Mountainscapes and The Pacific Crest Trail

Family adventures are the best kind.  Last weekend, we headed up the Gorge and into the mountains for what we thought would be one final berry picking.  Instead, we spent most of the late afternoon driving 10+ miles way high, high up into the wilderness, where not another soul was seen, and where the sights were simply majestic.  It's quite the experience to find you and your family in the midst of such beauty, undisturbed. It's as if those mountains and trees were ours to swallow up once we arrived...

Seems God waits on us to arrive in such places--the places where words are scarce, and flip-flops will do, even if you do find yourself on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time in your life.  And the berries that you thought you went for wont be there, and the six large bowls you have in the back of the car are laughable.  But instead of bowls overflowing with huckleberries, blueberries and raspberries, His glory fills the air and falls over the mountainscape, as every tree glows in its early fall turning, and silence crashes across the land.  This is what we came for.  These are the moments that fill us up, bring healing and re-prioritize our lives.

30 before 30: take a road trip (in instragram photos)

We drove, we played and we drove.

I tend to forget how much I love road trips.  Especially the ones to Montana, where the mountains and trees are unbelievable,

and where sweet family meets us on the other end.

I've returned refreshed and inspired.

A friend asked about my trip and I remember saying,

it's nice to be reminded of where you come from--you know, the very people who've been solid in my upbringing.  They've seen me through it all--childhood, the rough teenage years, married life and having children... Even though there are hundreds of miles between most of us, when we gather together, we hardly miss a beat. 

road trips :: they're good for the soul.

A Spontaneous Marshmallow Roast

A couple of weekends ago, we made a visit to Husband's parents home on the Washington coast.

Short into our stay, we were roasting marshmallows over a bonfire,

while the sun drenched us in her beams.

The lighting was so beautiful that I couldn't help but grab my camera.

Now I am craving another golden hour for more photography.

We're heading back to the beach this weekend.

Looking forward to more sunshine and sand!

Snow Days

It has been snowing off and on for the last three days and we're doing our best to enjoy this rare occasion!  Hope you're keeping warm!

10 Ways We're Putting Festive Into Our Holiday

AROMA:  I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs to replenish their holiday Yankee candle stash, stat.  Or, if you're into filling your home with natural scents, you could DIY with these brilliant plan-ahead stove-top scents made from fruit, herbs and spices.

AMBIANCE:  Christmas tree lights + fresh tree + roaring fire + family + friends + potential snow on the way...it couldn't feel any more holiday.

EXPERIENCE:  I don't know what could put us in the Christmas spirit more than this special stop.  There are over a million lights, carolers, a petting zoo, hot cocoa/coffee stands and concerts inside the church.  I sang here through junior high and high school and the acoustics of the granite floors of the cathedral are phenomenal.  Ain't gonna lie--last night while on my late night medicine run for my girl, I sang Carol of the Bells with the most drama my lungs could handle, and then I quit, because I was embarrassing myself. 

WATCH:  I've loved this movie since college.  When we honeymooned in NYC, I was bent on going here to have a moment over frozen hot chocolate.  Sadly we found the restaurant to be closed after we had finished our cold yet romantic carriage ride around Central Park, and I was bummed.  One day Husband and I will have a romantic NYC holiday moment over Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate. Until then, here's a recipe for frozen hot chocolate.

READ: The holiday and reading go together like a wink and a smile.  I've heard wonderful things about this book.  I just saw that its become a movie and is in theaters now.  But we readers know better than to see the movie before reading the book, right?  I couldn't even bring myself to watch Water for Elephants after hearing the reviews.  I didn't want the experience to be tainted, ya know?  I was practically devastated watching Angela's Ashes many years ago, and we all know that Twilight in the theater didn't stand a chance against the book.  There's more where that came from.

DO:  Puzzles.  My Mama loves a good puzzle challenge, and I remember her doing most of them around Christmas.  Isn't this one neat?  It's made from the map of your city!  How fun would it be to put together the roads that you know.  Plus, it could make some cool wall art!

LISTEN:  I grew up partial to country and folk music, so naturally, Jewel's Holiday Collection is a favorite of mine.  Sarah Mclachlan's, Wintersong has been entrancing me as well--hence the music added to the blog.  I've had my eye on this one, and I should just make the purchase already.  She's so darn cute, isn't she?

MAKE & EAT: family holiday recipes.  When I think of Christmas, I think of more recent years when I'd come home from college on break, usually hit with a cold in no time due to the stress of finals, and my agenda of eat, sleep and Christmas parties with my friends.  Oh, how I miss the days of a leisure Christmas!  Mom baking all sorts of goodies, the can of Almond Roca that magically appeared every year, the ingredients of wassail marrying together on the stove, the delectable meals and fancy table decor--and I just basically showed up.  Now, it's me who has to plan, shop, prep, cook, present, and clean, and it'll never be like the old days, unless of course, the in-laws want to host this year and I'm game.  Not that I'd just lop out on the couch and not help, because I've been raised better than that, but hosting the full meal-deal is a lot of work, and I'm worn out just thinking about it.  I've got nine days to figure it out...or we may just be eating top ramen and drinking hot cocoa.  If all goes well, I'm hoping for a meal involving a main course like this:

Mustard and Cracked Pepper Roast Beef

 

Delish.

Stay tuned: If I'm on it, I'll be whipping up some of favorite holiday recipes in the next few days to share.
 

Bon Bons anyone?

 
DRINK:  Wassail, holiday infused liquor, a gingerbread martini, frozen hot chocolate, an Eggnog Spritzer...basically, cheer in a cup! Here's a list of 29 holiday cocktails that will make you want to sing carols.

WEAR: It has been a long-held traditional in my family to open pajamas on Christmas Eve.  I haven't hardly thought about them until now, which scares me.  What scares me more, is that we've been planning to do handmade gifts, so I wonder if I can make pajama bottoms in a hurry?  Aren't these cute?  Makes me never want to buy store pajamas again.

These little girl bottoms are sweet, too.  After seeing these, a store purchase would be hard to make.

For the day of the festivities, I enjoy getting a wee spruced up. 

Ensemble = Yes, please!

Down to the pretty pale pink polish.

There.  I'm feeling more festive already.

What do YOU do to make your holiday festive?

Click on the button to read more from the party goers!

xx

pretty lights

hometown puzzle

christmas drinks

sweet jammies

pretty ensemble

Once upon a time, there was a heart-shaped tree...

Months ago, I spotted this chopped tree trunk in the far end of the yard. 

Giddy, is just one word that describes the way I felt
when happening upon this natural treasure. 

Oh, the many things that I've considered doing with this piece of tree! 

Cake platters, wall art, a photo prop for an impromtu photo session...

Love, in the most peculiar of places.

P.S. I'm still trying to figure out how the crayons and hair brush ended up outside,

and in case you were wondering about the pink shoes...that happens every so often.

P.P.S. The murder mystery party was a hit! 

Once I get my hands on the pictures, I'll share more about it!

xx