the after 30 part...

When Barbie asked if I wanted to go away for three days to a cabin in the mountains with the girls, drink wine, hot tub, work during the day, and giggle, my reaction was similar to a teenage girl excited about a boy band in the mid 90's. No really, I jumped up and down and squealed! Working from home the last two months in utter seclusion, I often found myself chatting to Max, or watching TV shows incessantly on my ipad, just to hear conversation. Totes the truth. Plus who doesn't want to spend four days in the woods with a bunch of silly girls, bonding, and making hilarious memories. Megan Keller , Krista Simons , Laura Marchbanks , Barbie Hull , Kelli Bielem  and I (all business owners) drove to Cle Elum for a four day workation #twerkation, #operationfatpants. We rented a cabin, with a cozy wood stove, five beds and an out door hot tub.  Fully stocked with bottles of red wine, champagne, Fireball, cheese filled hot dogs, chips, and lots of chocolate, we drove up the mount...

Most of you have heard of the Chilkoot Trail .  If you haven't, please read about it's history, it's unbelievable what gold rushers went through on that trail in 1898.  I hiked it years ago with four friends, and remember it being some of the most beautiful nature and landscape that I have ever seen. Just a little run down.  The Chilkoot trail starts in Dyea, and runs 33 miles to Lake Bennet.  It's highest point is 3,000 feet in elevation and goes from plush temperate rainforest, with Sitka Spruce, and Alaska Hemlock, to glaciers, lakes, rock boulders, to a scene out of Lord of the Rings.  I'm not kidding. This trail never looks the same. Around every corner is a new surprise.... snow, glaciers, wildlife, fjord like cliffs, different colors of lichen, rivers, lakes, wildflowers... *sigh, it's just gorgeous. Mariah, my dear friend from DC, who has the best attitude about life and all it has to offer, asked me if I wanted to hike it again with her for her 42nd...

I totally forgot that I had a blog this summer (and a life), until someone commented on one of my posts and it notified me through email. Where've I been? I've been BUSY!! Fish Pirate's Gifts expanded the store this year from 1,500 square feet to about 4,500 sq. ft. and the restaurant moved back upstairs (Fish Pirate's Saloon). I started my season in Feb., two months earlier than usual, and luckily had the help of Sarah, Lauren, Terry and Hannah. It was a hellish process of going through Dock Sides's old inventory (pulling red tags until our fingers bled) and receiving new goods for the season. Hannah Martin is the new manager this season at Fish Pirate's and doing an AMAZING job!!! Not only does she have an eye for merchandising, she is on top of things without me having to ask. I'm very lucky to have her. Starting in April, I have been going back and forth between Ketchikan and Skagway working at each store.  Sarah is still the manager at Skagway Mining...