The Berkshires

A WEEKEND GETAWAY


I firmly believe that a marriage is like an escalator: if you're not constantly working on it, you're going down. I am so grateful that Bryan and I both have the desire to constantly work on our marriage and when things start to slip, we take the time to be together and make little sacrifices for each other. Bryan is very good at communicating what he is feeling and I am getting better at it every year we are together! And though this weekend I got sick, it was still nice to be together and to get the time to rest without having to take care of the little ones. So so grateful for Bryan's parents who stayed at our house this weekend and took care of two sick children.


Accomodations


We stayed The Lakehouse Inn in Lee, MA. Originally we had planned on going skiing or snowshoeing and it was about 40 minutes from the Jimmy Peak ski resort. It was a super cute bed and breakfast with very friendly owners! The room was really nice and I loved that our view was of the gorgeous frozen lake. It was fun seeing the brave inn guests walk out on the lake and the ice fisherman out there as well. The inn had fresh treats everyday and the sit down breakfast was a really nice touch! We had a fun time playing with the games they had and we just relaxed and rested on the big king bed. The innkeeper told us that rooms cost about 5 times as much during the summer months so most likely we will not be heading back here during peak season, but it was nice to get such a good deal for the off season January weekend!

A bright bedroom with two cream upholstered chairs by white-trimmed windows and a small side table between them.
A crisp white bed with rumpled linens and a small reading lamp mounted on the light-colored wall.
Clean bathroom interior with white vanity cabinet, marble countertop, and wood-framed mirror on beige wall.
Bright bedroom interior with wooden dresser, white chairs, mounted TV and natural light streaming through windows.
View through a window of a snowy winter landscape with bare trees and white ground visible outside.
Two photographers in pink and navy clothes smile while holding cameras near a bright window in a home.
White double doors with decorative glass panels and lantern sconces on either side create an elegant church entrance.
A snow-covered New England style house with white trim, cedar shingle siding, and a welcoming front porch.
A snow-covered lake surrounded by bare winter trees and a rocky shoreline on a foggy winter day.

Great Barrington, MA


Originally we had planned on going snowshoeing but because I got sick and because it was absolutely FRIGID outside, we decided to just go on a fun adventure to Great Barrington, MA and explore some shops before heading to lunch. Our first stop was the Lee Public Library because we had to print out an email saying our car was registered, but then we headed to Great Barrington where we went into some local bookstores, a toy store, a candy shop, and a record store. Its was *very* cold but it was still a fun time exploring with Bryan.

A couple in winter coats crouches together on a snowy wooden deck, smiling warmly at the camera.
A person relaxes on a brown leather couch wearing a winter hat and dark hoodie while holding a phone.
A blue hardcover book titled 'Why I Cook' by Tom Colicchio displayed on a wooden bookshelf.
Close-up view of a small green gift bag featuring a vintage pop-up book design element.
A circular black storefront sign reading "Rob's Records & Audio" in red and white retro lettering.
Person in blue winter coat and striped beanie admires colorful floral display outside storefront on snowy winter day.
Rainbow-colored crosswalk painted in vibrant stripes across urban street on a cloudy winter day.
Winter street scene showing a person in a long black puffy coat and fuzzy hood holding a green shopping bag on a snowy sidewalk.
Interior view of a colorful retail store with neon signs, toy displays and exposed ductwork on the ceiling.

Lunch: The Starving artist


For years Bryan's mom, Kathy, has told me about this cafe called the Starving Artist and she has raved about their lavender lemonade. When she found out we were going to Lee, MA she was so excited to tell me that that is where the Starving Artist is! I am here to tell you that she did not even hype it up ENOUGH! This place was absolutely delicious! I know I can make my own panini but this one was just incredible! We liked it so much we went back a second time!


Before heading into the Starving Artist, Bryan wanted to stop by a comic store. There we found some Pokemon cards. And since Bryan and Nellie have recently been having fun opening cards and collecting Pokemon together, we decided to grab a few packs and a cute little coloring book for Nellie and we opened them in the cafe while waiting for our order. Was I a little bit embarrassed to be opening Pokemon in public? Oh absolutely. But it was a fun time and it was very on brand for us.

A white ceramic cup filled with creamy pink chai tea sits on a rustic wooden table.
A chocolate-drizzled dessert on a white plate with whipped cream garnish, served with a puffy jacket visible in background.
Pokemon trading cards and Magic Ink coloring book displayed on wooden table surface with brown grain pattern.
Grilled turkey sandwich on toasted bread with lettuce and sliced meat piled high on a white plate.
A frosty glass filled with pink grapefruit cocktail and ice cubes sits on a rustic wooden table.

Headed home


Since I got sick we mostly just rested at the inn in our room. I took a nap while he worked on homework (he is still in his MBA) and then he took a nap while I watched Top Chef. Maybe not the most exciting trip of our life, but it was still fun to take a break from being a mom and to get to watch whatever I wanted. I am so grateful that I still felt well enough to enjoy our outing and not pictured: our dinner which was at 51 Park and was FANTASTIC!! Unfortunately I am now super sick and feeling the worst of this cold but hopefully I wake up 100% better tomorrow and even if not, I am glad for a nice restful weekend in the Berkshires.

Person wearing a quilted black jacket with orange lining stands outdoors in a snowy winter setting.
A person in a long winter coat stands smiling in a snowy forest landscape during winter.