Fave Finds Friday #6 and a mini-vacation

I'm basing today's Fave Finds Friday post on my upcoming vacation to Trout Creek, Montana.  

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I heard they're still enjoying summer-y weather in Trout Creek, which is much more than I can say for our three-week-long Seattle summer season.  { Yes, I am one of those disgruntled Seattlites who complains about the weather but is too lazy to pack up and move to a different climate. }

  Sun, warmth, cookouts, family and beautiful scenery equals perfection, if you ask me.  My mom, two boys, and I are leaving the man-of-the-house behind to fend for himself for the week.  For anyone feeling sorry for the guy...He'll be fine.  I'm sure of it.

As far as Fave Finds goes, I've been really into wall art and prints using creative wording, and found this awesome print from Etsy shop, Banda Prints:

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Here's a closer look of the Montana silhouette print,

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 I love how the cities are carefully placed and the font is just large enough to squeeze in among neighboring towns.  Banda Prints offers customization, too.  I know I'll want my hometown listed among the others on the map when I order my Washington State silhouette!

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I think these prints qualify as subway art.  Don't they?  And we all know how much I've been lovin' some subway art!

What's your favorite place to take a mini-vacation within a day's driving distance from your home?

a to z of m.e.

I found this A to Z of me post over at A Sorta Fairytale, and thought it would be fun to copy, paste and share it with you!  { with my own answers, of course!  not hers. }  If you decide to copy, paste and share on your own blog, please leave a link in the comments.  I'd love to get to know YOU!

A. Age: 28...for 23 more days!  But who is counting?
B. Bed size: Queen, and it almost takes up the entire room.  Thankfully my dressers are built-ins to save space!
C. Chore that you hate: I hate loading the dishwasher.  And scrubbing the shower.  And making dinner.  And...
D. Dogs:  None!  Even if you swear you'll never let your dog sleep in your bed when you first bring it home, it will always end up there eventually.  And that grosses me out.  So we'll just stick with no dogs.  Period.
E. Essential start to your day:  Coffee while checking e-mail, FB and blogs, of course!  I make breakfast for my boys in there somewhere, too.
F. Favorite color:  Purple!  And I have a real good reason for that. 
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'7"
I. Instruments you play:  None, although I have been told I have "piano fingers", what does that mean, anyway?
J. Job title:  Work at home mom, Etsy shop owner, volunteer event coordinator for my local MOPS group.
K. Kids:  My sweet boy, Mason.  He's 4 1/2.  My funny boy, Avery.  He's almost two.
L. Live:  The beautiful, green Western Washington!
M. Mother’s name:  Donette.  My boys call her Gwamma and Momma.  We're still getting used to the last one!
N. Nicknames: James
O. Overnight hospital stays:  Plenty.  Twice for birthing my babe-uhs, and about semi-annually for kidney stones.
P. Pet peeves:  Is there a limit for how many characters can be in a blogger post?  Anyone?  Anyone?  I guess I'm kind of irritable, because I have a lot of pet peeves.  But the first thing that comes to mind { because it's lunch time } are the sounds people make while eating.
Q. Quote from a movie:  "I love to smile, smiling is my favorite!" -Will Farrell in 'Elf'.  Pretty much anything Will Farrell or Vince Vaughn say makes my day.
R. Right or left handed: Right handed.
S. Siblings:  Four younger half-siblings: Zach, Jake, Scott and Danica.  And a boat load of step-siblings.
U. Underwear:  Yes, please.  The bigger and more cotton-y, the better.
V. Vegetable you hate:  Saurkraut...is that a veggie?
W. What makes you run late:  Over-sleeping.  Always.  Always-always.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Dental, Collar bone, and Pelvic (kidney stones) 
Y. Yummy food that you make:  Most of the delicious things I make are hand-me-down recipes from my grandmothers or my mom.  Maybe I'll post my favorite ones soon!
Z. Zoo animal: Baby ones.  If you're ever in the PNW, visit Northwest Trek and take the tram ride.  It is especially awesome in the spring season when the babies are running around everywhere!

So there you have it.  A to Z of me.