Walking the Streets of Seattle // SBL 2k17

Hey there,

It's official, August has ended and the beginning stages of fall will soon be upon us. Hasn't this summer gone by quickly? For me, it's been jammed pack. Any free day where I wasn't working or had a bucket load of homework, I tried to squeeze in some adventures. I was actually looking at my August page of my agenda, and realized not one day was left unmarked. With that being said, I'm so thankful for the lovely times I've had this month.

On August 30th, my friend Chloe and I took to the streets of Seattle to explore. Chloe is one my best friends, and she's actually leaving for YWAM in Amsterdam this September on the 17th. I'm so beyond proud of her and I know she'll have an amazing experience, but nonetheless, it's hard to see her go. To have one last adventure together, we visited Seattle like true tourists, and of course, recorded it using Chloe's beautiful camera and photography skills. 

Our first stop (after 30 minutes of driving in circles attempting to find parking) was Pike Place Market. If we were to explore Seattle like a tourist, this was a must. I for one am not a fan of large crowds, but the market is such a classic and has lots of interesting items. I adore all the flower stands, though I've never actually bought any (only because I didn't want to walk around carrying them for the rest of the day). There are also numerous book stores, candy shops, food stands, and more. I tried my first turkish delight (it was amazing) and listened to amazing street music. Would Pike Place be somewhere I longed to visit all the time? No, but it's a nice spot and definitely and important place to visit when exploring Seattle.

Of course, to add to our tourist activities, we took to the waterfront. The waterfront has some more cute shops, lots of seafood, the Seattle Aquarium, and the great ferris wheel. I'd never been on the ferris wheel, mostly because it costs a lot and being stuck in a cage while it goes in circles never appealed to me, but it was actually quite a lovely experience. The views up top were beautiful, you could not only see the city, but look across the water as well while boats were sailing by. Lots of pictures were taken by Chloe (many that are not shown) and it was definitely worth the stop!

After our day of walking and exploring (and find this adorable pink wall), we found a starbucks for the much needed coffee boost, and explored the city by walking and shopping and getting lost. As someone whose grown up in a small little valley, it takes awhile for me to feel comfortable in the city, but as the day came to a close, I was finding myself more and more in love with the bustling of people, towering buildings, and coffee shops on every corner. Maybe I'm not ready to move to a large city yet, but I have a feeling Seattle may be seeing more of me. 

Did you grow up in the city, or more away from the hustle and bustle? Which environment do you prefer? I think both have lots of positives, but I'd have to say I do love the quiet and easy parking that my valley has. Makes for a much less stressed Liz.

Have a wonderful day,

Elizabeth

Hiking Fragrance Lake // SBL 2k17

Hey there friends,

If you've read my summer bucket list post (which you obvisouly should go do if you haven't), then you'd know my number 1 thing was to hike Fragrance Lake. A couple day ago, my dear friend Chloe and I did just that. After a six mile roundtrip hike full of switchbacks, sweat, and satisfying views, I had completed my first activity on my to do list, and then ate a well deserved burger. Of course, did you really go on a hike if you didn't take photos? Chloe and I say no, so here are a few of my favorites.

After 1000 feet in elevation in a little over 2.5 miles, we made it to the top where there laid a beautiful lake. It was just another mile of a relatively flat path around the lake, which of course had many trails down to the water where we waded and got attacked by the mosquitos. Note to self: bring bug spray next time. As always, Chloe and I were ill prepared, and we didn't bring swimsuits either, but we watched a few people swim and some dogs enjoy the water. But boy let me tell you, how I would have loved to jump in that water and cool down. 1000 feet really killed me.

Lucky for us, the trails were mostly shaded by the tall trees. There's something so unbelievably peaceful about walking in the woods and listening to the sounds of nature. Something so simple always reminds me of just how non-simple and completely breathtaking our Lord is. I think we often forget just how beautiful this world is, and who made it that way. I can't stress enough how important it is to leave your home and explore the world, appreciating the beauty our amazing Lord created that surrounds us. 

For an extra .2 miles, there was an opportunity to walk over to a lookout before continuing to the lake. Obviously I wasn't going to turn down a beautiful view for .2 miles, so Chloe and I both enjoyed the breathtaking site of the water and taking pictures near the edge. I just adore how in Washington, you can be hiking in the woods, exploring hidden lakes, while also seeing beautiful views of the water and mountains. Maybe I'm biased, but I sure do think Washington has it all ;) If you ever need a passionate tour guide, hit me up!

What summer adventures have you been on lately? Where do you find God's peace and appreciate his beauty? Don't forget to use this summer to explore new places, laugh a lot, and catch up with friends, okay? It's already a month into summer, so don't let it go to waste.

Have a beautiful, wonderful rest of your day,

Elizabeth

Follow Me Around: The Pumpkin Patch

Hello Everyone,

Last Friday, during a short break in the rain, my mom and I took the little boy I nanny to the pumpkin patch. I snapped a few pictures of Slater and thought it would be cool to share them with you. I haven't posted in awhile, which I feel terrible about! Guys, I have been so busy. I was house sitting, I've had multiple essays due, and now Washington has this huge storm going on and the electricity has been going off. I'm sorry for my absence, but hopefully I can be back at it soon.

Anyways, we had loads of fun and he was so cute! The entire time he ran around yelling, "This is fun, this is fun!" It was adorable. Of course, being the little boy he is, he spent most of his time looking at the big tractors and splashing around in the puddles instead of looking for the perfect pumpkin and getting pictures by the sunflowers. It was still really nice to get him out of the house and run around. Normally, we just say at his house, so this was a special treat.

And guys, I now feel like it's fall! Between the trip to the pumpkin patch, rainy days, and color changing trees, something has clicked in my mind and I'm excited. Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the colors, the weather, the clothes, and it gives me the excuse to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas multiple times. Seriously, that movie is the best. It also allows teenagers and grown adults to dress up, so that's exciting. I'm trying to decide on what to be for my youth group's costume party. Any suggestions? I kind of want to be Pooh Bear and walk around with a jar of honey, but is that odd? I don't know, leave me some feedback down below!

I hope you all have been having an amazing fall so far. What's your favorite thing about the season?

With love,

Elizabeth

Follow Me Around: Whistle Lake

Hello Everyone,

Today I come to you with another follow me around post. I really enjoyed writing the last one (check it out here), and it's been awhile since I've posted another one. When my family told me of their plans to hike Whistle Lake, I knew that would be another great opportunity to take some pictures and show you around a bit.

The day we hiked was very humid and overcast. There was a slight breeze that made it tolerable though. Whistle lake was a really cool hike! At times you'd be walking along the lake, viewing the water and beautiful mountains, and at other times, you'd be strolling through the forest, surrounded by trees and the whistling of the birds. Some people prefer to be always walking with a view, but I love walking among the trees. Something about it is so relaxing. 

We came across this bench that looked out among the water. I wanted so badly to sit down and start reading a book. What a perfectly charming and calming place it would be to relax with a wonderful novel. Maybe someday I'll have to journey back to that spot and spend sometime there.

Another super cool thing about this lake is all its different activities you can do. There are trials for walking, biking, horseback riding, and some even for motorbikes. Whistle Lake is also very popular for its cliff jumping. There's a wide range of cliffs with different heights you can jump off of. There are also a few rope swings to use. Sadly, we weren't able to partake in swimming and wildly jumping of cliffs, but hopefully we'll come back another day and try it out.

Finally, we ended our hike by sitting by the water and taking in the lovely view. We snacked on some cheese and crackers, the classic packed lunch, and filled up on some water. Again, it was really peaceful. The hike itself wasn't very difficult, so we all had a really good time without smelling too badly in the end. On our way home, we stopped at The Donut House in Anacortes and rewarded ourselves. It was a wonderful ending to a great day.

With Love,

Elizabeth


Side note// Sorry my posts have been so spaced out and you've seen little action from on your blogs and my social media. I'm currently volunteering at Warm Beach Camp, as stated in my What I've Been up to post, and I have very little time to be on the internet. I am trying my best to read what all you wonderful people have posted, but if you've noticed my lack of activity, that is why. I continue to be busy for the next couple of weeks, but I will update you and comment when I can. Hope you all are doing well and having a wonderful summer :)

Follow Me Around: Whidbey Coffee

 Hello,

I thought it would be fun to start a new little blog series where you follow me around my town and the locations I enjoy visiting. It's like an insight into my life and a way to stalk me without being creepy. Plus, it's also my excuse to just talk more about things I like and attempting to make it sound creative and artsy of me.

Today I'm taking you to a coffee place that just opened up in my town and I love it! The atmosphere there is really cool and has this aesthetic that makes you want to get a lot of work done and be super productive. I tried to capture a few photos, but it didn't entirely grasp what I'm trying to tell you. The lighting was bad and lots of people were staring at me like I was some basic white girl being weird and trying to take pictures of light bulbs. Which, I am, but that's beside the point.

My wonderful friend Elissa was able to join me and we spent the three hours talking, laughing, planning out blog posts, and drinking an unorthodox amount of coffee. You may recognize her from her blog, Letter's to Jayna. If you haven't checked her out already, go do so ,please! She is an amazing person and I love her to death.

We both have this habit of talking way too loud and over other people. Every single time we're out and about we tend to draw too much attention with our accidental shouting. Today was no exception, but it was so good to sit down and talk. End of the school year stresses have left us and summer adventures and lazy days are ahead. It's always easier to hangout and plan things with that assurance.

I love me some coffee, and my oh my was this good! I got my signature latte and enjoyed every sip. They also supply you with a free drip coffee station, so once you're finished with your drink, you are enticed to stay longer because complimentary refills! This place has its perks. Their food is also very good. I've bought a few bakery items in the past, and this particular day I got a salad. Although they were well made, it's a bit pricey for the amount you're getting.

Another really cool thing this place has going for it is its indoor/outdoor fire place. Inside, this fire place has couches and lounge chair surrounding it, perfect for hanging with a group of friends. But outside, they had a cover over it and a small couch. While we were inside talking, there was a guy sitting out here, situated with steaming coffee and a book. It looked wonderful and made me want to come back and do the same thing.

And there's a totally not posed picture of me planning blog posts and creating a to-do list. I hope you enjoyed this tiny bit of insight on my life and I'm excited to share some more with you. What local places do you enjoy going to? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

With love,

Elizabeth