MARQUAM TRAIL

I feel as though March happened when I wasn't looking. Everyone's yards are suddenly filled with bright green daffodil buds, a smattering of purple and white crocuses, and endless shy little snowdrops. The snow we got a few weeks ago seems but a distant memory. 

These pictures were taken in January along the Marquam Trail, which snakes down from Council Crest Park in Portland, OR. The park offers some of the best views of the city around, and Council Crest is a wonderful vantage point from which to watch the sun dip below the horizon--just see the last photo if you don't believe me!

O CHRISTMAS TREE

To me, nothing says Christmas quite like the small of a blue spruce. Every year when I was growing up my family would drive into the countryside to find a Christmas tree together, and it's one of my very favorite holiday traditions. Last week Hannah and I loaded into my little car and drove up to Quail Creek Ranch, a tree farm up in the hills by Portland's Forest Park. My cousin Anna happened to be in town, and it was wonderful to enjoy a relaxing Sunday brunch together at a neighborhood cafe, Cup & Saucer before going to find a Christmas tree.

We ended up getting the sweetest little douglas fir, which is currently bringing a little extra Christmas cheer to our tiny apartment.

ON BEING THANKFUL

This year's Thanksgiving was a quiet, understated affair. 

Hannah and I both had to work on the actual date, so we celebrated on Tuesday instead. I made my mom's mashed potatoes and fresh cranberry sauce, along with a kale and wild rice stuffing, pumpkin pie, and a delicious pear, cranberry, and apple crisp. Hannah made green bean casserole with vegetables that her family canned over the summer, and we bought a pack of delightfully processed crescent rolls.

We spent our day cooking, listening to absurd amounts of Christmas music, and watching Love Actually and our night drinking wine and filling our bellies with far too much food. It was relaxed and  perfectly wonderful.

I don't stop to think about it nearly often enough, but when I do count my blessings I am reminded just how much I have to be thankful for. Hannah and I are both healthy, happy, and in love, and I get to see my childhood friends and wonderful family (whom I miss dearly) in just a few short weeks for Christmas. I've been blessed with the opportunity to go to grad school in an incredible city and I'm lucky enough to be living close to aunts and uncles and cousins. I've had so many incredible opportunities in the past year, and I couldn't be more grateful.

How did you celebrate the holiday? What are you most thankful for this holiday season?

A DAYTRIP TO MT. HOOD

Do you ever find yourself brimming with things to say, but no words to say them with? Thats exactly how I feel right now. I think these pictures of yesterdays trip to Mt. Hood speak far more eloquently than I ever could (especially right now, with my sleepy little brain running on four wee hours of sleep).

Yesterday was a beautiful day, full of incredible fog, majestic trees, snow, fresh mountain air, breathtaking views, and lots of chilly kisses. While on the mountain we visited Little Crater Lake, a tiny artisan spring. We didn't see a soul while there and it felt like we were the only people in the whole world. I'll never forget the amazing feeling of peace and solitude as we strolled through pine scented undergrowth surrounding the lake, or the ghostly shapes of pines rising majestically out of the mist around us. That evening we drove up Mt. Hood, where we were greeted by blankets of clouds and a beautifully understated sunset. Not a bad end to a lazy long weekend.

OCTOBERS PAST

Another October has come and gone. 

Portland is beautiful in the fall. We've been blessed with sun drenched days and starry nights. As the weather has gotten cooler, fluffy down coats and steaming travel mugs of peppermint tea have become part of the morning routine. Nights are spent cuddled under our down comforter, watching too much Netflix.

PUMPKIN PATCH

Lately it's been feeling a lot like fall. Our sweet little North Portland neighborhood is full of beautiful, vibrant colors that make my heart sing, and the house down the street has the cutest Halloween decorations I ever did see. My morning commutes are brisk, and my evenings are spent curled up in a cozy blanket with my textbooks and a mug of tea.

Last Sunday Hannah and I went to a little pumpkin patch on Sauvie Island, just north of our home. The weather was sunny and lovely and we got Pumpkin Spice Lattes beforehand (I have to confess, they're not actually my favorite. I know, I know... I'm a bad blogger!), and a homemade caramel apple at the farm. I couldn't believe how beautiful the fields looked--brown earth covered in flecks of orange, spread out underneath a perfectly blue sky.

I was tempted to break with tradition and get one of the big white pumpkins that were scattered about the field, but decided against it. We ended up getting two perfectly round carving pumpkins and a handful of decorative ones, which are currently scattered around our apartment as little everyday reminders of this wonderful season.

How are you making the most of October?

The Family Comes to Portland! (and Seattle, too)

A few months ago my parents booked a flight out to see me in Portland and I've been eagerly counting down the days until they arrived! On Friday they flew into Seattle's airport and Hannah and I took Amtrack up to meet them. We spent a wonderful weekend visiting family and traveling around Washington, and I'm enjoying a week with them in Portland right now!

Corgi Walk in the Pearl

To read more about my adventures in Portland, Oregon click here!

Hannah and I are obsessed with corgis. I mean, we practically stalk the poor corgi living next door, and I spend way too much time looking at pictures of corgi puppies on the internet. It's an addiction, people. An addiction to small, impossible cuteness. Anyway, it just so happened that a few weeks ago I was casually strolling through Portland's Pearl District after running errands downtown when I happened upon a poster for a corgi walk that weekend. In Portland. And Hannah and I were off work. Fate? I think yes!

That's how Hannah and I found ourselves downtown early on a Saturday morning creeping on some adorable little dogs and their sweet owners at the 2013 Corgi Walk in the Pearl. There were dog wagons, and puppies in baby slings, and corgis in tutus. And gosh darn it, it was amazing. I swear heaven is just a giant corgi walk. 

You're going to want a corgi after seeing these. Don't say I didn't warn you... And let's be real. This post is basically just an ode to the corgi, the cutest dog ever.

Forest Park

To read more about my adventures in Portland, Oregon click here!

Towards the end of July Hannah and I decided to visit Forest Park to get a little hiking in without leaving the city. It's one of the country's largest urban forests, and it's located just west of downtown! We ended up wandering one of the trails towards the north of the park. It was such a relaxing way to spend a few hours, and it was great to get into the forest to escape from the heat--it had been in the upper 80's and low 90's that week! Even though the park can get super busy we didn't see too many people on the trail we took, which gave me this wonderful feeling of peaceful solitude. I absolutely can't wait to go back to the park in the fall--I'm sure the trails will be even more stunning when the leaves are changing! Also, how cute is that little snail above? I'm convinced he was totally hamming it up for the camera.

Today was my first day of work at Old Navy. I'm working shipment, which means I help get the store ready in the morning before customers arrive. We unpack boxes, hang clothes, and fold tons of jeans. It also means working super early (6 AM), which I'll need to get used to! I definitely need to work on getting faster at unpacking, but I really enjoyed the work and the people at my store are super nice. I'm also super pumped to learn about working the floor!

Portlandia, y'all!

We made it to Portland, y'all! We actually made it here on July 8th, which was like a million years ago (or maybe just a month ago. you decide), but it's been a mad rush to move in, apply for jobs, and post about all the road trip epicness, so I feel like I have a legit excuse for why this took so long. Also, seriously, when did August happen?!

July was really crazy. Since getting here I've been up to Seattle to visit family, gone to the Oregon coast with Hannah to see Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach, and gone back to Washington to go backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for four days (posts on all of the above coming soon!). I also met up with my friend Julie, who I know from Emory rugby, and spent a day exploring downtown and eating Thai with her, which was a total blast. One of the things I've struggled with most about having just moved to a new city is making friends. Other than Hannah, I literally know no one in Portland, which can get pretty lonely, and pretty boring (ATTENTION, PEOPLE OF PORTLAND. I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND, OKAY?). Hannah is working a lot of long hours and doesn't have too much time off, so I'm alone for most of the day. Since I'm not a huge go-out-and-do-stuff-alone kind of person (especially because getting to "stuff" basically means paying for a $5 light rail ticket), I've been applying for jobs, watching way too much Netflix, and praying grad school will start soon. All the waiting finally paid off--today I was also offered a job doing shipment work at Old Navy, which I couldn't be more excited about! I'm hoping I can juggle another work schedule on top of TAing and grad school this fall. I know it'll be a challenge, but I'm so looking forward to finally being busy again!

Last week we spent a day exploring downtown Portland on one of Hannah's rare days off. I had a ton of fun! We walked around Union Station, got Voodoo Donuts, went to Powell's Books (which I am totally in love with), and wandered around the city, taking it all in. We were total tourists and got not two, not three, but four donuts from Voodoo. We got a "gay bar" (because, you know...), a McMinnville Cream, a peach fritter, and a jelly donut of some sort. The peach fritter was definitely my favorite! I also got a ton of hair chopped off at a Paul Mitchell training salon, which ended up being a pretty traumatizing, hideously long (2.5 hours of hair cut, people) process. Needless to say, I'll be getting my hair recut sometime soon. Other than that I really couldn't have asked for a better--and more delicious--day!

P.S. - Note the tall, sexy Paul Bunyan who lives down the street. Hannah better look out ;)!