Awkward Family Photos

We had our housewarming party this last weekend and it was Awkward Family Photo themed. Basically, we encourage our friends to dress ridiculously (in groups or as individuals) and prepare to have their photos taken. We had a really great mix of people and an amazing time. Our new neighbors even popped in. Someone did fall through our deck a little bit. But just a little. It was really fun to have a house full of people and to remember that we throw an awesome party. Because seriously, we do. Here are a few highlights:

Looks like an exceptional senior portrait.

Yes, it is clear that our backdrop wasn't big enough.

Nothing but class.

Dates

I went on some pretty great dates in the last couple weeks.

The first one was with Pushkina. We went to the Rebuilding center to look for awesome things to use in our house. Then we went to Cup & Saucer and drank coffee and ate delicious coffee cake. It was a lovely afternoon on Mississippi.Pushkina reading things and being pretty.

Delicious coffee cake, The Merc, and Soy Latte with Hazelnut. Yes please.

And then last week Pat and I had probably my favorite date night ever. We had planned to hang out with friends but they all bailed on us so we went out on our own. We went to The Cheese Bar on Belmont. It's a little place and it's really adorable. We ate tasty tasty cheese and he picked great beers per usual and we just had a really nice evening. Then we met up with friends and after went to Pix Patisserie. We each picked three chocolates and taste tested. He went for the liqueur filled ones which were awful. And I went for delicious ones, showing my clearly superior taste in confectionery treats.

Inside of Pix. Pretty stinkin cute place.

Besides picking the best tasting chocolates I also picked the best looking ones. The one that's missing had a flamingo on it. The third one from the left is actually sparkly.

Speaking of good looking things, look how handsome he is! This is actually from yesterday and not this date but I do what I want. Also, he's going to blush quite a lot if he sees this.

Flowers at work

So, not that this is something new and different for me but I've been neglecting this here blog of mine. I have good excuses though.
Excuse 1: I've been working a LOT. We had our first two events July 3rd and 14th. You can read a little about the 3rd here. It was The Oregon Garden's tenth anniversary. The 14th was Crystal Bowersox in concert. Anyway, many hours put into making these things happen. And I'm loving it.
Excuse 2: Just got working internet today. Moved into my house a month ago. No internet for a month. Pretty rough.

But here are some beautiful flowers blooming at work right now.

See Joseph Nap.

He thinks he's wee.

fingers and toes

Been a little hesitant to post these photos because I think toes are gross and also I have old woman knuckles but I've been really enjoying my nail polish recently.




All about the polka dots.
Also, don't judge the fact that I paint outside the lines. It comes off in the shower, OK?

See you in 3 weeks, sourdough

Oh hi blog. I've neglected you again. Or still.
Been sorta spent after work. Having to use your brain all day is truly exhausting.



For 4 days I've been following the same mostly raw diet as Lauren. It's a 3 week program and I have to admit I'm already counting down.
Love the fruit, don't mind the veggies. Actually kinda like the veggie juice in the morning.

It's really bread that's the problem, or rather the lack of bread. I can eat almost anything if it's on bread. I don't do eggs without bread and I rarely do pasta without bread. In the case of eggs, it's a little extreme. If I run out of bread before I finish my eggs, I have to get up and make more toast. It's inconvenient but I just can't do it otherwise. Even though I love eggs. Not that I can eat eggs on this diet but uh, it's just an example.
So, on this diet, sprouted grain bread is acceptable. And it looks good, smells okay. So I did what Lauren did and I smushed avocado on it. Tried it. Awful. Horribly awful. She drizzled hers with raw honey. I drenched mine. And then it was edible. Barely. I also haven't been very into avocado lately, which used to be a favorite. But let's not blame the avocado. It was that bread. That damned bread.

To summarize,

Happy things about my diet:

Fruit with raw honey. Yeah right amazing.

Veggie juice in the morning that wakes me up better than coffee
and puts me in an awesome mood.

Less happy things about my diet:

This.

work

So I started my new job a week ago tomorrow. It's been a whirlwind. Our biggest event of the year is on July 3rd and myself and the new event coordinator have been scrambling to get everything together. We came in when it was part way planned and we're trying to learn a LOT in a really short period of time. I'm exhausted but I think I love it.
I know that when we pull the event off, all the stress will be worth it because we will have made this event that thousands of people will enjoy.

Oh and PS, The Oregon Garden is...wait for it...a garden. And it's beautiful. I took a walk at lunch today and took these pictures. I got a couple of the early peonies but there are TONS more just waiting to bloom. So excited.









As you can see, it was overcast today. But warm, and not raining. I'll take it.