CENTRAL PARK ZOO

The Central Park Zoo is a magical place. There is something bizarrely wonderful about seeing snow leopards, exotic birds, and seals in the middle of Manhattan, amidst the skyscrapers, bustling streets, and taxi cabs. The diversity of the animal kingdom never ceases to thrill and amaze me.

2013 IN REVIEW

Happy 2014, everyone! I hope you rung it in with champagne and loved ones, like I did (though, sadly, Hannah was in another state). Can you believe another year has come and gone?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

I spent the weekend walking the streets of New York with family and friends, eating good food and luxuriating in the lovely warm weather.

It was the first time I had been back since last Christmas, and as always I was struck by the fact that the city never seems to change. It's the same overwhelming, chaotic, and magical place it was when I was a kid. I actually envy people their New York dreams--it's a city I love to visit, but would probably hate living in. Give me the quieter streets of Atlanta or Portland any day.

TERRAIN

I live a life of burgeoning curiosity.

I have a constant desire to touch and explore. I love reading the backs of bottles and the first pages of books. I always want to know what lies around the next bend in the trail and the next turn in the road. When I heard about Terrain’s opening in 2008 I longed to go; it seemed like just the place to let my curiosity run rampant.

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?

Oregon Coast

On a sunny day at the end of September my parents, Hannah, and I drove to the Oregon coast. We made  the obligatory stop at Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock (more on that here), and then drove along the winding Oregon Coast Highway. We made a few other stops at sweet little coastal towns, including Tillamook (home to the Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Blue Heron French Cheese Company) and Manzanita, where we had an amazing authentic Mexican lunch at El Mariachi Loco. 

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!

May, according to my iPhone...

May was a big month. I finished my last finals as an undergraduate, and graduated from Emory University with a BA in environmental studies and anthropology. I also started working at the Emory campus gym, saw my whole family for the first time in months, and started to plan my move (and cross country road trip) to Oregon! 

Here's life, according to my iphone...

-Hannah and I celebrated Cinco de Mayo in style; with margaritas with friends!

-My family and I got graduation weekend brunch at The Flying Biscuit in Atlanta.

-My parents, Hannah, and I went to Fernbank Museum, where we visited the rose garden.

-We ate a yummy dinner at Wahoo Grill in Decatur to celebrate graduation.

-I've been taking long summer walks, which are a great way to explore!

-Hannah and I visited Oakland Cemetery, where we saw Margaret Mitchell's grave.

-My family and I went to Red Brick Brewery in Atlanta.

-Hannah and I hiked Providence Canyon in southwest Georgia.

-I totally been living for my peaceful lunch breaks on campus during work.

Georgia: Fourth of July

Who doesn't love a holiday that involves copious amounts of explosives, alcohol, and red, white, and blue food? I, for one, am a huge fan.

My parents and I spent the week driving down to Atlanta, GA, and moving into my apartment. It’s been a crazy whirlwind of building IKEA furniture, fixing internet problems, and pantry-stocking, but we got to relax a little on the Fourth. My cousin Anna and her husband Spencer came for a visit, and that night my parents and I went to the Decatur fireworks. The town was completely packed, there was a band playing patriotic music, and the fireworks were fabulous!

Arizona: A Phoenix Wedding

Here are a few color shots from my cousin Kelsey's lovely wedding (see more here). It's hard to believe that just a year and a day ago my family was celebrating my cousin Anna's wedding in Athens, Georgia!

Last night we celebrated my mom's 55 birthday with a fancy dinner and yummy cake. I swear, she really doesn't look a day over 40. I've been spending my (short) time at home seeing friends and getting ready to head back down to Georgia, where I'll be interning and looking for a job before school starts. I can't wait to experience summer in Atlanta!

Arizona: A Phoenix Wedding

On June 16, 2012 my cousin Kelsey married the love of her life, George. They had a beautiful ceremony and  reception at the Bentley Projects in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. I couldn't have been happier to have been a part of their big day. The wedding was a ton of fun; between the mariachi band, the fantastic homemade desserts (including the cake!), and the silly dancing, I had a blast! Stay tuned for a few more pictures.