photo diary: portland with my ladies

Here are just a few moments of one of my favorite weeks ever.  I've known for some time that Portland is a true home to me, but it never felt quite as magical as it did when I had these two beauties by my side.  Every sight, bite (and lemme tell ya--we ate a lot of awesome food), and embarrassing joke was a million times better with them around.  It's my master plan to get them to move here, and they know it.  They'll always have a place on my bedroom floor and in my heart.  I'm a cheeseball, it's okay.

photo diary: san francisco

Okay, so the contents of this post happened nearly two months ago (wait, what?!), but after a FaceTime session with Erin, my sister, and Izzy (Erin got to hang out with my lil' sis and snuggle my dog--I'm jealous), I am missing my best friends from back home.  I was lucky enough to have a girls road trip with Erin and Rylee (and Domenico for a day) on my way to Portland.  We stopped in Berkeley for a couple of nights (to sleep and eat pizza) and spent one day in San Francisco.  We decided to hit the essentials--the pier, the penny arcade, Little Italy, Golden Gate Park, and Haight St.  It was such a beautiful time spent with two of my favorite ladies and brought so much happiness into my heart.  I really could not ask for lovelier friends--they are the special kind that are equally good at chatting over cocktails and crafting in silence to 90's pop music.  Is there a better kind of friend?  

Traveling for the first time since Europe, I experienced a lot of nostalgia and remembering little details or stories. I felt a relief wash over me.  Since getting home, I had this worry that I would forget everything that happened to me the past five months.  I quickly realized that I won't forget--those moments are a part of me now.  I almost cried when I saw the above journal, because it summed up what I was feeling so perfectly.  My suitcase heart will always leave room for more souvenirs.

branching out, cactus style

Although I've lived in the Phoenix area my entire life, I very rarely venture to downtown Phoenix and instead opt for other surrounding areas.  Thankfully I have friends like Erin who know all the local gems from their time spent in Phoenix for college and work. With Ted visiting, I thought getting shown around by some "locals" was a good idea. I considered it a little staycation for myself, since everything was new to me too!

On Saturday, we spent a full day in Phoenix.  Our first stop was the Phoenix Public Market.  We browsed the venders for a while until the heat took its toll and we had to seek refuge in the nearby cafe to cool off.  Of course Phoenix decided to show off its hottest weather while Ted was here, so we had to take numerous breaks during the day for cold drinks and sits.  

Erin has been raving about the food truck Short Leash for while now, so going to their new restaurant Sit...Stay was an obvious choice.  I have to say, it did not disappoint.  The unique hotdog combinations left my stomach and heart very happy.  We tried the Sunny (grilled seasonal fruit, prosciutto, mixed greens, goat cheese, honey & cracked pepper served on naan with a chicken wiener), the Bratwurst Stuffed Pretzel (bratwurst slow cooked in four peaks kiltlifter beer with sauerkraut, onions & bacon topped with swiss cheese & sweet bavarian mustard served on our pretzel roll) and the Bear w/ the Spicy Beer Hot wiener (peanut butter, smoked gouda, bacon, bbq sauce & cracker jacks).  THEY WERE ALL INCREDIBLE.  I have to say, the Bear was probably my favorite, because it was so bonkers and worked so well.  The kind chefs even split our hotdogs three-ways so we all had a cute plate of sample-sized dogs.  I loved it there.  It left Ted and I missing our favorite foodcart in Portland.  Oh man, the food I will be eating in a little over a month...


Before we left lunch, Rylee met up with us and we all headed to some vintage shops that I've heard about but have never been to, like the adorably-stuffed Qcumberz.  We spent a few hours browsing them, which was really lovely, and a good way to escape the heat.  I found a few cute things that I had to leave behind, like the tea towel above with a donut sticking out of its mouth.  There was one thing I simply could not leave behind at MacAlpine's (which by the way, is the cutest soda fountain/vintage shop ever).  This magical purchase will surely turn up in a post later this year.  Be excited.  Although both Rylee and Erin walked away with some solid purchases, I think Ted's takes the cake, at least in my book: a Captain & Tennille album featuring the song "Muskrat Love" which is quite possibly the weirdest and greatest song ever to be recorded.


Naturally we were tired, sweaty, and ready for a cold drink, so we made the point to go to Lux after Rylee had to depart for work and we were ready for a break from shopping.  It was busy, but we managed to find a seat on a picnic table studded with teal typewriters and settled in for more than an hour.  We chatted, sipped our cold coffees, and I may have stared at a girl that looked like Jennifer Lawrence a little too much. (I swear, she looked JUST LIKE HER.)  Regardless, it was good to finally get there after wanting to go for a couple of years!  Afterwards we met up with Domenico at MacAlpine's and then had a impromptu photoshoot in a cute neighborhood.

Welcome Diner was a very welcome way to end the day indeed.  The sun set enough for us to enjoy the big patio with misters, lights, and a cute dog to pet.  The four of us split the Bumblebee (fried chicken, honey, mustard, pickles on a biscuit), the Koko (fried chicken, chipotle ranch, arugula, tomato on a biscuit), the PB&B burger (peanut butter, pickles, bacon, cheddar), Poutine (fries smothered in gravy and melted cheddar--aka the first poutine I've actually really loved), and a little order of Fried Squash Blossoms.  It was all delicious.  There are very few sweeter things in life than good food and even better company.  We ended the night with Rylee joining us again at an Irish pub after work.  It felt good to be in an environment that felt familiar (I'm looking at you, London) but with friends that were even more familiar.  I'm a lucky girl, is all I'm saying.

Pictures including me and/or Ted by Erin

drink here: blue hound + bitter & twisted

It's been a while since I've had a proper girls night and I've never "gone out for drinks with my girlfriends" as twenty-somethings tend to do. So with the recent opening of Bitter & Twisted, Rylee, Erin, and I were inspired to venture out on a Friday night and do just this.  I switched out my grey t-shirt and knitted brooch for a silky beaded blouse that has never left my room, my favorite neglected vintage necklace, jeans, and gold flats, as one does for a night out.  I thought of all those articles promising "take your look from day to night" and felt accomplished, and a little silly for feeling that way.  I headed to Erin's lovely home with Rylee to share a deliciously healthy dinner of soba noodles and veggies courtesy of Erin (she's a domestic goddess; haven't you heard?) and we chatted.  Of course I made too many bad jokes, one resulting in spilling my water across the table.  This is why I probably don't drink very often--I'm already a bad joke-telling klutz on a daily basis.

After our meal, we drove into downtown Phoenix and were greeted by a sizable crowd at the cocktail parlour.  We put our name down for the hour to an hour-and-a-half wait and wandered around for a bit before settling on nearby Blue Hound for our waiting game.  As life usually goes, waiting was half the fun!  We hung out in the relaxing, Restoration Hardware-decorated lounge between the bar and hotel lobby it was connected to, and settled in for over an hour, talking, laughing, and appreciating their choice of menu fonts.  I tried their seasonal tap (I'm all about seasonal anything), which happened to be Deschutes Brewery's Twilight Summer Ale.  My heart beat a little faster when I heard the name and thought fondly of Portland, where the Deschutes Brewery restaurant is.  What can I say? I'm in love.  Funnily enough, I found out later that Ted had ordered the same beer at the restaurant earlier in the week.

Around 11 (the time our breed is usually crawling into bed to watch online television for a couple of hours), we went back to Bitter & Twisted and got seated.  The atmosphere was much darker and louder than the Blue Hound, but it still felt comfortable and most definitely stylish.  I tried the Lime and the Coconut which had a delicious creamy layer of foam that was hands down my favorite part of it--I wanted to dollop that foam onto a piece of vanilla cake or something. Of course it took me forever to finish, because I'm not much of a cocktail connoisseur quite yet. Regardless, I'd say the night was a success.

#bfgta

Yep, the Blogger Family went to Austin.  And it rocked.

But...this is probably the most intimidating post I've had to write.  How do you blog about a trip taken with bloggers who were all micro-blogging the entirety of the trip as it happened?  So much happened within the span of just two weeks, five days of which I was present, that I can't even begin to encapsulate it into one post.  All I can say is, it was such a bizarre yet wonderful experience.  There was one moment driving in the car, where I thought about something that was happening and how I felt about it, and my initial reaction in my mind was, "I should tell the blogger family about this."

But they were right there in the car with me.

Whoa.

It felt so natural to be hanging out with this group of people, which is saying a lot coming from someone like me, who is the queen of awkward social situations.  Nothing felt forced or expected--it was just like we were any group of friends hanging out, looking at cool shops, eating awesome food, talking about whatever.  Those were my favorite moments--just talking about whatever and soaking up each other's company in the car, over dinner, or sitting on a hill overlooking the skyline.  Such normal, simple moments made magical by the fact that these people are usually states or countries away, separated by a glowing screen.  Everything was pure blogworthy-bliss, and planned to perfection.  I feel so lucky to have somehow been adopted into this beautiful family and able to attend this summer's meet up.  Love y'all, and hope to see you again soon.

get inspired: interview with kate of gentle wren

graphic by kate

I have a series of posts about my two favorite things:  creativity and inspiration.  As a "creative" person, I am constantly searching for inspiration to fuel my creativity, and I thought it would be interesting to ask others about what they are passionate about.  This is the fifth interview in the series.  See the previous ones here.

Kate and I became friends back in fifth grade and I feel so lucky to have such a talented lady as one of my best friends.  We've had many crafty times together as friends and yearbook editors. Despite what she may say, she'll always be cooler than me. 

For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been taking pictures. You have such a good eye that you can even make me look cool! What originally drew you to this passion? 

Whatever!  You’ve taught me so much about being and feeling cool. My mother, father, and godfather are all experienced and retired photojournalists. My godfather let me take pictures of seagulls in San Diego with his SLR, and I’d often skip school to go on shoots with my mom for the newspaper. I picked out this rad red-tinted clear film camera when I was seven or eight, and I started processing film around twelve or thirteen. I quickly discovered digital, and I loved using DSLRs. They were handy and a little safer for my sanity because sometimes calculating F-Stops stressed me out, and it was nice to take some test pictures beforehand. I still love film, but I’m yet to enter a darkroom here in Tucson, so I have them processed for me, which isn’t as fun, but it makes film a little more accessible.  I really enjoy the structure of a camera and how photography works.  It’s nice to feel like I can successfully combine art, science, light, time, and an air of nostalgia with what I see.  I think it makes this dream a little more real, a little more grounded. 

What are your favorite things to photograph and why? 

Nature! I pack my camera on every hike and most outings.  It’s easy to forget about the gifts we have all around us, and sunlight is my favorite light source.  Plus, botanicals make for the best models. They are effortlessly beautiful, they sit still, and they are always growing. Oh my goodness, I am so cheesy!  Our natural environment is my most inspiring and much better than a chilly studio.

Photographing people that I love is a close second.  Taking a family portrait is a special thing because I know that’s an Aunt Annette face.  I know she looks and feels beautiful.  I may even think I know a tiny sliver of what she was thinking when I took this photo.  I don’t know if random downtown boy looks especially dapper or stoked or bummed when I ask to snap his picture for my fashion blog portfolio Tumblr.  I also enjoy shooting portraits for other families.  Taking pictures of people creates an appreciated and cherished piece of nostalgia.  It feels like an act of love to put something like that into the world.

Was graphic design an obvious extension to your love of photography? What do you enjoy most about it?

I don’t think it was too obvious of an extension or me.  I came across each art separately.  I grew up on Microsoft Paint, Create-a-Card, and MySpace.  Out of all of our floppies and CD-ROMs of games, I think I frequented MS Paint the most.  I loved making my own pages, illustrations, bodies of text, cards, and magazine layouts.  It was like “Baby’s First InDesign” for me.  I’ve always liked to pretend, so when I would Paint, it let me imagine I was someone else making an important file for work, or a girl that I was drawing, who could change her outfit from cyan to magenta.  Being a kid was lonely.  Even when we got Internet, making things on computers was my favorite lazy day activity.  MySpace came into my life in junior high at a friend’s birthday party sleepover.  The girls there encouraged me to make one.  After that, I was teaching myself HTML, and that was where I started to get the hang of design and coding.  It was just Kate sitting up at the office chair crafting layouts on MS Paint all over again, but this time, people could see it.  This continued later in high school when I joined Yearbook.  We looked at beautifully, creatively, sharply designed magazines for inspiration, made our own layouts, and created them with InDesign.  My Yearbook teacher, Mrs. Wrather, gave me a lot of physical and mental boosts.  She was frequently providing opportunities for me to practice, asking me for advice, and letting me take some pretty important photos for the school and for the yearbooks.  She has been a really solid mentor in way too many aspects of my life, but particularly photography and design.

I really enjoyed graphic design for obvious reasons.  Adobe’s products are like “Microsoft Paint Program: All Grown up + Am I Dreaming? Version 7.0.” I remember when I started tinting photos and cross processing them digitally instead of with film.  It was like Instagram before Apps happened.  You did that too though.  See, you’re way cooler.  I also enjoyed photo-editing software because it let me freeze time and fix errors.  Taking photos of an important event or of a stranger could get nerve-racking, so it was easy to make an error.  Being able to go in and edit a photo’s exposure was certainly a sigh of relief.  It offered itself as a solid set of training wheels as I began my digital career. I am always learning how to make different things with the software, but right now, my favorites are mixing mediums with scanned pieces, photos, and text.  I always get excited about finding new brushes and textures on line.  (Freebies pages are one of my favorite design-related things.)  I also am glad I can make logos, pages, and drawings for friends that need them for their businesses, bands, and projects. 

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Old pictures, design websites, design magazines, old magazines, music, brainstorming with people, friends’ projects, comic books, and humor.  I like to put humor and quirk into what I make.

What goals do you have for these creative outlets? 

I’d like to always be the friend to call to photograph a wedding, and it will be a nice solid side job to design and code, which is why I am teaching myself the new HTML5, Javascript, and PHP this summer.  Interning in a studio or turning my design experience into something more physical like creative direction sounds rad as well.

I know you make so many other awesome things. Tell me about your favorite crafty ventures. 

I just got my first saw, so I’m very excited about woodworking at the cabin this summer.  My friend just made a huge modular bookshelf in one day with three pieces of wood, nails, and a nail gun, so that was really inspiring.  Making things is the best!  I also love cooking vegan meals, making flower crowns and friendship bracelets with my sweet friends, sewing, embroidering, and painting with watercolors. 

How would you describe your personal style or aesthetic?As far as design, I like simple, clean, handmade, and funny. I enjoy the charm of old photos and mixed mediums, textiles, bows, florals, and vintage clipart, and I also like cutting-edge Slickster McSlick design.  White space is a favorite, stellar photography, basic fonts with a serif accompanied by bold, curvy, conversationals, and bright pops of color.  Pugley Pixel has a design blog that I’m really into lately because it’s just very cool.  Cathe Holden at Just Something I Made makes rosettes in real life, but hosts pages full of scanned in ephemera and design work.  It’s way kitschy and old-fashioned, and it’s not pretentious. It’s cute and wholesome and very appealing.  I’d like to say that I am somewhere between the two.

When I'm getting dressed, I like simple shifts, a-line dresses, skirts with blouses tucked in, flats, boots, oxfords.  It is a little old fashioned, a little feminine, practical, preppy, maybe rustic, but bold.  I like black and navy, but I usually have my brights in there. I don’t stray from my favorite pieces.  I theme my outfits, and they are always inspired by some idea I’ve made up in my head or the character from a book that I am reading.  I am really into Rory Gilmore pre-Harvard right now.  I do get a lot of inspiration from old punk, and the music I listen to.  I like seeing well-dressed people, but more importantly, I love seeing people wearing whatever they like and getting creative in their own way.  I used to work at a record store that sold anime, comic books, action figures, movies, and video games as well, and there were a ton of rad kids that came in.  Their outfits were so creative and inspired.  I just really love nerds, even Hot Topic nerds.  I like outdoor wear as well. The New Balance Minimus collection is my favorite shoe line ever, and I like clothes that I can work outside in.  Most importantly, I appreciate thrifted, practical, and ethical clothes. To me, wearing clothes is about not getting skin cancer, not getting arrested for being naked, and feeling lovely.  I never want getting dressed to stress me out.

PS I love you.
I love you too!

Check out Kate at Gentle Wren for awesomeness!

roommate staycation

Claire and I were fortunate enough to be able to stay in Ted's room for a few days after we had to move out of our room (which was AWESOME because moving out was a mess and it would have been a shame to have to say goodbye during such a stressful time).  I dubbed this our "roommate staycation" because we were roommates in a different room across campus.  We had fun lounging around watching movies and embarrassing TV online, grocery shopping, making food, and soaking up our last few days as roommates.  I'm sure going to miss this lady, but I know that we will both have a blast studying abroad and will come back refreshed and full of new experiences to take on senior year.  It's weird to think that I won't be seeing a lot of people until senior year, but I hope the circumstances help me branch out more and connect with the other people going on my London trip.  I'm just happy that this year I was lucky enough to have such a great friend as a roommate!

roomie date

This Friday was a "reading day" so I finished up an essay, turned it in, and met Claire at the bus stop to go downtown.  Studying is important, but so is getting in some one-on-one time with your roommate that you won't see for a year due to studying abroad different semesters (yeah, let's not talk about that). Yes, we do live together and see each other a ton, but that's different--getting out and having an adventure in the sun is crucial.

We brought some light studying to do in Tea Chai Te, but mostly we chatted and explored NW 23rd. It was warm and sunny (THANK YOU PORTLAND), so bubble tea, ice cream, and burgers were an obvious choice. We found fun vintage stuff to try on, bacon and macaron everything, and a DOG WALL--emphasis on the dog wall (we're kind of obsessed).  So it was the loveliest of Spring days.

I am very thankful for a top notch roommate, warm sunny days, and the promise of summer!  Also, burgers.

photo diary: rachel getting married

 The ceremony (at a local lake with the wedding party and family) and reception (at a local artist's studio) were beautifully unique and DIY.  Nuff said.