Summer is our favorite time in Seattle. I love the sunshine and warmer, longer days. But it always seems to slip by faster than expected, so it's great to make plans to ensure the time isn't wasted! (I did this last year too; you can find the post here.)
Summer Bucket List 2015:
Lots of camping + backpacking + hiking.
Visiting the Christofferson farm in Wyoming.
Wine tasting in Eastern Washington.
Picnics in the park at Green Lake.
Time off in October has been approved.
Travel guides have been purchased.
Flights have been booked.
Let the planning begin.
Please let us know if you have any Italy recommendations:
Things to see | Places to eat | Where to stay
Last weekend some members of our new community group spent time at a cabin on the Olympic Peninsula. It was great to get out of town, eat, hike, build a campfire, and share stories with one another. Here are a few photos from a hike that some of us took up Mt. Ellinor.
Kyle and I aren't normally very spontaneous. Planned and methodical tend to describe us a bit better. But this weekend we found ourselves itching for a little adventure and spontaneity! Sunday after brunch with some friends we decided on a whim to drive up north to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. It was refreshing to drive through farm country and walk in open fields (although some were packed with tourists) viewing the beautiful flowers in full bloom. Spring is here and summer is on its way! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
There is something about seeing flowers in bloom, greenery returning to the trees, signs of life and new beginnings that stir our hearts for something greater. Easter weekend seems to bring a swing of emotions from the somberness of Good Friday to the culminating celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Sunday! Kyle and I spent Easter with a morning run, church at Downtown Cornerstone, and a meal with our extended family. Grateful for this weekend to reflect, confess, and rejoice!
I feel blessed to have such a terrific dad and I often wish he lived closer. Fortunately, this past week he was in town visiting and I enjoyed soaking up as much time with him as possible. While he was here, our family celebrated my Nana's 94th birthday and watched many March Madness games. On his final day, we were able to have a dad + daughter date. We drank coffee, talked about life, and enjoyed some sunny spring Seattle weather. I am grateful for his wisdom, laughter, and hugs in my life.
Kyle and I spent the past week in Punta Mita Mexico. It was a relaxing and enjoyable trip. We flew in Puerto Vallarta and drove an hour to The Four Seasons Resort. It's nestled in a small Pacific peninsula surrounded by a beautiful beach, jungle terrain, and a local village called Punta de Mita.
We spent our time:
Lathering sunscreen
Lounging in a beach cabana with fruity drinks
Reading good books
Enjoying delicious food
Running, hiking, tennis, yoga
Swimming at the pools
Massages at the spa
Soaking in the hot tub (during a rain storm!)
We were so grateful for the chance to get away and enjoy some sunshine and relaxation.
Here are a few photos from our trip!
We leave on a plane bright and early Friday morning for a week in Mexico! I can't wait to sink my feet in the sand, read, and drink a fruity cocktail to the sound of waves. Perfection.
For my birthday last August, Kyle bought me a gift card to this adorable flower / plant store in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. We finally made it a date to visit the store together! On Saturday morning we enjoyed a sunny crisp run around Green Lake, followed by coffee + reading at Herkimer Coffee, and then browsed the plant selection at Terra Bella. It was the perfect relaxing date morning. I love sharing leisure Saturday mornings with Kyle.
I am longing for summer
To climb mountains
Let the sun warm my face
Breathe in deeply the smell of dirt and pine trees
Pitch a tent
Share stories by campfire
and rest.
Photo take on a recent hike in Bellingham to Fragrance Lake.
It was such a refreshing break to visit some friends in Tucson last weekend. The weather was a perfect 75 and sunny! While in town we cheered the UA Wildcats basketball team to victory, hiked in the Tortolita mountains, and enjoyed some delicious food and drink. It was fun showing Kyle the UA campus and it brought back fond memories of my time in college. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with friends and meet their adorable little one!
This weekend the Zabels will be watching a lot of football! Tonight it's the Seahawks and tomorrow the Packers (at least for now, there is no internal family conflict!). We are ready with our chips, guac, Hilliards 12th man, and some BBQ pulled pork in the oven.
Happy weekend!
This is our second Christmas as husband and wife. For the first, we celebrated at our home in Seattle, just the two of us. But this year Kyle and I spent the past week visiting both of our families. We started our vacation in Dallas with the Benadoms. Some highlights were seeing friends, baking Pulla bread, and watching White Christmas on Christmas Eve. Then we flew to Wisconsin, where I was hoping to see some snow on the ground, but unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the Wisconsin weather was warmer than usual for this time of year. We baked and frosted Christmas cookies, played Sequence, and watched the Packers play. Now, as I'm cozied up and warmed by the heat of our fireplace back in Seattle, I reflect on not only the blessing of family and the ability to visit them, but also on how many blessings have been scattered throughout this past year. With tomorrow being New Years Eve, we will will say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015 with the excitement of what the next year may hold.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
- The Zabels
Working in a hospital, it can be challenging around the holidays to request time off. But this year, I was fortunate to receive a full week vacation around Christmas! Knowing that this may not happen again for a few years, we decided to visit both of our families.
After purchasing several one way tickets to make the journey from Seattle - Dallas - Milwaukee, we realized our luggage was looking a bit rough. Especially since we have done a decent amount of traveling in our short year and a half of marriage.
So we made the decision to gift new luggage to one another for Christmas. This felt like an "adult" sort of gift ... very practical. We did our research to find just what we were looking for (plus the best value) and we now have two new pieces of luggage in our living room, ready for their first adventure.
P.S. I'm sure our Christmas luggage will also be "practical" for all the traveling we plan to do in the future!
Kyle and I were in Seattle the entire month of November, which was refreshing as we had been in both NYC and Wisconsin the previous month. As I think back on how we spent this past month, I would say that the overarching theme was sharing a meal.
Together (K&E) - Early in the month, Kyle and I celebrated the anniversary of our first date (2 yrs ago) with dinner at Mkt.
With others (in a variety of forms) - Bringing pizza to a dear family, cooking | hosting at our home, happy hours, a group dinner at Westward to celebrate a birthday, brunch after church, and Thanksgiving with a community of friends.
There is little that we enjoy more than sharing a meal.
