Year One. Destination: England.

Last week Robert and I celebrated our first year anniversary. People say that the first year can either be extremely difficult, or just wonderful. For us, it was wonderful. Granted, we experienced some......interesting (to say the least) things together but it was a first year I couldn't have dreamed better. Considering I was blessed with my dearest Robert as a husband, this wasn't too difficult; not a day goes by where I don't deem myself the luckiest woman in the world.
















On the eve of our anniversary I walked into our bedroom and found these sitting on my pillow:

I almost had a heart attack because I couldn't believe it, and then I settled down to read his note. Robert was kind enough to take me to the closest thing to England poor college students could afford. The Destinations Inn.

The room was incredible. It was modeled after a castle and had a secret bookcase door! Needless to say, it was a great way to celebrate a year of marriage. 

bear lake

Last week my good pal Sarah and I decided to plan a last minute camping trip- so off to Bear Lake we went! We originally planned to go to the east side and camp along the lake. Robert and I quickly decided that we could find something a little more aesthetically pleasing and less desert looking (as in we didn't even see a tree), so we went down to the south end and found a cute little camp ground. That night we just set up camp roasted some food, ate tin foil veggies, and talked.

In the morning we woke up, sarah & chase made a delicious breakfast, and we went kayaking in the lake!

I had also heard that raspberries in that area are a huge deal- so we thought it would probably be a good idea to get these famous raspberry shakes that everyone raves about.

Yes. They deserve to be popular for a reason. We got raspberry lime, and it was divine. 

Sarah & Chase are so much fun together, and it makes me so happy to see my best friend married! It is definitely going to be a summer tradition; camping with the Wasdens.

peachy keen

A week and a half ago I thought it would be a good idea to order a 20 lb box of peaches in my our Boutiful Baskets. A week and a half later, I can see now it wasn't the most brilliant idea this brain of mine has come up with. The pro of all of this? I would be okay considering myself an experienced canner.

In this lovely process I found my most favorite peach recipes of all time; I knew some good would come out of all this. Some of them are canning recipes, and some are not (because I am fully aware that not everyone cans peaches in their spare time).  

peach and creme fraiche pie (via smitten kitchen)

peach butter (via smitten kitchen)

spicy peach bar-b-que sauce (via ball)

If you are not one for spicy foods, that lovely condiment is probably not for you. Robert and I are both lovers of a little spice for the palate and it is perfect for the both of us. You know, the kind of spice that livens up your food while still letting you enjoy the flavor. Yesterday we went camping with our friends Sarah & Chase and had it with our little campfire bratwurst. It was to die for.

mango salsa (recipe via & picture via)

I know you are all thinking "claire, mango's and peaches are not created equal". Alas, BB gave me five mangos as well, and I was getting carried away. But the recipe is to die for. The website, all though not the most aesthetically pleasing is a great little resource for all things canning, growing, and picking. 

Of course, I had to make jam as well. I think it's just an unspoken rule that if you are canning, and canning with fruit you are obviously going to make jam. I found a sugar-free spiced peach jam recipe in the holy bible of canning "The Blue Book", and added some huckleberries from our adventure. It was pretty good- if I say so myself. 

Lesson: being bored can be beneficial, but also detrimental. Lucky for me, it turned out to be okay. We will see if that still holds true after I conquer painting our nightstands tomorrow.