first of many rainy days

Today Siri, Regina, and I went downtown to explore and (have the intent to) get some homework done in a cafe.  Well, we explored...and it was wet and cold.

After browsing Nordstrom for a while, we hurried out so that we didn't have to deal with the feelings we were having about every other thing we saw.  Next we went into Cacao, which didn't help much either.  The place was small, but filled with beautifully packaged gourmet chocolates.  I decreed that we come back and buy ourselves fancy chocolates for Valentine's Day.

We had fun looking around the shops in Pioneer Place, like J. Crew, H&M, and KATE SPADE!  Hooray!

Well.  That's me on the sidewalk.  In the rain.  In the cold, wet rain.  This desert dweller is freaking out a little.

Regina understands (she's from CA), but Siri just laughs at us in her one layer of clothes (she's from CO).  Also, she understands the necessity of Chipotle.  Yum!

Being the mature college students we are, we stopped in Finnegan's Toys.

WOO HOO COLLEGE!!!

When we were turning the corner, a wonderful thing occurred.  There on my left was a window that said CRAFTY WONDERLAND.  I skipped a little and squealed in excitement because I have read about this place (Blogz, you guyz. Read them).  I WAS SO HAPPY!  When I went inside, I was not disappointed in the least.

Everything was handcrafted by local artists.  Wonderland, indeed!  I even purchased two adorable Christmas gifts.  Yeah, you better believe I'm already thinking about Christmas.  In this cold weather, you can't blame me!  Also, SO PSYCHED for their Holiday Sale at the Oregon Convention Center!  YESSSS!!!!!

Not too far away, I spotted a store called Button Emporium and Ribbonry.  I flipped out!  Unfortunately it was closed.  Sad news.  However, I did spot a vintage shop called Living Thread Vintage, which was small, but crammed with goodies.  Most of the pieces weren't really my style, because I tend to prefer brighter colors to darker ones, but perhaps that was just because it was the Fall stock.

For a "study" session, we walked to Coffeehouse Northwest which Regina and I had actually passed a couple weeks ago (geez, time goes so fast here) and took a picture of!  It was a great place to hang out, especially because they played the entire Graceland album.

Siri's cappuccino was beautiful.  She even let me have a spoonful of the foam on top!  Now THAT'S a friend.  While at the cafe, we only finished an article from our Greek tragedy book for Theatre & Society.  Thankfully when we got home tonight we read one of the plays out loud to each other, so yes--today was productive!

Now I am going to get ready for bed, read, and anxiously await Tuesday for GLEEEEEEEE!