Weekend recap & 101 List # 49, 72, 86

This past weekend one of my best friends Alison came to visit me. We grew up together in MT and have remained friends since. Truly lucky for her in my life. We took some opportunities to have some Oregon adventures. I also was able to check more things off my 101 list, which is always fun! She arrived on Wednesday night late. We got up Thursday morning and I hung out while Alison worked. We grabbed brunch at Vivace before heading out to the beach.

Driving/riding the 101 is # 49 on my list. So our first stop was Tillamook. We went to the cheese factory of course, and then headed to catch a glimpse of the Cape Meares lighthouse. It was a fun little walk to the lighthouse, which offered really cool views of the cliffs, waterfalls and waves crashing against the rocks.  We then drove to Cannon Beach where we stated the evening at the cutest Inn ever! The Inn at Cannon Beach is very highly recommend by the two of us should you find yourself in the town. We ordered pizza and got lucky because they were closing in 10 minutes. Only in a small town. The rest of the evening we hung out, ate pizza and watched Dallas Buyer's Club. 

Lighthouse, cliffs and our cute little inn/cottage in Cannon Beach

Tillamook Cheese Factory!

We woke up early the next morning and grabbed breakfast from the lobby and went back to our room to watch Silver Linings Playbook. We packed up the room and went to Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. The tide was out, so we got very lucky and got to see different tide pools and the majority of the side of the rock. Usually the water is well covering the rock, but we were able to walk out quite a ways!

Alison and I at the beach

Alison throwing the bottle! And friends we met along the way :)

Next stop, Seaside. We didnt spend too much time here, but composed our messages for the bottles and walked around the town. It was sunny, which was fun to walk around the city.

Final stop was Astoria. We threw our messages in the bottle into the ocean, which was an adventure! We did not have the right technique and had to rescue our bottles at least 2 times before becoming content with where they landed ($86 on the list).  A few times people appeared near the ocean and we got scared they would turn us in for littering. But we got lucky, so it was meant to be!

I had been wanting to see some part of Oregon's history, so we went to Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark spent the winter 1805-1806 (#72 on the list). We got to see a replica of the fort and walk around the grounds, see a few boats, etc. It was really cool to see and the whole area of Astoria has a lot of info regarding Lewis & Clark. We had lunch in the most amazing location! An old boat that served fish & chips. So fun!! 

Bowpicker Fish & Chips- Astoria

From there we drove back to Portland and met up with my family. My brother, sister-in-law met my dad, myself and Alison for dinner. They all stayed the night and we were able to catch up a bit. Love spending time with my family and of course, hanging out with the little man.

My nephew James

Saturday I went to my brother's climbing competition and Alison went to visit her friend from college. We then spent the afternoon hanging out, watching movies together. A perfect afternoon/evening! Alison had to leave early Sunday morning which was a bummer! I loved having her in town, but was very sad to see her go. 

I met up with my friend Raynelle for froyo before church class. It was so great to see her and be able to catch up a little. Church class was amazing again! Huge blessing to have this class right now!! I was also able to get out and take a walk after class. Spring has sprung in Portland it was out in full bloom. Included is a picture of my walk. Overall, an amazing weekend!!! Loved hanging out with Alison. And of course checking of 3 items off the list!

#77- Paint pottery

Catch-up time!!! I have been super behind with blogging activities from my list, 101 things in 1001 days! I have checked some things off the list, but havent had a chance to write about them. Back in November my friend Kristen came down to Portland and we had numerous adventures; one of which included painting pottery!! I dont know why I have wanted to do this forever, but it was so fun to be crafty and not have to think about supplies, logistics, etc.

We went to Ready, Paint, Fire in NW Portland which had relocated to a new studio. We each picked out our piece and got to work painting! It was fun to just sit back and hang out while painting our pieces. They served refreshments and had a really warm, welcoming environment. We paid for our pieces and then I picked them up a few days later. Perfect activity for a rainy PacNW day :)

Half way there... [101 in 1001] update

I did not realize until late last night that yesterday was my 1/2 way point of my 1001 days!  Hard to believe it has been 500+ days since I created my list! I still remember sitting down with a pencil and paper (who really does that any more) and thinking about all the things I would like to accomplish in the next 1001 days. The idea of lists is really quite fascinating. You scribe things in somewhat of a bullet or number fashion, in hopes of completing or checking these items off the list. The list helps them to be organized. The list holds its own weight of significance; it has been written down, no turning back.  The irony of it is, the list was created to be dismembered.

My list was created partly because I love making lists. I love even more when I can check something off the list. I feel that lists keep me organized. Keep me focused. I am a task orientated person (not just something I can say when interviewing for a job). The gratification that comes with checking an item off the list is akin to finishing a race or winning a contest.

Anyways, the progress on my 101 things has been somewhat slow. There are items on the list that are easy to check off and others that require more planning, money and time. As of July 23rd, 2013, I have completed 31 tasks and 5 other tasks are in progress. That brings my total to 36/101 that are somewhat complete. I have some work to do!

This week we are heading to Montana for some much needed vacation. My brother, sister-in-law and nephew will also be there, so it will be a fun filled 4 days in paradise! When I return, I will start to get more serious about scheduling in some "list" activities. The greatest thing about this list is that it is comprised of all things I WANT to do!! Excited to see what the second half of this journey holds in store!

In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed ~ Sid Caesar

100 Things That Make Me Happy...

There are so many things that make me happy. From the littlest things to the biggest things. I feel so blessed that a list of a 100 things was relatively easy to comprise. There have been a few times in my life where coming up with this list would have been rather difficult due to circumstances or situations. What I want most from making this list, is a reminder that no matter the circumstance, there are always things all around me that make me happy. 

• Vanilla lattes
• My family
• My nephew's sweet squeals
• Flowers in a mason jar
• Red wine
• Going/watching to football games
• Sweet text messages
• Being known
• Coffee dates with my friends
• Peanut butter on M&Ms
• Country music
• A clean car
• Traveling
• Reading books by the fire
• Worship at my church
• 4th of July in Montana on the lake
• My job and my amazing coworkers
• Wearing my boots
• Fall weather
• Riding my bike
• Falling asleep in the sun
• Cowboy hats and beer in mason jars
• Checking things off my list
• Wondering through an unknown city
• Writing
• Discovering new music 
• Catching up with a friend on the phone/FaceTime/Skype
• Playing board games with my family
• Sunshine! and at the same time, rain
• Live music
• Having my hair washed for me
• Finding old pictures sparking old memories
• People watching
• Camp fires and roasting marshmallows 
• Knowing how much my family loves me
• Smell of rain
• Unplugging from technology
• Bridges in Portland
• Quite time with my God
• Buying used books
• Trying new foods/restaurants
• Nutella
• Drinking beer with my dad
• Summer seasonal (beers) on a hot summer day
• Going to Timbers games and sitting in the Army!
• Walks in the sun
• Food carts in Portland
• Busy streets of NYC
• Setting goals and of course, completing them!
• Hosting parties
• Planning a vacation with someone I love
• A breeze on a hot day
• Lemon in my water
• Rereading the Harry Potter series
• Escaping all the traffic lights on my way home
• Sunsets
• Thunderstorms
• Fun chunky jewelry
• New nikes on my feet
• Having deep meaningful conversations
• Laughter
• Reading on a rainy day
• Feeling sore after a long workout
• Sleeping in a hammock 
• Journaling
• Oversized sunglasses
• Walking down a new street and taking in the vibe
• Buying the perfect gift
• My profession
• Fresh fruit from the farmers market
• Reading People magazine 
• Going to baseball games
• Talking about dreams for the future
• Brunch on the weekends
• Long, intellectual conversations with my brother and his wife
• Making dinner
• Funfetti cake and frosting
• Anything the color of teal
• Organizing my closet/life
• Pinterest :)
• Growing and confirmation in my faith
• Post-workout feeling
• People watching and making up stories about their lives 
• Wearing my sperrys or toms
• Mac & Cheese
• Partaking in city adventures and seeing my city in a way I never have before
• Taking old things and making then new
• Tailgating before football games
• Celebrating love by going to someone's wedding
• Spending time with children
• Tim's Cascade Chips (especially Jalapeno)
• Garage Sales with my mom
• Montana 
• Receiving compliments
• Being the little spoon
• Receiving snail mail
• Date night 
• Shopping with my friends
• Watching FRIENDS reruns and laughing til I cry

#12 Participating in a healthcare fundraising walk (Heart Walk 2013)

Its been on my list of things to do forever and I finally was able to take advantage of one of the healthcare fundraising events held in Portland. Within the clinic I work is the Cardiac Rehab clinic that works closely with survivors of heart disease. The leaders of this clinic are among two of the most passionate people I know and truly change people's lives!  I was fortunate enough to join them today in their efforts to raise money for the American Heart Association and the fight to end heart disease.  It was announced today that the walk raised $560,942.00 and OHSU Cardiac All-Stars raised the second most as a team (>$13,560). A vey impressive group to be a part of, in my opinion!

The walk itself was a 5K loop around the city of Portland crossing two of my favorite bridges.  It was really cool to see so many people walking today despite not optimal weather. I was humbled several times when I would be walking next to someone who either lost a loved one to heart disease or was fighting their way back after having a quad bypass surgery. I talked to two ladies who had lost ~175 pounds each and they were on their way to breaking the 300lb mark. Truly inspiring stories all around me. It was a special walk for me as well because my dad had a quad bypass surgery just over a year ago.

Some quick facts about Heart Disease and its impact on our country:

• 1 and every 4 deaths per year is a result of heart disease
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death and both men and WOMEN in the US
• Coronary heart disease costs the US >$108 Billion each year

CDC Facts

We also got to meet Jared from Subway's compaign against heart disease. Several of the major hospitals in Portland were present at the Start/Finish line with information, opportunities have your blood pressure read and handing out water. Overall, it was a great experience and I was very fortunate to be a part of such a compassionate group of people. Diabetes, Obesity and Hypertension are three of the major risks for acquiring heart disease and are running rampant in our country. Find a way to get involved in the fight; even if it just involves becoming educated to the signs and symptoms of heart attack/stroke.

Discovering Passions...

Life lately has been a bit nuts, but in the best way possible.  Last weekend we went to San Francisco to celebrate Tony's 30h birthday. The city itself was a lot of fun, but the real fun was when we went wine tasting in Livermore! I really wanted to go to Sonoma or Napa since they are on my list, but Livermore was just as fun! We met up with some of Tony's friends from college and visited 5 or 6 wineries! I must have been enjoying myself so much that I forgot to take many pictures. Here is a small look into our weekend.

Its been a while since I have found myself in the "writing mood". I have found journalling very difficult; though my mind is not devoid of pondering thoughts. I find myself thinking of profound thoughts throughout the day, but by the time I get home, I have no energy to write, or at least write well.

I have also struggled to know exactly what I want my blog to be about. Do I want it to serve as a place I can go back and chronicle my life events? Do I want it to be a space where I can connect socially to other bloggers? Do I want it to be my own little personal space in the interweb that I can do/write whatever the heck I want? I find that I will put pressure on myself to write, but in reality, this should be a place I can post thoughts unfinished, life happenings and a space to explore out my greatest passions in life.

I have spent some time recently thinking about what I am passionate about. The list is long, which is good. But in reality, you only have 24 hours in one day. I am finding it may be helpful for me to narrow down my list a little and allow myself room to find ways to pursue these passions. Here are some of my pondering questions:

-What does life expect from me?
-What is my vision for life? for my career?
-What/who makes me come alive?
-What ignites passion within me?
-What am I afraid of failing at?
-What are my desires?

These questions serve as a launching point to really hone in on some of the things most important to me and allow me a chance to isolate their importance in my life. I am working through Storyline by Donald Miller and these are some of the points he poses. I am finding it hard to invest in too many things and based on my personality, I like to have my hand in many cookie jars.

I expect more thought provoking posts to go up in this space in the coming days/weeks. Feel free to shoot me feedback if you have your own thoughts to some of these questions. Dialog and original thought is what separates us from the rest of the other mammals... Lets conversate!

#34/35 Paying off my credit card/Establishing Budget

Part I

It is no secret, I am not good at budgeting my money. As long as I remember, I have not been good at this task. During graduate school, I let my credit card get the best of me. I thought my taking out less money in loans, I would have less debt coming out of school. What happened, I racked up some credit card debit.

After getting my first job as a PT, I thought I would finally get back on track financially. What ended up happening was I kept coming across more unexpected expenses. And since I had no emergency fund and no savings, I put more and more on my credit card.

Task #1: Find out where your money is going and see if you can identify trends vs. regular expenses

Part of my new years goals of 2013 was to get this under control. I started a budget with the help of my sister-in-law and her mom. My first task was to track my spending.  Ouch! I spend a lot of money and had absolutely no idea where that money was going.

Task #2: Find a system that works for you

I spent January tracking how much I was spending and consequently, bringing a whole new awareness to just how much money I was spending and how much of it was not necessary! I am using the "Home/Office Budget" book by Adams. It works better for me because I can write it down, see exactly where my money is going and see trends better.

I have used Mint.com in the past and occasionally use it on the go to see where I am at with my budget for that month. I have considered using the envelope method as well because I am a very visual person and it would likely help to see my money "gone".

Task #3: Establish a realistic budget and stick to it

This was the hardest part for me because I knew there were a few categories that I spent more money in than others. For example: Entertainment, Eating out/Going out and Shopping. For those categories I chose to to allot 20% of my total income each month. This seems appropriate for now, but obviously fluctuates from month to month.

Task #4: Begin to allot money for emergency fund

Currently, I have a very small emergency fund (pray to God no emergency happens to me). I am working on establishing a realistic % that could be put to this each month. My sister-in-law suggested about 10%, so that will be my goal. But right now it somewhere around 5%.

Task #5: Establish a plan to pay off my credit card

I dont even want to tell you how much money I had on my credit card. Most of this was the result of getting my last loan installment in Jan 2012 and not starting my job until Aug 2012. And even though I was making consistent money, I could not seem to get ahead of my payments. I found myself between this desire to pay off my credit card, but also knowing I needed to establish an emergency fund. So consequently I was making no progress at all. And then I got my tax refund...

I was fortunate to get a large refund this year primarily due to the education tax credit, paying off some interest on my student loans and claiming my moving expenses. I knew as soon as I heard the estimated refund, I would need to put all of it towards my credit card debit. And that, is how it was paid off.

Part two of this post will include how paying off my credit card has impacted my budget...

#74 Make a meal from scratch!

The long days of winter have created this desire in me to venture into the cooking world a little more. That being said, there is a certain connivence in swinging by New Season's or Trader Joe's and coming up with dinner on the fly. A few weeks ago, Tony and myself undertook the task of cooking a meal from scratch! And I had a blast. We adapted a recipe featured on Syndal's blog because both of us love enchiladas and neither of us knew how to make the sauce. Here is our adventures documented for #74 on my list!

Being guac lovers, we started our cooking adventure by snacking on Tony's signature chips and guac while sipping on two of my dad's home brews. In hindsight, I wish I would have saved more room for the enchiladas, but the guac was so good!

Without further ado, here is the recipe for Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas!

The fixins'

Sauce:
2 garlic cloves (minced)
2-3 tbsp. chipotle chiles in adobo sauce 
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
3/4 cup fat free chicken broth
salt and fresh pepper

**Disclaimer! We love spice, so we increased the amount of chipotle chiles and added more chili powder. When we tasted the sauce out of the pot, it was spicy, but cooked off a little once cooked in the oven**

Sauce Directions

In a medium saucepan, use a dab of olive oil to sauté garlic. Add chiles, chili powder, cumin, chicken broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Enchiladas:

1 lb extra lean ground turkey
15.5oz can black beans, drained
4.5 oz can chopped green chiles
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1-2 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp chili powder

8 (6-inch) low carb whole wheat tortillas
1 cup shredded cheese

Enchiladas Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray (I wiped mine down with olive oil). In a large skillet, brown the turkey and season with salt to taste (drain after browning!!!!)

Add onion, garlic, black beans, cilantro, green chiles, diced tomatoes, cumin and chili powder. Mix well and simmer on low, covered for 20 minutes. Remove lid and simmer an additional 5-10 minutes to reduce the liquid (drain excess liquid again if needed!)

Put 1/2 cup turkey mixture into each tortilla and roll it. Place on baking dish seam side down. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. 

Final product!

#96 Brewery Tours!

Hops

My family was in town this past weekend and we part took in the event called Zwickelmania!! In short, over 40 breweries in the Portland area open their doors to people for tours, tastings and a question/answer sessions with the brew masters. My dad started home brewing a little over a year ago and I thought this would be a perfect outing for him. Plus, who doesnt like a good brew?

We started at Widmer which was amazing! We got to meet both Widmer brothers Kurt and Rob, got 10 or more samples of brews and had food pairings all along the way. The brews we tasted were ones I had never tried before; some even were experimental beers. My favorite of the whole group was the Columbia Common Spring Ale. I have been on several brewery tours before, but the one at Widmer was probably my favorite. It was well put together featuring their entire plant, highlighting the brewing process and sampling all throughout the tour. Plus we got to keep the little sample glasses.

Bridgeport Brewery

Our second stop was at Bridgeport Brewing Company. This little craft brewery opened in 1984 (same year as Widmer and the year of my birth) and was one of the first breweries in Portland. It is quite a bit smaller than Widmer and is highly committed to sustainability. The tour was short due to the brewing plant being so small, but it was cool to hear how much length they go to in order to be sustainable.
It is located in the heart of the Pearl district
and their restaurant features some great local
 flavor. My favorite brews are Kingpin, Ropewalk
and Summer Squeeze.



Our last stop was Deschutes Brewery (also located in the Pearl) where we met up with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. In my humble opinion, the mac and cheese at Deschutes is the best this side of the river and I recently started adding bacon to it which has been delightful. The main brewery is located in Bend OR, which we went to last Spring. My favorite brews at Deschutes are Mirror Pond, Great Lakes and Chainbreaker. Overall, great weekend with my family and a chance to check two brewery tours off my list!

Deschutes Brewery

#5 Solo at a concert

I will let you in on a little secret. I am an extrovert x100! I love entertaining. I love being entertained :) I regularly schedule weeknight activities 3-4 nights a week. I thrive in social situations. And as a result, I have a real hard time being alone. I have never gone to a movie by myself. I have never gone to a concert by myself. I have never had dinner (at a restaurant) by myself.  So it seemed like an appropriate challenge and thus was added to my list last Spring.

A couple of months ago, I found out Eric Church was coming to Portland and it happened to be right around my birthday. I asked a few friends if they wanted to go to the concert with me, but due to a variety of circumstances, no one was available that night. While at work on Thursday I was talking to a coworker about how badly I wanted to go to the concert, but no one was available to accompany me. She made the simple suggestion that I go by myself. I think my jaw literally dropped. BY MYSELF??!!?

I got home from work on Thursday and looked up tickets on Craigslist to see if anything was available (concert sold out months ago). And sure enough, there was a ticket for GA available. But I had to decide that moment if I wanted to go. I called the # and sure enough, the ticket was available. No kidding, several excuses ran through my head as I was talking to the lady about why I couldnt meet her to get the ticket or the price was too much, etc. I literally found myself doubting that I could attend the concert by myself. Long story short, I bought the ticket. 

Eric Church

I have to say, I completely surprised myself at how good of a time I had at the concert. The biggest mental game I played with myself while at the concert was battling what others potentially were thinking "why is that girl all alone?". And by the end of the night, I really didnt care what anyone else thought. I was 2 rows away from one of my favorite country artists, wearing my cowboy hat and boots and singing along to some great songs. Eric Church put on quite the show! Complete with smoke, fireworks and plenty of his bad-ass attitude! I had a fantastic time and I think this might be the first step towards doing a whole host of things alone ;)

Kip More & Justin Moore

#1 A week without complaining

There is a reason this is #1 on my list. And with the coming week being the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it would be a fantastic week to go without complaining. I spent today thinking about the kinds of things I usually complain about and was surprised at how completely ridiculous some of these items are. Here is an example of my daily/weekly complaints:

1). Being cold
2). Having to bike to work in the cold
3). Not having anything to eat in my fridge
4). Having to do laundry
5). When my patients are late or dont show up at all
6). When people are being stupid
7). Having to clean (mainly my room and/or bathroom)
8). Not having enough money to pay for my student loans AND all the fun I want to have (insert needing to start budget ASAP!!)
9). Politics at work regarding management
10). Not having enough time in my day to do all I want

So, this week I am going to get after it and stop complaining.  And while I am at it, I will also stop talking crap about other people. This also usually occurs because I am bored and obviously have nothing intelligent to say regarding said person. I also get sucked in when other people are gossiping or taking crap about other people. Which is a little third grade of me. In some regards, this topic is
embarrassing to discus in this semi-public platform as it seems so childish.  This week will
definitely provide one heck of a challenge.

On another note, if I actually sat down and prayed for half of the (more serious) things I complain about... ufda, that is another blog!

#2 Exercising my rights

...be an informed voter in the 2012 election.

This may have been one of the hardest items on my list thus far to complete. This year seemed to take far more effort to find unbiased opinions. But I did my homework and casted my voice in this year's election.

While researching each of the candidates for this year's election, I also spent some time refreshing my knowledge on how we (women) arrive to the point where we are able to vote. I feel very blessed to have my opinion valued and appreciate the gravity of my decisions and thus the need for them to be well researched rather than be made on a whim.

Now politics have never been my thing. I typically side somewhere in the middle. My ethical conviction that coincides with my faith in a just God pulls me towards the right.  The scientific and pragmatic side of my personality pull me to the left. So I have to really work hard to be an informed voter, especially in an election like this one.

This year, the topics that concerned me most were of course the approach towards improvement of our current health care system, plan for increasing jobs nation wide, women's rights to birth control options (why is this even an issue???) and environment improvements towards more efficient sources.  This list is not exhaustive by any means, but these were the issues in which I prioritized when researching.

This is what I do know:

-I am thankful for a democratic nation and the right to vote!

-Our country values change. A chance for change that comes every 4 years

-Regardless of who wins the BIG election, we have a system of checks and balances that seeks to do just that

-That I have the privilege to vote (did I mention that??)

In closing, my brother posted a link to this fantastic blog that captures what each of our hearts should look/sound like during this time... Check it out if you'd like.

#54 Oktoberfest!

Steins!

I am playing a little bit of catch up on some of the items I have been crossing off my list, so please bear with me. Two weekends ago my friend Kristen and I journeyed to the small Bavarian town of Leavenworth WA to partake in the German traditions of beer drinking, brat and giant pretzel eating and of course, sitting around long tables with perfect strangers prosting over new friendships.

Fall in the Pacific Northwest is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Driving to Leavenworth requires a jaunt through the mountains that twist and wind to the cadence of the Wenatchee River.  The orange and red colors cast their glow as they peaked out between the green firs. The drive was not only lovely due to the gorgeous scenery, but because I got to enjoy it with my best friend. Long over due conversations filled the air and the meaningful silence that allowed us the freedom to process independently was also a blessing.

When we arrive into the town of Leavenworth it was like being dropped into Lower Saxony in Germany.  This town is truly authentic and on a weekend such as this, it especially portrayed Bavaria well. We wasted no time in joining the celebration. Donning our "costumes", we obtained a stein and met some new friends. From what I remember, the music and entertainment was fantastic as was the steady flow of various German beers from our newly acquainted friends.

One of our high school friends lives and works in Wenatchee, so he joined us on Friday night and we ended up staying the night at one of his friends house. Turns out hardwood floors and recliners are not the most comfortable for sleeping. We went back for day two on Saturday which included a traditional parade, keg tapping ceremony by the town mayor and more celebrations! We caught a fantastic entertainment group called the Ally Cats in the affectionately dubbed "party tent". We danced, enjoyed people watching and concluded our Oktoberfest weekend in the same tent it all started in the night before.

The drive home was wet and I was reminded that I was back in the Pacific Northwest. We stopped at two of my lovely friends' house in Monroe for dinner and then journeyed back to Seattle. Having that Oktoberfest celebration under my belt, I think it is time for the real thing in Munchin! Who's with me?

Parade

Fall with my bestie

#52 Music Monday... concert recaps!

I have been fortunate to catch some fantastic live music lately. 

Joshua Radin's stage

The best show I saw recently was Joshua Radin last week at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland. I have seen him three times, but this time was the best for several reasons. He played most of his newest album and he was all about the crowd. The Crystal Ballroom is not my favorite venue in Portland (due to the acoustics), but it is a close intimate space and if the artist engages the crowd, it can be a lot of fun. I was fortunate enough to be VIP for this concert and was able to stand less than 10 feet from the stage.

A Fine Frenzy opened for him and I was disappointed in her performance. She played "Almost Lover" last, which was by far her best song performed all night. I really like her music, so I was bummed she did not perform well. Lucy Schwartz sung with Joshua on some of his duet songs and was amazing! Her perfect harmonizing was mesmerizing.

A Fine Frenzy

A few weekends ago I saw a favorite from my teenage years! Alanis Morissette!!! I think her CD was the first I ever purchased. She put on quite the show! She played all the classics and a few songs I had never heard. When she played songs like Ironic, Thank U and Jagged Little Pill, the crowd went crazy! I really enjoyed her new song Guardian, but wouldnt purchase her new CD. She was quite the performer (likely was drunk), but we were VIP and loved every minute of being 15 feet from the stage!

Alanis @ Crystal Ballroom

I never had the opportunity to recap Norah Jones from this summer. I saw her at Edgefield and was also fortunate enough to be VIP for the show. She was everything I hoped she would be and more! I listened to her first album all throughout college and knew every line. She released a new album recently and it has some good songs. Its amazing how music will take you back to perfectly undisturbed memories from song long ago... Amazing show that I am so glad I got to see live!

Norah Jones @ Edgefield

 

#48-Hawaiian Lifestyle

Maui

Paradise. I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Hawaii this past August to celebrate the wedding of two of my favorite Germans, Alex and Britta.  I originally met Britta in 2007 when she was on exchange to Portland. Since then, Britta and Alex hosted me for six weeks on their couch in Germany in 2008 and in 2009 we all took a trip to Seattle and Vancouver BC before I moved to Denver. Jen Hughes is also a good friend of the two (she also went on the Seattle/Canada trip and has stayed with them in Germany a few times) and was able to join us from Vermont for the celebration.

Britta and me in Germany 2008

Britta had always wanted to get married in the States and it was her and Alex's dream to get married in Hawaii. When she emailed me almost a year ago asking if I would fly to Hawaii to witness their wedding, I accepted without reservation.  It had been over a year since I saw Jen, so it was an especially wonderful trip.

I will let the pictures tell the story, but here are some highlights! We were on the island of Maui, which was absolutely breathtaking! The beaches were pristine, the mountains beautiful and the ocean full of animal life to observe.  We spent most of our time at a beach passing our time snorkeling, soaking up the sun or just jumping in and out of the waves.

The wedding was a genuine fairy-tale story of two lovers. Britta's dress was beautiful, Alex was stunningly handsome and their daughter Lily was so well behaved and looked like a little princess in her dress. The weather was perfect and they were able to get some amazing shots! We followed the wedding with a picnic on the beach; German style!









The sunsets were incredible and the views from the cliffs in the rainforest were like I've never seen.  We drove to Hana (on the other side of the island) where the beaches are known for their black sand and privacy. The road wrapped around the side of the mountains, at times funneling into one lane to cross a bridge situated over a waterfall.

We took in local fare, shopped the markets and went to a luau on the beach one evening. Hawaii is a beautiful place, but it is somewhere I might only need to go once. It was great spending time with my lovely friends and enjoying relaxing time on the beach, but I think I would rather spend time traipsing through the windy roads of a European city.