getaway to astoria

We don't always do fancy date nights-- to be honest (unforunately) our weeks usually end up too busy for that -- but what my husband and I are good at is making time for weekend getaways every so often. The concentrated time together -- to relax, to catch up and to just be with each other with no agenda -- is something that I believe every couple should try and make time for. We don't go anywhere super fancy or far away, but just somewhere away from our ordinary.

Our getaway was my husband's bid Christmas gift to me. This past weekend we drove the three and a half hours south to the coastal town of Astoria, OR. (The Goonies was filmed there.)

It doesn't snow that often in the Pacific Northwest-- just a handful of times a year-- but randomly this weekend was the exact time that a crazy storm blew into Oregon turning our beachside weekend into a snow weekend. Not exactly what we had planned, but it turned out to be exactly what we needed. And it was so stinking gorgeous out.

p.s. We drove a rental car provided by STI and to be honest -- I was worried. A Kia handling snow? Turns out the Kia Forte was a champ, and its heated seats kept me cozy the entire drive down. Not to mention its gas mileage-- averaging 35 miles per gallon-- was pretty great, too.

p.p.s. do you do regular date nights? or getaways? or anything?

xo, erika

ways to find balance

Let me just start out by saying honestly, I am probably one of the least qualified people to offer any sort of advice on finding balance in life. I can stand on my foot-- ha-- but that's about as balanced as I feel like my life gets. 

But, I am trying. I really am attempting to create a balance of work and life. I think through my struggles with it, I am learning a lot about what works for me. 

And I know I'm not the only one who struggles to keep all the plates spinning, while still having sort of healthy level of relaxation, hard work, exercise, etc, etc. We stay busy. We pride on ourselves on being busy-- and I'm saying this about me, more than anything. I admit that I can revel in the fact that I can be really unbalanced. That shouldn't be something to be proud of. 

So I'm working on it. Really. And here are a few things that I'm trying.

1. Learning that saying 'yes' now could mean 'no' later.

Turns out you can't do it all-- even the fun things. So saying "yes" to happy hour with dear friends, may mean that I have to turn down dinner later on. Or, committing to a business partnership with one company may mean that I should turn down a partnership with another. Sometimes I'll regret the no or the yes, but if it means that my life is a little more balanced, it is worth it. 

2. Breaks are necessary.

I talked about this last week, but sometimes you have to step away for a little bit. I don't know what you might need to step away from, but if you can manage it for even a half hour, it needs to happen so you can return refreshed.

3. You need people to say hard things. 

For me, this is my husband. He will tell me when I'm taking on too much-- when I'm creating for myself a world that is limited by my work and my own expectations. You need people in your life who are going to tell you when it's time to work harder, and when it's time to let go. Find these people and hold onto them and make them be brutally honest with you. 

4. Go easy on yourself. 

You're going to fail. You're going to feel too busy, too overwhelmed and you're going to feel completely unbalanced. That's ok. I'm there too. 

Do you have any tricks or tips to maintaining balance in your life? Please share them. I need help and I'm sure others would love to hear them, too. :)

xo, erika

recipe: peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (gluten free)

I've always been someone who operates with the belief that sweets are just going to be bad for you. They have to have two sticks of butter, 12 eggs, and more butter, to be delicious.  When I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner -- that should be healthy-- but if I am going to have dessert, I am going to indulge.

However, I have a friend who has had stomach issues for years, so she was trying out an elimination diet to get to root of it.  But it was her birthday and I desperately wanted to make her something sweet and delicious that would fit her current restrictions, so I made this gluten-free, dairy-free brownies. And despite my initial skepticism, they were delicious (like, go make them now kind of delicious). And, even better, they were easy and didn't have any weird additives. I could make them out of what I had on hand.

So I started thinking... maybe desserts could be slightly healthy...

I started playing around with tweaking some other recipes, and for the Super Bowl this past week, I decided to make peanut butter oatmeal cookies -- but in a similar way to the brownies. And this is what I came up with (and yes, we ate them all in the first quarter.)

I don't know if I could call them healthy but they don't even have one stick of butter in them.

peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (gluten, dairy free)
1 cup peanut butter
5 tbs maple syrup (or honey or brown sugar)
1/4 cup sugar-free, natural applesauce
2 tbs melted coconut oil
1 1/2 cups oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or, you could be really healthy and substitute dried fruit or nuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Blend peanut butter, maple syrup, applesauce and coconut oil with a mixer until fully blended.
Mix in applesauce and vanilla extract.

Stir in baking soda, oats, and chocolate chips.

Batter will be relatively thick.

Place on sprayed cooking sheet in spoon-sized drops (I use parchment paper because it means even less clean up!)

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes.

Eat them all.

xo, erika

everyone needs a sweatshirt dress

don't forget my sole hope instagram auction! Today at 6 p.m. pacific-- @shoperougeandwhimsy

The best thing about a sweatshirt dress? You only look like you're dressed up. In reality, you're wearing something that feels like a nightgown you had in 2nd grade. Pair it with fleece tights (another incredible invention) and you're practically wearing pajamas to work. But you don't look like you're wearing pajamas. This is why everyone needs a sweatshirt dress.

xo, erika

wear:
dress: Gap 
tights: Macys
socks: Urban Outfitters
boots: Franco Sarto couple years ago

sole hope auction

I am going to Uganda in March with the non-profit Sole Hope (learn about them here) and to fundraise part of my trip, I am hosting an epic -- (yes, I'm using that word) -- fundraiser on instragram.

I have been blessed to have friends who have incredible handmade businesses who are generously donating items to the cause. Even if you don't bid, take a moment to check out each of these ladies listed below -- I promise that they are all very talented!

julie ann art // oh sweet joy // vividot // red letter paper co // she does justice // oh so antsy // ns pottery

lilyemme jewelry // yellow heart art // acute designs // bow + arrow art // naptime diaries //
good natured by dani // lovely little whimsy // take the cannoli 

there may be an item or two from my shop as well. :)

speaking of my shop-- my etsy shop is back open. use ILOVEFREE for free shipping all week.

see you Tuesday on instagram-- starting at 6 p.m. Pacific/ 9 p.m. Eastern on @shoprougeandwhimsy

xo, erika

p.s. want to donate directly to solehope? You can donate here to the wonderful work that they do -- and if you want to donate to my trip, specifically, just include my name when you donate.