Broom's Bloom!

In recent weeks I've had countless friends post on social media about their trip to Broom's Bloom! Curiosity hit a fever pitch and we headed up after church today! (Disclaimer: This post will not be healthy in nature, you've been warned! Everything in moderation though folks... like once a month, if that!)

Broom's Bloom is primarily a creamery with the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life... I am not making this up! I had rice pudding ice cream and it was seriously amazing! Hints of vanilla bean, cinnamon, and soft rice (which I would love to know how they kept it soft!). In fact, any ice cream I have in the future will only be compared to Broom's Bloom! (Foodgasm!) No I was not paid to say this, it really was THAT good! My men had salted caramel pecan, blueberry muffin, and dirt flavors and loved theirs!

In addition to ice cream (which is what you should go for!) there were cute teas in mason jars, soups (Jason's cream of crab was great), sandwiches (grilled cheese, pb & j, etc.), and salads.

This gem is located in the middle of nowhere on a farm! (1700 South Fountain Green Road in Bel Air to be exact... just off of 543) Their website does not seem to be working at the current time, but their facebook page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/BBDairy You can eat inside or outside and there are plenty of goodies to purchase to take home... quarts of their ice cream, meats, etc.

You may want to make a dash there this week as the sunflowers are in full bloom and made for some awesome pictures!

My only advice is that they are SUPER crowded on weekends and didn't seem to have the staff to support their popularity. When we go back (we certainly will be putting this on our short list!) it will be on a weeknight or between lunch and dinner. It took us nearly 45 minutes to order our food and get it. Hope you get to experience their amazingness (I think I just made up a word) soon! Great for kids and adults! 

Our First Contest Ever!

From time to time my blog shares fun places to take little ones in the MD region. What better place to take little ones than the MD State Fair? The rides, the food, the entertainment, the games, the animals... what more could a kid or adult ask for?!

I have incredibly exciting news, as my blog has been contacted by the MD State Fair and I now have 2 Family 4 Packs of tickets to give away! This will be my first contest for this blog and I am literally jumping up and down with excitement! Not only does the pack include 4 tickets into the fair, but 2 ride bracelets too! AMAZING! Here are the two easy steps to enter:

1) Comment below with your favorite part of the MD State Fair! (Or any local fair or carnival!)

2) Share this contest on either facebook, twitter, or email! Simply share the web address: 

http://mrsamentmiddleriver.blogspot.com

(If you decide to email it to friends, please carbon copy me at mrsament@aol.com)

The contest will start now and end this Friday, August 23rd at 5:00 p.m. EST. To be fair I will use random.org to select a winner from valid entries!

The MD State Fair runs from August 23-September 2nd and the 4 entry tickets/2 ride bands will be good for one day. I hope that the winners will share pictures! I too will be attending the fair and will be sure to blog about it and share tips for success with kids! A huge shout out the MD State Fair for this awesome opportunity!

For more details about the fair, please visit:

www.marylandstatefair.com

From Negative to Positive... My "Inspirational Fridge!"

After I started my weight loss journey 2 years ago I read a tip in one of my online weight loss support groups that said to put a picture of yourself at your highest weight on your fridge, so that when you're tempted to eat something you shouldn't it's in your face as a reminder! I (of course) took it one step further and attached a note under the pictures that said "THINK TWICE!" in the biggest, darkest font I could find. So negative!

I confessed my refrigerator negativity to a friend and she gave me "the look." She then lovingly suggested that I leave the picture up, but also add some positive things and celebrate some of the achievements God has brought me to. So began the "Inspirational Fridge" project I've been working on this summer!

The pictures of me at my biggest (267 pounds) are still there (the picture in the top left corner and in the purple shirt)... but gone is the "Think Twice" that screamed at me every day. Added are things to remind me of where the journey has taken me... Pictures of me doing a split (something I never imagined I would be physically be able to do again), in a "pretty ballerina" yoga pose, finishing my second 5K, and with my Movez instructor are now more plentiful than the pictures that make me cringe, cover my eyes, or even cry.

Positive quotes are there as well... from lyrics to my favorite song "Overcomer" by Mandisa ("You're an overcomer, stay in the fight 'till the final round!)... "Faith is taking the first step even though you can't see the whole staircase"... "Your body hears every thing your mind thinks"... "Crave" (a reminder from Lysa Terkeurst's book to crave God more than food... read it if you haven't, it's a life changer for those that struggle with their weight)... and finally my favorite Bible verse: "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." - 1 Cor- 10:23.

Finally, there are other little things that make me smile.... two of the bibs from the 3 5Ks I have participated in this summer (something I NEVER thought I could do) and my Movez (dance classes I take for the people that read my blog and aren't from the area... apparently I have people that read in Europe!) key tag that had been used so many times it was falling apart and had to be replaced.

Notice that big empty spot in the right corner? That is where I am going to put my next 5K bib! I've already registered to run in the Baltimore Ravens 5K on September 4th! The race ends on the 50 yard line at Ravens stadium! I can't wait for that adrenaline rush, it's going to be insane!

While weight loss might not be your struggle, I believe we all struggle with something that we beat ourselves up over! How can you turn your negative into a positive? :)

*As of 8/17/13 I am down 86.2 pounds!

P.s. I am sorry I don't blog much anymore, I promise I'll get better at it! I appreciate that I still get emails from some of you!