Away We Go

I know I'm a little late posting this, but here are some of the highlights from my trip down to New Mexico:

We started out going East on 84 towards Pendleton, which I had just driven the week before going out to visit my family. Driving through the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area is beautiful,
but then it becomes very flat and boring.

The first night we stopped in Buhl, ID. It was starting to get dark and we needed to find a camp spot so we could set up before the light was gone.  My mom had read about camping at Balanced Rock and we wanted to give it a try. The directions took us farther and farther into nothingness and we were starting to get worried.  The farmland finally dropped into a rocky canyon.
It looked like scenery from Thema & Louise. 

We found the rock, but didn't feel comfortable camping out there.

Does anyone else think that these look like faces?

We drove back into town and were able to get a camp spot at Miracle Hot Springs.

On the second day we continued South through Utah.
I loved the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City and Provo. 

 Eventually we made it to the flat, flat, flat part of Utah. 

I feel like someone took this rock and keep pressing ctrl + v

We came into Moab the back way because my mom wanted me to see the beauty of the Colorado River.

I was speechless.  

As it turned out we arrived in Moab just in time for Jeep Safari Weekend. What that meant was that every single campsite was taken. We pulled into each of the seven campgrounds along this stretch of the river and there was not one open spot.  The sun was setting and we were starting to get worried.  My mom new of a few more campgrounds on the other side of town so we headed that way.  Of course those were all full too.  By this point it was completely dark.  At the last campground we saw a group site that only had one tent set up, and we asked if we could join them.  They were super friendly and FINALLY we could set up camp. Thank goodness for headlamps.

When I woke up the next morning and peeked my head out of the tent I was blown away all over again!

I couldn't understand why anyone would ever want to leave Moab, but we had to get back on the road that day. We did manage to squeeze in an AMAZING hike!
Just across from Gold Bar Campground there are a few trail heads.
My mom dubbed this one Culvert Canyon.

   

We had to leave beautiful Moab and continue southward. We drove through Colorado (although I didn't find it all that colorful after falling in love with the red rocks and blue sky in Utah).

 

And we finally made it to New Mexico! 

By the time we made it to the house it was already dark,
so we had to save our exploring for the morning. 

I will post soon about our New Mexico adventures!

Friendship: one soul, two bodies

Well it's almost that time again... My best friend's birthday! This year her birthday falls the day before her graduation; all the more reason to celebrate! I will get to see her a few days later, after she drives home from STL. She has requested the cake my roommate and I made her last year, which you can find here.  There has been talk of cupcakes this year which would be much easier to frost. We'll see what happens...

White cake with raspberry filling and lemon frosting

I've been working on her birthday present and it's turning out quite nicely! I can't say what it is because I don't want her to know, but I will say that it involved superglue and contact paper, neither of which I should be allowed to use without direct adult supervision!

Although we are closer than ever, it has been hard to spend these last four years so far apart.
Rahee- remember that no matter where the world takes us, I am never more than a phone call, skype call, facebook message, or plane flight away. <3
Lyla3m4e, Your Brave Little Toaster

Anything goes pasta salad

Tomorrow my mom and I are leaving for New Mexico for a two week adventure! We are driving down and planning to camp along the way unless we hit any crazy cold patches in which case we will find a warm hotel room.  We're all about the road trip food.  We've got more beverages and (healthy) snacks than we could possibly eat and we've got the trusty Jetboil for making tea and hot cereal.  I was in charge of making pasta salad for tomorrow's dinner.  I had a few ideas for good flavor combinations, but as I started cooking I kind of just grabbed things at random trying to use up as many things as possible.

While the quinoa pasta was cooking, I sauteed onion and garlic with a little olive oil.  I tossed in some chopped carrots, celery, and broccoli. I let that steam for a few minutes while I drained the pasta.  I have not quite learned the difference between overdone and underdone when making gluten-free pasta, so I just hoped for the best!

After giving the pasta and veggies a few minutes to cool, I dumped them into a large mixing bowl and started adding things. Sheep's milk feta? Absolutely! Fresh lemon juice? Go for it! Chopped peperoncinis? Why not... I also added salt & pepper and Trader Joe's everyday seasoning.  The end result turned out surprisingly well.  I hoping this is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day, or else we are going to end up with a bag of cold, soggy pasta salad...  Let's think postive! Road trips are all about adventure :)

It seems like a shame to go out of town when our yard is in its full spring glory, 

but New Mexico, here we come! 

My mom went for a run and I'm making cupcakes...

We got this beautiful new stove, so I new I had to bake something.

Then I saw Joy the Baker's recipe for Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting, and they were calling out to me.  They were perfection! 

Everyone needs to stop what they are doing and make these! 

*I left out the dried cranberries and walnuts. Next time I think I'll try cutting the vegetable oil with applesauce because I don't think it would effect the texture.  I would also halve the frosting next time because I don't have enough self restraint to have a bowl of extra cream cheese frosting in the fridge.  

I'm going to try freezing it.  I read that if you let it thaw in the fridge and then whip it again, it will be okay.

 Nothing says "spring" like leopard print cupcake liners, right?

I did make it out for a jog yesterday and that's got to count for something!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

I did it! I managed to pack all of my stuff into a giant tower of boxes.  From the time my mom & E arrived with the trailer to having my furniture taken apart and getting everything loaded took less than an hour! I was amazed and a bit like a chicken with my head cut off.  We went out to a celebratory dinner at The Table, and the next day we caravaned home.  My roommate had made me a great "Rose Moves Home" mix to rock out to on the drive!  

My mom & E had the room all ready for me with fresh paint to brighten up the space.  As soon as I got home I realized a sad truth of moving- you immediately have to unpack all of the boxes you just packed...

After getting my bed put back together, I started in on this great closet storage unit 

that my mom had picked up for me.

so many pieces...

Success!

Adding clothes

I made a trip to Ikea for some storage bins, new curtains, twinkle lights, and of course- 

Swedish meatballs & French fries! 

Ikea adventures with Gena!

I am loving my new space! This room has so much space and amazing light, 

and I've got a little tea station set up in the laundry room. 

Desk and reading nook

Last night my mom helped me hang up pictures and mirrors.

Bathroom storage

Perks of being home other than my new room include an efficient heating system, 

my puppy dog, and new kitchen appliances!

Update: Although I thought it went without saying that living with my mother was the biggest perk of being home, she asked to be included as well.  Mama- I love being home to be your trusty sidekick, computer technician, and Little Edie to your Big Edie! Now all we need is a raccoon and a houseful of cats :)

Bellingham Appreciation Post

I know it's been awhile since my last post, but I've been quite busy finishing up school and dealing with a cold that just wouldn't quit.  I wanted to share some of my favorite things about Bellingham before I move back to Vancouver (in 4 days!).

 Most of all I will miss my adorable roommate! We have had so much fun over the past year & a half and I wish I could stay longer to continue our shenanigans.  I'll especially miss my partner in crime when I have spontaneous urges to bake or want to watch wayyy too much netflix. We were so lucky to find such a great neighborhood. Our street is lined with flowering trees that bloom each spring and we are just a hop, skip, & a jump from downtown. 

It will be weird to get used to not living in the same town as my lovely friends.  I'm sure we will have lots of skype dates in the near future.  And hopefully some of them will write to me 

(*hint hint*)

Hat making at Catie's 22nd birthday!

I cannot imagine finding a better place to work than the Family Interactive Gallery! Leading Toddler Art each Friday is often the highlight of my week.  It has been great getting to know the regulars and watching kids grow from month to month, and I will definitely miss all my amazing coworkers!

Any place that pays me to plan art projects is a dream job  in my book!

I finally made it to a basket ball game, GO VIKINGS!

Card making at the FIG

These past four years in Bellingham have flown by so quickly.  As much as I will miss all of the people I have gotten to know, I am also excited to start the next chapter of my life.  I will be moving back to Vancouver to complete the Masters in Teaching program at WSU-Van, but I will definitely be back to visit the 'ham :) 

Cheers to you Bellingham!