Outdoor Activities

Farmer’s Markets- a fresh way to your summer family fun!

The sun is out, the flowers are in full bloom, and the veggies are in the ground. June, how I love all the possibilities you bring to summer. I’m especially excited to start wandering through my local farmers markets. Did you know there are ones to be found on week day evenings, as well as the standard weekend mornings? Some with even food trucks to share the food love, how awesome is that? Buying a weeks worth of fresh produce, wandering around meeting neighbors, and ending with supporting yet another local resource for dinner before calling it a night?! If you’re really lucky, you’ll end up listening to live music, children’s laughter, and a whole lot of happy go lucky chatter. That’s what I call a reason to celebrate the season!

Here’s a guide to some of my favorite “local” markets, including Seattle and the Eastside. If I don’t mention yours, please add to the comments below, TIA!

Monday Markets: None?!? Could this be true? Guess that’s why the Pikes Place Market is always so busy on Mondays!

Tuesday Markets: Crossroads Bellevue June- Sept 25, Noon- 6 pm. Snacks, Food trucks, and LIVE music

Wednesday Markets: Columbia City May- Oct 9, 3 pm- 7 pm. Snacks and Food trucks

Kirkland June- Sept, 2 pm- 7 pm. Food and Humane Society visit!!

Thursday Markets: Lake City June- Oct 4, 3 pm- 7 pm. Snacks and Food

Queen Anne June- Oct 11, 3 pm- 7:30 pm. Snacks and Food Trucks

Friday Markets: Phinney June- Sept 28, 3:30-7:30 pm. Snacks and Food Trucks

Saturday Market: Magnolia June- Oct 20, 10 am- 2 pm. Snacks and Food Trucks

Sunday Market: Ballard 10 am- 3 pm YEAR ROUND!!

EVERY day Market: Pikes Place 9 am-6 pm, Sundays 9 am- 5 pm. All the things!

Check back for events happening at these same markets, as well as more fun ways to spend your family time this summer!

Enjoy the freshness of summer!

Education, Indoor Categories, Outdoor Activities

April showers bring May flowers…and so many fun FREE events!

May is here and as always, here are a couple fun and most free events happening in and around the Seattle area for you and your family! Enjoy!

As an animal love this event is an ongoing for the month of May…you can read with a kitty! Through the Humane Society you can sign up for 20 minute sessions if you are between the ages of 5-10 to practice reading and build your confidence and all while a little furball listens- I’m so jealous! If this is up your alley, check it out here.

Image result for kitty with books

Or you could read with Rover… Image result for reading with dogs

Looking for an activity for those who love the game of chess. How about joining this free chess club that meets on Tuesdays? Ages 7+ welcome! Detective Cookie’s Youth Chess Club Image result for chess

Got an itty bitty who’s just starting to explore the world, Baby Gym on Wednesdays may be the answer you are looking for!

Love nature and want to get outside. Toddler Time at ESC is an adventurers dream. Learn to love nature at a young age!

Image result for seahurst beach — Seahurst Park

Have a blast this May! Why not try out one of these fun activity and give yourself a little break this month?!

Indoor Categories, Outdoor Activities

May Day Baskets to keep your cuties busy all day! Spread the love!

May is here and growing up in my house that meant May Day baskets! If you aren’t familiar with this tradition you may easily think “What?? Didn’t we just do the whole Easter basket thing?” but these baskets are just a little different…and way more fun in my opinion.

I really didn’t know the reasons behind the baskets, I’m sure I was told when I was younger but I was too excited to make them to really stop and listen. So as I reminiscence on how much I loved this tradition as a kid, making baskets out of paper with handles stapled or taped on and filling them with flowers for the yard. Once they were filled we would sneak to a neighbor or friend who we cared about and try to hang them on the door without being noticed. I remember the joy of every part of this silly tradition. I loved making the baskets “beautiful” by drawing on the paper before rolling it into a cone and taping it into a little basket. The adventure of finding the flowers could last for hours. The being super stealthy and doing detective work to find the perfect moment to hang the basket, what a rush! And all followed by this overwhelming pride for having put someone else first and with out reason or request. These are the memories I cherish from my Spring days growing up, a tradition lost in the wind to most.

This May Day, I challenge you and your cutie to deliver a basket made with no cost but the love in your heart to someone you think could use a little extra TLC today…

When you are done, send us a shout out and tell us how it went! Maybe we can start spreading the love and choking out the hate!

Happy May Day everyone!

To learn a little more about May Day, NPR did a great article about the Forgotten Tradition. learn more here

Indoor Categories, Outdoor Activities

Spring is almost here, how are you going to celebrate?

March! One of my favorites months because it’s when my favorite season arrives of course.

Hello Spring, I can’t wait to see what you bring us!

But, in case you are like me and March 20th just can’t come soon enough, here are a few ideas for you and your family to do while you pass the time.

-First off, if you missed this last month I’m here to shout it from the roof tops as an amazing way to spend a rain day in Seattle (with a few nearby cities listed as well), FREE FIRST THURSDAY. This link will take you to ParentMap which also has some awesome resources for local families and those who care for them. If you haven’t picked up one of their free magazines or found them online, I highly recommend checking it out.

THIS THURSDAY (March 1st) IS THE 1ST OF THE MONTH!!!!! Don’t miss out on this offer, what is better than free when it comes to a day out and about?

–March 2nd (This Friday) is Read across America day , better known as Dr Suess’s Birthday! Check out this link from the National Education Association for a little background on Dr. Suess and learn about having your own reading party!

-St Patrick’s Day is Saturday March 17th.

How great is that, it falls on a weekend? There are fun runs in Tacoma, Seattle, and Kirkland to get the whole family outside and active.

A parade in downtown Seattle to follow and keep the celebrating going. Don’t forget to wear your green!

SPRING arrives March 20th, 2018! Find any reason to get out and enjoy, and no matter the weather you can be assured bright and sunny days are ahead! I’m a big fan of these urban hikes/walking trails: Lincoln Park, Weowna Park, Marymoor Park, Magnuson Park.

And when spring is in the air, so is baseball! Welcome home the Mariners vs. the Cleveland Indians for home opener March 29th, or for a Cano bobblehead March 30th!

Hey, with all the fun plans…I dope you didn’t forget to Spring Ahead on March 11th! Change those clocks and stay keep the adventures rolling- on time!

Have a most Marvelous March!

Outdoor Activities

My morning commute…the view that is!

Today’s little moment of thanks is for my morning commute. Not the drive, or the hour (way too early for this gal!), or the terrible drivers but for the views.

I am blessed to have some of the most amazing views along my drive into work. It helps that I head in at the same hour as nearly all of Seattle, leading me to be forced to stop and admire the beauty around me. I understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder so some of what I describe next may not fit your definition but I’d ask you drive it once on a gorgeous sunrise before totally axing this gratitude of mine.

This is my commute which I do solo, so I have no video or photo proof but believe me I have tried many times and there comes a point I had to decide safety first…

Here is just a “glimpse” of what I get to see and am grateful to enjoy:

-The port of Seattle with a backdrop of West Seattle. Ferries heading off to the islands which are often sprinkled with clouds off in the distance.

-The stadiums with Seattle’s top athletes starring me down.

– A stretch of I-90 where I am blinded by the sun rising, shocked by looming Mt Rainier, and in awe of what Bellevue looks like shrouded in fog.

– Bald eagles soaring, cranes gliding, gulls playing in the wind and hawks spying me from the light posts.

I hate mornings, not much will convince me otherwise but no matter what my grump level is, my wonderful and often unexpected views while heading in to face “the world” is just enough. Just enough to make it all worth it, to change my mood, uplift my spirit, and remind me how lucky I am to have this day.

Image result for mt rainier from I-90 floating bridge

Image result for sunrise from I-90 floating bridge

Outdoor Activities

Time to give thanks!

Good bye, October…Hello November!

One of my favorite months! November is my month to reset and prepare for the craziness of the holiday season. Each year in November I try to be more mindful, take time to give back, appreciate each little blessing, and spend the month bettering myself and hopefully spreading a positive vibe around.

On that note, this months’s blogs will be dedicated to those very things…

Today I am thankful for the beautiful state I live in. It has to be one of the most beautiful places I know of. I spent my weekend surround by mountain views, fall colors, and nature. My heart was happy, my mind at peace, and for a few days the hustle and bustle of work and city life were not even on the radar. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this small moment in time where I was able to be at one with mother nature, let my every worry disappear in the breeze while the sunshine warmed my face.

Thank you Mt Rainier for the amazing weekend!

Indoor Categories, Outdoor Activities

What’s happening in Seattle this October…

Image result for pumpkin

A new month of fun is upon us! Thankfully the weather is being somewhat cooperative so here’s my list of just a few of the fun things going on in the Seattle area.

Corn Maze! Fun at any age and a great way to practice those team building skills. Go as a family during the day or get a sitter and make a date night of spooky fun for just the grown ups!

Bob’s Corn Maze : Pumpkin patch, corn maze, fire pits, cow train, apple cannons and more!

bob 2

Carpinito Brothers: Pumpkin Patch, corn maze, hay rides and snacks!

Haunted Houses: Need I say more?

Georgetown Morgue: Open Thursdays-Sundays all October, VIP tickets available to skip lines, great food/bar scene in the neighborhood for after! GT morgue

Nightmare at Beaver Lake: An indoor/outdoor experience, the largest in Seattle area!

Other not so scary events:

Issaquah Salmon Days: Carnival, music, and a parade?!? This sounds like too much family fun. Check it out October 7th and 8th! Great event on the eastside!

Costume Carnival : Another family friendly and probably pretty adorable activity to end the month with.

Heard of any other awesome events?? Share it here!

Outdoor Activities

What’s happening in Seattle this September

September! You found me, and I’m not sure I’m too thrilled. September is the start of the school year and therefore the end of summer, what a bummer! I say this as I’m panting and hiding from the heat of outdoors while guzzling water…clearly we haven’t gotten too far from summer yet which is good news!

It means it’s not too late for me to tell of some fun activities for you and your family to enjoy as we usher in fall. If I’m super lucky, it also means you have enough time to share some of your favorite September outings with me (and all the other Seattleites reading this)! I’m always so curious what others are up to on their time off, seems rather presumptuous to think we all enjoy hiking, gardening, community meetings, and Bravo 😉

Here are some of the fun things that caught my eye this month:

The Washington State Fair aka The Puyallup: This is a childhood memory I try to relive at least once every couple years. Rides, concerts, animals, vendors, rodeo? Hello fun! Why yes I do want to join you!! Hours vary (no Tuesdays- at all), tickets $14 and under, and last until the 24th! There is something here for everyone (and every inner child) in your family!

Saturday the 9th at 11 am The Not-It’s are putting on a live and FREE concert! Freeway Park Plaza, Seattle. Last one of the summer!

Image result for the not-its band

PARK(ing) Day! Gotta love this one…people can reserve a piece of public road and turn it into a park for a day!! Watch for these all around Seattle on September 15th starting at 9am. Another FREE event, and this one could take you on a field trip around the area so bring some snacks!

Image result for parking day 201 seattle

Here’s one more for the adults but the kiddos will never be the wiser…Oktoberfest, ALL ages day Sunday September 24th, noon- 6 pm.

FOKT KIDS

Okay okay, that’s just the tip of the iceberg but hopefully it inspires a little family fun before summer says it’s final good byes.

What are you hoping to get done before the seasons change? Any awesome end of the summer must do activities you’re willing to share?

Outdoor Activities

Family camping- thank you sisters!

On the heels of sadness due to wildfires spreading in our beautiful Washington mountains, I wanted to spend a minute reflecting on one of my favorite summer outings this year- camping at Lake Easton!

Thank you to my sisters for organizing such an amazing weekend, regardless of menu changes and calendar confusion. We were able to get 5 families (dogs included) into 4 sites, attend ranger talks, visit the beach, hike, and even had time for games! Even without campfires, we had a blast!

Outdoor Activities

Fire season in Seattle

Admittedly, I did not venture outside yesterday. I know, I know! How awful of me, and on Labor Day none the less. I just couldn’t motivate myself to find any need to go out in the heat just to go out there. In my defense, I did spend upward of 10 hours at the zoo the previous two days and had encountered my share of conversation, questions, kids, adults, animals and sunshine…I was plain tuckered out and not afraid to admit it.

Imagine my wonder and confusion when I went out to my car this morning. What was all the added “stuff” on my already incredibly dirty car? I would have heard fireworks if they were set off this close, it clearly isn’t snowing, that isn’t the right color for pollen, my car was completely dusted in…ashes!

The work of a teenager, a firework, and a dry summer in Washington. So sad, on so many levels.

This was the sky at 7 am in Bellevue Washington. I kept the white van in the shot so you can have an idea of just how orange the sky is. It’s hard to capture the true hue with my phone camera

I was fortunate to leave work a little early today. We were down in numbers and I was high in errands and to-do’s. It was easy to edit my list to only include the items that took place inside, no way am I going to spend any more time out there then needed.

I was going to do a little more in the garden but would you want to breath in this air?

When this is what you are used to?

Now imagine you are not 116 miles away from the fire…

There are no words…

My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to those who are dealing with the trials of this season.

Be strong, know you are not alone, and you are LOVED!