One of my absolute dreams (and long-term goals) is to have an A-frame cabin and this year my wish came true! Okay, so it may have only been for a weekend but we decided to go on a little getaway for my birthday and we stayed in the CUTEST cabin. Likeee holy ish, can I live here forever cuteness! Oh and get this… the company that owns the cabin is named Live Boldy and my company’s name is Going Bold Studio… So we were living bold for the weekend. So perfect right??

Like come on, how adorable right?! The cabin was located near Lake Cushman in Hood Canal which is one of my favorite areas. It’s just a hop and a skip from where we live and just feels like a real escape. Plus, it’s a great hub if you’re exploring the small towns in the area or exploring the Olympics. Since we were visiting in January and during COVID our outings were minimal but honestly I was just so excited to stay at the cabin I would have been happy just staying there the whole time.

The cabin was also pet-friendly (with a pet fee) which was awesome because Benji got to come along for the adventure. He absolutely loved it too as you can see. He made himself right at home on the bed! This little guy is such an adventurer, he loves getting to go places with us.

Which BTW, here is the listing for the cabin if you want to check it out. If you haven’t used Airbnb before, this link will also save you up to $65.

Now for the few places we did stop at that I’d recommend!

Union City Market

We have friends that live in Union so we kicked off a little adventuring with a trip to the Union City Market. If you’re in the area I highlyyyy recommend checking this spot out! They have an adorable market with local artisan goods, food and drinks and they also have a restaurant right on the water. It’s a casual grab and go spot and perfect for a bite while social distancing (and beyond!) And guys, their food is BOMB! Highly recommend it. Plus taking in the views by the water are just so relaxing.

Rocky Brook Falls

Following our quick bite we checked out a few other options our friends recommended including Rocky Brook Falls. This was a little bit of a drive from where we were (about 45 mins) but it was so worth checking out! There’s a huge waterfall and it’s only a short walk off the main road. Although, our driving directions took us on a little bit of a ride so I recommend using the directions from AllTrails. It’s not marked, but it’s right off the road on the righthand side and there’s a small parking lot on the left side of the road. Another thing just in general about the area is to screenshot directions when you have service because you’ll likely lose it when you aren’t on the main road.

The Hardware Distillery Co.

The cabin was also in a great location because it was just a quick drive to the tiny town of Hoodsport. It’s a tiny town but there’s everything you need for a little getaway — grocery store, restaurants and some cute shops. I definitely want to explore it more in the future but imagine it gets a bit crowded in the summer. This go around, Evan wanted to check out The Hardware Distillery Co. (another rec from our friends). It’s a local distillery that makes everything from Washington grown ingredients and they also sell spirits in gnome shaped bottles. One of the big reasons Evan wanted to pick some up!

Lake Kokanee

Lake Cushman may be the more well-known lake in the area but another option is Lake Kokanee aka Lower Lake Cushman. Given it was the dead of winter it was empty, but I’ve heard it’s a nice alternative to Cushman in the summer. A lot of the area is private, but the cabin we stayed at had a parking pass which would be nice when the weather is nicer. There are also public areas of the park too — just keep an eye on the signs! Nonetheless it was a gorgeous lake!

Lake Cushman Lookout

Our last stop on our way out of town was the Lake Cushman Lookout. This is just a turnoff on the way to the Lake Cushman park but I love, LOVE, LOVE this view. We make sure to stop every time we’re in the area rain or shine. This photo does not do it justice. Over the years, they’ve added a few picnic tables too so it’s a great spot to relax for a few before heading to your next destination.

That’s a wrap on our cabin life weekend. We had such a great time and I’m even more motivated than ever to save up so we can get out own cabin in the future too! Definitely rec this airbnb if you want to explore the area too! It’s not big.. but it’s the perfect size for a couple, a family or a few friends.

P.S. If you like keeping up with my PNW adventures, Evan and I started an Instagram account focused on just that! Follow along at @TheHicksintheSticks

2020, we all know there are a lot of words to describe it and most of them aren’t great!😳Before we officially put this one in the rearview though, I’m taking some time today to reflect and reallyyyy take it in. The joyful moments, the heartbreaks, the challenges and triumphs.

It was the year...

• We settled into our new home (and then spent even more time there than we thought we would!

• We lost our best friend Scoots — a heartbreak I’m not sure will ever totally heal

• I became an Aunty to Little Squish aka the true light of this year

• My business was hit by the pandemic and we had to rebuild and pivot

• We adopted Benji and got a crash course in being puppy parents

• We got engaged at the lake

• We went on a few camping trips and spent a lot of time at the beach

• We upgraded to a bigger community garden plot

• I had to put a lot of goals and projects on hold to reenvision and refocus

• I pushed myself outside my comfort zone a lot

• We hunkered down even more because of the crazy fire season on the west coast

• We binge-watched more shows than I’d like to admit

• We celebrated a lot of firsts and really soaked in time with family

• We survived a crazy election season

• And I said goodbye to my first business and started a new one

This year was hard. Really freaking hard, but you know what? We got through it one day at a time. And while I know flipping the calendar isn’t going to wipe 2020’s problems away, I’m very much looking forward to a fresh start and moving forward.🥂Cheers to that!

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I think we can all agree that the holidays feel a little funky this year! Normally I’m not even a huge decorator for Christmas but this year I decided to get a little extra… like we mayyy have put up 5 Christmas trees 🎄Some of them were mini ones, but still! Listen, Christmas 2020 anything goes!

This was our first Christmas without Scootie, but he was definitely not forgotten. I swear half of my personal ornaments are of Scoots or weenie dogs. Which was kind of sad but happy at the same time. He loved Christmas so much and digging around the gifts under the tree so it was nice to have reminders of him.

It was also Benji’s first Christmas with us so you we had to do it up! Included a little reindeer outfit for him! I couldn’t resist.

This is where the bonus Christmas trees come into play! By Dad told me had a Christmas tree of mine in the attic and asked if I wanted it… and again, 2020 so I said yes! So we put one up in our bedroom and then I also was gifted another pink Christmas tree that I couldn’t say no to!

My office was the pink Christmas tree hub and I loved every minute of it! 2020 may have been a bummer but our decorations definitely added a spark to our home! Now I just wish we could keep them up even longer!