Category Archives: reminiscing

Getting used to this place

September 11, 2012

So I realized something yesterday as I was trying to navigate around this city and get comfortable here. I’m am having a bit of culture shock. When I moved to Austin 4 years ago it was the first time I had ever lived outside of Michigan. I thought I was moving to the big city! Turns out Austin isn’t all that big city. Sure there are way too many people for such a small place but overall it has a nice mix of downtown and neighborhoods and for the most part they don’t mix too much. I lived in a neighborhood in Austin and it was quiet and I felt very comfortable indeed. I was surrounded by houses as I took my daily walk to the post office. It’s a totally different story here.

This is a big city. I have never lived in a big city. We are surrounded by noise and surrounded by apartment complex after apartment complex, there are so many people, tons of restaurants and little shops on every corner, buses all the time, construction, there is a lot going on. This would be a shock if I had come right from Austin but as we all know I moved here after getting comfortable again in rural Michigan. Basically it’s going to take some time. Bear with me.

There are some things that I found that are helping quite a bit though. The other day I met Walker downtown and he showed me my first peak at Mt. Rainier. On our walk home he took me to this little market with the cutest shops and I bought some of my favorite cheese. The library is about a block from your place and I’ve really stocked up on books and movies. Also for the time being I’m using their internet. We have also been cooking quite a bit which has been fun. We both choose a meal and then we both cook it and we’re set for a couple of days for lunch and dinner.

I’m still working on getting a daily routine which I imagine will be easier when we get internet in our apartment. It sure it nice sitting in the fresh air and using the librarie’s wifi. I can’t complain too much.

 

Labor day and leaving

September 3, 2012

Happy Labor Day everyone! Probably by the time you’re reading this I’ll be on my way to Seattle. The time has come for me to begin my move and separation, once again, from Michigan.

I have enjoyed my time back home so much I can barely say. I got to spend so much time with my family, so much time in the state I absolutely adore, I got to visit so many friends, and overall I just got to recharge and prepare for my next big move. In so many ways I’m so glad I was able to do this. I feel like a pretty lucky person most days and believe me I do not take it for granted. I’m thankful everyday for what I’ve achieved, for my wonderful and supportive family, and my amazing friends. Being home has made me all the more grateful and lets be honest-all the more sad to be leaving again.

I know big adventures await me in Seattle and I’ll get to be with Walker, but being the sentimental person I am, big tears well up in my eyes every time I think that tomorrow this time I’ll be 2,200 miles away from home. I’m also being pretty silly because I’ll be back for a camping vacation in 2 and a half weeks.

I just need to focus on the not so sad things. I get to decorate our new apartment, the post office is a half mile away and has regular hours, I will probably have at least 4 places to grocery shop within a 1 mile radius, there is a hardware store nearby, tons of restaurants, some nice second hand shops, and of course I’ll get to be with Walker. Who has been waiting very patiently for me to return from my “summer vacation”.

My last weekend in Michigan was perfect! My sister invited me and my dad and brother (who happened to be around at the time) to her in-laws cabin to go boating, swimming, and eat the most delicious smoked ribs. We headed out Saturday morning and let me say we all needed some relaxation time. We went out on the lake, socialized on a sandbar for the better part of the day, cooked out when we returned, and enjoyed everyone’s company in the evening. We headed home on Sunday so I could finish packing  and have a quiet last evening home. It was so nice having us all together right before I had to head out. It was pretty crazy though, looking out over the water, and thinking that the very next day I would be in Seattle. Man has the summer flown by!
It always does though when you’re having fun.

So to celebrate my big move and snick our noses up at the end of summer I’m offering free shipping in both of my shops through September 9th. Use the code FREESHIP and shop here or here.

My sister’s dog Vinny. Such a poser this one.

Friend road trip-Anna, Mike, Matt

August 30, 2012

After my time with Joe and Natalie my mom joined me on my travels. She was wanting to spend a little more time with me and I was happy to have her come along. We headed down to the city where I went to college. My friend Anna was heading into town that same night and I have not seen her since I visited her while she was living in South Korea-maybe 3 years ago? We went to college together and she became a really good friend of mine during our last year there. We met on an alternative spring break planting trees in South Carolina and bonded over being 5ft tall and having the same exact birthday one year apart! Ha!

My mom and I arrived into town and set ourselves up in an adorable bed and breakfast-one that actually serves a full breakfast in the morning. See more about there here. I have never actually stayed in a bed and breakfast and was so excited that it turned out to be less than other “budget” hotels in town that do not serve breakfast or a glass of wine upon arrival. It was so cute inside too, very cozy and not at all over done with decorations like a lot of these sorts of places.

Later that evening my mom and I met up with Anna and our friend Mike at a old haunt of ours. We enjoyed some craft beer and danced to a local band favorite. After that part of our evening my mom and I went to a 24 hour cafe for a late night snack (making weird faces).

The next day we went to the farmer’s market (yes!!) with Anna and took a tour of campus for nostalgia. Then we had lunch at a favorite restaurant of ours in town and I got the macaroni and cheese I remember being oh so good (it did not disappoint).

I also got to see another good friend of mine from college that I haven’t seen in 4 years and meet his really sweet girlfriend. Aww.