The gang eats a burrito.

This weekend I went on my first backpacking trip on Roan Mountain; part of the Appalachian Trail.  A lot of planning and preparation went into the trip. We met twice throughout the week prior to leaving.

Jessa is the backpacking expert and she bought all the supplies and food. Our food for the weekend included: Wine (very important), GORP (equally as important), freeze dried ice cream, oatmeal, fruit leathers, frustration jolly ranchers, beef jerky, and cliff bars. 

We set out on Friday night after work and got to the mountain about 10pm. It was really foggy, but we hiked 3 miles that night until we came upon a good place to camp. 

Here we are as we started out - told you it was foggy! 

My sexy headlamp...as much fun as I made of these headlamps, they really are essential if you plan on hiking in the dark. Found that out the hard way. 

After an oatmeal and coffee breakfast, we started out bright and early on Saturday morning. The trail was beautiful. 

The gang with Hump Mountain in the background. This mountain never ends - it felt like a constant climb upward. 

Brandon and I show our frustration faces. 

This trip was definitely not without its amateur frustrations.  I'd love to report that it was all fun, but there were certainly parts of the trip that were rough. The hiking itself is hard work, its amazing how adding weight to your back and a giant hill can wear you out. 

Now, imagine that you just got done climbing the mountain (and only had to have 2 frustration jolly ranchers on the way up) and all you want to do is relax and eat your lunch. Then...picture bees buzzing all over it and your puppy lunging for your sandwich and snatching it up. I had to take a little timeout at that point. 

After that breakdown we napped -- which was nice (but lead to some pretty nice sun burns). But then we ventured on down the mountain in search of a place to camp. Well that presented its own challenge as we encountered some treacherous rocky trail...I was about ready to call it quits at this point. 

However, I made it through that and we found the perfect campsite shortly after. Then came the best part -- we got to eat the freeze dried ice cream and drink our wine in celebration! 

I want to leave you with a few important things I learned while backpacking: 

• GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts OR Granola Oatmeal Raisins and Peanuts...take your pick)  tastes really good on a hike break
• If you're hiking up a hill and find yourself getting a little frustrated, pop a jolly rancher in your mouth
• The best campsite includes big rocks to set your pack on and plenty of tree cover
• Even though they aren't all that sexy, high top hiking boots are important for those slippery rocks
• The best parts of backpacking are the views, good friends, hard work and eating at a wonderful restaurant after you leave the trails

Burritos in Boone after a great weekend of backpacking :)

We even stopped along the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way home to see the great views: 

Craft Time

Fall is my favorite season -- the cool weather, pretty leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes! Yesterday, I embraced the season and got creative. First, I decided I really wanted to try and make butternut squash gnocchi. It seemed to fit the theme of the day. 

Let me first start by saying that my favorite part of cooking is the delicious drink and snack that I indulge in as I work. A little music always helps too. If you've never had a chai tea latte, I'd highly suggest it. And that cupcake you see there -- pumpkin with cream cheese frosting! YUM. 

This is the butternut squash gnocchi with a butter sage sauce.

After dinner I made a fall wreath for my new apartment door. It turned out really well and was very easy to make -- my kind of project! If you'd like to know how to make one yourself, I've briefly explain. 

You can find the supplies you'll need at any craft store: 

- Plain wreath

- Fake leaves/flowers/decorative elements (whatever you like)

- Hot glue gun and plenty of extra glue sticks

I bought two bundles of fake leaves and started by cutting them all apart so that I had a pile of individual leaves. It may be a good idea to lay it out before you start gluing to get a good idea as to how you want it to look. But if you're anything like me -- you just jump right in. 

I started by gluing all the leaves on the wreath. Those beaded parts you see, I bought as a complete strand. After gluing the leaves, I glued that around the outside and bent the wire to shape it around the outside of the wreath. 

Next, I filled it the empty spaces with the pine cones, pumpkins, etc. Last, I glued the "love much" piece on the wreath. 

Helpful hint: use plenty of hot glue and hold the bigger pieces in place while the glue dries. 

First Visitor

This weekend I had my first visitor to NC! Lemont came down for 4 days -- we packed a lot of fun into that precious time!

He arrived on Friday and we headed straight to the National White Water Center. We went zip lining, rock climbing and white water rafting. Lemont even did a free fall (I was too scared!) I was worried he'd fall out while white water rafting, but I was the one who nearly took a swim. Luckily, he saved me as I was dangling above the rapids by my foot! Take a look at my hero before we got soaked!

We also met Brandon and Jessa for BBQ afterward -- the food was decent but the company was fantastic! 

Saturday we bravely took off for the beach with Maya (despite my mom's protests!). Let me first start by saying that I drove and those two fools slept! (Well, ok, Lemont was awake most of the time).

But we made it to the beach and Maya got to explore her first hotel room and the beach! She didn't quite know what to make of it, but she had a lot of fun. We had a great time too -- ate at a seafood buffet and enjoyed the beach. 

Sunday I took Lemont to the Dandilion Market in Charlotte where he had his first fried pickles! (I've had a LOT of fried pickles since moving to NC).

We got to sit in comfy chairs while we waited for our table. 

And I am excited to report that today we viewed the apartment I was thinking of renting -- and I filled out an application! :) I should be moving in early October.