The first snow on Bainbridge + Seattle sunsets

Snow has finally arrived on Bainbridge Island. I was very surprised when, through my blinds, I saw white dusting the leaves outside my window. I had been unusually cold when I went to bed Friday, but I thought nothing of snow! The snow and cold weather made it seem a little more like the holidays.

It was Small Business Saturday, so I walked downtown to find that Winslow had no power. There were a bunch of people, so most of the shops were open, just working with the sunlight shining through the windows and making sales the old fashion way.

I decided to take a trip over to Seattle and the waves were so big. The boat was swaying, and I was trying to breathe deep and not let the motion sickness get to me. I started walking downtown and looking in shops, but of course made it over to Pike Place, which was crowded. Santa was taking present orders, and carolers sang Christmas songs.

I snapped a picture of the beautiful sunset behind Pike Place.

My camera doesn't like to take pictures in the dark, but this was on the way back to Bainbridge while I was on the ferry. I have yet to be on the ferris wheel. I'll check it off soon though, don't you worry.

Seattle lights 'a shinin'

Blizzards and Gizzards: Thanksgiving from Michigan

Like I said here, my mom is a decorator/holiday event extraordinaire, and she sent me some pics from her Thanksgiving table. I had to share because it looks wonderful.

I saw her ideas brewing on Pinterest with every Thanksgiving pin, like this adorable cornucopia made with sugar cones and stuffed with candy to make a holiday-themed place card. Don't miss the other details like the jute around the silverware.

My mom has been talking about amber glass for years and she finally found some goblets and other dishes on one of our antique/flea market adventures.

We might have a jello addiction at our house. Every year we make jello eggs and jello-beans for Easter. While I was away at college, my mom would send me jello molds for every holiday, and now she has found a jello turkey!

Thanks, dad, for teasing me! My parents sent this pic with the message at the bottom. Sorry for the vegetarians out there, but turkey skin is so delicious - moist, juicy, kinda crunchy, the most flavorful part of the turkey.

When I was little, my dad's side of the family would get together for Thanksgiving dinner. I would see my grandma sneak away to the kitchen and steal pieces of the skin. Now every year when I hear the electric knife start, it's my cue to wander into the kitchen for a piece of skin. It's kind of like my me and my dad's tradition because when I get there, my dad has left a pile for me.

I keep hearing that it's snowing a lot in Michigan, but it just goes in one ear and out the other because it's always snowy in Michigan. I guess I should have realized that it was bad when numerous people said they went in the ditch, but it didn't hit me until I looked at this picture of my backyard.

Washington is warm and rainy. When I look at all that snow, I'm not sure I'm ready for blizzard weather three weeks. But I have to admit, it does look like a beautiful winter wonderland.

Thanksgiving in a Box

I came home one night and found a big package on my doorstep. When I went to pick it up, it was unbelievably heavy. I was thinking "what the heck is in here?"

When I opened it, I found Thanksgiving in a box. Everything was there: canned turkey (I'm hesitant), ingredients to my favorite cranberry dish (has cranberries, apples, pineapple, walnuts, raspberry jello), stuffing mix, a sweet potato, a winter squash from our garden, and more.

I was very surprised, but then again my mom is known for her decorations, parties, and she has sent me wonderful packages in the past. She and my dad always think of me - from letters (or packages) for every holiday I spend away from them, to simple "I love yous," to always supporting me in my decisions (well, for the most part).

Although I'm thankful for a lot, I'm thankful for them the most.

While all of you are stuffing your faces full of turkey (or tofurkey), make sure to let the people in your life know that you are grateful for them. I will be spending my Thanksgiving in Washington with my roommates, but I will be sending my love to Michigan.

Part III: Seattle Space Needle + Chihuly Glass Museum

Below the Space Needle was the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. This was a beautiful view of both the extraordinary sculpture and the Space Needle | Photo by Kayla Schultz 

Blue skies. Sunny. Warm. What else can you ask for in a city known for rain? 

Although we did get rained on a bit when we spent the day in Seattle, the sun and blue skies were out for the most part. We struggled with the Light Rail system a little as we traveled to Pike Place Market, but after some help from a Seattlite, we were on our way. The rail took us through the city, giving a little tour. 

We met a few "interesting" people, one being a man from Michigan. Supposedly he is a triplet whose family is very well-known in the state. I had never heard of him. Another man started talking in our direction, only to be talking to himself...I think.

We found our way to the Space Needle, which has an interesting history. It was built for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962, and was designed by an artist that wanted the fair's centerpiece to be futuristic. The sketch became a reality, but with just 13 months until the opening of the World's Fair, there still wasn't a place for the landmark. They did end up finding a 120 ft x 120 ft piece of land, and started building. Keeping with the futuristic theme, the restaurant in the Space Needle turns 360 degrees and all of the paint on the structure has space names like Astronaut White.

The view from the top of the Space Needle was beautiful. As you can see from the photos, the water was sparkling, the buildings looked so small and wonderful from such a distance. There was a building below that was painted as if something had been dropped from the top of the Space Needle...a big splat mark! Even though the wind blew our hair viciously, it didn't stop us from soaking in the view. 

Just below the Space Needle was the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. The glass was just amazing. The artist, Dale Chihuly, was inspired by indigenous culture, the sea, and made extraordinary, colorful pieces of glass.

Take a look:

View from the Space Needle | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Seattle Space Needle | Photo by Roger Schultz

My mom and dad at the top of the Seattle Space Needle | Photo by Kayla Schultz

The big city of Seattle - beautiful day | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Hey, I'm pretty awkward, but this map shows my journey across the country | Photo by Diane Schultz

Dale Chihuly has been highly influenced by the indigenous culture | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Hanging glass sculpture | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Look at those paintings | Photo by Diane Schultz

Looks like raw gems - love it | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Part II: Back to the beginning - the commute from hell

Muskegon airport | Photo by Roger Schultz

I started to talk about Seattle in Part I, but I'm going to back up a tad. As you can tell, my parents and I made it to the lovely state of Washington, but let me tell ya, we weren't always sure it would happen.

First of all, I am a schedule freak. I thrive in environments where I know the details and am confident that everything is organized. When I woke up the morning of our flight, I was in go-mode. I did my last minute packing, double-checked that I wasn't leaving anything important behind, and when I heard my dogs stampede down the hardwood stairs, I knew our ride to the airport had arrived. 

My parents were all ready, so I did the goodbye routine I have perfected from going away to college: grabbed my doggies and gave them a million kisses (snout, ears, forehead, paws), snuggled them, and said I loved them. Then I hopped in my grandma's Dodge Durango and buckled my seat belt. I sat there, waiting for everyone else to get in - I wanted to get this show on the road. As I continuously looked at the clock, I got more and more impatient with every ticking minute. I've had the privilege to travel with organizations at Central Michigan University in the last couple of years, so if I've learned anything, it's that you have to be early when you travel - and it wasn't happening

Finally my grandma got in, then my mom, then we waited. And waited. And Waited. My dad was taking so long because for some reason, he was trying to get my brother to say goodbye to me. For all of you that know my brother, you're probably half giggling right now because you know that this task is clearly impossible. After 10+ minutes of me arguing that I didn't need to say goodbye, my brother reluctantly walked out as my dad forced him to say goodbye....and hug me. Wait, what? Yup, my brother actually took me in his arms and embraced me.

With that out of the way, we were finally on our way. And just to be clear, we made it through airport security with time to spare, so I guess I should admit that I sporadically overreact.

But here's the thing, this setback wasn't even the beginning.

We took a puddle-jumper from Muskegon to Chicago, got off the plane and were ready to get on our plane to New Jersey. Yeah, you read right, we were going further East. The plan was to fly from Chicago to New Jersey, and the same plane would then take us to Seattle. As we sat waiting to board the plane in Chicago, we heard an announcement saying we were now departing from a different terminal, so we grabbed our carry-ons and hurried over there. After pushing back our departure time a few times, we finally boarded. Those delays wouldn't mean anything, right? I mean, we are on the plane to Seattle, so they can't leave without us, right?

Haha, think again.

I guess even though the tickets said we were taking the exact same plane from Chicago to New Jersey, and from New Jersey to Seattle, that just wasn't the case. We missed our flight. So did many other people. As we soon would learn, there wouldn't be another flight to Seattle until the morning.

My dad got us a complimentary hotel room and gift cards for dinner, courtesy of United Airline - even though I told him it wasn't worth traveling to a room when we had approximately eight hours before we had to be back at the airport.

I was grateful for a bed and food other than the minor selection they had available during the wee hours of the night. Needless to say, we conked out as soon as our heads hit the pillows - clothes, shoes, everything perfectly intact. I mean, what's the point in taking off clothes you'll probably just put back on when you wake up. Saves you time.

We woke up extra early because this was not the tiny Muskegon airport that only has one flight boarding at a time. When we got to the airport, I was surprised to find that there was no wait through security and there was only one restaurant in the food court open - literally a ghost town. As my parents dozed off in front-row seats to our terminal, I read poetry.

Day two was full of traveling. Our flight from New Jersey went to Dallas and then we would fly to Seattle. Although I would've rather have been exploring Washington on that second day instead of being cooped up in an airplane for hours on end, it made our arrival sweeter. I was excited to finally reach our destination, relax, and experience the state I had been trying to picture for months.

Boarding the "puddle-jumper" from Muskegon to Chicago | Photo by Roger Schultz

View from one of the plane rides (so many connections, who knows!) | Photo by Roger Schultz

It's always so busy in airports | Photo by Roger Schultz

Finally on our way to Seattle | Photo by Roger Schultz

Part I: Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market | Seattle, Wash. | Photo by Roger Schultz

When I decided to take the internship at YES! Magazine, I was a tad nervous to move so far away. OK, Washington wouldn't be the furthest I have ever lived from my home in Michigan (I lived in Santa Ana, Calif. for two months a few years back with my best friend), but it was the first time I would be venturing out into the world by myself.

Although I was nervous, I knew it was an adventure that I needed to take, especially since I've always been drawn to the Pacific Northwest. 

Like many parents, mine were worried about me packing up six months of my life to travel to Bainbridge Island by myself, so they decided they would fly over with me to make sure I got there in one piece. If you ask me, though, they had an ulterior motive. My parents love to travel, and over the years, family vacations have become more and more centered around visiting National Parks. Since Seattle is pretty close to Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier, we decided to fly out a week early to explore Seattle and the wilderness in the Evergreen State.

Throughout the next couple posts, I will share pictures and stories from our adventures during that week.

These photos are all from Pike Place Market. It is on the Seattle shoreline and has restaurants, craft vendors, fish markets, produce stands, bakeries, and specialty shops. The pictures are all from vendors on the top floor. The bottom floor houses actual shops that lock when the stores are closed. I hadn't heard of the market until my friend said I must visit it, and we had a lot of fun there. I bought organic cold-pressed hot apple cider and it was delicious! There was so much merchandise and not enough time to see it all.

Beautiful pottery at a vendor at Pike Place Market | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Fresh seafood could be found at many vendors. There was an overpowering fish smell in those areas | Photo by Kayla Schultz

Band playing at Pike Place Market. I hope my dad tipped the band since he snapped a shot | Photo by Roger Schultz

There were many vendors selling beautiful bouquets of flowers | Photo by Kayla Schultz

A couple sneeking a smooch | Photo by Roger Schultz

I guess I know where to find fresh vegetables in Seattle | Photo by Kayla Schultz

We didn't go on the ferris wheel. Could be either the coolest or most terrifying thing in the world | Photo by Roger Schultz

Seattle shoreline | Photo by Roger Schultz

My parents: Roger and Diane Schultz | Photo by Kayla Schultz

This man was doing SO many tricks with his pet pigeon - incredible | Photo by Roger Schultz