A BLOG BY LINDSY READ

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Travel Day

Today is my travel day.  I am flying to Tacoma in a couple hours.  I cannot believe I have been gone for two weeks.  I had so much fun!  I love being with Dan all day, whether we're just clicking away on our laptops or going on a wild adventure.

My two weeks in the desert are over and it's bittersweet.  I won't see Dan again until our trip to France but I have some exciting things planned in the next two weeks.  I have a new adoption agency to get acquainted with, friends to catch up with, and pre-baby shower on the 11th!  Tonight is the orientation class at our new agency.  I am excited and nervous and hopeful.  Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.  

I will most likely look back on this trip as our last wild adventure before we started a family.  Which is crazy to think about.  

To my husband:  Thank you for your adventurous spirit!  You have promised me the world and literally given it to me.  Thank you for making traveling a priority.  I cant wait to travel with you more and someday bring out kiddos along for the wild ride.  I love you and I'll miss you!!!  Be safe, come home soon.

Also, I think I'm getting my hair bleached when I get home.  This hombre-balayage look is starting to look shabby, not chic.  





Friday, January 27, 2012

Wild West Documentary

Here are some clips I threw together of our past week together in Arizona.  We have been having so much fun.  We're taking it easy for a couple days and will be in the L.A. area and Salton Sea/Slab City/Salvation Mountain by the end of this week where I will be shooting photos and video of the band!


All we've been talking about is "When we get a baby... __________" or "Can we ___________ if we have a baby in [insert month]?".  We have no answers and no timelines.  We have no idea what to expect.  I guess the easy thing would be to try and get pregnant and then there are far less unknowns - at least you get a due date!  But, we want to adopt and the road we've chosen is full of unknowns.  We are getting so excited for Tuesday's orientation with the new agency.  [The orientation we've been waiting two years to go to!]  If you are lost in what I'm talking about, you should read this post.

Have a great weekend!  XOXO, Lindsy

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Grand Canyon

When we checked the weather report Friday, I was surprised and disappointed.  The forecast for Saturday was a 70% chance of rain all day and a 30% chance of snow that night.  Sunday was supposed to be sunny and 45 degrees.  We had plans of arriving at the Grand Canyon's South Rim Park on Friday night, hiking and camping on Saturday, and hiking more on Sunday.  We are from the rainiest part of the country but that doesn't mean that we like rain.  I did not want my first experience at one of the seven wonders of the world to be experienced through the haze of sleet.  So, we decided to sleep in a parking lot on Friday in north Scottsdale (where it was 60 degrees and clear skies) and take our time getting up to the GC on Saturday, stopping in ghost towns and stopping for lunch.  So, we did just that.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon at dusk.  It was snowing and SO COLD!  We walked out to the rim and could just barely make out the edges of cliffs and rocks.  We got back in the van and headed to the Mather Campground, the only site that's open this time of year.  To our surprise, there were about 3 other groups camping that night, so we didnt feel totally stupid.  The snow was coming down fast.  It was about 7pm.  It was too cold and wet to start a fire so we stayed in the van and watched Breaking Bad Season 1 on our laptops and went to bed around 9pm.


We got up early enough to see the sunrise.  We were blown away by the beauty.  We were also the only English speaking Caucasians there.  There were three bus loads of Japanese tourists at the look out point so we stood among them as the sun came up and sort-of chuckled at the predicament.  Again, it was very cold.  I am wearing 3 pairs of pants, 3 shirts and a sweater.  Dan wore jeans, a sweatshirt, and a "drug rug" AKA a poncho.



Around 10am: after breakfast, getting lost, walking a mile down "Hermit Road" and never finding the "Hermit Trail" we descended down Bright Angel trail.  The path was icy.  Most of the hikers we passed were wearing crampons but we just had trail shoes.  I only fell once.  About halfway down, the snow was gone.  We had descended about 2,000 feet at this point.  We stopped at the 3-Mile Rest House to have lunch.  We met some blue birds that were so friendly and cute.




The climb back up was surprisingly easier.  It was harder to breathe but our legs were more stable on the climb up than they were on the descent down into the canyon.  We were making good time.  The preposed "4-6 hour hike" only ended up taking us 3:45:00 - with a lunch break, snack break, and two bathroom breaks.  Although I wish we had done more, gone further into the canyon, I am so proud of what we did and honored that we were even there at all.  Someday I want to make it down to the Colorado River but it just wasn't in the cards for mid-January 2012.

I really have no words for how beautiful this place is!  My high expectations were met - and exceeded - and I am so glad we got to see it!  We are already planning on bringing our family here someday in warmer weather to camp and hike for a week straight.  It's really THAT great.  If haven't been, plan your trip.  Seriously.




Monday, January 23, 2012

Ghost Towns and the Wild West

I have always been fascinated with the wild west. I think every boy is. It's embedded in our hearts. So as we got closer to our trip to Arizona, I started researching ghost towns. I found a site that just had places where there used to be a post office. There were a lot of post offices north of Phoenix  in the late 1800's and where all these post offices were, there were little towns with 10 - 20 people. So Lindsy and I set out to find a few. We took an exit off the highway and within a half mile we were on a wild adventure down a rough dirt road. The roads were so choppy that we had to go about 25 miles an hour and it was worth it!  We found the town of Bumble Bee, population 19, and the town of Cordes, population 11. Arizona is such a beautiful state! I never thought I would say this, but I really feel like I could live here (granted, it's January and about 60 degrees cooler than it is in the summertime).

Here are a few pictures I took on Saturday in the Wild West. Enjoy!





Saturday, January 21, 2012

Gone



We are at the Grand Canyon today!!!!!!  Arizonans have told us that it's "really cold" this time of year.  But, they're Arizonans and we're Washingtonians so we think we can handle it. Hopefully.

Stay warm, wherever you are.  Happy winter!  -D+L

Friday, January 20, 2012

Lowered Expectations

In general, I try not to have high expectations about anything.  I just don't like getting my hopes up.  For instance, if you go into a movie after hearing that it's "the best movie EVER" you will always be disappointed.  If you go in with no expectations, you are more likely to enjoy it!  However, I have wanted to see the Grand Canyon for as long as I can remember and I cannot contain myself!!!  We are heading up there tomorrow and spending the whole weekend camping in South Rim park.  I want to shut off the computer and cell phone (but not the camera) and just take it all in.

While Dan is on tour he meets a lot of nice people, usually families, who take the band in when they don't have a place to stay.  He has a huge network of friends all over the country.

On Thursday night we stayed with The VK's.  A family of 5, all with brilliant blonde hair, and all equally entertaining.  Upon entering their house, I found a music lovers mecca!  Posters from festivals adorn every wall, there are signed albums and framed band posters everywhere.  This family has hosted so many bands (they once hosted a group of 6 for 10 days straight!) that I just thought we'd be crashing in a spare room and fending for ourselves.  (Go in with low expectations, never be disappointed).  To my surprise, they wanted to take us out.  To the KEG!  It was amazing!!!  I haven't eaten a meal that good in a long time.  And, they are the nicest people!  We talked about our trips to France and we are trying to convince Mr. VK, an avid snowboarder, to come on our next trip.  They love music and Dan knows most of the bands they've hosted so the conversation went on and on.  It was awesome.

Then last night we stayed at 17's house.  "17" has two teenage kids at home, an amazing wife, and a 3-year-old granddaughter.  The home was buzzing with energy and laughter and we had a great time.  I even played video games.  Me.  Playing video games.  So embarrassing in front of a 15-year-old boy.  He was patient with me, though, and I saw how kind their family is through that experience.

The band van has a cattle skull on the front.  It fits right in in the desert!

We found this gorgeous church when we took a wrong turn & ended up in a town called  Guadalupe, AZ.




During the day, the rockstar has booking to do and I, the photographer, have editing and emailing to do.  So, we've spent our days staring at our laptops.  I hate computers.  I am so excited that we are spending this entire weekend in the desert, away from civilization.  I want to do the same hike down into the canyon as one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller, in his book Through Painted Deserts.  I just hope I have the energy to hike it and take pictures!


Yesterday we were hanging out at a Starbucks then we got an oil change in the van.  Exciting stuff!  XOXO, Lindsy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Modern Day Vagabonds

Well, my last tour ended strong and vacation is now upon us.  Lindsy arrived on Monday night and we've driven around the Arizona desert like some modern day vagabonds.  This is our third vagabond trip; we've spent a week "camping" in Los Angeles twice before.   I feel like the best way to be a tourist is to see the land through the eyes of a local and so far that is what we've tried to do!  We've eaten at local restaurants, hiked neighborhood trails, and gotten lost in the local streets.  We are looking forward to a weekend at the Grand Canyon.  Lindsy wanted to walk across the Skywalk but it's 242 miles away from the South Rim so we'll be playing it safe.  It's always so nice to get away and see life through new eyes.



Here's a little 30 second video we put together and some pictures I took.


Keep it real homies,
Dan


Monday, January 16, 2012

Southbound

I'm heading south today, to Arizona!  Just Dan and I in the desert for two whole weeks.  It's kind-of a babymoon.  A pre-baby cheap, vagabond vacation.  I cant wait to see him!  I hope you saw yesterday's post on how I packed for this trip!  I also cant wait to take some more photos in Arizona.  I love the terrain of the desert, so different from what I'm used to.




These photos are from my last trip to Arizona.  Who knew I'd be going back so soon?!  I sure didn't.  Grand Canyon, Camelback, Salvation Mountain... HERE I COME!!!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Packing Lightly

SUBTITLE:
HOW TO PACK FOR TWO WEEKS IN A CARRY-ON BAG

SUB-SUB TITLE:  
THE PENNY-PINCHERS GUIDE TO PACKING



Here is something you might not know about Daniel:  he's the cheapest man alive.  Seriously.  He never wants to spend money.  I actually don't mind because he has probably saved us thousands of dollars.  We both came from big families (he is the middle child of 5 and I'm the oldest of 4) so we grew up seeing how our parents stretched their dollars and made every penny count.  He and I both travel quite a bit.  When he's touring, they often leave their van and fly home between tours.  One thing that we don't like to do is pay $50 to check a bag.  It's the worst!  Dan was a carry-on man long before the baggage fees (he has a thing about wasting time, too -- like waiting for baggage claim).  So, I am sharing with you the key to packing [in my case, for two weeks in Arizona] without paying that super-annoying baggage fee.


Let's start with clothes, shall we?  Laying it all out like this really helps you see your options.  [In fact, when I did this, I realized that there were about 5 unnecessary items in my bag so I threw them out!]  Notice how everything could kind-of go together?  There are yellows and reds and some blues, a little black and some denim.  I tried to keep everything within the same color palette.

  1.  Casual hoodie for cold nights or when you don't know what to wear
  2. A casual dress
  3. A navy cardigan
  4. A denim dress
  5. Assortment of tights and leggings
  6. A fancy dress that can be worn for dinner dates
  7. A short skirt
  8. Two belts
  9. A fancy shirt
  10. A casual, long sleeved T-shirt
  11. A plaid button-up
  12. A long, button up tunic
  13. Assorted T-shirts
  14. Black stuff (Black goes with everything!) tank top, 3/4 sleeve shirt, and cardigan



Shoes are the most difficult thing to pack in a carry-on.  Flats are the most practical since we walk a lot when we're on vacation and they take up little space in your suitcase.  I chose my leopard print flats because they dont really go with anything so they kind of go with everything!  A bold color flat, like red or royal blue, would work too!  I am bringing my running shoes because we plan on going hiking, running, and climbing.  They take up the most room so I packed 6 pairs of ankle-length running socks inside them to save space.  I am also bringing my TOMS for casual days and for camping.  Then, I realized I needed something black so I'm bringing these sandals, too.


























When it comes to make-up, I generally use just a few things on a daily basis.  For this trip, I decided to try to pack everything into my brush bag.  I took out all the brushes except the blush brush and an eye shadow brush.  I am also bringing mascara, eye lash curler, brown eye-liner, [just one] golden shimmery eye shadow, cheek stain (blush), and concealer.



TOILETRIES:  The 3-1-1 Rule is probably the most annoying thing ever invented.  How do you decide which 3 items are must-haves?  It's easy for Dan:  contact solution, shampoo, conditioner.  I dont know any female who could survive on that.  I need lotion, face-wash, exfoliator, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, sunscreen... I could go on and on.  It's simple:  Buy it when you reach your destination.  Keep in mind you're trying to save money so your purchases have to be fiscally responsible, otherwise you may as well have brought your entire line of Aveda hair and skin products and checked the bag.  So, here's what I do.... I have my day-to-day products that I use at home that are numerous, expensive, and in large bottles.  So, I have found drug-store alternatives for traveling purposes.  When traveling I use Loreal and Garnier and Oil of Olay.  I always pack my travel-size contact solution in case my eyes get dry or tired during the flight but other than that I buy the cheap, travel-size stuff when I arrive at my destination.

We are going to be doing some hiking so I'm bringing a light, long-sleeved top, some long work-out pants and some shorts, too.  If they get dirty or stinky  When they get dirty or stinky, you can rinse them out and let them dry overnight depending on what climate you're in.  I'll be in the desert so they should dry fast!  Otherwise, find a laundromat, ask your hosts if you can wash a load, or have the hotel launder them for you.











I'm keeping my accessories simple.  I am bringing sunglasses, headbands, simple earrings for day, fancy earrings for night, elastic bands, and a simple white gold necklace that goes with everything. 


TIP:  Pack delicate things in your shoes to keep them safe while you travel. 


YOUR TRAVEL OUTFIT:  [a.k.a. Air-Wear]  Don't forget that what you wear on the plane comes with you on vacation.  This is where you really cheat the system.  Pull out all the big and awkward stuff that you want to wear whilst on vacation and put it on your body.  This "travel outfit" is also your chance to throw on all the accessories that are too big, bulky, or fragile to pack in your carry-on.  The bonus is:  you end up looking like a rock star!  Want to bring a hat?  Wear it on the plane!  Cant live without your boots?  Don't pack them, they're too big.  Taking your boots off for the security line is a temporary annoyance.  I'd rather wear boots to the airport than pay $50 to check a bag.  

For my travel outfit, I will be wearing my most versatile pair of jeans, a jacket (one that goes with almost all stuff I'm brining), some long necklaces, and several layers of shirts (gotta "sneak" in what wont fit in your bag!).  

I hope these tips help you save lots of money and lower the stress levels so that you can more fully enjoy your vacation!

BON VOYAGE!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Friday, January 13, 2012

A Tale of Two Agencies

We have been on a waiting list for a local adoption agency since 2 summers ago.  We were waiting for the agency to schedule an orientation.  Once we realized it may never happen, we started the process of foster-to-adopt with our current agency and four days after we got our foster home license, I got an unexpected email.  After all this time, the adoption agency scheduled an orientation for January 31st.  Is that not the craziest timing?!?!


I will definitely be at that meeting.  What does this mean for the other agency?  We don't have any idea.

Just when I think I have the next week, month, or year planned out perfectly, something like this happens.  A week ago I was sure that I would be receiving a foster-baby in March and start the process of weekly biological parent visitations at the agency, therapy sessions and lots of unknowns.  And now, I am going to a meeting about adopting a newborn from a local teenage mom.  I have no idea what my life will be like after our trip to France.  I have no idea what my life will be like tomorrow!

Either way, we are 95% sure that we will become parents this year - one way or another!  And we will continue to try and seize the day, no matter how stressed, content, happy, sad, or broke we are.
I have been so overwhelmed by this whole situation.  The other night, I realized how tense I was so I took an evening stroll to think and pray about everything.  Once I got moving, I realized my shoulders weren't as tight and I was walking with ease and felt peace in my heart.  Was I relaxing?  Maybe!

As I began to feel better, I started to look around and realized what a beautiful night it was.  I rarely take evening photos so I went home for the tripod and camera and headed back out to experiment with some night time photos in the neighborhood.

We will keep you posted!  Have a great weekend!







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