Captured Happiness

 Do you ever stumble on a picture that gives you pause and makes you think about some of the good in life? I stumbled on this picture on my phone taken in August 2012 and a few moments later, I discovered that it brought a lot of emotions to the surface for me.

The best stories of my Youth usually include one of these two in some way or another. They were a huggggge, ginormous part of my life- and I love finding a happy picture that commemorates that.

Because honestly: The joy in breaking your Parents' rules, kissing boys at Camp, using a roasted chicken skeleton in your TP'ing efforts, taking your first sip of alcohol, passing note through class, gallivanting with Sailors, eating as many Marshmallows as you can stuff in your mouth, creating fake movies that you film in your Garage, celebrating your Driver's License with a trip to McDonald's at 9 AM, sneaking out of the house and heading to the beach at 3 AM, subsequently getting Grounded simultaneously by your Parents, etc. etc. etc. etc.- is a dish best served with the best of friends.

Here's to the ones who shaped your past- there will always be a part of them that carries forward to the future ♥

Meeting "Young House Love"

So last weekend there were some very special visitors here in Portland... none other than John & Sherry Petersik of "Young House Love". Now I feel that I need to be honest here: If their blog lead you to believe that they are super friendly and nice... well, I'm here to tell you that you are... right. Oh man were they sweet. When they first arrived in the space for the event, they gave a bubbly speech to everyone welcoming them to the signing, thanking them profusely for their support and giving some little 'behind-the-scenes' insight into their new book. 

My little compilation of our day 1/26/2013

Their signing started at Noon but my overly-excited Girlfriend suggested we get there by 9:45 AM. I was fine with that but we laughed as we arrived at the store just before 10 AM to find no one there yet for the signing. So we kept ourselves busy by walking around Rejuvenation and enjoying all the antique whimsy within its walls. When we finally decided to head over to the line, we found ourselves third. So an easy wait it was.

Left & Upper Right: Adorable Rejuvenation. Lower Right: Just the 4 of us waiting in line (hint: there's a bun in that middle oven).

For the next hour and a half, we stood in line, made fun of ourselves for being there, laughed about my friend Krysta's obsession with their blog, guesstimated how many people in line secretly had their own blogs and enjoyed one another's company. It was not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.

Left: My view of the Line, we were the third group to go through. Upper Right: Their Signing-station Lower Right: Waiting, Taking pictures to pass the time.

Left: Kwysta signing the guest book and so excited to be there. Upper Right: The guest book. The girls who did the first page were eerily watching over everyone signing to make sure they didn't write on that first page. Chill Ladies... chill. Lower Right: The Young House Love books inside the stunnnning Rejuvenation.

It didn't take long after the signing started for us to find ourselves in front of the Petersiks themselves. You know how some people who are nice have an arrogant air to them sometimes (Hint one: they're your age but refer to you as 'honey' or 'sweetie')? Well the Petersiks had NONE of that, I really mean it. They were warm, friendly, outgoing, grateful, humble and a sheer delight to meet. After reading their blog for so long, it was such a wonderful experience to meet them face to face and find that they are just as genuine as you'd hope they'd be.

Left: My GF and I meeting "Young House Love" (still loving my Jo Totes camera bag you see there) Right Upper & Lower: The Petersiks with some fans.

My Girlfriend giving the Petersiks her thoughtful gift: a map of their book tour.

All 3 of us and "Young House Love".

Leaving Rejuvenation and finding a line that made its way out the store and around the block.

So thank you "Young House Love" for the gift of your blog, the gift of meeting you, the gift of your lovely book... but really: most importantly; the gift of an hour and a half in line with my girlfriends, shootin' the bull.

Homemade Weekend Eats

 Happy Monday! Are you ready for the week ahead? I never am. But I did read a lot of inspirational quotes this weekend so I'm going to let those mull around in my brain while I buckle down at work today- a little faux-excitement never hurt anyone!

So as you know, I've been drastically changing my life in order to lose some weight. While I stick to a strict mapped-out diet Monday-Friday, I ingest a weeee bit more calories on the weekend (and off-set it with my caloric intake during the weekdays). Anyhow, since I've been putting so much thought into my food, it was inevitable that I'd turn it into a post eventually.

Above: My Smoothie from Sunday on Left and the beginning blending of my Wednesday Smoothie last week

Every morning I have a Smoothie. This is consistent with the weekdays- I have one of these every day a week. Not only are they insanely yummy, but they're full of nutrients and help me get my fill of Fruits and Veggies. They are ALWAYS comprised of the following: Huge serving of Spinach, 2-3 Servings of Fruits (Usually pick 2 or 3 of the following: Mangoes, Blueberries, Pears, Peaches, Strawberries, Bananas, Raspberries, Kiwis), Basil, Flax Seed, Yogurt and sometimes some Whey Protein and Wheatgrass.

My weekend DIY Brunch

So usually I would just have a Smoothie for Breakfast but because it was the weekend and Brunch is basically mandated by the State, instead of having a full smoothie- I had a mid-morning Lunch/Breakfast delight of: Half a Smoothie, Coffee, Scrambled Eggs with multiple Veggies (made by my BF) over Dave's Killer Low-Cal Bread. It was so delicious and so full of protein that I felt full all day.

Weekend Dinner: God Bless the Crock Pot

Luckily for me, on Sundays the Boy tends to make a Crock Pot in the morning. So after a day of working-out, cleaning and Laundry (aka GCL) my famished self got to enjoy a Mexican medley of pulled Chicken, Avocado, Shredded Cheese, Onion and Parsley with Enchilada Sauce. To say that I liked it would be the equivalent of stating that I 'like' lipstick. No, no... I LOVE this dinner. All kinds of yum.

So there you have it: a weekend day in the life of my food (keep in mind that I'm up about 10:30 AM on weekends as opposed to 6 AM so I really only need 2 meals on the weekends, in contrast to 3 on Weekdays) I'm hoping to put a post up soon of my weekday meals, they are carefully mapped and plotted out as I plan on wearing a bikini this summer and not be mistaken for Keiko's Fat Cousin.

Happiest, happiest Monday!

Full Speed Ahead

Lately I've had this fantasy that after work, I'll actually have some time to settle in to the blogging world I love so much. After a stressful day at the office, I'll curl up on the couch and lose myself in the various blogs I follow (and love) so much. However - this has been a pipe dream. Work has been super, duper crazy lately and the thought of coming home and looking at a screen in order to orchestrate anything almost makes me nauseous.

However, pertaining to work...

I think I could argue that I almost like dressing up for the work environment more than I do any other. I admit that sometimes I am lazy about it but when I really find a work outfit I like: I'm more excited about it than most cocktail dresses I adorn myself in. So though work has been driving me carazzzy, in a couple weeks I'll be flying down to Napa for a big meeting. And it got me thinking... what am I going to wear?

I haven't been shopping in awhile and I think it's time I treat myself to a little flair for the meeting...now I'm just scouring the internets for professional inspiration!

Happiest Friday to all of you!

Disinterested in Pinterest

 Can I let you in on a secret?

I'm kind of sick of Pinterest. 

Kind of = really.

I just feel that it's a bit... much (and I haven't even logged into my account in months). Don't get me wrong: I completely get and admire its objective and judge no one for being obsessed with it. Having a place to store all of the random things you love online with easy sharing options and interaction with your friends- I get it. I mean, I really get it- I have a Blog.

Me via Instagram (@caitielady08) on 1.21.13

But I think it's gotten a little out of hand. Seems as if every party/wedding/baby shower/trip to the bathroom has now been christened by the Pinterest Gods. Gone are the days of Dollar Tree streamers, a bevvy of booze and some exuberant friends to cheer you on on the anniversary of your birth. They have now been replaced with carefully manicured Greek Columns that you made out of bedsheets and food made from all organic/paleo/low-carb/fat-free/butter-free/sugar-free/vegetarian/low-cal/Skinny Bitch approved/gluten-free/carb-reduced/Atkins-friendly ingredients and displayed on a table you made with twigs from your lawn and covered in feathers you gathered from the inside of one of your old down pillows.

Oh for the love of frugalism- I don't give a *&^%!

What I don't like is NOT the great ideas that have inspired fun, celebratory settings- it's the fact that the "Pinterest" look has become the STANDARD rather than the special occasion- I just want people to remember that budget-minded, stress-free events/lives/bedrooms are still acceptable and welcome.

So that's why tonight on a 40-minute night walk with the BF, I looked down and felt a special love for the texting gloves that I was wearing. They were simple, easy and wholly functional... and they didn't require any navigating of the Pinterest Jungle to figure out:

So fetch.

1) I bought gloves at Target from their $1 bins.

2) Grabbed Scissors and cut off the tops of each finger.

Bada-bing, bada-boom.

Feel free to Pin this post.

Prasad: simply tasteful

The last few weekends, I've traded a Saturday afternoon Beer for a Wheatgrass concoction and "Lazy Sundays"for jogs in the park: Wellness is my game plan for this month, which also made it the perfect time to try out a Vegan eatery that has earned RAVE reviews since its conception. Prasad is located in The Pearl District (Portland's 'high-end' part of town) and shares its space with a Yoga studio, creating the perfect aura of mind, body & soul. I'm still a Carnivore (primarily because if I became totally Vegetarian-I would in turn just become a Carbatarian); but I love to eat Vegan and Vegetarian when I can- especially when it's at a place only blocks down from my stomping grounds.

Outside Prasad last weekend.

I ordered the Chili Bowl: Rice, roasted garlic chili, steamed greens, avocado, scallions, cilantro, green chili and garlic tahini sauces

Enjoying my meal in every sense of the word.

They will feed anyone in need- see under the description for "The Mighty Bowl". I love that.

Zen.

The Boy's Wellness Shot: ginger juice, lemon, cayenne & echinacea

My Chili Bowl with hot Ginger tea. The perfect meal-cap after that vibrant bowl of food.

Prasad- in the words of Miley Cyrus- When can I see you again?!

There was seriously so much on the menu and I was creepily looking at other patrons' dishes to determine what I'm going to order on my next visit. Safe to say: I loved it. And I can't wait to saunter down there again another weekend and try some more of their delicious food and drink their exquisite homemade tea. Even my "No meal is good without Meat" Boyfriend practically licked his plate clean- and the remaining left in mine to boot!

Delectable food with a conscience: well done, Prasad.

10 Random Things About Me

1) I met Justin Timberlake at Urban Outfitters and talked to him alone in the corner for a good minute or so. It's a story in itself.

2) Whenever I need to concentrate or focus on completing a paper (more so in college) or my résumé ... I listen to this over and over and over. I love it. It is my forever "FOCUS" song.

3) In 6th Grade, I tried to be a massive Hippie. I looked like I lived in BC times. Then in 7th and 8th grade, I decided to dress like a Gangsta. I wore JNCOs and a beanie. If my parents hadn't been busy being so confused, they would probably have disowned me.

My Middle School Life in a Nutshell- minus any coolness exhibited in these photos. Images VIA 1 | 2.

4) I've never had the patience to complete a game of Monopoly. Have you? As far as my memory goes; that game ends when your sister accuses you of stealing from the bank, throws her money in your face and screams "MOM!!!!" as she runs down the hall.

5) I was a 4-year Athletic Letterer in high school. Not to sound like the Uncle in Napoleon Dynamite but I still have a sense of pride about that.

6) I've basically always worked since age 16 and have appreciated that quality in me. That is until Instagram and I now get to see the contrast in my day verses that of 5-year-old Kendall Jenner in her Bentley or any NBA wife who is seemingly a professional heel-wearer. Now I question the so-called value of this 'work ethic'.

7) I can't believe how much I love watching Ari Gold on "Entourage". I NEVER want those scenes to end.

I love him so much. IMAGE VIA.

8) I still like Ginger Spice's outfits.

9) I've told everyone I know that at my funeral (knock on wood), I want a photo montage to Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". That ballad still gives me goosebumps.

10) For my last one, I asked my boyfriend to tell me something random about myself. He replied "Um... you usually are sitting in that armchair at night" and then left to brush his teeth. Riveting.

 From the armchair that is apparently my trademark: Enjoy your Tuesday.

Down, Down, Down

Images from the 2 times I've gone up so far this season: In December w/ my friends and in January w/ my Dad and Brother.

Mir and Meeeself checking out the amazing view 12/29/12

My Dad, Brother and Me hitting the slopes for some night skiing on 1/4/13

Left: JJ & the Warming Hut Right: How you take pictures when you're skiing. People generally hate me.

My Friend had a GoPro and took some cool shots, I'm kinda thinking I need one in my world.

The Warming Hut in front of beautiful Mt. Hood- which is 45-minutes East of Portland

The Warming Hut

My Dad & Bro enjoying a drink inside the Warming Hut mid-run.

Skiing is not for the faint of heart. And I'm not talking about the angle of the slopes, I'm talking about the price of a Lift Ticket- that sh*t cray. But I am a firm believer in the fact that part of what you are paying for is the amazing, gorgeous, wintery views you get to see along the way. Without Skiing in my life, I wouldn't get to see the magic of trails hidden high above the Valley floor or the top of an evergreen up close and personal or know the perfect simplicity of coasting a mild run in the pitch black of the night: it's a sensational place for retrospect.

However, the added bonus of spending hours doing what is essentially Cardio with your friends and family in a Postcard setting... just ain't too bad.

Welcome Skiing Season, I have missed you!