I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted something here. I have slowly been getting back into things over on my Facebook page and am always off and on in my Instagram, but I have all these drafts over here and I hate that I’m not setting the time aside to blog. I love being here. I need to make it a priority. I have lots to share in the next few weeks and several are near completion, so I will get on it! As you can imagine, I’ve been digging out from everything that was waiting for me upon my return. But I’m back.
My new thing is telling everyone that they must visit Alaska at least one time before they leave this world. You can smell the air. And not in a bad way. What I mean is that you can smell how clean and clear it is, how fresh and untainted it is. There were times on my trip that I would find myself just breathing outside. I really want to move there for at least a year. It was incredible and I knocked quite a few things off of my bucket list while I was there.
Let’s start with the easiest achievement. I traveled on a plane. By myself. This was the first time that I was alone on an airplane since before I was pregnant. I didn’t know what to do with myself, but I figured it out.
I was glad that I was alone since I had a really tight connection through Seattle on my way to Anchorage from Atlanta. I never would have made it with my kid in tow. So I relaxed on that next flight, celebrating that I had made it. And I
was sitting with two older ladies that were like a window into my future. We all had a few drinks and we kind of ended up being the rowdy row. One of them had lived in Anchorage for 10 or 12 years, so she had some tips for me. It was a great flight and I was so excited to land in Alaska!
My friend that I went to go visit used to live with me when my husband was deployed. We refer to each other as “Roomie” and he will always be one of the special people in my life, no matter how far away or how much time passes between visits. He is just a fabulous guy.
The first full day, we drove south to Seward. It was so beautiful on the way and we made a few stops along AK Rt 1.
We stopped at Portage Lake before hoping to get to Portage Glacier.
This was the most amazing tasting ice I have ever had. 
Sadly, this was the closest I was able to get to a glacier. Despite the ridiculously warm weather (it was in the 40s my first two days there), they still had the roads closed for potential weather. But, hey, I got to see one with my own eyes. That’s good enough for me.
Then we made it to Seward and the rain started. There isn’t much to do there and a lot of stuff was still closed from the winter, but it was still pretty. Like everywhere I went.
On the way back to Anchorage, the fog rolled in…but I don’t think this is called fog. It was a fascinating phenomenon to watch and I got some incredible pictures. This was one of them from Bird Creek at Chugach State Park.
The next day, I tooled around the city of Anchorage with the other friend I was visiting, the reason the Roomie ended up in Alaska. She’s really cool and they are a great couple, and do nothing but make me laugh. She took me to a mall where loads of native people had come into the city to sell their goods. As I planned this trip to also hit up the Last Great Race on Earth, I was able to see and participate in some of the Fur Rondy events, including visiting the craft fair. I bought some lovely jewelery that I already forgot what it was made from, but it’s awesome. We went to the Ulu factory and we went to the museum. Loads of fun there, especially in the children’s part, the Imaginarium Discovery Center.
The next day was the start of the Iditarod. There were close to 80 teams for this year’s race and we watched close to 70 of them leave the ceremonial start line, breaking only to use the bathroom.
I loved walking around before the start, watching the handlers prep the dogs.
Contrary to the belief of people that protest this stuff, these dogs are well cared for and loved, and I saw it with my own eyes. The dogs reciprocate a lot of affection and are so excited to do their work. It was an experience of a lifetime and definitely one I am glad that I did.
So many bios that the emcee shared about the mushers included variations of the words, “they came to Alaska for (something) and never left.” After my trip, I completely understand. I can’t wait to go back and it will be harder to leave next time. I missed my family, but I also realized how much I had missed mountains. And the air. I will never be able to shut up about the air in Alaska.
Te people watching was beyond compare. It’s called the Fur Rondy, short for Fur Rendezvous, so people come out in their furs and some take pictures with strangers because they can get a little outrageous. I knew about the fur part, so I brought my Russian-themed, fake fur hat that I ended up getting quite a few compliments on. 
So after the ceremonial start was over, we went to grab some of the BEST street food that I have ever had. And I lived in NY, so for me to compare to NYC street food…it was sooooo good. Of course it was made even better because it was reindeer sausage. The second or third time that I had already eaten it by this point 😉
After gobbling our street food, we went to go register for the Reindeer Run, well, the lady and I did. Yes, we ran with actual reindeer. It’s like the running of the bulls, but no one dies. It was only for a few blocks and we did it with two of her friends. Fun stuff and something that I would never get another chance to do anywhere else. And we dressed up for it, too.
That same day (night), I knocked off the biggest item on my bucket list. We set off around 1:30 in the morning or so to try and catch the Northern Lights. It turns out that they actually have a fairly accurate forecasting system in place. We trekked out to the top of a mountain and stood in the cold night (2 a.m. until about 3 or so) to watch. I was so happy. And I wasn’t cold. I had purchased the perfect stuff for this trip, in addition to having items left over from my skiing days. Here are a few of the many that we took that night (morning) at Eagle Point in Eagle River.
(I have to mention that on the morning that I left, we were headed to the airport at 4:45 a.m. to get my 6 a.m. flight when Mother Nature gave me the BEST sendoff. I happened to look out the window while along the highway, and there they were. The Northern Lights. In all their green and glorious glory, fingers trailing up overhead. I almost cried and we had no camera. And I was late, so we couldn’t stop. This is not a usual sighting for Anchorage, and definitely not where we were. Mother Nature really didn’t need to do that for me…I’m already wanting to move there…but what an incredible treat that was!)
We mostly rested the next day, although I did make it out for a run while they went to the gym. Yes, I ran to Starbucks to get my coffee. That was a cold walk back as I was so sweaty under my layers and couldn’t run with hot coffee. Dumbo, over here. The day after, it was decided that he’d take me to Talkeetna. Amazingly on the drive up, you could actually see Mt. McKinley. This is apparently not something that happens all that often as it is usually clouded over. I thanked Mother Nature. Aside from there being almost no snow for my trip, she was able to share much greater things with me. 
Talkeetna is a cute and very little town, but it has its own brewery…yes, please. And thank you. They have a few good brews going on at Denali Brewing Company. While in Talkeetna, I HAD to take advantage of being where I was and get up in the air, see the mountains and rivers as the birds do. So I contacted a flight school and booked an intro flight. Best $100 I ever spent, and it was actually paid for with a gift card that two of my good friends had given me for my birthday the week before.
So I got to fly in a Champ for the first time. And I LOVE taildraggers. 
The views were incredible. God’s country.
After my awesome flight, I wanted to see a little more of Talkeetna and take in some more nature. We ventured down to where three major rivers meet; the Chulitna, the Susitna, and the Talkeetna. And they were frozen, so I got to walk on a river. Who gets to do that? And Denali is in the background.
What a gorgeous mountain. What a beautiful state. I could get lost for months just exploring. I want to be back there.
No matter where we went, I was in love. So much beauty in every direction you turn. I could easily make this my home. Just have to convince The Russian. We’d be closer to Russia 😀
There was one more thing that I had left on my wish list for this trip and on my last night there, it was looking like I wasn’t going to get to cross it off. And then I spotted her. A city moose. It still counts as seeing a moose. Check. 
I hated to leave. I usually get a little melancholy when packing to head home, but this felt different. I think it was a combination of things. This was the first time that I had left my family for more than a weekend, a whole eight days. (And it was incredible, not just for sleeping in and getting 10.5 hours of undisturbed sleep the first night, but the experiences.) I miss seeing my friend whenever I want. I miss having time to myself in this life that I have that is way too busy. I think it’s also partly because I could feel the pull of this place. It was strong and I will not forget about it. Someday, I hope. 
Thank you, Roomie, my dear friend. You and your lady helped me have what I feel was a trip of a lifetime. I am grateful for your hospitality and generosity, and for helping me to knock a bunch of things off my bucket list before I turn 40. I owe you.
Flying to Alaska on miles = $11.20
Crashing with friends = Free
Falling in love with Alaska = Priceless
If you still have not tried spaghetti squash, whether it’s because you are intimidated by the thought of cooking a food that is new to you or you think it’s too healthy or have an aversion to food that is good for you, stop right now and go get one at the store. It is so easy to cook up spaghetti squash and use it in place of pasta for any dish. I first started using it for my 
Melt about two tablespoons of Kerrygold butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and stir, cooking about a minute. Throw in the “spaghetti” and fresh herbs, and add some sea salt and fresh ground pepper, stirring well to combine. I added some freshly grated Parmesan cheese since I’m allowed a bit of hard cheese now and then. 
I served this as my side dish with a delicious salmon burger from Costco. Wild-caught salmon and very few other ingredients (some oil and spices), without any wheat to hold them together. It was such an easy meal to throw together. And nutritious!
I have already shared one of the recipes that I regularly make from from this book, the 
that their house is aligned with the interests that their child has. Your particular home with a little girl in it might be all full of pink, princesses, play kitchens, and dolls, while mine is full of construction machines, trains and tracks, and matchbox cars. What I don’t think people ponder very often is what it might be like to have a daughter that is not princess-obsessed, one that everyone sees as less “normal” than others. People talk to me in public and assume that my kid knows the entire score to Frozen. I sometimes comment that she’s more of a Cars kid, other times I just smile. When your child’s birthday came around and you asked them what kind of birthday party they wanted, perhaps they picked a gender-appropriate (whatever the hell that means) theme. My daughter enthusiastically declared that she wanted a Dusty party. It just so happened that the second Planes movie was coming out two weeks before her birthday weekend. Good timing for her and a great time was had by all.
My point is, everyone likes and dislikes different things, even all of us as adults, so I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around some of the 44 comments on my status update. I was struggling with my online shopping to find something that wasn’t clearly labeled “boy” or “girl,” one that wasn’t over-the-top with pink craziness or over-the-top about a character. As I shopped, I knew she would be totally fine with something that was clearly for a boy, but why should it have to be this way? Why are there no other options? That was the entire point of my post which has now led to this lengthy piece.
tea party and she will sometimes (now) pretend with me, but she mostly uses the tea cups to hold some of her cars. She has a doll, a stroller, and even a few outfits for it, but would you like to know how she plays with her doll? On the half a dozen times that she has voluntarily touched the doll, she puts her in the stroller and races around the house, chasing/torturing the dog, letting the doll hang half out of the stroller, sometimes falling out completely. Then she runs away, leaving the doll on the floor. Nurturing? Not so much. I know she has played with the kitchens and stuff at other homes and at school sometimes, but these are just not the things that she gravitates to. She plays with the cars and the trains most of the time, and is obsessed with puzzles. And I’m perfectly fine with that. I sneak peeks at her creatively playing with her cars and trains, making up scenarios and conversations. It’s the same thing girls do with their dolls or stuffed animals, just with a different medium. And that’s perfectly fine. She helps me in the kitchen (she calls it “bakering”), and although it’s usually a brief encounter, at least she shows an interest. She helps me move laundry into the dryer or laundry basket and wants to help Swiffer the floor. But one of the most exciting times for her this past week was when I let her help me change the batteries out of two toys, showing her how to use the screwdriver and teaching her what to do by herself. Her face beamed, her concentration was so focused, and she was over the moon with pride when they toys worked again. I have little doubt that she will be taking things apart in my house before she enters intermediate school. That is my child.
My problem isn’t what anyone else does as far as buying toys for their kids. Frankly, it’s none of my damn business. To think that I would want to do away with princess things or pink things is absurd. My oldest niece was princess obsessed and I loved it! I would buy all sorts of cool Disney things for her and had a great time playing with her and all her things. My question is, what has happened to toys? How have we let toy manufacturers and marketers create such a huge divide in what toys children feel they “should” play with? Why do we have this obsessive need to make things for boys and things for girls, things that are essentially identical aside from color? My child gravitates toward blue, orange and red. Those are just the colors that she likes. So why can’t we just have TOYS like we did when my generation was growing up? This was the entire point of my post (rant) on the good ol’ Facebook. How fun for you (or maybe not from what some friends say) that your little girl is obsessed with Frozen. It took me THREE tries to get through that movie with her and I really wanted to watch it, so I basically forced/bribed her into finishing it with me. She’s not much of a fan of movies with people characters…Cars, Planes, Toy Story…those are her jams. And I have so many movies that I hope I will watch with her. Someday. But that day is not today. It’s not where she is, and maybe she never will be. And that’s just fine, too. I will sit and watch The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast for the trillionth times, reciting the words and singing every score by myself. Maybe that will make it more interesting to her. Someday.
saw girl nerf guns and girl lego sets (those were mostly lame, in my opinion). I understand the point behind making things available in pink. We want to be able to offer the pink things to the girls that love pink in the hopes that they might discover something new that they may not have tried otherwise. I think it’s a great idea, but I feel that it’s gone completely overboard. Gender-neutral toys, or toys as they were called when we were growing up, are disappearing. I saw this pink tool set two years ago and had my mom get it for her. She absolutely loves it and plays with it constantly. Yes, I bought it because it was pink. But I would have bought her a tool set at some point, pink or not. Do we need pink tool sets? Pink Nerf guns? Pink Lego sets? What if a little boy sees the stable Lego Friends set and wants it because he loves horses? He has to cross to the pink aisle to the girl Legos, opening him up for possible future ridicule from friends for playing with girl toys. I was perfectly happy with my normal old legos growing up. We are perpetuating and encouraging this cycle of pink = girl and blue/orange/red/whatever = boy, and making a greater toy divide. I bet the toy companies are making a killing by offering the same thing in different colors to each gender. Why are we letting them make the rules?
The Half-Crunchy Mama 