An Inspiring Life of Simplicity & Adventure

We have such an incredible treat to share with you!

One of our dear friends

{who is also our college sorority sister}

moved to Alaska five years ago,

seeking a life of simplicity & adventure for her family.

Although a busy wife,

mommy…

{who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of baby #3!!!},

teacher & blogger…

she graciously made time to answer our interview questions. 

She truly lives a life that most of us only dream about…

We hope that her story inspires you, as it has Nicole & I!

Meet our beautiful friend, Erin:

 

Tell us a little about your life prior to moving to Alaska…

Before we moved to Alaska 5 years ago, Mike and I lived a very average California lifestyle. We met in Long Beach where I was in school and we were neighbors. After a couple years of dating we got married in Santa Barbara, then moved to Tehachapi. We had our first son, Noah. I was a teacher and Mike was working in sales. Our commutes were horrendous. My school district and his job were not where we wanted our lives to be. We would camp every weekend and dream of a life of adventure.

What made you and Mike decide to take that giant leap?

Mike was a SoCal kid like me but went to college at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. He spent his summers in Juneau on fishing boats (i.e. Deadliest Catch) and continued to live there for eight years. Pretty much as soon as we became serious as a couple he would always tell me of his dreams to move back to Alaska. But I literally laughed about it for almost 7 years; thinking I would never leave Southern California. Then our family grew and so did our desire to be closer to nature, to have a simpler life and one that we would never look back on and think ‘what if we moved’? We never wanted to regret not taking the plunge. So once we told our families, we planned our move. I knew that the weather would be VERY different (Juneau is a temperate rain forest) so I tracked the weather and compared it to what I was used to every day for a year. I read daily living blogs and we researched schools, jobs, housing, etc. Next, around April… we literally sold everything we had, packed up our car and drove 3000 miles to Prince Rupert Canada and took a ferry into Juneau {to read the full story of their journey to Alaska, click here}.

 

How has your life been different?

Well, our life is pretty amazing! We both have dream jobs; I teach kindergarten at a fabulous school where our children go and Mike is a supervisor at the Youth Correction Center, JYC. Our commute is literally 5-10 minutes and we are surrounded by huge mountains, more trails than roads, a thriving downtown community and endless water and mountain ranges. I consider us pretty darn lucky!

 

 

 

 

Describe a typical {non-school, non-work} day…

For us, it usually consists of some family adventure. Here the seasons decide what type of adventure we take. In the summer we might go downtown, watch the cruise ships and float planes and end the night with a bonfire on the beach or an evening hike {remember it doesn’t get dark until almost midnight in the summer}. In the winter, we usually go sledding, try to get the boys into a ski lesson at our local resort, go ice skating on a lake or take a winter walk in a meadow. We try to get outside as much as we can, but like any family, some days are inside jammie days with a movie!

 

 

 

 

What do you love most about your life in Alaska?

I love that we literally have nature in our backyard. In the summer we have salmon spawning in our stream behind our house with bear viewings all around town. But what I love most is that I never get tired of the view. We are lucky enough to live in a place that people pay thousands of dollars to visit each year and we couldn’t be more grateful.

 

 

What advice would you give to someone, like me, who craves a simpler life and a change?

Start small, talk it out and do your research. Mike and I visited many cities before we finally decided on Juneau. We were picky and had lots of stipulations. We knew we wanted simpler but didn’t want to do it without knowing for sure. Many nights were spent talking, dreaming, planning and getting things ready to go. But most importantly don’t be afraid of change. We left all our family and friends, with job interviews lined up, but nothing set in stone. So yes… we took a risk. But we knew more than anything that this is where we wanted to be. This is what we needed in our life, and we were willing to take the plunge. Whether it be living on a boat for a year or moving across the country, don’t be afraid to do it. We miss our family… and they miss us, but they are so happy for us when they see how great our life is and they love coming to visit! Not to mention my children will grow up with such amazing stories and pride knowing their parents followed their dreams.

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us about your personal blog {Mike + Erin Alaska Diaries}…

It’s our personal photo journal of our life here in Juneau. One thing I loved the most, about researching for Alaska, was reading lifestyle blogs there. I wanted to know and see what people did everyday; not just on the holidays when they have their picture perfect setup. Most of our readers are people who were just like us, trying to make the plunge to Alaska and figuring out how we made our journey. The biggest perk of all on our blog… is for us to be able to look back and see how we spent each season over the years… with the family that we love.

 

A BIG thanks to Mike & Erin…

for sharing a glimpse of your

adventurous, inspiring & breathtakingly beautiful life with us!

Make sure to check our their amazing blog!

{Mike + Erin Alaska Diaries}

{weekend} lovelies

It’s that time again!

Here are our {loveliest} picks from the web this week!

We thought we would focus on kids this time around

{because they’re just so cute}!

Hope it brings you lots of smiles,

some ideas &

maybe even a little design inspiration!

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,

s & n

 

{Musical Inspiration // Vazquez Sounds “Rolling in the Deep”}

 

{A Thoughtful List // 40 Ways to Love Your Child}

 

{A Backyard Bungalow // Apartment Therapy}

 

{Shared Spaces // Better Homes & Gardens}

 

{Kids Style we Love // Nordstrom}

 

{Lunchbox Ideas // Family Fresh Cooking}

 

{Tips on Photographing Your Own Kids // Click it up a Notch}

 

{Do-it-Yourself // Felt Crowns by Hello Bee}

 

{Dreams for your Child // Harper Grace Designs on Etsy}

 

{A Sweet Treat // Glacier S’more by Betty Crocker}

 

{Countdown to Valentine’s Day // Craft Ideas by Babble}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Lentil Vegetable Soup

One of the major hiccups in my quest to prepare and eat healthy meals each day

is that my husby doesn’t come home each night for dinner

{those of you that are also fire wives, have husbands in the military, or that travel can most likely relate}.

I do my best to prepare meals for my children that are balanced and nutritious,

but let’s face it….

there are nights when they’re happiest and most content

with chicken nuggets or wholewheat pasta with parmesan!

I don’t usually eat the same dinner as my kids

{partly because I am vegetarian and the rest of my family is not}.

There are many nights that I make the kids a dish to eat…

and then don’t have the energy to prepare myself a decent meal.

One of the ways I have found to help tackle this issue is by making homemade soups!

I love making soups, because you almost can’t mess up!

Just like my mother,

I add a little bit of this…

and a pinch of that…

and it always turns out to be delicious! 

This recipe for

{Homemade Lentil Vegetable Soup}

is perfect because I can make it at my leisure during the day and then eat it when I am ready.

It keeps extremely well in the refrigerator for days on end.

**************************

Lentils have become a mainstay in my diet and I must admit…

one of my favorite healthy, high-fiber foods.

Lucky for us we have a Trader Joe’s not too far away.

I buy most of our groceries there each week.

I have several go-to items

{which I promise to share with you in a later post},

but the pre-cooked, ready-to-eat, lentils are amongst the best if you are looking for a nourishing,

hearty and easy to prepare food

{you’ll find these in the refrigerated section near the produce}.

These little lentils are packed with nutrients and are the cornerstone of this recipe!

{Ingredients}

* 2 tablespoons olive oil

* 1 cup chopped onion

* 2 cloves chopped garlic

* 1 cup peeled & chopped carrots

* 3/4 cup chopped celery

* 1 large can diced tomatoes {I use the organic ones from Trader Joe’s}

* 1 tablespoon of 21 Seasoning Salute {also from Trader Joe’s} or your favorite mix of seasonings

* salt & freshly ground pepper {to taste}

* 1 package of Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat lentils {or 1 pound of rinsed lentils}

* 6 cups of fresh water or vegetable broth

* 1/2 cup of quinoa or rice {depending on your preference}

* 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan

{Directions}

 

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots and celery.

Saute until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juices.

Simmer until the juices evaporate slightly and the tomatoes break down,

stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.

Add the lentils and the quinoa/rice.

Mix to coat.

Add the water/broth and stir.

Add in ’21 Seasoning Salute’ or seasonings of your choice

{you can be a little creative here}.

Bring to a boil over high heat.

Cover and simmer over low heat until the lentils are almost tender, about 20-30 minutes

{20 minutes if using the pre-cooked lentils, about 30 minutes if using dry lentils}.

 Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Ladle the soup into bowls.

Sprinkle with fresh parmesan and serve warm!

I hope you decide to make my favorite soup recipe!

I promise it is quick, easy, and completely tasty!

Each healthful bite is packed with nutrients that your body will love!

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Just in case you were wondering what my silly four were doing while mama was cooking…

{Here is a Behind the Scenes Look}

Finner has a slight obsession with Sophia’s Hello Kitty sunglasses!!

Our weekend pajama morning! Mr. Finn saying, “cheese!!”

An everyday occurrence in our house… a sword fight, with Miss Blue stuck in the middle!

My sweet & sassy little sunshine… stick in hand {probably to protect herself from her three brothers}!!

5 Favorite Walking Trails

5 favorite walking trails

is a hard number to narrow down to.

Walking to me is much like yoga,

there are times I walk with the kids in tow

and there are magical times that I get to walk all alone

listening to nature or my favorite tunes.

{no kids bop allowed}

It’s a chance to see what is going on around me as well as a time

to breathe, slow down, and just be!

Sara and I live about 15 minutes inland

{when the lights are forgiving}

from the beach allowing us to

enjoy the trails here in town

or down near the ocean.

 Due to the kid’s school schedule,

it is often easiest to take the time and walk the trails here.

I can say that we live in a community that is very rare.

It is master planned, but it is one of the few

in the United States that is owned by a family that

believed in open spaces and building the homes within a

designated area leaving the natural land in tact.

We border the O’neill Regional Park.

The trails here are not map specified but are well known in

our community.

From my home my first spot is the trail surrounding it.

Here is the view that I am lucky enough to see on a daily basis

Favorite Trail # 1:

Ladera Ranch Trail

You are really at one with nature.

Perfect, as well, for a bike ride with the kids.

Lucky enough I had my camera in the bike trailer so

I could stop to take this picture.

Ladera Trails oaks via simply happenstance

There are so many beautiful trees to view,

especially the oaks that line the trail that can be well

over 100 years old.

Favorite Trail #2

Nature Interpretive Trail Center

This trail is magnificent on a clear day.

I know that is a big word to describe a walking trail,

but it is.

It is the Pacific Ocean as it is meant to be viewed

here in Southern California.

The trail though developed off

of the Headlands in Dana Point,

was secured and sanctioned by the

city as a Nature Trail as

a way to keep the natural scenery and

vegetation in tack from homes

being built along this trail.

It is a rare and peaceful hidden gem here in

South Orange County.

 Fun Orange County Parks has complete directions to the Center

and information regarding the trail walking times as

well as some other awesome park and hiking information.

Click here for more information.

While you are doing that take a minute to enjoy these

Ocean Views.

The walk is absolutely breathtaking on a clear day.

During certain times of the year there are beautiful wildflowers

that grow along the path.

It is a perfect walk to find some zen or it is fun

for the kids to hike along.

Strollers won’t work on the path unless

you want to throw out your back…

as it is pure sand and dirt.

The path is about 1 mile in length.

My kids like hiking it and being on the

lookout for whales and dolphins.

{I was blessed to see some whales last week.}

Favorite Trail #3

Strands Beach

As a family we love Strands Beach in Dana Point.

It is beautiful, has free parking, and better yet,

a funicular!

For a child who is a major fan of trains it is

a wonderful place to go and

load up the funicular and travel down

on its single cog wheel.

{that was a total Mason factoid}

This beach is popular with the locals but

it is hard to go to as it has a million steps down

if you can not take the funicular.

What makes it wonderful is that those steps

create quite a workout.

You can park along Selva Road at the top of the

hill and start the walk going down the first

set of stairs,

or you can combine it with the Nature Interpretive Center walk

which drops you off on Selva Road.

This will create a longer walk.

But no ones looking at the clock when these are the

views you are consuming on a clear California day.

Favorite Trail #4

Salt Creek Walking Trail

This trail has fond memories for me.

I used to walk this trail twice a week when

Mason had speech.

I had exactly one hour to do this walk.

Madeline was a small baby,

so after I dropped him off I drove

down the street and parked off of Camino Del Avion

and walked down the dirt trail on the right of the street

just over the bridge.

This trail is wonderful.

You feel like you are in another world.

You are on a dirt path for some time and then after

you enter through the tunnel

you see the wonderful light

and full ocean views.

This walk can be 5 miles round trip.

It is a great workout and goes by fast

as the scenery sucks you in.

Favorite Trail #5

Orange County Regional Trail-The Ridge

This trail starts in my town.

It is not for any one scared of snakes or coyotes.

It is a true hiking trail that takes you along the ridge of

our town and can drop you into San Juan Capistano

which allows you take in some gorgeous views of Dana Point.

Or if you know your trails well in my town you

can take this trail for a bit and wind down to another

trail called the Sienna Botanica Trail.

You really need to be on your toes as in

making sure you are aware of your nature surroundings.

That being said it is quiet and beautiful,

these pictures were taken with my phone

{instead of lugging around a camera},

a stroller or my dog was not an option for me on this trail.

So the next time the sun is shining and you have

a little time to enjoy the outdoors,

grab your shoes and go on one of these

delightful walks!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread,

sounds very tempting right?

Well it can be part of a healthy resolution with

this recipe adapted by Skinny Taste.

I love coming across recipes that taste

as good as their original.

This recipe is fairly simple and

the best part of it is that the list of ingredients

are items often in my

fridge or panty.

The perfect chance to use up

those ripe bananas that are past

 cereal prime.

Ingredients:

* 3 medium ripe bananas

*1/3 cup chunky apple sauce

* 1 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour

* 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened

* 1/3 cup brown sugar

* 2 large egg whites

* 1/ 2 teaspoon vanilla

* 1 1/2 ounces of mini chocolate chips

* cooking spray for the loaf pan

directions

{spray a loaf, muffin, or mini loaf pan}

* I decided to try out my mini loaf pan*

In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Set aside.

Place the brown sugar and melted butter into a mixer fitted with a paddle.

Mix until the sugar and butter are incorporated,

then add the egg whites and combine.

Then add the applesauce, bananas and the vanilla.

* I prefer chunky sauce and I break up the bananas instead

of mashing them as the mixer does the job and makes the bread

richer in taste.

Mix well then add the dry ingredients slowly a 1/2 cup at a time

and then add in the mini chips on low speed,

for a couple seconds so that you don’t create a dense bread.

Pour the mixture into the baking pan of your choice.

Pop this into the oven at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

If you are doing muffins I find they cook in half the time so check on these.

Test the middle of the bread with a toothpick to make sure

the middle is baked all the way,

take out of the oven and let it rest until it’s cooled.

Your house will smell delightful

and your tummy will enjoy this wonderful

treat all while being low in fat and high in taste!

Enjoy and save me a slice!

Small Changes Equal Big Results

“One small change can lead to another,

forming a spiral of success.”

Leo Babauta {Zen Habits}

 

I have a confession to make…

I am a chubby vegan.

Okay, just kidding!

I’m not 100% vegan anymore,

but I do try to eat as vegan as possible when home.

Who would have thought you could cut out all meat, eggs and dairy and still have weight issues?

Hmm…

guess what?

That’s me!

Yes, I LOVE vegetables…

I LOVE  lentils,

I LOVE beans…

I like fruit….

but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sweets!!

I LOVE Starbucks,

I LOVE cookies and cake and brownies…

Eating sweets have become my vice.

We all have one, right?!!

I have had four kids.

I have never struggled with my weight like this until after baby #4

{although mr. amazing was worth every extra pound – wink, wink}!  

Something tells me that it’s just this vicious cycle

in my life right now of being stressed out

{just like all mothers are}

and not finding enough time in the day to make myself a decent healthy meal,

but instead feeding my body with leftover bits of food on the kids plates…

or worse yet…

going through much of the day on a cup of coffee and not much else.

3 p.m. rolls around and I am ravenous…

therefore gorging on whatever food I can get my hands on

to banish the shakiness that comes from low-blood sugar.

I also tend to go to bed really late.

I love that mommy time when the kids go to bed and the house is finally quiet.

I either work on our blog,

rummage through the web,

or settle on the couch for some t.v. time that doesn’t require any mental effort.

It is on these couch nights…

{especially when Husby is at work for a few days},

that I find a large bowl of ice cream in my hands.

Without any thought I dig in,

and before long,

find myself scraping the sides of the bowl with my spoon…

finished.

It’s a dreadful cycle…

really.

One that I have known for sometime now that I needed to break.

 ***********************************

About eight months ago,

I stopped nursing Finn.

I seriously gained more than ten pounds in the two months thereafter.

I knew that I needed to pick up the exercise,

{because this had happened to me in the past},

but clearly I didn’t.

Now…

with my 35th birthday approaching,

I decided the time is now to focus on implementing some small healthy habits.

Taking the advice of some of my dearest friends,

I arranged to have a physical and have blood work done.

Honestly…

between you and me…

I was praying for a thyroid issue to explain my weight gain

{surely it wasn’t the extra coffee and sweets I had been eating!!}.

I know it’s horrible to silently pray that you have a thyroid issue…

but come on girls…

don’t we all secretly think that could be our issue and explanation for those love handles??

Well…

as you may have guessed…

it wasn’t mine

{*sigh*}.

It must be the cookies… cake… brownies… ice cream….chocolate…. and coffee.

I have 20 pounds to lose.

{perhaps I shouldn’t focus on the number}….

I have some extra heaviness to lose

{especially in my mid-section},

that’s been a bit of a struggle to deal with when doing certain yoga positions.

I don’t feel as light on my feet as I should.

I’m lacking some energy in the mid-afternoon,

and get a bit out of breath when carrying Finn up our three flights of stairs.

It’s time for a change.

Instead of doing anything too crazy drastic,

I am going to focus on a few babysteps.

I’ve always been a bit obsessed with nutrition books,

and have even spent some time with a wonderful nutritionist

who taught me lots of valuable information.

I know what works for my body,

so really it’s just making the hard commitment

and putting a little more focus and time into myself.

Small changes = Big Results {over time}…

so here is my plan for better health:

**Note: click on the bolded, all capitalized words for more detailed research/information**

 

1. Increase my water consumption

2. Work on getting more sleep

3. Incorporate stress relief

 {massage, yoga, meditation, breathing techniques}

4. Consistent exercise

 {my focus will be on hot yoga, walking/running}

5. Attempt mindful eating

6. Focus on Portion control

 

7. Incorporating low-glycemic index foods into my diet

8. Linking proteins with carbohydrates for more balanced meals

9. Adding more fiber throughout the day

10. Attempting to eliminate the white stuff in my diet

{white sugar and flour}

 

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“Your health is what you make of it.

Everything you do and think

either adds to

the vitality, energy and spirit you possess

or takes away from it.”

{Ann Wigmore}

 ***********************************

Although I sincerely wish I could make all of these vital changes at once,

I am trying to be realistic.

I am going to implement a few of the 10 steps I listed,

little-by-litte,

and see how it goes.

I will keep you updated along the way,

and try to point out specific things that I found to work to make these babysteps a bit easier.

I am going back to my doctor in three months for a WEIGHT CHECK!!

Seriously embarrassing,

but I am glad that he is holding me accountable.

That is about the time I will be turning 35.

Fingers crossed that I have the motivation and willpower to do this!

I am hopefully optimistic that I will have good news of a more healthful me

to share with you soon!