Flying to Hartford for this weekend’s marathon was like flying home.  Before Colorado, I lived in New Haven & worked NYC for 9 years – whole lotta memories.  Family, friends, marathon, friends, more friends – that was the plan.

Once Upon a Fairytale CT

Started Friday with breakfast at the Cosmic Omelet, then shared the day with family – FAAANNNTASTIC!   Bib pick-up 20 minutes away in Hartford, then watched Michaela doll it up for a neighborhood character lunch, promoting her entertainment company, Once Upon a Fairytale CT.  After months of following her progress on social media & the web, was super fun to see the girl the action. Well done, so very proud!

What happens when you combine a professional makeup artist with a lifelong obsession with storybook characters?  You get Once Upon a Fairytale CT. 

Our story begins with a young autistic boy named David.  Who has spent most of his life in love with his fairytale characters and visiting the world they live in.

The story continues with a woman trained in the art of makeup and transformation.   A beauty and special effects makeup artist, Michaela was trained at Marinello School of Beauty and Chic Studios NYC.  In 2012 Michaela launched her own freelance makeup artist company “Glam It Looks”.  And in 2014 started Once Upon a Fairytale CT.  Using her skills our characters leap off the pages with the most accurate looks in the business….

Late dinner, even later to bed, tough a.m. marathon start.  No regrets – 50 State Quest is much more than a running journey.

Fast forward to Saturday nite – still tight from the day’s marathon finish, my 5^th consecutive weekend running – drove an hour south to Guilford, home of my Connecticut bestie, Dawn.  Why do I love Dawn?  Big heart, no soul more honest, loves life, loves to laugh, amazing chef & horse passionate.  Her farmhouse in southern CT is something out of a magazine.  You ever need to get away & recharge, spend a weekend with Dawn.  Hot tub, dinner, laughs – movie, conversation, cards, more conversation.

Hate to waste hours sleeping.  Up early; at the barn, watched Dawn feed Rudy & Spot.  Special treat: Dawn harnessed Spot & showed off the new carriage (rode alongside Quonnipaug Lake).  Whatta experience!  Thanks my friend.

Late flight return to Colorado meant one more stop before the airport – 30 minutes shoreline-south to Branford, where we met up with Andrea, Betsey & friends for brunch & a walk along the beach.  Ocean breeze, sea gulls, sunshine, peace.

Returning to work Monday morning, gonna be a struggle.  New England vacation in 3 days – friends, family, food, horses, beach AND my 41^st marathon – lot more to Connecticut than folks give credit, not simply a halfway point between Boston & NYC.

Connecticut weekend Getaway