My husband is awesome, but he sometimes forgets to tell me about plans he’s made for the two of us– like today, for instance, when he told his friend we’d go on his boat. I’m not complaining (boating + friends is lots of fun), but I was sure surprised when Mal told me this at 9 o’clock this morning! 
After waking up at the Hotel Veritas, we met Dave and Marie at their apartment and drove down to Duxbury to go boating with a bunch of our friends.
Hello, Captain Dave! 
Everyone came prepared for the day with coolers and bags full of supplies.
Of course, we had plenty of snacks for the beach. Marie and I dug into the pita chips and spinach dip right away. I am totally addicted to pita chips. Once I start, I can’t stop. I must have eaten 50 of them!
We also had plenty of “adult beverages” on hand. I drank my face off a lot last night, so I stuck to water today.
There were also lots of beach games, like Polish Horseshoes and Bocci.
Mid-afternoon, we took a break from playing on the beach to make some ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch.
I had spicy mustard on mine.
M & T at the beach! 
Dinner
We got home from boating around 6:30 pm, so I whipped up a quick salad for dinner with leftovers from the fridge. In the mix: greens, carrots, cucumbers, pinto beans, brown rice, and Athenos feta.
After dinner, I felt like doing some baking (I’m so random), so I made some Carrot Cake Cookies. Obviously, I was inspired by the Carrot Cake Bread Pudding from last night! 
Carrot Cake Cookies
Makes 12
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325*F.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well until batter is blended evenly.
- Use a tablespoon to portion cookies on a greased baking sheet, approximately 1-2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies for 15-18 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove cookies from baking sheet and allow to cool on wire rack.
- Eat and enjoy!
Delicious cookies! I’m a big fan!
I’m chilling with M & M on the couch for a little while then heading straight to bed. I’m exhausted from a fun day in the sun!
Good night!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I just barely pulled chocolate chip walnut oat cookies out of the oven because I was totally craving cookies. I wish I’d had this recipe about 20 minutes ago! These sound awesome! Perhaps later in the week, or tomorrow, the craving will hit again.
That’s an awesome surprise to wake up to!
Happy Anniversary!
I love your blue cover-up/dress and your friend’s white one. Do you know where either/both are from?
p.s. now i want to bake!
The sun will really take it out of you! Looks like a great weekend! Enjoy your evening!
@Katy T [tech savvy daughter]: Mine’s from Marshalls, 3 or 4 years ago.
What a fun day!!!!! friends + sunshine = wonderful!
Ha! My fiance does the same thing! Looks like you guys had the perfect weather. My sister in-law (to-be) is from Duxbury. It’s a beautiful area.
Those cookies sound awesome!
Ha Hunni does this all the time. But it usually turns out to be a bunch of fun. Looks like it was the same for you.
I’ve been in such a cookie mood lately! I’ve made hazelnut amaretti cookies, peanut butter cookies spiked with tabasco… these are absolutely going to be my next project!
fun day at the beach, ending with lovely cookies. what a great weekend you had, tina!
Sounds like a blast, as does your anniversary!!! happy two years.
I’m not sure what it is about men, but that’s just what they do–spring things on you! although, thats definitely a good thing to be sprung with b/c it looked like a blast!
I live right around the corner from Hotel Veritas! How was it? Is there a bar/lounge that is open to the public? We keep meaning to stop by and ask but never get around to it. Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for posting the cookie recipe. It looks scrumptious!
Your life is so FUN!! Love it!!
What a fun day!
Thanks for the recipe, it looks great. I’ve tried your banana chocolate chip oatmeal cookies before and can’t wait to try these as well.
Wow those cookies look amazing! I can not wait to try out this recipe. I’m a bit of a chocolate hound though, do you think chocolate would be an okay substitute for the raisins?
What a fun day at the beach! I got a little too much sun in this weekend and got pretty burnt. Hopefully your skin is doing well. lol.
Those cookies sound SO good! and what a fun day!
Cookies look wonderful!
Tee hee…I thought you might be hurting today. You got ‘er done!
Love the vegan carrot cake cookies. I might add some vegan white choc. chips and follow your lead!
I am definitely the same when it come to Pita chips!! They are just so good!
What a gorgeous day you had outside!
Did you venture out on the boat after a night of adult beverages? What a trooper you are
I think I would have been a bit sea sick.
Looks you had such a fun day (and weekend for that matter) – happy anniversary!
Those cookies look sooooo good, gonna have to try those for sure!
Those carrot cake cookies look delish. I can’t wait to try them.
I LOVE boating. I love the water. That is a dream day for me!
The cookies look so good.
I think it’s safe to say I’m jealous
I’m with you on the pita chips. I could eat an entire bag of sesame seed ones in a sitting.
you guys are so lucky to live so close to the ocean! i love colorado and all, but sometimes it’s hard being land-locked
i have got to try those cookies ASAP…they look like the perfect mini solution to my carrot cake cravings!
I love spending the day at the beach! I think I’m going to go on Friday for a while!
I love your bathing suit cover-up. What beach is that? My bf and I visited Boston last summer and then drove to Gloucester. We’re thinking of making the same trip this summer, and would really like to spend some time at the beach.
PS Your cookies look amazing!
What a fun Sunday!
Happy Anniversary T + M!!!!
the weather looked PERFECT!! and of course you look gorgeous!! Tell your friend she’s brave for wearing a WHITE bikini!
nice weekend! i love it! and i really like that coverup too!!
Sounds like an AWESOME day- I love spending time near the water!
Looks like a day full of fun!! Those cookies look so tasty!
Those cookies look phenomenal! Looks like a great day =D
Nothing’s better than a gorgeous day on the water with great friends! The cookies look great too!
You look amazing at the beach! I’m baking right now, too; I was perusing through a cookbook, totally not in the mood, saw a recipe which my mom squealed at… lo and behold, cheese biscuits out of the oven. Mmm.
Wei-Wei
Looks like the perfect day at the beach and those cookies look scrummy!!
Looks like you guys had a great time at the beach!
I was so intrigued by your Carrot Cake Cookies that I had to make a batch from myself. Shared them with a date the other night and he went crazy for them. Thank Tina!
Posted about it on my blog:
http://smallhomebigstart.blogspot.com/2010/07/carrot-cake-cookies.html