The evolution of my hobbies (obsessions)

As I've grown older I've had a lot of hobbies. I'm not just talking photography and gardening, I'm talking hobbies that boarder on obsessions. Being obsessed with something is not healthy if it interferes with your daily life, but obsessions that make you happy, make your daily life richer, well those are good hobbies (err.. obsessions).

As I've pondered my hobbies over the years I've realized some of these hobbies make for my very best memories, and make me the happiest I've ever been. Truly. Each hobby shaped me into the person I am today, and each one holds such fond and strong memories of who I was during that time of life.

Looking at them all in a list brings back a flood of nostalgia, of friends I was hanging out with at the time, of love I felt for E, of becoming a parent (which was very much my favorite obsession).

The reason why I've been pondering these hobbies so much lately is because I have a new one: BBC Sherlock. A tv show. I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I love thinking about a mere tv show. I mean, I haven't thought about pretend characters as much as I am now since I was 14 years old. That is embarrassing. But, it brings me a lot of happiness, so I'm just going to roll with it.

So, a list of the things I was and are obsessed with, starting with when I was merely 14 years old:

Junior High school - Lois and Clark aka Superman
I adored this show in Jr. High. Thinking about it now brings back such happy memories. My best friend and I were obsessed with Dean Cain (the Clark Kent/ Superman actor) and it makes me smile to remember how much time I actually fantasized about kissing him.

High school - "Haunted" places
Again, such happy memories. My friends and I were absolutely entranced by ghost stories and weird/abandoned places in high school. Our favorite Saturday night activity was getting a pizza and then driving around looking for "haunted" places. I know all the stories, all the locations, and all the "hauntings". Such good times. This is also when E and I started dating and so the memories are extra special.

College - Ghost towns/ Urban exploring
After high school I got much more into Urban exploring, which is a term that means exploring abandoned urban places. I read some amazing websites, explored some amazing places, and thought about abandoned structures pretty much all the time. E and I loved to check out ghost towns and abandoned highways, and every last forgotten home down near the farmhouse was explored.

Have some extra time? This is the best Urban exploring website out there. LOVE it.

This mill I explored alone. The entire creepy inside of the mill and I was alone. Most definitely one of the bravest moments of my life. I found a unlocked door in the basement and crawled in in the middle of the day.

Lots and lots of abandoned houses. I've talked about exploring abandoned houses a few times on my blog, I just love it. Here is one of my favorite posts about exploring abandoned homes. And here is another one. 

Post collage - Travel
Once I had money to travel I spent most of my time thinking/planning/imagining and scoping out our next adventure. E and I traveled a lot in our mid twenties. England, Amsterdam, Tanzania, Italy, Austria, Japan, Canada and every single National Park we could manage. Many many years of possibly my favorite memories of my life (second to being a mother of course).

Travel may seem like a weird thing to label as an "obsession" but for a very long time I was obsessed. My thoughts drifted to little else, only where I've been and where I couldn't wait to go next.

Early twenties - American Girl dolls
Remembering how much I loved dolls (well into adult hood) makes me realize how much poor E had to put up with. I loved dolls. I thought about them all the time, buying new things for them, making new stories up, and even taking Violet on our honeymoon (thank you E, you deserve a metal). Dolls were my life up until I had James. I made so so many friends on the doll message boards, some of which I still consider my closest friends today.

Some of my very favorite doll moments can be found in the Kit mystery albums: Mystery at the Farmhouse, Mystery at the Cabin, Mystery of the Abandoned Barn (because of course I've got to combine my love for dolls with my love for abandoned places!), and The Mystery of Christmas Eve.
Plus, of course, there are tons of traveling Violet albums.

Can't wait to share these types of memories with the kids one day.

Early twenties - Harry Potter
Each of these hobbies hold such a special place in my heart. Harry Potter is no different. While I loved seeing the movies in the theaters on opening night, the books are where my heart lies. Nothing got me more involved with the Harry Potter world than the release of a new book. I would read all the theories, contribute to discussions, and generally geek out on how much I love Harry Potter. Oh, and re-read the books again and again.

I love Harry Potter so much that's it's enough that it somewhat defines who I am (crazy, right?! Ask any Harry Potter fan and they will totally get what I'm talking about). And Dumbledore? He's my all time favorite.

I AM SO STOKED to introduce the kids to the books. Their minds will be blown.

Late twenties until current - Children, being a mother
It sounds trite to say, but becoming a mother, and immersing myself into motherhood was and is a hobby/obsession. Of course, becoming a parent changes you, it changes you for the better to your very core. But motherhood is an obsession of mine. I revel in it. I immerse myself totally and completely. Being a stay-at-home-mom has made me happier than anything I've ever done.

I am not the perfect parent, far from it, but I like to give my children a magical childhood. We tell stories. We play outside year round. We build forts and get muddy and laugh and laugh. Bringing this to the two people I love most in the world is my favorite obsession of all.

Early thirties - Instagram
About two years ago I got very into Instagram. Yes, Instagram that is just merely a photo posting app on your phone. But I connected with other mothers around the world and I loved that this platform pushed me more with my photography and my creativity than anything in recent past.

I challenged myself to getting the perfect shot, the perfect lighting, the perfect expressions. Instagram was and is a way to share my love of motherhood and photography with other mamas out there.

While I still love IG, my obsession has shifted a little. As kids grow bigger and more independent they are less willing to be the object of photos, and part of childhood is living without a camera in your face. So I've lessened my presence on IG a bit over the last four months.

Current - Sherlock 
I said above that I totally admit and embrace the fact that being obsessed with a tv show (made up characters that really don't exist) is pretty geeky. But as I love dolls and Harry Potter so I'm not too worried about my geeky rating.

I LOVE this show. It is kinda crazy. Like I haven't felt this obsessiveness towards a show since Lois and Clark (twenty years ago!). I like detective stories (Law & Order SVU was a favorite of mine) but it is so much more than that. It's a love story. It is. Don't laugh. I truly feel that Sherlock and John Watson are going to end up together. And it makes me so happy.

Poor E, he not only had a doll join him on our honeymoon, but he has to listen to me go on and on about what I believe are two gay detectives. This man needs an award.

I know that it's kinda crazy to think that Sherlock will end it's five seasons with John and Sherlock together in a romantic relationship, but I do think that is where the creators are going with it. Call me crazy, I don't mind. 

Plus, the story is really just so good. Predictions are so fun to make, even if they end up totally false. I loved that with Harry Potter, and once the 7th and last book came out, and all questions were answered, it felt like such a sad moment. Part of the fun of getting into a fandom is trying to figure out where the creators are going with it. 

If you are a Sherlock fan, and don't mind reading theories, here are the best websites. Each one is brilliant and such a fun read. And if you don't agree that Sherlock is going to end up with John that is fine too. I won't be too offended. 

Well Then, Game Over

Deducing BBC Sherlock

The Loudest Subtext in Television

Ha! I wanted to write a short post about my love for BBC Sherlock and it turned into quite an epic post. However, writing it made me smile again and again. I realize now that being obsessed with something is totally not a new thing for me. It's a lifelong love. 

Send me your best Sherlock theories and a gold metal for my man that has to deal with all of this craziness. 

Seven years

Seven years ago today, at this very moment I was sipping cocktails with my new husband. I was married only hours before and I was feeling more beautiful than I had in my entire life.

I was beyond thrilled to make E my husband. Never had a doubted the fact that we'd end up together. Since we starting dating when we were 17 years old, by the time I was twenty (three solid awesome years) I knew he was the man for me.

And you know what? It's been fourteen and a half years since we started dating. Seven years to the day since we walked down the aisle as husband and wife, and still, to this day, I've never doubted my decision.

For those who know E know he is so wonderful. Shy and reserved when you first meet him, funny and silly with his children. Honest and good and more loving than anyone I've ever known. This man is seriously the best of all the best.

But I've typed all of this before. I love him more than the day I married him, and seeing him father my children with 100% devotion and love makes me fall deeper and deeper in love.

But for my anniversary post I don't want to go on and on about how much I adore him. I want to go on and on about how much I adore Yosemite.

Yosemite is where E and I decided to get married. It was a tricky decision, my parents were just signing divorce papers and E's parents were hoping for a local Utah wedding.

However once you go to Yosemite you get it. It is MAGIC. Most of our wedding ceremony was written by John Muir, another Yosemite lover. Quotes like "But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its wall seems to glow with life" mixed effortlessly with "to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."

Yosemite is a temple. It is amazing. And at the very center of Yosemite Valley lies the historic Ahwahnee Lodge. E and I walked in years earlier and we just knew, knew that if there was any way in the world, we wanted to get married there.

National Parks and historic lodges just kinda click with us. One day we'd like to see all the National Parks in the nation (yes, all!) and stay in every single historic lodge. (Funny thing is, we never stayed in the Ahwahnee, after we paid for the wedding we didn't have another penny to our name!).

Here are a few of my favorite Yosemite photos I took seven years ago, during that dreamy week in July. If you haven't visited Yosemite, please add it to your "must see" list. You won't regret it.

This is a view of Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point. Isn't it just lovely?!! Do you see the upper and lower falls?

Oh The Ahwahnee, I just adore you. Photo credit, nps.org. 

The Ahwahnee is decorated in a Native American Art Deco theme. The golds and reds of the hotel helped us choose gold and red as our wedding colors.

Another view of this amazing room. Photo credit, nps.org.

The Solarium sits right at the back of the hotel looking over Yosemite Falls and beautiful secluded meadows. E and I were lucky enough to marry in that meadow, and have our reception in this incredible historic room. Photo credit, nps.org.

View of Yosemite Valley with Bridal Veil Falls over my shoulder. Do you see Half Dome in the way way back middle?

On one of our last days in Yosemite we hiked the challenging Panorama Trail. This view of Nevada Falls was so breathtaking. The roar of the falls simply took your breath away.

Vernal Falls is possibly my favorite waterfall in the park. I wish Vernal wasn't such a dorky name, I seriously wanted to name James after a Yosemite Waterfall.

Taft Point is an easy hike on the top of the canyon, but not for anyone scared of heights.

Half Dome on the left, then Nevada Falls (upper falls) and Vernal Falls. This view seriously is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Hiking the mist trail below Vernal Falls. Best way to end of hard day of hiking.

I posted twice today! Scroll down for Juliet's 17 month update.

A London memory

Today as I sat down for lunch (reheated Indian food an leftover fish and chips) I was taken back to a day in London in 2005. Back in 2005 I was blogging, but hadn't quite started yet. Plus, I was kind of a lousy blogger when it came to trips (I have one tiny Italy post! What?! Italy was AMAZING and I only wrote ten words and posted five pictures. Shame shame).

Anyway, back to my lunch. The flavors of Indian food in one bite and fish and chips in the next speaks one thing to me: an English Pub. Someone might be surprised to find Indian food in an English Pub, but actually on most pub menus you can find one or two Indian things.

As I sat there eating, looking out at the gray windy day, a flood of memories came rushing forward.

It was maybe our third day in London, on our first international trip ever. If you've know me for awhile, or knew me when I was young, you'll remember that my heart was in one place: travel.

I could not wait for the day that I could explore international destinations. It was and is a life long dream to travel many foreign lands.

Boy, this post is long winded. Sorry about that.

Anyway, back to that day in London. It was cold. And windy. It was early spring and E and I had taken the tube to St. Paul's cathedral in the middle of downtown. St. Paul is easily London's most grand cathedral.

We exited the tube, oriented ourselves, and set off towards our first destination of the day. Once there we decided to take a tour. All I remember of the tour was it was so boring. Long and boring with a million details of dead priests.

Finally, after two hours, I convinced E to sneak away from the tour with me. Thinking back this makes me giggle, as if our tour guide didn't notice when two people left, the entire tour was six people large.

Instead we decided to walk, or climb, to the top of the tower. Up up up up. Oh my gosh. I was exhausted, but it was well worth the climb.

When we were done with our decent we found a pub across the street. Inside we decided to sit upstairs. I remember we were the only ones, and it felt so good to be inside, out of the freezing spring London weather.

We ordered the most delicious fish and chips of my life (and peas, too, because the English love peas with fish and chips).

All of these memories came in almost a flashback today, as I wiped faces, spooned yogurt, and cut up grapes. A life of traveling before kids makes my heart aflutter.

Cheers!