Hi, I’m Alaina

Artist & Creator
located in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

About Me:


I am a conservation advocate (reduce, reuse, recycle!), and rarely buy anything new. As an avid thrifter, estate sale junkie, and craigslist connoisseur, I would venture to guess more than 85% of my worldly goods are second-hand.

I have always loved baking, and want to share with you the simple recipes I create to replace my favorites from BGFL (Before Gluten Free Life). Also, I’m excited to help you re-create any recipe you loved before you gave up “regular baked goods”. Send me a message with a recipe you’d like me to create a gluten-free solution for here.

I get creative with what’s at hand, and while that’s often food or art, sometimes it’s my hair, which is always changing. Pixie length, or long layers, or somewhere in-between, shades of brown to red… I’m a firm believer in making change when the feeling strikes!

While my blogging adventure started as a way to hold myself accountable to a running practice, I realized the amount of joy that writing brings me is what keeps me coming back to the keyboard. On these pages you will find most of my running adventures, exploration of food, creative projects and furniture rehabilitation, excitement for thrifted “finds”, and musings on life.

Here I continue my journey, with a little less grit, while maintaining exuberance, and enjoying a lot more creativity. I hope these stories bring you a smile, a laugh, some enjoyment, or inspiration.

Please feel free to shoot me your question, comment, or even simply say hello!

My Story:


The past decade of my life was a deep exploration of self

I have tested my limits training for (and completing) a couple marathons and a 50k, certifying as a 200RYT yoga teacher, becoming a Reiki Master, studying to be a wellness coach, taking years of voice lessons, and much experimentation with diet (due to an unintentional discovery of gluten sensitivity - or possible celiac disease, apparently if you test after stopping eating wheat you’ll never get an accurate read on that one - over a decade ago). On this journey of self-discovery, I have given up gluten, committed to consuming organic foods as much as possible, partnered with CSA's, started home gardening, and have (mostly) eliminated processed sugar by shopping for whole foods and baking with fruits. I make some kind of physical activity a priority, be it a walk, run or weights and yoga at home. Movement is important to me.

In the past six years, I quit the corporate job I thought would be my place of employment until I retired, sold my car, got engaged, sold the home I thought I would grow old in, relocated my life, started working on all things creative & artistic (including home renovations) since arriving in my new hometown, and in our new (older) home, as well as helping my now husband run his business.

Finding time (and the wherewithall) to make my passion my purpose (writing, creating, sharing what I have learned with all those intrigued enough to cross this page) has proved more challenging than I knew possible. I have finally committed to making this way of life a practice, and I hope you find as much value as I do peace in sharing this process.

Fun Facts About Me:


  • Flowers are my favorites. All of them. And am so grateful for our
    beautiful garden of food & flora.

  • I love learning - it is my most time-consuming hobby.

  • My husband and I met randomly IRL at a restaurant while he was in my town for a tree seminar.

  • I have more unread books on my shelf than those I’ve read. And
    I love reading, so I keep accumulating more!

  • I have a cat named Emma. She’s a fluffy, black, love-bug who started having seizures nearly four years ago, and is now highly medicated and they are controlled.

  • Oregon has been my home since birth. I’ve never lived in any other state. This place holds so much beauty, I have no desire to leave.

  • I have visited 4 countries, and ALL of those trips were planned very last-minute. (Thank goodness I already had a passport!)

Finding Joy in Everyday Beauty


I always have my eye out for that special moment - that brilliantly, quiet scene that catches my heart and eye.
I’m finally creating avenues to share these moments with you.

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Custom Watercolor

I open up 1-2 spots a month for custom watercolor paintings. Please contact me to discuss your timeline, the size and content of your work for individual pricing.
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Original Works

I have finished my first exhibition of works in December of 2023, and will be listing available work soon!
The newsletter is the best place to learn when they become available!