Paint The Town Red

Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. I guess it’s a good excuse to eat heart shaped candy, and flaunt red and pink colored items, but other than that I never really got into it.

However, during a recent trip to Kennebunkport I realized what Valentine’s Day could be. There were hearts placed all over town on different stores and restaurants, which were a constant reminder of love. It made me realize that in addition to celebrating the love for your significant other, Valentine’s Day should also be a celebration of all of the love you experience in your life. The hearts made me giddy with love for my husband, my parents, my brothers, my friends, The Coast, my favorite foods and drinks, my home…basically life in general. The hearts reminded me to take a few moments to feel grateful and really appreciate all that I have in my life. And I realized that instead of feeling grumpy towards just another “Hallmark Holiday” I should really appreciate all of the things that I love and make me happy and celebrate Valentine’s Day. I have decided that from here on out, Valentine’s Day will be a celebration of all the goodness in my life… I have a lot to celebrate!

Grand Hotel looking all pretty

In reality, the cute hearts placed on the restaurants and shops in Downtown Kennebunkport were part of a marketing campaign for downtown Kennebunkport called Paint The Town Red, run by Love KPT (#lovekpt). This campaign celebrates all of the reasons to love Kennebunkport – the charming shops and art galleries, delicious restaurants,  cozy hotels, and of course those beautiful ocean views. There are deals and activities associated with the campaign, so make sure to check it out! Here is a link to the site: http://lovekpt.com/

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and take time to celebrate all of the love in your life.

#peaceloveandthecoast

Great Barrington

A few weeks ago, Erol and I took a quick trip to The Berkshires. Neither of us had been before, but we wanted to a few days to trade our cell phones and computers for board games and nature.

We booked a room at a cozy bed and breakfast in Great Barrington which was walking distance to the downtown area. One morning we bundled up and ventured to Monument Mountain. The hike was perfect for us… it was more of an uphill walk than a full fledged hike and the views from the top were amazing! The view from the summit was my highlight of the trip. It would be worth going back in the fall to take in the foliage.

Beautiful view from the summit

 

Great Barrington had some really great shops and restaurants! Our favorite places to eat were Baba Louie’s Pizza and the Gypsy Joynt. Both spots had unique menus and extremely fresh and delicious ingredients. I wanted to stay longer so we could go back to both places!

Pizza at Baba Louie’s — YUM!

Ceiling inside Gypsy Joynt

Even though Great Barrington is not on The Coast, it’s a destination that gives me “The Coast” feeling. A trip to The Berkshires is a trip into nature, a trip away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. It provides an opportunity to slow down, reset, enjoy quality, natural food and relax. It is now on my list of places to visit in the fall!