Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Colors of Fall



Happy fall friends! It's quintessentially fall in Seattle today: the sun is out but there's a chill in the air. It's starting to look, feel and smell like fall.

One of the things I love about fall are the rich, beautiful colors. Dahlias seem to bridge the gap between summer and fall with colors ranging from cheery yellow and pink to deep orange, red and fuchsia. 

To me this is nature at her best. Each blossom is so uniquely beautiful and colorful.

Without further ado, here is my annual dahlia post starring the gorgeous blooms from the Volunteer Park Dahlia Garden. 














What's your favorite thing about fall?    

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Savoring Summer


It feels like summer has come to a screeching halt. I have to admit I'm not ready for fall and school and homework and routine. It feels like this was the fastest summer on record. I'm not ready for it to be over. 

But instead of wallowing I'm going to savor the many wonderful memories and experiences from summer 2016. I got this idea from one of my "gurus." Patricia Moreno wrote this on her blog


"Savoring is a great way to look back and actually re-experience those yummy moments and anchor them in your heart, body and mind." 


At the beginning of the summer, I ordered a pair of espadrilles from Soludos. Nothing screams summer and carefree days like a new pair of espadrilles. The above postcard came with my package and I kept it in the middle of my kitchen island all summer. It was my summer "vision board." I didn't plan to go surfing or skateboarding, but the images on this postcard set the mood for my summer. 

In June, I also set my intentions for summer 2016: be "fun mom"; be peaceful; be joyful; be spontaneous; take time for myself every day.

So without further ado, here are my top 10 memories from summer 2016 that I will savor well into the crisp fall months ahead.

1. Tahoe with Friends 
We were fortunate again this year to book-end our summer with visits to Lake Tahoe aka our "happy place." It's a great way to set the tone for the summer!

2. Summer Reading 
You can tell a lot about a person by what they're reading. Here's my summer reading list:
3. Cousin Camp
My sister's kids, Lilly and River, spent a few days with us in mid-July. It was such a joy to be with them and to see Sofia connecting with her sweet cousins in what I hope is the first of many cousin camps!

4. Gehrings' Visit
Heather, Chance, Zane and Olive - the newest furry member of the Gehring family - visited us from Hood River in July. It was a quick trip but very fun and memorable!

5. Happy Hours with Geoff
Geoff and I had a standing date every Wednesday at 5:30 for happy hour on our patio aka our oasis. It was a great way to connect and relax together. I think we'll try to keep this alive throughout the year. 

6. Riding my Bike
Between June 10 and August 10, I logged more than 450 miles in preparation for Obliteride. Long story short, I had an injury 2 days before Obliteride and I was only able to ride the 25-mile route instead of 50 miles I had trained for. But it was still a blast and very rewarding. I'm still recovering from a disc/nerve issue in my back, but I hope to be back on my bike soon. 

7. Portland Weekend
We spent the last weekend of July exploring Portland, OR, aka Portlandia. Geoff and I rode 20 miles on rented orange "social bikes;" we toasted a good friend's birthday; we ate at food carts (a very Portland thing to do); and Sofia went to the Oregon coast and had a sleepover with her cousins. 

8. Fun on the Lake
We swam, paddle boarded and boated on Lake Union with friends. Beauty abounds on these sparkling waters. 

9. Obliteride
Read all about it here!

10. Tahoe with Family 
At the end of August, we found ourselves back in paradise. It was nice to unwind after a fun and busy summer. 


What special moments will you savor from summer 2016?