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.
While my sister and her family were in town we went to an Everett Aquasox's game. Over the past several years we have preferred going to these games as opposed to the Seattle Mariner's because you can get tickets for a fraction of the cost of what they would be at Safeco Field. We also are able to get much better seats and they even do a fireworks show after the game. It was a rare treat to have so much of our family together and this was Jasper's first baseball game to boot!
Whenever I have the opportunity to capture an important moment in a person's life, I always feel honored. It may be the first time their entire family has been together in years, a wedding or this particular time it was Senior Prom. Before I take someone's photo I always feel like a ball of nerves. I always hope they are deeply satisfied with the end results and that my vision was what they had in mind. The thing I most enjoy about photography is its ability to capture a moment and freeze it in time. Especially now having children, I view each photo I take as a mini time capsule I can pull out again and again. I always feel both excited and honored to capture other people's memories and appreciate the faith they put in me and my abilities.
We have been experiencing a scorcher of a Summer this year in Seattle. Most Saturdays, we escape to the mountains for a drop in temperature and to take in the gorgeous views of all the many alpine lakes in the area. A week ago we made the hike up to Rachel Lake. We had not been here in a long time and the last we came here there the trail was pretty snow covered, we lost our way a couple times and I am not even certain we made it to the lake. Since it was such a warm day, we appreciated how most of the trail was in the shade. Once at the lake there was ample shoreline for everyone and I even took a dip in the icy alpine lake. Such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday!
This Summer we have had lots of family visiting from out of town. Although the main attraction for them has been meeting Jasper we have also spent plenty of time at Alki beach. Sharing with others what a beautiful place West Seattle is always makes us happy. Among some of our favorite things to do at Alki Beach are rent surreys, have a sunset bonfire, get ice cream cones, watch the sunset, eat at one of the delicious restaurants or go for a run or a long walk. I realize all these things sound quite simple, but they make for a lovely way to spend an afternoon or an evening.
Every Summer we like to invite our friends over for an Ice Cream Social. It is the perfect party to host in the Summer because it is a simple party to put together. Based upon the decor, guest list and food offered, it can be as elaborate or laid back a party as you desire. Although we always host our Ice Cream Social in our backyard, the party could easily be held at a park, or inside if the weather does not cooperate. This year for our Ice Cream Social we served one of our favorite locally made ice creams- Snoqualmie Ice Cream.
This Summer Cameron's brother, Ryan, and his family visited us from Oklahoma. We took this rare opportunity to be together and played tourists with them for the weekend. One afternoon we had lunch at Elliott's on the Seattle waterfront and then enjoyed the Argosy Locks Tour. It was the quintessential overcast Summer Seattle day, not too hot or too cold. When the weather is extreme everywhere else, we are reminded why we live here.
Over the Fourth of July weekend we rented a three bedroom condo in Whitefish, MT with some friends. Although we had visited Whitefish a couple times in the past on our way to Glacier National Park, we had never spent any significant time there. We realized once we were there the four days we had planned to be there was not nearly enough time to enjoy all Whitefish, MT had to offer. During our time there we spent a morning hiking up Big Mountain, and then riding the gondola back down, another morning enjoying the alpine slides and chairlift, an afternoon swimming in Whitefish Lake, a couple dinners in downtown Whitefish and an afternoon at Stumptown Marketplace.
One of our favorite areas of Glacier National Park is Many Glacier. We love the steep craggy peaks, the beautiful hotel which resides on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake and the numerous hiking trails which abound in the area. Many Glacier is on the eastern side of Glacier National Park and since it is a little harder to get to, there are fewer crowds here than at Lake MacDonald.
Boasting over 700 miles in trails, Glacier National Park is one of my all time favorite places to hike. Over the Fourth of July weekend we visited the park with some of our friends and our three small children under the age of five. Rather than our usual 8-10 mile hikes we enjoyed a couple easier hikes, but there was no shortage of beautiful scenery or fun. On our first day we went to Logan's Pass and hiked the Hidden Lake trail. Logan's Pass is a mountain goat research area and the hike was visually diverse enough to keep everyone interested. There were streams, wildflowers, mountain goats, beautiful vistas and plenty of rocks to pick up along the trail.
Over Father's Day weekend we spent a day in Port Townsend. The goal for the day was pretty simple; grab a slice of pizza from Waterfront Pizza and get an ice cream cone from Elevated Ice Cream. In reality, the day was far more exciting than that. We enjoyed a scenic ferry ride to Southworth, a pretty drive to Port Townsend and most importantly a fun day with each other. We gave Cameron his Father's Day cards will we were picnicking on the beach and before Cameron had the chance to open Jasper's card Jasper had started chewing on it. A soggy card, sunshine and Jasper's first boat ride were just some of the highlights of our day together.
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.
