Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest I feel most alive surrounded by trees and breathing in the fresh mountain air.
When I am not working you will most likely find me spending time outdoors, volunteering with my church and exploring this beautiful planet with my family.
This is my place to share my passion for life and to encourage you to take time to find the extraordinary in your life.
Over Memorial day weekend we went on a five hour kayak trip with San Juan Island Outfitters. We left from their exclusive location in Roche Harbor and spent the better part of our day navigating around Henry Island. I have dreamt of kayaking in the San Juan Islands for such a long time, I was ecstatic to finally be doing so.
To celebrate our ten year anniversary, we took the day off and went hiking to Blanca Lake. We had never been here before so it seemed like a fitting way to celebrate both our love for each other and the outdoors. The weather was glorious, the crowds were nonexistent and my parents were kind enough to watch Jasper so we could spend time together just the two of us. It is really difficult to wrap my head around the fact that we have been married for ten years. In some ways, the time has flown by and in other ways it feels as though we have always been married. He is my everything and has given me a life full of adventure, two beautiful children I adore and more love than I ever thought possible. He is a true partner in every sense of the word. He works tirelessly for the betterment of others and is slow to anger, patient, kind and loving. Even after all these years seeing his face makes me smile, his presence is reassuring and he still makes my heart skip a beat.
I recently took Jasper to Kid's Club at University Village for his first professional haircut. Upon arrival, I was instantly impressed with the salon's adorable ambience. I could have taken him anywhere to get his haircut, but this little space was geared specifically for children and had the most adorable little cars for them to sit in while they got their haircut. In the end, I was most appreciative of the ease in making an appointment (I was able to walk in and get an appointment in twenty minutes), their service and patience once Jasper started to freak out. Clearly they have dealt with upset children before and have lots of practice with both easy and hard little clients As part of their "First Haircut" package you will receive a souvenir photo along with some hair clippings. Although he was not happy for his "after" photo at the end, I will always remember how adorable and grown up he looked with his cape sitting in his very own taxi cab. There are so many emotions being a mother, but seeing your child learn and grow and become their own little person is endlessly rewarding!
Living in Seattle, we are spoiled to be surrounded not only by water, but fresh seafood galore. I realize this might be a novelty for many, but for us it is a common occurrence to enjoy a meal water side. One of our favorite places to go for happy hour on a Friday evening is Anthony's Homeport in Shilshoe Bay. Our chosen place to eat is out on their back deck which provides beautiful views and delicious food. A few of our favorite happy hour eats are their mussels and frites and their hamburger. They also offer a Sunset Supper where for $21.95 you can enjoy a four course dinner before 6pm.
As much as I crave sleep, I love adventure more. The handful of times my parents have watched Jasper for the night I dream about getting massive amounts of sleep, but the reality is I would rather get a restless night under the stars and wake up to a beautiful lake. A couple weeks ago Cameron and I hiked up to Snow Lake and spent a peaceful evening lakeside. Despite the gorgeous weather, we were surprised and delighted to only see a few other tents dot the shoreline.
In my opinion, these photos don't even do it justice, the beauty of the evening and morning light at Snow Lake is unparalleled and one of the main reasons I love backpacking in. During the day, the light is bright and the landscape is flat, but throughout the evening the lake becomes more and more stunning.
Picnic season is upon us and I couldn't be more pumped. A few months ago I purchased a large picnic blanket from Costco and deemed it "the wisest $20 I have ever spent". Since then, I have found ample excuses to pull it out and am happy to report I have used it on an almost daily basis. As soon as it gets warm enough to sit outside my preferred place is to be outside.
In the Summer, one of my favorite things to do is meet Cameron after work and go on a picnic. Even though it takes a little extra work to pack a picnic there is something inherently festive about preparing and loading up a picnic basket. On those nights when things get to hectic we like to grab something on our way to the park. Either way, the time spent together as a family enjoying the warm Summer air is the thing I daydream the most about on the coldest and dreariest of Winter days in the PNW.
All these beautiful June Saturdays have been perfect for making use of our new infant carrier. This past weekend we visited Granite Mountain and enjoyed spectacular views and gorgeous weather. The only disappointing thing was all the bear grass had already died for the Summer due to the hot weather we have been experiencing. A stark contrast to last year when it was in abundance.
When the weather is good we usually head to the mountains, but what is your favorite thing to do on a sunny Saturday?
On San Juan Island there exists a beautiful lavender farm called Pelindaba Lavender. Although we visited before the lavender was in full bloom, we still enjoyed spending a quiet morning there. We walked the cutting field and demonstration garden, had a picnic, perused the gift shop and toured their farm to learn about their process and sustainable practices. Typically, the lavender is in full bloom in July which makes me excited to visit again this Summer. We have enjoyed picking up products from their Friday Harbor and LaConner shop for several years now, so it was fun to see the farm where the lavender comes from. Some of our favorite products are their lavender chocolate sauce, lemon lavender sorbet and lavender honey.
For you long time readers, you know we like to hike...A LOT! So when Jasper came along, it was pretty much a given we would invest in a hiking pack once he was big enough. We were ecstatic when upon placing him in the carrier for the first time he literally laughed and squealed with delight. Hiking must be in his blood! Riding in the carrier allows him to be up high and see everything from a different vantage point than his everyday life. I can tell Jasper feels like a big deal in his carrier and he really seems to enjoy the view.
This time of year I always look forward to going strawberry picking at Harvold's Berry Farm. This year, I was especially looking forward to taking Jasper on his first trip berry picking. Even though Jasper was too little to pick any berries he made an evasive maneuver while we were getting our photo taken and snagged his very own berry to eat. Picking strawberries can be back breaking work, but those delicious berries are well worth the effort. It also makes you realize just how subpar those grocery store strawberries can be. I appreciate knowing where my food came from and I hope that one day Jasper likes picking berries as much as I did as a child.
Note: Due to the unseasonably warm weather we have been experiencing all of the berries are 2-3 weeks early this year.
Over Memorial Day weekend, we stayed at the Earthbox Inn on Friday Harbor. Earthbox Inn is centrally located in town and only four blocks from the ferry terminal. It is close enough you could walk onto the ferry and enjoy a car free vacation as you walk or cruise around town on one of their free bikes. Earthbox Inn is an old motel which has been refurbished into a modern, chic, laid back place to rest your head. Even though we stayed over a holiday weekend, we found our room to be quiet and our bed to be among some of the comfiest we have ever slept in.
A few weeks ago we took Jasper to the zoo for the first time. Even though he is still quite young, we were excited to see him interact with the animals and check this off our list of "firsts". Overall, it was a successful first trip to the zoo. We were able to see a fair amount of animals, it was not too hot or cold outside and Jasper even took a nap for part of our time there. The only snag in the day was not having cash to feed the giraffes. Will someone please explain to me why I need to pay to feed the giraffes after I already paid an entrance fee into the zoo? Lame. Hands down the penguins were by far all our favorites. We stood at the glass and watched them dive down time and time again. Other interesting tidbits from the day were the new tiger exhibit (they are truly stunning creatures in person) and I will never forget the bear who appeared to be smiling. In celebration of Jasper's first trip to the zoo we had to pick up some sort of souvenir, after much deliberation (on my part) I selected a copy of Goodnight Gorilla. We look forward to experiencing more animal encounters with Jasper, but preferably in their more natural habit- the wild.
A couple weekends ago our son had his first sleep over at my parent's house. In preparation for his first night away I eagerly stocked his overnight bag with everything necessary to take care of him for a solid week. Then I called my mother and meticulously went over a rough schedule with her. Since my mother has successfully raised four children and helped raise several subsequent grandchildren, all of this was more about giving me piece of mind then out of necessity. As I placed his elephant slippers and bathrobe in his bag I was a mix of emotions. I was worried about our first night away from each other and yet I was really looking forward to it. I wasn't afraid anything bad would happen, rather I knew how much I would miss him.
On any given day, Pike Place Market is swarming with tourists. However, I always manage to walk away feeling inspired by its endless array of sights, sounds and colors. When I visit Pike Place Market, I like to treat to myself to a bunch of fresh flowers for our home. There usually are a large array of bouquets to choose from for five, ten or fifteen dollars. I realize some people view fresh flowers as a waste of money, but the amount of joy they provide me far surpasses their monetary cost. The fresher the flowers the longer they will last, a little tip is to ask what they received on that particular day.
Last year over Mother's Day weekend we stayed at the Adrift Hotel in Long Beach, WA with my parents. We had so much fun we decided to head back and stay at their sister property Inn at Discovery Coast. Inn at Discovery Coast is a smaller, more intimate hotel, closer to the beach and a tad more luxurious. We stayed in the top corner rooms which had large jetted tubs, unobstructed ocean views and thoughtful touches such as roses and chocolate on your pillow. We spent a majority of out time outdoors riding along the Discovery Trail, eating leisurely meals at the Pickled Fish and enjoying the view.
The one question I receive far more than any other is, "How are you adjusting to motherhood?" Not matter how many times I am asked this; I am always taken back. Normally, I sputter out something like "It is great" or "I love it" But the truth is there are far too many emotions and responses swirling around in my head to say more than a few word answer. Most of my responses would require more time and tears than most people would care to endure. The embarrassing truth about becoming a mother, is I love my children so fiercely talking about them will inevitably make me cry.
As a woman the societal expectation is that we do it all. Society wants us to be thin, pretty, bare beautiful and well behaved children, keep an immaculate house, have perfect hair, stay on top of the housework, maintain a pretty yard and prepare healthy and delicious dinners on a nightly basis. In reality, something always has to give. In order to have an immaculate house, maybe we deprive ourselves of sleep. Or if we are able to prepare delicious dinners on a nightly basis, maybe our laundry pile is sky high. Being a mother or a woman for that matter is a balancing act between being selfish and giving. On the days where I excel in one area, I most certainly fail in another. I have come to peace with the fact that I cannot do it all, nor will I try to pretend that I do.
One of the most exhilarating parts of becoming a parent is seeing the world through new eyes. I can distinctly remember only one other time in my life when I have felt this way and that was when Cameron and first started dating. Everything I had previously done I wanted to experience with him. It did not matter how many times I had been somewhere, if it was accompanied by him it felt like a whole new experience. Ever since Jasper has joined our family I have experienced similar feelings. I have been eager to show him all our favorite places and take him everywhere we go. One of our favorite activities as a family is hiking, so naturally we have taken Jasper on several hikes with us. It doesn't matter how many times we have hiked Rattlesnake Ridge with Jasper it is a whole new experience. From stopping to touch the trees to changing his diaper on the ridge to seeing the wonder in his eyes at the sound of a bird. Hiking with Jasper is a whole new experience! After our hike we stopped at Rattlesnake Lake to let Jasper stretch his legs and roll around on the grass. Being a parent has caused me to be more present, take life at a slower pace and be acutely aware of another's needs before my own.
Ferries are not only useful in getting us from Point A to Point B, but they are also extremely scenic. One of the best ways to experience first hand all the beauty of Washington state has to offer is by getting out on the water. From a ferry you can enjoy sweeping views of the Seattle skyline, witness sea life galore or cruise between tree covered islands. Although I enjoy going anywhere on a ferry, my favorite ferry ride will always be through the San Juan Islands. In the past, I used to dread having to wait in line for hours in the Summer, but Reservations are now available for Washington State Ferries which makes waiting hours in lines a thing of the past.
