Road Trip! – Seattle

2013-04-04_0002

A good while ago, James & I had mentioned how much we’d both like to visit Seattle one day. It’s always been on my bucket list. Then, when our good friends, Lora and Dan, told us they were moving there in August AND hearing how much they loved their brief trip out there a couple weeks ago…it was decided. We were going! Seeing as we’re moving back to Georgia at the end of this month, James and I had to make this trip happen soon! No need waiting to travel even FARTHER to do it later on. It took 13 hours in the truck from Provo, UT to Seattle, WA. We made it happen this last weekend & love love loved every minute of it!

I have a SLEW of pictures, so I may be doing this trip in separate posts…starting from the beginning!…

2013-04-04_0003

We stayed at the Marriott right on “Alaskan Way” (if you’re familiar with the area)…which is along the piers of Puget Sound. Our room with a view of boats, water, and flocking ‘gulls was perfect for the sunny weekend we stayed. We got there in the evening with enough time to wander along the piers and snag some fresh seafood for dinner at Ivar’s.

2013-04-04_00262013-04-04_0025

2013-04-04_0024

Even though we soon found out that Seattle (or maybe Washington in general?! lol ) is full of pretty weird people – Sorry to offend anyone, but there are interesting folk around that area! – We still loved the city!

Our first morning we spent walking to the Monorail for a ride over to the Chihuly glass sculpture exhibit below the space needle – which James and I thoroughly enjoyed!

2013-04-04_0059Their monorail is – so I’ve been told – the oldest running alweg train in existence!  Been going for 50+ years! & is still running the ORIGINAL trains – no updates. Pretty cool!

2013-04-04_0011Dale Chihuly – a Washington local – creates the most AMAZING  blown glass sculptures. I’ve seen some of his installations before: Once at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and then a stunning ceiling installation in Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel.

The majority of these below were created to resemble his mother’s flower garden. His chandeliers, globes, and sea sculptures are phenomenal as well!

James’ favorite were these canoes…

2013-04-04_0010 2013-04-04_0021

2013-04-04_00202013-04-04_0013 2013-04-04_00122013-04-04_00162013-04-04_00182013-04-04_00152013-04-04_00142013-04-04_0017Not only did it look beautiful…the gardens smelled INCREDIBLE!!! And the weather was perfect.

Later that day we found ourselves on the west side of Seattle for a scenic Segway tour! It was my second time on a Segway and James’ first. He was addicted!

2013-04-04_00552013-04-04_0062

We are so glad we did it. Not only because we got a great deal via Groupon : ) , but we got an ideal view of the city from across the bay. We probably would have never made it to the west side had it not been for this tour. It’s a ritzier end of town to live and very gorgeous.

The tour was only about 1 1/2 hours & I asked James if we could drive by again to snag some more pictures. It was difficult to get any on a Segway & our group only made brief stops.

2013-04-04_00542013-04-04_00642013-04-04_00662013-04-04_00652013-04-04_0067

Can I just mention again how PERFECTLY SUNNY the weather was?! The locals told us over and over again that we picked the best weekend to come…the warmest yet of the year!

…Because I’ve already posted a bleep-load of photos, I’ll make a separate one for the rest of our adventures at the Pike Place Market, on the Ferry, Orcas Island, and even a last minute day trip to Portland!

love, whit

2012 in REVIEW

dear twenty-twelve,

you were good to me.   …let’s see why!

i started the year off in ITALIA with my mom. an unforgettable trip of a lifetime that i wouldn’t want to spend with anyone else.

here she is in Florence:

italy 775

here i am in Rome:

italy 048

We made it to Venice as well:

italy 950

….and Siena and Sorrento. and ate and ate and ate. took a cooking class in Florence. fell in love with the land. and had, case in point, the greatest time! perfect start for 2012 if you ask me!

.

NEXT…march 2012.    …and i stole the first hug from this certain Gossling boy who came home from his mission in Argentina…

mish

…i went to the beach!…

boat2

.

that Gossling boy and i became pretty close and enjoyed spring together in GA…

IMG_8577IMG_8606

i moved to UTAH in April and became roommates with this crazy fun blonde bombshell…

IMG_9215

…and reunited with this blonde bombshell….

IMG_8822

…i turned 25! and a certain Gossling boy flew out to surprise me!…

IMG_9494IMG_9548

…Summer 2012, i flew home to GA and that Gossling boy and i road-tripped back out to UT together…

road trip kansasroad trip fields

…long story short…that Gossling boy proposed,  and we started planning a party…and our forever together…

Engagements_137

…the DMOPC family grew…our family at work….

company_pic_2012_funny

…the big party happened in September…(Elissa turned 26 on our big weekend!)…

IMG_1844

sisterstemple girls

576937_10151124808708929_1894714582_n

…even my Grandparents came from Mexico!…

bluth gpa

…married life began. it treated us right. then the husband and i road tripped to California for Thanksgiving to visit family…

nancy&mikeIMG_5596IMG_5559IMG_5731

…we had fun on the way home stopping in VEGAS with our friends, Lora & Dan Grady (who made the road trip with us! so fun!)…we pinballed and dinner dated!…

pinballramen

frozen hot chocolate

…2012 brought new friends…we are so blessed to have…

whit lora175964_10151083712607041_231546777_o

…in 2012…Gossling Farms was established (best idea ever, Michael & June!)…which allowed for a kick-A wedding reception and for this to happen….woohoo!…

fourwheeling

 

…December brought family, friends, and fun as well with Christmas and New Year’s in Georgia….but that will get its own separate post. As well as a well-overdue post with more wedding pictures if I ever get around to it. 2013 in preview also to come…

so yes, 2012, you were good to me. thank you!

 

love, whit

p.s. – as it’s a new year…i decided to align my text to the left for Dave.

Hanging Lake, Colorado – Prettiest Hike of All Time

James and I made the long haul – 30+ hour road trip from Atlanta, GA to Provo, UT

BUT…we broke it up into three days, made as many stops as we desired, and this was my favorite…

Right off of highway I-70 in Glenwood Springs, CO is the “difficult” (or so it is labeled) hike, about one hour up the mountains, to what I think is well worth the trek: Hanging Lake!

We weren’t 100% prepared for our hike, as it was a last minute decision…

I did a truck change out of my skirt into James’ b-ball shorts and the most hiking conducive shoes I had with me. We packed his backpack with the essentials: my camera, bottled water, and…snacks!

Good thing we brought my snacks…we met this hungry little fella on the way up! I’m pretty sure 8 goldfish were stuffed into those cheeks for safe keeping…

.

and then we made it to the top!

crystal clear ice cold waters and gorgeous falls…

we made it to the bottom 3 hours after the start (we lingered a while at the top)…

dusty shoes, but worth it.

.

i’d do it again in a heartbeat!

love, whit