SYNlawn in the Pearl

Someone in charge of landscape in the Pearl must be a reader of my blog (this post in particular).

I think the faux grass in the Pearl looks great and it only further confirmed my desire to get some in my own yard.

Here is a link to a blog with some neighborhood reactions...(I may just chime in!)

Here is a link to a post on Apartment Therapy about this topic...

In life I still believe that the grass is greenest when you water it (right RG?) but SYNLawn is a fun exception to that rule.

Following the Rules

Everyone knows (or should know) these rules...

1. Get rid of pumpkins and other fall decor by the time December arrives
2. NEVER put up xmas decor (or play the tunes) until Thanksgiving is over

Yesterday was our day to follow both rules. I dumped the pumpkins, we bought the tree and started to blast the holiday tunes. Fa la la la la....

Photo du Jour

O's Christmas Tree, O's Christmas Tree...

Adorable

Loving these, from Sundance. So cute.

Happy Anniversary!

38 years...happy anniversary!

Be a part of it!

At this time of year, I LOVE to be a part of it all. For example....I LOVE to hit up the grocery store on Thanksgiving Day. LOVE it! I love to see the people scrambling for whatever ingredients they may have forgotten. I like to see how different types of people approach it...some are stressing, others are chill. I love every aspect of the grocery store on turkey day - especially waiting in a long-ish line. I love people watching and eavesdropping while in line. Yesterday I cruised over to Zupans about an hour before the closed for the day. So fun.

Then on the day after turkey day, I love to hit the shopping scene. I don't need to buy (what up recessionista), I just like to be out there, mixing into it all. O knows how I love these 2 days of being a part of it all....so even in his condition (recovering from surgery - another topic for another post....) he was eager to indulge me in "being a part of it". SE Hawthorne was where we ended up...there was lots of buzz as we expected. We hit up the Waffle Window (after reading about it in MIX).

The intent of this post is not to critique food...but while on the waffle topic, I didn't love the Waffle Window waffles. They were good...but MIX sold them as "genuine yeast-raised street waffles found in any Belgian city" which got my hopes up high. Ever since returning from our trip to Bruxelles, I have been on a quest for something authentic in the waffle department (which reminds me, I still need to give this a try). It should be noted that I would go back, and that I loved the experience at the Waffle Window and that I love everything about this neighborhood...I just didn't actually LOVE the waffles, nor did I find them to taste like the ones we had in Bruxelles.

We also walked a bit down the strip, where I spotted the skinniest man in Portland. Look at his teeny legs. This is not a good photo, he was teenier looking in person. And his pants had vertical stripes (hard to tell in this photo), which we all know can be sliiiiimming.

Note to self...go buy hipster style vertical striped pants.

Testing Testing

This is a test of my ability to imbed YouTube videos into this blog. This is also a good chance for you to see WKFs newest trick....I call it the roll. His dad calls it a "corked out backside 180".

Photo du Jour

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This photo was actually taken last night....loving the autumn alpineglow

Responsible Dads

I love seeing signs like this one that I spotted at OHSU this morning.

Just Do It

As previously posted (here and here), some of our good buddies are living it up in Italy this winter. I am loving this recent picture that she posted to their blog, so I have snagged it from hers and posted it to mine. Could she possibly be any more spunky and adorable (or flexible)?? This photo should be used for a Nike ad campaign. Does anyone know anyone that works at Nike? Hook it up yo.

Celebrity posting

Hello sunshine blogging fans,
I was commissioned to post a story about my trip to Vietnam...so here we are! We stayed at the Renaissance Riverside hotel next to the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh.

Every morning I would start my day with 4 or 5 of these mini bananas. They are even better than big bananas.
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!

Update by the editor: What did I tell you about this guy and bananas??? (Find out here, here, here or here....) . I am surprised I didn't find any of these minis in his suitcase or pocket upon his return to the US.

I have no idea what this building is...but it looks pretty cool.

This was taken from inside the Ben Thanh market. I have never smelled anything quite so fragrant with stacks and stacks of aged, un-refrigerated fish and all sorts of things I didn't recognize.

We were on a regular size bus and about to turn down this street.

The wiring of electricity was also interesting. This was a common site with about 500 wires coming into a pole.

It was a great trip but even the most legitimate hotels have $25 massages that start off great but may turn down a corner you're not ready for.
"You want massage here"....No thanks

Another update by the editor: I wish he was kidding about the massages over there. "NO THANKS" indeed!!!! Hands off my man...

Free Peeps

I know its just a chain, and I know that being all hypped about a chain is not "cool". But, I am pumped about the new Free People store on NW23rd. I really like their stuff.

Much like Urban and Anthro, their catalogs are so beautifully styled....I love this photo from their recent Intimates catalog, although it makes me want cupcakes more than it makes me want intimates...

Boiiing!

I have SUCH a spring in my step today.

Why?

Well, little WKF has finally been sleeping a bit better. We are not sleeping through the night yet, but he is making big improvements from his 5 wake per night habits. He has also started to nap during the day...in his crib...this is wonderful.

Also, it is sunny and warm today...love it! What a sunrise!!! God I love it here, have I made that clear? Is it getting annoying?

And the main reason for my spring today...I am dressed head to toe in some AMAZING new duds. My best girl sent me the most fabulous box of clothes. She cleaned out her closet and I was the lucky recipient of her handmedowns. The girl has the best style, the best taste...I could not be happier to be wearing her gear. Oh my girl - thank you! Love you!

These days I rarely get dressed, I usually just toss on some sweats. But wow does it feel great to be up, showered, dressed....I should do this more often. The arrival of this box (combined with WKFs new sleep habits and the fab sunrise) was just the kick in the butt that I needed to pull my act (back) together. Boiiing...boiiing....

As soon as WKF gets up from his nap we are going to carpe diem together!

Photo du Jour

Another day, another rainbow....we love Portland

ban.do

i love these headpieces from ban.do. do you?

Plus, each comes with its own haiku...bonus

Photo du Jour

Thank you A&M for the Red Sox hat. Love it!

One more Akron post

In addition to the big play date, we had some other great visits. So fun! Thank you Akron for welcoming WKF! We loved being there!

Above is WKF with his friend CG. For CG updates, check out her mama's blog. Below is WKF with his other Akron grandparents (you may recognize EE from his turkey pictures...).

Below is one of Akron's finest...showing off her kicks that O sent her.

Birdie's Nest

Birdie was made to be a grandmother. She is the best!

Growing up, we moved about a jillion times. Including a big move to Europe during elementary school. Mom packed and moved all of our stuff, every time...so that we'd always feel at home in our new house and town.

After we were grown and gone...my parents kept moving. (They have already moved twice since I left home.) With each move, she kept all of our old toys and books - waiting for the day she could share them with her grandkids. Now she has 2 grandchildren (WKF and his cousin Zmoney).

In their current home, Birdie has converted a mini closet under the stairs into a playroom extraordinaire for her grandkids and their buddies.

While we were home last week, Birdie threw together a mega playdate (30+ people). What fun! It was a great way for WKF to meet all of his Akron friends all at once. The kiddos loved the playroom. It was so fun to see them playing with all of my old "vintage" toys!

From the outside, you would never even know there was a playroom under the stairs.

But when you open up those doors....it is magical!

Here are a few shots from the play date

If you live in Akron and you have little ones, please invite yourself to Birdie's anytime, she would love to have you! WKF and Z$ are happy to share their playroom and toys with you! Ooohhhh we wish we lived closer....

Thanks mama!

Those eyes...

We heart those big blue eyes. O and I are both brown...so we are thinking the blue came from BryGuy. I know baby eye color can change, but we sure hope his are here to stay.

Photo du Jour

Knock Knock

One of the highlights of my trip to Ohio was a day trip (by plane) to Baltimore. My friend T and I told the new Baltimore mama that there would be a special delivery on her doorstep (to ensure she'd be home and answer the door). The special delivery was us (with WKF) - SURPRISE!

So fun! What a little lady! A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.

Go Marco

O's childhood friend and ski buddy is one of the stars of the new Warren Miller film "Children of Winter". Too cool.
For more info on the film, click here.

For more info on Marco, click here. Looks like he'll soon have his own site too.

Marco is living out O's dreams...and O couldn't be any happier for him. Last season when Marco landed on top of the downhill podium at Chamonix, O shed a few tears.

Photo du Jour

Last night, he was awake for the 5+ hour flight from Atlanta, then he fell asleep about 2 minutes AFTER we landed....

Recessionista

I keep hearing it, and I love the word and the idea. Recessionista! Somehow using the word "recessionista" helps make frugal sound hot and sassy. I like.

Go CAK

The Canton Akron Airport is wonderful. Easy to park, easy to get through security, friendly...and they also have this...

Yeah CAK. Love it! Well done.

Burrrrrlington = Healthy

What is not to love about Burlington, VT? It was rad to see that fab city get the honor of being declared the healthiest city in America by the CDC. It is no wonder that we have such a healthy marriage....we met and married in Burlington!

Travel Day

Trip has been great. We are packing up and heading home today. We should be back to blogging soon.