in which kaylie watches too much new girl and her life becomes a sitcom

When it comes to small frustrations and inconveniences, sure, sometimes I get really upset, but most of the time, I think Well, this is kind of the worst, and super embarrassing, but it might as well be on one of the sitcoms I so lovingly binge-watch on Netflix.  Ted's and my relationship usually falls into this category--like that one time we took at least half an hour finding a parking spot at the Grand Canyon, and just as much time trying to find it when it was time to leave.  Yes, frustrating.  But c'mon, also hilarious.

1)  Since I can't eat Little Big Burger for every meal (unfair, I know), I had to go grocery shopping Monday afternoon.  I was lacking patience because I hadn't eaten a full meal since the night before, so I got into Ted's car READY for some groceries.  I started the car and tried pulling out and nothing happened.  The parking brake was on, and being from mostly flat desert, I have very little experience with park brakes.  After panicking for about five minutes over not being able to get it off while two strangers picked blackberries in our driveway probably thinking I was secretly a grumpy old man waiting for them to leave, it easily snapped down.  Cue the laughing track--I know, you're laughing at me, not with me, on this one.

2)  While making dinner that night, I realized that I needed a can opener.  Everything else had been chopped up and the last thing I needed to do was prepare the chickpeas.  I couldn't find an opener anywhere.  I called Ted and texted my housemates to ask if we had one.  Finally, out of desperation, I found a swiss army knife on the kitchen table and slowly started using it.  I was about a third of the way around the can when I got a text about the opener's whereabouts.  Sure enough, it was hiding in the corner of one of our drawers.

3)  After spending time at my internship yesterday, I went home and decided to unpack some small things into Ted's room (he's home in CA) so it felt a bit more Kaylie.  I thought, I should put the record player on while I unpack!  But it was acting strange, and no sound was coming out.  So I wriggled the needle around like I had in the past, but this time it snapped.  Good thing it's replaceable.

4)  Last night on my way to Fred Meyer's (my #1 hang out, apparently) I dropped something off at someone's house.  After she answered the door, I made small talk and mid-sentence had the overwhelming sensation that some cilantro from my dinner might have lodged into my teeth, so I awkwardly started to talk with my mouth closed as much as possible.  As I walked away, I checked.  It turned out to be onion, but the damage was already done.  I'm awkward.

5)  Walking into Freddy's, I smiled at a mom who had an adorable daughter in Pooh Bear overalls (my childhood in a nutshell) and she sighs and says "Jesus Christ..." under her breath.  I'm hoping I had nothing to do with her distraught...

Perhaps she foresaw what was going to happen next and pitied me.  I had gone for the sole purpose to purchase something personal (ya know, girl stuff), and it didn't phase me at all that I might run into someone embarrassing, because I thought, "Who am I going to run into?  My crush?!"  Just as I laughed at the thought, I saw one of my housemates walking towards me.  Of course.  Although it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had bumped into him, it certainly wasn't my first choice, so I scurried to the self check out.

The good thing is that despite my sometimes awkward and embarrassing existence as an "adult" (emphasis on the quotes), days like today remind me that I'm at least a somewhat fully functioning human being.  Sure, I slept in, but... I got up, got dressed, picked some blackberries outside, made myself brunch, cleaned the kitchen and tile (while watching Doctor Who, obviously), did some yoga and stretching, ordered most of my school books, watched Ruby Sparks, made myself a dinner that included a large salad (I'm trying really hard, guys), taught myself a new hairstyle, made the sound decision to not cut my hair into bangs, took a shower, and now I'm sitting here writing this.  Life is awkward and embarrassing, but good.

finding the one

Today marked my first day back in Portland.  Last night I got in, smiled a lot driving around in the sun, and enjoyed a burger and truffle fries at my beloved Little Big Burger.

Guys... I think I'm in love.  I've been many places this summer (like, geez, it's been a crazy summer) and I've found some serious space in my heart for Colorado and Texas, but boy.  Once you've met the one, you've met the one.  As stressful and emotional it can be living away from home for college, I'm so happy I chose to come to Oregon.  Maybe it's the fact that I grew up in the desert and Portland is the complete opposite, a lush, green wonderland, or the fact that everyone here is a character, from the enthusiastic food cart owners, multitude of dog owners, and tea goers with not only a sloth in baby girl clothes, but also an entire sloth colony, to the couple in front of me at the Fred Meyer deli today interrogating the poor workers about nitrates and all-natural meat.

I love how much people care here, even if it sometimes verges on ridiculousness.   I love that people take pride in doing things themselves.  I love how close and accessible everything is by public transit.  I love that we have an entire block devoted to an independent bookstore.  I love that food and drink is an art form here, as it should be, and attracts Disneyland-worthly lines out the door.  I love how southern food (arguably my favor type of food) is a thing here, for no apparent reason (other than, duh, it's delicious).  I love that having a chicken coop is totally normal.  I love that there is more pressure to be weirder than to be more normal.  I love that there are beards and bizarre facial hair everywhere, as embarrassingly self-aware it sometimes may be.  Speaking of hair, I love that if I forget to shave my legs, girls won't notice or care.  Gee, they might give me a high five exposing their own wildly hairy armpits (For the record, I'm less okay with this).  I love how worked up people get when it gets over 80 degrees, and how the sun's rare appearance makes people dress like summer when it's still in the mid 50s.  I love that someone near my school owns a peacock named Honk that likes to visit campus.  I love that my school is walking distance from a state park and community farm.  I love the cherry blossoms in the spring and the blackberries outside the house right now.  I love that city and nature are intertwined seamlessly here.  And even though I'm often intimidated by how outdoorsy everyone is in comparison to me, I love that it inspires me to be more adventurous and push myself to do more than just enjoy nature from the sidelines reading or knitting under a tree (although this will always be my first instinct and first love).

Or maybe it's just all these Christmas trees, constantly reminding me of my favorite time of the year.

In all seriousness though, I couldn't be happier with a city.  I feel very lucky to live here part time, even when right now it's with three guys in a rickety old Frankenhouse that we call The Burrow but creaks enough to be called the Shrieking Shack.  I already miss my family, friends, Izzy, and Ted, but it's good to be back.

#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.

photo diary: beaver creek, vail, & glenwood springs, colorado

I'll keep this short and sweet, because I'm packing for my Austin trip (!) tonight and have some cleaning to do before I leave.

Colorado was lovely, full of good times knitting by the lake, trying to jog around the lake, hiking with my family and cousin to Hanging Lake, watching fireworks at the lake, and working on a puzzle with my dad--which had nothing to do with a lake, just pretty flowers, and lots of them.  There was also eating too much at a 4th of July clam bake at a cabin in the mountains, riding a ski lift and gondola in the mountains, walking around fancy ski towns in the mountains, MOUNTAINS!!!!

PLUS IT WAS REALLY REALLY PRETTY.  AND THERE WERE A TON OF DOGS.

It was great and full of family time. Hooray!

Glenwood Springs on Dwellable

photo diary: beaver creek, colorado wedding

I flew into Denver from Portland the day of my aunt's wedding. I had to explain to many people that I had just been at a Harry Potter convention, which was entertaining.  The wedding was two hours away in the ski town Avon (thanks for picking me up, dad!). After some much needed naptime in the hotel room (conventions are exhausting, people--I almost slept through my alarm that morning, but thankfully Ted woke me up in time to get to my flight), I fancied up in my favorite red dress and sequin heart.  I also used my super adorable clutch that looks like a folded vintage travel magazine and felt pretty darn cool.

The wedding was small, beautiful, and set against lots of trees and a creek.   It rained pretty hard right before the ceremony, which was doused in magical post-rain sunshine.  What could be better? My aunt looked lovely, and so did my mom, who was maid of honor!  I loved being part of such an intimate wedding.  Seriously, tiny forest-y weddings with lots of delicious appetizers, lasagna, and embarrassing dancing to annoy my little sister are the way to go.

Beaver Creek on Dwellable