Yum

I think I want to make this cake. Right now. Yum.

Santa Speedo

One year I want to do the naked bike ride. But maybe I should start with this, the speedo santa run.

Twinkle Twinkle

The transition from AMS to PDX has been an emotional one. This holiday season...oh how I long to be cruising around in the bakfiets, pimped out with twinkle lights...like I did for the past few christmas seasons. 

Today I spotted this cutie, right here in PDX...

it makes me happy to know that people in PDX are experiencing the joy of lights in a bakfiets...

This post made my heart sing. Those sweet babes, cruising through AMS with a twinkly sleigh, inspired by ours last year. Love.

But we are not without joy! We have dusted off the bakfiets lights...and strung them up in our new sleigh, so what if it is a car. Fa la la. We are adaptable.

J.A. on Trends

I still adore J.A., even if he skipped the Marie Kondo and moving to Portland trends this year. Two trends that I was all over...

The Magic of 6

Like a lot of things this fall/winter, P's bday snuck up on us and we were not exactly prepared. But we rallied a last minute rally and threw together a fete. We just needed balloons, cupcakes and friends. Check, check and check. We took things up a notch with a piñata.  And at the very last minute, I panicked at the thought of 22 6ish year olds in my house and so I called in a magician. 

Where the heck is the magician after the party...surely he can help the beer bottles, cold pizza, and juice boxes disappear...

P knows how to party: one, two, three, four, five.

Confession #362

Speaking of birthdays...I am hosting a fete for my sweetP birthday girl and her entire class in about 2 hours. Big class, small house. Wish me luck.

Birthday Love!

My birthday came and went this week. I chose not to throw a bash like last year, but I am feeling just as loved. 39, lets do this!

My PDX Running bestie (and neighbor) showed up chez moi on birthday eve with flowers, ice cream and a one of a kind North Drinkware vase. She also rallied out in the cold, wet, dark, morning (5am baby), for a running mission. Amazing dedication.  In fact, every single one of my PDX besties called or texted or showed their love. So sweet. So grateful.

My kindergarten bestie sent the cutest card. MLN, je t'aime. Thank you.

My HS bestie said and did all the right things, because that is just how she rolls, always. 5 kids of her own and she makes me feel like the most important person in her life. She has a gift, she is a gift.  Really, my entire HS girlgang is amazing. Although we missed having a proper reunion (seriously, wtf happened?), we are as close as we were circa '95, and its always fun to hear from them on my bday. RHS forever.

My AMS girls were all over the bday. They were the first on the scene with texting and social media - the 9 hour time difference was a great way to get the long distance party started early. HB was first to blow up my phone with bday love. Merci.

Several AMS gals even took me out for dinner. Look closely - there I am...on their iPhone. Love this picture. Miss these dinners.

And my AMS Running Besties gifted me the ultimate. The gift of all running bestie gifts. They rallied out for a cold, dark, early run and spotted him, and captured him on film. On my bday. Ohhh la looove these rolling buns!

My new work besties barely know me and yet already know me well enough to realize that Justin's PB Cups, a sweet card and Christmas Birthday Cactus can steal my heart. I'm easy. And lucky to have these amazing new and lovely colleagues.

I wanted to crawl through the phone and onto the beach of costa rica when I saw this. LF, you are the best.

My original and oldest besties (parents and big sis) showered me with love, cards, calls, laughs and bday wishes. As did the rest of my family on both sides. Merci merci!

My kids were on good behavior most of the day and willingly agreed to my plan to eat cake and ice cream before dinner. They are so easy going.

And my man squeezed in a romantic fancy mid-day lunch before catching his flight that day. Lunch dates are the bomb. Everyone should do more of them. I hope he and I do. Speaking of supportive hubbies - have you seen this internet amazingness?

And now back to me and my bday. Final bday gift came the day after... when I realized Serial is back. Yeah!

Ying Yang

Just Add Cocoa

Alps, Dolomites, Hoodie...give us weekends full of fresh air, cocoa, good food, some snow and we are so happy. Sunshine is a bonus. 

Unprompted, these two yahoos were hamming it up for season pass photos. 

Thankful!

I was all sorts of jelly to miss a thanksgiving feast at the table below. Damn my sister lives well.

I was also bummed to change plans at the last minute...which means I didn't make it to Ohio as planned for the holiday weekend (blame ISIS threats and a wacky story (unrelated to ISIS) about a cancelled high school reunion).

However, I was nothing but thankful to celebrate Thanksgiving in this gorgeous house! We are so blessed to be near family for holidays...and random days. Shout out to A and J for hosting a beautiful feast.

We also hit the slopes as a family. Cousin B was looking chalet posh slopeside

O gave cousin G a ski lesson, as my baby W rode the chair alone, looking on. I swear G was just born and W was just the one getting the lesson. They do grow...fast...

What a day for a family ski session. G and O are behind me on the lift. 

We are thankful to have rolled right back into our govy mountain house...it is like we never left. The Oregon mountain air is as centering as we remember it to be. The sweet digs are as tiny cozy as we remember! Esp cozy when we host...

P proves there is always room for more...by creating creative seating options...

I'll Be Home For Christmas

There really is no place like home for the holidays, esp when home is Portland. Keeping things weird, it figures we'd have a unique take on Santa. I cannot decide what i love most about him. Probably his man bun, but the fact he rolled in on a bike is a close second. I'm pretty sure he also wears raw denim. They nailed it all...every detail. Love.

Dry Spell and Guest Post

Dry Spell: I know. I suck at blogging lately. New job has rocked my balance a bit, but I am loving it. Maybe I'll get back onto a good cadence here. Maybe I won't. I hope I will. I will.

Guest Post: I may be in a dry spell, but EB sure has creative juices flowing. Thank him for this amazing video from this amazing Peru trip


Mancora 2015 from Ethan Beck on Vimeo.