A new twist on Farr's ice cream.

On Thursday night, my mom, Kev and the babies (Aspen and Maddie) went to the Riverdale dog park. After Maddie had a load of fun sniffing other dog bums and running around, we piled back in the car and stopped at the new Farr's ice cream shop on the corner of Riverdale Rd and Wall Ave.

Stop reading this post and get over there right now.

As soon as we walked in I commented that it seems to be the Farr's ice cream for the new generation. The tables are topped with industrial metal and there is a completely different vibe than the old-school versions of the two other Farr's shops in Ogden.

This Farr's offers a selection of delicious soft-serve ice cream with dozens of topping options. Ice cream lovers such as myself can pick a cup and mix/match flavors and toppings to our hearts' contents. The soft-serve is weighed and billed by the ounce so you can choose how much bang you get for your buck.

I mixed orange creme with strawberry and then I died and went to heaven.

If you like soft-serve, custard and/or frozen yogurt, then I recommend you visit this new Farr's. I believe there's one in the Orem area as well (Sophia, check it out for me and have some soft-serve for dinner, will you? I know you like that). The best part for me is that you're invited to sample the flavors and the cups they offer for the task are HUGE. Like, I almost helped myself to a handful of samples and called it good.

Please go, and tell me what you mix up.

I've always been a fan of breakfast.

Ok. Since moving away from Maine (for the second time) I've realized how much I like it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose.


Something I never thought I'd be obsessed with is Maine-made maple syrup. Specifically the kind that comes from Breakneck Ridge Farm. My mom has a regular lunch meeting at Macaroni Grill in Maine and her server (for like, 10 years) is the son of the farm owners. He would get my mom the hook up on their amazing syrup. I don't remember how my mom got me hooked, but she did.


I ran out of the syrup a couple of weeks ago and told my mom she MUST bring some when she visits and meets the baby in August. It's the best thing ever for pancakes, french toast and even your scrambled eggs (oh come on... admit that you like the flavor of the syrup when it touches your eggs).

This week I was surprised to find a package from my mom on my front porch. In it was the biggest jug of Breakneck Ridge Farm syrup I've ever seen. I don't know how my mom knew I was planning to make myself french toast on Saturday, but apparently she did. And now I'll get to eat my french toast with REAL maple syrup instead of Wal-Mart's wanna-be maple syrup.

I never knew how bad artificial syrup tastes until I tried to real stuff. Please, do yourself a favor and invest in some of this. It is so worth it. Even Kev will put it on his pancakes and he usually eats his completely plain (no butter or anything!).

If at all possible, I'm even more excited to make my french toast on Saturday after my yoga class. To boot, I'm going to make my own bread, slice it thick, and use it instead of store-bought. Look at me go!

Monhegan Island

I am one tired tourist.

I'm losing my voice. My face is sunburned. My lips are chapped. My lobster from last night cut my finger open.

I also miss my Kev and Maddie very, very much.

But I'm having fun.

I spent the day on Monhegan Island with my parentals.

Then I made a quick trip to the mall with Sophia.

We bought coordinating jackets.

Here are about 6 kajillion photos for your viewing pleasure.

Leaving Booth Bay Harbor, Maine.

On Monhegan Island.

The D. T. Sheridan. It crashed on the shores of Monhegan back in the 40s. Poor little tugboat.

A dark storm rolled over the island about an hour before our ferry was scheduled to take us back to Booth Bay. 

It was a bit unpleasant. And so was almost tossing my cookies on the ferry when we were finally on our way. There has already been too much barfing on this trip!

Thankfully I held it in.

It was a good day.

Need I say more?

I am enjoying my vacation with my family.

It was worth the red-eye and puking in a little paper bag on the runway.