Rainy Day Boot-Binge

It seems the rainy season is finally upon us here in PDX. After ten years in this often gray city, I've actually come to enjoy the rain. Even though I'm a native East-Coaster, I want nothing to do with snow. I'll take drops over flakes any day!
Anyone who's ever lived in the Northwest knows that if you're going to let the rain stop you, you might as well not live here. You've got to get out and moving whether it's wet or not.What's the best way to spot a non-native Portlander? Their umbrella! The Northwest is all about layers and hoodies, and of course rain boots. Thank goodness rain boots are so in right now. At least our feet can look cute while the rest of our bodies are covered up from head to toe. Here are a few of my current faves when it comes to boots.

Always a sucker for anything animal print.

LOVE these Betsy Johnson floral boots with a lace up the front.

Simple snake skin Jimmy Choo's. I'm a fan.

Classic boots in a rainbow of colors can brighten even the dreariest day.

Since I'm currently obsessed with Day of the Dead, these Ed Hardy boots struck a major chord.

Can't go wrong with anything purple,always my go to color!

So there you have it. You've discovered my newest guilty pleasure. Who says a pair for every day of the week is a bad thing? A girl's gotta have options...

A Fine Friend-zy

Well, as you all may know, the wedding has come and gone, and I can honestly say that there's a great sense of relief that it's over. After having a singular event so completely consume our lives for a year, it feels great to be able to move on. It seems that in the last few months leading up to the big day, I could focus on nothing else. Hence, my four month hiatus from Pdxpectations. Now that life is settling back into some of its familiar rhythms, I have found myself with the overwhelming desire to write. I've been thinking about my first pre-wedding post for the past few weeks, and have come up with nothing more than blogger-block. So where to begin?
I've been thinking a lot lately about inspiration. What inspires me and what motivates me to be the best person that I can be? We all get down from time to time, and it's easy to forget about all the great things we have going for ourselves. So how do we pull ourselves out of these little funks that tend to move in every once in a while? For me, it's my amazing friends that inspire and motivate me to be a better person.
It's easy to compare our successes and failures to our friends. Who hasn't measured their career, fashion sense, or relationship against one of their besties? It's easy to look at your friend's life and think she is so much better off than you. But comparisons get you nowhere in terms of moving forward with your own life. So, instead of comparing, why not celebrate her successes, and try to learn from them.
I try to look at each of my friends and think about what characteristics of hers' I could learn from. One of my best friends is an amazing Mom, and even though I don't have kids of my own yet, I know I can learn from her compassion and kindness. Another friend has a successful career and is an amazing designer. Even though I'm not all that inclined in the design department, and my career leaves a bit to be desired, I admire her dedication, work ethic and incredible attention to detail. Another friend's generosity and passion continuously overwhelms me, and I have become much more giving throughout the course of our friendship.
My friends mean the world to me, and I can't imagine life without them. We're all so different, but over the years of our friendships, we have learned to celebrate those differences, instead of judging against them. So, thanks Girls! You know who you are, and you are all continuously an inspiration to me. Thanks for letting me be me, and for participating in this fabulous life we live together.
  

Rainy Day Update

Well hello...It's a very uncharacteristic rainy mid-July day here in puddle-y Portland, giving me the opportunity to unexpectedly have the morning off from work. As I was sipping my morning tea and catching up on my blogger reading list,I realized I haven't had a post on Pdxpectations in almost two months! My how time flies. Listening to the rain pitter-patter on the roof of my computer room, (and flow freely into our fantastic rain barrel) I decided this might be the perfect time to bring all you Pdxers up to speed on what we've been up to.
So, you know we built the barrel, and the obvious next step was to plant a garden so the barrel has a purpose. The first step was to rent a sod cutter to get rid of the "grass" in the area of our front yard where we wanted to plant.

Good thing I have Shawn to figure these things out.

Once we cut the sod, we had to bring in soil, till it all in and then build the raised rows so we could plant. Again, I am very happy for the manpower of my future husband during this point of the process.

Next up we planted all of our seeds. We have beets, squash, spinach, arugula, carrots, romaine and cantaloupe, just to name a few. The last step in our garden process was to keep our little creation watered everyday, and our fingers crossed. Shawn built the raised rows on a downward slope so we can run the hose right off of our barrel and it will gradually water the whole garden.

It's a small photo, but this gives you an idea of the finished product.

Now it's all about picking, pruning and eating all of our deliciously home grown organic produce! It's a project that's been a lot of work, but overall very rewarding.

Of course, this is just one aspect of what's been keeping me busy...what else has happened since my last post? Well, we went back East and attended and helped execute the fabulous wedding of my brother and his new husband. Congratulations again to the Léger-Small's!!! I learned a TON about the do's and dont's of putting on a DIY wedding, and am feeling more confident than ever that we will be able to pull off our own wedding pretty seamlessly.
Oh yeah, that reminds me, it's less than three months to our own big day!!! Let's see, I've had my first dress fitting, bought my shoes, ordered the invitations, met with the Baker, DJ, & Reverend, hired a bartender and coordinator (it sounds fancier than it is, these two are just my co-workers), and I'm creating my own centerpieces and decorations. The bridesmaids dresses are in, as are the flower girls. What else? Oh, we're planning and executing our own menu and hoping that everyone can actually make it to the venue on the Wedding Day...we just found out the Portland Marathon is happening on the same day. Last but not least, I've been working my tail off down on the waterfront, including a very long and profitable Blue's Festival and Fourth of July Weekend.
So, you see, this is why Pdxpectations has taken a back seat to just a few of the other things I have on my plate right now. I'm not complaining though. I'm thrilled to be a thoroughly happy and busy little bride-to-be. Life could not be better and I'm thrilled to share it all with you. Here are a few more pictures to highlight what we've been up to.

Just a bit of the pre-wedding set up.

Great job on the fire pit Shawn!

One of my favorite pictures of the soon-to-be newlyweds.

We're up next. Hope our wedding can be as amazing as theirs was!

Honeymoon on My Mind

With a little over four months until our wedding, I am definitely starting to feel the push of all the things that still need to get done. Times have been a little bit tough, stress levels have been a little bit high and through it all my fiance has been amazingly supportive. I'm sure all soon-to-be brides and grooms go through this, but right now we are finding ourselves dreaming more about our glorious honeymoon, hopefully to the San Juan Islands, than our actual wedding. I've been caught saying things like, "why didn't we just elope", and "how did we ever think we could pull this off". I would much rather peruse the internet for honeymoon ideas than look at anything that has to do with linens, tent rentals or wedding planning in general. That being said, I thought I would post a few pictures of all the relaxing we hope to be doing after we eventually pull off the biggest and most complicated party of our lives. That way, I'll have a place to escape to in my mind when all the details become just a bit too much...

Yes Please!

Birthday Bliss

Birthdays come and go, and this year's wasn't feeling too exciting for me, as turning 31 isn't really that big of a milestone. Two years ago I decided to start Pdxpectations, as I was turning 29, and feeling quite anxious about embarking on the final year of my twenties. Now, I'm actually thrilled to be done with my twenties and moving on to bigger and better things. At the age of thirty-one I will watch my brother get married, and then be married myself just a few short months later. I can honestly say that these two events alone will probably make 31 one of the best years of my life...or as a great friend of mine recently put it, thirty-wonderful.
Last year, for my thirtieth birthday, I had a fabulously wild party in my front yard, complete with homemade red chili enchiladas, a vibrant blue pinata and some very tasty bubble gum vodka. In the company of great friends, we danced the night away to Deee-Lite and Lady Gaga. It wasn't until the authorities stopped by to ask us to turn the music down, to which I replied defiantly, "It's MY birthday party and I don't know when we'll be quieting down!", that I realized we weren't quite acting our age. That being said, this year I wanted to keep my celebration much simpler and low key. After all, I'm about to be a wife and eventually a mother, it's time to start showing some restraint.
I feel like I've actually been celebrating my birthday all month. With my best friend just recently in town for a long weekend, we were out and about around town much more than I typically am. We had a lot of fun, but between her visiting, all the wedding planning that's been going on lately, and the planning and execution of our new vegetable garden (more on that later), I really wanted a relaxing day in celebration of my 31st.
Enter The Barefoot Sage, one of Portland's best kept secrets. Located unassumingly on SE 18th & Hawthorne, this amazing sanctuary could not have come into my life at a more opportune moment. Thank goodness for my dear friend who set up our amazing afternoon of relaxation.
Walking in to this oasis of "foot zen", I was immediately struck by the sweet soothing aromas of lavender and peppermint. The entire space is decorated in tones of purple and blue with subtle accents of gold, giving it a very relaxed Mediterranean feel. As soon as I set eyes on the plush purple couches, I knew we were in for quite a treat. So we settled in for an hour of foot soaks, complete with heated neck wraps, hot tea served on silver platters and the most amazing foot massage I've ever had. This decadent pampering was exactly what I needed to ring in my 31st with the type of vibe I hope to carry with me for the next year. I certainly forgot all about my wedding stresses and woes, and for a moment actually relished in the thought that it will all work out the way it's supposed to. 

The lobby of the Barefoot Sage.

Soothing colors and the couches hidden behind the curtains.

From the street you would never guess the oasis that exists inside.

We finished off the afternoon with a late lunch at Jake's Famous Crawfish, a few glasses of bubbly and a fabulous shopping trip in NW Portland that included a stop at my new favorite shop Little Things, owned by the fabulous Andrea Angell. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the beginning of the first year of the rest of my life. Check out my link to the Barefoot Sage under my favorite Portland Places to learn more about the holistic therapies and treatments they offer to soothe your tired feet. This place is a must visit, especially if you're a member of the ever exhausting service industry. Birthday or not, you owe it to yourself!

Stay Tuned...

It's kind of been a whirlwind around here lately. I promise something new after this weekend so stay tuned.

Play Us Some Music

Perusing my reading list this morning, I came across a post on 
Design Sponge
all about the best road trip songs. This got me reminiscing about my own three week road trip when I moved out West, and then about all the other mini road trips I have been on since. I actually like a few of the picks on the Design Sponge post, but of course, being the music lover that I am, my mind immediately started reeling as to my own perfect road trip play list. Here are just a few of the songs I have busted out to while cruising the open road...

I could go on all day long, and actually this has been quite a pleasant trip down memory lane. There's just not enough room in this post for all the fantastic music that I want to include (and for the sake of explicit lyrics I'm not going to post the Dr. Dre & Eminem song that was a favorite on our cross country trip-you know the one Lady!). Anyhow, I hope this post has struck a chord with all of you...what would your perfect road trip play list sound like?

It IS Easy Being Green.

Well, we had quite an eventful weekend this past week, dealing with all things sustainable around our house. Earlier, I promised a post about how to build a rain barrel. Our weekend turned in to so much more, so instead of an article just about the barrel, here is a recap, through pictures, of everything we got done.

First up, some great guys from Energy Trust of Oregon came out to do an "energy assessment" on our house. We live in the Lent's Neighborhood and therefore qualify for some wonderful grants that could help us make our home much more efficient.

Testing to see how pressurized the house is.

Next, we got down to business on building our barrel. It was not an easy task, but we figured it out.

Building the base.

Connecting the gutter to the downspout to the lid.

Installing the spout where the hose will connect was the hardest part, but we made it work.

The finished product!

The icing on the cake...it rained like crazy that night and the entire barrel filled up! Now we need to get our garden in ASAP so we can put all this water to use.

There's no better way to top off an early spring day filled with hard work than grilling for dinner.

YUM!

Check out Shawn's "instructional video" or visit the link below for step by step instructions on how to build your own rain barrel. Happy Conserving!

http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=182095

Also, here is the link for Energy Trust of Oregon, if you want to see how you can qualify for some of these awesome programs.

http://energytrust.org/residential/

Up Next...Building a Barrel

Tea-riffic Times

I had a great time this past Thursday night attending the first ever Tea Tasting Dinner put on at McCormick and Schmick's Harborside by the Tao of Tea. My date was a close friend who loves tea as much as I do, and it was really nice to step out of the box and do something a bit different than what our normal girl's nights usually entail.
We started with mojitos infused with Moroccan mint tea and also sipped on a non-alcoholic sparkling Hibiscus Ginger cocktail--SO refreshing.
Next it was time to move on to the fabulous food, prepared by Chef Josh (my second favorite chef in the world). Each course was paired with one or two hot teas from the Tao's extensive collection.
First, the Jade Cloud Noodle Bowl with Jade Cloud Green Tea. Second, and hands down everyone's favorite, Lapsang Souchong Spiced Chicken with Oolong infused Red Rice served with Green Dragon Oolong, as well as a Malty Assam. Third, we had a fabulous Coho Salmon with a Lapsang Cream Sauce along with a deliciously spicy and smoky Lapsang Souchong Tea (my personal favorite). Lastly, it was on to dessert, 500 Mile Chai Infused Ice Cream! I think this is the absolute best ice cream on earth! I have honestly never tasted anything like this...in my dreams this would be my dessert after every meal.
There was a bit of trouble with the Chai Tea that was supposed to be paired with the ice cream, so we skipped tea on the last course. Honestly, it didn't matter at that point, as everyone at our table was happily full of delicious food, and buzzed off tea? I didn't know that could happen but I went with it. I also never realized that tea could be infused with food in so many innovative ways, and if I hadn't stepped outside of my comfort zone to try something new, I probably never would have. 
For $20 per person, this dinner was a steal, and hopefully it was the first of many more to come. I strongly suggest checking out the Tao of Tea if you haven't already.  The link is still under my Favorite Portland Places, and it will remain there for some time. To view more pictures, you can "friend" The Tao of Tea on Facebook, and check out their album from March 10th. Trust me, the pictures of this food are absolutely gorgeous. Here's a sneak peak...YUM!

Literary Daydreams

If I haven't mentioned it before, I am not the only one in my family getting married this year!! Even before our wedding happens this October, my fiance and I have the incredible pleasure of returning back East for the June nuptials of my brother and his wonderful partner. We are so excited to be apart of not one, but two joyous occasions this year, not to mention the fact that I am gaining another brother who I absolutely adore. Our weddings are very different, as are we, but this is absolutely not a bad thing. It has been a lot of fun participating in the vision for the guys' wedding, and getting inspired by some of their themes and ideas.
A few days ago, my brother forwarded along a charming little wedding he found on the blog Design Sponge, which prompted me to add another fantastic blog to my reading list. Along the course of my exploration of the blog, I stumbled upon another post called, In My Library. This got me thinking, how would I design my own in home dream library?
I already have a HUGE wish list for the features of our next home, and a library is definitely one of them. I'm picturing floor to ceiling built in bookshelves, comfy chairs and soft blankets within an arm's reach. After all, there's nothing quite like cuddling up with a great book...Check out some of these ideas for gorgeous home libraries.

Love all the colors!

Yellow seems so soothing for reading.

A library in the dining room would be a sweet treat!

              

Love how light and airy this library is.

Or how about a library inspired wedding?!? Wow, wish I would have thought of this sooner. Que Cute! Check it out at the Brass Paperclip!

Up Next...Literary Daydreams

Do the Limbo Rock

Well, having lived in Portland for almost ten years now,I think I have earned the right to consider myself a genuine Pdxer. Recently, however I began to doubt my authenticity as a true Portlander, when I realized that I was just now discovering the magnificence of Limbo Fresh Produce in Southeast. Yes, I have been to the Trader Joe's on SE 39th too many times to count, and probably even gone in to Limbo to buy a piece of fruit here or there, but never have I understood how amazing this store actually is.
The produce is great (maybe a bit overpriced), but it's the infamous Wall of Herbs that really does it for me. Seriously, you can find any loose leaf herb you are looking for here, as well as loose leaf teas in a plethora of flavors (my newest obsession). There is even a section featuring ingredients to make your own natural beauty products. I am SO in love.
I don't believe Limbo has an actual website, but you can follow them on Twitter if you like. I've posted a link to Yelp's review of Limbo under "My Favorite Portland Places" if you want to explore further. If you live in Portland, and you haven't been to Limbo yet, you really must go. Immediately. 

What Kind of Bride Are You?

Well I've been super busy as of late with all the hoopla that comes with planning a wedding. I haven't forgot about Pdxpectations...I just need a little more time to formulate my next post. Yes, surprising as it might be, I do actually put a lot of thought into my topics and their content. In the meantime, I stumbled across this blog that links to Anthropologie's new bridal collection. While I didn't find my dream dress, I did have fun taking their "Which Bride Are you?" quiz. Below is the link to the adorable blog, Pink Postcard, where I first found the quiz. Even if you're not engaged yet, it's always fun to dream, right? Can you guess which bride I am?


http://pinkpostcard.blogspot.com/2011/02/anthropologie-bridal-line-now-open.html

Saying "I Do" To Design: Guest Post on Solo Thais

Hey All You Pdxers!
I recently had the honor of writing as a guest on my best friend's blog, Solo Thais.
I had so much fun writing this post and collaborating with my best friend. 
If you enjoy following blogs, hers is definitely one you should check out!

Getting Alll Dressed Up for Love

I'm headed out to the Brides Against Breast Cancer event at the Doubletree Lloyd Center today, and I am definitely feeling some pre-dress trying on jitters. Butterflies aren't necessarily a bad thing,but suddenly it's dawning on me that I'm actually getting married. Today I might possibly find the dress that I will be wearing as I walk towards my husband-to-be on our wedding day. It's all a bit surreal, but I do think it's going to be a great day. I've got my camera, a modest pair of heels and two of my best girls to support me and cheer me on throughout the day. I really couldn't ask for anything more!

Sunny Daze

...sweeping the clouds away...on my way to where the air is sweet. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the days when my to-do list was as simple as playing barbies, snacking on hot dogs and mac and cheese and tuning in for my daily dose of Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. But alas those days are gone. However, lately I have had quite a sunny disposition despite the dreary January Portland weather. I'm not quite sure exactly why I have perked up so much as of late, but I have an idea that I thought might be useful to share with all you Pdxers. It's Vitamin D, and it may just be a miracle vitamin for all of us who live in a constant state of gray.

Vitamin D is fondly known as the "sunshine vitamin" because typically humans take in most of their vitamin D through the skin when exposed to sunlight. Well we all know how often we see the sun around here...why not do something to supplement it?

According to the Mayo Clinic, "The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases."
This is fantastic,especially for women. As many of us enter our 30's it is even more important for us to be taking better care of our bones and heart.

Who can say for sure if adding Vitamin D to my diet has really given me more energy and a bit of a case of spring fever. All I know is that my energy level and attitude is way up. Over the two weeks that I have been taking the supplement (D3 not D2) I have gone from sleeping 11 hours a night to 7. I feel positive and productive everyday, and in conjunction with diet and exercise, I have lost 4 pounds. Doesn't sound like a bad thing to me.

Of course I'm not a doctor or even an expert in the world of health. I did some research before I started taking the supplement, and decided on a dosage that wasn't dangerous for me. Below is a link to the Mayo Clinic website if you want to read more and decide if Vitamin D is right for you. Happy Sunning!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d/NS_patient-vitamind

Up Next...Sunny Daze.

A New Year, Less Fear.

I love the New Year, always have, always will. Something about starting over, new beginnings, and a fresh set of goals is so invigorating, and I often get really pumped up at the start of the year, thinking about having a clean slate to work with.
The start of 2011 has been especially exciting and motivating for me, because WE'RE GETTING MARRIED THIS YEAR!!!
With my minor nervous breakdown and anxiety attacks over the planning of the wedding behind me, I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle this thing head on!
Any bride, or even any one who has been a part of planning a wedding, can sympathize with me regarding the roller coaster ride of emotions that begins the second after you get engaged. It can be so overwhelming and intimidating thinking about the big picture and all the details that go into the vision of your big day. The key here is to take a deep breath, take things one step at a time and remember you are planning a day that is supposed to be happy and fun, NOT stressful and migraine-inducing. My short break over the holidays has given me a renewed sense of joy over the day I get to become a Mrs.
This is why I am taking on the New Year with Less Fear. With everything settling into perspective and the booking of our venue on the horizon, I have decided to throw my hands in the air, and enjoy the ride. 2011 is going to be one of the best years of my life. I can feel it.