February 2021 – The Salty Exchange

Kendall: Midwintering- Vermont Style

February 22, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Vermont in the winter is amazing- if you have the motivation to make do with colder temps. It is super easy to stay inside all winter. I mean, like super easy. But Vermont has a ton to offer if you are looking to get out of the house. There are plenty of places for skiing, snowshoeing, and, yes, ice fishing. The great thing about living here is that we are prepared for snow storms and icy conditions. There are more than enough plows to keep our roads clean AND that is a fantastic thing… it helps to make sure we can still get out and go places… even in the midst of a global pandemic. So with that said, here are some fun things to get out and do in the state of Vermont this winter.

One of the most popular places to go wintering merrily along is the quaint town of Stowe. Stowe is home to some wonderful outdoor activities. The Stowe Mountain Resort is one of the most popular spots on the east coast for any winter enthusiast. Whether your pleasure is skiing the slopes, cross country skiing, snowshoe trekking, or taking a beautiful gondola ride up the mountain, Stowe Mountain Resort has something for everyone. OH! There is even an ice skating rink. So, there’s that. Personally, I am terrified of ice skating.

Right across the street from skiing at Stowe Mountain is Spruce Peak. Spruce Peak is home to where the above mentioned ice skating rink is. They help with coordinating snowy horseback rides, sleigh rides, ice climbing, and the ever popular Vermont hobby, snowmobiling. Spruce Peak is in strict compliance with current Vermont restrictions of travel due to the rise of COVID-19. Please check out their procedures and stay up to date with Vermont’s rules and regulations before traveling anywhere!

All over the state of Vermont there are trails and parks to explore. Some of these trails are for snowshoers and some are for those just out hiking. The Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Willison is a fantastic location to jump on some trails for the day. They also offer all kinds of rentals on snowshoes and other outdoor gear. With the different activity options available on the property, it really makes it easy to try different things and have fun with friends or family (in a socially distanced manner, of course). We have trails in our neighborhood that we hope to hit soon! (If only my effing snowshoes would arrive…) Honestly, VT is full of so many places to go exploring in the snow. The options are truly limitless.

I currently have about 3.5 feet of snow piled up on the side of my driveway. Since the cold temperatures have yet to melt any snow that has fallen in the past 30 days, our yards are housing a ton of localized fun. Rosemary thinks rolling around in the snow is the best thing since breast milk. Thanks to Frozen, building a snowman is the most exciting thing in the world right now. It’s also the easiest. Do you want to build a snowman?

And lastly, Vermont is just so freaking beautiful. I look out my window and I sort of melt… haha… get it… snow… melting… ok. Not funny. But you get it, right? I have never lived in a place with so much natural beauty. Sometimes I sip my coffee and just stare out the living room window. The air is even cleaner here. Seriously… Google it. I mean, it’s not perfect… but I swear, I can breathe so much better here than anywhere else we have lived. And that’s saying something considering I have to have surgery next month to help me breathe better.

Get outside. Be safe. And be happy.

Shari: Midwinter Fun in Washington State

February 22, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Washington in the mid-winter months is lovely- despite the joke that it rains here 24/7 (which is simply not true). The weather is relatively mild which makes traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the state totally possible. I live up in the most Northwest part of the United States, in Whatcom County. Thankfully there are so many beautiful adventures within 2-3 hours from my own backyard. Without further ado, let me name a few…

First off, one of my favorite places to go year-round is a little Bavarian-style village that is nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range, called Leavenworth, WA. Personally I think the midwinter season is the best time to go… less tourists, beautiful snow, and a relatively clear pass and picturesque drive on Hwy 2. Some of the activities to enjoy in Leavenworth are horse drawn carriage rides, snowshoeing, shopping (covid restrictions apply of course), delicious Bavarian restaurants, and apparently, the Post Hotel, a beautiful hotel and spa that ALL my friends are raving about. You can’t go wrong with an VRBO or Airbnb either, there are so many cute quaint homes for you to enjoy. Just look for yourself and book quickly… Leavenworth is popular.

Another gem of Washington is the snow-capped volcano Komo Kulshan, also known as Mount Baker (see image above). The drive up to the mountain is scenic and relatively quick (a little over an hour from the main interstate). My favorite little place to stop on the way up the mountain is the Wake N Bakery, a quick but delicious cafe to grab breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and coffee (also the last bathroom break before the ski area, especially important if you are snowshoeing). Mount Baker Ski Area Heather Meadows is where the Mt. Baker Highway terminates and the skiing and snowboarding begins. People travel from all over the world to ski here. I, however, prefer to snowshoe near the lower lodge (pro-tip: my favorite route is along White Salmon Rd). The upper lodge, Heather Meadows, has a bowl shaped sledding area that is perfect for families to enjoy! You can easily spend all day up on the mountain and on a clear sunny day (yes we have sunny days in the winter), the views are unbelievable.

Not only am I an hour away from snow-capped mountain adventures but I am also less than an hour away from multiple islands. The San Juan Islands to be exact (insert all the dreamy heart eyes here). Since our weather is mild, the islands aren’t covered in snow and are accessible all year long. Again, VRBO and airbnb rentals are ready to be reserved on these beautiful isolated islands that speckle the Puget Sound (see above image from the San Juan Island website). Ferry rides are an experience all on their own… getting there is half the fun, right?!?! If timed properly you can walk on the ferry and spend all day just island hopping and shopping the cute port towns. From Anacortes you can leave your car and walk on the ferry to visit Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island all on foot or bike (a goal of mine is to take my bike sometime).

I have to give a shout out to my own hometown of Bellingham, Washington and the adventure it has in itself. Bellingham is equipped with countless attractions on it’s own; from hiking in the Chuckanuts, to sailing in Bellingham Bay, dining in local highly-rated restaurants, to multiple cute shopping areas- specifically downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven Village. Not to mention the mountain biking on Galbraith Mountain; so many trails for all skill levels! Bellingham is the city of subdued excitement (see video below), I am totally biased.

Not to mention that Bellingham is also home to WWU, where I met Kendall years ago.

There you go. Some of my favorite places in Washington to travel and enjoy in the midwinter months. I know, most people will tell you it rains here non-stop. It’s not true. Find out for yourself and visit if you haven’t before.

Kendall: Valentine’s Day Edition

February 5, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Valentine’s Day. The day of overpriced flowers, stuffed bears holding chocolate boxes, and the impossible to get dinner reservation. Now, to be fair, this year might look a little different on the going out to dinner part… but you get my point.

This is a surprisingly controversial day in our culture. Some rebel against the idea that you have to celebrate romantic love only and instead celebrate the love of friendship, family, or a pet. Personally, I think Valentine’s Day is a bit ridiculous. I like to celebrate love ALL the time. I don’t need an excuse to throw on something spicy and seduce my husband. And I find the notion of giving flowers on Valentine’s Day to be a bit… much. I love roses. But not at $100. PLUS- my husband better be giving me flowers all throughout the year… not just as a copout for February 14th. To that end, here are the ways we keep Valentine’s Day interesting… please note- some spicy content ahead.

First, let’s talk about lingerie. I hate buying it. I hate shopping for it. It’s sort of a daunting process! With that said, here are my top 3 favorite places to shop for something sexy.

Nordstrom– Nordstrom stores and online have a plethora of really classy pieces in all different price points. I would say that their selection is classified as more “traditional” pieces.

H&M– H&M has a varied selection of lingerie online (some physical stores differ in their inventory). I definitely think that H&M is budget friendly but still gives you the “wow” factor you are looking for.

Lovehoney– Lovehoney is sort of my favorite spot to shop for lingerie. Please note: they carry other items on their website so don’t freak out if you click the link. I love their super sexy variety of outfits. And when I say sexy, I mean sexy AF. They are always changing up their inventory and have great sales! They also have something for everybody… you know what I mean? Ahem.

Ok, lingerie? Check.

Now on to dinner. Dinner? In a pandemic? With a toddler? PLEASE. Even before this pandemic, getting a babysitter was hit or miss. Issy and I love to wine and dine. We love a good night out. Last year we discovered one of our favorite spots was doing a Valentine’s Day dinner to go special (pre-pandemic… maybe they had a feeling?) and OMG, it was delicious and perfect for our schedules in regards to work, baby, etc. This year, we are looking to do something similar. In order to make it feel more like a date we will most likely do a super late dinner after we put our little girl to bed.

If you know me, you know I LOVE champagne, cava, bubbly goodness, etc. One of the best parts about Vermont is that when it snows you can cool your champagne on your back porch IN the snow. It happens to be incredibly romantic. There is something so special about pulling a bottle out of the snow, filling up our flutes, sticking the bottle back in the ice cold snow, and snuggling in to watch a movie with my husband. Truly, it’s the best. But- bubbly can be a little expensive, right? WRONG. Head to your local Trader Joe’s for affordable and decent bubbly options. If you are a bit of a snob like yours truly, find a local wine shop and support local business! In Vermont, I head to Dedalus in Burlington. Their staff knows their stuff and is great at helping me find new bottles based on my tastes and past purchases.

Flowers and chocolate. Ok. Like I said, I LOVE flowers. But Valentine’s Day flowers just seem super pricey and it’s not something I need to celebrate the day. But- that’s me. If you are a person who wants flowers- of course, go to your local florist. If you are a woman or man on a budget, then, once again, head to Trader Joe’s. They have ALL kinds of flowers and bouquets at great price points. You do not need to break the bank. And while you are there, check out their chocolate options. Once again, Trader Joe’s delivers GREAT choices at GREAT prices. I cannot recommend them enough for your Valentine’s Day needs.

So, with that said, go forth and enjoy the day in whatever way you want! Spoil your pup and snuggle up for a nap on the couch. Virtual cocktails with your girlfriends? YES, please! Romantic night in with your partner- definitely, yes please. Life is a smidge unpredictable these days… embrace yourself and what you want to make the day have meaning (if you even want to- you don’t have to!) and have fun. Personally, I will wine and dine with my husband at home, wear something comfy, have some bubbly, and make my husband watch Sleepless in Seattle.Cliche? Maybe. Fun? YES.

Shari: Galentine’s Day

February 5, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Can I get a show of wine glasses from all the ladies who celebrate GALENTINE’S DAY?!

What is Galentine’s Day? Great question… Galentine’s Day is celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day (February 13th) and is a day to honor the female friendships in your life by celebrating together, thus declaring your love and affection to the girls that make up your support system (thanks for the description, Google!). Galentine’s Day was invented by Parks and Recreation’s fictional character Leslie Knope, who says in an episode, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it, breakfast style”. In the show Leslie gathers up her closest friends and they have waffles and spend time brunching together- “Ladies celebrating ladies.”

This concept was founded nearly 11 years ago in 2010, which was when I was in my mid-early twenties. I loved celebrating nearly ANY occasion with my girlfriends. I still love celebrating any and everything with my friends. There was always something special about Galentine’s Day that lightened the mood and the stressfulness that can be brought up around the Valentine’s Day societal pressures (especially when you are still early on in dating, oof). The most memorable Galentine’s was a happy hour that my friend and I hosted. We made our favorite appetizers and dessert (ahem, chocolate covered strawberries over cake any day) and we invited a few gals over. It was simple, it was fun, and we *clinked* our glasses to another year of friendship!

I realize that Galentine’s Day won’t necessarily look the same this year (thanks, but no thanks COVID) but I still encourage you to find the best Galentine’s Day gif (or meme) you can on the 13th and send it to your ladies, your support system. Now more than ever it is a year to celebrate friendships- even virtually. Although many feel isolated, it is comforting to know that you really are not alone and your friends are only a message, phone call or socially distant walk away.

In honor of Galentine’s Day, I want to say a special shout out to my Salty Exchange partner, Kendall. Although I wish we could celebrate by having brunch with our favorite college girlfriends sipping on espresso from Adagio and eating baked goods from the Mount Bakery… I want you to know how special I consider the ability to connect with you each week. How lucky am I to have such a fiercely loyal and dependable friend in my corner. When you were in Spain, I thought about you all the time, my only regret was not texting you more to let you know. But making up for lost time, I am glad we reconnected last year – by far the best thing to come out of 2020 was our rekindled friendship and the creation of this blog. Even if it’s only ever a collection of our thoughts, musings, and current reality…it is something special we share and a commitment that I wouldn’t be able to do with just anyone. Thank you Kendall for editing my blogs, making time for weekly FaceTime dates, and for being my Galentine! *Clink* to you, to us!

Happy (early) Galentine’s Day!

Shari