Fantastic First Friday

September 10, 2015

September's First Friday is a wrap! I am beyond thankful for the outpouring of support from my friends and the Juneau community. Thank you, everyone, who came out to celebrate the show and encourage my work. You folks are simply THE BEST!

I'd like to give a special shout out to my co-host, Dru Fenster, believing in me and helping make my dream a reality. Thank you, Dru, for being a remarkable woman and making a difference in so so much.

I'd also like to recognize my Momma who was able to be in Juneau for my big debut. I'm so glad we got to share this moment together. Naturally, she is my #1 Fan. I dedicate this collection to her.

Tonight was such a blessing. We raised money for AWARE, and I had the time of my life, sharing my passion for Alaska. I hope you enjoy the photos below from the evening's festivities. Thanks for all the love and support!

The Collection [click to expand image]:

The Celebration [click to expand image]:

Wranglin' Wrangell

July 28, 2015

I spent the Fourth of July weekend in the rural and remarkable town of Wrangell, Alaska. Along with a group of fun friends, we took the Alaska Marine Highway from Juneau to Wrangell, then flew back on Alaska Airlines a few days later. Such an adventurous trip! Here are a few observations and pictures:

- Hitchhiking is a widely accepted mode of transportation. We hitchhiked as a group four times and didn't die.
- There's only one taxi in the whole town, and it doesn't operate on holidays.
- Wrangell does the Fourth of July like a boss: street parties, lumberjack competitions, and one heckuva fireworks show (probably one of the best in Alaska).
- I need to start training for next year's logrolling competition.
- The egg toss competition is as messy as it sounds.
- For one day a year (4th of July), open containers of alcohol are allowed. When you order a drink at the bar, you can specify if it's for "here or to go."
- Everybody knows everybody.
- There are new friends to be made around every corner, such a wonderful trait of Alaska.

[Click the photos below to expand]

Sailing Away, Alaska Style

July 8, 2015

Mark Twain said it best: "Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

What I've noticed from my years of living in the Last Froniter is that exploring, dreaming, and discovering are the cornerstones of many Alaskans' lives. Take my friend, Captain Louis Hoock, for example. He's got a zest for adventure that's infectious, so much so that he owns and operates Alaska Adventure Sailing, a charter company based in Alaska's capital city.

There are three things you need to know about Captain Hoock:

Louie served active duty sea service as a NOAA Corps Commissioned Officer aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette where he explored the farthest reaches of the sea.
His whistle is so loud, it could rival Guinness World records.
In 2010, Captain Hoock founded Coastal Footprint, a nonprofit environmental/scientific research organization. That same year, he sailed The Jolly Roger from Alaska to Panama - almost 5,000 miles away - teaching more than 40 people to sail while simultaneously removing more trash from the shoreline than the entire NOAA Marine Debris Program accomplished in 2010.

In May, I took a day sailing trip with Louie and his friends. It was the adventure of a lifetime. Aboard his well-appointed and comfortable 54' sailing vessel, the S/V Arcturus, we were in very capable hands for our day of exploration. Departing from the Douglas Island harbor, we traveled south of Juneau down the Gastineau Channel and tucked into Taku Inlet. It was a sunny, picture-perfect day for sailing around Southeast Alaska. There was also a bit of stand up paddleboard skiing, too - which was an absolute riot to watch from the dry deck. All-in-all, what a terrific experience that's now got me hooked on Alaska even more!

Check out Captain Hoock's website - Alaska Adventure Sailing - for your own adventure on the water.

[Click the photos below to expand]

May Delight

June 1, 2015

I remember May like it was yesterday. And it was - by far - the best month of May of my life. Maybe it was the fact that May 2015 was Juneau's driest May on record. Or maybe it was because every single day held an adventure that stirred my soul. Who knows why I loved May so much - but I sure know May loved me back tenfold.

Why was May 2015 so incredible? Well, let's see. It started out with a fun photo shoot at Eagle Beach with friends, Becky and Kerry. Not long after, I bought a roadster hybrid bicycle and spent sunny evenings exploring North Douglas Island at sunset. The Alaskan Brewing Co. rocked my socks off at their Spring Fling event, and the Sealaska Heritage Institute fixed the pit and hosted their grand opening of the Walter Soboleff Center. Cinco de Mayo didn't disappoint either, especially since Juneau had weather reminiscent of South of the Border.

I spent a wonderful weekend in Anchorage, catching up with foodie/bestie Sharon, multi-talented blogger Gretchen, and my incredibly hospitable host Cyndi. Cyndi is one of the best cooks I've ever had the pleasure of knowing - and that's saying a lot.

Back in Juneau, I hiked with old friends (Denali the Dawg) and made new friends (Sarena's precious Momma, Maggie, visited Juneau from Fairbanks). One of my closest confidants, Michelle, celebrated her 50th birthday, though she doesn't look a day over 32.

I kayaked the golden hour with award-winning nature photographer, Daniel Buck and cherished an action-packed weekend at the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) event at Echo Cove.

Temperatures were regularly in the high 70s, and I couldn't resist soaking up the sun. I spent lots o' time in and around hawbaws (harbors) - like Auke Bay, Douglas, and Harris Harbors. To round out the month, I got my sealegs aboard the S/V Arcturus while sailing with Captain Louis Hoock of Alaska Adventure Sailing. As for the ICE-ing on the cake, I took a TEMSCO helicopter up to the icy blue Mendenhall Glacier for a Sunday afternoon walkabout, a trip that never gets old.

Every summer has a story - and this has been mine. Juneau in June is back to her rainforest self, yet adventure awaits around every corner. If there's anything this month has taught me, it is this: I am ready - rain or shine.