My Joseph

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20 years ago I had no idea that there was a town in Eastern Oregon called Joseph. I had no idea that there was this hidden gem that could reconnect you with nature and make you feel “off the grid”.  Fast forward 20 years and Joseph is now something very special to me.

I am not going to lie . . . sometimes I don’t want to share with the world some of my secrets. I don’t want too many people to know about Joseph because I don’t want it to grow and become Jackson Hole. I want it to stay small–quaint, and closed off from the world that is around it.

As you travel I-84 to La Grande, Oregon–you have the option to veer off the highway and travel 80 miles to the middle of no where. The drive alone is worth the trip with its scenic mountains, prairies, rivers and lakes. It is a photographers candy shop and a nomads home.

There really isn’t much in the town of Joseph, including a stoplight but what it does offer is outstanding. There are cute shops to roam, restaurants and art galore. But all of this pales in comparison to what you see outside of main street.

While I am providing a link to the town’s website . . . all I really want to do is show you pictures from my last trip. Enjoy!

Back to the Basics

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I have been travelling a lot lately and will keep it up for at least another month or two. I really do love to travel and can’t wait to share some pictures from all of the trips with you guys. But travel isn’t what I want to talk about today. I want to talk about easing back into regular life while your brain is still in vacation mode.

It is actually really hard to jump from one to the next unless your vacation and home habits are the same. My habits are similar to some extent but one area I always struggle in is, getting back into routine with my eating habits.

When I am on vacation, 9 out of 10 times I will be eating out or at the very least, eating things that I don’t normally eat when I am at home. It feels a little like going through toxic shock for the first 24 hours before I can really re-establish my normal eating patterns.

I am a pretty boring eater on a daily basis. I generally do something fun and exciting for Sunday dinner when family and friends come around but every day . . . it is just me. However, here are my next 5 recipes that I want to try when I have a moment in my own kitchen.

  1. Grilled Salmon Burgers with Avocado Salsa from Laughing Spatula 
  2. Lemon Lentil Soup from Gimme Some Oven 
  3. Sweet & Sour Asian Pickled Cucumbers with Chicken Satay from FoodieCrush 
  4. Zesty Lime Shrimp & Avocado Salad from Fifteen Spatulas  
  5. Coconut Curry Noodle Soup from The Woks of Life 

Change is Good

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I love that it is finally spring where I live and I can go outside without all the heavy gear on to protect me from the elements. The bad thing is, now I have a sudden desire to go shopping, visit the stylist, and plan a vacation. My pocketbook might not make it through the transition. Below are 5 things I am wanting to do to celebrate spring.

  1. I am very excited for outfits such as this 
  2. Strappy sandals such as these 
  3. A new hair color and I am thinking this 
  4. A light polish on my nails 
  5. And some fun outdoors such as this 

Easter Weekend

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I am very lucky this year because I have the opportunity to spend Easter with all of my family members. How lucky did I get?! It requires me to travel but it will be worth it in the end. I am also lucky because I don’t have to do all the start to finish planning and preparing—I have my family to help! But I would be sad if I didn’t contribute in some way so here are some of the things that I am contributing to this year’s Easter celebration.

  1. I need to bake something with the kids and this is pretty simple and easy for everyone to do provided by Pretty Providence. 
  2. I get to bring the veggies to the table so I am bringing this from House of Nash Eats. 
  3. I am also creating the deviled eggs and I love the ranch ones from Hidden Valley. 
  4. I am also adding Salmon to the dinner (since I don’t eat pork) and I really want to try this recipe from A Gouda Life since I think it will pair nice with the rest of the dinner. 
  5. Unfortunately I will be travelling while everyone else is dying Easter eggs but if I was there . . . I would totally does this idea from Unsopisticook.