I heart Joshua Radin

Just so we're clear - I'm in LOVE with this man. Seriously.
I've officially now seen him in concert 4 times and every time the show just gets better. His music gets better. This was my first show seeing him in Portland. He was incredible. His opening act was Cary Brothers as well and he was also REALLY really great. Cary did a cover of Peter Gabriel "Don't Give Up" that literally almost made me cry. AMAZING STUFF.

At the end of the concert Joshua Radin's last song, he sang as he walked through the crowd (barricaded off) and off the floor. We were kind of standing in the back for the show because we had gotten there a little late. Where he turned to walk off stage he basically walked RIGHT next to us. ...oh you need proof?



















....ya...THAT CLOSE! He's a sexy man. I'm pretty sure he looked at me and was like "hey wait, don't I know you from the shows in Salt Lake City usually - great seeing you in this cool town of Portland now!" I'm pretty sure.

Anyway, fantastic show! Had tons of fun with my friend Amber who came with. *SIGH*
Can't wait until next time!

Salt Lake Weekend!

This weekend I had some time off work - so I arranged it with Melissa to hang out with her for a few days! I needed some BFF time! It was so much fun!

We dropped Paige at the babysitter on Friday so we could shop without baby. We did some okay damage (I think we could've done better haha). We went to see the Adjustment Bureau (LOVED IT!!!) and ate nachos - which you know always makes me a happy girl! And on Saturday we got Mani-Pedis. *SIGH* It was heaven rolled into 2 days. I got to hang out with Paige - who really took over 24 hours to warm up to me. In my defense she was teething some major molars...at least that's what I'm telling myself and Melissa is being kind enough to go along with the story! Preston was dropped off Saturday afternoon so I got to watch both of the kiddos Saturday night. They're SO FUN! Preston taught me how to play Gran Turismo 5. I won a roll-over trophy right away, not because I know all the tricks, because I seriously can't play video games. Whatever. He thought I was SUPER cool because I rolled the car - apparently never been done before haha.

Seriously it was a great time to hang out with my friend and just be our "normal" selves! It was great. Was giggling to myself on the drive home at things that we talked about or something that happened.

Numero 34!

I'm officially the world's worst blogger. I mostly, lately feel like I don't really have a ton to say.
I'm 34 today! How crazy is that? You know how when you look back on your life and say...wow - I would've thought my life would look SOOO different at 34?! I can honestly say that is 100% true for me! Not really for the better or the worse, just really different.

I'm loving the change in my life and being in Oregon though. I feel more myself here. More mellow, less "wound". Which, I wasn't really all that wound ever - but just a little more go-with-the-flow about things. I like that.

So for my birthday (I have a 3day weekend this weekend!) I went to lunch with Matt and Blake. Then drove to Jake's house and had cupcakes and opened my presents from them (so nice!) and then went to Eric's house to watch movies and hang out. It was a great day! I felt so much love today - as it should be on a day that was only basically important because you were born (haha). Okay so Martin Luther King Jr put us on the map...but man I'm a close 2nd.

Thank you to everyone who remembered my birthday and made me feel special. And who make me feel special everyday really - not just on my birthday. I'm lucky to have such amazing friends and family in my life.

ps- now that my birthday is behind me - I can get back on the working out bandwagon. I always start diets on the 1st..and they get blown out of the water with junk food on my birthday a mere 15 days later. Yes it's only taken 34 years to figure out I should just start my diet AFTER said birthday...don't judge me. :)

Mid-December Madness

Where has December gone to! I seriously laughed at this woman the other day at work that said "December is nearly over!" (it was the 7th of the month). Haha...I don't know why that made me laugh SOOO hard. But now that it's the 15th I'm on the same page. Apparently 8 more days was all I needed to be a believer. I've been working a ton lately, nothing new. Lots of hours and lots of weird shifts. Most of the time - I don't even know what day of the week it is.

This weekend, my friend from Seattle Will and I are going to Leavenworth, WA and I'm so excited! It's this German town that gets all crazed out for Christmas! Seriously just what I needed. Mostly I'm excited to relax and not do a whole lot around this small village but drink hot chocolate and walk around. 3 days off in a row will be heaven. Will and I have never traveled together - so fingers crossed he's also a laid back traveler. I'll take lots of pictures.

Then I come back and work for 8 days in a row (BLEH) and then get 6 days off! No vacation days required...just how my schedule worked out! I'm going to California from Dec 30-Jan 4 and I can't wait! I need some sunshine! Although really the weather here has not been too bad (except for that pesky tornado the other day - I don't know..my mom told me about it. haha). And some face time with my pals Josie and Thor who just moved to San Diego. I'm hoping we can hang out at least one day while I'm there.

I can already feel that 2011 is going to be amazing! This is like the warm-up to it.

The 16 hour day

Today is my 3rd 16 hour shift day at work since I've started. PHEW! It's brutal.
Although at least this time - I knew about it before hand...so I was mentally prepared.

Work is going well - I think I'm getting the hang of it alright, always a good sign.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!!! YAY! Blake and I are headed to Matt's house to have the festivities. I'm making Matt grill out steaks - so that will be tasty. None of us are really all that big of fans of turkey. For nibble food before the feast we'll have crackers and cheese and meat. The boys love their "wheel" which is what they call the meat & cheese tray. Plus this chips and salsa thing that I will make. It's delicious. For actual dinner we'll be having Steak (duh), twice baked potatoes, salad, rolls, and green bean casserole. YUM!

My Gratitude to all the people in my life I love and consider my friends and "family" - even if we're not blood related. And of course those that are. I'm grateful for the freedom in our country. All the best to you and your families on this special day! xoxo

A Quoteable Life

There is a TV show on NBC called Brothers and Sisters. It's a great show. The family dynamic is amazing. While yes, it's sometimes a lot over the top, the majority of the time they have issues that normal families might have. I love the chemistry between the actors and I find myself smiling when they have that family banter going on between them. It's just great.

Anyway - a few episodes back there was a scene where Kitty reads a Thoreau quote that her mom had marked for her and it struck a chord that resonated in me. Nora (the mom) had changed all the pronouns to feminine to fit the situation and I like it all the more for it. So to share with you this glorious small verse to celebrate the differences in everyone, here it is. Thank you to Mister Thoreau for always being so insightful.

"If a woman does not keep pace with her companions, perhaps it is because she hears a different drummer. Let her step to the music which she hears, however measured or far away"

The new bike!

A few years back I bought a mountain bike. I loved it. I love it still, but since now I live in the middle of a city - the mountain bike just seems too beefy for city riding. Tonight I bought a new bike! This bike is SUPER cute. I love the seat. The handlebars are leather and super comfy.

I've been obsessing about bikes lately and was SOOOO excited to actually go get one tonight! Now I can finish up my obsession with a super cute helmet. For now the one I have will have to do. But I will be getting either an Orange or Turquoise one and putting white/off-white decal polka-dots on it. Now I just have to find one that is cute, and actually looks cute on my noggin. So excited to start riding my bike everywhere! SIGH! I already rode my bike down the street to get a new movie at the RedBox near my house. LOVE IT!