Gathered thoughts

First Day of Autumn 🍂

Crisp air, cozy sweaters, and falling leaves 🍁
Happy 1st day of Autumn 🍂

Goals, hiking, pnw, travel

Lake 22 Trail

View at the summit of Lake 22

Lake 22 was one of the most beautiful hikes we did in 2024 . The pics don’t even begin to do it justice or show just how huge the rocks are…Amazing!

This trail was not at all what I expected. With the elevation being under 2000 gained I was thinking easy but it was not. It was a great workout and the views were stunning! It was rocky which I wasn’t expecting and had some bouldering .
Definitely one of my top favs!

The stats for this trail are ⬇️

📍 Lake 22 Trail

🧭 Granite Falls, Wa

🥾 5.9 miles RT ( we came in at 8.38)

🏔️ 1446 ft elevation gain ( we gained 1526ft)

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple

View on the opposite side of Lake 22

Check out our reel below ⬇️

Book, reading, Review

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ~ Book Review

Are you ready to read a book you can’t put down? Kristin Hannah The Nightingale is it!
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This historical fiction follows two very different sisters throughout their lives. Both sisters navigate their worlds very differently as they grapple with WW2 and the Nazi occupation of France and as they soon learn they are stronger than they could have ever imagined.
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There are a few parts of the book that were extremely difficult to read so please be aware of that if you are sensitive. They are short but important to the story. I’m glad my friends encouraged me to finish it and skip over the one section because it was so worth it!
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Kristin did a great job of really developing each sisters story and following them in their journey of healing as a family , fighting for others even when it meant they had to let go and bringing it all together in the end.Such a good book!!

coffee, family adventures, hiking, Review, travel

Espresso Chalet

Espresso Chalet has one of the best views of Mount Index . It was the perfect stop to grab coffee after hiking Wallace Falls & Heybrook Lookout. Both hikes are within a few miles of each other with the Espresso Chalet between them. Look for the Bigfoot and you will know you are there.


We ordered our drinks and then went to soak in some more Mountain views… amazing! Perfect place to stretch your legs and grab some drinks or snacks before heading home .


A fun fact : this was an official location from the movie Harry and the Hendersons … anyone remember that movie?

Check out our reel below ⬇️

disney, Disneyland, family adventures, travel

Storybook Land Canal Boats~Disneyland

Storybook Land Canal boats is the perfect way to see some of the enchanting homes and villages from classic Disney movies that are hand- built in miniature model size using the scale of 1 inch to 1 foot.


You gently float through the whimsical landscaping with gentle music playing . Each 12 person boat has a tour guide that tells the tale behind each scene as you float by.


Just a few of the places you will see are :
✨The village of Arendelle and Elsa’s ice palace from Frozen
✨The straw, stick and brick houses from Three Little Pigs
✨The manicured London park from Peter Pan
✨The Alpine village from Pinocchio
✨The English village from Alice in Wonderland
✨The royal city of Agrabah and Cave of Wonders from Aladdin
✨Prince Eric’s palace and King Triton’s underwater castle from The Little Mermaid
✨The Cottage of the Dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs..love the sign with all their names!
✨The French countryside village and mountaintop castle from Cinderella
✨Toad Hall from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad… one of our favorite books!


This is such a beautiful ride especially as it’s getting dark when it’s all lit up, but it does close for fireworks so make sure to watch your timing to not miss it.
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Toad Hall

Check out our reel below ⬇️

coffee, pnw, Review, travel

Unique Starbucks in Bavarian Town of Leavenworth ~ Review

One of our favorite @starbucks is in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth . The decor is a modern ski lodge vibe which we absolutely loved!

Looking out the window you can easily access Aasgard without the grueling workout or magic portal 😉


If you’re wanting a fun weekend adventure , Leavenworth is a great place to explore. Hike, shop , eat , and enjoy feeling like you traveled to a different country. Grab your favorite book and grab coffee as you soak it all in at this unique Starbucks.

Book, Book Club, faith, reading, Review

Once A Queen ~ Book Review

Our March Book Club pick was Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur.
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Once a Queen is a fairytale fantasy that weaves real life family dynamics with magic portals , secret gatherings and magic woven tapestries. You meet 14 year Evie as she travels to England to meet a grandmother she has never met before who lives in a beautiful estate that has an intriguing staff. The staff is one we would all want if we were as privileged.
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It starts off slow but then quickly starts to wrap you into the story as it unfolds. As the characters unfold , and the story is weaved ,and you get glimpses of the white stag, you can’t help but to start to step into the magic of the story . Definate Narnia vibes throughout that awakened my childlike faith in reading this.
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Our bookclub enjoyed reading this and several of us are adding the other books to our list!

Disneyland, Review, Starwars, travel

Ronto Roasters ~ Galaxy’s Edge ~ Disneyland


Ronto Roasters is one of our favorite places to grab a quick dinner or lunch when we are in Galaxy’s Edge @disneyland . Here you can find pita wraps filled with spicy grilled sausage and roasted pork that are delicious .

⭐️ Keto option.. ditch the pita bread .

➡️ Fun fact: A droid named 8D-J8 does the cooking here, turning alien meats on a rotating spit that roast under a recycled podracing engine.


You can also pick up the Paddy Frog Sipper at around $17 which includes a drink.What in the world is a patty frog? You know those things Jabba the Hut eats ? Yep thats them!


This sipper was a blessing on our last trip because it entertained our little for hours..and that is priceless!
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Mobile Ordering is Available .. another win!

Starwars

All Things Starwars Wrapup ~ May 4

Thanks to @readersdigest for the image.

Love this ❤️

These are not the droids you are looking for ⭐️

Droid coffee time … yes please⭐️

Check out all the cute Star Wars Merch .. perfect for May 4❤️

Check out our reel of Rise of the Resistance ⬇️

For more Star Wars fun …Check out our post on Star Wars Party Food ⬇️

Hotel, pnw, Review

Salish Lodge & Spa ~ Review

Salish lodge is one of our new favs! Oohh this hotel made us feel like VIPs !We can’t wait to return.


The rooms are beautiful,spacious, clean and offered a beautiful view over the falls. We loved the decor and the coziness of the room. My favorite moments were having coffee snuggled up in the fur blanket on the couch in the mornings.


A few special perks that come with your stay :
Complimentary welcome seasonal drink at checkin before 6
six different types of pillows to chose from to improve your rest and relaxation.
Terrycloth robes
Daily newspaper
Morning coffee and afternoon tea in the lobby
Trail mix station to fuel up with snacks
Copper kettle and pour-over coffee service in room


We also added the Club 268 package which included several upgrades including the Spa.The spa services were exceptional ! We enjoyed the pools and the sauna. Fresh lemon water was available and the relaxation room was the perfect ending. The eucalyptus shower spray is one of our new favs from the spa so we had to pick up a bottle of it to bring home.
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The food at the Lodge is impressive. We loved how they knew it was our Anniversary and set up the table with rose petals. Such an amazing surprise! Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious.
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After dinner we hiked down to the falls and it was wonderful. The views are breathtaking! You can do the short hike to the overlook or go to the lower falls which is a little bit of a climb to get back up but it’s super short and worth it.
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There are so many more hikes in this area if you’re feeling adventurous. We did Poo Poo Point on the day of checkout and were able to see the paragliders which was a cool experience. Some other hikes in the area are :
Mailbox Peak
Mt.Si
Little Si
Twin Falls
Rattlesnake Ridge
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If you’re looking for a peaceful escape with incredible views ,lots of nearby trails to hike and amazing food, Salish Lodge & Spa is the perfect place for your next getaway.