it was fun.

i'm sure that when i initially pulled this picture off the internet and drag-and-dropped it into my "port of ships" file on my desktop, it was meant to reference different events and memories from a different time. seemingly a lifetime ago.

well, today is the here and now and i still wouldn't trade them -- or the so many fantastic times i've had since.

i am a very lucky girl.

the hills are alive.

i'm so good at NOT blogging, it's really a shame that i try and break that cycle.

i need to just take the leap and not put so much pressure on myself to be this awesome blogger, when in reality, i just want to show off fun stuff i find.

ANYWHO.

we got this notebook in at the store recently, and it caught my eye. now i can't wait to buy it.

{she climbed until she saw composition book. $5.95}

i know, i know, we all need another cute notebook like we need a hole in the head, but there is something about this that really strikes me.

firstly, it's nature-y...which, i love. (in my head i'm really nature-y.) as a result, it reminds me of camp, which is always ideal/essential on rough days.

secondly, i feel like it really speaks to how i approach many things in my life. i climb until i see. i have climbed, i do climb, and you damn well know that i'm climbing in my future. and even if you're not to the top, even if the peak seems eons away, the view doesn't seem all bad from here.

thirdly, this notebook reminds me of one of my greatest accomplishments. it also happens to be the inspiration for my hypothetical future tattoo -- which would be the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the peak of mount whitney. i backpacked the west side of whitney with a group of diabetic 16 and 17 year olds in summer 2004. at 14,505 feet, it's the highest peak in the contiguous united states. we did it in ten days, hiking over 110 miles. when we started, my pack weighted nearly 90 pounds, and i think it was the sixth time i had ever backpacked. not too shabby, eh? it was truly one of those "i'm just flattered to have been asked [to be staff on this trip]" moments. it was so much fun, and so challenging, and an experience i look forward to repeating. soon.

when cancer is over, i'm doing it again.

so, here it is...the hypothetical tattoo:

36 34'42.9 N

118 17'31.2 W

it will be in honor of past accomplishments and future goals.

now i just need to figure out all those "minor" details including how to get over my crippling fear of needles and whether or not i want to commit to something for the rest of my life.

man, for a notebook that's only $6, i've done a really good job of justifying the purchase.

(the website for the parent company, compendium, has some really cute books and paper goods on it.)

picnic worthy.

the past few days in san fran have been wonderfully warm, despite the oodles of rain we had at the start of the week. before it gets too chilly, it would be a wonderful time to set up for a little mid-day picnic in the city by the bay.

all found on etsy.

1. beautiful woven picnic basket with leather hardware and plaid lining.

2. totally adorable little thermos set.

3. a cozy little blanket for snuggling up on a sunny lawn.

4. these little reusable produce bags are a great way to "go green" at the grocery store, and out and about. they come in a bunch of sizes and colors are are super easy to clean.

national go-on-a-field-trip month.

some of my favorite field trips of all time. in no particular order.

Oakland A's game.

Cardoza's Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma. (Now known as Tolay Lake Regional Park.)

San Francisco MOMA.

Italy. Florence, Rome, Siena with a quick, unexpected bonus day in Paris.

Camp Cazadero.

Academy of Science in San Francisco.

Easy Coast. Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City.

Dylan Beach.

Exploratorium.

adventure.

this month is indeed "American Adventure Month" and with that in mind, i made a recent purchase. as a self-proclaimed travel book junkie, i knew i had to pick this up when i saw it. 

Lonely Planet does great books and is always my go-to when it comes to travel, though for my past couple trips i've taken liking to the Fodor's guides.

found on lonely planet.

now, when there is a day of boredom or a few hours to kill, we can pick up the book and go on a little adventure. more things to add to our summer to-do list!