Slowly falling for fall.

Alas, it is almost fall. I have not yet had a morning where I walk outside and it smells like fall is here, but I did see that pumpkin spice is back. Plus every J.Crew, Nords or Piperlime email is adorbs fall stuff. I LOVE fall. I guess I am hesitating because I am not ready to hang up the pool towel just yet. September is by far my favorite month so I am a bit disgruntled as to why I am not more excited for fall to be here. Ah September…It is still sunny at first/ you get your last summer sun shebang, but by the end of the month you are excited about the transition to different clothes. (I can’t wait to wear my blazer, and boots!)

Last year I had may-hor PSL overload. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

And as it happens every year, football season kicks off (pun!). I am not a major football fan per se… I don’t have “my” team. I like to follow my alma mater and I love going to games/ being in the excitement/ tailgating. I even really like going to game watching events (possibly a shock to some of you). But who doesn't like it when people are all stoked on a team/ chips and guac are in play/ you get to make friends with random people… possibly cute football loving boys at a PDX sports bar. I am quite excited for all of the aforementioned possibilities. Bring it on fall! Hopefully my tan doesn't fade too fast.

Oh, it is also fun to dramatically yell along at plays and calls when I have no idea what was happening. I swear I only looked away for a second! Bahahaha! 

Here are some fall photos from the past:

My roommate's awesome Dad is a football referee and we get to go to games and cheer him on! I always root for the officiating crew. OSU '10

My hetero-lifemate Libby. Just some typical shenanigans on our mobile devices. 

The Patch '09

Cheering for Linfield at Homecoming '09

I hope you have a lovely season! 

“Something terrible has happened.”

September 11, 2001.

“Something terrible has happened.”

This is the first thing my mother said to me on that Tuesday morning 10 years ago. I sat with her on the floor of my parents’ bedroom as we watched the second plane hit and the newscaster announced that this was indeed a terrorist attack.

It was my freshman year of high school. I had a “zero period” class. This means I showed up for a class before the school day started. I did not learn of the towers collapsing until my 4th class of the day. At my school there weren’t TVs in every classroom so we couldn’t watch everywhere, but we talked about what this meant for our country and what it meant for so many families. We did not discuss how these attacks were about to shape our future, our outlook and really change our lives forever. The whole day was eerie. I remember break and lunch. How no one really knew what to do. School had just started, but somehow it wasn’t that exciting to see your friends again. We just stayed with the ones we were closest to and functioned through the day like any other.

Seeing teachers react emotionally was the trigger of discomfort for a lot of us. It made sense to see your parents emotional. We have an emotional attachment to family, friends, neighbors etc. But your teachers played a very specific role. Watching a dear teacher, Ms. Kvitka (who ended up really shaping how I view the world), openly cry in front of our class, made me realize how big of a deal this was. She opened the class up to discussion time and let us ask questions. We watched the news and she showed us that it was okay to be uncomfortable, confused and openly upset. This is the class where I saw the footage of the towers collapsing for the first time. Even seeing that footage now takes my breath away. But in a bad way. Like you have had the wind knocked out of you or something.

The next day we had an assembly. The entire student body of Wilson High School went out to the bleachers. It was a beautiful sunny day. We had a moment of silence and our student council president spoke. When a stadium of close to 2,000 teenagers are willingly quiet…

We had all adorned out new school outfits with yellow ribbons and pins. A gesture that seems so shallow to me now, as I didn’t really know why I was doing it at the time. The reality of how many people lost their lives, how many people lost their loved ones; the chaos of what had really happened did not become a reality until later. Not until I re-watched the footage and saw people jumping out the windows of the towers, heard stories of lost loved ones and saw my mother glued to the TV until she had bruises on her knees.

I recently read an article from USA Today about how disaster and terror has shaped this generation/ the Millennials. It states how our generation is “less interested in working for work's sake -- they're more likely looking for a job they can be passionate about.” This is so true. We came of age in a time of Columbine, 9/11, Katrina, war and economic crisis. We expect and almost anticipate horrors and disaster. It has made us look for what really matters and we feel like we are supposed to help. Unfortunately, I think we have also gotten really good at blocking things out with an almost ‘out of sight, out of mind’ type attitude. Generally, we are attempting to live lives that we care about rather than just going through the motions.

I just wanted to share my 9/11 experience. It is our generations, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?" moment. So where were you? When did you realize that it would change everything? I don't think I have realized it yet. Maybe it is now. As I am looking back I can see that certainly, everything did change.

There is a place.

That is the slogan of Black Butte Ranch. I’m not just a weirdo.

Black Butte Ranch has been many things throughout my life. I would say there are 3 different labels for what it is/ has been. BBR (for short. obvs.) has been place of childhood fun, adventures and memories. It has been a place of escape with friends. And last but not least, it has become a place of true relaxation. All equally important!

My grandparents (Dad’s parents) built a cabin at Black Butte Ranch in the early 80s. Once they fell in love with BBR there was no going back. It was the perfect spot for a vacation home. BBR is a much more ranch like and serene than the rest of the central Oregon counterparts. All of the other places (Sunriver, Eaglecrest etc.) are resorty. (This is all personal opinion... don't hate!) Black Butte has this peaceful effect. I can’t really explain it. The ranch might be full, but if you choose to go to South Meadow pool for the day and a bike ride in the evening, you won’t be bombarded by masses of children or families (unless you go to the kid friendly Glaze Meadow pool). But with a multitude of pool options, there is no need!

Mom and Dad in BBR when they were 20 somethings! It is all coming full circle isn't it!? cray-zay.

As a child BBR was the best/ most exciting place. We would build forts in the back yard, slide down the banister, explore the ranch (w/o grown-ups… so cool), ride our bikes to the general store etc. There was a lot of fun to be had.

Obvi the cutest BBR kiddos EVER! Lindsey and I should re-create this.

Once we were older BBR stayed cool. We were allowed to bring friends, who would get to experience the excitement and adventure of the ranch for the first time. By college we would bring groups of friends for long weekends. We could escape from campus, play Mario Kart and have killer dance parties. I am happy to say that (a more subdued version) of trips like this still happen. (Even though Spence threw out the N64 …)

I love this photo. Circa 2006

Hiking the Butte. Check that view! Dang!

Same trip as the previous photo. Fall Break '07 where we came to learn that Cameron is a cheater at Monopoly.

If we went over Jan-term break we had justification to make a ski trip out of it.

ummm Jan-term '07?

This is hilar. Ty falls a lot and we have photo proof.

I just have too many good photos of the shenanigans that ensue. Enjoy:

Jan Term '09

Note: N64, dance party and adult beverage consumption documented in the same shot. Please examine closely.

What BBR means to me now. At this point in my life, I realize how lucky I am to have a place like this. It is a place of comfort, memories, love and solitude. My people are always down for a weekend of fun and relaxation. Also, my family has been utilizing the house more than ever. We can just “be” when we are there. No effort. Yes, there is a place.  

A recent trip with my lady friends. Aren't they sezy?

A horrifically heinous photo of my fam. It's all I could find.
(tight alliteration. I must have learned that in college...)

Black Butte. The actual Butte.

Okay, that is my random/ slightly lame/ not very entertaining post for today. Slater!

Black Butte Ranch on Dwellable

Too busy doing nothing.

Hi people. I took a brief hiatus from my little blog here. I did this in order to focus on things that really matter. You may be asking yourself, “What is more important than blogging?” Let me tell you. Apparently I took time off to read fashion magazines, lay by the pool, watch reality TV, eat obscene amounts of food and simply enjoy myself an extended Labor Day weekend. I originally took some extra time off in order to make last weekend count and to spend quality time with my family. Well, my sister and mother had the same idea to have a lazy vaca. It was awesome.

When I arrived at our vacation home, my mother had magazine binge shopped. It made pool time extremely enjoyable. Yes, lots of UV rays were soaking into my skin. Please note that some SPF was also at the party.

Don't you feel relaxed just looking at this? I love central Oregon.

This post is random, but I feel that I need to mention the season finale of Kardash. Did you watch that bologna? WTF kind of proposal was that? So lame. Also, please note: Kim did not say yes until she saw the ring. She also neglected to react to Kris. Instead she just said “Oh my God” over and over again. If I was Kris I would feel like a mega chump.

Lame.

Ways this episode would have been worth my time: If Kim had an anxiety attack over the rose pedals on her floor. If she had thrown up on Kris when he proposed (like projectile). OR if Kris yelled “PSYCH!” promptly after proposing.

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute. We are all stoked to watch the wedding special. It looks like may-hor drama!

Awesome.

Final note: Lamar is cemented as my favorite Kardashian-type person. Don’t fight it. He is clearly the best.

No Mom! It isn't cool to get hot lunch this year.

Can we please reminisce on what it meant to be ready for the first day of school? I mean, please. I know you had your first day outfits picked out weeks in advance too. The anticipation of the first day of school was intense! What classes are you in, who is in said classes? Very important. But not as important as the collage for the front of your three ring binder! You know… the one with the plastic covering on the front. My gurl Libby did a post about backpacks a while ago. And it was oh so true. The little details were game changers when it came to the first day of school.

You go in after 3 months of fun. You don’t have any homework yet, you are still tan and you are excited to see everyone. Plus, you are super confident in your awesome fall outfit (that it is still too hot out to be wearing).

Mom: “You can’t wear that sweater. It is going to be 80 degrees tomorrow.”

Me: “But the stripes on this sweater go perfectly with my overalls, doc marten sandals and butterfly clips!”

That is clearly an exaggeration. But you get the idea. It wasn’t just the excitement of the first day. New school supplies were the best. You would have them all organized perfectly. Your pencil pouch filled with #2s and gel roll pens. Everything smelled like pencil shavings and new spiral notebooks. I’m not sure if you guys will know what I am talking about, but I swear school supplies had a specific smell. Next week I will probably be thrown out of Office Max for walking around and smelling school supplies. I can see it now.

I am glad to be beyond that phase in life. I wouldn’t dare write a post about the excitement of moving back on to my college campus each year. Mostly because I would for sure start crying uncontrollably. You know, due to really missing college and still being in denial about this so-called adulthood.

Take a moment to curl your bangs, listen to the first 'Nsync album and put some butterfly clips in your hair. You owe it to 13 year old you.

Fresh Prince cheats with Jazzy Jeff. PSYCH!

This post is not funky fresh! It has been a week since the news of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alleged separation. I have now had the appropriate time to reflect on the situation. If Will and Jada get divorced I will loose it. I freak-yeah love them! I refuse to believe that Jada cheated with Mark Anthony. He is just not attractive. period. I think I am having a strong reaction to this because Will and Jada are one of my favy couples in Hollywood. Not to mention their kids rock my socks off! (For the record, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are my favorite Hollywood couple. Will and Jada are probs second.)

Say it isn't so!

Back to the kiddos:

Just take a moment to reflect on Jayden Smith’s cameo in that J.Biebs song. Come on people, you know it was the best / you love to sing along to J.Biebs. Please admit that you saw Never Say Never 3D. My people saw it! We didn't see it in 3D but none the less, it was an outing. We were the only ones in the theatre on a week night and we danced and sang along! And I can’t forget my love for little Willow Smith. Gurl totally represented the hair flip in her song, ‘Whip My Hair.’ A slightly annoying song… but I love myself a good hair flip.



Awesome looking fam/ awesome pants! haha

It is true that Will Smith does the same movie over and over again. Those premieres probably get old… but who wouldn’t want to stay married to the Fresh Prince!? I hope these rumors are false… although, I doubt they are.

Brunch in Bridgetown: Mother's

Mother's Bistro and Bar is another popular spot in Portland. I promise to do some obscure ones eventually. I have just been really generic the past few weeks in my dining choices.

The only way to do Mother's is with one other person. If you go with more than two, you are looking at an hour+ wait. BUT if you go with two, you can usually grab a seat at the bar within 10min. The bar at Mother's is first come, first serve. You may have to get a little friendly with a stranger, but whatever! Once you dig in you won't care that they have their elbow all up in your space. Again, bomb BM. They use pepper infused vodka in their homemade mix. I didn’t have one yesterday though. It seems that people really rave about the mimosa/ bellini options. They have 7 different sparkling wine/ champy bevs on their drink menu. And as I sit at the bar for brunch (regularly) those are the most frequently made drinks. I am not a big breakfast drinker, but champy with fruit puree sounds like a winner to me! I am a big coffee drinker. One of the perks of mothers is the French press for two (Helzer's also offers a French press). Perfect for the bar sitting duo! Yesterday we ordered the Holler Mountain brew. It was outstandingly smooth and delicious. 

The ambiance of Mother's is less trendy than Screen Door. You are more likely to see sundresses vs. skinny jeans or American Apparel. But isn’t that just the east/west divide? Think velvet and chandeliers. It is a beautiful spot. There are more families, couples and groups of girls. People show up with cakes for celebrations to hand off to the hostess etc. If your parents are in from out of town, take them to Mother's. I do love the friendly atmosphere of this establishment. When my friend and I sat down. One of the bartenders may or may not have said “welcome back girls!” While the other said “salmon hash right? How do you want your eggs today?” Does this mean we go there too much?  

Back to the important stuff. What to order! My favy meal at Mother's is the wild salmon hash. I will go on the record and say it is the best breakfast dish in the city of Portland. Please, I welcome a challenge to this statement. It is AMAZING. Fresh salmon. Not smoked. This is the big difference. A lot of places carry smoked salmon hash. Vom. It does not compare to the fresh salmon hash at Mother's.

Take a looker:

Our delish French press coffee.

Yummy yummy wild salmon hash.

Mar and her (vegan) veggie scramble w/ avocado.

After our meal I got into a discussion with my neighbor at the bar. He was raving about the cornflake crusted French toast. Yes, it looked delicious. He gets it every time and I told him that I get the salmon hash every time. We discussed savory vs. sweet breakfasts. I prefer savory. Not because I don’t like sweet breakfasts, but because you can generally make versions of sweet breakfasts yourself. Pancakes, French toast etc. My mother taught me that if you are going out to eat you should order something you wouldn’t make at home. If you are spending money on your meal, you should make it count! The crab cake benedict from Seasons and Regions or the wild mushroom omelet with fresh herbs and goat cheese from Besaw's are two things I wouldn’t make myself. The omelet is a bit more likely, but who goes to the store and buys a variety of wild mushrooms for a random breakfast dish? The heavenly wild salmon hash from Mothers fits perfectly into this category. It is too much work to make yourself. And even if you tried, you would not be able to replicate the perfection that is this dish. Instead of a review of the restaurant this post turned into a rant about good breakfast… whatevs. My breakfast this weekend was da bomb!

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