Valentine's sale and new baby items in the shop!

Happy Friday, and Happy February!

 

Today is the birthday of both my mom and mom in law! How convenient that they were born on the same day so that Ben and I would never forget. They're both turning 38.

 

Today also marks the 2 week countdown to Valentine's Day, the holiday with which everyone has either a love or hate relationship. I'm happy to announce a sale in my shop, in case you're looking for a card or gift for your lover, friend, or just to treat yourself! Use the coupon code LOVE2013 at checkout to get 15% off all items through February 14!

 

watercolor Valentine card set

Be Mine card

I Like You card

neon pink chunky cowl

pink and gray infinity scarf

 

 

Speaking of items, I'm super excited to be embarking on an adorable line for kids and babies. If you have a little of your own, or are just looking for a baby shower gift idea, check out these cute scarves!

 

 Baby teething bib / cowl scarf

little girl infinity scarves, pink or purple

 

 

Thanks for bearing with my shameless self promotion :)

Have a fun weekend!

 

 



austin adventures

I absolutely love going to a place that lives up to every stereotype you had in mind, which is how I felt from the moment I saw longhorn cattle on the side of the highway driving into Austin. Texas really does feel like its own country, and everything there is somehow more epic than it is everywhere else. The heat, the giant Capital, the barbecue, the weddings, Whole Foods, the music scene, the enormous university, the state pride, etc etc etc. Also, the bus drivers are very friendly, and the last Harry Potter movie is my favorite of the rest. It was a fun weekend, but I am glad to be back where the air is dry and life is a little more serene and calm. 88 degree weather never felt more like springtime.

adventures in Jacksonville

Weekends are my favorite. 

I usually get a three day weekend by working four 10-hour days, but this week I worked Friday too so I can meet Ben for a mini-vacation in Austin next weekend (!!!) Fifty hours of fieldwork equals one exhausted Anna, but I still felt compelled to get outside today. I think I am addicted to hiking.

I've started a Saturday routine of taking mini-trips with myself to get to know this gorgeous part of the country I've dropped into, and also to simply kill time. {It takes serious effort to avoid feeling lonely when living by yourself in a brand new place}. Today was a visit to Jacksonville, an adorable historic town dating back to the gold mining days. Pretty trails, 19th century architecture, lush gardens, and blue skies. For the rest of my life when I think of Oregon I will think of oak and madrone woodlands and hot hot sun on the mountains.

springtime in Baltimore

I have spent all day today driving home, running errands, restocking my sad neglected refrigerator and trying to put some order in my life and get back into the swing of things after a beautiful beautiful amazing weekend that included

-delicious Greektown dining (pretty much obsessed with Greek food)

-Panera work marathon

-runs in the hot sun

-randomly running (literally) into a Privateer Festival complete with pirates, ships, and cannons in the harbor

-Saturday night homemade pizza and wine tradition

-GELATO!! 

Baltimore is only a three hour drive south from me, but it is seriously in a completely different climate zone. The MOMENT you leave Pennsylvania, the sun emerges, the temperature spikes up at least 10 degrees, and the trees all have their leaves already.

Proof: scenes from the park

sunset is my favorite time of day when it is warm and green out

awesome old twisty tree

the last daffodils clinging to life in the summery heat

fun paint-by-numbers sycamore bark

 

Cherry blossoms EVERYWHERE!

When I have a yard I want to plant it full of cherry trees.

Ben makes me run super fast and then overheat.

but I still love him because he is cute and buys me food.

CAUGHT YA! hehe.

Ships!

 Now it is time for a Reality Check for Anna.

Back to the school grind. Tomorrow.

happy friday !

It has been a looooong week.

After school I am headed down to Baltimore to see Ben for the weekend and I am so excited.

I need some hugs and gelato in between the endless reading for my term papers. 

He is finally nearing the end of his two year Teach for America experience. And wow, it has been an experience. I would NEVER be able to handle what he deals with on a daily basis!!

It's hard to believe I'll only visit him in the city a couple more times before he moves closer to me!

It seemed like the end of these two years would never come.

And now that it's so close, I am realizing that I will maybe miss the endless restaurants, brick streets, and waterfront of Baltimore.

Maple Harvest Festival

Yesterday was cool and crisp but sunny, perfect weather for a Maple Harvest Festival!

Ben and I drove over the mountains and through the woods to Shaver's Creek Environmental Center (run by PSU, basically a nature center on steroids...or a multimillion $$ budget...) to their annual festival.

Apparently Shaver's Creek doesn't actually tap enough trees to make their own marketable syrup, but they served plenty of "local" Pennsylvania syrup on amazing pancakes for everyone.  Sugar overload!!!

different grades of sap and syrup

It takes A LOT of sap to boil down into one gallon of syrup.

Shaver's Creek also has a raptor center where they keep about a dozen permanently injured birds. These little (scared) screech owls were being walked through the crowds. SO CUTE! I am not a huge bird fan but I love raptors and ESPECIALLY OWLS.

 Here is an adorable great horned owl

(that is making Ellie's grumpy face! hahaha)

 Bald eagles will always remind me of college, since they flock to the Mississippi River during the winter to fish.  (and I made a viewing center poster of eagle facts during my Fish and Wildlife Service internship. Eagle PRO!) They are no longer on the endangered species list thanks to the efforts of the FWS!

Did I mention there was the obligatory kettle corn stand at the festival? That stuff is so addicting. After lounging around shoving it into our faces enjoying a modest serving this afternoon Ben and I had to google how to make homemade kettle corn. It looks deceptively easy...future kitchen adventure for sure.