5k Here I Come!

Ok, today starts my official 5k training. I'm doing the Mount Tabor Doggie Challenge on June 14th, to benefit the Oregon Humane Society. http://www.terrapinevents.com/mt-tabor-challenge.htm

I know 3.2 miles is no big whoop, but I haven't been on a regular running schedule in a while. I'm starting off slow and easing into it. I always seem to go too far the 1st time I start running again and end up TOO sore to run for the next week.

Plus it's a good way to get in shape before the wedding and get outside everyday with Mona. Oh yeah by the way, she'll be running it with me!
Anyone care to join us?

I'm also going to try to hit up the Doggie Dash on May 10th down on the waterfront if anyone is interested: http://ohs.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1030&pg=entry
Totally for fun, 2 mile walk/run with your dog or just yo'self.

www.robbfarrington.com

So in case some of you don't know... Robb (my future husband, love it!) is a photographer. Since moving to Portland he's been freelancing and working on building his company, Robb Farrington Digital.I have to say I couldn't be more proud of him. He's done work in the area for some big name clients, as well as maintaining work with east coast companies. Not only does he shoot photos, he is most likely the master of everything Photoshop, seriously. Since we've been here, he's expanded his action photography experience to a much larger list of skills. Not only does he still shoot snowboarding, skate and surfing, he's done numerous product shoots, assisted with a few weddings and done tons of color correction, rgb/cmyk conversion and image manipulation.
I'd have to say he's the best start to finish photog around.

check out his portfolio and hire him for your next project!

www.robbfarrington.com

Engagement & STDs

So last weekend 3 of my great girlfriends here in Portland threw us the greatest engagement party! There was amazing wine, cheese, snacks & friends. The house looked so great and our favorite part was they had gotten a ton of great photos of Robb & I and printed them out in black and white and framed them all over the house. I hope we get to snag some of those from them, cuz I'd love them for our walls. It was so much fun celebrating our engagement with some of our great friends that will be at the wedding as well. For all you out-of-towners, you were definitely missed!
We also sent out our STDs last week (Save the Dates, i know it sounds so wrong), which our lovely friend Jen has been so kind to design for us. We picked these photobooth photos of us that have been hanging out on our fridge since last summer. They are some of our favorite pix of us and everyone else seems to really like them too. Jen set those up with some great colors and text and here's how they came out...

Not in My House.

We went to probably what will be our last Blazers game of the season last night. :( I wasn't sure if B. Roy was going to be playing because of his injured groin and I knew Przybilla was definitely out since he shattered his hand last game. 2 star players, wasn't lookin good. But they were playing the Lakers, so we knew it'd be a good game either way. To be honest, we were expecting our team to get slaughtered (sorry guys!).
Not the case AT ALL. The Blazers killed it last night!!! Roy was on his game, scoring 23 points leading them to a 112-103 victory over the team that's ranked #4. I was shocked, at one point we were up 18 points. I kept calming myself down though, i've seen what can happen in the 4th quarter and i knew there was a chance things could get ugly. It never did, we stayed ahead the whole fourth quarter and played one of the best games i've ever seen. Yeah Rip City!

The Big Apple

A couple weeks ago Robb & I jet-setted to NYC for 5 days to attend my step-father's art opening in Soho and just get our city fix since we haven't been in over 2 years. We ended up renting an apartment with my parents right in Soho and it was perfect. Such a great location!
Neither R or I had spent much time in Soho, we usually stay in the West Village, so it was great to learn a new part of New York.
We got in early Thursday morning. Unfortunately James was deathly ill almost the entire time and couldn't do much of anything :( We just hung around on Thursday and caught up on some zzzzs from our redeye. That night we went to the Culture Project, where my friend Jules works to see they play she is producing. It was called Betrayed and was one of the best shows I've seen in a while. Robb & Mom loved it too, it was so powerful.
S & R got in late Thursday night, so we ended up meeting them on Friday afternoon. We had a blast exploring Soho with them and having a yummy dinner of wood fired pizza that night.
Saturday was the opening and it was a huge success! James' work looked amazing in the space, we were all so proud of him. So many of his friends & family showed up to support him and lots of our friends did too. It was SO great to catch up with everyone and celebrate our engagement a little as well! Randy brought us to this amazing underground Russian martini bar called Pravda, which was way too cool for us, but such a blast.
Sunday was Easter, so we found this great little cafe and had Easter brunch with my Mom & James and then headed off to MOMA for the afternoon. After seeing some amazing work and checking out the new space, Mom & James had to head back to VT. R & I checked into our hotel for the night and laid low, enjoying some down time. Monday we checked out Times Square & Rockafeller Center and then headed off to the airport to get back to Mona.
It was definitely a busy trip, but so great to spend time with loved ones and just be "in it" for a few days.

I've been M.I.A.

So sorry it's been so long. I feel like I'm 10 years old again writing in my diary. "Dear Diary, Sorry it's been so long since I've written. So much has happened since the last time I wrote..."
Seer.
I guess I'll do this in little posts, to get us all up to speed on what's been consuming our lives lately.
First things first, the poor lil' Subie :( We headed up to Meadows with Jen, Dev & Nicole for what was probably going to be the most epic day of powder for the season. We were all silly and just psyched to be going. I, of course can't make it past Govy without a bathroom break since my bladder is the size of a pea. (no pun intended) The roads were pretty crappy, but we've never had a problem in the Sub, that thing kills it in the snow. So we pulled over into the left hand turn lane, stopped, waited for the oncoming traffic to let up so we could turn. Then, BAM outta nowhere, we were re-ended. We spun around into the lane of oncoming traffic and were almost hit again by an Escalade or something giant looking like that.
Everyone was SO shook up and minorly banged up from the red Volvo that had just hit us from behind. We pulled into the parking lot, dealt with all the insurance BS and then had to figure out a way to get home without freezing from the blown out windows in the back.
After a lot of duct tape, some trash bags and useless saran wrap, we were PDX bound. Thank god we had such a great group with us and everyone had a sense of humor.
Turns out the Subie is totaled. We're still dealing with all the insurance BS and after a few sore necks, we all seem to be doing ok at this point. Thanks to S & J for the hot tubbin' that night!
Now we just need to find another car, although I've been kinda likin' our Mazda rental, shhh.

Gem Sweater Be Thy Name

Liz wasn't around this past weekend for my actual bday, so she got me a ticket to go see Leslie & the Lys for Monday night. I was so excited, since i had met Leslie (aka Gem Sweater Lady) back in Burlington a couple years ago during the Art Hop. She had driven from Iowa in a RV named the Mobile Museum of Gem Sweaters, full of bedazzled, shining sweaters. If any of you have looked on our fridge in the past 2 yrs, there is an excellent pic of Ash, AB & I posing with this fabulous character.
Leslie's definition of a Gem Sweater: "A Gem Sweater is a knitted or crocheted pullover which has been decorated and embellished with one or more of the following; gems, rhinestones, beats, studs, jewels, or pearls. A Gem Sweater is not a cardigan or decorated with the following; puffy paint, buttons, embroidery, ribbon, iron on transfer or metallic thread." Read more here to find out the history and knowledge behind the Gem Sweater.
Having met Leslie, we didn't think it could get any better than her vast array of adorned knits. But oh did it ever... We then found out that not only was a fashionista, she was also a rap artist. That's right, Leslie & the Lys, bustin' out some beats. Unfortunately I was unable to see these ladies perform in B-town and have been trying to catch them ever since.
So back to present day... Liz had gotten me a ticket and then Jen got one too, so it was gonna be girls night out, yeow! I got home and realized that the show started at 9 and there were 2 openers. Oh shit i thought, how am I gonna stay awake!?! I was like ok, stop being a granny and just have some Sparx and keep yourself occupied. After talking to the girls and realizing that my concerns of the show starting past my bedtime were legitimate and that we are actually getting old, i got up and headed out the door at 10pm. (in regular clothes, not pjs) This was a Monday mind you and I thought for sure that it was going to just be a small crowd. Nope, not the case at all. The place was packed. I got there in time to catch the last couple songs by this PDX group called The FleshTones. Pretty great, with sick homemade costumes and elaborate dance moves, i was impressed. During the break Liz & I slithered our way into some ok standing room only to find out that Jen was outside, but had forgotten her ID. She was heading home and probably not coming back, since she was feeling old and tired too. Next thing we know she's standing behind us. She was convinced that the bouncer overheard her say that she was "too old for this shit" and felt bad and let her in.
For the next hour we rocked and laughed our asses off to Leslie & the Lys. She's a volumptuous lady, who does everything in her power to make herself look as unattractive as possible. There's an abundance of gold lame being displayed on her pleasantly plump bod. Along with a giant hairsprayed 'do that i would have died for in 8th grade. She looks like a dance recital gone terribly wrong and we loved every minute of it. You've got to check out "Blame the Bootie" it was my fave song of the night. If you have the chance, definitely go check them out it's so worth it. And thanks to my 2 aging ladies for giving me a great reason to stay up past 10 on a week night.
Keep it Gold.

Vintage Kitchen

I've had this idea in my head since i started thinking about wedding reception decor that I'd love to have each table with a unique vintage (50s/60s) tablecloth. My quest has proved to be quite expensive so far, with a decent, no stains or holes, tablecloth running at about $30- $125 a pop. I haven't started hunting at the endless supply of thrift stores Portland has to offer yet, so I'm hoping to find some better deals there. I did however find these great little gems for only $20 online...

October 4th it is...

Well, it's decided. We're gettin' hitched on October 4th, 2008 right here in Portland, Oregon.
Some people seem surprised that we're not having the wedding back east, but anyone who lives here knows exactly why we've chosen PDX. We just love it here so much and it really truly feels like home. There are so many of our friends and family that haven't been able to make it out here yet, and we really want everyone to see our life, our home and our city. Plus Mona's afraid to fly, so we can't have a wedding without the ring bearer...

Where else?

Where else can you go snowboarding in fresh powder, hiking in a lush green forest and bike riding thru downtown all in one weekend in February? PDX of course!
We've been living here for exactly 2 yrs today (happy anniversary Robb!) and I still can't get over the fact that we've been hiking and doing mild weather activities for the past 3 winters. Sunday night after getting back from a quick bike into downtown (i am SO out of bike shape) i was thinking that it doesn't get much better than this. the weather has been great the past couple of weeks, all the spring flowers are blooming and the trees are starting to bud. i can't help but think man i don't miss VT. or at least that part of it...
i'm glad this weather is starting warm up a bit and spring is around the corner. i'm hoping to start riding my bike to work to get back in shape & save some money on gas. $50 to fill my tank, wtf!?!!? oli, wanna join me?