Happy Birthday Melinda!!

An Even BIGGER Surprise!

Even though I am back in the groove of a lot of work, and no play... My mind and heart are still at the beach. Noah went above and beyond this birthday. Not only did he surprise me with a beach house getaway, but he coordinated with my two best friends to plan the ultimate surprise!

Right before Noah and I headed to dinner Friday night, my two best friends pulled up the drive! What?! They came to stay the weekend with us! AMAZING! A birthday weekend away with my guy AND my two besties? 

Bravo, guys. Bravo! We enjoyed the beach, several glasses...err...bottles of wine, homemade (by Melinda) pizza, dirty Scrabble, 90's radio, and wonderful conversation.

Thank you for a wonderful birthday... I couldn't have asked for a better one. :)

This is my really confused face after spotting Melinda and Karylin.... 
I had no idea what was happening.

For more photos of the trip....

A Beach House Getaway

Just a short post about where we're spending our weekend! We packed the car up and headed out yesterday. We drove for 4 hours before I had any idea of where we were going! Either Noah is really good at surprises, or I'm really oblivious.

Our destination? A gorgeous beach house on the Oregon Coast! Oh the romance!

Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

While it's lame I have to work all day, I do have fun plans for tonight! We are going to the gym (I know, I think the gym is fun) and then we are going out for drinks and grub with our gym friends.

I have 4 days off, and apparently there are special top secret plans for this weekend. My bestie knows what's happening, but she's not offering any hints! Have to say...I am pretty impressed by Noah's ability to keep quiet.

I am so excited to celebrate...

Gotta love birthdays!

Also...

50

days until graduation!!!!!!

Super Suck Sunday

SUCKS:

1. Having to deal with public restroom grossness. Whether it's someone who didn't flush, or a lingering smell... it's surprising how disgusting women's restrooms can be.
   
2. April showers. We had plans to go to the Tulip Festival on Saturday, but decided to cancel due to the rain. Hopefully the weather will be better next weekend.
3. Friday night is usually gym night. So, Friday... we ran a 5K. Remember... I DO NOT RUN!

That's all I can think of .... there's a lot more SUPER going on.


SUPER:

1. But hey!! I completed my first 5K! Yea, although I absolutely hate running, I was surprised at how well I did. Maybe I'll sign up for a 5K sometime soon. :)
   
2. Receiving compliments from complete strangers. C'mon, every girl needs her ego stroked every once in awhile. 
3. My birthday is in 10 days! That's pretty super! 
4. Finding new makeup! I have fallen in love with Bobbi Brown! Her makeup is a bit pricey, but I love how long it lasts and how natural it looks. 
5. Applying for Graduation!!!!! 60 days away!!
   

Valentine's, Birthday Flight, Pops & Downton Abbey

The long weekend was jam packed! Of course, I took photos to document.



My lovely card, roses and special present waiting for me when I walk in.



Noah's been interested in making cocktails at home, so I thought I would encourage that. :)
*Isn't the bag adorable?

 

Now, for Noah’s birthday, I had a wonderful surprise planned. Quick note here: I am terrible at keeping surprises a secret. Historically I get so anxious that I just blurt it out! I was so excited about this one and determined to keep my trap shut. Luckily, it was perfect.

Noah had no idea where we were headed, but we had coffees in hand and we were on our way. He tells me now he had a few ideas, but after passing through Seattle and the Boeing Air Museum he wasn’t so sure. It wasn't until we pulled into a tiny little airport in Renton did I say, “Yup. We’re going in a plane!”

We had 30 minutes or so.Our early arrival is a symptom of my anxiety with surprises: I rushed us. Noah used this time to mentally prepare himself for boarding a 4-seater, tinker-toy of a plane.

The flight was an hour long and we flew northeast and then back down along the Puget Sound. The pilot even let Noah take off! There was some turbulence that nearly made us lose our breakfast, but the views were incredible. Seeing the city from the air definitely gave us a different perspective of distance, and how massive some houses are!

 

After the flight. Feet safely on the ground.

The rest of the weekend was spent stomping around downtown, hanging out with my dad, eating good food and shopping.

My Pops and I being weird. Note the ass to the right who awkwardly photo bombed us.

Also, we are now completely invested in a new (to us) show. We started watching Downton Abbey on Friday, and we are already halfway through the second season. Geez! Talk about BINGE VIEWING!

I absolutely love Lady Sybil… can’t stand Mrs. O’brien and Thomas, and have fallen in love with Mr. Bates. I know the third season is nearing an end, so I am trying to avoid the internet. How have we been missing this show? I have tons of school work to do, but we MUST finish season two!



Happy Birthday, Noah!

February 14, 2009 

Happy Birthday and Happy Valentine's Day to my special guy!

He doesn't know it yet, but I've got a special surprise for him and I can't wait for the fun reveal. :)

Tonight we will be having a lovely dinner at one of our favorite places, and splurging on some Coldstone ice cream sandwiches!!

And here... a very lovely poem:

 

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

A Disappointed Vegetarian

Valentine’s Day is just a fews week away, and time is of the essence if you want to get a nice table reserved.  Most places offer special menus, and while Noah and I were browsing through our options I began to feel a bit discouraged. Steak. Shrimp. Clams. Rack of Lamb. Meat, meat and more animal.

At the bottom of each menu… the outrageous flat-fee to match the lavish cuisine, and in small print:

NO SUBSTITUTIONS

Great. So I have to pay $60 for the atmosphere and a fennel salad? Has Valentine’s Day always been a meat-eaters holiday? Even the known-to-be-accommodating restaurants in Seattle aren’t offering vegetarian friendly options. What’s going on?!

What’s most frustrating is the ease it takes to accommodate a vegetarian diet. Offer a tofu dish. Take out the meat and add lentils or polenta. Make vegetarian lasagna for goodness sakes! From a smart business perspective - restaurants are losing business by excluding a whole population of eaters.

We ended up making reservations at a cute little tapas place we enjoy. Regardless of my (continued) frustrations of being a vegetarian, I am looking forward to spending Valentine’s Day with my birthday boy.

If you're curious as to why I am vegetarian... You can view that rant here.

Birthday Haiku

Waiting for Friday

Celebrating A Birthday

Mel is Twenty-Five!

I'm leaving the Puget Sound tomorrow to head down to Portland. Time to celebrate another year with a best friend! A year ago today I wrote this post . We are all growing up so fast!

Looking forward to driving down to some good tunes, stopping by one of my favorite fast food places,wine tasting and celebrating!

Buffets, Drinks and Blue Men… Oh My!

The aftermath of 3 days in Vegas? My feet hurt, all my clothes smell of cigarette smoke, and my liver hates me. Man, was it a GREAT time!!!

We were up at 3AM to catch an early flight to Sin City, and we didn't go to sleep until 3AM the next morning! I am not much of a gambler, but with some peer pressure I was able to loosen up and find a favorite. Of all things, The Hangover game was so much fun to play! For my birthday night, we had a delicious dinner (Noah had a foodgasm while eating his dish), and Noah surprised me with tickets to see The Blue Man Group. They were awesome, and so much more than I expected. Not only are they blue dudes who drum with paint, but they are hilarious and definitely a highlight of the trip!

While it would have been nice to stay another night, we were happy to be heading home. We missed our pup and the clean NW air!

Some pics from the trip:

In 24 hours….

We will be in VEGAS!!!


Today… I am packing.

1. Sunscreen
2. Dresses
3. Heels
4. Excedrin 
5. MY BIRTHDAY EXCITEMENT! 

Also… Happy Earth Day! 

Remember to respect our Mother Earth, not just today but everyday. 

A Birthday Valentine's

Happy Valentine's Day

 

I am a fan of Valentine's Day. Not because it's a day to spend money on flowers and candy, but it's a day to stop and truly appreciate your loved ones.
The boy and I have a few plans tonight. With a birthday boy to celebrate and a little romance mixed in, we'll have a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday, Noah!!I am so happy to call you mine, Valentine.



V E G A S

We're in trip-planning mode again. 

Vegas in April. 

Happy Birthday to me! 

                        

Nostalgia

Refreshed. Rejuvenated. Connected. Inspired.

 These are my feelings after spending the past 4 days in Oregon. 

I drove down my parents' driveway and felt my eyes well up with tears, "I'm home". Emotions came over me as I saw the house that built me. My room isn't my room anymore, but the house smells the same. There's just something comforting about walking into the kitchen and the spoons are still in the same spot. However, I did get a little frustrated when I didn't know how to operate the new refrigerator. 

While I didn't want to have an itinerary, there were a few things that I did want to do while visiting home: eat at Kyllos, eat at Cafe' Mundo, Red Cock, sit on the coast.

Lunch at Kyllos

Walk the beach with Mom.

Before making my way North, I grabbed coffee and headed towards the sand. Again, I got emotional. The ocean means so much to me. It's the one thing that I could always depend on. The one constant. Throughout all the emotional drama a teenage girl can endure, the ocean was where I would run to. While sitting with my back on a piece of driftwood, I stared at the sea. I made a conscious effort to remain present. I did not want my mind to wander to thoughts of traffic, class, bills or how I forgot to change my voice message to 'out of office'. 

I don't know when I will be back to my hometown. I sat in the sand and allowed all my senses to work their magic. I was recording that moment in my mind. The smell of the salt, the grainy but soft feel of the sand, the sound of gulls squawking and the waves crashing, I watched the tide come in. I was even aware of my disappointment with the bitter taste of my coffee.  

After about an hour of meditation, I pulled myself away and said "see ya later" to the ocean. I began the trek up to Portland. I didn't get too far. For nostalgic purposes I had to make a pit-stop at WOU (old stomping ground). The campus has been altered, and the students walking the streets are unfamiliar. Why does everything have to change? I heard someone shout my name, and to my surprise it was an old friend. A familiar face!! 

Before committing to the drive to Portland, I make one last stop at the best place to induce a carbohydrate coma, my old work: Great Harvest. I've missed you Apple Crunch, Cranberry Almond Oatmeal, and Groovy Granola! 

To top off a fabulous mini-vacation,I have someone to celebrate! Happy Birthday Melinda!!!

My long-extended-long-overdue weekend was amazing and consisted of everything I needed. I am so grateful for my family, friends, the ocean, the tires that got me to where I needed to be, laughter, and even the tears. 

Birthday Earth Day

This weekend will be jam packed with fun things!! With Earth Day today, and my Birthday on Easter, I am just making a whole weekend of fun!

Agenda:

• My super awesome Best friend is up visiting! Last night she made me her fabulous homemade pizza!  

                      

• Shopping day at U Village. I will be spoiling myself :) 
• Celebrating Earth Day! Are YOU?????
• Dinner with fabulous people (pictures will be taken to document)
• Birthday BBQ for a Best Friend's life partner's birthday! Does that make sense? 
• Something unknown but awesome for my actual birthday, Sunday. 

Happy Earth Day Everyone! Get Out and take care of HER.

Relax, it's the weekend!

This week I have had very little motivation to do anything but wait for the weekend! Tomorrow, I have a massage scheduled! Yes, I am paying to get naked and touched by a stranger and it is going to be fabulous!! I just want to be rubbed and relax to the smell of lavender and the sound of meditation music.

The rest of the weekend will be spent reading for class, and trying to plan my birthday that's in just a few weeks! I am thinking about asking someone for this or maybe these …?