Adventuring at Sky Meadow State Park

Saturday morning Chris and I decided to rouse ourselves (even after a late night playing League of Legends, naturally) and head on out to  Sky Meadow State Park in Delaplane. I had never been and Chris thought it would be a good idea to take the pup out for a mini-hike so we could all get some much needed exercise and outdoor time.

It was amazing and we couldn't have asked for better weather or bluer skies. (Although I did have horrible flashbacks of Tough Mudder when we decided to take the big uphill trek first.)

Before our trip to Seattle and Vancouver back in May, we invested in a new camera. After reading several of the reviews on the Sony Rx100, I thought it was best for picture quality, portability, and ease of use for a camera n00b. I loved having this camera with us on our hike today so I could practice some of the different settings.

The road ahead...

Scouts

 

The view from above

 

My baby

Quest almost complete

 

Water break

 

Ironweed

 

Zebra Swallowtail on Yellow Crownbeard

Wingspan

 

Lazy Afternoon

Adventuring at Sky Meadow State Park

Home Sweet...Atlantis (with Chairish.com)

Earlier this week, I was contacted by the community manager at Chairish.com and asked to design a style board around one of their brightly colored accent chairs. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity. (Long time D and D followers know how I love my themed designs.)

To be honest, I had never heard of Chairish before, but after playing around on their site for a bit, I think its awesome! Their website allows people to buy and sell pre-owned furniture that has been approved by one of their curators. I highly recommend you check out their seating and lighting sections.

I will say that before I even started brainstorming, I knew I wanted to stay true to the somewhat geeky tendencies of this blog. (Check out my Harry Potter inspired room here, and my Star Wars inspired room here.) I'm a firm believer that inspiration can be found anywhere!

I finally settled on an awesome Eames-style molded plastic green chair (pictured above) as my color inspiration. I knew I wanted to incorporate some blues, gold, and other shades of green as well. I found this amazing, stylized Aquaman print and *POW*...an Atlantis themed guest room was born.

I love the different textures and pops of color- including the driftwood look of the table, golden "fish scales" on the lamp, and bright chevron throw pillows. A cozy, luxe blanket is a must, and as a guest, I would love a little nighttime reading material. (In the form of comic books, naturally.) I think even the most die-hard Marvel fans would spend the night here. ;)

If you get a chance, head on over to Chairish.com and check out all of the other amazing vintage accent chairs  they have for sale. (I am in love with this little blue velvet number)

And because I think it needs to be shared, I will just leave this right here...

** I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Home Sweet...Atlantis (with Chairish.com)

Dream Team Gathering - Minneapolis Edition

OR: "Turnt Across Minneapolis"

It seems likely lately the world has gotten smaller and smaller. Friendships can be made just as easily across time zones as they can in your local community. I think gaming definitely helps bring like minded people together and bridges the geographical gap between geeky communities. 

Why am I waxing poetic about friendship you ask? Well, I play this little (not really) game called League of Legends, which is a multi-player online battle arena game. I started playing in the Spring of last year and have been hooked ever since. I started playing with a particular group of people after a friend of a friend (thanks Kody!) invited us to the same game. After about a year of playing online together, Chris and I decided that we were going to trek out to the mid-west  for a long weekend to meet up with everyone IRL.

Zoe and Chris were the hostess and host with the mostess and after picking us up from the airport, and having a few drinks at the hotel lounge (thanks Hilton Minneapolis Mall of America!), we picked up right where we would over Skype.

I was definitely a bad blogger, and even after bringing my fancy camera with me, I did not take a single picture with it. I think I was having way too much fun to stop and think "what will I blog with?" That being said, my iPhone saved the day so I present to you a pictorial of one of the most OP weekends ever.

Plantronics Gamecom- 10/10 love this headset.

The view from our flight.

Horse sculpture at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Good eats?

GLHF guys.

Oh man my fake tan was bordering on oompa loompa. Look at the handsome guy instead.

Cotton Candy flowers at the gardens.

Minnehaha Falls

Dream Team is now forever inscribed upon a random table at Sea Salt.

I really wanted to re-create one of those maternity shoots. Erin, how did I do?

We clean up ok. Take note- wearing a white jacket (however much you love it) while biking across a city is quite possibly the worst idea ever.

Dream Team turning water into wine. (Oh wait, that was later.)

I wanted to get a picture with this R2-D2 SO BADLY, but he was in an off limits area.

Bridge pano game is strong.

I asked everyone to give me their best "I am not turnt up" face.

Row of snazzy drinks at a snazzy bar we stopped in during our epic bike ride about town.

This is just Alexis taking her third pano EVER.

I call this one "Gamer Butts"

Before we headed back on Sunday, Zoe and Chris made sure we had an amazing brunch at The Lowry (omg, coffee and Bailey's forever) before they took us for a quick trip to see the splendor that is the Mall of America. Below is our attempt at making Lego versions of ourselves at the Lego Store. Pretty accurate if you ask me. 

Thanks again to Zoe and Chris for hosting the best parties and showing us about town! We had an absolute blast! Take care of my sons until I return. Until we meet again on the fields of justice...

GGWP to all! (Turn down for nothing.)

Dream Team Gathering - Minneapolis Edition

Lynn Canyon Hike

We wanted to make sure we took in all of the outdoors that we could possibly cram in on our last day and we trekked out to nearby Lynn Canyon Park (aka Jurassic Park 2).

To get into the park proper, you have to walk across this amazing suspension bridge, which I sadly (somehow) did not get a photo of. I think I was too busy exclaiming "Oooo look! LOOK!" like some slack-jawed yokel. To be fair, I think the scenery warranted it.

I hope you enjoyed my photo blogs about our time out in the pacific northwest! We all had an absolute blast, and I cannot wait to go back.

 (This post is brought to you by the color green.)

Lynn Canyon Hike

Vancouver Day 1 - Vancouver Island Whale Watching with Ocean EcoVentures

I have to say that taking the BC Ferry from Vancouver to Vancouver Island was an awesome experience. We all made sure to wake up early to get the most out of our time on the island. Before we did our travel research (thanks Mel!), I had NO idea that Vancouver Island was so huge! There were so many things we wanted to do but they were on the West Coast, including the Pacific Rim National Park (Kaiju watching tours anyone?) and would it would have taken another full day of travel. We decided to stick with whale watching at Ocean Eco-Ventures, which Mel found through Trip Advisor.

The view from Horseshoe Bay (the small town that we departed from) before we took off  were absolutely breathtaking.

The BC Ferry itself was much different (read: nicer) than I had expected. They had both indoor and outdoor waiting areas, a mini food court, a convenience/gift shop, and several nooks with tables and outlets for those people who were commuting and wanted to get some work in. We managed to stay outside for a bit, until the ferry picked up speed and the wind started bite.

We arrived in Nanaimo and had to head south to Cowichan Bay where Ocean Eco-Ventures is located. It was my and Mel's ultimate goal to recreate the end scene from Free Willy, where the orca is jumping over the kid. We definitely started practicing our "YES!" fist pumps.

I don't even care that I look like a prison inmate from Siberia (or an orange Stay-Puf marshmallow man?). I was SO incredibly grateful for that suit once we were out in the open waters. It was so windy that I was not showing any part of my body, unless it was my hand to take pictures. 

Even though the whales were at a distance, it was an INCREDIBLE experience. We didn't have any breaches or general frolicking by the whales that we encountered, and I can't explain it, but it was surreal to know that these giant, amazing creatures were lurking beneath the surface.

"Rock Sausages", according to our guide.

Sea-Lion bro straight chillin' on his bachelor pad.

Chris saw these two boats and exclaimed -"Look, the good guys are chasing the bad guys!" Haha. On point Chris, on point.

After the tour was over, we all decided that FOOD and BEER were in order. Our guide, Captain Simon, recommended the Cowichan Bay Pub which was a few doors down. The special that day was none other than fish-and-chips so it was fish for everyone with a round of beers. Also, I must have looked cold because the waiter offered me a blanket! (So awesome.)

It also didn't hurt that they had an amazing view from the patio.

After dinner we set off, tired and happy, to make one of the last ferries. I am a creepster, but this was so adorable, I couldn't help myself.

Vancouver Island I will return!

Vancouver Day 1 - Vancouver Island Whale Watching with Ocean EcoVentures