Every summer, my parents and I like to take a trip to unwind and be one with nature (well, they do--I tag along for the campground experience). The past two years, my partner Mark has been joining us.

This year, we researched for campgrounds near Silverdale, Washington and came up with our first choice of Illahee State Park. You can't make reservations at Illahee ahead of time, and there is a total of 20 campsites available, so we were lucky to find a spot. Our camp neighbors were friendly and it was a fun experience.

I usually sit around, play card/board games and well, be bored. This year, I made it my biggest goal to cook each meal for our three-day camping adventure, and not only cook, but cook elaborate meals that would typically be prepared in a home.

I came up with this food itinerary:
Sunday Night Dinner - Baked Salmon with Artichoke and Dill.

Along with Baked Potatoes with Garlic.

Dessert all days - Chocolate Fondue and Fruit Skewers.

Monday Breakfast - Greek Yogurt with Honey and Nut Mixture.

Along with Traditional French Toast.

Monday Dinner - Garden Burgers made from scratch.

Tuesday Breakfast - Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs with Dill on Baguettes.

Of course for lunches we ate bagels, sandwiches and whatnot, but it was so exciting to experiment with such elaborate, yet easy recipes for my first time cooking in "the wild", as I like to call it (anything foreign from a computer screen is earth-shaking for me. Kidding).

The recipe book I snagged these ideas out of is a gem I discovered at Barnes & Noble called: The Camping Cookbook, which isn't released to have any particular author, but has a pretty modern look to it. To see full recipes and make them yourself, check out my channel and search for "Easy 'Gourmet' Camp Foods".

A collection of my favorite latest happenings through photography for the months of July and August 2011, including my room remodel process and blog foodie shoots, PFLAG dinner with Steve Schalchlin, HAM Radio Field Day and a very recent home shoot. Bellingham, Portland and San Juan Island photography will be their own separate vlogs - look out for those coming soon!

* Be sure to check this video out in awesome 1080p High Definition!

Today, I want to share the music of a very important person named Steve. Steve is a openly gay man who became the first blogger in the 90s to write about his battle with HIV. Music shaped who he became through his battle and helped him survive. He is a singer and songwriter off Broadway that composes plays and his own beautiful ballads with a humorous touch in New York, USA. His HIV blog became famous and attracted a person from Harvard to ask him to come speak to the medical department about HIV, which gave them some recognition of how to treat it.

I had the extreme honor of meeting and somewhat mingling with Steve at a private dinner and a PFLAG benefit concert/play, and am proud to currently call him a Facebook friend. After the concert, I am seriously considering hiring him to play at my future wedding. His voice is a good kind of haunting and left me in tears by the end of the night.

With a sentimental, funny twist similar to Jimmy Buffett and the like, these are two of my favorite ballads he sang.

Regarding Steve’s potential memorial service, a song of remembrance.




Save Me A Seat written and composed by Steve Schalchlin:
Perhaps someday for several hours, you’ll fill some church with lots of flowers.
And displace a saintly shot of me somewhere in the hall.. stick a tray of nachos up against the wall!
I bet my mom will tell a story, endowing me with lots of glory.
And punish you by making you listen to my song.
Torture you by forcing you to have to sing along.
Somebody save me a seat, somewhere in the back.
‘Cause I’ll get bored and go across the street, eat a snack… grab a beer at the bar.
Find a piano, get out the tip jar.
Somebody save me a seat at that piano across the street.
‘Cause I’ll look back and laugh at you and you’ll be bored as hell.
Will you wonder if you really knew me? Will you wonder if you knew me too well?
And I’ll sing all the secrets I’m too ashamed to share; I’ll sing about courage that came from God knows where.
A revue of all the hearts I’ve broken, all the songs I’ve sung.
Foolish words I might have spoken when I was very young.
Yeah, somebody save me a seat on a roller coaster somewhere. We’ll fly around and have some fun, and we’ll think about the miracles… we could have done.
And the people.. we could have become.
While the beers made me silly and I feel kind of guilty ‘cause I left you alone over there.
So I’ll sneak back inside and stand by you chair, and just for a moment…
I’ll goof with your hair!
Then I’ll find my way back to a seat in the back, and I’ll be a good boy ‘til it’s over.
Then I’ll get to do something that you cannot do, I’ll follow you home! Every one of you.
Then on a day that you feel lost of hurt, go to the kitchen… get some dessert.
Then sit at the table and eat, just remember… please remember…
To save me seat. Please remember, to save me.. a seat.
Copyright 1996 See No Evil Music/Lil Shack O Tunes/ASCAP.

The true story and the first song regarding Steve’s first hospital visit.




Connected written and composed by Steve Schalchlin:
I saw a neon sign that said: “Emergency”.
I barely even know what happened next!
Collapsing in a doorway, and then down the hall.
Connected to a meter… we should all be connected to a meter.
A very nice young man with three rings in each ear,
Said: “We don’t lose that many patients… in a year.”
He rolled me to a lonely room with a light beneath the bed.
Connected to a bottle… we should all be connected to a bottle.
Every night at 1AM the angel of the nighttime would wake me up and give me something good… and then give me something bad.
All day long I’d channel surf, that’s all I could do.
I couldn’t read a book or walk around.
You know you’ve hit the bottom when you’re glad to be…
Connected to a TV… we should all be connected to a TV.
I dreamed I was on Happy Days, that I was playing Richie.
With Potsie begging Richie not to die… ‘cause they’d never let Richie die.
Friends would come around and bring me little things.
And say how much they needed me to live.
They told me I would make it, ‘cause they said we were…
Connected to each other… we should all be connected to each other.
Someday if I lose this fight to carry on, please send me some place gently out to sea.
And listen as I whisper softly in your ear,
“Connected to each other…. we will always be connected to each other.”
Mmmmm…. ohh!Copyright 1996 See No Evil Music/Lil Shack O Tunes/ASCAP.

So, you can see why this man inspired me and others the night of the concert(s), and was the perfect speaker on behalf of PFLAG. With many upbeat, fun songs and other ballads that filled our hearts with peace and gratefulness, Steve is a true fighter who knows how to have a laugh in the worst of “rock-bottom”. A big thank you to him for giving his nights to us and raising money for our nonprofit!

Located in the midst of the Lan su Yuan Chinese garden in Portland, Oregon is the delicious teahouse in the Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

Quiet solitude is what you experience walking in to the teahouse. Warm Chinese dishes and a plethora of herbal and spiced teas await you, along with an inviting staff who know their Chinese mannerisms well.

Our trio ordered the vegetarian dumplings, steamed buns, hot tea, and guava juice. The menu ranges from $2-20 dollars and will pleasantly surprise you with its authenticity. While service was a bit slow that day, lunch was delightful, to say the least!

It's not every day that you find a knock-out Greek restaurant. Besides Yanni's in beautiful Seattle, Washington, this exquisite restaurant called Eleni's Philoxenia & Estiatorio makes your tastebuds tingle!

Eleni's is based around the Crete diet--the healthiest diet according to a recent study, due to their generous portions of olive oil and vegetables.

Totally affordable with their appetizers ranging from $6-15, and main dishes $8-20, you are bound to find something you like, and the most extensive appetizer menu you've ever seen.

I ordered the 3 dip plate with pita bread as my appetizer, had the Makaronia me Lahanika (diced eggplant, wild mushrooms, peppers, olives , capers and garlic sautéed in olive oil with fresh basil, herbs, spinach and kale; served over spaghetti), and topped it off with a fresh chocolate mousse.


The staff is welcoming and wonderful, and even personally thanked us for coming after we were already out the door. Eleni's has two locations, one in the Sellwood district, and one in Pearl. If you're in Portland, Oregon sometime, give Eleni's a try. You won't hate it!

Oh, how I love to travel! A couple hours ago, I departed on a train on the way to Portland, Oregon. Like every summer since I was twelve years old, Portland is my mother and I's getaway from the insanity in our own town.

Last year, my "date" (Mark) joined us! We visited the OMSI museum, Japanese Garden, Saturday market, went jet-boating, and explored city life while watching the big Fourth of July firework display over the Willamette river.

This year, we plan on checking out the legendary VooDoo Doughnuts, exploring Old Town China Town/Chinese garden and doing a lot of shopping here and there. Of course we are leaving time for the OMSI, Saturday market, and maybe even the Rose Test Garden (the oldest operating garden, from WWI).

Trains are an inexpensive, practical way to travel. We take the Amtrak, whose reputation is quite poor in terms of being on time, but whose staff is kinder than ever and food can make your tastebuds happy. I suggest taking the Amtrak somewhere local for a day trip, or scheduling a weekend away. Sometimes it's good just to get out of your normal town and experience culture unidentical to your own.

Friday evening, I drove to Tacoma, Washington to witness a once-in-a-lifetime speech made by archbishop Desmond Tutu--a Nobel Peace Prize winner and civil rights activist in South Africa, known for being a part of the movement involving people such as Nelson Mandela. This was nearing the end of his American speaking tour, and possibly the last visit he will make to the U.S. as far as I and others are aware.

While I found it quite odd that some of my educated peers shook their heads and wrote off the event as if they "didn't know who Desmond Tutu was and didn't care", I was pleasantly surprised at who did attend. I was sitting next to an individual who I have had small conflicts with, which just so happened to be the cherry on top of a beautiful night. Why, you may ask? Tutu's belief incorporates forgiveness and love to all humans, and compassion between two that come together. Being able to share a bittersweet message with someone I earlier had trouble understanding, created a spark within my soul, reminding me that I can accept and appreciate everyone, regardless of our differences.

Unlike many Americans at this moment, I am strongly against celebrating the death of any human life, regardless of how dangerous they could be. It is not humane, and not compassionate. Mr. Tutu mentioned this as well, and said that he agreed with my forgiving belief. We are all God's children, and when one of God's children murders another of God's children, that is truly something to mourn. I am a fair, loving individual, and certainly not a hypocrite. My prayers were with every troubled individual that night: those who wish to cause harm to another individual, or that have personal conflicts of their own that they do not deserve to battle.

With religious preachers, my only concern is their agenda and morale on "taboo" subjects such as homosexuality, which to me, within a Christian-based religion, should not be a debated question, but automatically accepted. The predicted teachings of Jesus Christ were much the same to individuals who follow through with his message, such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Mr. Tutu, who expressed the heart and soul of *a Christian* that night--one that is loving of all walks of life, who speaks out the message of Jesus with a steady voice, and lives exactly the way a true Christian would, in my opinion (I am not God, so I cannot say "should").

Desmond Tutu showed incredible confidence, humor, education, hope, and the BELIEF in my generation that will carry on the message of our choice for years to come--a message we have immense impact on and need to decide a peaceful, giving, and solving resolution within. A big thanks to "the arch"; you inspired me.

Wow! We did it. After nearly missing our dinner reservations at an extremely high-end restaurant, partner Mark and I enjoyed a four-course meal and met another, nice couple who were celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary! In the end, they actually turned out to be religious freaks, and began discussing "fornication" with us--giving us advice for the future of marriage. Yikes!

Of course, I forgot to snap a pic of the main meal I chose, which was a scrumptious fettucini with fresh mushrooms, shrimp, and small chunks of zucchini.  Mm-mm! I also learned my Blackberry's camera can take quite satisfying photos.

A variety of photos from the annual luminary parade downtown.

One of the small, special things I discovered while in Bellingham is the frozen yogurt hotspot, red.berry! Ranging from 3-6 dollars, customers can pick their chosen flavor of yogurt, and top it with chocolate or fruity treats.

I picked the original flavor with blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Along with the delicious treat, the cafe-like setting is easy on the eyes, modern and hip decor, with magazines and flower accents.

Yesterday was a big day. I was pleased to receive an invitation to a girls lunch out with my boyfriend's family. Meeting the boyfriend's family is a big step, even for us kids who choose to date more strictly than others our age.

It was a delicious lunch and a wonderfully warm feeling for my heart, being able to be surrounded by some beautiful and hilarious women.

As a side note, I wanted to mention three of the best delicacies I have come across recently--the "pick-three-for-$7.99" or "one-for-$2.99" (approx.) mini cake dishes from the Olive Garden restaurant. They come in flavors such as tiramisu, double chocolate, strawberry, lemon, and more. Go check them out!

Personally, Autumn is my favorite season for photography. The leafs are colorful, the smiles are bright, and the pumpkin aroma fills the air (okay--maybe you can't smell pumpkin, but you can dream). This is to remind/inspire you all to grab a camera and get out there this coming fall!

While Stars On Ice is celebrating its 25th anniversary this 2011 tour, I am celebrating my 9 or 10th time with the tour. Stars on Ice has been a constant home for me, throughout my childhood and teenage years. I knew no matter what happened within that year, I would always have a place to escape within a unique experience, that I would remember forever.

I remember...  My first show with my mother. My grandmother introduced me to the show by age 6. I enjoyed watching the recorded VHS tapes she would give me each time I visited. My mother later bought us tickets, and we watched the greatest--Katia Gordeeva, Ilia Kulik, Kurt Browning, and Scott Hamilton. From that day forward, I fell in love with the sport.

Stars on Ice's 25th anniversary tour showcased the greatest skaters and some of the greatest music artists. The disappointing part of the show was the lack of personal relation and involvement, encouraging the crowd to sit there in silence. As they have always lacked this feature since the late 90s, I think it was more apparent this year.

The high points of this tour include the appeal to all ages, family fun, and an emotional, thought-provoking experience that will change your life.

Thank you, Scott Hamilton, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kurt Browning, Evan Lysacek, Tanith Belbin, Ben Agosto, Sasha Cohen, Michael Weiss, Joannie Rochette, Todd Eldredge, Jamie Sale, and David Pelletier for producing a wonderful celebration of this timeless, world-class figure skating tour.

For me, it used to be that the closest Panera Bread restaurant was a 25 minute drive away, but not with the latest opening on my side of town.

Panera is a natural, organic food restaurant with nummy veggie soups and sandwiches--both hot and cold. It is also a bakery and bread company.

Before Mariners baseball games in Seattle, I would love to swing by and pick up a Mediterranean sandwich (pictured above) and some chips, or an apple. It was my occasional haven.

However, the service at the newly opened chain is horrible! The few times I have tried to decide what to order, not even within two minutes I felt rushed and pressured by the saleslady who kept asking questions or staring me down. Maybe it is because this staff is entirely new and not fully trained yet, but I expect more than bare minimum.

Taking a step back from the poor service, it truly is a hard decision because the food is to-die-for (especially if you are an organic nut like me)!

My Fave Sandwich:
Mediterranean Veggie--piquant peppers, feta cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cilantro Jalapeño hummus on their infamous Tomato Basil bread.

My Fave Salad:
Caesar--romaine lettuce, Asiago-Parmesan cheese, homemade Asiago cheese croutons & their special Caesar dressing.

My Fave Soup:
Low-Fat Vegetarian Black Bean--plump black beans simmered in a spicy vegetarian broth with onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic and cumin.

My Fave Pastry:
Bear Claw--made with an almond filling, drizzled with icing & sliced almonds.

Find a Panera Bread near you!