Remember me? Just a few updates!

So many things have happened since my last post! I will go in order over the next few days.

First things first.

I got engaged! Brian proposed to me in the freezing rain during the snow-pocalypse we had in PDX not so long ago.

It all started on Saturday morning when the cheerleading competition my girls were competing in was canceled. His plans took a major turn, because now I would be with him all day! He INSISTED that we go over to his parent’s house, even though the roads were treacherous and it was snowing hard. I argued and practically melted down in protest, but he persisted. I seriously thought we were going to die on the road as frozen dismembered ice cube versions of ourselves. Now I know why he was so stubborn, the ring was there!

Once we got back to my house we went sledding with Marina all afternoon. It was ridiculous fun. When we began our walk to the harbor-side McCormicks from my apartment, the freezing rain had started. The walk was miserable, and much longer than I remembered! The last time I made that journey it was 75 and sunny…

Brian proposed on the waterfront in the snow, under freezing rain and twinkly lights. I wouldn’t want it any other way!

Sorry for the large face/ square Insta photos.

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Let’s get real. At holiday parties we get stuck making small talk. One of my favorite, easy, I don’t know you conversation topics is Christmas music. You can get jokey about how they play it too soon, trash how annoying Feliz Navidad is etc. But if I want to actually get to know someone a bit better, I will ask about their favorites and why. My own answer is a two-parter. I have a favorite song, but it isn't about Jesus. And that sort of feels wrong, since Christmas is REALLY about the birth of Jesus! So instead, I go with one Christmas song and one Christmas carol.

Christmas song
My favorite Christmas song is Silver Bells. I love it because it reminds me of how it feels in Portland during the entire month of December. Just the reference to busy city sidewalks, cold weather and the feeling that everything is festive! (even the traffic lights) It especially takes me back to what the holiday season felt like as a little girl. I have memories of walking through down town Portland from my dad’s office building all the way to the Keller. Of course we were going to see the Nutcracker! It is only a 5 or 6 block walk, but I remember it being so cold and not even being phased, it was Christmas after all! We were decked out in our holiday best. I actually vividly remember wearing a green and black velvet cape... so ahead of the trends! I just love the holiday bustle of the city.

Christmas carol
My favorite Christmas carol is Go tell it On the Mountain. It also happens to be my mom’s favorite. I’m a copycat. It is just SO GOOD! But somehow, it isn't super popular. How can that be!? The message of the song is spot on.

Halloween History

In honor of Halloween, and throwback Thursday, I decided to post some photos of costumes over the years. This year I am not dressing up. I don’t know if this is because Halloween falls on a weird day, if it is because I am 26, or if it is because I was literally not invited to a single Halloween party… What the!? I need new/ better/ more friends.

I hope you enjoy this trip down (my personal) memory lane!

We begin in 2007. Why 2007? It is because this was the first year I retired my cut-off denim skirt. You’re welcome for sparing you the photos from 2005 and 2006!

Legends of the Hidden Temple

Libby and I stayed up until 2am making these shirts with stencils and fabric paint. Then we left the house at 4am to go to the REI garage sale. I think I would die if I tried to do something like that now. Ahhhh to be 20 again! (Unrelated side note: once I slept on the street to be in line for the REI garage sale. Now I would pay someone the amount of a full priced ski jacket, without getting an item in return, to not have to sleep on the street. How the times have changed!) Special note about this photo, It was taken mid-evening when we came back from the fraternities to use our own bathroom… Always thinking! Also, Brooke’s helmet is backwards. Haha!

Ninjas! 

This was such a comfortable costume. I was wearing black scrubs that I ended up wearing as pajamas for the rest of the school year. Not only was this comfortable, but our weapons were multi use! Did you need a garnish with that drink? Let me help you.

SWAT team 

This was just lazy. We put tape on our clothes to say SWAT. And Chelsii took those masks from her work. I will say, this was probably one of our more popular costumes. People LOVED the swat team. I think it is because we saved a floundering party though, clearly there is nothing remarkable about this costume.

Ballerinas

This was a fun one! Nothing to really say here.

Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj

Mar and I had a blast putting these costumes together. We put a pillow in her pants and trimmed her wig bangs! Haha!

Jazzercise

This was again, SO COMFORTABLE! Tennis shoes and stretchy pants? Yep! We danced our hearts out and our feet didn't even hurt the next day. Our evening in these costumes was at an Elton John cover band night. Feather boas and Olivia Newton John references galore!

I hope you all have an amazing Halloween! I will be at my parents house having chili and passing out candy. I think Halloween chili may be our most consistent family tradition. 

The Pumpkin Patch Post

It is clear that going to the pumpkin patch is a required activity. This is especially true in the NW. My feeds have been full of pumpkin couples, pumpkin babies, pumpkin toddlers, pumpkin sorority sisters, and my favorite, pumpkin spice lattes! PSYCH! I don’t care about your latte. I will admit that they are deloish though.

I have made 2 observations during this pumpkin season:
1. Pumpkin patch pictures are CUTE!
2. Everyone looks better in a pumpkin patch. Which is weird, because apparently orange is a tough color to wear. Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed. –Elle Woods.

Now I will force you to look at my pumpkin patch pictures. They turned out cute, even though fog frizzes hair.  Pumpkin magic. Enjoy!

Brian likes to do weird stuff like gaze into the distance. I don't quite have the hang of it... considering I look like I'm about to cry, or vomit, or both. Usually I cry when I vomit. Overshare? Whatever. 

There are so many pictures of me looking at him! It isn't what you think though, I am usually just asking him to "please smile normal."

I know that first one looks fake, but I swear to you, it was real laughing! Pumpkins are hilarious! 

Didn't you know!? 

And I leave you with the most important photo of the day. Mini horses. Not only is my roommate obsessed with mini horses, but I assume these guys would have been friends with Li'l Sebastian... RIP.  

Bikes, floaties and fomo.

Summer is coming to a close and once again, I missed out on some major things. Not things that can be made up for either. Once a year stuff! It is like I have Portlander fomo. Let’s review some facts. Summer in Portland is awesome! Temperatures are steady and comfortable, it isn't humid and the city takes full advantage! We have festivals, brewfests, outdoor concerts, you name it. Don’t get me wrong, I did plenty of fun summer stuff. BUT there are some things that happen in Portland that I have always wanted to do, yet have never made happen.

1. Bridge pedal. Bridge pedal happens every year and somehow I miss it every. single. year. It happens in August and looks just lovely! You get to bike over the bridges, they close the roads (and freeway) for you and you experience the best views of the city. Yet, I have never been able to make it happen. It should basically be illegal that I have never done it. Oh well… until next year.

2. The Big Float. This is another PDX event that happens once a year. I mean, they have only done it twice… but I have effectively missed both. This is probably one of the coolest Portland things that happens. Period. Yes, the festivals are cool and stuff, but getting on your floatie and taking over the Willamette in the middle of your beautiful city on a hot summer day?! Yes please! Again… until next year.

Although I missed these two events and they have made a home on my bucket list, I am thrilled that is almost fall. I have already started using pumpkin and marinara in my foods. Don’t worry, I don’t mix them together.

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Summer rain and real life.

Long time no post!

I have been busy enjoying the sunshine! But today it rained for the first time in a month. Oh my gosh the rain smelled so good! I know that is weird, but the smell of summer rain is one of my favorite things! Not candles that are scented as summer rain. Those usually smell disgusting. Like how “cotton” scent exists… basically, it is dryer sheet sent as a candle. Ummm…  no thanks. So please fans, do not read this and send me a bunch of “summer rain” scented stuff. Do you like how I just pretended to have fans that want to send me stuff!? HA. Yeah right.

I really have nothing else to say. Which is weird, since I haven’t posted in a million years. But whatevs! I’m enjoying my summer and I hope you are too! I’m headed out of town again, so let’s lower our posting expectations shall we? Do you like how I just pretended people have expectations!? I'm hilarious today.

Anywho, real life trumps internet life. Always! Deal with it.

My biggest concern was my tan.

For a long time my summers were spent at the pool. As I sit here at my desk, I reflect. Literally. My skin is so pale it is reflective. I long for the days where I spent my time at the pool! I will obviously be spending my weekend in the sun, but it is just painful to think of those former summer days while I am sitting here at my computer. I didn't have a care in the world. Or if I did, it was about a boy or something else stupid. Come back to me dear summer! I did not appreciate you as I should have.

Summer 2008. Ignore my crazy face. 

4th of July 2008 when we had missed the fireworks. I only added this because Brian is in it! I like him, sue me. 

At the time these photos were taken, the most important things to me (and probably Lauren and Marina) were as follows:
1. Being tan
2. Getting Lauren into Happy Hour (she was still 20)
3. Frozen yogurt

Happy sunny days my friends! Don’t forget your SPF 30!
This post is about college summers when we actively neglected out part time jobs and internships. Still to come? A post about childhood summers!

Spring Break is maddening.

Why did school give us spring break? I understand summers off for the teachers to regain sanity (so they don’t turn to the darkness and become evil). I also see why there is a winter break. It is so people can stay inside all day and not freeze to death for a couple weeks in the winter. You may think it is because of the holidays but you are wrong! It is a fact that *75% of the time, Hanukkah doesn't even fall during winter break! I call that holiday discrimination.
*Not a real statistic

But seriously what is the point of spring break!? It is just rude and discriminatory for us non-students/ non-parents of school age children. It is like it is expected that everyone just DOES spring break and escapes the remaining cold to go soak up some sunshine. As a non-student with a normal job, I say “down with spring break!” Even other normal people without kids, who have normal jobs, act like spring break is a real thing for everyone! Tell me, why does my news feed contain multiple people my age going on vacation to Palm Springs, Hawaii, Texas, Mexico, Bend and Whistler? They all have normal full-time jobs! Wouldn't they rather go at a less expensive time? AKA not spring break? You aren't in college anymore. It is time to let go.

One thing I do miss about the good old days of spring break is the awesomeness of the MTV spring break special! Remember the crazy guy VJ with long hair who was always chewing on a toothpick or cherry stem? He wore flares and platforms… must look him up. He was totally on something. I wonder if he is still alive. Songs that I recall from MTV spring break performances: the Thong Song by Sisqo and Tipsy by J-Kwon. Really mom? You let me watch that stuff!? Actually, you probably had no idea. I was sneaky like that. I don't really want to link either of those dirty videos. So instead, this video of J-Simps is hilarious! From the gauchos to her movements while singing... yikes. Enjoy!

I used to love spring break for obvious school escaping reasons. I assume I will love it again at some point. But for now, since I am bitter and at home, I say no to spring break… and yes to equal rights.

Like how I added that at the end!? I am SO political.

All I want for Christmas.

Is a new Christmas recipe to try and a perfect ski day.

Actually, what I really want is the means, clothing and motivation to dress cuter. But I think that is just a pipe dream at this point.

Okay, I admit it. You know I am still holding out for the Harry Potter Snuggie. I guess Santa didn't get my letter last year. Now they are sold out!! I guess I’ll have to go back on the Hogwarts Express without my cozy Griffindor robes. Lame. (Full disclosure, I am aware that I would probably be a Hufflepuff. So embarrassing.)

Cheesy, but the best gift is going to be spending awesome quality time with my family and friends. My family is super cool and hilarious (mostly on accident). I am excited for a lazy Christmas morning, a big breakfast and cooking all afternoon.  Another highlight will be spending the evening by the fire with a glass of mulled wine and a stockpile of Christmas cookies. These cookies will have been baked with my gurl Caitlin. We have been doing a Christmas cookie bake since high school. It is seriously awesome and you should be jealous!

Gross pictures. But these things will happen! 

Maybe I am alone here, but I haven’t really enjoyed the festivities that this holiday season has to offer. It has been too rainy to get hot cocoa and walk downtown looking at the lights! I haven’t been to Zoo Lights since I was a small child either… not that I’m tryna do that. It is probs a rip off. Basically I have only seen the tree in Pioneer Square doing a drive by and I have done most of my shopping online. It makes me feel like something is missing! The city goes all out and I feel like I have turned my back on the fun. Peacock Lane anyone? Let’s hold hands and look at the lights.

Not related really, but this is my parents Christmas card. Cute right!?

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Holiday Advice

I don’t know about you, but I love Thanksgiving and family activities. Maybe it is because I have a super small family and I am not yet married, therefore I am not trying to juggle multiple families.

My obligations are limited. I choose to kick it with my mom all day and cook. I get to pick out our cooking jams aka kitchen dancing music and make pies. No seriously, that is all the responsibility I have.  So… that is pretty awesome. My mom often tries to make me watch football, but I can usually get out of it.

Many people say that the holidays are stressful. I totally get that! If I had kids or more than one family to answer to, they probably would be! As this is not my situation, I would like to dish out some baseless and gratuitous holiday advice. When I say baseless I really mean it, my only commitment on Christmas Day is my commitment to not showering until at least 1pm.

Here it is:
Do what you want.

I know it sounds selfish, but it is to save your sanity! My dad decided many years ago that they were never going to spend a holiday on the freeway. And you know what!? I am incredibly grateful for that decision. They did what was right for them (and us) and invited everyone to them instead of trying to please everyone else. Everyone was included, so it really just became their call at that point. I’m sure there was some initial drama involved, people probably called them selfish or whatever… but in the end it led to happy, low-stress (for the most part) holidays extending throughout my childhood.

So that is my advice. It is my final word. Just do what you want! And when I am married and I am talking about how much I hate the stress of the holidays, please send me this so I can be pissed at how ignorant to family dynamics I was at this point in my charmed, employed, un-married life.

Here’s to your very own Norman Rockwell holiday season.

Gobble gobble. Psych! We are having prime rib. Seriously.

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Black Butte and Katy Perry

Black Butte was super relaxing. Fall foliage, vino and the Katy Perry movie… yep, that describes my weekend pretty well! No other words needed.

There was a Harvest Fair happening in Sisters. So that was awesome! 

We took long walks in the cool autumn air.

Pretty fall foliage!! 

Did you guys see the Katy Perry movie? If so, did it make you guys like Katy Perry? I have always found her so annoying due to her songs and outfits. But now I like her! Not necessarily musically, although some songs are catchy, I just like HER. The breakdown due to the demise of her marriage made her human and now I am rooting for her. Why she is dating John Mayer is beyond me. She is better than that!

I hope your weekends were relaxing too!

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Fog and writers block.

I am currently suffering from writers block. I usually have drafts in my email of random thoughts and ideas. Or I find notes in my phone that easily prompt me to write a post. These past weeks have been a struggle though. Once I get going the text usually flows, as I’m sure it will for this one… about writers block. In many cases it is hard to shut me up. Even when it is about absolutely nothing! I’m sure my real life friends are nodding their heads right now. I have a special talent for talking about things I know nothing about with extreme, yet baseless, passion.

It is foggy and I am lethargic. I am also thinking about buying one of those happy lights from Costco. I don’t have winter depression, but I also don’t think it hurts to make a preemptive strike.

I love fall so much! But the knowledge of the impending season of darkness is daunting. I just need to push it out and enjoy this time. The trees have begun to change! I am so excited to crunch through them in my boots! You know, on my walk from Nordstrom to Pioneer Place.

Walking on this will be boss. 

I am off to Black Butte this weekend! So I’ll be sure to spend some time looking out the window while coming up with some post ideas that you will all like!

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Insta-ridiculous and apple picking.

This weekend I went apple picking with some fantastic old and new friends. We went to a place called Bell Farms out past Beaverton down Farmington road. The picking was obv awesome, but the best part came later. They let us use their cider press and It was so freak-yeah fun!

Here are the photos of the day, but that is not what this post is about. Keep reading!

How can you not do cartwheels in an orchard?

Cutting up the apples and pears for the cider!

Step 1: grind       Step 2: press cider

Blurry but awesome. Such an American day! 

When the day was done and Nicole and I were sitting on my couch this conversation ensued:

Me: Hmm. Which filter shall I use? Whoa, Nashville looks good! Nashville never looks good! I’m doin’ it.
Nicole: Nice!
Nicole: No seriously though, which of these looks better? I like Brannan. It makes the apples look better, but Valencia makes you look tan.
Me: Who do you care about more? Me? Or some stupid cut up apples!? Rude. Make me tan.

Victory. We could have been talking about serious things like life, but instead we talked about instagram like these were the most serious decisions we had ever made. Ridiculous.

It's an election year. You should all do something American like apple picking!

Define crisp: fresh, brisk, clear.

Crisp mornings are here! It won’t be too long before we also have crunchy leaves to go with our crunchy Honeycrisp apples. Bust out the cozy sweaters, scarfs and boots. Let’s do this fall!

Fall Foliage! 

Truly the best apple in existence.

Nobody likes fall more than the guy represented below. I texted him to ask for the apple picture (above) that he posted on Insta. You guys, he has some big ideas for a fall post. I have honestly never met anyone so in love with the autumn season.

And I did write about him. Booya!

Happy almost weekend folks!
Oh, and I am LITERALLY eating a Honeycrisp right now. *not pictured above

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It was cold yesterday.

I gave in. I ordered a PSL and it was glorious! I try to resist as long as possible because for the last 2 years I have really burnt out on them by the end of the season. I plan to be strategic this year. Which feels appropriate considering it is an election year and there will be strategery all over the place!

Pumpkin Spice makes everything nice. 

Did that last comment make it seem like I am plugged into politics!? No? Just SNL? Ha! SNL is different than PSL. Both great, but different.

PS. I know nothing about politics.

I guess I should also mention that it is September 11th. Obviously you already know that, because it says the date in the corner of your computer or on your phone. Also because it is already noon and you don't live under a rock... Or you do, but who am I to judge? Last year I did a post on my experience of 9-11-01. It was a terrifying day for a 14 year old who had never heard the word terrorism before. If only I knew then how it would change our lives forever.

Let's savor summer and September.

It is not fall. Why is everyone talking about fall? I have not smelled the crisp air, I am not pulling out my layers yet, and I am not about to order a pumpkin spice latte. I was wearing shorts yesterday!

It is still 80 degrees every day!!! Are you people out of your minds? Yes, school is starting and it is almost time for transitional clothing. Key word: ALMOST.

Seriously people. I am still working on my tan. It is always at least a couple weeks into September when the transition happens. You will know because mornings will be crispy, it actually smells like fall and a few trees will begin to turn pre-maturely. Be prepared, but not overzealous. Start planning your fun fall outfits and seasonal coffee order, I know I have. But do not abandon your dresses and iced beverages just yet. If you do, you will be sweltering and uncomfortable.

Don’t get me wrong, I am stoked! I LOVE fall. It is my favorite season and September is my favorite month. So don’t ruin it for me by rushing into November. Let fall come naturally and on its own time. I want to savor every moment.

… while wearing my new suede booties when it is the appropriate temperature.

One more question. Does all this “back to school” talk make anyone else wish they were getting on the Hogwarts Express!? Nope. Just me? Cool.

If you are serious about leaving summer behind. Here are posts from last year about Back to School and the Fall season.

Mishmash Moments: Summer addition.

It has been a while since I have done a mishmash post. It is time!!

In no particular order of importance:

The Mish:
The Fab5!!! U.S.A U.S.A U.S.A!!! (If you didn’t mentally fist pump and chant that… let me know so I can promptly stop being your friend.) I am beyond excited that our girls are taking home the gold. I am glad we only have a few more rounds of staying up for gymnastics though, my body is thoroughly sleep deprived from staying up to watch the prime time. Yes, I tracked it live, but NBC puts together those cute packages about the athletes! I can’t get enough.

I watched in true fan fashion. I mean that literally. Check the scrunchie below. Gotta suit up in solidarity!

This is my actual competition scrunchie. I know it is weird that I have it, but I use it when I straighten my hair. The soft velvet doesn't leave a dent!

Anyway, that is all I will post about gymnastics. If our girls win a ton of individual medals, I will try and refrain from boring you to death with continued excitement. Just know that I am totally stoked.

The Mash:
This past week I had to say goodbye to another friend. Seriously. I am going to have to join an online friendship site if my friends keep moving away. Does desperate_for_friends.com exist? Ms. Martha is headed to San Diego for a new adventure and I am excited to hear about her exciting experiences… even though we are all a little bit bitter.

Anyway, there were multiple going away bashes. 1.) Brewfest (which I missed out on) and 2.) A chill-sesh at The Goose.

Oregon Brewfest

Fun with friends

The Moments:
On Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the beautiful wedding of Eric and Lisa at the Lewis River Golf Club. Seriously. It was a fantastic wedding. The sermon was one of the best I have ever heard at a wedding. He talked about how in Genesis the word 'helper' is used, which has become slightly derogatory in English. When really the Hebrew word is more like partner, in a way that means necessary for existence. So beautiful! What a picture of marriage and how it means to live and love. As necessary entities in each others lives.

Here is the happy couple!

Cutting the cake

And some fun time spent with friends:

Sara was in town for the occasion and we showed up in matching outfits! 

Amanda was toasting like Phoebe. Duh. [photo courtesy of Cayly's F-book]

I will send you off with a picture that most definitely would have made it into this post. Yep, that is me. Dancing with my cake.

True love. Who needs a man when you can dance with chocolate cake?

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