lovely.

“Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

- Christian D.  Larson

My office.

The numbero uno question I get asked when chatting with friends and family about our life here in Bremerton is "What do you do while Hunter sleeps during the morning/afternoon? {after working an overnight shift} or What do you do while Hunter works at night?"  My nights are a hodgepodge of volunteering at the local Farmers Market, lots and lots of yoga classes/working out at the gym in our bldg, some nail painting, some face masking, some juicing but always always a bath.  My mornings are spent splitting time between a few coffee shops close to our condo while working on my freelance, more yoga classes, little gym time but lots of running outside.  Lately though, I've been spending my mornings less at coffee shops { even though I've recently rediscovered their worth }, and more tucked in the library of our apartment building.  I think you would, too if you could call this your office everyday.

*Spell broken.

I feel like I'm jinxing myself even typing that blog title, however May 25th did indeed come and go with zero ER visits/doctor appointments/bed rest/drug induced days.  Yeah, that is deserving of a green juice cheers if I've ever heard of one.  I've had this date in the back of my mind for about a month.  Trying not to obsess over it, but be mindful of it all the same.  I've been doing yoga about 6 times a week, and sneaking in workouts between...so I have had some sore muscles for sure.  Waking up the morning of the 25th I was all dramatic OMG MY ABDOMINAL PAIN IS BACKKKK but realizing it was more of OMG SHE FREAKING KILLED US AT HOT YOGA LAST NIGHT MY ABS ARE SO SOREEEEEE.  I'm extremely grateful for my health in 2013 and have been actively aware and thankful of my days not spent lying in bed all day with dr appointments and being poked and prodded by needles far too much for my liking.  I'm completely grateful I can reflect on those days and giggle at
{ parts of } them rather than add to the stories.  Giggle at Mary cursing the construction in front of the Emergency Room.  Giggle at Mary and her humble brag of winning Golf for the first time with my family.  Why was 2013 the first time in 2 years I didn't feel this crippling pain?  Who knows?
{ no seriously...do you know who knows?  I'd love to talk to them. }  Even though technically I can't prove anything, I can't help but throw some credit to Kris Carr and my Lindsey for the introduction to vegan eating as I have an inkling hey were a huge aiding hand to this all.  

So what did we do this weekend, you ask?  Hunter worked Friday night, and was on call Sunday so we worked in a wonderful mix trying a restaurant for the first time, mountain biking { him } and trail running { her }, going to the grocery on a whim at 8pm and eating dinner by candlelight at 9pm.  Sleeping in and reading new books.  1am Yahtzee.  Cooking new recipes and juicing new to my blender fruits.  It didn't feel like a long weekend to us, because technically with Hunter's work schedule and my lack of a work schedule every week is a long weekend to us at some point, but I hope all of you who DID get a long weekend soaked up and enjoyed every sip of it!

*knock on wood.

Weewind Wednesday :: 1 in every 4,534.

There are so many hashtags on Instagram of #throwbackthursday and #flashbackfriday, and I was trying so hard { and by so hard, I mean I gave it minimal effort } to think of what Wednesday's was and after about 30 seconds of thinking....I gave up and made up my own.  We{r}ewind Wednesday.  

I've talked before about my new/old Paper Bird obsession { next artist/album you recommend Mary, I swear it won't take me 4 years to give in, listen to and love as much as you do }.  When it came time to leave Snowy the CD was in my car, and though I never intended to bring my car to WA with us, there was a little thing called 30+ inches of snow covering my car to the point you literally couldn't even see it/tell where it was.  Needless to say the CD is still in the car in Wyoming, and I'm going through se-rious Paper Bird withdrawals   I always have a hard time finding their songs online, and I'm not 100% sure of the name of the song I'm in the most love with so when the mood hits, there is only one direct way to scratch my itch.  Enter today's Weewind Wednesday :: Bedge and Mart's Craft Video from 2011!  For some really annoying reason, I can't get the video to embed in this post, so I'm resorting to including a screen shot from the video and trusting you little nuggets click here to watch three and a half minutes of love.

That Mary, man.  She really is as good as it gets!  It's amazing to me how her and I haven't lived in the same city for 6 months now, but I still feel like we live 1 mile apart because of the effort, time and love we have put into our friendship and staying in touch with each other.  I still feel like we are as up to date on our day to day happenings as we were 7 months ago.  Funny story :: The last time Hunter and I were in Denver packing up the last of my stuff, Mary, Hunter, Mark and I all went to a Nuggets game.  

:: photo on the right from Mary's Instagram!::

I had brought a few things of hers that I needed to return, but left them in the truck intending to give them to her after the game.  As we were leaving we realized we were both parked in the same parking lot which would make the exchange that much easier!  As we were walking to our cars, lo and behold, we were parked RIGHT next to each other!  What are the chances?!  Big big Nuggets game, dozens of lots to pick from, thousands of spots to park in, and we parked directly next to each other.  It was pretty magical if you ask me.  Mary later looked it up and there are 4, 534 parking spaces located on its grounds.  I call Mary my 1 in every 4,534 friend because her love, compassion and friendship really is one in every four thousand five hundred thirty four.  

I love you, Mart!

Things that would be on my body if I had a steady paycheck.

Otherwise known as a Wish List.  However, had I simply called it a Wish List, you wouldn't have clicked on the post with such vigorous and slight judgmental curiosity, now would you have?

Didn't think so.

Let's just continue before things get weird and I use the phrase "on my body" again.

This giraffe necklace would be the first beautiful dainty beauty to be worn.  Amie and I have a slight obsession with spending far too long on Dogeared's website creating our own little wish list, and this one has been at the top of mine since February.  I've always felt a sort of kinship to giraffes { anyone who has ever met me understands.  5'13" and proud. }, but I also adore the message that goes along with it.  Be a true original.  Love.

I would for sheeze splurge on this band/ring.  I bought myself a little diamond ring back in December as a to me, from me, love me { which I strongly believe those gifts to yourself are the most important gifts! }, and I would really love adding a new complimentary ring to my original one!  I go swoon-crazy for stacked rings, and I love the idea of adding more little treasures as the years go by.

Speaking of gold rings...I would follow in the footsteps of my style muse Mary and copy her gold band that is the most perfection!  I would love one, oh ok it's my wish list I can go crazy, two or three for my pointer finger.

I know it's easy for me to say this now because I can't follow through with my words one bit...but, But!  I would, I really would spend the money for a good salon hair color/treatment.  I am so sick of my black hair and the only option I have to color my hair being black.  I would spend the time and money to nurse my hair back to it's natural light brown color.  I really would.

I would rock the shiiiii out of spring nail polishes!  And again, because it's my wishlist I'm going to reference Butter Nail Polish which has always been far too expensive for me, but wish away, Beth!  I would take home with me their Artful Dodger, Brummie and Primrose Hill Picnic 

I would get this fancy yoga towel to help in my yoga practice.  I've recently started up my daily yoga routine again, and bought this really amazing yoga mat to assist me { of course I can't remember the brand off the top of my head, but will update this as it comes to me! }.  I really love the length of my new mat, this 5'13" body doesn't spill over to the floor anymore!  However, I do slip and slide around a little bit but can't really justify a $45 mat and then a $38 towel for the mat. Give me a week or two though, and I'll justify that mat in no time.

Shoot.  That yoga towel didn't really fall under the category of "on my body" did it { omg I said that stupid phrase again }?  Well then you don't want me to tell you about the Big Agnes camping sleeping mat I so desperately want yet also doesn't fall under that category?  Ok I won't.

I think that wraps it up for today.  Does anyone else agree this blog post could have been titled "I love goldddddd?"  

There is something I need you to know.

I'm wearing a pink workout top today vs a green one.

Wow.  I feel so much better.  Talk about a weight lifted.

Also, I juiced beets for our morning juice, and my fingers are stained the identical color of my top from grabbing all the pulp and sending it through the juicer a 2nd time.
I'm so glad we are on a need-to-know basis on this blog.

I'm sensing a trend.

#getanewfavoritecolorsummerfield.

Also, 3 of these photos were taken in one day.
#getalifesummerfield.

*the bottom right photo was taken as I was waiting for the elevator going down to the gym so the lighting was super non-natural/wack.  It drives me crazy how it looks compared to the others, but say it with me "#dropyourinnerdesignocdsummerfield"

Sometimes.

Sometimes there are days where you feel especially down and out. Upset over lack of jobs. Lack of friends within arms reach. Little nuggets growing up miles and miles away, family gatherings being missed. Friends going through excruciatingly painful times, and feeling a phone call or text couldn't convey the love you know you could show face to face.

But.

Sometimes there are days where you get in a really encouraging run. Take a walk in the rain with your biggest crush, stumble across a "Funky Junk" type store and a simple walk through brings back floods of memories of mom + sister from a few years back. Sometimes you find not one but two heads up pennies { !!!!!! } out and about, your green juice shows you much needed love { awww }, you get in a home cooked meal and eat it while watching the rain fall with that same biggest crush { sigh }. Sometimes you get to try out a new yoga studio, and celebrate that successful yoga class with a candlelit hot bath and drift off to sleep with the reflection of the stars, the moon and harbor lights in the ocean directly outside your bedroom window and you realize that life is really, really fucking amazing.

Pitch Perfect :: On Repeat!

I watched Pitch Perfect last week, and though the movie in it's entirety kinda fell short for me, there were a few songs/parts that had me frozen in awe and rewinding the movie a few dozen times over.  I love when actresses magically surprise us with their incredible singing ability, and my Twilight girls have been nailing it lately { first shinning example }.  Anna Kendrick was really fun to watch in Pitch Perfect and the inner cynic in me was trying to bust her lip sincing to find a flub in the voice over, because surely that couldn't have been her real voice, right?  The next day I was talking to Mary about it and trying to find some clips on YouTube, when I came across this clip and just like that I was a believer!!!

Chills, right?  So that just fueled my obsession with her and this song.  Pretty cool music video for it, too.

A few other favorites from the movie!

And those who have seen the movie understand why this clip is strictly lyrics, no video!

First Taste!

This is too good.

Cup of Jo posted this darling video on her blog this morning, and I had legit belly laughs as I'm sitting in a coffee shop all alone watching it.  Not ashamed, because it really is the cutest most hilarious thing.  I can slightly relate as I've held Mary's hand a time or two as she's tried different veggies for the first time { I'm so proud of her for the tomato progress she's made since this fateful day back in 2011! }, but for some reason these kids just make that much more charming and darling.  The little girl with the olive is my favorite.  I love the arm raise of "YES!  I DID IT.  I ATE THE OLIVE!"  Too much.

Things I'm Into.

I’ve seen a handful of cute and girly favorite products/makeup around on the web { How Sweet It Is + Daily Grace } and at first I thought “Self, you should do this, too!  It’d be a good way to shake up your blog.”  And then I immediately countered that thought by the simple reminder that in the past oh let's say a month, I’ve worn make up/used hair product quite possibly less than 5 times total { please don’t take away my Woman Card } which would make it a really sad blog post about cheap mascara and kangaroo hair gel.  Then I realized it didn’t have to be all make up/products – it can be anything I’m into right now!  Without futher adeau :: Things I’m Into { title compliments of Markie }

The phrase “Things I’m Into” :: After living with your boyfriend, his family and best friend from elementary school for 3 months, you pick up the quirkiest/funniest/most annoying catch phrases against your will and this right here is a shinning example of one.

My new Nalgene bottle!  :: We picked up this lovely little guy in Seattle at REI a few weekends ago, and I fell.  Hard.  It's slightly bigger than standard { BPA FREE } Nalgene bottles, so it’s the perfect size to fill up and down a few throughout the day.  Mine has a blazing bright green top, which makes it even more dreamy.  However, let's not talk about how it almost cost Hunter his life/dry pack on our trip last week { he was filling it up in the stream and the lip of the top came loose from the bottle, so it fell in the water and within a matter of seconds, Hunter almost fell in the water along with it trying to save it from going downstream.  Life saver that one. }

  

My Old iPod :: When I was packing up for our trip out to Washington I came across my old iPod, and have had the most fun going through old playlists/albums on it!  We had quite the laugh { or 39 } when Hunter first heard the songs on it.  Full Disclosure: During the time in my life when I used this particular iPod the most, I was young and “head over heels in love” with a gentlemen who was stationed overseas for several years.  It is glaringly obvious I was so love struck/overly sad because the songs on it are like the most depressing songs.  Hunter called it my depressed suicide watch phase because it’s really is just that bad.  But there are some real gems on it, too!  Like every single song John Mayer and Jack Johnson had up until like 2009.  Score!

Pure Vegan Cookbook :: I was thiiiiiis close to getting the Pure Vegan cookbook at Barnes and Noble { for $29.99 } a few weeks ago but decided better of it.   Thank goodness I didn’t purchase it because I found this BEAUTY of a gem in perfect condition at a used bookstore { for $15.00! } in Seattle last week!  The photos in the book are totes drool worthy, easy peasy recipes with really commonly used ingredients.  I have about 3 recipes picked out for our meals this week and am gitty about it!

Bubble Bath Nail Polish + Base and Top Coat :: I packed up 3 and only 3 nail polishes to bring with me to WA.  A soft pink { Bubble Bath by OPI }, a super dark brown { Hot for Chocolate by Revlon }, and a bright orange { Peachy by Revlon }.  I have a slight to serious obsession with hating chipped nails, and because I just don’t have the patience for taking of my nail polish daily anymore, this light pink is the softest and most lovely polish for spring, and hides it’s silly little chips so well!  Also, my base coat and topcoat I  s w e a r  by.  { right, mary and karley? }

Chia Seeds :: I’d had chia seeds in kombucha before, but was always gun shy on buying a $15 bag of them { commitment issues anyone? } until I found a really great piced bag of them at Trader Joe’s last week!  Aside from their endless health benefits, they taste great in our smoothies, or in a crisp glass of Cranberry Juice at nights.  Which brings me to my next item…

Cranberry Juice! :: On one leg of many on our drive out here, I ran in to a gas station and Hunter asked me to grab him a bottle of cranberry juice.  It sounded so good, not only did I grab a bottle for myself, but haven’t been able to stop buying them since.  H O W E V E R.  Can anyone relate on how incredibly difficult it is to find a Cranberry Juice that is 100% juice, not this “Cranberry Cocktail” SEVEN PERCENT juice?!  It’s hard.  Let’s just say that.  But oh oh oh so worth it!

My Juicer ::  Duh.  Not much to say about this baby except for it gets used with love and spoken to like a family member in this household.  Favorite Combination at the moment :: Bok Choy, Rainbow Chard, Celery, Cucumber, Green Apple, Lemon and Ginger.  Here in the Maddfield household, we smoothie in the morning and juice in the afternoon!  Day after day, week after week.

Tofu :: I know I might get a few eye rolls on this one, so let me start out with saying I am fully aware that though tofu is “healthy”, it isn’t good for you.  Estrogen/hormones, GMOs, too processed.  You name it.  I know it.  But, this doesn’t stop me from literally day dreaming about the next time I can cube a block of it up and toss it on the stove top with a little EVOO + S + P and brown it up for a real, real good time.  Best served with slightly carmalized onions and jalapenos.  

C9 by Champion Pants :: Knowing Hunter and I want to seriously up our hiking/backpacking outings, I wanted a good pant to wear that wasn’t totally flared and baggy.  We stopped at a Target downtown Seattle last weekend and through much searching/frustrations { don’t ask, just next time you see Hunter thank him for his patience of scouring the women’s athletic section of Target for me. } I came home with two pairs of these babies!  They were just perfect for backpacking.  As if I needed one more excuse to love stretchy pants….

New Pack :: We have really great access to some amazing hiking, camping and backpacking here in the pacific Northwest that we fully intend on exploring every second we get.  I was lucky enough to get to use Hunter’s dad’s pack when we did our 14’er, but ultimately I needed my own.  We knew the brand we wanted to stick with, and ended up getting this one at a really great outdoor shop in Port Townsted.  The old hippie working there pretty much sold me on it right away when he pointed out it matched my Buff perfectly.  REI had a few more colors/options, but ultimately #shoplocal prevailed, as it always will! Her name is Vivian, and I love her.

EOS Lipgloss :: YES!  SOMETHING GIRLY!  I have the pomegranate raspberry one and am smitten.  Whenever I put it on, I can see Hunter out of the corner of my eye silently judging how redonkulous I look when I put it on, but I don’t have time to worry about that because when it’s love, it’s love!  Ya’mean?

Gap Maxi Skirt :: Picked this beauty { dang that girl knows how to style the skirt way better than I do! } up at the Gap Outlets in CO last summer and it’s constantly my go-to for errands or a quick walk to coffee.  Fun Fact :: When we moved, I minimized my clothing to….. wait for it …..THIRTEEN hangers.  13!  { I feel better knowing that Karley is currently going through the same process. } Though since we’ve been to WA  { close to a month } I’ve worn something off my hangers…….once.  Reference the note above for my love of stretchy pants, and please keep all comments to yourself.

Coffee Shops :: If I could to back 5 years and tell myself something, I would thunk that Beth on the head and tell her “YOU ARE GOING TO QUIT SITTING AT COFFEE SHOPS IN THESE UPCOMING 5 YEARS.  BUT DON’T.  YOU LOVE THEM.  YOU FEEL CREATIVE IN THEM.  KEEP.  GOING.”  Did that work?  I don’t really think it did, so I’ll just simply boringly say I’ve been sitting at coffee shops almost daily now and I just really, really love it.  This was a habit I had in college for years and years to just go with a book, a computer or my people watching glasses on and somehow I lost that over the years.  I’m glad to be back, baby. 

Subway Salads :: Obsession still going strong.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.  You get so many veggies for $5!!!!!  Luck is on my side that we have a Subway roughly a 2 minute walk from our condo.  Skore.

Fresh Sun Brewed Tea :: As simple as it sounds!  We’ve constantly had a fresh pitcher of sun tea made on our balcony in the fridge, and mercy me is it tasty and just what I want after a long and sweaty run!

#whatveganseat :: Confession: Lately when Hunter has been working nights, I can be found in bed  searching the hashtag #whatveganseat on Instagram.  There are so many brightly colored Instagram feeds out there it’s so inspiring!  Following these new and amazing people is bringing a whole new level of inspiration to our daily meals!

Venus Razor :: WHO KNEW there was a product out there so dreamy that could trick me into shaving my legs if not daily, then for sure every other day.  Let’s be real here…this hasn’t happened since that much anticipated day in 6^th grade when my mom finally said I could start shaving.  God love you { and the general public thanks you }, Venus Razor.

Coconut Yogurt :: For our first camping trip, we found a dynamite local co-op a few towns over to get our groceries at.  We wanted simple and light, so we decided on granola and yogurt.  A little part of me died inside { dramatic } at the thought of yogurt and not being able to make the trip 100% vegan, but when I visited the yogurt section, much to my surprise they had "Cultured Coconut Milk"!  We mixed it with coconut granola { picked by H before he even knew which yogurt I picked }, and both mornings we were out, I would have a mind blowingly fun experience eating the combination. Yes, Cultured Coconut Milk blows my mind in a fun way.  Back off.

Dates :: Not like dinner-and-a-movie-dates, dates-dates!  So sweet and lovely they trick your body into thinking you are eating a Butterfinger or DQ blizzard for dessert!

Note :: After writing this post last night, I decided to ditch the stretchy pants and top knot and actually get dressed like a normal person, and spend time curling/straightening/styling my hair to meet a client this afternoon.  As I sit at a coffee shop finalizing the post before heading over to Port Orchard, it is pouring rain outside.  Pouring.  I knew this presentable hair/outfit thing was a bad idea.

And because a post isn't complete without a photo, feast your eyes on this.

Thank you Grumpy Cat for your entertainment.

Celebrate!

Happiest of all Happy Mother's Day to my muse, my joy and my rock. You are my forever favorite - I adore you!

Pause? Nah - fast forward!

One would think....well at least I thought, that once we got settled into our condo we would take some time to kind of hit pause and settle into a quiet and calm routine of sorts.  Alas, in typical Hunter and Beth fashion, we've hit the pavement running.  We've explored the area to the max, taking every option of ferry/water taxi to new little towns that we have at our disposal.  We've made a weekend trip a few towns over to Olympia to see some wonderful family friends who welcomed us into their beautiful home with open arms.  It was a night full of laughs, some tears, lots of walking + an art walk, dinning on incredible grub but mostly hearing dozens, yet never enough, stories of Hunter's parents from high school to present day.  We packed up a few days ago for a weekend of camping and busted out the tent for the first time since our 14'er back in September!  We had simply the best time of exploring new parks { some amazing, some seriously over populated and annoying } and getting back into our camping groove thang.  It was a good little teaser for all the camping and backpacking trips we have in mind over the next few weeks/months!  Speaking of, this afternoon we will leave yet again for a 2 night, 3 day backpacking trip { enter squeals of excitement here! }.  This one is going to be really amaze, I can already tell.

I guess in a way, the non-stop-adventure-hit-the-pavement-running-any-and-all-days-off-spent-outdoors is our way.  And that I'm perfectly ok with.  

Oh andplusalso, we got a juicer and I like it midly.  I guess I like it ok.  I think I guess maybe it can stay.  I suppose I kinda like her { name: Lucy Juicy! } and use her sparingly { daily, if not a few times a day }.

calm.

For the past 6 months straight, it's been one thing after another.  Day trips to Steamboat or Laramie. Busy business weekends at the ski area.  Driving to Denver.  Trips to New Hampshire, Montana, Utah, exploring different parts of Wyoming.  DC.  Lake Powell.  Coming in and out of cell phone reception, trying my hardest to keep up with friends across the miles while focusing on the friends and family in front of us.  Living out of a suitcase for weeks on end; at the end of a trip throwing out what needed laundered, tossing in clean clothes and taking off again the following morning.  It was a beautiful tornado while it lasted, and it was the build up to our grand plan.  Our grand plan to move the end of the ski season.  What I didn't really realize until we were in the thick of it was that our trip to DC would immediately transition with the last weekend of the ski season which would immediately transition to a week spent on the boat celebrating Hunter's mom which would immediately transition to dozens of to do lists and goodbyes while mapping out our drive to our final destination.  I literally feel like we went to bed one night in Hunter's aunt's basement { who was kind enough to put us up in } DC and woke up in our new home.  It's scary and thrilling to me at the same time how much we've done and that we've made it.  We've made it to our grand plan.  We arrived in Bremerton, WA a week ago Monday, and have been living in our our breathtaking-nearly-too-good-to-be-true condo on the waterfront for a week ago yesterday.  

We made it.

We had nearly a full week of settling in, exploring, testing new grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants before Hunt started work.  It's too early to say we've fallen into a routine, but it's so close I can taste it.  Hunter worked his first overnight last night and now we will transition back into getting used to his work/sleeping schedule.   I was up with the sun this morning to enjoy a sunrise on the ocean while sipping on water + cayenne pepper + fresh lemon while mixing up a few green smoothies to greet him when he walked in the door.  He went to bed, I went out for a run.  While he catches up on his zzz's, I'm catching up on emails and about to tackle a few freelance projects.  When he wakes, he'll probably go for a run on the waterfront before we have plans for a long drive up north to continue our exploring souls.  You guys.  It's happening.  And it's even more beautiful than I could have imagined.    

p.s. It feels good to be back.  I've missed you.  : >