For the last five days, I’ve been ice-jumping, photographing, and eating my way around the state of Minnesota with our California friends!
Let’s introduce –> Brad and Kirstin are friends that we met in Cebu (yeah, like Cebu City in the Philippines) because they were living and serving there during the same time that we were. Ironically, last year at this exact same time we were doing a similar little trip but on motorcycle and in the tropics of the Philippines. Oh, the memories! and the sweat. In Cebu, they worked with a few really amazing organizations (one of them being an incredible at-risk maternity clinic called Glory Reborn) but they were also connected with the kids and people at our favorite place, CSC, because of their love and energy for the kidsters + their ability to make awesome videos.
They came to Minnesota with a double-purpose: a) to visit their favorite Minnesota people *grins* and b) to attend the CSC annual fundraising banquet!
Since returning to the Bay Area, they have now launched their own non-profit and wedding videography ditty called Love In Transit as a way to connect their love for video, people, and really important work happening around the world. I just LOVE seeing people start things like this, especially my friendz! Two thumbs up for passionate living.
So that turned into sort of a brag-on-your-friends thing there, but they are really cool. And now they’re probably really cool as in cold, because we just drove them all around the state of Minnesota and showed them what this state is all about. Here are some pictures of the last five days!
Final comment – much of our extended weekend was spent talking about, looking at, and making these things called Stellers. Or maybe Steller stories. I don’t know, it’s too new for me to really give them an official name.
If you download the Steller app and search for Pinch of Yum, you’ll be able to see my Steller story with pics and video as well as the ones I’ve shared from Brad and Kirstin. Plus hundreds of other inspiring little story-slideshows from other users all over the world. Perfect inspiring little time waster for your afternoon! GO.
I totally know where you took them for lunch in duluth, I’m blanking on the name, belle la vie? (i don’t think thats right, but close) but either way, yum! Perfect choice!
Yep! Duluth indeed. I think the place is called Va Bene. Or something very Italian. 🙂
Minnesota is beautiful! Wow! There’s nothing better than out of town friends visiting- we have friends flying from Reno to Cape Town to stay with us for two weeks this summer, and I cannot wait! It looks like you all had a great time, and gorgeous photos.
Your photos are beautiful. I love the ones with reflections in the water!
Thanks! I’m going through a phase of being obsessed with reflection photos. As you can see. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous photos!! Loved scrolling through.
xx Sarah | Loser Girl Wins
Thanks Sarah!
This is one of my favorite posts on Pinch of Yum. For the first time I’m pretty intrigued by Minnesota! Looks very stark and beautiful.
https://thatumamilife.wordpress.com/ – a clean eating bento blog. Japanese or Asian-inspired!
Yep… good description for right now! Stark and cold and icky grey skies. But summer is wonderful! Hopefully not too far away…
Gorgeous photos! It looks like you all have a wonderful time!
Thank you Ashley! I just love playing around with photos on my iPhone!
Isn’t it the best feeling when you make friends and they come to visit you??!! Looks like you guys had lots of food tasting 😉 !
Wow! Love all the photos!! Looks like you guys had a great time, and I love reading about all your awesome friends!
Thanks Phi! They’re pretty awesome.
These pics are gorgeous! I can’t believe how much snow there still is in May. This is totally random, but do you and Bjork watch the show on FX called Fargo with Billy Bob Thorton?
Yes, the snow! ugh. And no to the show, but maybe we should start! 🙂
Being born and raised in the Bay Area, your sweet post definitely caught my attention! (I checked out their website and it’s so funny — I lived in a small town about an hour outside of SF too!) I’m so happy for you that you were able to take time off to play tour guide and take a break from regular life. It looks like you four made lots of fun memories and bonded over so much good food! (Copycat recipes in the making, maybe?) You’re an incredibly talented photographer, and not just with food. Your shots in this post are so artsy, well-composed, and captivating. Love these behind-the-scenes-glimpses-int0-real-life posts!
Oh how funny! We had a great time and it was so nice to just pull back from “work” – both teaching and blogging – for a few days. Your comments are the nicest – thanks so much Amy!
Love all the food pics! That’s what makes a vacation, I think. Or any day, really. I have this Saturday free for just me to go spend however I want, and you know what I think about continuously? What I’m going to eat. There is something wrong with me. There is more to life than that. Right? 😛
Food, friends, food, family, food, food, food… it all blends together perfectly.
This makes me miss my home state. Sniff, sniff. At least we have the LG Twins here in Korea – complete with the same logo and everything!
Wow- really? I had no idea about the Twins thing!
Beautiful pictures! I’m going to look that app up now 🙂
It’s super fun! Like, fun for hours. 🙂
You still have ice! Our ice broke in south central Wisconsin and finally we have clear water. Lovely photos!
It was in Duluth! 🙂 Our lakes are clear.