MyMaineLife: Lavender Field Forever

It's indeed summer in Maine. The air is warm and comfy. The breeze is refreshing. And the sun is bright and lovely.

The #OronaSquad in Maine - Part 1

WARNING: This is a very very late post.

I know I should have written about this important event last summer but I didn't. I was in vacation-coma for the entire year. But anyway, since this summer is not going to be as exciting as last year, I decided to write about it to relive that special event that took place last summer.

Why I want to RUN to the Lighthouse

The Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth is one of Maine's most important landmarks. To Mainers... it is the "beacon of light" that contributed to Maine's rich maritime history. To tourists... it is a must-see place in Maine. And to me... it is all of the above and much more. It is where I pledged my love and devotion to my Sweetest - Mike.

I could have written a more dramatic introduction to this post but I can't think of any other way to put words together to express my joy in achieving my seems-to-be-impossible goal. Summer is definitely doing a lot of tricks to my brain lately. Or maybe it was because I have been slacking in the blogging department for a long time and my blog-hiatus state of mind put my brain on freeze-mode. But this is not my excuse. In fact I have no excuse. I just don't feel like blogging - Period! (And that goes for my 5 other blogs that are suffering from blog-drought, as well.) To say the least, I have nothing to say about the famous lighthouse because this post is not really about the lighthouse. This is about me!

How I rocked and rolled in 2014

Year 2014 was packed with great experiences and happy memories. Too bad I wasn't able to document each important event because I was too busy with a lot of things. Yeah, I know that is an understatement. But would you believe if I tell you that most of the important things I had last year are kept in my heart? Cliche!!!

Anyway, here are the highlights of 2014 in no particular order.

1. Races. I have done only a few. Unlike in the past couple of years where I tried to run 2 races a month, last year I did only 8 races compared to 13 races in 2012. It was 1 race shy of what I did in 2013 though. As I have said I have no time to document some important events so I have not blogged any of those races so no PR comparison. However, I was able to take photos of my bib so I'm sharing them here.

I started the year with a 5K last year. It was my 2nd start-of-the-year-race (with Buffet, wink*)

The Eagle has landed

After 24 hours of waiting and worrying about my brother in cold Chicago, he finally arrived in Maine. The aircraft touched-down a couple of minutes earlier so it only took me about 5 minutes of waiting in the airport

We left the house a little late actually but got in the airport just in time when a plane flew above us as we traversed the airport road.

Maine Winter Survival Kit

My baby brother is coming to Maine. Yup, this is Japol's first trip to the U.S. and of all seasons he chose to come in the middle of this brutally long and cold winter in New England.

So, as a good sistah, I made preparations. I need to get all the stuff he needs to survive winter in Maine. Oh boy, if only I can write about my whole feeling... it would be too graphic. Well, yes I am exaggerating. Anyway, I gathered all the necessary stuff that he needs and here they are...

I got him a face mask (the Ninja style) to cover his face from the harsh wind. A hat to cover his newly shaved head. (I told him to not shave his head so that he could have some hair to protect him from cold... but did he listen? Of course not!) A pair of gloves for his hands. A fleece scarf. An ear muff. And 3 pairs of wool socks. These are all necessary to keep him warm.

Ice, Ice, Baby!

I supposed to run today. I signed up for another 5K which is scheduled for today. But alas, it was raining ice pellets here in my neck of the woods. So the organizers postponed it for next month. Grrrr!

I can't blame them, the road is icy. Everything is icy.  And just to let you see what we are dealing with, here are some photos I took this week.

Silvery Trees

I'm a horrible person. Oh, let me re-phrase it. I'm a horrible person! LOL

Well, I have not blogged anything about Christmas. That is why I am horrible. I'm a blogger duh. Why am I not blogging? All bloggers all over the blog-o-sphere have been blogging about the magical season since September (ate least for Pinoy bloggers where Christmas starts on the "Ber months", that is).

Christmas will be over in few hours and I am still not writing about it. And instead I'm writing about the horrible weather we have here in Maine.

1st Day of a long Winter in New England?

I'm not very impressed but someone across the globe is happy to see what I woke up to this morning. It's not even winter yet!

 My car has some frosting already. I wished it was cool whip, though.

My 1st Football Game ever

I learned to love football when I came here in Maine but I have not watched a real football game till a couple of weeks ago.

Maya, Medy's daughter is in the cheering team and that gave us an opportunity to watch a real football game.

Maya is cheering for the Hawks. It was indeed fun to see the cheer leaders doing their routine in their blue and white cheering outfit. I think they are cute.

The game started with a brief ceremony with the National Anthem being sang.

The game started and we watched how the players tackled each other. It was an intense game but not as intense as the way the professionals do.

But for my Filipina friends and I, we were more excited for Maya and not for the game. We enjoyed watching Maya did her routines. She was a natural in the field.

The Hawks had a hard time with this game I guess. The ball was was intercepted a couple of times during the first quarter. And they remained zero point till the "half time".

Still Zero for the Home Team.

My friends getting bored watching the game. LOL

Maya with Mom - Medy.

Maya with Me and her Mom, Medy.

My Filipina friends.

We didn't finish watching the game. After Maya's presentation we left to... what else - eat! LOL. It was fun though. Too bad Hawks lost to whoever it was they playing against with. Yeah, we didn't bother to ask who their opponent was. We were there for Maya only, so why bother. wink*

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This is a SPECIAL POST for MAINE Attraction... a regular blog that features everything and anything about my home - Maine.

Maine Shopping Attractions

First of all, I am a recovering shop-a-holic. LOL I really don't know if there is such a thing but whatever. Shopping for me is not really my main priority. I just shop on "if-need-be" basis.

Second of all, I don't really post anything about my shopping spree online for fear of being tagged as a "brag or show-off". But I think I need to write about my shopping experiences now for "if-need-be" reasons.

Who doesn't love bargains like this one?

Well, I have noticed on several blogs that most bloggers are now writing and posting about their shopping escapades. A lot of them are mostly product reviews and tips on where to find bargains and sales to help shoppers. Some of them are giving helpful alternatives to shoppers to choose wisely. But a few of them are using these kind of posts for online monetizing reasons. And in that case... I am joining the band wagon.

And who doesn't love the thrill of acquiring "on sale" stuff like these?

So, whether you like it or not. I will be posting stuff about shopping, bargains, clearances, discounts, on sale items, 75% off, 90% off and whatever "off" there would be around Maine.

And I will be giving tips and ideas where to find some cool items at discounted prices. I will also write some reviews of products and stores. Note however, that my reviews are all 100% mine and they will not in any way be influenced by the store or the product manufacturers. Just to be clear, I have it written in my disclosure policy about my views on specific things that I am writing about. So you can check it out HERE.

So here is a short list of MY Maine shopping attractions. These are several of may go-to-stores that I where I am having if-need-be shopping moments. Just to let you know, they are not paying me "right now" for writing and  mentioning them here in my post. But I will be happy to write about them and get pay for it in the near future. So watch out! LOL

1. Walmart. It's the happiest place on earth. wink* This is where I go to to find practically anything and everything and I do pay less here. This was the very first place I drove to when I got my license. LOL.

2. Big Lots - They got lots of cool stuff on discounted price. I usually get emails from them every week to let me know what items are on sale. Yeah, where kinda close, you know. hahaha

3. Marshalls - This is my shopping haven for designer goods and I don't pay full price for them. Going to Marshalls is always a good shop-portunity. And on certain days you will get lucky to get items priced at $1.

4. Hannaford - This is where I do my grocery shopping. There are items that are priced low here on certain days. I love their organic produce because they are reasonable priced.

5. Dollar Tree - Yeah, just what the store says - everything here is a "buck". From food to toiletries, from diner ware to party supplies... everything is a dollar. This is where I get most of my party planning supplies.

6. Goodwill - This place is where you can find rare treasures. This is a thrift shop but I do find some brand new things here too. This is where I bring my old stuff too for them to sell. This is a store for all the good reasons. 

Photo Credit: From the internet.

7. The Christmas Tree Shop - Yes, it's Christmas all year round in Maine. This is one of the best places to find anything at discounted price Christmas or not.

Photo Credit: From the internet.

8. Target - Lots of cool items here at low price too.

Photo Credit: From its Facebook Account... Here

9. Marden's. Oh I tell you, when you find an item here that you really really really like... buy it because if you don't you will regret it. As the song goes - "you should have bought it when you saw it at Marden's!" Yeah, that's how it is because I learned my lesson hard here.

Photo credit: Kendra

10. Nordstrom Rack - This is my newest go-to store for one item... shoes! Oh yes, they got my size. They have sizes 4, 41/2, 5, and 51/2. And they got them in stilettos too but not in stilettos-high price.

There you go. Those are the places where I go when I need to relax, recharge and spend some "me-time". But be aware too that when I go to those stores... most of the time I don't buy. I just want to check items and dream about them. So don't judge me! LOL.

Sometimes, a woman just needs a place to relax... a hobby... and a sports.  For me, it's walking in the store. wink*

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This is a SPECIAL POST for MAINE Attraction... a regular blog that features everything and anything about my home - Maine.

Falling for Maine Fall... all over again!

This is the official start of Fall season. And this is my favorite season of all.

What's not to love when you see the white steeple stood tall a midst a breathtaking red and orange scenery,

 ... when the railroad is lined with orange and yellow and golden leaves,

 ... when the river banks are bursting with orange and red and yellow trees,

... when the red barn stands out against the orange backdrop,

... and the trail is an explosion of orange and gold hues!

 Fall is indeed the most beautiful season in New England.

 I will never ever get tired of fall.

 I will never ever get over its beauty to behold.

 I will never ever fail to be awed by its amazing sceneries.

And I will fall in love with fall over and over and over again.

For more Information about Maine Foliage check the following links:
1. Maine Foliage
2. Fall in Maine
3. Fall Foliage

-------------------------------Maine Attraction-------------------------------

 

This is a SPECIAL POST for MAINE Attraction... a regular blog that features everything and anything about my home - Maine.

PYO Apple

One of my favorite seasons here in Maine is the Apple Season. It’s yummy. It’s crunchy. It’s sweet. Summer is almost over and Apple Season came early this year. It is now time to go out and take a trip or two to the orchards and PYO [pick your own apples] is the way to go. It's easy. It's fun. And it's yummy! [If you know what I mean.]

 

I took a trip to the Apple Orchards with my friends. We had breakfast of apple cider donuts with cinnamon and sugar sprinkles and hot apple cider tea at the picnic table located near the farm store and gift shop while enjoying whatever seasonal event they had scheduled for the day.

Apple Ciders and Donuts are a great match.

Apple Cider Donuts are the best donuts around this time.

There are lots of orchards around Maine. People from all over the state and tourists alike come to the orchard to buy their fruits in season. It serves as a fun family activities that Mainers look forward to every summer.

Brackett's Orchard in Limerick

Apple Acres Orchard in Cornish, Maine

Libby's and Sons Orchard in Limerick, Maine

These orchards are open to the public for apple picking. People can pick the apples directly from the tree by hand... or with a special tools... and pay them by the pound. PYO is the best way to buy your fruits when in season because you can choose the fruit straight from the tree. Sampling them is a bonus since you can't do that in the grocery store. LOL

Picking apple straight from the tree.

Apple picking using a special tool.

These special tools for picking apples from the top of the tree are very handy

for vertically challenged people like me. wink**

Apple picking is not just the reason why we go to the Orchards. Believe me you, but there are lots of fun activities and events that your family can enjoy in the orchards aside from picking apples and eating them.

I enjoy... people watching...

I enjoy listening to live music...

I am so excited with the hayrides...

I like getting stuck at the apple maze...

I love to hear the laughter of the kids at play...

and exploring the orchard...

And maybe I would like to have my picture taken in one of those painted objects that has hole in it where you stick your head out.

Well, I don’t expect to get sick this season for I eat more than one apple a day now. Wink* But surely I will keep coming to get my apples from the Orchard until the season ends.

For more interesting places and orchards to go PYO, check out the following link:
1. Brackett's Orchard
2. Libby & Son U-Picks Orchard
3. Apple Acres Orchard

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This is a SPECIAL POST for MAINE Attraction... a regular blog that features everything and anything about my home - Maine.