Today’s adventure took us to Zellwood, Florida to explore a corn maze at Long & Scott Farms!
We were a little apprehensive about making the 45-minute drive to the farm because the weather was quite dreary. However, I purchased discounted tickets to the maze through Groupon a couple of weeks ago, and this weekend was the last weekend we were able to go. We were determined to brave the bad weather!
When we arrived, it was a little chillier than we expected, but thankfully Ryan keeps an “emergency duffel” in the back of his car that included items to help us stay warm. His dad gave the bag to him as a gift a couple of years ago and filled it with random things we might need like a flashlight, Band-Aids, etc. We’ve used the items in the bag numerous times.
One item in the bag came in handy for me today.
Wind pants!
Quite the random thing to have on hand, but I was grateful for the shelter from the drizzly rain and the chill.
Once I pulled the pants over my shorts, we were on our way!
Before entering the maze, we were given a map with a decoder that you could look at when you reached four different check points.
Since I am directionally challenged, I let Ryan do his thing and navigate our way through the maze.
We visited the maze before with some of our friends and it took us more than an hour to get through. (They say it typically takes between one and three hours.) For some reason this time it took us only 20 minutes!
Apparently Ryan is a regular Magellan! 😀
Before heading over to the mini maze, we grabbed an ear of corn dipped in butter to share. 
It was fantastic!
With a little corn to keep us going, we tackled the mini maze.
Do you see me?
In the mini maze, there were five check points, each marked with a different color paint for you to put on one finger.
You chose what finger to put each color on and after finishing the maze, matched up your fingers to a chart of numbered hands with fingers colored in a bazillion different ways to see which number hand matched yours.
You then used that number to tell your fortune. 
Ryan’s matched number 11 and mine matched number 48. 
I think he got the better end of the stick… but I suppose that fortune should involve me, too! 😀
Once we were done exploring the farm, we headed home to a warm dinner.
Black Bean Chili
One of my favorite things about chili is having leftovers that seem to get tastier each time you enjoy a bowl. 
Yesterday after tweeting about my desire to make chili, Matt responded with his recipe for black bean chili, and I knew I had a winner. 
I followed Matt’s recipe almost exactly, but subbed one can of kidney beans in place of one of the three cans of black beans.
The end result was a hearty, fragrant chili that Ryan and I both found delicious.
We had the chili for dinner again this evening.
After snapping the above pictures, I topped my bowl off with a big scoop of plain Greek yogurt that made it taste even better. Highly recommended. I only wish we would’ve had shredded cheese on hand.
Now it’s time to chill out before the start of another work week… only three days this week. Woo! 😀
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What a fun afternoon. I agree, chili gets better the longer is sits!
So glad you liked it 🙂
Sounds like a great afternoon!
My husband is reading over my shoulder, and now he really wants to go to a corn maze!! 🙂 Looks like fun!
I love corn mazes…But I think I like corn on the cob even more!
Chili sounds really good right now…I’m sitting on an airplane eating bag after bag of peanuts for dinner! :-p
Ohh, I love corn mazes! What a fun day. Whoohoo for a short work week.
That fortune thing is so cool. Ryan def got the better one!. I’ve never been in a corn maze, but they look so fun!
what a fun day! you & ryan are such a cute couple!
How cool! I’ve always wanted to visit a corn maze 🙂 🙂
Oh wow!!!! I’m sooo bookmarking this recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why I looove reading blogs!
Oh, and corn mazes are soooo much fun! Where I live, every year, the maze spells out a message, and they take an airborne picture of it.
Getting wind pants out of an emergency duffel in the back of the car = You find creative solutions…. Your fortune was totally right!
Cornmaze = definition of fall fun 😀 I love it! And that chili looks SO comforting, mmm!
O that looks like so much fun! I’ve always wanted to try a corn maze.
Your hair looks adorable with two side braids like that!
I have been blog-stalking you for probably about a month or two now, and I finally decided it was time to tell you that I LOVE your blog! I think that you are so real (one major turn-off for me of other fitness/health blogs is that they are self-righteous and commercial, ya know?) and you make living healthily look so doable. I love your simple recipes that are so healthy and tasty. How do you come up with this stuff? You and your hubby are stinkin’ cute too. 🙂
Yum! That chili looks delicious! I love making chili because I have tons of yummy leftovers ;).
Oh yum, that chili looks really tasty!
Mmmm. That chili looks great! When I was younger, I used to hate beans – now I love ’em! 😛
Looks like a fun afternoon! That chili looks delicious! 🙂
I could honestly eat chili every single day!! So many variations and so good! You are so right, it somehow gets better every time you pull out your leftovers…I think it’s because it becomes a little thicker!
A corn maze!! How fun! I have been once in Pennsylvania but I didn’t know they had any down here in FL. Yum to the chili!
Love the emergency bag idea! I am going to implement it stat! Also, I agree that chili is wonderful and tastes better and better as each day goes by!
That chili looks awesome (minus the meat). Definitely warm and filling.
I love the emergency bag idea! I used to have one, but my car leaks the extra clothes I had got all wet and moldy. I need a bag that is waterproof!
You guys are so cute! Love the corn maze!! Chilli looks yuuuuuum!
Hey Julie! Just wanted to let you know your hair looks sooo cute in braids 🙂
😀 thank you, brenda!