Author Archives: Sarah

Best Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in the Boulder Area

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pumpkin patch-38Feeling fall festive? Visit a local you-pick pumpkin or apple farm! Our family albums have years and years of apple and pumpkin-picking portraits, and it’s always a fun game to try to remember where and when we roamed the fields. Photo captions, who needs ’em? Us. These were taken three-ish years ago, and even I had a hard time remembering the name of this epic pumpkin farm outside of Boulder, but lucky for me, the name is in the photos. Katie and the kids have already made their annual pilgrimage this year, but I was too embarrassed to ask Katie the name because that would remind her that I still haven’t published this years-in-the-making post.

pumpkin patch-6This is where I implore you to take a trip to Anderson Farms. Anderson Farms is located about 25 minutes northeast of Boulder, Colorado, 15 minutes from Longmont, and about 20 minutes from Lafayette. Anderson Farms is basically a festive fall wonderland. Anderson Farms is open for another three weeks – every day except Tuesday.

We liked Anderson Farms because there are a bunch of activities included in the general admission price, plenty of photo-taking opportunities, and lots of room for your kids to roam and run. We especially loved the corn maze, the wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, and taking breaks to play on the play structures. Even though Anderson Farms draws a large crowd, there is plenty of space to spread out, eat a snack, and gear up for more fun.

The corn maze is a true adventure for all ages! Before entering the maze, you’re given a photo and map of the maze. There are also several exits if you’re ready to leave the corn and head back to pumpkin land.

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Anderson Farm does a good job of making it interactive for younger kids with activities called Farm Scene Tracks and Farm Scene Investigation – work together to find clues and solve the mystery to help Farmer Joe as you move through the maze. Gamifying the maze holds the little one’s attention and helps you keep the whole crew moving along.

A tip or two for the corn maze:

Katie and I wore closed-toe shoes, and I remember us being grateful for them. It can be dusty in the maze and depending on when you visit, I’m sure that dust will turn to mud. It was plenty sunny during our Anderson Farms visit. We wore hats, and sunscreen, and refilled our water bottles several times. Pee before you enter the maze, there are no bathrooms inside. Pro tip: look to the mountains and the large pumpkin silo to orient yourself on the map.

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After wearing ourselves out in the maze, we headed to the Wagon Ride. This offered a nice break to sit back and look at the beautiful farm scenery. The wagon is set up for safety and was quite delightful. Once we made it to the pumpkin patch we all spread out in different directions to find the perfect pumpkin. The hard part is choosing only what you need. Don’t fret if you can’t carry all your beloved pumpkins, there are hundreds more waiting at the farm store near the parking lot. I recommend finding a special one or two in the field and then waiting until reaching the store to grab a wagon to really load up.  pumpkin patch-32  pumpkin patch-40 pumpkin patch-42

Bonus points if you dress up! I put on a traditional Schu family Halloween costumer (can you find me among the pumpkins in the second image?), while Katie went for the cutsie scarecrow look. I can’t remember if we realized her scarecrow resemblance before leaving the house or not..

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Need some more pumpkin inspiration? Here are a few favorite posts:

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2022 New Year Resolutions

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Happy New Year! It’s 2022 or maybe 2020. Who knows. What is time? Anyway, we love a good calendar flip and tend to create goals and resolutions around it. Here’s a reminder of my New Year resolutions from 2021 and Katie’s resolutions. Just to be clear, I typically don’t accomplish all of my goals, but I enjoy making them! I even enjoy admitting defeat, so here are a plethora of 2022 New Year resolutions.

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DIY Heart Ornaments

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Sometimes we’re just looking for a little something to keep our hands busy while we watch a TV show in the evening. Or maybe we want to pass the time while waiting in the car for takeout food. Remember those days of waiting for your kids at gymnastics practice? Us too. Next year that sentence will be applicable once again, but let’s get onto that ‘little somethin’. Felt heart ornaments! Simple and oh so sweet. If we had our sh!t together, we would package up little gifts to send out to our friends with a DIY kit to create some felt heart ornaments. Maybe you can take that inspiration and run with it?

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Gift Idea: Great Coffee Table Books

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We love books. If you know us, you know this. Today we’re sharing some last minute, but golden, Christmas gift ideas: Great Coffee Table Books. I cherish a big and beautiful book, but it is one of those items that is harder for me to justify purchasing for myself. That means it’s a beloved gift when received!

A few things to ask yourself before you gift a great coffee table book:

  1. Does your recipient live in a tiny home? If so, do not get them a book. Do not get them any items, instead take them to a nice dinner or buy an experience for them.
  2. What topic or subject area does your recipient like? Start by thinking broadly by interest for instance, travel, nature, hobbies (surfing or mountainbiking?), design (interior, architectural, or graphic?) subjects (history or geology?), or artform (weaving or oil painting?) and then you can go deeper within that frame.
  3. What medium do they enjoy? Photography? Illustration or painting? Maybe they’re a big reader and would like something with a robust written narritive?
  4. To narrow down your choices even further, think about your answers to question 3 & 4 and travel a little further down those lanes. When thinking about someone who likes travel, do they love a particular destination? For instance, if I know someone is a Paris fanatic, I would ask myself if they also have a love for architecture, food, fashion, or maybe modern art? I would also think about their current artwork, interests and where they find inspiration to try to nail down if I’m seeking out a photography based book or something else. If I know they like street photography, Paris, and using pops of color in thier home, this book, Paris in Color, may be the perfect gift for them!

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Waste Less Wednesdays: Halloween Costumes

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Many Wednesdays this year we’re checking in to share how we’re reducing our environmental impact. Some of these ideas are big and require a bit of effort. Others are super small and simple, like this one. But we believe that they all make a difference.

Happy Halloweenie! Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine. I start to get excited each time I see the costume stores taking over once empty storefronts. Unfortunately, Halloween generates lots of waste, but luckily, it doesn’t have to! Waste Less this year and instead of buying a readymade costume, dive deep into that closet of yours and find a unique piece, a comfy outfit, or something outrageous that you absolutely love and don’t get to wear enough. It’s a simple concept, but an impactful one. Imagine the waste that could be reduced if even half of our outfit-purchasing party guests shopped from their own closet?

In the past, this idea has served me pretty well. I’ve reused an old prom gown and went as Cleopatra and once as Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A few years ago, a comfy dress that I love sparked the idea of a porcelain doll, and to add a little creep factor, I went as a broken one. You could go a few different ways with this costume, cute, sexy, or creepy. I choose creepy 🙂 Forgive the photos, I never have my sh!t together I’m usually too tipsy to take high-quality photos in good light on Halloween.

Porcelain Doll Essentials :

  • Porcelain doll inspired dress – look here for inspiration and then search your (or your sister’s and friend’s) closet or go thrifting.
  • Stockings or thigh highs
  • Mary Jane heels or really any shoes of your choosing
  • Long locks or a wig & wig cap – I highly recommend going to a beauty supply store and trying on wigs instead of buying one online. I spent about $25 on mine. I take care to store it properly and I’ve had it for more than five years!
  • Thin satin hair ribbons and matching choker – I simply tied a length of ribbon around my neck and it stayed put all night
  • Makeup – admittedly the hardest part for me! I enlisted the help of my makeup savvy girlfriend shown below.

That’s that! What are you dressing up as this year? Were you able to source items from your closet and home costume bin? Do you have a favorite costume from years previous that used clothes from your closet? Let us know, we need ideas for this weekend!

Waste Less Wednesday: Read Used Books

by Sarah | Leave a comment

Many Wednesdays this year we’re checking in to share how we’re reducing our environmental impact. Some of these ideas are big and require a bit of effort. Others are super small and simple, like this one. But we believe that they all make a difference.

Today I’m comin’ at ya with a simple suggestion: read used books. Whether you’re a book worm yourself or you love gifting books to others, we encourage you to purchased used books from small, local retailers.

Why buy used? Used books are EVERYWHERE! Some folks keep each book they read, but most are capable of shedding books they didn’t love or don’t need anymore. Buying used books helps to reduce waste both upstream (waste you don’t see that’s produced in the production, transportation, and packaging of books) and downstream (household waste that we throw away each year).

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See the Larches at Blue Lake + Washington Pass Lookout – North Cascades

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We often detail day hikes – check out our full archive here.

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If you live in Washington, it’s time to pencil in a weekend to see the larches! If you’re not familiar with larches, they’re the bright yellow pine trees in the photo above. Larches are deciduous conifers meaning they have needles instead of leaves and although they are conifers, larches are deciduous trees that lose their needles during autumn. Pretty neat!

I hadn’t seen a larch until I moved to Washington state. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the boreal forests of Siberia and Canada.  In the U.S., you can find larches in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, here in Washington.  In Washington, you can typically count on larches being in bloom at the end of September and the beginning of October. The vibrant color varies each year and is different depending on the time and elevation, so your best bet is to get out there early and often. Larches can grow to be big boys – sometimes reaching 150 feet tall.

If you’re looking for a nice walk with bright autumn color, any old hike will do ya, but I highly recommend hiking to Blue Lake. Note there are at least six lakes named ‘Blue Lake’ in Washington (and another Blue Lake that Kate visited in Colorado!). I’m referring to the one just off of Highway 20 in the North Cascades. Blue Lake is an amazing Seattle weekend getaway destination. This beautiful 4.5 mile out and back hike features towering granite peaks, evergreen forests, meadows and slide areas with wildflowers and foliage, and of course the most beautiful blue mountain lake.

If you’re traveling from Seattle, it will take you about two hours and forty minutes to Blue Lake. Blue Lake is a sparkly gem surrounded by sheer granite peaks and it would not be a stretch to say it’s the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen and way up there on my short list of best hikes. That’s no giveaway coming from someone who has been hiking and backpacking since the age of eight. Someone who has hiked across mountain ranges in Nepal and through jungles in Thailand, this hike was freaking amaze balls. If you’re within a three-hour radius, grab your boots, drive to Blue Lake, and start walking.

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I’m going to go out on a limb here and say we also caught Blue Lake at the best possible time of year. Before setting out on this hike (back in 2018!), I had no idea the larches were in bloom. I actually had no idea what larches were, but now I plan weekend adventures around these beauties. You have to catch them when they change color before the needles fall. You’ll be ooing and aahing every step of the way. Just for reference, this hike to Blue Lake was during the last weekend in September, on the 29th to be exact.

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Waste Less Wednesdays: Repurpose Those Plastic Clamshell Containers

by Sarah | Leave a comment

Many Wednesdays this year we’re checking in to share how we’re reducing our environmental impact. Some of these ideas are big and require a bit of effort. Others are super small and simple, like this one. But we believe that they all make a difference.

While we try to buy from farmers markets as often as possible and altogether avoid the plastic clamshell containers that house berries, we aren’t perfect. We suggest reusing old clamshell containers to give them a longer lifespan before tossing them in the recycling bin. It feels like such a waste to turn around and recycle the containers, especially when they could be used to pack other foods first.

There are many, many ways to reuse plastic clamshell containers, but I’ve found three ways to reuse plastic clamshells that I consistently rely on.

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Van Trips & Summer Plans

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We’re not sure about you, but to us it feels like something happened over the past few weeks. Is it mass vaccination?! Could be! Is it the arrival of sunshine and wildflowers? Is it delirium and dizziness from seasonal sinus pain? Or maybe it’s the realization that we’ll get to hug more family and friends this summer than during all of 2020? Whatever’s going on we’re into it! Cruisin’ into the 3-day weekend with a master plan behind the wheel of a big black van!

In the celebration of summer (23 days away!), here are a few posts to spark inspiration to get lost on a road trip, plan a family camping trip, and most importantly: just get out there!

Camping on BLM Land is a fantastic idea and exactly what I plan to do all weekend! BLM Land is much more prevalent in the western states, here’s a map.

This weekend marks the first van camping trip of the summer for me. Katie already snuck one (or maybe two?) in! Either way, I always double-check my van camping supply containers and cross-reference my kitchen box with this Van Camping Kitchen post by Katie.

How To: Plan Your Family Camping Trip Step-by-Step is a great guide if you’re still in the planning stages.

32 Things to Eat, See, Drink, and Do in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill

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Let me be clear, this is mostly a list of awesome breweries, bars, and bites to eat in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. This list is not comprehensive. This is my list that I pass on to people who are visiting the area. I lived in Chapel Hill for about five years. I loved every second of it and you won’t catch me saying anything negative about the triangle. It was truly a really pleasant place to live. Here are my favorite eats and drinks – enjoy!

Raleigh

  1. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey https://ac-restaurants.com/beasleys/ So tasty! A must-try. I like the chicken biscuit and the classic chicken, yum!
  2. Death & Taxes https://ac-restaurants.com/death-taxes/ Upscale. Amazing. Great at local sourcing. Menu changes daily! Dishes made by my favorites at Haand.
  3. The Pit https://www.thepit-raleigh.com/ The Pit http://thepit-durham.com/ really taste barbecue and nice atmosphere.
  4. Whiskey Kitchen https://www.whiskey.kitchen/ I like the food and I like whiskey!
  5. The Raleigh Times https://www.raleightimesbar.com/about/ tasty drinks and great food too. I think of this spot as an after-work delight or a quick drink and eats place before a night on the town.
  6. North Carolina Museum of Art Sculpture Garden https://ncartmuseum.org/visit/the_park I like museums, but they make me sleepy. Check out the outdoor sculpture garden, it’s a great place to walk around.
  7. Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve Nice woodsy area in Cary. Click for a list of the short nature walks. 

Durham

  1. The Durham https://thedurham.com/restaurant/ stylish hotel with a great rooftop bar with small bites and a nice view. There’s also another delicious restaurant indoors, but I think it’s temporarily closed due to COVID, so check before going. 
  2. The Pit http://thepit-durham.com/ really taste barbecue (and right next to a brewery and across the street from a hip little drinks place. There’s also a location in Raleigh.
  3. Beer Study! https://beerstudy.com/ Bottle shop and beers on tap – so many beers and ciders! They have shops in Chapel Hill & Durham.
  4. Bull City Cider Works https://www.bullcityciderworks.com/durham Cider! Great cider spot especially for those who think they don’t like cider.
  5. Cloudworks https://www.cloudsbrewing.com/ Brewery with tasty food.
  6. Fullsteam https://www.fullsteam.ag/ cool brewery next to a delicious barbecue restaurant, good food trucks, and another hip bar.
  7. Pour https://www.pourtaproom.com/locations/durham/ self-serve taproom where you can choose to only try an ounce or two of beer, cider, kombucha, etc.
  8. Hi-Wire Brewery https://hiwirebrewing.com/ cool, spacious, a great place to chill and drink delicious drafts.
  9. Barrel Culture https://barrelculture.com/ it’s out of the way, but it’s worth it if you’re serious about good beer.
  10. Ponysaurus Brewing https://www.ponysaurusbrewing.com/ nice covered patio and lawn area. Durham spoils you with chill breweries and this is just another one of those gems.
  11. American Tobacco Campus https://americantobacco.co/restaurants-retail/ restored tobacco factories transformed into housing, retail, restaurants, and event venues. It’s a cool place to just take a little stroll. It’s also next to the Durham Bulls baseball stadium. The one restaurant that is actually amazing is Saladelia. The rest are very meh or chains. I would get Saladelia takeout and sit outside somewhere on the grounds or I’d grab a morning coffee somewhere and just take a stroll through. Phoebe Judge records Criminal at the NPR radio studio onsite! There’s also a cute stationery shop for the paper lovers among us.
  12. Duke University if you’re into walking around looking at an old campus.
  13. Sarah P. Duke Gardens https://gardens.duke.edu/phase1 Free. Beautiful! The gardens may or may not be open so check before going. Apparently, they were closed for an entire year! That’s just nutso.

Chapel Hill

  1. Top of the Hill https://www.thetopofthehill.com/#toporestaurant this is a good spot to dine on the patio and people watch several stories above the busiest corner in Chapel Hill. The food doesn’t blow me away, I come here more for the view (and the drinks because it’s a distillery!).
  2. Al’s Burger Shack https://www.alsburgershack.com/ fresh, local, sustainable southern grub. The burgers come in three sizes so you can snack according to your stomach size. These are some of the best burgers I’ve ever had! It’s also right next door to Beer Study.
  3. Mediterranean Deli https://mediterraneandeli.com/ So many mains, sides, wraps, deli salads, Mediterranean desserts, etc. It’s deli-style so they fill containers with whatever amount you want. Nice for a picnic! There is seating inside and out too. It’s cheap, quick, and ridiculously filling.
  4. The Pig https://thepigrestaurant.com/ Delicioussss bbq! Super authentic NC style. It’s in a weird-ass spot, but it’s so good that I’m willing to overlook it.
  5. Allen & Son’s https://www.facebook.com/AllenSonBbq/ Super authentic! Just check out that facebook page, hah! But don’t let the pics scare you. This is one of the most delicious “down-home” bbq spots in NC. There are more upscale suggestions elsewhere on this doc, but I love stopping by the take-out window at Allen’s. DO NOT eat in unless you want to be surrounded by taxidermy and have your wrists stick to vinyl tablecloths. 
  6. Venable https://venablebistro.com/ describes itself as a rotisserie bistro serving elevated southern comfort food.  Each meal incorporates southern elements, but the portion sizes keep the food coma at bay.  The cocktails are amazing and worth every penny, but I know that’s not what you’re after!
  7. Elmo’s Diner https://www.elmosdiner.com/ Full Breakfast or Brunch – is always my top pick for a sit-down breakfast. If you’re eating when the rest of Chapel Hill is, there’s usually a wait, but Elmo’s is located in Carr Mill Mall so you’ll have little shops to visit while you wait. My favorite in the plaza is Townsend and Bertram, an independently owned outdoors store with the kindest, most helpful employees.
  8. Beer Study! https://beerstudy.com/ Bottle shop and beers on tap – so many beers and ciders! They have shops in Chapel Hill & Durham.
  9. Cafe Driade https://caffedriade.com/ is an absolute gem. It’s tucked away just outside of town on East Franklin Street, this is a cafe that locals know and love. The entrance to the lot comes up quickly so you may zoom by it. There’s seating sprinkled around the front and side of Cafe Driade, but take a look around the back.
  10. Honeysuckle Tea House http://www.honeysuckleteahouse.com/  is a great little excursion especially if you just need to decompress for a beat. Cool open-air tea house with a treehouse vibe – created from old shipping containers. It’s a little bit of a drive into the country. It’s a mini oasis or you might think it’s like walking onto a hippie compound 😉 Beverages (tea, kombucha, beer, smoothies) are on point, there wasn’t much food when I would visit, so you may want to.
  11. Open Eye Cafe https://openeyecafe.com/ is the sister cafe to Driade. They are both under the umbrella of Carrboro Coffee Roasters so if you need good coffee for a gift for someone, it’s excellent! They used to offer classes here where they’d teach you how to brew coffee on the machine of your choosing. So neat!
  12. Fearrington Village & Jordan Lake – A visit to Jordan Lake could mean hiking, kayaking SUP, walking along the beach, etc. Even just driving by is lovely, especially if you drive this way. Fearrington Village is this oddly ritzy, little community. There’s a good bookstore, a cafe called the Belted Goat that’s yummy, and some other shops and a spa. Adorable cows, goats, and other animals roaming in the large fields.