1,500 miles and a lot of fun.

Currently, at this very moment, I am sitting in the car.

Driving to Kansas with Lauren.

So obviously, I am having too much fun to worry about the little Blogsters.

Sorry, little Blogsters, that you will be post-less for a couple of days.

But, just think, in three days or so, you will be filled with fun and exciting pictures from this awesome trip.

Okok,bye.

Camp Trip: the fashion.

Plaid Flannel is a good option.

A large brimmed hat to shade your eye from the sun. Excellent.

For the fisherman, come prepared with a fishing vest. Functional, indeed.

However, if you really want to exhibit the essence of camping, come prepared with a Paul Bunyan costume (although, this is not that far off from how he dresses). All he is missing is his blue ox (Halloween costume? I think so. Jayson as Paul + Me as Babe the Blue Ox = AWESOME)

Framer? Possibly.

Camp Trip: the food

Camping doesn't mean you don't eat well. Especially if you roll with us.

On this trip, there were 13 people. 

Each couple took a night and cooked dinner for the group.

Jay and I had Night #1.

And there is no better opportunity than that to make Turkey Tacos!

It was pouring during our cooking session. And apparently, this is what I look like.

The oven worked like a champ.

Ground turkey for all.

Sisterfriend & HeyBrother = poncho people

Taco toppings.

Tacos are the perfect camping food. Easy to make, easy to enjoy.

And of course there was the trout.

For those of you who aren't campers, I think the trout could change your mind.

 You have to catch them first.

Everyone who fished caught one this year. Positive feelings all around. (So maybe I laid on the riverbank and watched other people fish. I did fish, promise) Somehow, I got dubbed the trout-cooker this trip.

How to cook the perfect trout:
1.Clean the fish.
2.Cut off the head.
3. Season the fish on both sides & on the inside. (Garlic Salt & Pepper will do)
4.Cube butter, scatter the butter around the fish.
5. place lime/lemon/or orange slices on top of & in the fish.
6. Wrap the fish in foil.
7. Cook 10 mins.
8. Eat and Enjoy.

 Rainbow Trout (stock fish)

 Brown Trout (native fish)

Beautiful cousin, Molly, taking the trout taste test.

Remember the awesome Trout-Taste-Test we did?

Remember how the Brown Trout won, hands down?
Remember how much more flavorful it was?


 Remember the other delicious foods we ate at the Resort:

 Pie (from Pie in the Sky)

 & chili.


Food plays an important role in any vacation (as we know, I have some Liz Lemon in me, and important events are sometimes food-based). This trip's food is especially important because we ate things that we ONLY eat while camping. That makes them special. 


So, Trout. You are special to me.
Pie in the Sky, you also.

Camp Trip: the purpose.

I have returned. 

From one of my favorite places in the world. A place that feels like home.

The reason that is feels like home is these two:

Granmom & Grandad. Aren't they beautiful?

These two both passed away within the past year and to celebrate their lives, my family decided to have a non-traditional memorial service.

Granmom & Grandad were campground hosts for 12 years in the Eastern Sierras. Every summer, we went camping for a week to see them.

Some of my most fond memories are the times I spent in Rock Creek Canyon.

Here I am as a child with my cousin Molly. Rock Creek of the past. Love.

The purpose of Rock Creek 2011 was to remember Granmom & Grandad.

We spread their ashes:

We gathered as a group and discussed all of memories of Granmom & Grandad that have stuck with us.

I wrote a letter.

It said:

Dear Granmom & Grandad,

I miss you terribly. Somedays, it seems like you are still here. You taught me so many important things. Things like:

• what a page boy is.
• that you should always wear earrings that match your outfit.
• kitchen accessorites should match.
• how to cut a lemon tree.
• how to be particular.
• how to whittle.
• that cutting toenails is for young people.
• how to honor your marriage vows.
• how to love.

Thanks.

xoxo Ally

We spent time as a family:

We carved a living memorial into a Waving Aspen:

In case you can't tell what it says:

Arnell & Ellen

1947 - 2010 

(the years of their marriage) 

And we enjoyed the beauty of Rock Creek:

It was a great trip. I feel so happy knowing that Granmom & Grandad are at a place where they loved most. It fills my heart with joy. As do the fun memories that I shared with family this past week.

Camp time.

One of my long-awaited summer fun things is upon us!

This Saturday we leave for Rock Creek to go camping and,boy, am I excited.

The whole family is going and it is going to be great having a whole week to relax, hike, eat, fish, and bake.

Bake you say?

How will you bake in the mountains? 

Good question.

Well, Jay works at a propane shop. And at the shop they have every propane accessory under the sun. And Jay's boss spoils him rotten. Really, he has gone rotten.

Just kidding, but he is spoiled. 

Well this time, she bought him a propane-run-oven!

It even has two burners! Like a real little oven! Isn't it cute?

Obviously, we are excited.

We will let you know how it works.

Have you seen one of these before? Now you have!

Table Talk.

Veggie Stir-fry Wraps.

This week, on our journey of eating healthy on a budget, we made vegetable stir-fry wraps. SO easy and super healthy.

The components:

1.Chop up carrots, zucchini, red onion, and garlic. Saute in a little olive oil.

2. Have your super-cool husband grill some bell peppers. Yum.

3. Cook some brown rice.

4. Mix up your sauce. I used soy sauce, juice from one lime, and, of course, some Tapatio hot sauce. I like a little kick.

5. Add cooked bell peppers to other cooked veggies.

6. Pour on your sauce.

To make the wraps, we layered the veggies on top of the brown rice and wrapped it in a whole wheat tortilla. We don't mess around.

And to make dinner more fun, invite over the best-kitty-sitter you know. In our case, the best-kitty-sitter-we-know is also a friend. Duh. Lucky us. She likes to eat dinner at 5:30. Write that down.

Normally, this is the part where I figure out how many calories are in one serving.

 I don't want to. Don't make me.

It's not alot. That's all you need to know. I am healthy. The end.

Everyday Adventures. ( Lauren )

Today is Wednesday. And Summer is flying by. So quick. Am I doing enough fun things? Am I enjoying my life? Am I choosing to have adventures and new experiences? I hope so.

via

I love this poster. I think I should buy it. One for me and one for my friend Lauren.

Lauren is moving to Kansas in less than a month for grad school. Now, that is an adventure. But guess what?! I am going with her!

Not to gradschool, just to Kansas.

Yipee!

Roadtrip, here we come. We are driving out there, moving her in, and then I am flying back. Of course, my adventure is much smaller than her's. Getting there is only part of her adventure. Her's will continue. Go on. And lead to her future.

Still, I am so glad that I get to be a part of it.

We are going to have so much fun. Really, we always do. 

Adventures are our thing.

Like the time we drove to Portland.

All of our let's-ditch-class beach days.

Disneyland in the rain days.

People asking us if-we-are-sisters days.

Studying all night and acing the test days.

People-watching & name-guessing days.

And, of course, sitting around doing nothing days. (we had a lot of those)

 

Sometimes, we like to over-smile and look the same. (Am I right? We do kinda look the same here.)

Lauren, remember this? In a month, instead of the LA cityscape behind us, it will be flat plains. Is that what you call them? Plains? I don't know.

Anyway, the plans for this trip just got settled yesterday, so I am very excited.
VERY excited.


Something else that makes me excited is Lauren just started her own blog about her Kansas adventure. Interested? check it out.

I am a slug.

It is hot.

So hot.

And not just during the day.

When the facet is turned towards cold, warm water comes out.

The pool is a bathtub.

Sonic ran out of their wonderful slushy-ice.

I can't bare to hold hands for longer than 3 minutes.

Forget about make-up. You sweat it right off. 

Forget about hot showers. Or exercising outside. Or hot coffee.

Even eating is a pain. I feel so sluggish, that food has lost its appeal. 

Popsicles are the only way to go.

You can't even enjoy a low thermostat temp. You know the energy bill is coming to eat you and your wallet up by the 1st of next month. Goodbye money.

Triple digits, you are mean. So mean to upstairs, second-story dwellers like us. Second-story dwellers with a skylight in the living room. I swear it makes it hotter.

I'm back.

Finally.

I have traveled. Alot. 4 different states within 4 days. Gone for 2 whole weeks.

It was a great trip.

Michelle & Sterling wed.

I chopped my hair.

Jay and I went to Tahoe for 4 days.

Fun, lots of fun.

But, now. My apartment is a complete disaster, we have no groceries, and the piles of laundry are taking over. You know what I mean.

And projects. Boy, do I have some projects to do. More on that later.

I've got to get busy. Starting now.

Washington Wedding.

Hi friends. I'm up in Washington for Michelle's wedding! I will be gone for awhile being the perfect bridesmaid, of course. Celebrating the love of these two suckers:

So cute. 

Ok, hope you all have a nice week/weekend. I will be back soon with lots of pictures, most definitely.

And anyone in the Bakersfield area, feel free to offer my husband a free dinner. I'm sure he will be eating fast food the entire time I am gone. Thank you.

YESTERDAY.

Hi. Yesterday, I got my last roll of film developed from Que Ricoh. These pictures were all taken on our summer fun things. Like I have said a billion times before, the way film looks makes me melt. So rich. So real. Enjoy!