PNW SUMMER

IT'S NO SURPRISE that, like many others before-- and after-- me, I am in love with the Pacific Northwest. This love extends from Portland (where I went earlier this year for J and my 2-year wedding anniversary) all the way up to Vancouver, Canada (even though I haven't been there since I was fifteen years younger in high school). This July, I was lucky enough to take the summer off-- after a difficult year of saving up enough money to live without working over the summer-- and take a trip up to Seattle, Washington. It's been about 15 years since for WA too, and it was everything I remembered it to be and more.

J and I spent most of the time in the city staying at the original Ace Hotel, checking out great stores like Moorea Seal, Totokaelo, and Glasswing Shop, eating amazing food at Oddfellows Cafe and Molly Moon's Ice Cream, and seeing the sites like the Volunteer Park Conservatory (where I lost my beanie) and the Fremont Troll that lives under a bridge, and Ballard.

We both must admit, though, that our favorite moments were when we ventured farther out-- not much farther-- to trek to Rattlesnake Lake and Snoqualmie Falls. The weather didn't really clear up until our last day there, so the lake and the falls were both void of tourists. It was so perfectly still and amazing at Rattlesnake Lake, and Snoqualmie is like a dream. Really, it is. I suggest-- even if you've already been-- to make your way over soon. We plan on going back to Washington to visit La Push and ride the ferry boats to Bainbridge Island.

Here comes a slew of photos for ya!