This Always

I've been reading a lot of Sylvia Plath's work lately and I just can't get enough. It's raw, it's real and it's authentic in every way. It's like you can feel her heart, her soul and her every emotion in each word she writes. 

Yes, maybe it's a bit emo, but don't we all have a little emo in us from time to time?

Recently I've been exploring a lot of new avenues of writing and right now Mrs. Plath's work is at the top of my list. 

Picture taken by my friend Kamryn circa 2008

Doing hard things

On October 6, I ran a marathon.

It was painful and it was rewarding.

It was challenging and strengthening at the very same time.

It was good for my body and it was good for my soul.

It was tiring.

It was testing.

It was emotional.

It was worth it.

What I've learned from this experience is this-

I can do hard things.

Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually. 

I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

I would not trade this experience for anything.

Harvest moon wedding part 1

A few weeks ago I was privileged to go to Arizona and be apart of something really special.

I'm not sure if ya'll know this but listen to this weird chain of events-

I was first roommates with Connie (Jason's sister) in Provo, UT.

I met Jason through Connie.

We fall in love, etcetera etcetera, and get engaged.

When I move home two months before my wedding, Connie decides she wants to move to the desert. So she moves to Arizona with me.

Alex (my younger brother) has a best friend named Josh.

Josh meets Connie, they fall in love, etcetera etcetera and

GET ENGAGED.

So here we are. 

I married my best friends brother and my brother's best friend married my now sister in law. 

And now we are all family. I love it. 

So.

If you can't tell from the chain of events above, Connie is pretty special to me. I wanted to do something really memorable for her before she got married. 

A few days before the wedding, Yasmine (the gorgeous brunette photographed above...who is dating my brother...more on that later :) and I decided to throw Connie a special dinner before she tied the knot. 

It turned out better than expected. I had envisioned in my mind for a long while what I wanted to do and it turned out EXACTLY how I imagined. How often does that happen? 

The entire evening was so incredible. I am so happy I have such amazing people in my life that I get to experience all these wonderful memories with.

Next up, Connie and Josh's unbelievable wedding.

*These photos were taken with my polaroid camera and then scanned into my computer. I know they are a bit blurry and washed out, but I love them. 

Today, in love

I'm feeling very much in love with my husband today. 

He makes me happy. He makes me whole.

He is the ying to my yang.

He is the head and I am the heart. 

He listens.

He loves.

He makes things right.

We share each others burdens. 

When he stumbles. I stumble. 

When I fall. He falls.

 Yet we are there to pick each other up. 

We forgive.

We accept.

We change.

We love unconditionally.

Because we are one.

He is my partner. My lover. My very best friend.

Our love has evolved into something magnificent.

Something deeper than yesterday, yet not as deep as tomorrow. 

Jason my sweet,

my heart is yours.

Forever.

For Always.

In love. 

picture

The Route of the Hiawatha

 To celebrate Labor Day, Jason and I, along with some of our Spokane friends went and rode bikes down The Route of the Hiawatha. 

Holy Moly. What an experience! 

I've heard from a few different sources that this bike trail is a must if living or visiting the inland northwest. I am so glad we did it! It was hands down, one of the most beautiful places I've seen while living in this region. The trail is 15 miles long and is a gentle down hill ride the whole time. You go through 11 tunnels (one of which is 1.66 miles long!) and over 9 high trestles.
The entire terrain seems like something out of a movie. It was unreal.
Trees beyond trees beyond trees.
All your surrounds are so green!
Gorgeous waterfalls just a few feet off the trail. 

Here's how it works-

You'll need:

 -bikes (road bikes not recommended) 

-A helmet

-A headlamp

-A jacket (some of the long tunnels get pretty chilly!)

*If you don't own any of the above, you can rent it from Lookout pass.

You purchase a trail pass, a bus pass and any needed rental gear from Lookout pass. Then you drive about 5 miles down the highway and park your car at the top of the trail. Next, hop on those bikes and ride leisurely for 2.5 hours or so. Bring a lunch and a camera. I promise you'll be stopping multiple times just to enjoy and take in the scenery. When you get to the bottom you load your bikes up on a bus and it takes you right back up to the top!

Easy peasy.

This experience is right there on the top of my list of  Spokane memories. I can't tell you how glad I am we did this. If you ever come this way for a visit, add this to your to-do list.
It'll definitely be something you'll never forget!

Visit this website for info and reservations.

The Tacoma Museum of Glass

While living on the west side of the state this summer, we tried to see and do as much as possible that we couldn't do in Spokane. On our summer bucket list was to visit the Tacoma Museum of Glass. 

Have you ever seen anyone do glass blowing?

It was so cool! The way they maneuvered and stretched the hot molten glass was awesome. It almost looked like salt water taffy. 

Pulling. Expanding. Lengthening, all in one continual motion. 

I seriously could sit and watch it for hours. It was so calming. Almost therapeutic in a way.

I've gained a great appreciation for glass art. There are no two pieces alike. Each one has individual characteristics that makes it unique and unlike another. 

If you ever get a chance to visit a glass museum you must go!

That was my first visit and definitely not my last. 

Pictures taken by my personal photographer.

aka-Jason

Blog Neglect

How does that saying go? Time flies when you're having fun? That is exactly how I am feeling right now :)

We are back in Spokane and embarking on our last year of law school! We have had a fun filled summer and have lots of awesome plans ahead of us too. I plan on sharing it all here on this silly little blog but until then, enjoy these crappy pixilated iphone pictures of our ice cream date we went on tonight at our favorite little sweets shop...

Lots of updates to come! 

Cross my heart. 

xoxo,

Gerberbaby

Dearest Momsie and Popsicle

Two weeks ago we were lucky enough to have my parents come up and visit for a few days. 

It was such a blast!

I've never been much of a homesick kind of girl but having my parents be around and then watching them drive away after only a few days was rough! 

I am so grateful to call these two fine people my mom and dad. They are the kindest, funniest, most generous people I know. I couldn't have asked for better parents. ;) 

On their first night here I whipped up a fantastic dinner and then we sat around the camp fire in the backyard and visited. Being from AZ where its two seasons are either hot or hotter, the 'rents were loving the cooler temperatures the northwest had to offer. They also came bearing gifts! My mom gave me the most darling necklace that she found at a little boutique along the Oregon coast. And for Jason-a grocery bag full of sour candy. ;) He. was. in. heaven. 

PS-doesn't he look like Huckleberry Finn there with his pants above his ankles, dirty feet and holding that stick? 

One thing that you all must do if you ever end up in Seattle is go see the Freemont Troll under the Aurora Bridge. It was sculpted by public artist Steve Badanes. Notice how he's clutching a VW bug as if he just swiped it from the road above. 

Very cool.

On their second to last night here we ate at Wally's Chowder House & Broiler, a fantastic little restaurant right on the Puget Sound. The chowder was quite possibly the best I've ever had. Go there and try it out for yourself! 

After dinner we walked the pier and enjoyed the sunset.  

Are they not the cutest?!

Thank you mom and pops for coming to visit and spoiling us rotten for a few days!

 There are few thing better, in my opinion, than spending time with family and let me tell you, the time we spent together here in Seattle was very much time well spent. 

I love you guys past the starts and the moon!

xoxo