Crystal Mtn Ski Day

Dad coordinates a Ski Day at his office every year and I finally was able to partake in it this year! We got up to Crystal around 930am on Thursday and boarded/skiied all day. Since it was a week day the slopes were empty and there was never a line. Because there were no lines, we were able to pack in more runs than usual.

The gondola at Crystal Mtn has been running for about three weeks now. It goes from the bottom of the mountain to the very top in about 5 minutes. Non boarders/skiiers can take the gondola to the top as well for beautiful close up views of Mt Rainier and a panoramic view of the cascades, Mt Baker and Mt. St Helens. There's a little restaurant at the top and then you can ride back down.

We lucked out on such a beautiful warm sunny day. I ended up ditching my fleece and neck warmer and found myself boarding while carrying my gloves. Yes it was that warm! If you look closely you can see the blue buttons that are a Bassetti Ski day tradition. 

Gondola Ride up the Mtn

At the top with Mt. Rainier in the background

Design meets Sustainability @ Compostmodern, SF

I had the privilege of attending the Compostmodern conference in San Francisco this weekend. The conference was Saturday and Sunday and then we spent all day Monday and Tuesday sight-seeing. I went with four other students, our design professor and PLU's sustainability manager who funded our way. The conference brought into question how to create sustainable thinking in people. It also just opened our minds to the possibilities of sustainability. It kinda felt like we were all getting together to come up with ways to "save the world."

We stayed in a gold LEED certified hotel, with a zero carbon footprint. It was a beautiful hotel with an Arabian twist and rooms that smelled like lavender. We made record speed each morning getting up early for the conference. We felt quite accomplished that we could get four girls ready for the day in 30 minutes!

After the conference was over we spent the rest of our trip exploring SF. We walked Fisherman's Wharf, where we met up with a friend of Chrissy (PLU's Sustainability Manager), who was nice enough to have us all over for tacos. On the way to tacos our cab driver drove us down Lombard street (how fun!). Homemade tacos after eating out for every meal was definitely a treat! On Monday we explored China Town, ate lunch on top of one of the downtown buildings, met with the MBA Program Director at California College of the Arts (which is the coolest art school ever) and took BART under water to Oakland. We flew home Sunday night but that didn't stop us from making use of the entire day. We actually ended up using every form of transportation on Sunday: 3 busses, 1 trolley, 2 ferries, 1 taxicab, 1 airport shuttle, 1 airplane (with only 20 people), another airport van and then finally our car. We visited Dolores Park, ate the most delicious brunch, and ferried to Sausolito where we walked around the neighborhoods and drooled over the most beautiful properties.

I had such a great time visiting SF again, what a diverse city! If anyone is visiting SF in the near future I highly recommend Brenda's French Soulfood for a large breakfast (on Polk and Eddy), Mission Beach Cafe for brunch, they have the best eggs, bacon and potatoes I have ever tasted (on 14th and Gerrara) and Fly (on Sutter and Larken). Those were a few among the many gourmet meals we treated ourselves to.

Enjoy my photos!

Getting hops on the rooftop

Our design prof Jp Avila (Dolores Park)

Waiting for the ferry to leave!

PLU Students in Sausolito

On for his free ride

SF at night, Ferry back from Sausolito

Holly and design bud Nicole on a SF building rooftop

Bringing in the New Year

I can't believe it's already the New Year, what a busy semester. What with being a full-student and working 20+ hours at the magazine, I've kept myself busy. I am so thankful that I get to participate so fully in both being a student and having a fun job. I will post some of my latest designs soon. We just published the Jan/Feb issue of 425 magazine which includes a bonus Bridal issue, where I had the pleasure of designing the Real Wedding section. I was able to include Heather's close friends' wedding, which was absolutely beautiful and so much fun to design since I knew the couple. Anywho I will post those next.

A while back right before Thanksgiving it snowed. School was canceled almost the entire week, which meant we had time to play and enjoy the snow. I went out with my roommates and some friends to toss a few snowballs.

On Christmas Eve, our family took a hike in the Mountains on a trail my Dad mountain bikes. We only passed four people the whole hike! We finished the afternoon with a tasty meal at Triple X in Issaquah.

Over break I spent a few days in Portland visiting Dustin and his family, but didn't take any pictures. We went to Sushi (which is rare for me), learned how to play Darts the real way and overall had a relaxing time. Dustin drove me back to Seattle for New Years Eve where we met up with my roommates and some friends. It just so happens that my roommate Katie's birthday is New Years Eve as well. She picked out a restaurant/bar for her birthday where we spent the evening until midnight when we wandered over (in 20 degree weather) to the Space Needle for the countdown and fireworks. I've watched the Space Needle fireworks on tv since I was little but have never had the chance to see them in person. It was definitely one of those things you have to do at least once. It was awesome to see it in person and we were able to watch it from the grass below the Space Needle. Mom and Dad were kind enough to pick Dustin, Kristen and I up afterwards as cabs on New Years Eve are literally impossible to find.

Katie the Birthday Girl

Me and Dustin right before the fireworks started

Me and Alex my best friend from high school

Kristen, Alex and I

I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings! I am doing some traveling soon and am excited to get out and about. I have the privilege to attend another design conference! This upcoming design conference is called Compostmodern, and will be held in San Francisco in the middle of January. It is a Sustainability Design conference, where I hope to be inspired on how to incorporate new sustainable practices and ideas into future design projects/campaigns. These conferences have proved to be so valuable in the means of inspiration and the people I meet along the way. They get me more and more excited to be a graphic designer. I will be traveling with three other girls, one of which is Nicole who I traveled with to our last conference. I'm excited to also visit San Francisco again! I also will be visiting Washington D.C. with Heather in February. It will mark my first time on the East Coast! I can't wait to visit with the Uncs, see all the museums and of course visit the White House thanks to Senator Patty Murry. Will keep everyone posted on my travels!