but I'll take what I can get. I almost completely forgot how hot it was as soon as the class picked up the pace. Then I saw how sweaty I was when I got home, and I remembered.

Anyway, the class kicked my butt (well more like kicked my abs, arms and back) into shape and I left feeling absurdly sweaty, but really proud of myself for facing the heat and getting in a really interesting workout.

I plan on going as much as I can. Anyone in NYC looking for an exercise buddy?

Maine: The Way Life Should Be

We passed the "Welcome to Maine" sign, and that slogan greeted us as we cruised up I-95. I thought at first, "Wow super northern state, is life really that fantastic up here? Is this really how life should be?"

Summertime answer: Yes, yes it should.

I'm not going to campaign that this is the way we should live all year round. Granted, the water stays a constant 55 degrees around Bar Harbor all year, leaving it cooler in the summer and slightly less cold than the rest of the state in the winter. But still. Who wants to be in Maine in January? A New York winter is enough for me!

But enough of that. Our vacation was beyond fantastic. And here is a list of reasons why:

1. Clean air. I did not realize just how smelly NYC was until I left it...smelt fresh air...and then came back.
2. The Inn at Bay Ledge. We stayed here our first two nights. Delicious breakfast in the morning. Afternoon tea at 4pm. The most comfortable bed...ever. Friendly staff (that brought their dogs to play in the morning!) And steps away from these views:

This is the view from the porch while we were eating breakfast

From the stairs down to the pebble shore

The perfect place to look for clear, brown, green and blue sea glass.

3. Lobster lobster and more lobster. Those crustaceans tasted like they walked from the water, cooked themselves and then sat happily on my plate. By far the best place was a lobster pound on the side of the road. Yes, lobster on the side of the road. Better than any 5-star restaurant.

Doesn't it look like it's saying, "Eat me please?" Don't mind if I do.

4. Acadia National Park. Beautiful scenery, fantastic hiking/biking trails. The campsites were quite crowded (thumbs down), but besides that, our overnight provide me with the perfect combination of sweat, dirt and smoke on many of my clothes.
5. Ice Cream! We ate some much. So tasty.
6. Downtown Bar Harbor. Such a cute town with tons of restaurants, shops and bars. We went into one bar to avoid some rain and ended up staying for 2+ hours talking with the bartender and getting fed free drinks. That's the way service should be.



7. Portland. We weren't expecting much in this "city", but ended up seeing some beautiful lighthouses and hanging out with another friendly bartender in the city's downtown pub. Guinness on tap and part of the $3 happy hour special?! Steve was in heaven.

It even had a shamrock in the foam!

Lobsters do love Guinness.

I could continue the list, but I figure you get the idea. Will I go back to Maine? Yes, hopefully sooner rather than later. Now is the perfect time of year to pack the car and head north. It was sunny every day and didn't get above 75 degrees. You really can't go in the water (unless you have a super warm wet suit), but I'm more than happy to sacrifice that for all the beautiful nature.

If New York City ever becomes too dirty, crowded and smelly (even for me), I'm heading up there. Maybe I'll become one of those friendly bartenders. Or Steve and I will open a bed and breakfast. Vacation atmosphere everyday? Count me in.

Peace Out Big City!

By this time tomorrow I will have traveled the entire east coast. Top to bottom. That's because Steve and I are packing up his car and heading north...

to Bar Harbor, Maine!!

And Acadia National Park!

Five days of mountains, the ocean, fresh air, lighthouses and lobster. Delicious, delicious lobster. Cross your fingers for poor blackberry reception.

Business Trip to the beach? Should I wear a bathing suit?

In 24 hours, I'll be here.




Exciting, right? Well not exactly. I'm heading on a business trip to Miami tomorrow morning. And while maybe I'll get to spend a few minutes near a beach, I'll mostly be running around softball fields and GM dealerships. (Yes, in this instance baseball and cars work together)




I'm praying for good weather, decent interviews and that the other people involved were half as OCD as me. Seriously, you should see the time line/contact list I wrote.

Adios!

Sweet and Sour Awesomeness

New York will never cease to amaze me. After a successful (and slightly overwhelming) trip to Fairway in Red Hook, Brooklyn with Steve (really great supermarket, TONS of free samples),we stumbled into this just a few blocks away.

A key lime pie stand, in Brooklyn? Did we discover a hole in the time space continuum and end up in Key West?

My love for Key Lime began, where else, in college as a recipe taster for my roommate, Amy. She made a delicious frozen lime pie that made me fall in love with all things lime. And then there were the key lime cupcakes; I was pretty much sold after that.

This pie shop, or pie garage is what it looked more like, only sells one thing: pies. And lots of them. Steve and I decided to split a mini-pie. Fairly reasonable at just $4.



It was like taking small bites of sweet, sour and delicious heaven. No artificial colors, flavors or additives. Just key limes, pie crust and awesomeness.

And what added to the "gem-like" status of this place, was the beautiful garden that surrounds the slightly dilapidated parking lot, as well as the view of the New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. (Wish I had a picture, sorry! I'll just have to go back! And next time, I'm getting this.)

Happy National "Insert Favorite Food" Day!

I'm sad to say I did not get the chance yesterday to truly celebrate National Donut Day. I kept telling myself I should stop by Dunkin' Donuts for a free donut with drink purchase, but I never got around to it.

I mean look at it. So delicious and tasty. I feel like Homer Simpson.
Mmm pink frosting.

It got me thinking about the other national food holidays that may be over looked ever year. I had the delicious chance to celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake Day, thanks to Hostess, when I was producing at Newschannel 8. (Just a reminder, it's on October 18th, in case you want to mark your calendars)

Here's how that phone conversation went:
Me: "Hello this is Samantha with Newschannel 8"
Awesome Hostess Lady (AHL): "Hi there, we would like to help you celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake Day, do you mind if we send you some Hostess Cupcakes?"
Me: "Really?! Do I have to do anything?"
AHL: "No, if you want to mention that it's National Chocolate Cupcake Day on October 18th, you can."
Me: "Score! Send them my way!"

A week later I got four boxes of Hostess Cupcakes to share with my friends at work (and sneakily hide one for myself later) And most of you know just how much I love my Hostess Cupcakes, see Tart Reform, and you'll understand (Thanks Amy!)

Anyway, those are not the only food holidays. Did you know today is National Gingerbread Day? Me neither! Or just wait until June 7th for National Chocolate Ice Cream day! Or if seafood is your thing, June 15th is National Lobster Day!
To check out the food holidays, click here.
Oh and of course I looked up my birthday. March 4th is National Pound Cake Day.
Mmmm pound cake. Mmmm food holidays. Mmmm do I have anything to eat in my kitchen?

I Got Links! Now You Got Links!

Who actually works at work? Apparently, I do. It's been so busy I haven't had time to (opps!) write a blog post during work hours. However, I have had time to scroll through my usual daily readings, and I came across some fun stuff.

More proof that little girls are more than just sugar and spice and everything nice.

Friend of mine at work sent me this song. If you can get past the creepy makeup and avaunt-guard costumes, the music is pretty good.



I just discovered M&Ms Pretzel. Quite tasty and colorful! Guess I'm not listening to Urban Outfitters' advice.

I tell Steve all the time that I don't fit in my neighborhood because I don't have a dog, or a baby. Seriously, it's either a baby, a dog, a baby dog, or a dog baby (a baby with the misfortune of bad genes.) I guess I'm not the only one who is notices that.