Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Zipping Through Whistler

Our final days in Whistler were spent touring the local attractions. We started with Ziptrek Ecotours where we zipped through old growth forests.  It was a chilly, but exhilarating experience as we soared 180 ft above ground while taking in views of snow covered mountains and glacier fed streams. Our guides were entertaining and quite knowledgable.  They even taught us how to ziptrek upside down! We finished our final day on the Peak to Peak gondolas, went tubing, had a snowball fight, and then headed back to our hotel to enjoy a nice dinner in the village.  Overall, it was a wonderful holiday escape and we can't wait to return!

12 Days of Christmas

Excitement is building and the countdown to the final days of Christmas are here!  To spread a little romance and holiday cheer, the hubs and I always give 12 days of gifts leading up to the big day.  The gifts can be small, but are always significant and include a personalized message.  Last year we got a little carried away, so this year our goal for each gift is $20 per day; not including wrapping.  My husband put a personalized spin on our 12 days and created our very own Advent Calendar.  Each day we take turns drawing a day/theme and that determines which gift you receive.  It is one of my favorite holiday traditions!  

Happy Holidays! 

Ski Days

Being a true Southern Belle I have little experience with the ski world, but despite my lack of ski knowledge we set out for the slopes first thing Thursday morning.  My first run was a little bumpy and I spent most of my time getting close with the slope; I fell A LOT.  The mister attempted to teach me a few tricks of the trade, but to no avail.  Determined not to give up we enlisted the help of an awesome ski coach, Marc.  By our second day I was able to stay upright and say goodbye to the bunny slope.  
Later that evening, we wrapped up our day at the Scandinave Spa.  There we relaxed in outdoor steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs while surrounded by an alpine forest and mountain views.  With our sore muscles pampered we headed back to the village to prep for our next day on the slopes.  

Photo Courtesy of Scandinave Spa

Whistler, BC

Since the mister and I were dreaming of a white Christmas, we decided to head North for a pre-holiday adventure.  On Wednesday, we made the 5 hour drive from Seattle to Whistler, BC.  Whistler is a quaint village that boasts premium ski runs, awesome nightlife, great shopping, and a lovely Christmas village.  We arrived at dinner time and headed straight for the hotel, the Hilton Resort and Spa.  It's in the center of the village, nestled near the Whistler and Blackcomb lifts. After quickly unpacking, we grabbed a bite to eat at Sushi Village and then spent our evening strolling along snow dusted cobblestone streets.  We discovered a few amazing little surprises such as an ice skating rink and the Olympic Rings.

What's Crackin?

What's crackin'?  The Nutcracker of course!  Last Friday night was the opening of the Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle and we were eager to kick off this holiday season with a bang. We donned our (semi-) formal wear and made our way through the rainy streets of the Emerald city to take in this holiday extravaganza.  

The PNB Nutcracker is not quite like the traditional ballet that you might expect to see.  It has a darker twist thanks to the set and costume designs of Maurice Sendak.  The designs have a vintage quality and captivate the audience with theatrical tricks, like a surprise stage within a stage revealed during the scene of Pasha's kingdom.   I have to admit that my focus remained on the sets for most of the ballet and continued to captivate me with the minute details in design.   Photography is not permitted during the program so I was unable to get pictures, but if you live in Seattle I would highly recommend seeing it for yourself.

Winter Wonderland

This is our first Christmas in Seattle and I am wildly excited about Winterfest at the Seattle Center!  

As November comes to a close, Seattle prepares for the holiday season in style.  Seattle Center is transformed into a Winter Wonderland filled with twinkling white lights, evergreens, and ice sculptures.  The sidewalks are lined with stalls selling festive foods, as carolers sing traditional Christmas songs.  The patrons are donned in their most festive Winter attire as they take in the tranquility of the Winter Train and Village in the center of it all.  

It's hard not to get in the spirit when you are surrounded by such festivities! 

Talapus and Olallie Lake

The rain finally stopped Saturday, so we packed the car and headed to North Bend to bask in the sun.  Since Abbie tagged along for this adventure we opted for an easy 4 mile hike.  This was her first snow hike and we were not sure how she would react.  She handled it like a pro as she romped, rolled, and burrowed her way along the trail.  We enjoyed watching her explore, almost as much as we enjoyed the gorgeous views of the alpine lakes, Talapus and Olallie.

Christmas Parade

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Feeling full from our Thanksgiving indulgence, the mister and I strolled downtown Friday morning to walk off the pumpkin pie and cornbread stuffing.  First we hit a few stores to check out the Black Friday madness and then made our way to the Macy's Christmas Parade.  It was a little damp to say the least, but Santa didn't seem to mind!