Hello, birthplace. Tacoma, Washington.

Normally I have a love hate relationship with the city of Tacoma. I was raised there until I was 8, and then my family and I moved to Federal Way. Today I went to the University of Washington in Tacoma to attend an invasive weeds seminar and to get advising about the Environmental Studies program they offer. And to say at least that I pretty much fell head over heels in love with the school. Maybe because I had a goofy smile on my face sitting in a classroom that I don't belong in and taking 4 pages of notes about non-native plants in Washington. I haven't been in a classroom since August 2009, and that's not even two years ago, but I felt absolutely amazing to be learning again...even it's for one day. I really want to go back. Looking through the courses and the idea of taking "Field Ecology" kinda gives me that ecstatic feeling. Please, don't call me a nerd.

After my advising, I had 20 minutes left to use up my parking pass so I walked to a thrift store called Urban Xchange. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I just bought a Death Cab For Cutie tote bag (5.99) and a Bob Dylan postcard (1.50).


Right after a small shopping spree, I literally went next door to Cutterspoint Coffee. Yum! Absolutely adorable coffee shop. Next week...Hydrology seminar! :D

no more boring white walls.

I just ordered the most GORGEOUS map on amazon. No more blank walls in my bedroom for me :D

Reading is love.

I absolutely adore these book layouts and bookcases! I have too many books and only two high bookshelves in my house that are just stacking up messy on each shelf. Oh, I wish I could have enough space in my tiny duplex to have my own personal library.

A lovely present from The United Kingdom

Yeah, I get excited over small things. And this poster and shipping cost less than 5 British Pounds!

can't stop the boho...

Keane, I really don't want to wait for a new album.

a quick post of gorgeous interior ideas i found

I am absolutely loving the art, hippy, bohemian, vintage vibe. I want some coral shells, more art, and tapestry on my wall. soon soon! Thank you, Amazon.

Friendship and exhaustion collide

I've been absolutely IN LOVE with Iceland since I was 12. And anyone who have seen me do my Iceland project in Mrs. Cheshire's(sp?) class in six grade would know, especially since the background music was Bjork and everyone in the room was giving me weird looks. I remember that project, I got an "A" on the project and I was ecstatic. Not because I got a good grade, but because I knew EVERYTHING about Iceland. Nope. Thanks, to National Geographic and The History Channel's "The Universe", I know more than elementary facts. Oh, and I'm SO in love with Icelandic post-rock/ambient music. I only know a few, the first one being Bjork. The second one was Mum, and now it's Sigur Ros and then some. But if you ever listen to any Icelandic music, it sounds what Iceland would sound. Dreamy, magical, whimsical, and surreal. I don't have a favorite Sigur Ros song, but this always catches my ears
when I hear it:
Sigur Ros - ÁgæTis Byrjun

And because it's hard for me to understand the song without understanding the lyrics, here it is in English:

Bright Hopes Come True
As We Walk Downtown
Smiling And Laughing Happily
Friendship And Exhaustion Collide
We Celebrate The Day
A Two Year Wait
A Distant Dream Is Born
We Eat And Drink Til We’re Full
And Pay For Ourselves
With Everything We Have For The Day
We Sit Down Excited
Listen To Ourselves Play In Rhythm To The Music
No One Seems To Listen
This Is Completely Different
We Lived In Another World
Where We Were Never Invisible
A Few Days Later
We Speak Again
But The Sound Wasn’t Good
We Were All In Agreement
In Agreement About Most Things
We’ll Do Better Next Time
This Is A Pretty Good Beginning

Walking amongst dangerous bluffs is the best view in the house

The most laziest week from hell! However, I managed to get myself out of bed after HOURS of sleep, and get out to enjoy the first couple of hours while the sun was directly overhead. And because my endurance was probably close to zero from not being active all week, I went to Point Defiance in Tacoma and enjoyed the long Five Mile Drive trail. I walk amongst the bluffs, jumping on trees about ready to collapse on the cliffs, and Garry chasing bald eagles. We were almost close to the Gig Harbor Bridge view!!! But the trail was a mess. It was absolutely muddy from the storm the night before.

Gorgeous sun, yes?

Tacoma Narrow's at the end of our walk.

Oh Hello, dangerous cliff!

Tacoma Narrows Bridge at the beginning.

persian poetics and russian deaths,

These two books I had read and loved. I haven't read much poetry and Russian literature lately. As many of you may know, I'm stuck on a environmental rush lately, and put any sort of intellectual literature on hiatus. Well, I spent the past two days reading The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy and The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. The only books that have came close to any Middle Eastern literature was A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Kite Runner, and The Arabian Nights. I also feel like I can finally read Tolstoy's War and peace (and I still have to admit, the volume of the book is INCREDIBLY intimidating).

So if you need any recommendations of something new, those two are easy and fast reads. A lot of philosophical meaning, if you are into that sort of thing.

Venture Time with the two best people I know!

Snoqualmie Pass venture and hike was incredible. However, we were suppose to get in touch of our childish side with a little bit of sledding, but that didn't happen. Seriously, who wants to pay 20 bucks to park and use the Iron Horse hill for an hour or two? We hardly found the Snow Lake trail, and when we did, the trail was covered in 5 feet of snow and hikers used snow shoes. Then we trespassed on a road that lead to the Denny Creek trail, and found bear feces and fish remains. We accidentally found the Pratt Lake trail on the other side of Denny Creek on our last stop. We hiked a short hike, and went down the trail before it became dark. Our trip was chilly and rainy, but we'll be back in a couple of months when the weather becomes dryer and about 30 degrees warmer!

From left to right: Erin, Me, and Amanda

Pratt Lake trail and Fog

There were TONS of small cascading waterfalls on the way up. It makes for a tranquil and chi hiking experience.

Me posing near the small cascading falls. Oh, and I'm drenched!

Walking on top of a few feet of snow near Denny Creek. An area where we trespassed.

At the Aplental Ski Summit bridge near the Snow Lake trail!

Me: "OMG! Granite Mountain Lookout!" the entrance of Pratt Lake trail :D

And more small cascading waterfalls near Denny Creek

Amanda, the cute snow bunny, past knee deep off the Snow Lake trail into a dangerous zone.

A nice creek near the Aplental Ski area. I'm sure this was part of Denny Creek.

We were lost trying to find the Snow Lake trail. So we got out of the car to stretch and take pics!

Trying to find a place to sled near Denny Creek.

Denny Creek Trail this way. Snow Lake trail the other way. Ahhh.

Up Pratt Lake trail we go! So much mud and tree debris.

After a half an hour or so it started to get dark. So down Pratt Lake trail we go.

The beginning of some awesome trespassing.

So what's next?!

In May: Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument!

And hopefully another Snoqualmie adventure soon!