Better Late Than Never- The Opportunities We Almost Miss

This past Monday we dyed eggs. My mom, my dad, and I sat in the kitchen and drew faces onto chilly eggs with Crayola crayons. We experimented with melted wax and with onion dye (it makes a parchment color that is rather pretty, however the eggs also end up smelling like... well onions), and we laughed at our egg-shaped portraits. Like children we played and laughed and explored the limitations of a simple egg-dying kit. When our kit proved faulty (we had three greens), we giggled and my mom pointed out that "at least they are a pretty green." 


Then, when all the eggs were gone, we drifted through the kitchen erasing the signs of our activity. One by one we bid each other adieu and headed for the comfort of our beds. I believe we each went our own ways filled with contentment that only such a spontaneous and happy gathering can bring. Oddly enough, it was this moment, done a day behind and rather unplanned, that has become my favorite mental snapshot of this Easter. 





Always leave yourself open to opportunities such as this one. This is a lesson that I often fail on, but one that I am constantly being reminded of. The moments are often small, but they have a great potential for shared joy. 

 Sincerely ,

AK

"I Want to See Mountains..."

Exciting news everyone!!!

I am going to Glacier National Park this summer, and I am so EXCITED!!!!!!!!! Bob and I have been talking about this trip since last summer, and now it is officially happening! I have made a tentative schedule for us already, and have reserved a campsite (though we hope to be able to switch to a quieter, tent only site after we arrive). Now, however, I have to think about the packing details, and to be honest I am overwhelmed. I haven't spent a week hiking and camping since I was a child, so this experience is going to involve a lot of research and (probably) quite a few mistakes. I am not planning on bringing my computer with me, but I will have at least Icarus and my Iphone for photos, which I will of course share upon my return. I will also be posting on my Instagram throughout the trip, so please feel free to follow me!

Of course, those details are me getting ahead of myself. What I am really trying to focus on now is what to buy. As I have mentioned, I haven't been hiking in forever, so I am sure I will be in need of purchasing some basics. Below is a list of things I know I will need, but I could really use your input, advice, and suggestions!!!

Four things I'm know (or at least I'm pretty sure) I will need: 
1) Hiking Boots- I want them to be comfortable, durable, light, and perfect for all types of weather. (Any suggestions? Does such a miracle boot exist?) 
2) Backpack- Durability is a must, but I also want it to be able to store a water bladder, food, and other necessities while protecting my cameras and NOT GETTING THEM WET!! Oh, I have been considering the ones that have the straw built in- anyone know if those are worth it? 3) Clothes- any fabrics I should avoid? I've heard that cotton is a big no no! We are going to be on all day hikes, so cooler mornings, than warmth, but then high altitude weather's volatility= not sure what to wear! I have found articles with suggestions for men's hiking clothes, but not so much for women's. 
 4) Water purifier/filter- We are planning on carrying water with us, but I am planning on having one of these for a back up, just in case we don't bring enough water, but there are so many different types of filters/purifiers- thoughts? 

Sneak Peek at the lovely personal book I made via Artifact Uprising :)

Any other suggestions? I am sure I will have other pieces of gear that I will be asking all sorts of quetsions about, but these were four items that I KNOW I will need and I'm just... well I'm an almost newbie. I love hiking, but this will be first trip I will be planning as an adult!

Thank you in advance for all of your suggestions, 

AK

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The March 5: Five Lessons About Spring In North Dakota

Hello! Long time no chat!

As April is now upon us, I thought I would take a moment and share five lessons that I have learned about March while living in North Dakota. 

1) March can come in like a lion and leave like a lion- March don't care. Seriously people, we had what was probably the worst blizzard all winter yesterday, and woke up today to almost a foot of freshly fallen snow and the chilly temperatures that we normally associate with January and February. BRRRR!! 

2) Speaking of cold, after a while the number after the (-) sign ceases to matter. Cold is just cold. 

3) The wind is your constant companion- love it or hate it, it will always be there.

4) Clear skies and sun= more layers (sometimes it is just better to look ridiculous and be warm).

5) There is always time for one more cup of hot chocolate or five more minutes of chat before you head out the door. Accept this and you will always leave a friend's home well prepared to brave the cold.

I hope you are staying warm this spring season,

AK

Oh the merry month of January :)

Hello dear readers,

Is it just me, or does January seem to get a bad rep? It is true that after the buildup to the exciting holiday season and the New Year, January seems quiet and sometimes a bit forlorn, but I find January to be one of my favorite months for that very reason. While the holidays are full of traveling and hustling from one wonderful gathering to the next, January is full of... nothing. It is a month in which we can rest and regather- a blank slate so to speak. It is, as the New Year celebrations suggest, a month of new beginnings. January is when I reset my patterns for the next year, when I reconfirm my goals and plans, and just recharge. I love love love that January offers us that opportunity, because my introverted soul would wither away if it wasn't allowed that chance to rest!


January is not, however, boring. Or at least, it doesn't have to be! Two weekends ago Bob and I challenged the idea that January was no fun by exploring the city of St. Paul! It was thankfully warm that weekend (we've had a lot of -20 degree days... anything above -5 is appreciated), and I got it in my head that we HAD to find the 'cool' places in St. Paul. You know, the out of the way places that offer an amazing cup of coffee or make the best fresh doughnuts while still having a cozy "everyone is welcome and loved" atmosphere (though of course, cool hipster attire is recommended). Anyways, I wanted to explore and find these gems, but Bob wasn't as convinced (something along the lines of 'what the heck are we going out for instead of curling up and staying warm at home?'), so I had to change my tactics. With the help of a quick Google search (thank goodness for technology) and Bob's addiction to coffee, I lured him out into the cold to find one of the "best coffee shops" in the St. Paul area.

Amore Coffee is situated across the river from downtown, in West St. Paul, and it seems to be one of the few businesses in a mainly residential neighborhood. Housed in an old brick building, the coffee shop oozes a "we are your home away from home" vibe. The tables and chairs were all mismatching, and there are couches and small coffee tables which create a comfy nook within the larger space for groups to gather. Boardgames are provided, as are a few books, and work by local artists adorns the walls. The menu is not limited to caffeinated beverages, as soup, sandwiches, bake goods, AND amazing white hot chocolate are also offered. Bob and I both loved our drinks, and I had a blast watching as the 'regulars' drift through and interact with both the other regulars and the 'visitors' like myself. If you ever go to the twin cities and want a relaxing cup of coffee, defiantly check this place out!! 

 

Oh, and if all of that cool stuff isn't enough to convince you that Amore Coffee is awesome, it is SOLAR POWERED! I KID YOU NOT! THE PLACE IS SOLAR POWERED!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!!!   

  

After an hour or so at Amore, Bob and I headed back into the downtown area proper and just wandered. Bob wanted to show me the Union Depot, so we headed into the sky-way close to where he works and backtracked until we hit the station. It was amazing. The station has been lovingly remodeled (or preserved, not sure which), and everything in it is stunning- from the polished stone floors to the high ceilings. The coolest part? Exploring it with Bob. One might think that since Bob walks through the station on the way to work everyday he would be bored exploring the depot, but he wasn't. As he told me, "It is so cool to actually take my time and walk through here. When I walk through on my way to work I get so focused on making it in time that I don't realize how beautiful this place really is." After we meandered and explored the station at length, we wandered around outside for a bit before returning home to nap before we headed to watch the Wild play. :) It was a wonderful weekend, full of exploration and rejuvenation- a perfect example of how wonderful January can be. :)

-AK

A Belated Review: 2013

Hello my wonderful readers!!

Happy (belated) NEW YEAR!!! It is 2014! How crazy is that?! Is it just me, or has this year flown by?! I am super excited to see what 2014 has in store for us, but as I look forward I am also compelled to spend a moment honoring all of the wonderful (and perhaps not so wonderful) moments in 2013.

This year:

I bought my first Iphone and, subsequently, 
Posted my first image on Instagram

Bought my first vinyl album and went to Nichole's for the first time 

I turned 22 

Went to my first NHL game (GO WINGS!) 

Started learning how to play hockey
Spent St. Patrick's day with family 

Attended an outdoor party (yes, we spent the day outside, and yes there was snow) 

Fell in love with the Como Conservatory

Graduated from college!!

I found/was found by Brooke Kupcho
Attended the first Wolftree Event

Visited the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for the first time

Ran/walked my first 5K! 

Went Kayaking
Went camping in Itasca State Park

Went to two family weddings (congrats again Emily and Charlotte!)
Lost dear family friends to illnesses :(  
Started working at a bank
Saw THE POSTAL SERVICE in concert!!!!!!!! SO AMAZING! 

WAS PUBLISHED IN WOLFTREE V. 2!! :D
Chopped wood for the first time :) 

Watched my dad run a half-marathon in the rain :)
Celebrated birthdays :)
Went to Colorado
Saw my Dad run an impromtu 5K in Colorado
Saw lots of my extended family
My best friend got engaged!
Donated to the Kickstarter community (and began an art collection) 

Commissioned a piece of art
Realized that the details matter to me
Worked on Wolftree's first Ebook, "5 Pies and a Sugar Cookie"
Baked. A lot. (for me) 

Attended the Wolftree cooking workshop!! :D 
Read books. Lots and lots of books. (and contributed said books to my library- also known as my room)
Had a food fight in a bar, and didn't get kicked out
Helped my dad create a rink  in our backyard 

I applied for grad school (all done!!! *happy dance-> like this about 20 seconds in*)
Had 4 wonderful Christmases

Thank you to all of those who joined me this past year! I am excited to see what the future will bring for all of us!! :)

With gratitude and joy,

AK

Outtakes- Wolftree Recipes

Hello dear reader,

Today I just wanted to share some outtakes from a granola recipe shoot I did for Wolftree this past fall. Please check out the recipe and the story behind it, which can be found on Wolftree's Website! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are gliding happily into the New Year!!

-AK

Christmas and Sibling-hood

Happy holidays my dear readers!

Today I am sharing some portraits of my brother, and, as the holidays draw near (really really near!), I find myself thinking about the way in which holidays bring families together. I remember being a child and loving Christmas, because everyone was cheerful and we naturally balanced time together with quiet time alone (usually playing with our new toys). As I got older Christmas became more tense as my brother and I began to draw apart. As our relationship deteriorated so did our enjoyment in each other's holiday company. Fortunatly over the past few years my brother and I have been slowly rebuilding our relationship, and becoming... well I like to think that we have become friends. There are still rough patches and topics that we avoid discussing, but we have gotten back to the point where we can joke around and enjoy being in the company of the other. I am looking forward to this Christmas in part because it means I will be able to spend more time with my brother, and hopefully continue to get to know him better as a friend as well as a sibling.

Is there anybody you are looking forward to learning more about this Christmas?

May your holidays be filled with joy,

AK