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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Day One: Dunkin' Donuts

So, it might seem a little lame to start this all off with a coffee shop but Dunkin' Donuts is huge around here. I love coffee--especially caramel lattes--and Sheetz used to be my favorite latte fix back in PA. Then we moved to MA and there are no Sheetz here. None. Nada. Zip. Meh. There are, however, Dunkin' Donuts practically everywhere you turn! Check out the map below--all those little pink dots...Dunkin's. Google 'em and scroll up to Boston, you'd think it was a Breast Cancer Awareness rally for all the pink!! We have one lowly Starbucks tucked away in our Dartmouth Target--that's it. And, oh, there are a few little other coffee shops here trying to hold their own against Dunkin', but...truly, our king of caffeine here is spelled out in orange and pink:
 
 
Dunkin's originated here in Quincy, MA back in 1950, hence their dense population. Ashlee and I once joked about making it our mission to visit every Dunkin's in the area--that's a lot of coffee!! We've been to many and have an endless list to carry on with this mission...But I have a clear favorite of the closest stores: 2095 Acushnet Ave, here in New Bedford. I have driven past four other Dunkin's as well as other myriad little coffee shops and Honeydews (another coffee competitor in the area) to go to the Acushnet Ave store. The staff is silly and friendly, and they make the BEST caramel swirl latte in New Bedford, hands down (and they super pile on the whipped cream and caramel swirl--oh yeah...so worth the extra gas and travel when you want *just a little more please*)
 
And now that it's fall, pumpkin everything is on the menu! I'll  occasionally indulge in a pumpkin latte--straight up, no extra white chocolate or other added flavor, thank you. Dunkin's flavors can sometimes go overboard on sweetness--a little goes a long, long way...I got to sample their pumpkin munchkins the other night--super yummy! Though I haven't tried their pumpkin pie filled donut yet--that's more up Bill's alley than mine...And with winter not all that far off, I can start dreaming about Dunkaccino's--their coffee/cocoa concoction that is oh so good! And minty or salted caramel cocoas--mm mm yummy!!

It's no wonder, with so many yummy flavors of coffee and donuts, along with a great menu of sandwiches as well, that America truly does 'run on Dunkin's!'

 
 
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

31 Days Begins

Some years back, a blog challenge began one cool crisp October to write every day on one topic for thirty-one days. I found this year's current challenge happening at The Nesting Place but I wasn't 100% sure of what I would write, could write, or even might want to write about for every day this month...hmmm....Then, sudsing away, it hit me in the shower (my muse's favorite cropping up place--that and behind the wheel driving, neither place equipped or even really made for writing, jotting notes, etc. as one is super soapy and wet, the other life threatening to try writing while driving...*eh-hem...I've done it anyway...shhhhh....)

But, back when I began writing over at Life in the Trenches, I recall writing about jobs I would've enjoyed and at the top of my list would be a restaurant/food critic--especially like those guys on TV who get PAID to travel the world and sample amazing international cuisine....aaahhh. That seriously was never offered during job fairs or career planning days in high school...I feel ripped off somehow...So, what I would like to do is venture into that world however tangently (yeah, I made that word up...) and offer up my own reviews of the restaurants we frequent locally.

Mind you, I (obviously) have no formal training in the food critiquing industry beyond my own personal love affair with food, so I'm not sure I'm actually qualified for this endeavor. So, perhaps keep that thought tucked away over the next thirty-one days that what you are reading is more 'palate opinionated' rather than any 'real professionally trained experience related'. Yet, in the end, doesn't our own personal taste determine our true likes and desires more than someone else's professional opinion anyway?

And, so I begin...I love New Bedford-and New England-and seafood-and coffee. We eat out probably more than we should but there's just so much wonderful food to try around here!! From super fresh seafood, simple little hot dog shops and diners, breakfast joints, and pizza places to even cooler international fare-especially here in New Bedford with its dense Portuguese population along with Cape Verdeans, Indians, Guatemalans....There's a literal buffet of different eatery experiences to take in and I am determined to try them all! I'll start with the restaurants we've eaten at--including coffee shops and ice creameries--I made a list and have more than thirty-one to write about! If all goes well, I've continued my list to places we've been wanting to try, so this could very well continue past the thirty-one day challenge--who knows? At least it gives me a reason to write again--and I'll still post arting projects as they occur for those interested--maybe I'll have to start up a second 'just writing' blog...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
~Lao-tzu


Welcome 31 Days
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Happy October!

current time: 5:26 am

on the menu: just finished an egg pita. I'm {trying} to give up carbs but they have this evil way of sneaking into your day...It's not as easy as you might think to not eat carbs. There's suddenly an awful lot of salads, which feels very vegan again (that lasted about a month...) and I'm still not losing any weight. Next step: blaming it all on the hormones and middle-aged-ness. Blasted getting old...

out the window: my flock of sparrows nibbling who knows what in the lawn

reading: Winter of the World by Ken Follett, Book Two of the Century Trilogy

"Winter of the World picks up right where the first book left off, as its five interrelated   families—American, German, Russian, English, Welsh—enter a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the Spanish Civil War and the great dramas of World War II, up to the explosions of the American and Soviet atomic bombs."

It's heart wrenching, beautifully written...I just wish I had more time to read!

Also reading the usual assortment of art books: Cultivating Your Creative Life, The Artist's Way, Poemcrazy...

listening: I've started listening to K-Love when I work out in the mornings rather than the usual hard and fast paced mix I have on my MP3 player. It's so great to get that extra inspiration every day, so much more uplifting and heart filling--lovin' it and this is one of new favorite songs, That's How You Forgive by Shane and Shane:
watching: I am hooked on Duck Dynasty. I never wanted to watch this show--what in the world could possibly be interesting about these wild looking, long bearded cammo wearing fools? I was never so wrong in my life. It is easily the funniest show I've ever watched and every episode ends with the entire extended family in prayer together over dinner. I love their family values, the Christian message so soft and subtle yet vibrantly there, and I laugh 'til I'm in tears every time. You gotta watch--I promise you won't be disappointed!



good things: 
  • The weather's cooled off and leaves are starting to change
  • Pumpkin lattes are everywhere
  • Beach, beach, beach, water, water, water--last weekend we spent beaching at Newport, Fort Phoenix, and Horseneck and this past weekend was the Working Waterfront Festival--so much water fun!
We got to tour a tugboat, a scalloper and another fishing boat--so cool!
 
Vendor tents


Boats, boats, and more boats...

  • Oyster shooters (mucho better-o with chili infused vodka rather than tequila--in case you were curious....)
  • Mezzetta jalapeno stuffed olives-I ate the whole jar in three days!
  • Making mail art
Rather self-explanatory...there were several envies for swaps but won't post others' addies online...trust me, they were cute!

icky things and their silver linings:
  • Still trying to adjust to Bug's new school schedule and fit in a workout schedule, which isn't going well but--I am adaptable and I'll figure it out...
  • Middle aged-ness and hot flashes and mood swings--reminds me to take the very best care of me and my family
  • Feeling lost as everyone is starting the October "31 Days of __________" and having no idea what I want to commit to for the month--trying to think creatively...

Around and About


Timeline_Cover_doNotRename58
Linking up with Cynthia Lee this morning over at Spirit Uncaged
    
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Lately

Well, school started and it's been a week of adjusting to new schedules and routines and even though we're still getting acclimated to the different time tables, it's slowing sinking in and feeling more settled. I love a good routine...
 
And I've broken the paints out once more. I did another abstract collaged mail swap postcard--tada:
 
 
Then fall inspiration hit, scrubbed an old slate from the meager stash we brought with us from PA and did this quilted kitty and pumpkin:
 



And more swap goodies...Karen over at Mail Me Some Art posted a notched journal swap (as I look back at the pictures she posted, I'm cringing a bit...The previous journals are gorgeous compared to what I've got going on here--but, alas! I'm not done! Hopefully I can whip these pages into shape worthy of swapping...Gonna give it a good shot, anyway...(stay tuned!!)


So now I have a couple swap thank you's to put together for lovelies I've received this past week and I'm looking longingly at my Derwent Inktense and watercolor pencils...I'll have to play with those a bit and let the acrylics sit in the box for a few days...Everybody gets a turn! I also need some simple Sharpie doodling time, just to play...Oh maybe tomorrow if I can swing it! Thanks for stopping by!!
 

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