Simple Summer Salad Recipe

Whenever we're invited to a friend's for dinner, I always insist on bringing the salad. It used to be because I didn't trust my cooking skills and it's really difficult to mess up a salad.  I'm more confident in the kitchen these days but more often than not still end up as the salad lady. I'm skilled in getting those leafy greens on the table. 

Years ago, my sister-in-law told me that the best salads always contained 3 things; nuts for texture, fruit for sweetness, and cheese for, well deliciousness.  I would add a fourth necessity and throw in avocados. If you are allergic to any of those things, I'm so sorry. This salad recipe is not for you. For everyone else, be the salad person and use this recipe for your next picnic or BBQ. 

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Salad Ingredients (makes enough for 4-6 people)

• 3 cups of spinach spinach 
• 1/2 one large red onion
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup diced up strawberries strawberries
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1/4 pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup crushed walnuts
• DRESSING - generous amounts of basil olive oil and Meyer lemon balsamic > both of which can be found at my sister-in-law's shop in Leavenworth or online | The Olive Oil and Vinegar Store

Brita Ulf | OuterlinesShop | San Francisco, CA

One of my favorites aspects of creativity is being able to collaborate with other artists. On a recent trip to San Francisco, I met up with two talented ladies (Anita & Brita) for an impromptu photo shoot. The only concrete detail we planned was the location, and we let the rest of the details fill in throughout the afternoon.

We convened in the Sunset district (probably my favorite neighborhood in SF since it's right by the beach!) and got to snapping.  Brita evokes a true California-girl (er, woman) spirit, and we had a blast photographing her skateboarding skills and natural die creations. Below are a few of my favorite images from the shoot.

If you're a business owner looking for lifestyle images or a snazzy new portrait, drop me a line at leslie.schipper@gmail.com. 

Model: Brita Ulf , Owner of OuterlineShop

Creator's Corner: Lauren Ferguson | linenstich

Tell us a little about your creative background: I have always enjoyed art, music, clothes and good design. I always viewed them as “hobbies”, never something I could do for a living. I spent many years going back and forth, deciding between a logical/business career or chasing my dreams of an art/design career. I took a few painting and drawing classes in college. After graduation, I decided that being logical was necessary in order to provide for myself and got a boring job. I went nuts! I quit after a few months and decided to learn anything and everything online and started with graphic design. I got a job as an interior designer and learned how to code on the side. From there I decided to try UX/UI design, but finally realized I wanted to design clothes because I was having the worst time finding the clothes I was looking for. I taught myself how to sew, and began the lengthy process from there. Everything creative I know how to do is self-taught! What would I do without the internet?!

“I created Linenstitch because I want to see a change in the clothing industry. I want to fill the gap of reasonably priced clothes, that was still high quality and long-lasting. I want to provide people with the best clothes at the best price. I want to create pieces that I had been searching for but couldn’t find. ”

What was the moment you knew sustainable fashion was what you wanted to focus on? I have always loved clothes, and I began realizing the clothes I was buying were cheaply made and not lasting as long as I wanted. I kept reading tags on clothing and majority of them said: “Made in China”. I also came across an article online about fast fashion (and at this point, I was already an F21 & H&M hater!) and read some of the horrible conditions factory workers endure, and the negative impact clothing production has on the environment. I read a ton about Rayon (a fabric a lot of the clothes in boutiques and fast fashion retailers use) and quickly learned that it's one of the cheapest synthetic fabrics in the world. Why were fashion companies using it and how were they getting away with charging an arm and a leg for items made of it? I knew after all this I had to do something about creating high quality, cruelty free, rayon free, long lasting items that were timeless and sustainably made.

Lauren wearing the original linen dress. 

When and why did you create linenstitch? The idea came about in December 2016 but didn’t fully launch it until October 2017.  At that time, everything was on pre-sale so we could gauge interest and desire. We finally launched our product in February 2018! I created Linenstitch because I want to see a change in the clothing industry. I want to fill the gap of reasonably priced clothes, that was still high quality and long-lasting. I want to provide people with the best clothes at the best price. I want to create pieces that I had been searching for but couldn’t find. I really want to make a difference in the world and push others to do the same by supporting ethical fashion companies. I believe we all have a responsibility to help protect our environment.

What was the biggest challenge in starting your business?  Getting rid of self-doubts, for sure! Honestly, I think I could have launched the company sooner but I kept digging my feet in the mud.  I was so worried that everyone would think my idea was dumb or worthless. I felt like a fraud so often. I wondered, "I just learned to sew, how can I call myself a clothing designer? I didn’t get a degree in business, how can I live up to the tasks of being a business owner?" I have had to force myself to think positively and optimistically. Fake it till you make it right?  Now I am a firm believer that anyone can learn and do anything they set their mind to. We are so capable but we get in our own way.

“I recently did a crazy thing where I deleted everything off of my phone. Now I can only call, text, use GPS, read books, take notes and listen to music. (No web browsers, no social media, nothing that wastes time and distracts). It is so refreshing and now I notice the beauty that is already around me.”

What influences your creativity? Nature, art, music and clean simple design. I see beauty in everything. There are so much good design and inspiration out there. All it takes is us recognizing it. We miss out on a lot when we are so distracted and always buried in our phones and what’s happening online. I recently did a crazy thing where I deleted everything off of my phone. Now I can only call, text, use GPS, read books, take notes and listen to music. (No web browsers, no social media, nothing that wastes time and distracts). It is so refreshing and now I notice the beauty that is already around me.

Do you have creative habits or rituals that help you stay focused? I make sure I do something active every day. I am a huge cyclist and skier, and also love doing yoga when the weather is bad (living in Seattle, those days are more often than not). My mind stays clear when I wake up and stick to a schedule too. I set goals and make plans for the next day, every night. I make sure to take breaks that relieve stress like going for walks, reading books or dancing my bum off in my living room.

What is your proudest moment in your creative journey so far?  It’s honestly been incredible to see how far I have come. I think back to 2 years ago and I didn’t know anything that I know now, creatively speaking. My proudest moment has to be the day I got my clothes from Korea.  I just started hanging them all up and putting tags on them and then I looked at our website and our curated Instagram and it just hit me, WOW- I created THIS! This was 100% me!? This is MINE!? And now every day, when I have new strangers following, liking, commenting, and even purchasing our stuff, I’m just like WOAH! This is surreal!

Are you creatively satisfied? I am. I definitely have days where I don’t get to create as much as I would like to, and have to focus on administrative tasks. Those days kinda suck, but it’s all part of the process. Sometimes even your dream job has it’s crappy days. I am working a lot on ways to automate the stuff I don’t love so I can focus more time and effort on creating and designing.

What's next for you? I am going to ride this Linenstitch wave out and see where it takes me. I have dreams of a million other items for the shop, which include jewelry and shoes. I have always dreamed of designing leather shoes. I also still love graphic design and working on branding for other businesses. That’s the beauty of having experience in a few areas, if you ever get sick of one thing, you can take a break and do something else! I also want to keep working on my painting skills. 

Take a peep at Lauren's designs at Linenstitch and follow along on Instagram. 

Lodged Out: An Outdoorsy Unplugged Retreat for Creatives

My pre-arthritic fingers needed a rest from the continuous typing, scrolling, and tapping. 
My mind desired clarity not tethered to a timeline and born out of a lack of distraction.  
My spirit craved the type of energy that occurs effortlessly from an authentic connection, refreshingly honest conversations, and pure untouched landscapes.

Founder Bobbilee at Tall Timber - Photo by Retreat Photographer Alycia Lovell Photography

Three days at Lodged Out provided all that and then some. 

I had been keeping an eye on the tech-free camp since my friend Haley attended their inaugural camp in Idaho. (She did a great feature about it on She Explores. You can read it here. ) It encapsulated so much of what I love and live for - connection and community, creativity, the outdoors, and the chance to really unplug. 

When I found out there was going to be a winter camp just over the pass from Seattle, all arrows were pointing to 'sign up'.  The decision was one of the best I've made for myself in the past six months. Now that I've been home and had time to process the experience, I can see that my participation was an important investment for both my personal wellbeing and professional growth. 

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About Lodged Out

“Lodged Out exists to bring like-minded people to the mountains for experiential learning so they can rid themselves of distraction and immerse themselves into an experience with inspiring people - because when you disconnect, you reconnect.”

— Founder Bobbilee

Founder Bobbilee at Tall Timber - Photo by Retreat Photographer Alycia Lovell Photography

Lodged Out - Tall Timber Style

It's hard to imagine a more picturesque place than Tall Timber Ranch for a retreat. We had the entire grounds to ourselves and bunked in cute A-frame and bunk-house style cabins. Situated about 30 miles Northwest of Leavenworth, Tall Timber borders the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area and is surrounded by alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains. The area became our playground every morning as we strapped on Nordic skis or snowshoes and tromped (or glided) around the camp.

“Nothing to do, Nowhere to go, No one to be”

— Lodged Out Speaker, Tatiana Simonian

One morning we went searching for a waterfall, the next morning a group of us sat by a glacier river and talked about everything and nothing. The first 3-4 hours of the day were free to spend however we liked. And we liked to spend that time together. Distraction free. Cell phone free. Any type of screen free. My guess is that the lack of distraction led to a more immediate connection with one another. There was a presence in conversations - eye contact, intuitive body language, thoughtful questions - all of the signs that point to active listening. There was a distinct sense that not only did we all want to be there psychically, but we wanted to be there for each other emotionally. 

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Lodged Out - Workshops + Speakers

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I was particularly excited for the outdoor stewardship workshop with Katie Boué and creative writing workshop with Erin Rose Belair. 

I spend a lot of time recreating and promoting an outdoor lifestyle, so I was eager to learn about how to be a better advocate for the outdoors. If you're interested in learning how to do that, give Katie a follow. She's a fantastic resource. 

I also spend a lot of time writing, both personal journaling and for client work. With anything you do often, it's easy to slip into a pattern or habitual way of doing it. My writing had started to sound all the same to me. I was hoping the workshop would rattle some dormant creativity in me and it did! Erin taught us about lyrical essays and gave us a framework for creating our own. I've shared the essay I came up with at the bottom of this post if you're interested in reading.  

After our workshops, it was whiskey and dinner time followed by speakers and fireside chats. Being the grandma that I am, I rarely made it past 10pm. I would feel a high from the day that would carry me to the edge of the night before crashing from emotional exhaustion. But it was the good kind of emotional exhaustion. The kind that emanates from giving people your full attention, talking and listening for hours, and trying new things. 

Photo by Retreat Photographer Alycia Lovell Photography

Bye Bye, Tall Timber

When the time came to leave, I experienced a range of emotions. I was creativity inspired, ready to start new projects and dive into work. I was somber about leaving new friends.  I was anxious to  depart the quiet of the mountains and enter back into the chaos of the city, the chaos of everyday technology. And I was motivated to be a better outdoor activist, a better ally to WOC, a smarter entrepreneur, a more vulnerable and present friend, daughter, sister and wife. All of this as a result of taking 3 days to unplug with 35 or so creative strangers in the woods. 

Follow Lodged Out to get updates on their retreats. 
Instagram @lodgedout

Untitled Lyrical Essay -

“I’m thinking about cooking dinner with Jared
Do-si-do’ing around each other in our tiny kitchen,
working separately on the same recipe
trying not to choke on the smoke rising from the cast iron
this hundred-year-old home needs a fan

vegetables sizzling, oil crackling
the occasional ‘oh shit’
vibrates off the mint green walls we didn’t paint
The music floats in from the record player in the living room

we pause and reach for each other
one hand held and one hand resting
on a back
or a hip
we start to move, small steps
creating small circles as we spin around
our favorite room in this hundred-year-old home

I wonder how much longer we’ll live here?

live simply
simply live
city living sometimes feels like anything but
I daydream about a new place to plant intentional roots
but where?

We’ll take certain things with us
the Belgian linen sheets that shelter our bodies at night
furniture that’s been passed on from parents
the record player, boxes of well-loved books
and the cast iron that’s heard our laughter, our curses
and watched us dance circles in our tiny kitchen

I’ve heard the phrase
”you can always go back”
but whoever actually does?

You live in the past, or you live in the present.
”

Travel: New Zealand - 3 Weeks on the South Island

From the moment we landed in New Zealand,  I knew that we were in one the most beautiful countries on Earth. Sure, I had spent hours eyeballing internet imagery and knew it was going to be exquisite.  But nothing compares to experiencing it first hand.  The country is the definition of utopia, elaborate with diverse landscapes and climates, brimming with friendly locals, travelers and happy farm animals. As opposed to a lot of the yearlong travelers we met, Jared and I had three weeks to experience the country's vast scenery. With that timeline, we stuck to venturing around the South Island. 

 

 If you are reading this and are planning your own trip to NZ (whether it's booked or a bucket list) this would be my one piece of advice: go for as long as possible.

To maximize on our time, we adhered to a 2 night minimum stay so we aren't continuously packing, unpacking, checking in and checking out of AirBNB's.  Below is our three week itenerary and a few helpful tips about traveling through the country.  Reach out or leave a comment if you have any questions or additional advice for readers. 

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1. Abel Tasman National Park (3 days, 2 nights): 

• Location: Top of the South Island
• Distance: 37 miles / 60 km (in full)
• Size: 55,672 acres and New Zealand's smallest national park
• Campsite Price: $15 pp, must be booked in advance

“For at least 500 years Maori lived along the Abel Tasman coast, gathering food from the sea, estuaries and forests, and growing kumera on suitable sites. Most occupation was seasonal but some sites in Awaroa estuary were permanent. The Ngati Tumatakokiri people were resident when, on 18 December 1642, the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman anchored his two ships near Wainui in Mohua (Golden Bay), the first European to visit Aotearoa - New Zealand.”

— DOC Abel Tasman

Beginning in Abel Tasman was 100% intentional.  We needed to experience the opposite season than the one we were in. We enthusiastically traded in short, dreary winter days for the heat wave of summer. Exposing our skin to the sun was marvelous and I was surprised at how the act of wearing a bathing suit could be a source of so much joy.  

We took a 2 hour water taxi ride which dropped us off at Totaranui, a popular beach for locals.  On the way in we saw seals, sting rays and got a historical background of the park from our driver.  Once we were dropped off, we started towards our first camping spot at Onetahuti Bay. Out agenda was simple; soak in the sunshine and get some water therapy. In between that we cooked, read and made conversation with other campers. Two in particular, a couple from Wellington were on a tour promoting a waste-free life. Read about how they inspired my post about reducing waste while traveling here.

The second night we camped at Te Pukatea, a section of the trail accessible only by boat or hiking. There were only 7 campsites, and we found ourselves alone much of the time. We enjoyed the quiet and reveled in our distance from technology. For some, having no cell phone service is a cause for a breakdown, but we love it. Jared actually kept his phone off the entire three weeks! 

Tips: 

• Make sure to sunscreen your entire body. I forgot to cover my feet and my poor feet burned, which then caused them to swell and created nasty blisters. 
• On the day you hike out, stop at Hooked On Marahau to refuel before hitting the road. I don't typically eat meet but holy hell that burger was divine. 

But seriously, a burger and beer after hiking is so necessary. The Hooked Cafe is conveniently located right outside the park.

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 2. Punakaiki / Paparoa National Park (3 days, 3 nights):

• Location: West Coast 
• Established: 1987
• Size: 10,6181 acres

From Abel Tasman we drove south west towards Punakaiki.  Jared had found a sweet off the grid cabin and we splurged by booking 3 nights. We  didn't have any plans, which was probably a good thing since a cyclone rolled in and we couldn't leave our cabin! We were safe, but stuck in the cabin for over a day. We did manage to take a quick trip to the popular Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. A short, paved loop trail  takes you through incredible Limestone landscapes.  It was one of the most "touristy" things we did, but it was fascinating to read about the rocks 30 million year old history and how they were formed.  

* We found the cabin on Canopy Glamping. Our off the grid-hut was built by a local builder and artist, and consisted of two small timber huts, adjoined by a covered outdoor kitchen and living area. Everything from the furniture and decor, to the materials used to build the hut were intentional.  

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3. Wanaka (4 nights) 

Wanaka was one of two towns we stayed in and we fell in love with it instantly. Any location that combines easy access to the outdoors, healthy creative food options, and a friendly community immediately has me daydreaming about a move.  Wanaka gets bonus points for being surrounded by water. Everyday, we followed the same simple pattern of coffee + breakfast, a hike followed by lunch and another coffee, downtime (reading/nap), a walk around town, and dinner. I love staying in a place long enough to develop a little routine. Below is a list of hikes we did and cafes/restaurants we ate at. 

Hikes in Wanaka: 

• Roy's Peak - 10 miles roundtrip; 4-5 hours
  The proximity of this hike from town makes it an accessible trail for travelers. From the lake level, a steep gradient begins and doesn't let up till you finish at the top. There is a 4,000 feet elevation gain in the (almost) 5 mile climb. The views are spectacular and urge you along the way as you pass farmland, tussock and on a clear day, Mt. Aspiring. 
• Rob Roy Glacier - 6.2 miles roundtrip; 2-4 hours
  This trail can be summed up in one word: diverse. Along the short 3.2 mile walk to the glacier, you pass through a gorge, beech forest, and an alpine valley. The drive to the trailhead felt longer than the hike itself, but the valley floor is gorgeous and home to adorable roaming cattle and sheep. 
• Isthmus Peak - 10 miles roundtrip; 4-5 hours
  This peak tops at around 4,543 feet and is similar in  length and elevation to Roy's Peak. The track overlooks Lake Wanaka and Lake Hāwea, with views of the Southern Alps and the town. It's a long steady climb that's well maintained and not as crowded as Roy's. The best part (in my opinion) was walking through the fields of alpine tussock. 

Moody clouds rolling in as we climb to the top of Isthmus Peak.

Feeling wind and freedom at the top of Isthmus Peak.

Where to Eat & Drink in Wanaka:

• Ritual Espresso Cafe: Anything off the breakfast menu + delicious baked goods + coffee
• The Big Fig: "slow food served fast" - Modern Middle Eastern eatery right on the lake and open all day. Finish off your meal with one of their carrot cakes.
• Francesca's Kitchen: Arrive early or book reservations in advance. Authentic, affordable Italian cuisines and an extensive New Zealand wine list. 
• Kika: One of our top meals while in New Zealand. The trendy spot is tapas-style dishes that are inventive and seasonal. We were close to returning for another dinner but opted to try something new. Jared and I shared the Roasted cauliflower, whipped tahini, pine nut furikake and dates, the Roasted carrots, harissa, yoghurt, rye granola, and the Lamb shoulder, preserved lemon, rosemary, chilli.  I would order it all again in a hearbeat.

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4. Mt Cook National Park, (2 days, 1 night) 

• Location: Central part of the South Island 
• Established: 1953
• Size: 174,772 acres 

Staying overnight at the bright red Mueller Hut was one of the highlights of the trip. You know how some trips (or more specifically hikes) are about the journey? Well this one wasn't. This hike was definitely about the destination. It is only 3.2 miles but has a total elevation gain of 3,280 feet. I hadn't looked into it until I searched online and saw the estimated climb time of 4 hours. That long of a trek for that short of mileage usually means one thing- UP. The first bit is stairs, stairs, and more stairs. We passed a guy coming down who said "this was the stairway to heaven, now it's a stairway to hell." With my mental and physical energy focused on the uphill, I couldn't be bothered to think about tomorrow when we too, would be headed back down.  

We finished in 2.5 hours and I hastily bundled up on the deck of the hut, ate my sandwich and fell asleep in the sun. The remaining hours of the day passed slowly. We chatted with day hikers, explored the surrounding area and made a little home in the bunkhouse we shared with the other overnight hikers. 

Our hut warden for the night was Neville, a local kiwi who had been volunteering at Mueller for the last 10 years. He pointed out the mountain ranges in view, gave us a history of who climbed it when (shout out to Freda Du Faur, first female to climb Mt. Cook), and what stars we would see as the day shifted into night. 

Within 12 hours, we experienced the the most spectacular sunset and sunrise. At almost 6,000 feet up, we had a 360-degree panorama encompassing glaciers, ice cliffs, and some of New Zealand’s highest peaks.

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5. Kepler Track (3 days, 2 nights) :

Location: Fiordland National Park
Distance: 37 miles / 60 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 days 

The Kepler Track is one of nine great walks in New Zealand. Great walks are New Zealand's premium tracks and are accessible from major towns that are well serviced by local operators and accommodation and transport providers. They are well formed/maintained and easy to follow. (Abel Tasman is also a great walk!) 

By the time we began the Kepler Track, we had hiked 6 days in a row. My body felt simultaneously strong and drained. I knew it would be a great hike but I was also craving stillness and a soft bed. We had originally planned to do the hike in 4 days but ended up finishing in 3 because that soft bed was calling both our names. Not to mention we were both getting eaten alive by mosquitos and we had hit a hiking breaking point. 

We started the hike in mid afternoon but walked a relatively flat and shaded 9 miles to our first camp spot at Broad Bay. We began the second day early, knowing that we had 15 miles to go with the most elevation gain of the trek. We stopped at the Luxmore Hut for a quick snack, bathroom break, and to layer on more clothes. Now that we were at the ridge line, the temperatures were much cooler and the wind was whipping. Raindrops felt intermittently as we  walking along the spine of the mountains. It was the highlight of the hike, looking down at the lakes and seeing other mountains jut out from the water.

At around mile 10 we began the descent and with every achy step we got closer to our home for the night, the Iris Burns Hut . Sleep came really easy that night. On day 3 we began the trail early, moving quickly through the beech forest and finally back to the car park.  We were able to book an extra night at our AirBNB and were enjoying and a shower and Netflix by sundown. 

6. Te Anau (3 nights): 

Our AirBNB was situated out of town on a lovely farm and we didn't venture to town that often. Multiple people told us to go to Doubtful Sound vs Milford (because Doubtful was the less busy/chaotic spot) so we did book a full day tour though Go Orange cruise.  Despite Seattle-like weather, cruising through the fjords was gorgeous and it was a nice break from being on our feet. We did drive up to Milford Sound just to take in the scenery and stopped to do a quick hike to  Lake Marian . The rest of our time was spent on the farm or near Lake Te Anau. It was the perfect way to spend our last few days in New Zealand.