As promised, I’ll be finishing up my Blend recap today with some random thoughts from the trip, all #thinkingoutloud style! No idea what I’m going on about? Click here!
1. You know that feeling that you’ve forgotten something important that hits you when you’re all packed up and ready to head out the door for a trip? I get that all the time and it usually turns out to be a false alarm, which is probably why I didn’t think much of it when it hit me as I was getting ready to head to the airport to catch my flight to Utah. Unfortunately, I did end up forgetting something this time around — the lunch I packed for my trip. Luckily, my dad was driving me on his way to work and I was able to ninja his lunch. Thank goodness because it was pretty much the only savoury meal I had all weekend — it was all oats, nut butters, bars, dried fruit, chocolate, and yogurt. Fresh veggies were kind of hard to come by, and I heard the same thing from other people. The baby carrots I picked up from whole foods ended up being worth their weight in gold.
2. Speaking of Whole Foods, lookit what I brought home with me!
It was one of the few chocolate bars I came across that didn’t contain traces of peanuts, and thank goodness for that because it sounds freaking amazing. And deadly.
3. Another thing that made its way home with me was this mug…
My flight back home included a layover in Seattle, and you’d better believe I made a beeline for Bux as soon as I stepped out of the gate. One of these days I will make it out to Pike Place Market…
4. Can we talk about my last flight home for a second? The one from Seattle to Edmonton? It was on a plane that had propellers…
I’ve flown on smaller planes before, but this one definitely took the cake for being the smallest. Imagine my shock as I walked through the gate only to have to walk down a flight of stairs, out onto the runway, and up a set of stairs to my teeny, tiny plane. The flight itself was surprisingly smooth (if a little freaking LOUD), but the landing was a whoooooole other story. Thank goodness I’m not a nervous flyer.
5. It was wonderful to see these again, though…
My Rockies 😀 The mountains in Utah are different from the mountains we have here in Alberta… more gentle, less… well… rocky. Still a blast to be up in, though. I’ve been bitten by the hiking bug and was planning to head out to Banff or Jasper this weekend, but the weather is supposed to suck so I pushed it back until next weekend. Fingers crossed that the sun comes out!
6. The elevation in Utah, though… holy shitake mushrooms. Park City is 7,000 ft. above sea level — Edmonton is 2,200 ft. Let’s just say that breathing was an interesting experience… as were the constantly dry/burning lips and the dry/bleeding nose. I have no idea how people run in that air and on those hills. I was dying.
7. Speaking of dying… remember my fruit fly problem? Well, they disappeared for a little while, but I made the mistake of leaving a banana out on the counter while I was gone and there was literally a cloud of flies surrounding it when I got back. That’s okay — I was prepared. Enter a little bowl of ACV mixed with a few drops of dish soap. Let’s just say it really does work…
The only downside is that your kitchen smells like ACV, which I’m not a huge fan of.
8. I’m also not a huge fan of the fact that Justin’s almond butter apparently isn’t peanut-free anymore.
Imagine my disappointment when I hit up the Whole Foods in Park City all excited to finally get my hands on some almond butter, only to discover that none of the jars of Justin’s AB had the “peanut-free” label on them anymore. What gives?!?! They didn’t have the “may contain traces” label either, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I’ll have to e-mail them and ask. Actually, I think I’ll do that right now. Be right back…
9. Ok, back — keep your fingers crossed for me! Wait, wait… already got my reply (this is what happens when you sporadically sit down to write your post throughout the day). And the verdict isssss….
Success! Now I’m seriously kicking myself for not stocking up. Anyone wanna send me a jar? Or… 10? I wish I was kidding 😯
10. And because I really love you guys, and I know you guys really love Quest bars, I’m ending today’s post with a giveaway that I think you might like. Quest was one of the sponsors at Blend, and they hooked us up with our very own box of bars…
Awesome, right? Yes! Well… except for the fact that I can’t eat them because of my allergies #peskypeanuts 😡 But my loss is your gain because I’ll be giving away my box to one of you guys!
Up for grabs is a box of 12 assorted bars. The giveaway is international so anyone can enter, and I’ll be announcing the winner next Thursday, June 19th. Good luck!
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
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I’m only a nervous flyer if I let my mind wonder too much 🙂
I have celiac disease, so I feel your pain on the food labeling issues. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Luckily I’m not a nervous flyer – but I’ve flown with many and I always feel so bad for them!
I am a nervous flyer… and I’ve had to fly in one of those tiny planes too. I did not like it one bit. Love that mug and this giveaway!
I am not a nervous flyer but someones the “rough” landings to wig me out a bit!
I bet Utah was beautiful! Reading your blog I am always jealous because I love the mountains and would love to come to Canada! But in answer to the questions, I’m the opposite of a nervous flyer and I’m super lactose intolerant. Anything more than butter is killer!
I was going to do the same thing with my box of Quest bars except I accidentally left it in the dining hall and when I went back for it, it was gone…lol oh well! They’re sending us another box apparently so I’ll just give that one away. 😉
i LOVE quest bars! the cookies and cream is amazing.
Utah is my home … even having Blend this close it wasn’t something I could consider. It’s been fun reading everyone’s recap. I do know the elevation did create some interesting issues when we hosted the Winter Olympics several years ago.
My youngest has a peanut allergy we believe … we ended up in the hospital when he was one. We haven’t had official testing done and have just stayed away from them. He’s eight now, and is really in tune to anything peanut butter … we have had the occasional slip, no extreme reactions, so I’m actually not 100% where he is on that allergy. My poor #1 is suffering just from general “in the air” allergies right now and is miserable! I don’t think I am allergic to anything!
Thankfully only intolerance’s (gluten, soy, dairy) not allergies so I certainly don’t need to be as careful as you! But it can make eating “my way” difficult. Not a nervous flyer either, and thankfully – I am taking off to Italy a week from today! Beyond excited!
Not a nervous flyer anymore, thanks to the fact that I had been on several seemingly death-defying flights on a friend’s private plane. I learned that if you are panicking, the best way to avoid hyperventilating is to sing! It opens your airways and forces you to breathe 🙂 Now commercial flights are a breeze…thought I’m not sure if my fellow passengers enjoy my soulful renditions of Green Day and blink-182 songs mid-flight 😉
Really? I had no idea, but that’s super good to know. And I kind of love that you bust out in dog mid-flight. I’d totally be tempted to join 😀
I’m lactose intolerant and can’t digest meat well (it often just SITS in my stomach), and you wouldn’t believe how many of the items on a menu at a restaurant have cheese or milk or cream in them! 😛 booo…
I love flying!!! I’ve only flown once though, but if I ever get the opportunity to fly again, I’ll be super stoked! Lactose and Gluten allergies :/.
I’ve only flown once to Florida and it was AWESOME! Thank God no food allergies!
Oreo Quest FTW!
I’m sort of a nervous flyer. I get nervous at take off, then I’m okay once we’re going. I wish I had the funds to fly/ travel more! I’m guessing that nervousness would go away.
Absolutely beautiful mountain picture from the plane, hopefully the weather is nice soon so you can get hiking!!!!!!
Not a nervous flyer at all! In fact, on transatlantic flights, a little turbulence helps rock me to sleep!
And thank goodness, no allergies here!
I love quest bars! I fly all the time, no prob. Good thing too because I love vacations.
No allergies for me… I got lucky!
Oh man, I would be disappointed if Justin’s was not peanut free anymore – glad they are still peanut free!
Small planes are interesting rides for sure!
I’ve never been to the mountains 🙁
You have to go to pike place market sometime! It’s amazing. And Ihave taken that same propeller plane from seattle, a little scary at first.
I can imagine how your heart must have stopped when you didn’t see the “peanut free” label on such goodness. I am writing to you from Spain but I have had the privilege of living in the US and let me tell you, there is a serious peanut love there!! Hahah It is peanut extravaganza so when you find a product that respects your allergies it hitd the spot.
That’s so, SO true! Whenever I see a peanut-free label, my heart does a little happy dance and I instantly love the company 😆
I feel so bad for people with food allergies – it must be such a pain to have to meticulously check every food label! I am not allergic to any food, but I do have a metal allergy! I get a rash on my skin if I wear any kind of jewelry that isn’t silver or gold.
I’m ot a nervous flyer annnd I dont have any allergies (Thankfully – seriously I am genuinely sorry you suffer a peanut allergy.) I do however have the worst luck when it comes to the mugs I buy travelling. 9/10 they break! Weird I know.
Wow those are beautiful photos of the mountains!
I’m not a nervous flyer unless we are taking off or landing. Then I always grip the seat a bit tighter!
I am not much of a nervous flyer at all EXCEPT in the dark. I hate flying at night so so much. I get convinced that the pilot can’t see and we are going to spiral down into nothingness where no one can see us either…yeah I get super dramatic. 😉
And we are definitely on the same page! All the Blend recaps have made me want to get out to Banff STAT, but alas…pesky exams. Soon enough!
I’ve actually never tried Quest Bars and I would love to!
Beautiful picture of the Rockies!
It’s not exactly flying that makes me nervous, but traveling in general. I’ve had some really bad luck (including waiting in the pouring rain for a shuttle to take me to the airport, then that shuttle being in a car accident; and there was also the time my bus broke down on the side of the highway in the middle of the night). Needless to say I experience some serious anxiety whenever I have to take a bus/train/plane. But it’s usually worth it so I try to just take it in stride.
As for allergies – I (finally) outgrew my shellfish allergy, so I’m allergy-free when it comes to food!
i don’t mind flying at all! going back to my home country (south korea) would be miserable if i had any flight fears…
and luckily, i don’t have ANY food allergies! #eatallthefood
but, i am sensitive to cow’s milk.. which is weird because i can eat yogurt & cottage cheese (which i am SO thankful for!)
It might just be how it’s processed because I find the same thing! Yogurt is fine, but milk and cheese can be iffy.
That chocolate bar looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing the AVC/soap trick. I get fruit flies in the summer and nothing I’ve tried has worked.
No food allergies. Unfortunately, I do have a lot of skin allergies. I’m allergic to most types of laundry detergent, lotion, soap and deodorant. So I’ve been using all natural, organic laundry soap before it was popular lol.
I’ve been trying to up my protein lately so I’d really like to try those bars!
Typically for me to get home to my parents I am always on a propeller plane. I used to fly to St Croix a few times a year and when I would go there I would be on the SMALLEST plane in history! No joke the pilot would turn around from his seat to talk to the 5 of us on the flight! Talk about scary!
I’m highly allergic to lamb and mildly to corn. I don’t eat red meat, so the lamb isn’t a problem (and not so common in the US) but corn is everywhere!
I’ve only flown a few times but was more excited than nervous! No allergies either. It looks like there are some pretty interesting flavors for the quest bars, I’ve always wanted to try the cookies n cream.
ACV? Vinegar is what I assume you mean. I have terrible fruit flies problems in AZ. I will need to try the trick. They are so annoying. Your pics from the sky are amazing. You are so blessed with an eye to capture beautiful pics.
Oops — yup! Apple Cider Vinegar. I didn’t think it was working at first, until I noticed all the flies floating around the bottom of the bowl. So nasty… but better than having them sabotaging my food, I guess.
I am loving all of the unique chocolate bar combos! Sweet and savory mixed together makes my taste buds smile!