Blogger's Favorites -- Megan of Poem, Sweet Poem

images via poem, sweet poem...

Megan is a poet and a writer (she pens the excellent blog, Poem, Sweet Poem)... She's soulful and smart and observant (prerequisites of being a poet and writer, yes?) She also happens to be kind and immensely lovely.

In my alternative universe, I'm rollin' like Megan -- camping trips in Point Reyes, breakfast in Big Sur, quick trips to Palm Springs. (Yes, in my alternative universe I live in California, good catch.) But her recollections of these experiences -- her photos, her words, her musings -- are the next best thing. I just live vicariously through her.

I love Megan's favorites this week. Her celebration of family, food and nature are a good reminder (for me) that life's true treasures are usually the most accessible and yet often the most overlooked. Thanks Megan for a immensely lovely lead-in to the weekend...

So without further ado, Megan's favorites. Enjoy!

Dreaming of Desolation Wilderness -- This is the story of a place I've been to only once but I can't get out of my mind. Does that ever happen to you? A few summers ago, I went backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, an area perched along the crest of the Sierra Nevada. Known for its granite peaks and glacially formed lakes, this wilderness is the dreamiest stretch of nature I've ever seen. After a long hike in, we set up camp on a heart-shaped lake. With the whole place to ourselves, we swam all day and star-gazed all night. I dream of going back, but these passing thoughts and memories of its magic make it as if, somehow, I never left.

A Taste of the Season -- When I'm at a loss for what to cook, I ask myself: what's in season? Usually, the answer will be my guide. Whether it's peaches in the summertime or apples in the fall, there's nothing more delectable than that first, juicy bite of the season. It's the closest thing we have to tasting earth - if you're into that kind of thing. My favorite place to get fruit and vegetables is the farmer's market (my go-to Saturday morning activity) - where fresh and locally grown produce flows plentifully over rows and rows of farm stands. On the horizon, we have summer. Sounds like stone fruit crumbles and heirloom tomato Bruschetta for me. Yum!

Girlhood -- When I think of my childhood, almost every memory includes my sister, Heather. Our playtime consisted primarily of make-believe, performance and curiosity. Our home in Malibu had a huge backyard. As limitless as our imaginations, it was the perfect place for two young girls to run free. This picture not only defines an era (the two of us as little girls playing on the jungle gym our grandpa built for us) but it defines our everlasting girlhood: caught in a moment of artistic exploration and possibility, we wear our finest and prettiest dresses.

Maine -- I like to think that I was raised in Malibu, but I grew up in Maine. Having spent my college years there and countless summer vacations with family and friends, this California girl can't quit the Pine Tree State. I've walked the jagged shorelines and climbed the tallest peak, canoed in lakes and whitewater rafted down the Penobscot. In my dreams, one day I will have my very own lake house in Maine (kayaks, row-boat and lobster dinner included) -- but for now it's simply Vacation-Land. The lighthouse always brings me back, or is it the countless memories - this place is home to me.

Photo of Marilyn Monroe from here.

Yoga -- It's easy to get caught up in the craziness of life with all of its uncertainties and unknowns. Right as I'm about to lose it, I remember the things that ground me. Yoga is high on that list. Not only is it a guaranteed mood-lifter, but it always makes me feel happy, healthy and fulfilled. It doesn't hurt that three years ago I discovered the dreamiest class in San Francisco. We chant, we flow, we stretch, we twist, we open our hearts. Once we melt into our final resting pose, our teacher massages our necks and feet with rose oil. We wake to the smell of incense and the sound of her flute. I'm grounded just thinking about it and that's all there is to know.

Outerlands -- My favorite restaurant in San Francisco is Outerlands, a quaint and woodsy hub for surfers, artists and musicians. It's also a haven for foodies. On a chilly SF night, I like to order a bowl of piping hot soup (served with Dave's toast - the bread that they bake in-house on a daily basis, see above - and yes, that's homemade butter). They also make incredible fish stew and the prettiest, freshest salads. Sound bite from my last visit: "I'm just eating the flowers and the cheese." Owned by the sweetest family ever, I walk in feeling welcomed and leave as nourished and inspired as ever.

Rise Up Singing -- There is such a thing as the quintessential songbook. Rise Up Singing came into my world during college, when I met my musical soul mates - friends who loved to sing as much as I did. Gathering around this book with guitars and our voices, we found a way to stay warm on long winter nights. An earthy and joyous collection of songs, Rise Up Singing is not a bad thing to have handy for backpacking trips and/or around the campfire. You never know when you might want to sing John Denver's Country Roads under the stars.

Homemade Granola -- Honestly, some food is just better when it's homemade. I wasn't much of a granola girl, until I baked it for myself - and then I was hooked. My favorite recipe comes from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook. It works for me because it's simple: a baked combo of oats, coconut, sliced almonds, oil, and honey, combined with dried fruit and roasted cashews. If I'm in the mood, I'll add a dash of cinnamon here and there. Crunchy, sweet and hearty - it's a rare day that I won't have a mason jar full of it on my kitchen counter.

A Walk on the Moon -- If you don't know who the "blouse man" is, I suggest you run off and watch this movie immediately. Set during the summer of 1969, amidst Woodstock and the moon landing, a married woman (Diane Lane) has a lusty affair with a freewheelin' hippie (Viggo Mortensen). Need I say more? Oh, there is something else: the soundtrack is amazing! Classic hits from Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead, and Judy Collins will leave you yearning for another era.

Relaxing Outdoors -- On a hot day, I love nothing more than to be outside. Usually, I'll go for a hike or a bike ride to soak in the sunshine, but sometimes I just need to slow down. I've found that one of the best ways for me to re-energize is to do absolutely nothing - well, almost nothing. Once I find the perfect setting (a hammock, a sunny patch of grass, or a spot by the water), all I need is a book and the sounds of the world around me. I know I've reached that prime level of calm and leisure when I forget the little things - like hunger or time, or that the sun has so quietly and modestly slipped away behind the mountains. If I do happen to catch the sunset, nothing could be more reassuring - this thing of beauty will be here tomorrow, and the next day and the next.