brunch

Happy Friday to you all.

With a sun-shiney morning & day off

what perfect time than to have a bunch at Vivace,

a lovely crepe place just down the hill and off our street

with my best friend & hubby.

Check out these delectable crepes!

One sweet & one savory + cappuccino (for me) & house 'Stumptown' coffee (for the hubs)

The "chunky monkey" ~ Nutella, bananas, and honey.

Later a walk up our hill to Council Crest... complete with a little Spring snow.

I *love* my neighborhood.

happy birth-week to you!

Happy Birthday, Tina!

Well, it was a day early... but when one's work schedule doesn't allow,

it's awesome to just celebrate whatever day of the week...

so, a very Happy Birth-week to you, Tina!

a free book & a contest to boot

I stumbled across this contest offered by Sara Mae when my friend {bethany} posted it on her facebook. 

I couldn't resist entering since there was a $500 shopping spree to be won... and frankly I could use a little help in the morning via a new wardrobe. Secretly I want to go 'what-not-to-wear' and get the $5000 to spend, but I don't think my current wardrobe is bad enough to warrant a spot on that show... nor would I really enjoy being a spectacle to be watched by millions on television. With all that being said, I do think it's a little ironic that I write this post from under my covers in the later part of the morning... *wink*

See what I mean? I could use a little wardrobe inspiration.

Go on over and check it out. Drawing ends on Friday.

yes, please!

Coffee stop at the Fehrenbacher Hof with {tina}, the perfect post-third-day-workout treat.

So much yumminess.

la~la~la~sagna!

{tina}'s first home gathering... and 1st time making lasagna...

it was delicious!

Thanks for inviting us to your place.

it's the holiday season *

I'm so excited about this new etsy shop that is opening...

Simply Rosie Images

Check out the lovely holiday cards that my beautiful and talented friend Rosie of Simply Rosie Photography has created with photographs that she takes. They make me want to sit by the fire and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa, or to put on the brightest colors in my closet and go for a walk on a cold winter day. 

Visit her blog to enter to win a set of them for your very own!

Good Luck! 

(but secretly I hope I win them, and if I do, perhaps if you leave me a note here I'll mail you one!

Cuz getting snail mail is too much fun!) *grin*

harvest party!

Tonight we enjoyed a lovely time at our friend {molly}'s harvest party.

Delicious healthy foods.

Meeting new friends.

Carving pumpkins . . . 

would be contest, but there was no one competing in our tier bracket.

*wink*

I think our 'chillaxin cowboy' is totally cute!

jarfly greeting cards

I'm trying to win some super cute cards from a talented artist : Jarfly.  

Check out her collections here!

( and feel free to enter the contest yourself )

Wish me luck!

october {in retrospect}

What follows is part of a retrospective blog posting composed & written March 14, 2012 :

{Oct. 2, 2011} & {Oct 11, 2011}

REI GROUP INTERVIEW ~ I couldn't hardly sleep the night before this interview. But determined to rest as much as I can, I just laid there in bed trying to remain calm. At the interview I met two girls outside the doorway of the room. They were muttering, 'I hate group interviews!' and in my nervous desire to succeed I just replied with a smile... 'I love 'em, at least they allow us to feed off one another.' What a goon I am. :P  Anyways, long story short... of over 250 applicants, there were 25 candidates in the room, many of whom were just as cool or amazing as I was, so I really didn't know how they would pick me... and they were saying that they were hosting another interview later in the day with about the same number.... they only needed 12 or so... but after a week of agony... and being 'forced' to apply on Monday for another job at PJA {portland jewish academy} as a substitute assistant preschool teacher (which I ended up also interviewing for and getting the job)...I got the call from REI on {Oct 11, 2011} and they offered me a position as a Sales Specialist (which actually paid more than the cashier's position that I was applying for in the first place)!! WOot! Thank You Lord for Your provision!

september {in retrospect} part two

CRABBING ~ to wrap up this month was a weekend trip to the coast with our friends {dan} & {temple} to go crabbing. So much work, but so much fun. And fresh crab is so delicious.   Here are some fun pics from that time:

The evening after we got there we got to do some beach combing and we found some useful crabbing materials that had washed away from previous crabbers' adventures.  It was fun digging in the sea foam, seaweed/kelp, & driftwood, unearthing(do you call it that?) little hermit crabs, multi-legged starfish (aka sunfish), and other things.  Later in the evening we built a fire and enjoyed the sea-breeze and each other's company.

The next morning after a quick breakfast we ventured off to our secret crabbing spot.

  

 

baiting the crabs with chicken and fish.

My handsome {hubby} hard at work.

 

 

The guys going to fetch the crab pots.

The lovely {temple}, the Great crabbing instructor.

 It was fun to play Monopoly Deal and BananaGrams with the {hewett} clan... minus our sweet {erin} (if you're reading this, we really missed you!)

It was {temple}'s birthday... and she's beating us!

 

 

 {dan} watching the game... of course.

We drove out Thursday afternoon and stayed til lunch on Saturday. Had to get home and prepare for the group interview that I was going to have on Sunday.  It was a fun time after the first week of school. Can't wait for next year's trip!