Mini Love Stories - Valentine's Day 2016

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In 2009, Amanda thought up the Mini Love Stories project and started collecting them from everyone she knew to post on her blog. Delicately crafted sentences all meant to sum up your love life in six words or less. She gathered as much as she could, and on Valentine's Day she posted them. Well, I completely fell in love with the project and mini stories, I have always been a fan of mini things, plus I loved how simple and clever people were with their entries... I read them over and over again.

Amanda wrote at the time "I think a really good six word sentence says a lot more than a really bad 600 page novel ever could", and then proclaimed she could read a whole book of mini love stories! I think we both could. So, six years later, we decided to do it again. We posted on social media and texted everyone we knew to send us their Mini Love Stories... and, like magic, the entries started rolling in!

I know everyone is excited to see the responses...so without further adieu, here are your Mini Love Stories 2016... Happy Valentine's Day and THANK YOU for participating!

XOXO,
Whitney and Amanda 

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Part 1

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I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox. - Woody Allen

"The only one I want... Her." S.O., 25

"On and off, then on forever." H.C., 27

"We met, I forget the rest." G.S., 30

"I chased him for years." E.B., 31

"We played Nintendo laying upside down." B.S., 32

"Talked his ear off, it worked!!!!" A.H., 32

"We met. We split. We're back." E.N., 27

"We discovered we both love yoohoo." (this is not a sexual innuendo) M.J.D., 30

"Packed, shipped, and fell in love." K.M.C., 32

"We both got naked a lot." D.M., 25

"Unexpectedly, he was Mr. Right." K.F.C., 34

"All I could think was; love." A.K.O., 23

"Mosh pit junkie, ghetto chick... bliss." S.D., 32

"Magical." M.B.A., 38

"Extremely demanding in a good way." A.P., 33

"Engaged after 17 days. Best. Decision." N.LH., 34

"Whoopsy! Got pregnant, now we're married!!" A.S., 30

Part 2

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You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear. -Oscar Wilde

"We have been married fifty years." D.P., 70

"Twenty month pen-pal. Five week engagement." C.H., 59

"High school sweethearts. Valentine's Day wedding." J.C., 80

"He put a ring on it." D.S., 60

"He's boring, but he's mine." B.J.C., 63

"Handsome and spiritual, my eternal helpmate." L.H., 68

"He has never stopped loving me." R.O., 57

"Sweet, Friend, Cute, Smooth, Pretty, Intelligent." R.H., 70

Part 3

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Broken hearts want broken necks,
I've done some things that I want to forget but I can't. - Modest Mouse, Broke

" 'I actually like guys', he said." E.W., 23

"He just hasn't found me yet!" M.H., 33

"He only lives now in memory." M.J.O, 31

"Deserted island of sadness." M.A.K., 23

"Avoidance equals loneliness, praying for hope." M.W., 40

"Sheer, unadulterated terror." J.B., 31

"I'm single > I am single." I.K., 24

"Three women, four marriages, all bitches." R.R., 63

"The seventh year is the worst." A.Y., 34

"Downloading tinder again..." J.P., 28

Part 4

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Now all these tastes improve, through the view that comes with you. -Jets to Brazil, Sweet Avenue

"I waited thirty years for you." N.Y., 33

"Our love makes people nauseous/jealous." J.M., 33

"We were blazing hearts on fire." M.D., 32

"And suddenly, he was everything." K.F.C., 34

"...now she's all I think about." K.Z.

"Bruce Willis movie, us holding hands." L.V.A., 34

"Meets predetermined criteria, also sexy. Done." L.E.W., 31

"She drives. I ride." D.E.D., 29

"She's my hottie. I'm her slave." J.W., 37

"I sang. She smiled. Had sex." M.H., 33

"& then there was snow." T.M.

"OurLove WillNot BeLimited To Only SixWords." D.D., 29

"It started with a breakfast burrito." A.K.O., 23

"Tropical punch, punch tropical. Kiss me." MJC, 30

Part 5

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There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice. -F. Scott Fitzgerald

"I haven't found my wife yet." A.R.R., 5

"Nothing to do with Valentine's Day." R.R., 11

"I like 'em- short, soccer, smart." R.R., 11

"Sat behind me on the bus." S.R., 10

"I like class clowns." V.B., 10

"My best friend, when not biting." J.C.W., 6

"Golden." N.P, 2

Part 6

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There is no remedy for love but to love more. -Henry David Thoreau

"Fun, laughing, eternity, children, surprises, changing." N.D., 41

"We both married up." J.L.J., 32

"I love him, despite the dog." W.D., 32

"Not perfect, but perfect for eachother." L.W., 34

"Harder than expected. Worth it." L.M.G., 25

"Kind words. Physicality. Respect. Laughter. Joy." S.E.H., 33

"He married me for my Nintendo." A.C., 38

"A Canadian dream in suburban America." K.M.C., 32

"Love evolves, because it has to." A.R.R., 31

"Married for love, stayed for kids." C.F., 45

"He was waiting in the shadows." H.J.B.H., 41

"Fun, adventurous, loving, funny, friendly, spiritual." C.R., 25

"Love found unexpectedly, blooms beautiful adventures." L.N.W., 29

"Pandas lost to beautiful Southern Bell." S.W., 32

Part 7

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As long as it's talking with you, talk of the weather will do. -Built to Spill, The Weather

"Best buds, fell hard, together forever!!" K.B., 36

"High school sweethearts.", M.C.

"It was worth the wait." K.F.C., 34

"I married my very best friend." A.H., 33

"Forever best friend sleep overs!" R.J.H., 36

"Laughing since the day we met." K.L., 32

"Awesome, beautiful, love of my life." M.D., 36

"I adore everything about him." J.O., 32

"He makes us breakfast every morning." L.L., 33

"Always on the same page." S.C., 24

"He deserves more than six words." L.B., 33

"Two halves of the same whole!" K.L., 32

"I'm the luckiest man alive." R.N., 31

"We choose each other, every day." R.C., 30

"She made me who I am." D.E.D., 29

"We are teammates in the game of Life." A.S., 28

"Friend, girlfriend, fiancee, wife, mother, friendship." R.J.H., 39

"Are the kids in bed yet?" E.J., 30

Hello September! Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Chocolate Chip Pumpking Bread

By: Amanda Jane

I think my favorite time of day is late at night when my kids are safely nestled in their beds and the house is finally clean, silent and peacefully ready for the next day...But the truth is, that it doesn't happen every night- sometimes my kids won't stop getting up for "a tiny drink of water" or the dishwasher gets loaded only moments before I go to bed. However, on those nights when everything goes according to plan I like to celebrate my victory with some lite baking and an uninterrupted viewing of a tv show of my choosing.  Late night baking in a quiet, calm house is the epitome of Fall to me. Nothing feels better than knowing my kids are safely slumbering in a warm, cozy bed while the scent of pumpkin spice wafts through their dreams.

Trust me, I understand the merits of planting, growing, and harvesting your own produce. I also understand the power of a quality made from scratch product. But, more than any of that I know sometimes I just want things to be E-A-S-Y (especially after a long day of spelling tests and a frustrating long division with remainders review). And this recipe is one of those no-brainers. I mean 3 ingredients and the ability to stir is all you need to perfect this simplified version of a quintessential fall treat. I mean it's so easy I don't know if it can even qualify as a recipe. 

 

So may I present to you the cheater-cheater pumpkin eater version of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread:

Ingredients:

1 Box of Spice Cake Mix

1 Can Pumpkin Puree (use the smaller one- I did the bigger one and it was a little too gooey)

1 Cup (or so) of Chocolate Chips*

 

*Chocolate Chips are optional, but what kind of monster omits chocolate chips on purpose? 

Directions:

Mix all 3 ingredients until combined. 

Bake at 350 degrees until fork stuck in the middle comes out clean. I used one giant bread pan (This one from IKEA - which I totally love and recommend) and it took about an hour.  (If using smaller pans it'll obviously take less time)

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-Amanda Jane

P.S. I saw some decent small-scale bread pans at the Dollar Store, of all places - so if you are giving as a gift, or just don't want to invest a lot, may I suggest picking some up there.

For more posts by Amanda Jane, click here.

Temporary Office Updates by Amanda Jane

With the exception of the most rigid work environments you can almost always add a few
personal touches via accent pieces..

Here are My Favorite Temporary Office Updates:

Washi Tape - You can match it to any occasion, adds a splash of color and it’s temporary.

Calendars - There are a lot of amazing calendars out there. Splurge a little and buy one from an artist you love (don’t just settle for the free one featuring wild stallions that your dentist gives you!) I love Anna Rifle Bond’s (of Rifle Paper Company) style and she has really cute calendars that would spice up any office space. The best thing about a calendar you love is that you can keep the images and frame them after the month has passed.

Cute Notebooks - Does this need further explanation? I always wanted the cute folders in elementary school and that hasn't changed. If I like what I’m writing on I’m more inclined to write things that matter to me. (some cute notebooks found here, here, here, here, and here)

Functionally Beautiful Office Supplies - Maybe get that cute stapler, folder, tape dispenser, etc. Sometimes a whimsical touch just makes you happy! And happy workers are better workers (science says so!)

- Amanda Jane

Amanda's Work Hard Advice

My work hard motto:

I love it, “You can’t do everything, but you can do a lot.” For some reason it helps me when I’m feeling both lazy and overwhelmed. I've seen variations of it online, but not this exact quote.

When I feel stuck and unmotivated I also make myself do the thing I’m avoiding most first. If I pick the thing that I’m least looking forward to it helps unblock my workflow and everything else seems easier and gets done faster.

Try it! It always works for me!

- Amanda Jane

Decorating Your Office

Decorating Your Office

By: Amanda Jane

My husband, Nic, called me from work one day a few weeks ago and told me he needed me to come help him make his new office “look more professional”. After moving to a bigger room his desk and frames currently looked out of place in the new space. I naturally gravitate toward color and quirky touches but that’s a fine line to walk in an office space (and more so than that it’s definitely not Nic's style). Nic is pretty traditional and likes grey tones and a clean, modern touch. We couldn't change his desk (which is kind of ugly and nonfunctional) but other than that we had a blank slate. I was trying really hard to make sure this space was a “Nic” space not an Amanda one. Ultimately, I wanted to help him feel like it was a happy, clean, professional, functional space he’d be comfortable meeting with clients in (as well as spending late nights slaving away in).

I have moved so much in my adult life and lived in SO many rentals that I feel like I can make any space feel like home. I feel like this particular skill-set is well suited for office decorating (because both come with limitations on what you can really do to renovate/change a lot of aspects of the space). By the end of the process Nic told me he couldn't stand to hear me say the words “accent piece” one more time. But all in all his office looks great, suits his style, and is comfortable place to spend the majority of his waking hours.

Find your Style-

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Years ago I heard the best way to discover your style was to go buy a bunch of house/design magazines and rip out all of the pages of things you love and eventually you’ll start to find themes. Flash-forward to the present and Pinterest has been unknowingly serving that function for millions of users. Looking over my own feed I noticed that the pins I most often put into my “home related” boards were almost always bright white rooms with bold pops of color. I always knew I loved colors but it wasn't until I objectively reviewed my feed that I realized “OH I find white with pops of color more appealing than a room just filled with tons of colors.” Reviewing my feed I also realized how heavily I admire sea foam green and aquas, how much I love a mix of mid-century modern and cottagey vintage charm. I bet if you reviewed your feed you’d find themes that would help you define your style as well.

The one thing Nic and I both agree on is we both like the style of Mid Century Modern furniture (think Mad Men with computers and iPhones). So we focused on finding a couple of functional pieces that had a Mid-Mod vibe. Nic ended up picking out those [see picture above] cool, grey arm chairs at World Market, which kind of became the springboard.

It takes time (and that’s okay)-

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Often times once we've identified what we like we want our space to transform into that vision immediately! But in almost all cases that’s not logical or feasible. It takes time to build a space into your vision. Get it cleaned-up and map out a plan of how you’d like to see it transformed. Make a timeline and on a weekly (or monthly) basis you can update/renovate/change elements of your space. That way you can look for deals, find exactly what you are looking for (as opposed to just settling on something that will do), it will also allow you to see how the changes are actually working with your workflow.

We had originally gotten Nic this dresser from IKEA but as his office changed we realized that he needed more space for his files (as well as a couple of places to store personal items) and we eventually ended up getting him this cabinet as well. We almost bought things that were marketed as “office furniture” but don’t be afraid to look around, because there are tons of things that serve the same function but aren't specifically marketed as such. The room still needs a few touches but for now it is serving it’s function.

Only Keep What you Love (also see next section Only Keep What you Need)-

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When I was first married, Whitney came over to my apartment around Christmas time and said “What is up with your decorations?” I hadn't given them much thought until she said that. My apartment was currently filled with a ceramic Santa wearing a blue suit surrounded by snowmen, some stuffed Christmas birds and other assorted yuletide knick-knacks. The truth of the matter was that my Mom was getting rid of all the decorations she didn't like and I offered to take them off her hands. Honestly, I didn't like any of them I just was putting up what I thought I was supposed to. After that Christmas I took those decorations down and threw them out. I don’t think I’m the first person that has put things up just because they are things, putting very little thought into whether or not we actually liked said things. But think about all those “things” at home and at your workplace and ask yourself “Why is it here?” (See below) and after that ask “Do I even LIKE it?” If the answer is no- get rid of it! If you don’t like something you certainly aren't going to miss it when it’s gone. Just the act of not cluttering up your space with things you don’t like gives the space a sense of value and purpose (which makes you feel better about where you are working, which then translates into you working harder).

Only Keep What you Need-
Sometimes (especially in the workplace) we can’t control a lot of the components of our space. So for the things we can’t control it’s important to eliminate the unnecessary where we can. If you never use manila folders why do you have a whole drawer dedicated to empty ones? If an office space is a place to work, make your office work for you! Look around your work- space and ask “what purpose does it serve?” What purpose do you want that drawer to serve? What purpose do I need that shelf to serve? If something isn't serving a purpose why is it there cluttering up your life? Keep in mind the purpose doesn't mean that everything has to be a utilitarian one! Maybe you need to hang a picture of Paris on your wall to get you through the day or have a small compartment dedicated solely to lip gloss. It doesn't matter what the purpose is, just that it something that benefits you and your work flow.

Have One Place for Everything-

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I’m sure you've heard the oft used organizing adage “A place for everything and everything in it’s place” I like to get even more specific than that and say have only ONE place for everything. Why do you have ten different places that paper clips go? Have one. This goes for pens, business cards, and bobby pins. There is no reason to have more than one place to store extra staples. Have one place for everything and then you’ll never have to search for it in more than one place. Think of businesses that you have frequented, don’t you feel more comfortable in a tidy place? I don’t care if it a doctor’s office, an accounting firm or a fast food restaurant, a cleaner space just feels more professional in and of itself!

Accent Pieces-

I think that adding a few accent pieces is the best way to liven up your space and add a bit of personality. However, it is important to know your place and what is acceptable in your work environment, for example I once had a coworker bring a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln and put it on his desk (on his second day). It was really weird and out of place. Nobody else had any personal touches on their desks, let alone a bronze face that took up half his desk. Know the culture of your work environment. Pick things that make you happy and motivate you to work harder in your space, not necessarily things that draw attention to you and and your space. I’m a sucker for themes- I think it helps tie things together. But I also don’t think it should be so rigid that you become “the owl girl” or whatnot. Nic really likes maps and picked a big art piece that suited his style and tied his office together [see picture above]. He has some silver, globe bookends in his bookshelf, but had to draw the line at this really awesome stand alone globe because he didn't want to be “the map guy.” Sometimes a theme can be as simple as a color scheme but really there are no rules, so long as it’s something that makes you happy.

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If your workplace space doesn't allow for much personality there is no reason you can’t have a killer home office space! I feel like I get so much more done when I’m in a clean, organized, happy space, I could balance the heck out of a checkbook in any one of those spaces! Although Whitney asked me to write about how to decorate a professional office a lot of the post if more about function than decor. I think that makes sense in a professional space! They always say “dress for the job you want” and I think the same applies to your office space itself. Make the space you work in one that will encourage you to work the most efficiently you can- for me an office that is both beautiful and function is the way to do that.

PNW Week: That's My Jam

That's my Jam: The Easiest Raspberry Jam Ever!

By: Amanda Jane

Seriously- the easiest, tastiest, 3-ingredient, no-pectin, raspberry jam you'll ever make!

One of the best parts about about the PNW is the abundance of farm-fresh produce! There is nothing better than a ripe, summer berry. The PNW has an abundance of u-pick, organic, berry farms- the benefit being the ability to eat them at the peak of freshness, pesticide-free (and bonus- they are usually cheaper.) But honestly the first time I made this recipe I used raspberries from Costco- I live in the real world, as much as I'd like everyone to believe I only consume properly harvested, organic berries, I don't (and I'm sure you don't either.) None-the-less this easy freezer jam does a great job of preserving that sweet, gentle raspberry flavor through the long winter months to come- no matter where you get your berries from! 

Ingredients:

Equal parts Raspberries* & Sugar*

1 tsp lemon juice (for @ every 4 cups of berries)- it acts as a natural preservative 

*The other great part about this recipe is that you can easily adjust it to the amount of raspberries you have on hand. Whether you have one cup or eight you can make this recipe just as easily. 

Directions:

1. Put raspberries in a dish, add sugar and lemon juice.

2. Smush together (I used the egg beaters from my mixer by hand) until incorporated. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth- keep it kind of chunky, the fruit will break down during the cooking process. 

3. Cook and stir occasionally until mixture reaches a rolling boil, then turn down heat to keep at a simmer. 

At this point you will start to see a light foam rise to the top of the pan- this is pectin! Raspberries have one of the highest levels of natural pectin and thus the reason you don't need to add additional pectin. 

4. Keep on a low, soft simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. It should be taking on a slightly thicker texture. 

5. Ladle jam into freezable containers (I prefer 8 oz, 1/2 pint glass, mason jars) 

6. Keep containers full of jam at room temperature until cooled (at this point the jam should have set to a jelly-like consistency.) 

7. Store in freezer until ready to eat, then store in your fridge. 

Notables:

*This jam's consistency is soft, but not runny. It is also spreadable straight from the freezer (for when you need jam on your toast and need it NOW.) 

*Add some of this jam to lemonade for a tasty raspberry-lemonade.

*I've also made this jam adding some peaches- it is a little runnier, but still a stellar spread!

*For cute labels for your jam, check out these free canning printables on printable city.

Eat up!

PNW Week: We Are Adventurers! (Sea Glass Hunting Pt. 2)

We Are Adventurers!!!

By: Amanda Jane

My husband, Nic, loves Seattle. It really was the city of his dreams. To him it was perfectly green and perpetually cloudy. If Nic could live anywhere, forever, it would be Seattle, that’s why we were so excited when we found out he was accepted into a program at the University of Washington. However, moving to Seattle felt like a meaningless rebound to me. I truly was heartbroken to leave behind the life we had built in Omaha. Seattle felt so cold and lonely- but a large chunk of that was just my state of mind. With three kids and a husband in graduate school (going on four years) I was feeling some serious fatigue. I was sick of being poor, sick of having my husband gone studying 12 hours or more a day, sick of job interviews that never went anywhere. But more than anything I was sick of the unknown. We had invested all of our time, our marriage, our family, our faith, our money into a career that was sucking the life out of us. We were living off of faith, but often felt like we were drowning in quicksand. Beyond working hard and praying for help we were at the complete mercy of someone wanting to hire Nic. We had no idea where we’d be living, how we’d pay off our monstrous student loans, or even if we could find a legal job anywhere. From the outside it may seem trivial, but for us it felt all consuming. And there was nothing we could do but hope and wait.

Nic and I celebrated our 10th anniversary the month we moved to Seattle. With no other choice than to do something free, with all three kids in tow, all I wanted to do was go find some sea glass to mark the occasion. I had never found sea glass before but thought that the analogy of something rough and broken transforming into something  smooth and beautiful over time made for the perfect marriage analogy and would make for a terrific anniversary memory. So we went to a beach and searched for two hours and couldn't find a single, stupid piece of sea glass. 

Although I had spent hours looking for sea glass on our anniversary the first time I found some I wasn't even looking for it (and thus the first lesson of sea glass!) For a time in my life that felt entirely out of my hands collecting sea glass became the perfect hobby to teach me to be better at rolling with the punches. Finding quality sea glass isn't something you have complete control over- you are constantly at the mercy of the tides and the length of time the sea glass has been immersed. You can do everything “right” and find nothing or nature can throw you a bone and you find an amazing purple that matches your nail polish. I think the most beautiful lesson for me was that you really have no control over what (if any treasures) you will find on a given day - but when you do you feel lucky, and if you have an off day (or week) there is always tomorrow. For me it was a big lesson in perspective. I went to the beach multiple times a week, as pathetic as it sounds it was the best friend I had the year we lived there. I rarely listed to my music as I walked the shore, instead I would pour my soul out to the ocean waves. There is something incredibly monotonous and comforting about the clockwork of the tides, in and out over and over and over again forever. And thus it is with life- the tides will come and go, sometimes I will find amazing treasures and some days I’ll leave empty handed. But so much of what I find will be determined not by what I’m looking for per say, but the fact that I find things to be thankful for and excited for while I wait for what I’m looking for to happen.

"... an amazing purple that matches your nail polish."

My very best memory of our life in Seattle was when I bundled up all three kids in the middle of a freezing February day and we headed down to the beach. It was so cold and windy and the closer you got to the water the colder and windier the moisture-filled air felt. I’m sure the diners inside of the fancy, beachfront restaurant that overlooks the water wondered what kind of a mother brought their children to the beach under such conditions. But what they could never understand while peeling their fresh shrimp and sipping their cocktails was that we needed to get out of that house, Nic was studying and we were all feeling suffocated. Without telling the kids I thought to myself “we are going to be adventurous today even if it kills us.” It was so cold our noses and fingers were nearly numb even under our scarves and gloves, so windy that our hoods kept blowing off our head and the waves so powerful that it felt like we were constantly getting sprinkled with salt water rain. And then we started laughing. And then we couldn’t stop. Because we all knew how ridiculous it was to be outside, at the beach, in the middle of a storm. Then without warning my eight-year-old daughter, Scarlett, pulled out her video camera and started running down the beach yelling “We are adventurers! We are adventurers!” And so we all did the same thing as we raced back to the car. Right before I stepped off the rocky beachfront I found the biggest, most beautiful piece of sea glass I have found to date- it felt like it was Mother Nature’s way of thanking me for not being a fair weather friend. I stuck it in my coat pocket and caught up with the kids and once again joined in with gusto “We are adventurers! We are adventurers!” all the way back home.

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PNW Week: Sea Glass Hunting 101

Sea Glass Hunting 101
By: Amanda Jane

"Oh, I collect sea glass"

I've moved nearly a dozen times in the last decade. One of things I have hated most during the “getting to know you” phase is when people would ask me “so what are your hobbies?” The thing is, I have plenty of things I’m passionate about, but they are all kind of obscure and it always felt out of place mentioning my quirkiness in these moments when I was trying to come off as a normal (enough) person. Instead I always went for the obvious “Oh, I guess I like books” answer.

Because truthfully, unless we are counting (which I am not) the brief and regrettable magician phase I went through in 8th grade- I've never had a bona fide answer when faced with the dreaded “hobby” question. I hated the question and my lack of response so much that six-months before I turned thirty I told Whitney we needed to try a bunch of hobbies to find out what I was good at. We vowed to go deep sea fishing, try basket weaving, hang gliding and about a dozen other things before I turned thirty. We did none of them.

But the idea stayed with me. I think there is something really cool about learning a new hobby in adulthood. It is so much more exciting than when we are kids and our parents sign us up for soccer or tennis camp and we just do it because we are bored. Normal, adult life is so often boring and stale but having a hobby to look forward to was just the thing I needed.

[Enter seaglass]

I'd always wanted to find sea glass, but had just never been to the right beach I guess. The best part was that I stumbled into sea glass collecting when I discovered the beach five minutes from my house was littered with the frosty, hidden treasures. After I found a plethora of sea glass colors there, I next found out everything I could about the history of that little beach. At one point in time that beachfront housed the biggest amusement park in Washington. Prior to that it was home to a general store, that boats could dock at when the tide rolled in. Long before I was ever born there was a sign above it’s turn of the century pier that proclaimed this was the place “Where woods & water meet.” It was the perfect description of this small, rocky beachfront snuggled in the middle of the Puget Sound. 

Sea glass hunting is the perfect mixture of history, adventure, luck and finding pretty, little, abandoned treasures. I liked the ocean just as much as the next guy prior to getting into sea glass, but after I really got into sea glass I finally “got” the whole ocean thing. I was head over heels in love with that mile-long stretch of land and semi-sea. There was just something so rewarding about finding these little treasures and having the wind blow salt water mist in your face. Despite everything this blog stands for I am not a super outdoorsy girl. But out there I loved every minute of it.  There was something so mystical about searching the sand for these tiny left behind treasures. No wonder some people call sea glass mermaid tears. 

Sea glass is essentially glass that was left at the mercy of the water and waves. Over time (decades if you’re doing it right) the churning of the waves turn the broken chunks of glass into smooth, refined treasures. All the while the water draws minerals from the glass leaving it with that distinctive frosted and pitted look pure sea glass is known for. Generally speaking, the longer a piece has been underwater the smoother it becomes. You can often times identify the age of your find by the color or material it was made of (for example a pale yellow called vaseline glass was popular primarily in the 1920’s is one my favorite pieces.)  There is also a rarity scale when it comes to sea glass (for example whites and browns are most common, whereas reds and yellows are very rare.) Some of my favorite finds weren’t actually glass, but rather sea pottery (from abandoned china and dinnerware). You can also find sea glass at a lake, but it is technically called beach glass. Generally speaking sea glass that isn’t frosted or has sharp corners isn't ready yet- so you should just throw it back! There are exceptions- for example there are some really cool shards that for whatever reason just didn’t end up all the way smooth or very frosty but are still really old. I have a piece of Clorox bottle from the 1930’s that I love and it’s edges aren't entirely smooth. So for the most part if it is shiny or is sharp it isn’t ready- throw it back. The thing I love about sea glass is that every piece you find has a story. How did it get there? The stories range from ocean-side city dumps to ship wrecks to just plain old littering. But the best part is that no matter how it got there mother nature takes something discarded and unwanted and overtime makes it into something beautiful again. 

Sea Glass Hunting 101

Best weather for finding sea glass: overcast

Every time I went on a sunny day I was disappointed. It’s much easier to see the sheen of the sea glass when the sun isn’t shining on it. But different light conditions seem to make different colors more visible. 

Best beaches: rocky 

Preferably a rocky beach that was a city dump 100 years ago! A gentle beach just doesn’t have the ability to agitate the rock into a smooth stone. 

Best time: low tide, after a full moon and storm would be ideal

I loved learning to follow the tides. The lower the tide the more the beach was exposed. It was fun to go to the beach between the tides and see how much had changed. The other time to go was after a big storm had really churned up the area and moved things around. 

Best places to look: Near driftwood, under rocks or other hidden places

My other favorite place to look was at the tide lines where little things had collected forming squiggly lines on the shoreline. For some reason at my beach a large majority of my sea glass was found collected in that middle section where the tide started to recede. 

Best shoes: cute rain boots 

Best advice: Don’t expect to find anything in particular because you have no control over what will show up. Some days are amazing and some are just meh! When I first started I picked up things I never would now- you become pickier because you know what is “good” and what is still just litter. But the thing is if you know where to look and just keep searching with no expectations you’ll be really delighted when an awesome find appears before your eyes.

for a run down of sea glass colors and their rarity, visit this site: north beach treasures

from that same site: the"rarest of the rare"

PNW Week: The Mountain is Out

The Mountain is Out

By: Amanda Jane

For some reason Seattle made my soul restless. It never felt like my home, just a space I was awkwardly borrowing until I was beckoned back home. No matter how hard I tried to love it, it just never felt like it was mine. As we drove our moving truck out of town for the last time I realized the only two things I would really miss deep down inside were sea glass and Mt. Rainier.

Although I’m a Rocky Mountain girl at heart, the majesty of Mt. Rainier was never lost on me. Whether flying above it’s snow capped craters or spying it through a thick hazy fog it always had this ethereal, painted-into-the-sky quality about it. Despite being born and raised nestled in the heart of many jagged mountain peaks I've come to think of that hulking, mountain, volcano as the most powerful, stand-alone peak of them all. There was truly something mystical about Mt. Rainier (not the least of which was it’s designation as one of the world’s deadliest volcanoes.) Like some kind of natural optical illusion Rainier has the ability to look the same size from downtown Seattle as it does thirty-miles away. Because Mt. Rainier is so much taller than any other peak in the Cascade range, it rules the skyline, leaving every other peak surrounding it basically forgotten.

Washington has a reputation for being perpetually gloomy, so when you actually catch a glimpse of Rainier it signifies an extra special kind of day. Just like the forgotten Cascade peaks Washingtonians also bowed down to the queen of the natural skyline- Seattle landmarks like the University of Washington and the Space Needle were built so that they would frame Rainier when she was visible. For all the holes Seattle didn't fill in my soul I always found beauty in the way that when “the mountain was out” it signified an especially beautiful day. Because of her ever-present size and scope it sometimes felt like Rainier ruled the weather and only came out when she felt like it, rather than the other way around. In a place that so often made me feel so out of place, seeing Mt. Rainier brought me out of my own haze and gave me a reason to feel connected.

Old photo of Mount Rainier framed by the Court of Honor at UW:

Photo found here

Pictures taken by Amanda:

If you live in Seattle and are too busy to look out the window... here's a twitter account that lets you know "Is the mountain out?", CLICK HERE

Omaha and Best Friends

Amanda just thought Max would be showing up with a friend to spend the night at her house in Omaha, and decided to frame some pictures of Max to place by his guest bed to make him feel welcome. It would have been funny if Max's friend really had come, and as they were tucking in at night to notice all the Max photos displayed around the basement. I would have loved to have been there in that circumstance.

Max's friend would have said, "are all these pictures of you?"

Then Max would have been like "yeah, what the?"

Such a good joke.

It was still funny to have Max notice them.

And it was soooo fun to spend time with the Russells! What a perfect rest stop on such a long road trip. On the way back we even had enough time for Amanda to hire her first babysitter so we could all go out to dinner and see a bit of Omaha.

We got a quick tour of Nic's law school, which was way rad and catholic - the cathedral we got to peak inside of was beautiful. We walked around the city where we got offered free hugs (after being at bonnaroo we refused), enjoyed the beautiful old brick buildings, and slid down some amazing slides on cardboard at some city center park. Nic amazed us by how the lights on Dodge Street all change green at the same time. And Amanda pointed out famous gloves in the gutter. What a magical city!

Scarlett uddered complete gibberish to me for like 20 minutes, and Ruby would have me translate what she was saying. Scarlett gave me one of her business cards which proved she was half elf and half kid. Ruby showed me her Obama tot bag. The two of them made Max and I thank you cards with buttons glued all over them. I guess I'll come back and visit, even though Ruby and Scarlett refused to make me pancakes and waffles in the morning.

Thanks, Russells!

Got to go.... peanut butter Jelly time.

Amanda Jane

(whit and amanda, circa. 2001)

This very second Amanda Jane is driving with her husband and 3 kids to Nebraska, where Nic will attend law school for 3 years. Last night nate and I went over to say goodbye around 11pm. Nate ate half of a chocolate cake (because it was his half burfday), and I put a pepperoni pizza in the oven (because it was amanda's full birthday). It was our attempt at a birthday goodbye party. Babies were passed around. Wishes were made. Antique candle holders were given. Fish gurgled. Pop culture was discussed. And pizza was served.

I will miss late-nite parties with the Russells, even if a party at their house consists of just the 4 of us, (or just the 3 of us in bed with onion rings). I already hate that Amanda and Nic are not just a bike ride through the golf course anymore. And that I can't burn Ruby and Scarlett Hannah Montana CD's, promise to take them to see Bolt, and sit by a roaring fire with them while Ruby proclaims "this is the funnest I've ever had!".

Last night, when I came home, I was looking through an old scrap book for pictures of Amanda and I and came across a little note Nic had written for me one night. It said "WHITNEY- WHEN IN DOUBT AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO POUT, COME TO THE RUSSELLS'  -WE <3 U, NIC & AMANDA **SEASON PASS** GOOD TIL 2006". It was laminated with tape.  I remember sitting on the floor of their first apartment in AF on this particular night when the note was written, feeling sad and distressed about something, but after talking and being with the Russells feeling lots better. Well that pass has gone to good use. And even before this note was written, Amanda is the one I always go to when I'm in doubt and want to pout. Last night I sat and remembered countless times when I have been down and glum and gone to chit-chat with the Russells, and have left feeling happy and loved, even well beyond when this "season pass" expired. I don't know what I'll do without them.

I love Amanda so much. A lot has transpired in the past 10 years, but I can still call her out of the blue, and just by how I say hello she knows what is up with me. It's freaky.

It's like the time during a texting conversation she wrote:

"what are you guys doing tonight? hanging out at kohlers by the bin candy?"

and at that exact moment, I kid you not, I was staring down peach-rings and jelly-bellies in the Kohler's bin candy aisle! ...no one else was in the store.

I don't know how she does what she does, knows the things she knows, and remembers the things she remembers (her brain astounds us all), or how she can still say the funniest things I have ever heard ever, every time I'm around her. You think you'd build up an immunity after 10+ years.

Happy Birthday, Amanda Jane! Happy move to Omaha! Here's to being a fruit and a renegade! See you at Mt Rushmore!