What's in your outhouse?

The outhouse...oh the outhouse is still a frightening place for me. I have clearly been spoiled my entire life by having a toilet. What were my parents thinking?! Meh I don't know but the outhouse has become apart of my everyday life...unfortunately! I think I shall name my outhouse Mordor because...

It's true..you can't.. you have to prepare and bring supplies. It is like a small field trip that you have to go on multiple times a day. At first I was like why wouldn't I just leave the toilet paper in the outhouse? No reason not to, but then I was like hmmm ummm no its gross what if it gets wet? It is going to be cold, can toilet paper freeze? I don't know but probably; so I now have a little toilet bag that I grab. It has TP, baby wipes, a rock to throw at a moose, Clorox wipe, candles, matches, bear spray, band-aids, light snacks in case I get lost... pretty much anything I need plus a lot of unnecessary stuff.

Fun fact- people have to use foam toilet seats or like some kind of knitted sock to go over the seat because sitting on plastic in -40 can result in constipation. Which makes sense because your body is just like nope not at this time...try again later like maybe in spring. Yea its that kind of cold.

Winter is coming!

So I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones! I love the books and the tv series is pretty much the bomb.com!! Peter Dinklage is my hero <3! If you have not read the books or seen the show 1) what are you doing with your life? and 2) the Stark households saying is Winter is coming...because it is. So this has been on my mind pretty much all summer as I started to prepare myself for the move up here. It is  900 degrees with 100000% humidity but winter is coming!

Well guys it really is coming!! Most nights not it gets down into the 30's! The 30's!!! In August!!! So this new chilly weather has created a small mild internal panic inside me! AKA I AM FREAKING OUT!! I feel like I need to prepare. I need to chop lots of wood even though I don't have a wood stove! I need to hibernate or start squirreling away food. I don't know, but I do know that while I am freaking out over this winter situation that is about to lay a smack down on Fairbanks everyone else is just super calm. They are like hey are you ready and someone else is like almost. and that's it! Logically, I know they have no reason to freak out because they are used to it and whatever but I would really like them to join in on my panic. Have like sympathy panic with me. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so!

I have not used the heater in my cabin yet; mostly for two reasons: 1) my place is super well insulated so it usually never gets below 55 inside and 2) I figure this is a good way to start to adjust (and hopefully stimulate some fur growth in Lace).

So in my panic I made a list of top ten things you need in order to survive a winter in Alaska (Note this list will be revised in spring upon me actually surviving a winter in Alasaka:))

1) Get your car winterized - this means you get fancy oil put in that wont freeze and heaters installed. You have to plug those heaters in so they will warm up your car so you can start it. My house, the university and most parking lots have outlets that you can plug your car in!


2) Epic snow boots and jackets- I have a pair of Columbia boots but I am looking for a pair of bunny boots because everyone sweats by them. I have 2 jackets and my ultra heavy parka that I need to get.

3) Silk long johns- layers are most important lots of underlayers

4) Blankets- I have been stock piling blankets. I look for sales and good deals on blankets everywhere I go. You need them for your house, your dog, and in your car for emergencies. Also, a good goose down never hurts:)

5) Water- An emergency water supply is a must

6) Freeze dried food- Some for your house and car. (Really I have an emergency kit in my car that pretty much contains anything and everything you can think of and probably some that you have not!)

7) Day lamp- because the sun will be gone and that will be so sad! Day lamps are a must

8) Entertainment- Winter here lasts a long time so I have tried to stockpile movies, games, and books to get me through the winter. Psych and New Girl are probably my go to favorites:)

9) Candles and Twinkle Lights- Because they are pretty and handy in an emergancy

10) Hand warmers -this one is kind of self explanatory

I am like 95% sure this list will change and be expanded upon in the next few months so until then...

My cabin

So here are just a few quick pics of what my tiny little cabin looks like:)

ze bedroom with my nifty thrift store pillows;)

Zee kitchen please note the pineapple! PSYCH!

Zee living room I will be getting rid of that chair and getting a futon or sleeper sofa of some sort eventually...some day..maybe never but the hope is there!

Saturday in Fairbanks AKA What I did Today:)

So right now I am updating my blog from one of my new found fav spots in Fairbanks, Gulliver's Books. It is an charming little book store that is right across the street from UAF, and they sell new and used books as well as uniquely Alaskan gifts.

This is just one example of the treasures that can be found lol

They also have a cafe upstairs were you can get bagels, sandwiches, wraps, coffees ect. My favorite part is that they give you free water and coffee!  Mostly because I love free things. (The only thing free you should turn down is if a someone hands you a present in an airport...just say no!) For lunch I got a wrap that was turkey and stuffing and lettuce and pretty much tasted like thanksgiving! Amazing :) Also if you are a student you get a dollar off! Holla! In my mind that pretty much means I am eating here for free and using their internet! LOVES IT!

So this morning I went to the farmers market that is right down the street, and it is fantastic! They have lots of jewelry, honey, crafts, tons of produce, and lots of food vendors. (OK side note the book store is playing the soundtrack to Moulin Rouge 50 points to Gulliver's!) They had people making crepes, and reindeer sausage, and of course Thai food. Fairbanks has a huge dirty love affair with Thai food... Thai food and coffee shacks! They are literally everywhere!!!! I don't understand it...I mean I like Thai food but there is such an overwhelming number of Thai places. There is probably a 25:1 ratio of Thai restaurants to every other kind of place to get food and I am including McDonalds in there!  Ok I got of topic but whatever. Back to the farmers market! I got a a zucchini, cucumber, a giant thing of lettuce, and a woo hoo onion (? I am still doubting that onion purchase) all for 9 bucks!. Did I mention that it was all organic? Loves it! They also had some of the biggest zucchini I have ever seen! Its abnormal! I guess it's natures way of over compensating because winter is coming!  I also found some wild blueberry jam which I am super excited about... mostly because I love pb and j.

 I also bought some cards done by a local artist she is pretty amazing!!

The rest of the day is going to be spent at Lace's favorite place in Fairbanks, the dog park. She loves going and playing with the other dogs. I just feel like she is the awkward dog that is like  OMG PLAY WITH ME!!! I WANT TO PLAY BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I AM DOING SO IM JUST GOING TO FOLLOW YOU AND BITE YOUR NECK! (She clearly thinks in all caps.)Even though Lacy might be a smidge awkward she has adjusted and made new friends. (She is also by far the largest dog we have seen so far) So it has been a great way to meet new people and let her get some energy out.:) Everyone is happy!

Alaskan Thrifters

So everyone wants to save money right? That's clearly a global thing...everyone is always trying to find new and innovative ways to save a buck. Well I think Alaskans have everyone beat! Hands down they win up here.

First off in Fairbanks if you life a little outside of the city ( like I do) you have to take your garbage to the dump (or transfer stations as they call them up here). The first time I went I noticed a lot of people just kind of hanging out. I was like huh that's weird, but I just threw my trash away and just assumed these people just knew each other and were catching up. The next time there were even more people, and there were people standing in the dumpster!! Now in the lower 48 dumpster diving is kinda left to the homeless and the ultra hipster, but here it is almost part of the culture! Throw trash away and lets go see what we can find! People walk around with clothes that they have found, books furniture, used lumber whatever! It is amazing!! They even have a covered area for people to leave the stuff they think someone might want, and it is always swarming with people. I find this pretty awesome, and am pretty excited for the first time I score a good find ;)

Thrift stores are pretty popular here too. I went to one called Value Village and they have pretty much anything you can think of. There is an entire wall filled with bags that contain used pens and pencils, crayons, sewing stuff, little hotel bottles of shampoo, half used note pads, toy soldiers, thumbtacks, used lint from dryers, unicorn horns, utensils, band aids, ...the list goes on. Pretty much anything that you could think of they have, and they clearly never throw anything away.

Another way they show off their awesome thriftiness is by hosting not one but two free markets every year!! Thats right Free! Each year at the University they gather up everything that students have left behind or what people donate and you just walk through and take what you want! MIND BLOWN! I know its amazing! And they have a second one that is just for winter clothes! ugh stop I can't handle the bargains! Amazing!

Needless to say I am filling my cabin up with awesome thrift store decorations!!

P.S.- I recently found out that if you are planning on putting xmas lights up you have to do it early. like September early...because if you don't and try to move them around in December they will just freakin snap and break because it is so cold.  Yea that's really flippin cold!

Photos!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so here are some of the pictures I took on my road trip of epicness! Unfortunately there is not a ton because if I stopped every time I wanted to take a photo I would still be driving now! lol I jest but am mostly serious on that!

The old trusty car on the side of the road somewhere in Canada

This is at a fairly nice rest stop in BC

The epic begining

Literally like 10 miles after the start of the Alcan

Muncho Lake

More Muncho Lake

Muncho lake from afar! I spent the night at a very nice lodge right on the lake. I highly recommend it. Its called Muncho Lake Lodge / northern Rockies lodge (they are super creative on their names up here!)

Buffalo!!!!!! I was terrified to get closer to them because I was afraid that Lacy would start barking at them and then a bison would break my car

I pulled off the to this "rest area" because they said there was a photo oppurtunity....this is what I found....

Best road trip dog ever in the history of ever!!!!!

Rain! well it is raining in the distance

Please note the graveyard of bugs on the front of my car! Also apparently I am extremely lucky because I made the whole trip without getting a crack in my windshield!

This was also at that scenic rest stop

Klaune lake is huge!

It is pretty much a small ocean

Lacy frolicking in the water

In the Yukon somewhere...

Sweet Sweet Water

So dry cabin living....it actually took me about two days to kinda get adjusted. Is that strange? I think so. Maybe it was so easy just because well there is no other option. As some of you know my cabin does not have running water, which means I have to haul my own water in jugs and use an outhouse. I know...its weird. 2013 and I am using an outhouse. The reason my home does not have running water is because the ground underneath has a layer called permafrost. I am sure you can guess what that means, but it means the ground is frozen or has been for at least two years. So it makes it impossible and costly to lay pipes for plumbing. It also means my cabin is kind of on stilts. the house rests on multiple posts of timber that can be moved and adjusted each year. (They are adjusted to keep it level because houses shift as the ground melts underneath it.) A dry cabin was really my only option because if you want a place with water you have to pay for it, and I am talking double at least what I am paying for my place. It is insane!

To get water I go to pretty much a gas station for water called the Fill. It costs me a quarter to fill up my two jugs, and they last me about a week. Also 6 gallons of water is super heavy!! All i can think is how ripped all the people back in the day had to have been hauling that stuff around. The hardest thing to get the hang of is washing dishes. You have to heat the water on the stove and rinse. It has taken me a few tries to get a system down that seems to work. I am lucky though because I have a heated drain pipe that goes outside, so I dont have to carry my waste water outside! The little things in life;)

The outhouse....is a strange place and currently I just try to go to the bathroom every time I  am out somewhere. I mean I know it is an outhouse, but if I ever have to build my own I am going to invest a little more money in mine so its actually nice and not just a giant poop box!!! Blah! Actually mine is not the bad, but I am working on decorating it so it has a more homey feel.

Living without indoor plumbing does really make you appreciate the moments were you get to take a shower! Like oh my god it is amazing! It pretty much makes that day a holiday! So I can say that this experience has already taught me to appreciate things that I took for granted back in Richmond. Like showers..sweet sweet showers. :)

The Most Extreme Road Trip of my Life!

Hi guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to actually get my blog up and running, but I have hit a snag with the internet here in Alaska. Mainly the fact that I have been unable to get internet at my cabin! Face PALM! it has been very frustrating!

Any hoo! The drive up here took exactly 8.5 days and was the longest trip of my life!!! The first half was extremely boring and uneventful because it pretty much consisted of farmland and more farmland. Once I hit North Dakota i was still surrounded by farmland, but the sky opened up. And when I say opened up I mean it was like waboom!!!!!!!!! more sky then I have ever seen in my life! Thats pretty much all they have in North Dakota; sky and farmland! Crossing the border into Canada was slightly terrifying and uneventful and was also the most intense customs check I have ever had. It took about 20 to 30 minutes for me to get through.

The first city I stayed in in Canada was a dinky little town called Estevan (Canada's only Mexican City jk) and it pretty much was an entire town filled with pick up trucks and construction! But I finally got to try a Tim Horton's and Holy Jesus it was amazing!!! Seriously, Americans need to jump on this with both hands! They have the most amazing baked goods (Lacy was particularly fond of their crescents), and delicious breakfast sandwiches! Pretty much the rest of the trip I tried to find one for breakfast. Fun fact about Canada: each state has a different Moose sign, and Saskatchewan's looks like it has cancer. just saying...

Things did not level up until I hit the Alcan (Alaskan Highway). Honestly, I would make this drive again in a heartbeat, but I would start in Alaska and turn around in Dawson Creek. (Although I did miss visiting Bioware's headquarters in Edmonton. I suck I know!) I would rent a swanky RV and probably take the whole summer to get there and back. Everywhere mile there is something amazing to see. Muncho and Klaune lakes were both breath taking. Clear Icy blue water!!  I shall post pictures tomorrow! I highly recommend doing this at least once in your life. And it can be done on a budget as long as you are not too particular about were you sleep :) Also you see lots of wildlife; I mostly saw crows and buffalo (bison) but that was still amazing!! If you are feeling really bad ass you can do the Alcan by bike, and yes i mean the kind you pedal. I saw quite a few bikers out there towing their stuff behind them, and I just waved at the crazies as I drove by.

Crossing back into the US was much easier, and I was glad to be were they had Mcdonald's sweet tea, and gas was sold in gallons.  My drive continued to be amazingly gorgeous even with smoke from some forest fires getting in the way.

I would like to dedicate this first blog post to Lacy. She was sooooooooo good on the drive up there. I mean it was amazing!! She never whined, and besides the fact that I could not leave her alone at all it was an amazing trip. So my dog gets 1500 points for being awesome!