Stitch Fix Goodies

How many of you out there have some across someone who has used Stitch Fix? Me either until a friend of mine started using it and told me about it last spring. I just recently decided to try it out because I never seem to find time to shop for myself and I'm not the greatest with putting things together.

Here is how Stitch Fix works. You start by filling out an online profile on their website. I was also able to give them my Pinterest profile so they could look at my "styles" board and get a better feel of what types of styles I liked.

Once that is completed, a stylist hand picks five items for you and then ships it so you can try on the clothes in the privacy of your own home. You keep what you want and send back the rest in a prepaid envelope that can be dropped off at any USPS box. I was pretty excited when my first "fix" showed up!

I wonder what items will be in there for me?!

Love these items!

After I received my fix, I had three days to decide what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to send back. I used Sean to approve/disapprove of the items as I tried them on. He liked everything :)

One other awesome point to make is that your stylist will also send you a styling tips sheet that will show ways you can wear your new items. I love this because I stink at putting things together. I love having ideas to help me out!

I can't wait for my next fix to come! If anyone is interested in trying this out, here's my referral code link: http://stitchfix.com/referral/4171328. It will give me a credit towards my next order :)

Random fun in the Pacific NW - part 2

Here's the second half of what I had started in my previous post. The first three outings were located in Seattle and the others are here and there. I put some photos in collages to save some space. Just click on them to view them larger.

Fremont Brewing Company

I believe I posted our attendance at this place on Facebook already, but I still wanted to share a picture that I forgot I had taken. I'm sure it's Sean's favorite :)

Woodland Park Zoo

When you need to pay for a family of six to get into places like this, you usually just buy a membership and that is what we did. We've stopped at the zoo twice now and I'm sure there will be more visits throughout the year.

Petting the snake :( YUK!

Pacific Science Center

This is another place that we decided to buy a membership. And so thankful we did after entering as it is HUGE! So much to see and just not enough time. Thankful that we are close enough to hit it whenever we want to.

Yay! Pluto hasn't been taken out of this museum yet :)

The kids were happy to see this!

Blackberry Picking

Blackberry bushes are everywhere around here! And the kids, especially Noah, loved to head out to pick some. They were all along the trail and all we had to do was walk 1/4 mile, if that, to find some. 

Edmonds, WA

One evening we took a little detour to Edmonds, WA just to check things out (this is how we found out about the ferry located there). We enjoyed putting their feet in the water, walking in the sand and watching the water and sunset that evening. 

My hope is that my kids, and myself for that matter, will remember all the moments we've been able to enjoy because of where we are now. 

Random fun in the Pacific NW - part 1

You've seen plenty of blog posts about a variety of things we've been doing since we've arrived in the state of Washington. Below I've listed a few more of our outings we've had exploring the area this past summer! I did split this into two posts so it didn't get overly long so below is the first part.

Deception Pass

Right after the fourth of July, a high school/college friend contacted Sean. He and his family were visiting as his wife is from the area. So one evening we headed to Mt. Vernon (where they were staying) and followed them to Deception Pass. We brought a picnic, the kids played in the water and it was great catching up.

Here comes the freezing water, Noah!

Mason and the kids made a new friend, Elias.
They got along great!

Beautiful sunset!

The shot below was taken while standing on Deception Pass bridge. Being on the bridge was a bit frightening for Summer and I, so we only went about 1/4 of the way or so and turned back.

Snoqualmie Falls

This place was a little too flooded with people for us, but that is what we get for going on a Sunday. I would love to go back during the week when it's not so crowded. We still enjoyed the mini trail and the kids loved hopping in the stream to cool off. 

Upper viewing area of the falls.

Nursery tree we saw on the hike down to the lower viewing area.

Lower viewing area of the falls.

Time to cool off!

Ferry to Kingston

One Saturday we headed to Edmonds to jump on the ferry that traveled to Kingston so we could explore a little. The kids loved the ride there and back. We kept our sights over the water to try to catch sea lions or other water creatures jumping out of the water :)

Getting ready for take off. 

Exciting find on the shore.

Mason painting a branch w/clay-like mud.

Someone can never leave home w/out a book to read - or a book
on the phone in this case :) 

Collecting shells & playing in the sand

Noah running in & out of the water and Mason throwing sand in it.

Like I've said before, living here is like being on an extended vacation! And because we're still in the apartment, we just keep going and going just to get out. It's fun and exhausting all at the same time!

apple crazy!

Our family headed out of town last weekend and as a last minute idea we stopped at a u-pick apple farm. It's something we've wanted to do for awhile, but have never taken the time to do it. I am so glad that we finally did.

It didn't take too long to fill two buckets with apples when you have four kids picking! I can only imagine how many they would pick if we were out there for half a day.

What to do with all those apples? Apple pie, applesauce, apple crisp? The list could go on and on. Applesauce was one option that everyone wanted to try so we started with that first. I searched for a recipe online and found one from The Pioneer Woman. As a family, we all have fun watching her and love her personality. I have used a few of her recipes that I absolutely love so I wanted to try her applesauce recipe first.

Applesauce is so easy. Makes me wonder why I haven't taken the time to try it before. The worst part was probably the time it took to peel all the apples for it.

6 lbs. of apples - give or take

already looks yummy with the ingredients mixed in

finished product

This turned out great, but I think next time we'll try it with a little less cinnamon or no cinnamon to see how the taste is without it.

One other recipe we tried a couple days later was one that I just happened to come across on Facebook at the end of the weekend: Caramel Apple Crisp Bites. I have to say, I thought these turned out amazing!

After making the graham cracker crust and formed them into little cups in the mini muffin pan, more apple peeling and chopping took place. Plenty of kids were willing to help chop apples, pour chopped apples and ingredients into the bowl and mixing it all together for me.

apple mixture going in oven to soften up

placed apple mixture in our graham cracker crust cups

final product :)

We still have some apples hanging around that we need to do something with. Maybe apple pie or apple butter will be next on the agenda. Who knows? We may just get a little crazy and try to do both!

memorable afternoon

We have been pretty lucky with the gorgeous weather that's been hanging around so I wanted to take advantage of it by getting out with the kids last week. Most of our schooling was done so we decided to grab lunch and hit St. Edward State Park. Best decision ever!!!

The kids had a great time, which in turn made it a great afternoon for all of us. The kids compared the old seminary that was located on the property to Hogwarts School from Harry Potter. They just can't get those movies out of their heads :)

Summer led us down the 1/2 mile trail as we made our way to the shoreline along Lake Washington.

Time to enjoy the weather and beautiful surroundings! As soon as the kids saw the water, they dashed to the shoreline.

Mason found a stick that he hung onto the whole time we were there. He scratched things into the wet sand, used it as a crutch and as a cane. And, of course, what kid can resist sticking some part of their body in water when they see it? Not mine!

Summer let me take some pictures of her by a section of rocks and it never surprises me when I get some photos with goofy expressions. I just let her do whatever and I have fun snapping away!

Noah actually sat and smiled while I took a picture of him. It's always a good day when that happens. He later headed out on a tree that had fallen over into the water.

Madison found the perfect "reading tree" that she would like to go back and use. She loved this place and wants to find a house close by so she can come here often :)

It was unbelievable how long the kids kept following these ducks along the shoreline and tried being as quiet as possible in the hopes that they'd come closer to them. It's amazing the things that will keep their attention and interest. If only they could be that quiet at home when I ask them to. Sigh.

So glad I was able to get this photo of the girls. They may not always admit it, but they really do like each other.

I love this one of Summer looking up at Noah, too. This "tree home" was another favorite of the day.

Usually when we head out, Madison and Noah are constantly asking about when we'll leave to go home, etc. While on this outing, I don't think I was ever asked that question and we were there for around two hours. It was great! It was such a wonderful day with the kids and one that I won't forget!