vacation here we come

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So guess what...Dale and I are going on a vacation! Last night we booked our tickets for a little trip to L.A. in July. We both need a vacation and it's so nice having something to look forward to doing together.

The Dodgers are Dale's favorite team and I've never been to Dodger Stadium, so we'll be taking in a couple of Dodgers games, including being there for Mormon Night (something Dale has always wanted to do). I can't wait to get a real Dodgers jersey and experience Dodger Stadium for the first time. Dale has many amazing qualities, but I have to say I'm super excited to be marrying a guy who loves baseball as much as I do.

spring in the abq: a visit to the botanical garden

Saturday afternoon Dale and I ventured out to experience the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. Unbeknownst to us, the Travel Channel has named it among the top 12 botanic gardens in the country. How cool is that? The more we explore, the more gems we find in the ABQ.

The botanic garden is part of the ABQ BioPark, which is also home to the ABQ Zoo, Aquarium, and Tingley Beach. Dale and I visited the zoo for the first time when went house hunting last September. The BioPark is the perfect place for family outings and is only about 15 minutes from our house.

state of mind: 4 interesting articles I read this week

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Fridays are for sharing interesting articles on a variety of topics. Here are four pieces I read this week:

abq tastemakers: slow cooker green chile stew

You don't have to spend much time in New Mexico before you discover that you can get green chiles at just about any dining establishment. Local eateries like Golden Pride and Blake's Lotaburger serve up delicious New Mexican classics like green chile cheeseburgers, burritos, and stew. And even national chains like McDonald's and Sonic add green chilies to their regular menu items. It's the New Mexican way.

I've grown quite fond of green chiles in the short amount of time I've been able to call the ABQ home. Anywhere we go out to eat, it's safe to bet that I'll choose a green chile infused menu item.

new beginnings in new mexico

I experienced the Southwest for the first time last September when Dale and I went house hunting. I admit that when we first arrived and even as we flew back home to Washington a few days later, I had real doubts about my ability to fit in and actually like living in New Mexico. From the culture to the landscape, everything felt unfamiliar and foreign.

I've touted myself as a Pacific Northwest native but a Midwest girl at heart after living in Chicago for three years going to grad school. I never felt like I fit the Pacific Northwest profile and, even though I missed my family, living in Chicago felt like coming home...until now.