Scratch that.
Home Sweet MO-tel.
Welcome to our place:
We’ve got a dining room – complete with fruit bowl
The kitchen, stocked with organic dairy, veggies and beer – what else?
The office. For blogging on the go!
The bed – which I am pretty excited about. It seems pretty comfy
The bathroom. Nicely updated for a…MO-tel.
I’ve got my make-up all laid out Emily!
Your friendly hostess:
Our housewarming party included cracking open a cold one –
Moose Drool of course – the only canned beer I’ll sip!
We put on some romantic Norah Jones for dinner
And broke into our Good Food Store salad bar dinners!
Served with a side of freshly baked bread (this Wondeful bread isn’t bad! It’s nutty and seedy but sourdough at the same time!)
Smothered in our new nut butters
Full of veggies, beans, and tofu – some olives and granola on the side! Plus a nutritional yeast dressing (don’t know the name – I think it was a store brand?) that was GREAT! I need to start making my own creamy dressings.
A taste of Cowboy Coffee Porter was had (we split both beers 60/30 his/hers)
For dessert, we thank the Doubletree Missoula for sending us on our way with cookies. They were delicious.
Also made with 100% real food! I am impressed Doubletree!
Our journey to Dillon today was beautiful and overwhelming at the same time. Beautiful because – just look at those snow-capped mountains white! But scary because at times the road was only one lane de-iced and the speed limit was faster than I feel comfortable going in a car. I was relieved when our 2 hours were up and we arrived in the small town of Dillon from the middle of nowhere.
Training begins with breakfast at 7AM tomorrow (most days we have breakfast on our own though). I’m not really sure of my blogability this week. I’ve been cleared to take photos and share our general experience, but I’m not sure when I’ll have breaks to blog and stuff. So if you don’t see me until tomorrow night – don’t worry. But I might also be blogging even more than usual : )
{ 99 comments… read them below or add one }
Have fun training!
The motel looks cozy! I totally didn’t know what Moose Drool was when I read your last post, by the way…for some reason I thought it had something to do with chocolate
Have a great first day of training!
60/30? Who got the other 10 per cent? Heehee
Haha. Oops!
Perhaps it was lost in the drool?
Could you please do a post on beer? I’d drink more if I knew where to start. That could be a good thing or a bad thing, I’m just sayin.
Matt and I are planning a whole beer video series – we have to get through Montana first! It’s coming!
Will you be able to sell any of Matt’s beer at Great Harvest?
I don’t know if we’d need another license – maybe. Definitely something to look into down the road!
Love Norah Jones
Have a great day tomorrow!
What an awesome MO-tel! Gald you are all settled in!
Pretty nice for a motel! Love all the foods you got for the stay. Makes it much more homey
Hope tomorrow goes great!
What a nice motel…wow. You’ve KERFed up the place indeed.
I love how you can adapt to any environment and KERFify it!
Have a good time at sandwich school!
Reading your posts makes me want to travel more.
You two are such great travelers – I aspire to be as healthy as you while traveling! I’m learning!
Welcome to the West! And I’m glad you are off the roads for now.
I have a blog post planned for tomorrow about my love for great harvest! I feel so fortune to have one (two actually!) here, because we don’t have any other good foodie places. No whole foods, no trader joes, no dean and deluca.
Great harvest is so good!
What a tasty dinner!
Glad you made it safe and sound! Have fun at training
Looks like you all are set. Let the adventure really begin!
I have been reading your blog for a couple years, but this is my first time commenting. I am amazed at how healthy you still eat while traveling. It must save you a ton of money too! Montana looks beautiful. Good luck tomorrow.
A couple of years and your first comment! Yay!
What is nutritional yeast? I’ve seen it mentioned a few times but I’ve never heard of it before. And the beers look fantastic! Enjoy your trip!
Emily @ Daily Garnish has a whole info page on it – easier read there than typed up by me
Ah – those dinners looks fabulous! The motel looks so cozy – and love that you’ve made it yours.
Oh man I really like those Doubletree cookies!! Your motel room is so cute. Love how you put your touch on everything. Good luck with the Great Harvest stuff!! Sounds so exciting. Reading about Great Harvest so much has made me have a huge craving for their cinnamon chip bread. Mmh!!
Looks like you’re having a lot of fun in your motel! I love this post
Completely random fun fact:
When I was 15 my family and I traveled through Dillon, Montana (I think we were completely lost) on a road trip across the state. We spent about 2 hours on this horrible gravel road and had already been in the car for 6. At the time it was a big adventure for the 6 of us in the car, but during that long journey we decided to get a puppy! Wheee! Guess what the puppy’s name is? That’s right…. DILLON!
My family had this weird habit of naming our pets after towns – Reno, Cairo. Dillon is the best though and she’s the only one left. So wave hello from one Dillon to another!
Love these pics Kath!
and the doubletree cookies ARE really good, indeed!
love the blogging setup and all your great eats…and blogging even MORE than usual? if you can pull it off, we are here to read
Oh gosh, if only hotels offered that kind of food as room service! That would be wonderful!
wow enjoy,..
Enjoy the training–I can’t wait to hear about your experiences!
Have a great trip and happy training.
WAIT…so what exactly are you guys training for?
Anwyas good pics and food!
I wish we had a whole foods or somewhere with an awesome salad bar like that around here! Its just not fair! LOL
Go back and read the post “The Next 12 Days” I published yesterday
Um, hello Doubletree cookies–so so good! And love that sequence of you popping open the can… way cool.
That’s a pretty sweet motel. When I think “motel”..the image of lights flickering and doors squeaking comes to mind. Maybe with a few people peering out windows. Yeah..we have some real dumpy places around here.
doubletree cookies are the best!
Pretty comfy and cozy looking for a motel! I love how you guys made yourselves at home
I love your motel dinner!
Not a bad MO-tel… especially since you were able to make it so homey
the mountains look gorgeous!
Wow, you’ve given me no excuse not to eat well on vacation. So inspiring! Have fun with your training!
What a great time for you and Matt; you guys are going to learn so many great things.
Those cookies look amazing. I’m so jealous you get to spend the next few weeks constantly surrounded by the smell of freshly baked bread!
How cozy! You’ve definitely made this hotel your home.
You guys made that motel a home! Love it!
I love Norah Jones : ) she rocks, I need to download some of her stuff on my ipod!
Have a great first day at training today !
great way to make a motel feel as comfortable as possible. Love the name of the Moose drool beer. Where do you buy that?
Montana?
We can’t get it in VA
If you are really interested in purchasing it, a local beer store in Boise (where I am from) allows you to online shop for beer. I can’t vouch for the shopping experience but the website is wwww.brewforia.com.
Although, I am sure due to restrictions they can’t shop to every state.
There’s something exciting about traveling and scoping out a new hotel!!
Looks like a fun dinner “in”
the cowboy coffee porter sounds ridiculous….what brewery makes it? I would love to try it!
Big Sky here in Missoula does – we can’t get them in VA though
Nice MO-tel
It looks very cozy for you two and I hope you have a great trip and find time to blog 
Can’t wait to hear all about your training!!
Makeup looks wonderful!
You guys look cozy – stay warm!!
Kath,
Its wonderful to read yours and Matt’s step-by-step journey to Great Harvest! I’m enjoying reading about your adventure and keeping my fingers crossed that your shop will be open soon! Blessings!
I have never seen Moose Drool in a can!! That is great! Enjoy your stay in Montana.
Looks like you guys know how to make the best of a motel stay! I love your “fruit bowl”
Hope the training is fun and informative!
Home sweet motel! And lovely landscape photos.
Sounds like you have a good setup.
That hotel looks nice! I LOVE the cookies from the Doubletree! They are magical! I can’t wait to see the rest of your trip!
I’ve been a longtime reader, just don’t comment! But seeing you in Missoula, I just had to! My boyfriend’s family is from there, so we go out there twice a year from PA….if you get back to Missoula, you have to try ‘Butterfly Herbs’ in the downtown area. They have great coffee, tons of looseleaf tea, it’s very unique! Also ‘Ciao Mambo’ is a great Italian place as well! Enjoy!
It looks like you two were pretty cozy in the hotel room there. And a little ale always helps
I wish I had access to some Moose Drool!
I am going to adopt a characteristic from you Kath. Everywhere you go, especially with Matt, you make a home. All your little touches and making it feel like home looks so warming. I want to be like that from now on!
Doubletree cookies have got to be my favorite. I actually found a very close recipe to theirs. And the secret to the cookies are LEMON JUICE?
Hope your training goes well
Kath–What is the name of the eye shadow you pictured?
Tapestry Taupe – it’s the BEST!
I love your camera! I have been wanting an upgrade for a long time! What brand do you use?
Canon XSI DSLR with 35mm f/2.0 lens
You fridge stuffing skills amaze.
Clearly, that was supposed to be “your”.
Fun trip! As for canned beer, you should try Dale’s Pale Ale. It’s out of Colorado, and from Minnesota, Surly beers come in cans. They are great craft beers. Matt would love them.
Oh I do like that brand – and Big Chub I think?
Moose Drool in a can? I had no idea this existed!
Looks like a great place to call home for a few days and your photos of the scenery are just gorgeous. Looks mighty chilly, though!
Looks like you’ve got the place all set up!
Enjoy your stay – I hate driving on icy roads – glad you made it safely!
Moose Drool = best beer name ever
So many great ideas for making travel more homey AND economical! Your pics make the motel room look positively cozy!
Looks cozy!! Enjoy your week Kath – I look forward to following your advantures
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I love the Doubletree cookies so much. We actually will try to stay in a Doubletree just for the cookies
I think the fruit bowl adds the “home” touch you need for travel! And I definitely recommend making your own creamy dressings. Yogurt and mustards really work wonders on salads with some (Garlic Gold of course..) oils.
You’ve made your motel very homey – good food has a tendency to do that! Beautiful mountain pictures! I miss the west.
That’s definitely not bad for a motel. This motel would make seem like a 5-star establishment compared to some hotels I’ve stayed at
BTW, if you have time during your break – check out the giveaway I’m hosting for a peanut butter spread!
Hi Kath,
I hope you two are enjoying your time in beautiful Missoula. My Uncle owns an antiques shop there called Magpie Mercantile on 3rd Street West. I have never been there to visit but hope to sometime soon. Good for you for stocking your fridge w/ healthy foods!
thats a pretty nice motel! when i was first married, we LIVED in a motel 6. yes, we are that ghetto.
your motel dinner looks nicer than anything i ever cook.
I’ve had Doubletree cookies before; when I was in high school working at a carwash one of the limo drivers of Doubletree would bring us a can of the cookies for Christmas every year. Oh they were good and always had that fresh baked taste.
You are well prepared for travel. I don’t normally plan food when I travel, which can be spontaneous and fun most of the time, but sometimes.. I get stuck. You have motivated me to food plan during travel
Hi Kath! The room looks great for a motel. I missed a connecting flight recently due to some issues w/ “homeland security” IT system being down and decided to use my hotel discount voucher for the closest hotel to the airport, which was a DoubleTree. Though I was in a terrible mood due to missing the flight and having my duty free alcohol seized at customs (I forgot about the no bottles on plane rule…), the DoubleTree was the best part of the day. I was very pleasantly surprised with my room and I would definitely stay in one again (and no, I was no paid to write this…hehe). Have a great trip!
Love that you made dinner so homey. Looks lovely. And the view!! Wow!!
Love the Moose Drool! I had some this summer while visiting Yellowstone – such a wonderful trip!
Looks like you made a sweet little home away from home. Good luck with the training!
You’ll have to pick up some Moose Tracks ice cream to go with your Moose Drool!
i wish i scored like that with motels – that place looks really nice! and nothing beats doubletree cookies…
Living in a hotel for any extended period of time can be brutal! I had to do it for two weeks when our house was being renovated. I love how you made it seem more homey though. It’ll definitely make your stay there so much better!
I think hotels are fun!!
Wow, it sure is beautiful where you are! Have a great trip!
I love your blog and have commented before. One question: why didn’t you buy bread from the Great Harvest in Missoula? I wish we had a Great Harvest here!
Because it was closed on Sundays
Thanks! Have fun in Montana.
Moose Drool? You MUST be in Montana!
I HAD NO idea DT cookies were made with REAL stuff!! AMAZING – I am gluten free and primal now and still have fond memories of those warm chocolatety cookies. I am going to figure out a recipe and RECREATE them
WAhoo