Portlanders Agree!

Reasons why I love Portland.

I just need to remind myself.

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It's pretty.

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Powell's Books. Because it is magical. Even if you don't call yourself a book lover, there is always something to lose yourself in... It's a city of books for crying out loud! TheHawthorne location is charming too.

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The Portland Timbers

We have a soccer team! And we're good! And we know it!

There ain't no pity in the rose city!

My favorite breakfast in the world at this humble place.

Seeing a "picture show" with the love of my life here.

It's real nice.

I'm not a fan of dogs.

However, we had a fun date night here.

The zoo. With old friends and new memories.

Mt. Tabor - always something interesting

or lovely

(let's not talk about the recently

frowned-upon occurrences that

happened there)

Best pizza around.

Yes. These links took a while.

New Camera!

I got a new camera!! The amazing Autumn Rose let me buy her old one! Can you believe I get to work with such an amazing camera?! The camera that took these photos?! I believe with all my heart that it is so NOT the camera and SO the person behind it... It's a lot harder than it looks to take a good photo! Let me tell you! It was pretty rough having my first run real run through with this baby at the Oregon Coast Aquarium! You think it might be hard to take a good photo? Try one in the dark, with your model a little fish under water! Needless to say, I was frustrated. I need my friends to help me understand the world of nice cameras! What the heck is ISO anyways?! Gosh, I do hope I read this years from now and think, "I was so silly back then, It's a piece of cake taking legit pictures!" That will be the day...

Until that day comes, I'll be posting pictures I took. They may not be the best, but I promise they will improve overtime. I'm excited to see how they transform, and how I transform as a photographer (can I even call myself a photographer?)!

The whole point of this trip we took was to celebrate our dear friend Nathan's (not to be confused with my husband) ((It is rather confusing when your husband and his best friend have the same name)) BIRTHDAY!!! Wahooo!!! What a wonderful day it was! The beach, a tour and delicious lunch and drinks at The Rouge Brewery (and distillery) Goodness! That gin is tasty!

Thanks Nathan, for being born so we could go to the beach and celebrate with you! And also for being such a good friend to my husband! And thanks Emily, for the fabulous idea!

Look at that face! What a little cutie!

Ok, tell me this is not amazing!

bff's!

The girls

This one is my favorite!

This jelly fish is called a Sea Nettle.

I find them fascinating!

When I was an outdoor school camp councilor my name was Nettles!

Props to my hubby on this one! Good job, babe!

My absolute favorite part!

have you not heard of my sea life obsession?!

Some favorites.

I have this corner. It's were the washer and dryer are located in my home. It is also, due to the lack of storage space, the place where my rapidly growing collection of sewing stuff is kept. This week I've been trying to organize. Oh man. It is quite a task! So, in this corner I have a window. And I really want some curtains up so I like my corner a little more. If you like your laundry room, you like doing laundry. Right? Maybe... That's what I like to think anyway. I got my inspiration from this blog. This woman is amazing. I want to be her best friend... or I want her to come make my home look amazing!

With all this being said, my favorite fabrics to make my curtains out of are...

Because it's pretty

Because it is so fun!

Because it is classy and fun

Because its nice... and only 6 dollars a yard.

Unfortunately I'm flat broke right now and will not be getting any of these any time soon. But it's fun to look! I'm concerned that a small space with large printed fabric will make it look even smaller... but thats the only kind of fabric I can like right now. I guess this being broke thing will give me plenty of time to find the fabric for me. Let's be optimistic here.

It's almost here...

today is christmas eve... eve. Today my mother-in-law brought over our stockings and set them up under the tree... then covered them with a blanket. Do you have any idea how hard it is to not look under that blanket? Especially because right now my husband is asleep and I'm the only one here... I could... no.. I couldn't.... or could I? I guess my best bet is to go to sleep too. The sooner I'm asleep the sooner I can wake up and the closer it will be to Christmas morning! Eeeek!!!!

(Abbie, notice your gifts under the tree?... notice how you are amazing in every way?)

I'm really looking forward to Christmas (duh)! Especially because that means I'll be off work for a whole week! Tomorrow at 2pm I'll be done and won't go back until next Friday! I can't wait to get some down time, work has been super busy, which is really good... but really exhausting. I hope these next couple days will be amazing for everyone! I'm looking forward to sleeping by the Christmas tree tomorrow night. Traditions are so great. It's a little hard for me making traditions, this is mine and Nathan's second Christmas as a married couple (which is crazy in and of itself) and I feel a little sad not participating in family traditions with my parents. Like making homemade marshmallows with my mom and delivering them to all our friends... Things just change... they are all good changes, without a doubt, but I feel all nostalgic inside... Christmas makes me want to be a kid again and wake up hearing my brother sing, "You gotta get up, you gotta get up, you gotta get up! It's Christmas morning!"

Tomorrow I'll be making cinnamon rolls all day. That's another tradition we do around here... it's a delicious one! What are some family Christmas traditions you do around your home?

Merry Christmas, friends!

Crafty Wonderland

Today I went to the Oregon Convention Center to Crafty Wonderland! Such a great event for anyone that loves to create and appreciates homemade goods. I ventured off, alone, two hours before doors opened to be one of the first in line to receive my free goody bag full of wonderful treats from the venders. I got a Chinook Book, a handmade notebook, hair clips, small prints, and lots of info on stores and local shops that sell PDX art work. It was so worth it to come early! I would strongly advise you to look up theses artists and see the beauty the make. Some of my favorites are:

Misha Ashton Photography

Nikki McClure - I didn't get to meet her, but if I did I would have peed myself!O.Boy.Studios

Phoebe Owens - that lamp is so amazing!

Plywerk

Dolcetti Jewelry

Faune Yerby- Brooklyn NY

coqu-usagiuma-maho

So many talented people in one room, it was inspiring! Next year, perhaps I'll inspire someone... because I'll be there with my own booth! EEK!! if I get accepted.

Times, they are a-changin'

This week starts the beginning of something beautiful. Something I haven't experienced as an adult, ever. I... have a job. A single job. One. Full-time.

If you, for some reason, don't understand the excitement, let me fill you in...

Last September I got married ((yay)). Last October we realized we had little money and a sad looking income. Last October I got a job at Forever 21. Now, I must really love my husband, because I kept that job for a year. That job, for lack of a better term, was hell. Complete with moody managers, sassy customers and horrible corporate policies. During my employment at Forever 21 I was also employed at Newport Seafood Grill. Newport has its pros and cons, and after a dedicated year and nine months I put in my two weeks. My skills are now dedicated to one employer. They asked for full-time and I accepted! WooHoo! Killer Burger is my new work home. I'm so done with corporate companies. I'm proud to be with a family owned business, and in this economy thats what people like to support.

Excited about this, among other things...

This is my niece or nephew

This is what I will be witnessing on October 29th

Sufjan Stevens

Nathan is employed at Target (yay for discounts)!

too excited!

So many good things are happening right now. I'm feeling overwhelmingly grateful and happy. I'll start with the super exciting...

Something Baby

There isn't much to it yet, but oh man... there will be! I made tags and everything!

also...

Something Quilted

Again, nothing. But there will be. I'm just proud of myself that I have both stores UP!

I don't want to jinks it, but I'm going in for an interview tomorrow at ANTHROPOLOGY!!! Best place to work EVER! EEK!

I guess I'll find out how it goes tomorrow...

I'll be praying all night.

Pray with me?

This job would be such a blessing, another one stacked on the top of all the others... like a cherry on an ice cream sunday, only better.