• Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
    Colorado,  National Parks

    One Day in Rocky Mountain National Park

    If you only have one day to visit Rocky Mountain National Park it might be hard to pin down which places to see. Whenever we are crunched for time at a national park we make the best of our stay and think of it like a sampler. We know it’s impossible to see it all in a short amount of time, therefore picking a few highlights lets us experience the park without stressing too much or feeling pressed for time. The first thing we do once we enter a national park is drive to the nearest visitor center to talk with a ranger. You will receive a map when you…

  • Catching a ride on a cable car in San Francisco
    Favorite Things,  Style,  Travel

    Great Finds for Summertime Travel

    When I was shopping for our summer trip to San Francisco, I wanted to find something pretty and feminine I could wear for our special lunch at the Palace Hotel. I knew my daughter would probably chose to wear something more casual like a nice shirt and jeans, so I chose a cute bell sleeve blouse instead of a dress so it would compliment what she was wearing. Today I’m going to share a few of my great finds for summertime. Pink Bell Sleeve Top | Mother of Pearl Drop Earrings | Black Sandals | French Nails Pink Bell Sleeve Blouse This bell sleeve blouse will make a wonderful addition…

  • Lavender Festival In Hood River
    Garden,  Oregon,  Summer

    Lavender Festival at Hood River Lavender Farms

    The Hood River Lavender Farm is nestled between Mt Hood and Mt Adams in the Hood River Valley, about an hours drive from Portland. In July, they host Lavender Daze where lavender enthusiasts can wander around the lavender farm, taking in the mountain views and breathing in the heavenly scent of lavender growing all around. Local artisans and craftsmen have booths set up for you to shop if you so desire, or just grab a chair and listen to the live band playing while sipping a glass of wine from Stave and Stone Winery. If the site and sound of bees buzzing all around makes you uneasy, this might not…

  • Birthday,  Celebrations,  Summer

    Camping Birthday Party

    Happy Campers As a mom it’s always so much fun to watch your kids’ interest evolve over the years. When planning their birthdays I pay attention to what they are currently obsessed with and then I run with it. This summer while we were out hiking on our National Parks vacation, my youngest mentioned to me that maybe he would like a National Parks themed birthday party. We brainstormed ideas for a while and had fun coming up with ways to incorporate our theme, but once we got back from our trip he decided maybe a camping theme would be better. I was pretty excited for his new suggestion because I think there are so many…

  • Herb crusted salmon with lemons
    Dinner,  Recipes

    Herb Crusted Salmon

    Herb Crusted Salmon When you live in the Pacific Northwest as we do, salmon is part of our regional heritage. For generations, salmon have played an important role in the local Native American tribal religion, culture, and diet. Early explorers Lewis and Clark feasted on roasted and dried salmon and made detailed descriptions and drawings of the salmon they saw in the Columbia River, noting how abundant the fish were in the area. Today, we learn about the salmon life cycle in our schools. Students raise fingerlings and release them into local rivers. We visit fish hatcheries and count the salmon in the fall when they migrate up river. We name rivers and streets after…