Organizing and GIVEAWAY!

When we first moved into our house in April I did a quick set-up in my sewing/craft/art/guest room. I planned to get things in good order within the next few weeks, but one project or the next would get in the way. I was able to use the space, so it wasn't really a priority. Well, yesterday afternoon during the golden hour (nap time) I tore the place up with the intention of re-organizing and making the space more functional.

Right as I finished taking everything out to assess the situation Cordelia woke up early. So I have a little carry-over. I have to get this space organized today. I am kind of excited about it all. Plus, while I was cleaning out the closet I found a few unfinished projects that I started before our move and just lost track of. Last night I finished two hats and two scarves!


Please excuse the shaky quality of this photo, I took it while practicing gymnastics...

I thought that perhaps today, while I am organizing, you could have something to look forward to. I am talking to you, anywhere in the world.


Where in the world are you?

I am giving away one bag of my favorite tea, Evening in Missoula. While I was visiting Missoula this summer I picked up a bag for myself and one for a giveaway. The bag looks kind of small in this pic, but I assure you it is huge enough for hundreds of amazing cups of tea.

How to Enter up to 4 times:
1) Follow me (let me know in comments that you are following)
2) Blog, tweet, facebook update about it (let me know in the comments what you have done)

I will announce a winner on Saturday!
I will also post photos of my newly organized space.

Back Home Again

Yesterday was the last leg of our first family vacation. We laughed, we cried (or at least one of us did), we had a great time.

On the road somewhere in Montana

We left Billings mid-morning. Cordelia was asleep within minutes. We planned much of our travel around nap times. The result was that we only had one crying outburst of less than 15 minutes for the entire trip! She as a little whiney a few times, but overall we really can't complain with how well she has done with travel-- thank goodness. Bumblebee was a real trooper too. She only whined as we pulled into cities because she knew that it meant she'd get a play break.

I got the car crazies

Eric and I chatted for the drive, which was probably the best thing about the entire trip, lots of time to talk. We had uninterrupted conversation, which is something we truly cherish.

About to return to Wyoming


Picnic


Lunch from The Good Food Store


My crew

We stopped at a rest stop in Sheridan and had some lunch. We had baked tofu wraps with spicy edamame sauce and a salad from The Good Food Store in Missoula. YUMMMMM. Also in the cooler we packed several vegan essentials, but most importantly the baked tofu from The Good Food Store.

Just outside of Sheridan, WY

We walked into our house sometime yesterday afternoon. The house smelled stuffy and there were a few chunks of cat hair laying around, but all was in good order (thanks mom!). Eric and I got things put away pretty quickly. Bumblebee wandered around whining and investigating all of the cat business that must have gone on. She then passed out completely, enough that I checked her breathing several times. Apparently she was exhausted. Cordelia took a nap, we had some food and fell right back into life in Wyoming. Happy to be home and bursting with new ideas and motivations!

A Day in Missoula

We spent a wonderful (and rainy) day in Missoula. We met up with friends, revisited some old haunts and filled our hearts with Montana love. We also bought an I Love Missoula t-shirt, my all time favorite tea Evening in Missoula (click here), and a sticker that reads I love Montana (because we do). The time has passed all too quickly. We'll be back and maybe next time it will be forever.

We drove on what we call the Blue Mountain Drive. When Eric and I were having a day where we just needed a little taste of beauty, nature, escape we could take this drive and feel like we'd left civilization, even though it's only a few minutes from the city. It felt like home as we re-took the drive.

Next we went to Finnegan's, the restaurant sits OVER a river. We used to go there every single day. We got to know the staff, they often gifted us with free coffees, meals and once even gave us (poor college students at the time) unsolicited money to visit our family on a trip out of town. When we stopped in we only half expected to see anyone we knew, it has been 5 years, but there were many familiar faces. It was great to see our friends again.

After Finnegan's we visited Jacob's Island, an off leash dog park. Before we adopted Bumblebee I was weirdly obsessed with dogs and I would visit this park and just watch dogs being dogs (creepy I know). This trip I triumphantly went with my own dog and Bumblebee enjoyed herself thoroughly.

He's so dreamy.


Cordelia and I enjoyed our time in the park as well.


The M on the mountain is probably for Maria right?

Missoula has this great summer program called Out to Lunch. Every Wednesday in the summer there is a band and tons of local restaurants that have a little party of sorts. Kids, adults, hippies, transients, business men, and dogs all let their freak flags fly.

My hubby and my lady

We went to a few of the must visit places and of course had to tour our old campus. We spent the first half of our 20s there.

We will Miss(oula) this beautiful city. Ahhh, my heart is full. I love my home state. Today we are starting the return trip home. First another stop at the Good Food Store (we brought a cooler), maybe a look at Rockin Rudy's and one more tour of the town. Of course we will take our sweet time, visit a few more friends and soak up every last morsel of Montana that we can. I hope you, my dear reader, are enjoying a trip to my Montana.