You can't say hello before you say goodbye.

Cripes! I really missed the ball. Today was officially the last day of summer for the Northern Hemisphere. While I welcome with my whole heart sweaters, boots, cold air and football... I feel like I can't really open the door, give Fall a big kiss on the cheek and lead him up to my room without truly saying goodbye to the Season that lingers on my sheets just before him. A girl needs closure for unfinished business.

{Goodbye Summer}

I had a couple beautiful summer events that I meant to blog about but never got around to. So here's a crash course to two of my most beloved Summer activities.

Brew Fest:

In Portland, the last weekend in July hosts the Oregon Brewer's Festival. Think what you want about Oregon but we have some of THE best brews in the country. The 4 day brew fest on our downtown waterfront is huge, full of beer and SO.MUCH.FUN. Every year, I go to the festivals with my friend Miranda. We have grown to have a general love for such events and now it has sort of become our "thing". The festival runs Thursday- Sunday but because I am a mere mortal, I can only stomach Thursday & Saturday without being in serious pain. So the Thursday of the weekend is a lovely way to spend an evening after a long day of work.

{Above & Below: The Thursday night brew fest}

In contrast - the big event is Saturday where the entire city rallies to get drunk in support of Oregon Brews. This year my best festing buddy and I decided that regular clothes would not do and on the way to the festival we stopped for matching outfits. Call it what you want to call it- it was a fun day!

Annual Rafting Trip:

And of course, my FAVORITE event of the Summer is the annual rafting trip in the desert of Maupin, Oregon. I go every single year of my life to spend 4 days of rafting, rodeo, tents, cookouts, beer, etc. It's my favorite weekend ever in the history of evers (or something ELSE that makes sense). And don't get it twisted by my blogs about clothes... I am a tough girl who loves activities likes this. In fact, this is the second year in a row that I've captained one of our rafts (we have a large, large group).

{A regular outdoorsy girl. American Apparel pink, loose crop tee here in Fuchsia}

{In the truck, ready to raft - day one!}

{above: Me, Dad & Bro 2 below: Brother and Me taking a break on the river}

{Heaven.}

{My family at dinner after a long day on the river.}

{Above: the sheer beauty of Maupin, Oregon}

{Above: Juan (my budddddy forever), Me, Conor (bro) as we await to board our raft with our mascot}

{Above: Left: Hammock over the water. Right: I believe that some events don't require makeup. Rafting is such an event.}

{Above: Hitting up the local dive on our last night}

{Above: That's meeeee about to raft in an innertube for fun}

And with that, my sheets are washed of another beautiful and fleeting good time. Thank you summer 2010... it was one to remember.

So come hither Autumn, I'm ready to lie with all of your sensuality and beauty.

{Welcome Fall}

It's officially Autumn.

Hellllllo Handsome.