So, I’ve been using the Washington Trails Association App called Trailblazer, and have been loving it! You can pull up a map of the area you want to explore and find a hike that interests you. Its been great as we usually have an idea of how far we want to drive based on the time we have. The app gives a great description of the hike as well as how to get there! So when we wanted to go to the Grand Coulee area, we (ahem… Dan) found the Steamboat Rock hike! I thought the hike was called this based on the shape of the rock, but a co-worker told me the wind actually will bellow between the rocks and create a steamboat horn sound, unfortunately we didn’t get to hear this while we were there.

The drive took about 2 hours. We headed West from Spokane on Highway 2 and continued through Reardan and Davenport, then we took the exit at Wilbur and continued to Electric City to the trailhead (directions are easy to find online).

It was a very vertical rocky hike to the top, but the views were worth it!

This guy made it look easy!

The views were amazing at the top, there was an insane cliff on every side, you can hardly tell in the photos where the cliff ends and the ground at the bottom begins.

The geological history of the area is intriguing to say the least. The Ice Age floods thousands of years ago carved out this canyon when a huge ice dam broke. I had to rent the movie on these floods at the library, so interesting to me! Steamboat rock is made of basalt, and there is a huge granite rock at the top. Its crazy to think about the amount of water and how powerful a force there must have been to transport this huge rock here!

Here are a few more photos, just because it was THAT beautiful!

Dry Falls

About 20 minutes further on the same road was Dry Falls. Dan had been there and wanted to show me! Although there is no water there flowing over the cliffs, at one point this waterfall was bigger than Niagra Falls. It is about 3 and 1/2 miles long and was once the largest waterfall on earth! Now its a cool view right off the side of the highway with a visitor center and an ice cream shop 🙂

Well worth the 20 minutes of extra driving to get there!

Dan’s birthday was approaching, and after researching TONS of hot springs with not many left to choose from within a 3-4 hour drive radius that we haven’t been to, Dan suggested Rainier, and I’m all about that life, so we booked it! We decided to take the southern route, stay a night in Yakima, then drive to our destination the next day. The drive through White Pass was gorgeous!

We tried to get in at the Ohanapecosh entrance, but the road to Paradise was closed from there. So we kept around to the entrance at Longmire through the Southwest corner of the park, which was super convenient since our hotel was in Ashford! So glad we got there a day early, because Saturday was a clear sunny day and we got to see Rainier!

The name of the hotel we stayed at was Whittaker’s Bunkhouse, this hotel was adorable and they had a rental shop, thank God, because the park requires chains to be in your vehicle November through May, so we rented them there for $15. Next door to that is Whittaker’s Mountaineering, sort of a mini REI 🙂

(Took this one from the web)

This hotel was nothing fancy, our room didn’t even have a t.v. which was actually really nice– there’s nothing worse than staying up all night when you plan a hike at the crack– The cool thing about this hotel is that it is a family run business, started by the Whittaker family. Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest back in May 1963, and has climbed to the summit of Rainier 80+ times! He and his brother Lou did more climbing excursions than they can probably count, and Jim’s son Leif Whittaker went on to climb Everest twice! The coffee shop at the hotel was not only adorable, but they carry books written by Jim and Leif!

So of course we had to get the books! Well, I miiiigggghhhttt have had to talk Dan into buying the hardbacks over getting the electronic version for his Nuk 😉 I’m kind of old fashioned like that, also, then we can swap 🙂

The next morning we had to wake up super early in order to give us enough time to snowshoe and drive home. Honestly I love mornings though! So we started our journey!

On the drive in we passed Christine Falls! So of course, had to stop and get a pic for my Mom, Christine! It’s hard to see, but there is a little waterfall back in there.

First stop was the Longmire visitor’s center, we wanted to check conditions and ask the ranger’s about the best route for our skill level and time allotment. So we decided to go with the route to Reflection Lake. They had this HUGE Douglas Fir tree that had been cut down back in the early 1900’s, by a local paper company. All the logging in the area was actually kind of sad. Some of the trees we saw reminded me of driving through the sequoia forest! Soooo Big!

The lodge at the Paradise trailhead was beautiful!

This was our planned route, but we ended up taking a little longer route up and around, but the scenery was way worth it! Our hike ended up being about 6 miles!

We hiked through this avalanche zone! OMG! I could not stop imagining the exact steps I would take in case of an avalanche!

Once we got to Reflection Lake, we stopped to have lunch. I was hoping for some pic-nic tables or something, but nope! So we just sat on some snow haha I know we weren’t really backpacking or camping overnight, but we did want to test out an MRE, just for future knowledge 😉 And since we LOVE Thailand, we got some Thai food.

Dan had the set up, and it worked out great because a hot meal was way better than packing a sandwich at that moment!

Chef Danny

Then, of course, you have to have a couple Rainier beers when you’re at Rainier!

The way back was so much harder! It was all uphill! Dan kept telling me “We’re almost there,” but no matter where we were at on the hike, it felt to me like a race spectator telling you “You’re almost there,” when you have already run 12 and you still have a full mile to go! So I told him to stop saying that, in a super sweet way 😉 That was a really tough hike! Hills kill me sometimes! But God, it was so much fun! Sometimes it takes something great to remind you how small you really are in this world ❤

Here are some other random things from our trip…

There were a few art studios in Ashford.

One was legit…  A high school teacher owns it.

One was novelty, an older couple runs it and have a story for every piece inside…

This crazy thing is actually a deer’s rear end upside down with eyes and a snout??? ummmm…

And the third one was strange. An elderly lady runs it, who is big into beading and cats… with the smell inside to prove it! I didn’t even get a photo of the $4,500 beaded Mona Lisa, sheesh!

There was a cute restaurant called the Copper Creek Inn where we had dinner. Really good food!

Overall, such a fun trip!!  And, even though we had no luck this time, we will get you your “Yakima Nation” hat next time we’re there babe! haha

Have a great week everyone ❤

So, my BFF called saying she had some buddy passes that were expiring, and if we could use them that following weekend, we could have them! So duh! We decided to go somewhere warm and beautiful, that we could find a gorgeous hike, and San Diego did not disappoint!  So here we go! I love last minute spontaneous trips!

Day 1 we decided to walk around and enjoy some of the city at Balboa Park.

Apparently renting segways is a thing now

We stopped at the coffee shop which was conveniently named Daniel’s, so of course I made Dan pose for a pic

I thought it was really cool that they’re making a musical based on the movie Benny and Joon, that movie is near and dear to my heart, not only because it was filmed here in Spokane, but because my most favorite Uncle Eddy has a part in it, I miss him so much!

We also walked around the piers and got a photo with the famous kissing statue! Dan’s idea for the pose, he’s such a romantic!

We also checked out the Midway, but on the way there, there was a ship in the harbor literally on fire! It was a little scary!

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We decided to go to the Little Italy district for dinner at a restaurant that was recommended to us, Bon Apetit, which was completely random, but turned out to be the same restaurant Shivaughn and I carb loaded at when we did the San Diego Half Marathon in 2010!

Such good food! Ended up getting the swordfish! And we followed that up by a stop at 7-11 for some ice cream to take back to the hotel, along with hiking snacks for tomorrow’s 10 miler!

This Twinkies ice cream was barf!! Seriously so bad!

So, the next morning was an early one. We decided to take the train/ bus ALLLL the way up to Torrey Pines and hike down to La Jolla. Here at the start we passed the Torrey Pines golf course!

Here is the trail head at the start, there was also a rangers station where we should have used some of the sunscreen they had available, ugh lesson learned!

It was almost a maze through cliffs and steep stairs…

But alas…. we made it to the Pacific!

And unbeknownst to us, we discovered Black Beach, a beauty you ask? Ummm not exactly, turns out it’s a nude beach, and there were quite a few naked people running around

The rock formations were by far my fave ❤️

This was definitely one of my fave hikes ever, so much beauty

Not sure why I always look so awkward in these kissy photos haha

Dan living on the edge

The hike continued down through the UCSD campus, seriously why did I not go to college here out of high school?! It looked like fun if I were 20 again! It was right by the pier.

As we got to mile 7 or 8 ish, there were so many seals at seal rock, and the hiking trails lead right to them, I’ve never been so close! Even the kayakers were boating very close to them!

You can see the seal behind me!

And ended this with some gelato on the pier

Such a fun weekend adventure ❤️❤️❤️

Dan and I had our first date January 31, 2016. And it has been pure bliss ever since. I’ve had a rough patch of dating all the wrong people, but this time was different. We see eye to eye on so many aspects of life, we both have a laid back free spirit type of personality that just meshes so well. He is always thoughtful and goes out of his way to make me feel appreciated, special, and important daily. I have so much respect for him as a father, a friend to Makenna, and a  teacher, the way he impacts his students and mentors them even well after graduation melts my heart. 

So we decided to travel to Thailand together. The first 4 days we were in Bangkok,  interesting city, very busy, and far from romantic! Later Dan told me he was getting nervous because it wasn’t what he’d had in mind.  Then we flew to Phuket. Beautiful white sand beaches, a tropical rainforest. We get to our hotel and the rooms aren’t ready. No biggie, so we decide to enjoy a cocktail while we wait for it. A few other people we were traveling with told me to go to the window and get a photo of my drink with the beach and resort as the background (little did I know they were distracting me) 

Then, out of nowhere, it’s starts pouring down rain. And Dan knows I have always had a fantasy for kissing in the rain, so he asks me “do you want to go kiss on the beach?” And obvi… YES! So we head down, take off our shoes and start kissing, it was beautiful ❤ I tell him, let’s go into the water! So I turn to him reaching out for his hand, and he is down on one knee, he tells me that I’ve made him the happiest boyfriend in the world, and asks me to make him the happiest husband in the world❤YES, so many yesses!!! 

I couldn’t have had a better story. It was perfect, just us all alone on this beautiful beach half way across the world. 

Dan, ever since you have come into my life, I have been nothing but happy. You are my soul mate, and the one who truly understands me, and I understand you ❤

You have made me believe again, in true love, you inspire me to be better. I have loved every one of our adventures, and I can’t wait for many many more! I love you and all of your sweet little girls!

 I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, I can’t wait to be your wife, and a second mommy to all of your girls ❤

Best trip ever ❤

This weekend was one of those weekends you know you will look back on and smile about someday 🙂 Lots of family fun! We decided Saturday we would check out the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with all the kids.

I’m pretty sure their favorite part was the candy! 

My P.I.C.

And my fave girl, who I wish I got to see more of!

And of course her babe, with Jon photo bombing in the back haha

Saturday night, I bartended, and another one of my faves stopped by to see me for the St. Paddys party. My bro!

Sunday we set out to run five miles, the weather was beautiful. The race is always at Spokane Community College, so snapped a pic with the mascot.

Right before the start…

After the start, look at all the green!

Fresh strawberry banana protein shakes for after! I used frozen strawberries instead of ice, so good!

And sadly, my phone died after this and I got no photos of my nephews birthday party at the skating rink 😦 All the kids were so cute, and Makenna is getting so good on skates!

Here are some randoms I haven’t gotten around to posting!

We did a seafood night which was much needed, I had been craving seafood bad!

I saw this vintage tee at Garageland that I wanted bad, it was $100 and I’m still contemplating going back…

These dark chocolate bars with sea salt are to die for

These two cuties at the mall ❤

Sometimes it’s hard not to give money to panhandlers, this guy says not to. What do you think?

Pad Thai from the restaurant Phontip Thai, you guys, their food is amazing, go there if you haven’t already!

Makenna liked the Thai iced tea! And has the tongue to prove it!

My recent obsession from Starbucks! Sous vide egg bites, the bacon ones! And a green tea latte with soy, so good!

These nut butter filled Clif bars. Ummm for all the rage I’ve been hearing about them, I wasn’t impressed. The nut butter inside was on the dry side.

This photo makes me happy ❤ My Mom and Dan love doing this!

I know these flavored tuna pouches seem weird, but they’re actually really good, especially on salad! And tons of protein!

It’s a kitty condo in the back lol Just because I have a cat, doesn’t make me a crazy cat lady! It doesn’t, it doesn’t!!!!

2.8 miles :))

This was on the media reader at the gym. You guys, this could be really bad news for me haha McDonald’s is for sure my guilty pleasure!

Anyways! I hope you all have a beautiful rest of your week ❤ I’m praying for sunshine over here ! 

Peace✌ and Love ❤

~Sami