off to Crater Lake!

I have been eagerly anticipating this weekend for a long time now and it has finally arrived. The snow on the mountain roads has melted and the short window of a season to explore Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon is here. Crater Lake is a massive caldera lake formed almost 8,000 years ago after the collapse of the volcano Mt. Mazama. It is the deepest lake in the United States and considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the World, surrounded by old-growth forests and meadows.

I have been in awe of the photographs of its crystal clear deep cerulean blue water and I am so excited to get to see it with my own eyes. We are heading off to camp by the lake with some friends for a weekend full of hikes, swimming, and campfire stories. With my time in Oregon nearing its end, this is a weekend to be treasured. Enjoy yours!

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you can see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center. [ Kurt Vonnegut ]

authenticity & people.

I just watched Simon Sinek's talk If You Don't Understand People, You Don't Understand Business posted by The 99 Percent (via SwissMiss) and am blown away by the wisdom in it. He speaks specifically about the importance of authenticity and trust when it comes to business; however, he is really getting towards what it means to be human in general. It is definitely worth the watch, but if you are short on time, skip to around minute 18 and listen for a bit.

those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way. [ john stuart mill ]

weekend, continued.

When Mike and I took the trip down to Redwoods we met a couple who were on the last leg of a three-week road trip around the West. We shared a sunset with them over the Pacific Ocean as they shared a bit of their travel with us. One of the spots they mentioned was the Ape Caves near Mt. St. Helens, a solid 1 1/2 mile strenuous hike through a pitch-black cave. Needless to say, Mike had been dreaming of getting there ever since (and I am a willing, albeit somewhat wary, thrill seeker). 

Mt. St. Helens

The Ape Cave is the longest lava tube in the United States,  formed after an eruption from Mt St. Helens almost 2,000 years ago. It took us a little over an hour to get to from Portland, and was a ridiculous Indiana Jones-like experience to say the least. The mile and a half trail takes more than two hours to climb through, using headlamps to guide the way as we climbed over about 27 boulder piles and had to scale an 8-foot high lava fall. The magnitude of it was amazing, and it was really fun being an adventure drastically different from anything I have done before.

We survived the trek below the surface of the earth to celebrate the sunshine of the weekend: the 5K we ran for Run for Congo Women was amazing. It was wonderful to see all the people come out in support for it (there are events you can find in a city near you here). The weekend was concluded by the Fleet Foxes show at McMenniman's Edgefield, which was so fun. They were wonderful live and I was thrilled to see them (plus, to have it at an outdoor venue)! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Mykonos by Fleet Foxes:

guest post at four leaf clover

Check out my quest post (here) for the lovely blog Four Leaf Clover today on Kiva, a wonderful non-profit empowering entrepreneurs throughout the world through access to small loans. See how you can get involved in the good they are doing to change lives and alleviate poverty through their website.

"Where once the poor were commonly seen as passive victims, microfinance recognizes that poor people are remarkable reservoirs of energy and knowledge. And while the lack of financial services is a sign of poverty, today it is also understood as an untapped opportunity to create markets, bring people in from the margins and give them the tools with which to help themselves." -Kofi Annan

scenes of the weekend | sauvie island

This weekend Mike and I ventured out to Sauvie Island, the largest river island in the United States. It is surrounded by the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and is a quick trip from the city of Portland (only took us about twenty minutes to get there). We lucked out with a gorgeous day that was perfect for visiting Sauvie Island Farm, a three-generation family owned and operated farm that allows visitors to come and pick the fresh fruits and vegetables grown there.

The grounds were absolutely beautiful (Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood were clearly visible in the distance), and we were content to wander around picking some of the most delicious blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries that I have ever tasted. I also clipped spinach leaves, fresh herbs, zucchini, and put together my own flower assortment from the garden. It was the perfect weekend summer activity.

We set out to make dinner using mainly all the ingredients that we had picked up at the farm. It turned out to be a really tasty and satisfying meal of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and olive oil as an appetizer. We put together a simple summer salad of the spinach, strawberries, feta, and balsamic vinaigrette. The raspberries were perfect crushed up to get their juice, and then added to one part vodka, two parts club soda over ice to make the perfect summer cocktail. Having gotten everything right from the source, there was a heightened element of pride and appreciation for everything we ate. A bit of a 'Farm to Table' success.

manifesto.

I have been loving the idea of writing down a personal manifesto lately. Every now and then I feel inclined to create lists and write down a few specific goals that I have for the near future.  Something about writing them down allows for more accountability for myself on where I am/want to be in respect to those goals. A personal manifesto is that idea on a broad scale, serving as a vocalization of values and intentions for the whole of one's life (check out one of my favorites, here).

I just stumbled across architect Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Fellowship Assets' that he outlined for his apprentices in his Autobiography (via The Happiness Project). It is a gem of wisdom that serves as a great guide for a personal manifesto:

1. An honest ego in a healthy body.

2. An eye to see nature

3. A heart to feel nature

4. Courage to follow nature

5. The sense of proportion (humor)

6. Appreciation of work as idea and idea as work

7. Fertility of imagination

8. Capacity for faith and rebellion

9. Disregard for commonplace (inorganic) elegance

10. Instinctive cooperation

I love his focus on nature, imagination, and a sense of humor (and that humor is written as the word proportion- perhaps a statement on the balance of not taking things too seriously?). His list is simple yet packed full of wisdom and perspective in going about the everyday of life. What do you think?

Also, if you are interested in another Manifesto check out designer Bruce Mau's wonderful  Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. I am going to attempt to write down one of my own, happy Monday!

photo via oh pioneer

on being thankful & weekend cheers

Among the many things I have been thankful for this week is the fact that two of my most favorite foods are in season (and thus less expensive, plentiful, local, ripe, and perfectly tasty): 

I cannot get enough. I think avocados and blueberries have comprised at least 50% of my daily consumption these days. Thank you, summer.

I also have been sincerely thankful for your comments. This new experience in the 'blogging world' has been a wonderful and surprising treat in meeting so many thought-provoking and inspiring people, and I have been so grateful for your comments and the feedback that I have received as a result. I have loved exploring this community, and have loved getting to know so many new people through it. [I am looking forward to having coffee with one lovely blogger on Monday]. I also was so excited to learn  through this blog's existence that one of my friends from high school, who I had not seen since, is also living in Portland. It was so great to get together and discover that we were both unknowingly living in the same place across the country!

This weekend Mike and I are running a 5K race for Run for Congo Women that I am really excited for. It is a wonderful awareness & charity run to benefit female survivors in the Congo as they rebuild their lives. The founder, Lisa Shannon, author of the book A Thousand Sisters, was inspired after she discovered the plight of women in the Congo by watching an episode of Oprah, on which  the CEO of Women for Women International was a guest. Lisa decided to sponsor two women who had survived the horrific conditions of war by running to raise money. She raised $28,000 on her first run and started the Run for Congo Women to expand it. They have since raised over $600,000 and have sponsored 1,444 women.

I had heard of Lisa's beautiful story before (she is local to Portland and I am pretty sure I saw her featured on Oprah herself) yet did not know the race was this weekend until a friend gave me the heads up. I am really excited to join the cause (if you are in Portland, it is this Saturday at 9am at Willamette Park!) You can read more about her organization  and see if there is an upcoming run happening in your city  here.  

We are also going to catch Fleet Foxes' outdoor show at  McMeniman's Edgefield Hotel venue on Sunday, which I have been eagerly anticipating. Have you heard their most recent album? I have been loving it, and am so excited to see them live for the first time (I have to play catch up to my brother, who has been quite the concert feen these days, I think he has seen them at least three times).  

Have a wonderful weekend!

[photo 1, photo 2]

thoughts for explorers.

I just picked up Keri Smith's 'How to Be an Explorer of the World,' a field guide for exploring and documenting the art of everyday life. I love the idea of paying conscious attention to the things around you, wherever you are. It is this sense of mindful appreciation, curiosity, and awareness that I do believe makes life so rich. Remember when you were a child and everything was interesting? I used to live next to a creek when I was young and was content to go explore along the water and search for salamanders all day. This book is a breath of fresh air in keeping that youthful curiosity alive in our everyday lives. It reminds me of what my yoga teacher delves into a bit at the end of every class: the art of living with an intentional and grateful awareness of yourself and everything around you. I love being reminded of that.

How to Be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith: 

1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)

2. Consider everything alive & animate. 

3. Everything is interesting. Look Closer.

4. Alter your course often.

5. Observe for long durations (and short ones).

6. Notice the stories going on around you. 

7. Notice patterns. Make connections. 

8. Document your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways. 

9. Incorporate indeterminancy. 

10. Observe movement. 

11. Create a personal dialogue with your environment. Talk to it. 

12. Trace things back to their origins. 

13. Use all of the senses in your investigations.

I think that there is something completely transformative about living life in this way and finding opportunities to explore even what has become the familiar. By allowing ourselves to occasionally slow down, meet things with curiosity, and adopt this mindful and appreciative stance towards the world, we are all explorers no matter where we are. Plus, once you start looking who knows what you can discover. The world is full of stories just waiting for you to listen to their telling.

images credit unknown via pinterest

a favorite cover | buckets of rain

Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan Cover) 
by beth orton & m. ward

by the wood brothers

photo unknown via pinterest

on travel.

"The most important lessons in life can never be expressed in black and white, but must be experienced. Experience is the greatest teacher." - Benny Lewis 

I just stumbled across Benny Lewis, a world traveler who has yet to have a "home" for the past eight years. He writes, “Eight Years. That is 416 weeks, or almost 3,000 days. This is the amount of time that I have not had a fixed home; moving to a new country, culture and language every few months and taking absolutely everything I own with me. It has been a significant percentage of my life, and it’s still long from over.”  People like Lewis inspire me so much. I am so intrigued by the stories they tell, the experiences they have had, and their love of the world (Check out Benny Lewis’ wonderful 29 Lessons from Traveling the World).

I have had a strong passion for cultures and travel in general since I was young. Every summer  through high school and most of college I tried to get somewhere new, and this included trips to Ethiopia, Thailand, China, and New Zealand. I cannot express how significantly those trips transformed my outlook on the world and life in general. The exposure to culture, the experience of being a foreigner, the necessity of adaptation & flexibility, the eagerness to learn, and the reality of different circumstances deeply impacted and challenged my way of thinking.  Truthfully, my travel experiences have had a large role in making me the person I am and defining what I seek out of life. 

me at mt. hamilton, wa. by m.noel

While my experience living on the West Coast this year has definitely been an adventurous and wonderful change-up for me, I have to admit I do get that insatiable international travel bug every now and then. I love being surrounded by the newness of a different culture, language, food, and landscape. 

That is why I am so intrigued by such travelers. And I am not talking the 'take a vacation once a year' travelers. I mean the vagabonds, the couchsurfers, the people who live to travel, hopping around from country to country and working whatever job they can get to make ends meet and keep moving. Something about that life has always intrigued me, because I get it completely. I get the thirst for travel, the hunger for adventure, the whole idea of a "new and different sun."

The longest I have ever been out of the States would be the four months spent studying in Ireland or the two months spent volunteering in Botswana--definitely not long term by any means. One guy I met when I was in Ethiopia was on a world tour for a year, never staying in one place for more than three weeks. A new friend we met couchsurfing works in hospitality so that he can be sent all over the world for long stretches of time. He has never stayed home for more than six months in the past few years.

I used to think that that would be me: pack up the essentials, book the flight, and just go. However, after being able to reflect on my experience living out West, I have made some conclusions. While I love this idea of being on the move, traveling and living life to the fullest extent of experience, I do not think I could join this group of travelers. I love it, and I need to meet these people and hear their stories often. I would love to have the means and opportunity to travel to a new country every year and be able to visit friends across the world. However, I have learned that I value friends and family more than I value my wanderlust. E-mails and phone calls are simply not the same as being near people you love and sharing memories with them and I do not want to miss out on that. I also have shocked myself by finding that I do need some form of stability. I have lived out of a suitcase for long enough to realize that I like to have a place to call home.

Mark Twain wrote in The Innocents Abroad, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." This has always been one of my favorite quotes as I believe it is so true. By putting yourself out there and challenging what you think you know or what you have learned from your own perspective of the world, you are able to broaden your whole way of thinking. Travel is so wonderful even for that end alone.

women walking in calcutta, india. january 2010

 I am so thankful for my experiences. I have been allowed the ability of travel;  I have met some of the most inspiring and interesting people, discussed different perspectives, seen a vast amount of the beauty of the world--and I hope there is much more of it in my future to come. However, I have concluded that, for me (as I do believe that it is different for everybody), life is best shared and I truly value being within close proximity to people I care about. I need a balance of travel/adventure and family/loved ones. Now the trick is finding and maintaining that balance.

In my experience and through talking to many different people about their own experience, I think that a significant part of finding happiness is the discovery and defining of your own values in life, whatever they may be--travel, family, career or a combination of things--and then making that a reality as best you can. And, after all is said and done, whatever life you chose is a journey.

"We live in a world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." - Jawaharial Nehru

first image is the berlin wall, berlin, germany march 2009, the second is by chase keller. 
middle pictures are botswana 2005, and kids in ethiopia 2006 by matt west.

lately.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

- L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

[photo by laina briedis]

small gatherings.

“we systematically overestimate the value of access to information 

and underestimate the value of access to each other.” – clay shirky

Have you gotten the chance to check out Kinfolk? I am obsessed with the whole idea behind it: the appreciation of spending quality time with people over great food. I have been devouring its simple beauty, quotes, great writers, and wonderful photographs. It is so beautifully done, and definitely worth checking out. Speaking of, I am off to enjoy small gatherings in Seattle! Have a great weekend!

photos by celine kim for kinfolk

guest post | eva's eco-friendly tips for summer

I am so grateful to have Eva of the lovely blog Four Leaf Clover here today. As we are deep in the midst of summer, I knew that Eva would be a wonderful source of advice on ways to be as environmentally-conscious as possible in these hot summer months. Eva's heart for the world is so apparent in her writings, and I am so glad to have her share a piece of that here. Thanks, Eva!

When Mary asked me to share eco-friendly summer tips on For a Life Inspired, I of course had to say yes! Not only would I be able to introduce myself to all of you, but I’d be sharing some really great and important information. The fact of the matter is, the eco-friendly way of doing something is generally more enjoyable and simpler. I hope all of you are having a fantastic summer so far! Here are a few tips to an even better and more environmentally-friendly summer. Feel free to add anything on!

Go outside – Spend as much time as you can outside to get plenty of fresh air and stay away from energy-sucking machines like the TV and computer.

Make your own food – It’s healthier and more enjoyable to make your own food. Plus you won’t be wasting as much money driving back and forth to restaurants. Even better: eliminate meat from your diet or at the very least eat much less of it.

Ride your bike or walk – Save gas, the environment, and  your health by ditching the car and sticking to bike riding and your feet whenever possible. Whatever fun things you decide to do this summer, stay as close to home as you can to cut down on your carbon footprint.

Use a reusable water bottle – Instead of buying something new to drink wherever you go, keep a reusable water bottle at your side and just refill it.

Go camping – There’s not much that gets you closer to and appreciating nature more than camping. Be as mindful as possible when you go out in nature.

Eat local and seasonal – If you’ve never been before, go to your farmers’ market and pick out the local and seasonal fruits and vegetables. It’s a great experience and makes a huge difference when it comes to how far your food had to travel to get to your plate.

Monitor your air conditioning – AC consumes a ton of energy so make sure not to use it too often and keep the set temperature as high as possible. When you’re going out, turn it up before leaving home.

Garden – Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors, learn more about plants and how to care for nature. If you plant food, you’ll be surprised by how much you can get out of it!

Don’t overwater your lawn – Water your lawn and plants only when it’s completely necessary. With so little to go around, water is not something to be taken lightly and wasted.

Use safe sunscreens – There are so many chemicals in sunscreens that have been proven to cause a wide variety of health problems and the chemicals are just as harmful to the environment. Make sure to purchase natural sunscreens and always check the ingredients before purchasing (Check out the EWG Safe Sunscreen Guide for a great resource).

Go swimming – What better way to cool off than to go swimming? It’s fun and (usually) free. I loved these in-depth swimming tips from Design Sponge.

Line dry your laundry – Save energy and water by line drying your laundry and you’ll get healthy, fresh-smelling sheets and clothing.

Play outdoor sports – Instead of paying to go to the gym or staying cooped up inside, make the most out of these warms days and exercise outside. 

Make a picnic – Do one of the most enjoyable things (eating) in one of the most enjoyable ways (picnicking). Take your seasonable and local food, eat them with reusable items, recycle everything you can once you’re done, and take with you what you brought with you.

first image by eva, second 
by first of august, third by makr

on couch surfing.

This past weekend was my first time couch surfing. Have you ever done it before? I have a few good friends who have hosted couch surfers or been couch surfing themselves, and they have always spoke highly of the experience. I love its vision statement, which states: A world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. It really is an outlet for intentional community among like-minded people that is based on sharing stories, experiences, and curiosity. All centering around the mission statement Create Inspiring Experiences. Yes, please. 

Our first experience was amazing (especially considering that our Americorps budget would have been a little wounded having to pay for a motel!). How it works is you have a profile on their website and people you know or have stayed with can vouch for you and write a reference. Then you can note if you have a couch available to host somebody, or if you are seeking a couch yourself. I searched for available hosts in Bend, Oregon and sent an email out to a few people not thinking anything would work out considering it was so last minute. The amazing thing was that everyone wrote back to me that day. With the short notice, a lot of people did respond that they were out of town or otherwise unavailable but sent their regards for enjoying my time in Bend. Only a few hours after I sent it, however, one awesome girl called us to say she was down to host us for the weekend.  Score!

Our host was wonderful- not only graciously providing a great place to stay and a meal--but also sharing her experience living in Bend. Seeing a new place through the eyes of someone who lives there is such a different experience than going in as a naive tourist. She introduced us to a group of her friends (we enjoyed being known as 'the couch surfers') and they took us to some great spots that we would never have found on our own. 

We were able to stumble upon a great community of like-minded adventurers, have good conversations, learn great tips, and share travel stories. It was awesome, and I would definitely recommend trying it out the next time you are heading somewhere new. It is such a brilliant idea (especially for travelers on a budget) and an amazing community to connect with. I'm sold. Check out more and create your own profile on the Couch Surfing Website.

image via flickr

central oregon.

We hit the road without too much of a plan. The weather forecast looked good and we had some time. Driving out from Portland past Mt. Hood, the surroundings are full of lush greenery and dense forest that stand as evidence of all the rain of the long winter. However, about two hours out the landscape begins to become dry, the tall trees begin to fade, and there is a desert-like element to each side of the road. The familiar breathtaking snow-capped peak of Hood can be seen in the rear-view mirror, while mountains new to our eyes greet us along our way. The beauty of Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mt. Bachelor come into view as we drive along. The quiet symmetry of the dark tree-covered Black Butte stands in comparison to the jagged snow-caps of its neighbors.  In less than four hours, we are out of the city and into a drastically different land of giants.

We set up camp at Smith Rock, about 20 miles north of Bend, and one of the foremost destinations for rock climbing in the area. The summer sun allowed us to hike up at 7pm, packed sandwiches on hand, right in time to catch the sunset over the mountains. The rock is composed of compressed volcanic ash (hints of the volcanoes' activity are all over Central Oregon), and has a reddish quality to it that makes you feel like you are in Utah or New Mexico.

After waking up to this rustic beauty, we made coffee and bagels and headed off to Bend. The Deschutes River cuts through the city, which was the inspiration for the Deschutes Brewery, by far one of my favorite beer discoveries of my time out here. It was awesome to be able to get there and see all of the different inspirations for the beers they make, like the Black Butte Porter and Green Lakes Organic Ale. The beers are named after the surroundings, with a picture of it drawn on the label. Their new summer ale, Twilight, actually has a picture of Smith Rock on it. So, it ended up that we were on a little Deschutes Brewery tour of our own.

The Summerfest was taking place downtown, so we were able to walk along the craft tents, grab some food at the food carts, and enjoy live music on the different stages. Bend is known for its amazing access to skiing/snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor (amazingly accessible at only 20 minutes outside of the city), water activities along the Deschutes, and intensive web of mountain biking trails. This limitless potential for outdoor activities sets the tone for a laid back adventure-seeking culture, and the people that have relocated themselves to Bend to soak up this culture are certainly not devoid of stories or excitement.

Tumalo Falls

Mike and I Couch Surfed for the first time in Bend, which was awesome because we had a great host who introduced us to her group of friends. It was a great opportunity to share stories and discover the insider tips to Bend and the surrounding area. They took us on a hike up to a river spot where there were natural rock slides (read: so fun!).

They also told us about a lake up in the mountains past Mt. Bachelor that was a great less-populated spot to rent canoes. We headed up that way and did just that. It is amazing to see all of the snow still on the mountains and along the drive. The clear turquoise-blue lake was lined with trees and three mountain peaks around it. Canoeing had definitely been on my summer bucket list, and it was the perfect place to do it.

All and all I do not think we could have asked for a better spontaneous trip--especially considering the little that we had planed. That is the thing about exploring places like this. With an open mind and free agenda, there is an unlimited potential for adventure in such a beautiful part of the world. We found people who were like-minded and ready to divulge their own adventures. Even the beauty of the drive back to Portland was striking. 

Sigh, Oregon is a gem.
And I am a thankful lady.

for the love of mountains.

I am still in awe of the beauty of this past weekend's adventures. Above are Mt. Washington, the three Sisters, and Mt. Jefferson- only a few of the mountains that blew us away exploring around Central Oregon. More photos of the weekend to come. Hope you had a great one! And when you get a chance, check out my guest post on Holstee's blog on food waste in America. Happy Tuesday!