I’m Going to Alaska

As I type this, I’m wearing jeans and a tank top, and my swollen feet are donning flip flops for the first time in what feels like years. The sun is shining and–wait, what’s that?–BIRDS. Birds are chirping. My windows are open and a warm breeze is slipping through just enough to gently sweep my hair across my face. This, kids, is bliss.

Which means that by the time you read this, the temperatures will have plummeted and my attitude will have soured.

I’ve never been a fan of cold weather, though I do like looking at snow. I just prefer looking at it while wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot chocolate in the comfort of my own home. It goes without saying that I would never survive in Alaska, but the one thing that just may entice me to brave the frigid conditions is my blogging buddy Brooke.

Brooke and I went to college together and while she was technically one of my roommates’ friends, we all came to know and love her. She never shied away from voicing her opinion or knocking bitches over on the rugby field. Yet she was the sweetest, funniest gal, and I never felt threatened by her stature (she’s tall and mad athletic) or confidence. In fact, that’s what I liked most about Brooke: you shouldn’t mess with her because she could take you down to China Town, but the chances of that happening were slim to none.

So imagine my surprise when Brooke and I reconnected here in the blogisphere! Brooke writes about her experiences as a mom and an Alaskan resident over at FBX Adventures in Parenting. She also freely shares pictures of her adorable baby boy, “Bug,” which this photo-stalker appreciates. She and her fam moved from Pennsylvania to Alaska for her husband’s job and as I rock open-toed shoes and a little bit of lip sweat today, it’s around 30 degrees in her neck of the woods, which apparently is “warm” because she considered wearing shorts…

I wince just thinking about that.

Alaska isn’t all bad, so says the girl who passes judgement so freely without ever actually having visited. When I read Brooke’s most recent post, “Luck,” and saw some gorgeous pictures of an ice park, I almost wanted to bundle up my kids and head over to the ice block sliding board. Almost. The pictures are incredible–check them out HERE! And if you have a minute, stick around and read that post; her little guy basically saved her life. Okay, her wallet, but life sounded more dramatic.

When she’s not making me shiver with her pictures, Brooke is making me feel inferior in the kitchen because she can actually bake stuff people will eat. Her skills are well documented on the “Makin’ & Bakin'” page of her blog where she shares recipes that induce both drool and envy. Check out her spicy pretzels HERE!

FBX Adventures in Parenting isn’t her first foray into the blogging world; Brooke told me: “I started blogging in 2007 on a now defunct blog about my horse. Seriously, I let the site address lapse and it is now a Ritalin for sale website…really pissed me off. I waited a few months and missed writing so I decided to get back into it. I sold the horse, so no point in writing about her. I figured Alaska/Bug was a good combo.”

Horses, Ritalin. Tomato, Tomahto.

For more of Brooke, Bug, and Alaskan terrain, connect with her on Twitter and Facebook! If you want some more yummy in your life, head on over to her Pinterest board by clicking HERE!

 

One of my favorite parts of blogging is meeting new writing pals–or, in this case, catching up with old ones! When I started my blog, I wanted so badly to spread the word, so when I finally “established” WhenCrazyMeetsExhaustion (is that what I did? Established it? Who knows?), I decided to offer an advertising option that included a dedicated shout-out. A personal pimpage, if you will. The “Whole Shebang” advertising option allows me to put in my gold teeth, secure my feathered hat, and introduce new bloggers to my fabulous readers. If you’re interested in a proper pimping, check out the advertising page HERE.

 

Facebook is trying to keep us apart. That ain’t cool. Subscribe by email below, and I promise to never send you pictures of feet (gross) or boast about how my kids are perfect and I’m SuperMom because Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!