On the Road: The Pacific Northwest (Part II)

ROAD TRIP!

After a stop in Portland, Rodolfo and I continued up North towards Seattle/Olympic National Forest. We made a pit stop in Seattle, ate some good food, and then continued North. We are craving those Northwest camp vibes, so we made it a point to camp.

*The pictures look a little wonky here because I used wide angle lens attachment. 

Driving through the park

I am in love with this gorgeous lake. The sights and the colors were absolutely breathtaking.

Caught this lil guy munching on some leaves. I've never seen a black slug before!

We stopped off the road and did some exploring. We walked through a gorgeous grove of trees that led us to this river bank. I imagine there is a lot more going on here in the spring.

Random fact: Did you know that rivers are considered the most dangerous body of water? I believe it. The currents shift rapidly because of shifting rocks, debris, and trees. The water is FAST. I made sure to keep my distance, because I'm pretty sure I could easily be washed away in a matter of seconds.

The gorgeous fern groves that line the roads.

Before we got to our campsite, we explored Ruby Beach and I played all over the driftwood. We even saw a bald eagle in the trees. These little sightings just leave me in awe, because it's a reminder that I have so much more to see and explore outside of my little San Francisco/Bay Area bubble. 

Forts galore!

What else happened? Rodolfo and I pitched a tent for the first time. I'm not going to lie, I am an anxious person and have a habit of worrying about new activities and minute details, such as pitching a tent, or finding materials. I also talked about this when I went snowboarding. Again, I am so thankful to have friends and life companions that gently push my boundaries in a supportive, loving way. It's a constant practice for me to put myself out there, stretch my comfort threshold, and it is always a positive experience. After doing it once, I'm completely confident that camping is going to be an ongoing activity from here on out. 

Inside our tent

The view from our campsite. *heart eyes*

The star of the show.

I have to give a big round of applause to my wee little car! This lil guy took me places! 

I'm so grateful for this experience. Being in nature is such a grounding experience for me, physically and mentally. I can see myself building a home in the Pacific Northwest, and I think it will be an amazing experience. I need a change of pace, and I want more green spaces. Suddenly, San Francisco feels just a little bit smaller. I'm happy to be back, but the Pacific Northwest, particularly Portland, has stolen my heart.

<3 

On the Road: The Pacific Northwest (Part I)

ROAD TRIP! 

Rodolfo and I (but basically Rodolfo) took a week-long trip to the Pacific Northwest. 

Driving isn't exactly the most relaxing activity, but I do enjoy the sights shifting landscapes. A lot of lush mountains. Here are some sights I caught along I-5...

As we passed Lake Shasta it became very apparent we are in a serious drought. The water levels have receded so much Lake Shasta is starting to resemble a giant rain puddle more than a lake. Mount Shasta had a small streak of snow, but I've seen that mountain covered in snow during hot summers in the early 2000s. 

    

As we crossed state lines, I saw gradual changes in the scenery. Beautiful, bright shades of green and tall, majestic trees. These pictures don't do the scenery justice, I totally recommend that you see it for yourselves. 

Portland is so...lush. I love Forest Park, I look forward to exploring it more next year. Lots of tall trees, beautiful ferns, and animals.

I got this pretty terrarium ring and it fits right into the landscape! *heart eyes*

First mushroom sighting in Oregon!

Next stop(s): Seattle and Olympic National Forest!

My Etsy Shop is Now Open!

 Remember back in July when I talked about opening an Etsy shop? Well, that idea turned into a reality this month! Thanks to Rodolfo, who helped me photograph all of my goods, I finally listed most of my items online! As I mentioned before, I've been making succulent/tillandsia terrariums for a little over 3 years now, mostly selling locally through word of mouth. I'm hoping that through this shop, I can unload some of my inventory and make a little money to invest in more plant and art projects. Check out some of the items I listed below :)

 Teeny Tiny Terrarium Earrings

 

Air Plant Terrarium Necklace

 Tiny Terrarium Necklaces

Ocean Terrarium Necklaces

These are just some of the items listed, I'll be adding more next week so be sure to check out Terrarium Therapy on Etsy! As I mentioned before, next week I'm going to list a contest/giveaway so you have the opportunity to win one of these necklaces!

Big News!

I wish I had a drum roll here...but whatever, I'm just going to say it: I'm opening up an Etsy shop for some of my terrariums, prints, and terrarium necklaces! 

It's been a long time coming...I've been making terrariums for about 3 years now, mostly selling locally through word of mouth, but I think I'm ready to get a little more official. I'm hoping that through this shop, I can unload some of my inventory and make a little money to invest in more projects. Won't you please support my hustle? To make it even more official and fun for you, I'm going to be hosting some giveaways later in August! Right now my plan is to have my Etsy shop launched by mid-August, so stay tuned for updates! 

Hidden Creeks & Road Trippin' Adventures in Oakhurst, CA

 

This has been such an exciting week so far...some friends and I planned last-minute road trip to Gramm's house in Oakhurst, CA.It's been such a long time since the girls went up to Gramm's house! This year's trip was a little more low-key (ie, no booze) but we still had an amazing time. Here are some of the photos from our mini-vacation...

I normally won't post pictures of food, but this is important--did you know that In & Out has a grilled cheese sandwich?!?!?! It's on their not-so-secret-secret-menu and this was perfect because I don't eat burgers/beef. I even asked for extra extra lettuce (who does that at a fast food joint?) and they actually gave it to me!  The only time I eat fast food nowadays is if I'm on a road trip, and In & Out was definitely the right decision.

We arrived pretty late Wednesday evening, so we went straight to bed and woke up to this the following morning...

 

I still can't believe this is someone's backyard. Who in San Francisco has a backyard like this?! If I could have a creek/open forest as my backyard, I'd gladly move to Oakhurst. 

We also took a trip to Bass Lake, and DANG, was that a beautiful spot. The only other lake I've been to is Lake Shasta, so lakes are kind of a big deal for me. We hung out by a bank, and seriously, I turned into a 7-year old again. While part of me wanted to lay out and sunbathe, the inner child in me kept pulling me to the water in search for gold flecks and pebbles.

 The water was beautiful. It glistened with gold flecks. I actually spent an hour picking through the sand and sifting for gold flakes. I'm such a sucker for sparkly things.

One of the things I especially love about taking mini road trips are the wacky sights and small stores, particularly thrift stores...

 This is totally creepy and gross. Poor Candi.

Aaaannnd this...is a bathroom. Full of sea critters.

 And of course, the trip is not complete without a photo of the three of us <3

I'm so glad we all found the time off to hang out like old times!

 These are the little trips that will make my summer a memorable one...I even have an LA road trip lined up this Saturday! I'm happy to say that I've been making the most of my summer break...even though I haven't made too many revisions to my thesis (*Shhhhhhhh!* I desperately needed the break) I'm happy that I am taking personal time for once and allowing myself to relax for a little while. Work will always be there...and once I'm gainfully employed I won't have long summers anymore. Cheers to the summer and to more adventures!

June Re-Cap

This has been a relaxing but exciting month, and I'm happy I finally got a break to enjoy my life outside of school. It's sort of strange having more time on my hands, but I've been using it well--I've been spending a lot of time with friends, taking small trips around the Bay Area, painting and starting new projects. Here is a recap of my month...

• Rodolfo and I took a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium and saw their newest exhibit, the Jellies Experience

 Ahhh, I wish I had light fixtures like these!

 Bioluminescent jellies

 These rainbow jellies were my favorite of the exhibit. The 'rainbow' is actually light reflecting off their cilia.

• I celebrated with friends for Pride/repeal of DOMA in the Castro/Dolores park

 These popsicles are such a throwback to my childhood...I'm actually surprised the gumball eyes are intact.

I love San Francisco so much!!!

• MMM...I had oysters and clams at Tomales Bay Oyster Company

 Oysters and clams

 I made perfect s'mores marshmellows on the grill!

I was going to post some more photos of my new projects, but I'll post that in a separate blog post.