Braustin Nation

The Pacific Northwest is perfect for our family. Austin and I were very careful about selecting a "forever home." A big component of our lives is food, and so we wanted a place that would have access to all sorts of kinds of foods. Austin is an incredible cook, I grew up with both my parents cooking.  My mom comes from a long line of Mormon women, and my great-grandma especially was the most amazing cook you'd ever meet. Especially because she was an amazing gardener from all her years working farms. Whenever I went over in the spring or summer to Idaho Falls, Grandma had her gorgeous garden going. It was the kids' job to pick what she needed for each meal. Come breakfast time, Grandma would put you in a 50's style apron (don't matter, boys gonna get ruffley aprons too!) and she'd give you each a plastic bucket. Then orange twine was wrapped through the bucket and around your waist so you'd have both hands for picking. And out you went for breakfast be

How do I feel about turning 30? Happy, excited, self-confident, and hopeful.  I feel perpetually 14 still, just with two boys and a husband of almost 10 years. Do we ever feel like adults?  I've lived a full life, including a full life of hardships that are pretty unusual for someone my age. I constantly joke I am the youngest grandma you'll ever meet! I've also had quite some major accomplishments as well. More importantly, though, I've noticed that as each year passes, especially since being married, it only gets better and happier. The best thing about time and becoming older is having experiences to grow from and they become an integral part of your being. Even the difficult experiences. Especially the difficult experiences. For me, the really "crappy-there's-no-positive-way-to-spin-this" experiences put everything into perspective.  Recently (after Toddler A's birth) I was diagnosed with severe Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, a

We had great timing with moving, haha!  Moved here and then COVID-19 hit! We truly don't know what normal is, or what Washington will really be like for us. Income-wise, friend-wise, church-wise....  But even with all this madness, we are head over heels. Especially the boys.  There's a river, sand bars, hiking trails, waterfalls, cherry and other produce "you-pick"s, farmer's markets, church friends, neighborhood friends, community master class gardens, buggy walks, sunshine... And next week will be my big 30th where we are heading to Port Angeles! The area we are headed into is in a different and much more advanced phase of reopening than us. Close by are world-class tide pools. It's located near the Olympic National Rainforest and I plan on hiking! It's about a 5 hour drive, so we booked two nights to enjoy our time and explore. Also, the boys will need more time than us to get over a 5 hour drive, haha!  The whole coronavirus shut-in thing has definite