Playing tourist in Portland

One thing you need to know about Portland is that our summers consist of 3 months.  The remaining 9 months are gloomy and/or rainy.

I'm ok with the rain and gloom - but it  doesn't make for a good time to have visitors.  The hikes are limited.  The outdoor walking is limited.  The coast is chilly.  

But the 3 months that we DO have of summer are amazing.  We always say we put up with the 9 months of rain for the amazing 3 months of summer.

But the hard part about only having 3 months of good weather is that means there's only 3 months where people can visit.  What does that mean for us?  Back-To-Back-To-Back Visitors.

BUT we love having friends and family get to experience our city - so it's a price we pay!

We recently had the hubs' family in town for 4 days, and then the next day my Aunt and Cousin came to town for 5 days.  

We.

Did.

Everything.

I got super sick (of course) so I was more focused on trying to see if I could work in a nap time with my head cold, but I still put my big girl pants on and played tourist in Portland.

We hit up the coast, the gorge, Hood River, berry picking, and all of Portland (did a West side day, an East side day, and a West + East side day).

Cannon Beach

Crepes!  

Our berry picking view of Hood

Salt and Straw

While I love my city - I learned that I'm a horrible tour guide

I loathe driving, parallel parking, and navigating new neighborhoods.  I was probably more stressed than I needed to be and couldn't quite enjoy the time.  But we got to hit up all of Portland's finest (Salt and Straw, Food Carts, Pittock Mansion!) so I'm not complaining one bit.

Update + Munra Point

Bad Ashley.  Bad, bad Ashley.

I really have no excuse for my bloggy hiatus.  Really I've just been busy with work, and by the time I get home I'm lazy.  Pure lazy.  I've been clocking mad Netflix hours and cuddle time with the pups, but my poor bloggy has been neglected.

So I thought I'd make up to you all with some pictures from our Valentines Day hike!  I've been dying to do Munra Point, so I dragged that husband of mine to the gorge for a WONDERFUL hike.

If you're in the Portland area and looking for a fun hike, I most definitely recommend Munra Point.  It's extremely steep (it's listed as "strenuous" for a reason) but the viewpoint at the top is totally worth it.

What's better is, even on a clear sunny PNW day, the hike was barely crowded.  Definitely unusual for the Gorge area so we'll take it :-)  

Trampolines and Cold Hikes

My whine level is at an all time high today

Does it have to be Monday?

As with everyone else, I'm posting about my weekend today :-)  

Aaron and I weren't able to fly home for Thanksgiving since we took pretty much the entire month of September off to go get hitched.

So we stayed in Portland and had Thanksgiving with a friends family.  We were incredibly Thankful to have a family take us in, and had one of THE BEST dinners we've had in a while.

Aaron's brother and sister-in-law flew in the next day for the long weekend so we've spent the weekend playing in Portland.  

Not half bad huh?

We went to one of those trampoline gyms and BOY HOWDY we burned so many calories! 

What

A

Workout

Also, pretty sure we were the only adults jumping in the gym.  The rest of the adults were sitting nearby watching us their young children jump enthusiastically.  

I mean

If there's any way to act and feel like a 10 year old 

it's in an trampoline gym.

So to my fellow PDX friends out there - you should all check out the trampoline gyms and invite me so I can come get my 10-year-old-jumping on

**Side Note - We played trampoline dodgeball and guess who KILLED IT! 

This girl.

I always thought I was horrible at dodgeball....

...Turns out I just need to play with 10-year olds.

We also thought it would be a good idea to go for a hike on Sunday.

On freezing cold, super windy, Sunday.

We went to Beacon Rock where we nearly got blown off the cliff

But we survived, took photos, and ran down the hill.

And now it's Monday

And time to work.

So I'll end my blogging and continue my whining.

Happy Monday lovely schnookum friends!

7 Summer Goals

My darling fiance has chosen to spend his summer weekends out of town, going on climbing and hiking adventures with his friends.

Rather than sit at home alone, I've decided to compile a list of summer goals to keep me busy.  With the wedding approaching I'm certain I'll be busy with wedding items, but a girl can only address so many envelopes before her eyes cross!  The PNW summers are AMAZING, and I refuse to let this summer go to waste because I was too timid to explore on my own.

With that being said, below is my list of items I plan on accomplishing this summer/year.

Workout Classes

 I'd much prefer a group class over solo workouts any day.  I've been trying the different classes at my gym (Body Works Plus Abs kicked my butt!) and at Pure Barre (another butt-kicker).  These classes have really forced me to get out of the house, be healthy, and be social.  Kill 3 birds with 1 stone!

The Lake/River

I love water.  I might not be a swimmer, but I grew up going to the lake every weekend.  My family would pack up our lunches, the jet ski, and head to the lake.  Some of my most FAVORITE memories involve a bikini and ice cold water.

If that's not enough, my dad moved to the lake when I was young, reinforcing my love for summertime lake-time.  

While I view the lake as a social activity, sometimes I forget that I can grab my beach towel and a book/magazine and get my tan on.  There are so many spots on the river in the Portland area, so my options are open!

Go Fishing

I. Love. Fishing.

I. Love. Eating. Fish.

The last time I went fishing was with my dad when I lived in Reno.  Basically, a long time ago.  This is unacceptable.  I need to pack up my fishing pole, grab some pink powerbait, and catch me some dinner.

Punchbowl Falls

Since I've known about Punchbowl Falls, I've wanted to visit.  I never really found the time last summer, so I'm hoping I'll find some time this summer to visit the pool.

Hotsprings

I LOVE HOTSPRINGS.  Like, love.  A nature hot tub?  You'd think I'm a hippie by the amount of excitement I get from hotsprings.  There are several hotsprings in this area, so I'm hoping to visit at least one!  Stay tuned :-)

Campfire on the Beach

Did you know that in Oregon you can have campfires on the beach?!  LEGALLY!  This will be my third summer in the PNW and I still haven't had a campfire on the beach.
Shameful - I know.
Although this one might need some company.  Any takers?

Crabbing/Clamming

Need I say more?  I've always wanted to catch crab then have a crab cookout.  My little heart SWOONS when I think of this!  It's kind of like fishing in that it's not very exhilarating until you catch something, but it's still fun for me :-)

Weekend Updates!

Do you ever have those weekends where it's cold and rainy so sometimes it's easier to stay inside than do anything?

Aaron now has Saturday off work (hashtag PoliceProblems) so we've been struggling with what to do on rainy Portland weekends now that we actually get to see each other!

So Aaron's brother was in town this weekend which was a nice way to force us out of the house and do what Portlandian's do best:   

Drink Beer

This weekend was Portland's annual Zwickelmania.  Since Aaron always works Saturday's we've never been able to go.  So not only did we get to go but we got to share all of the fun microbreweries with his brother!

.... and by "all" I mean we were done after 2 beers.  His brother even got to see my allergy to alcohol take over my face and body.

Success!

It's Monday, Already?!

Sometimes you have those weekends that drag, then sometimes you have those weekends that FLY.

This weekend we  flew :-)

Friday was a zoo.  I've decided I'm never hosting an "Ice Cream Friday" day at work solo ever again.  I can't tell you how many times I wanted to put my sassy pants on and tell people to be thankful they were getting ice cream.

Straight from work I headed to a bloggy date with Brooke, Jessi, Laura, Jane, and Rachel at Saucebox in Portland.  By the way - they have an AMAZING happy hour.  My bill was $10.  $10!!  I'll be back.  But I had a wonderful time and the conversation was so easy!  The creepy thing with blog friends is you already know about each other.  So the conversation starts like this, "Hi it's so nice to meet you!  By the way I love the pictures of your apartment." 
Creepy? 
Not creepy? 
It's a bloggy thing.

After the bloggy date I picked up Aaron from home and we got more food (because that's what weekends are for - gaining back the weight you lost during the week - duh) and went to Powell's because I NEEDED my new Portland 2014 Events calendar.  Guys - if you live near PDX you NEED this calendar.  I lovelovelove my 2013 calendar and demanded to have the 2014 version:-)

Saturday Aaron and I slept in, spent the entire day together, and headed to a party with some friends.  To be totally honest, whenever I'm doing anything with that fiance of mine I am totally head over heels in love.  Too mushy? 

 

We also made an Ikea run to pick up some things.  I don't know who thought it was a good idea for us to live 15 minutes within an Ikea, but I'm pretty sure we've single handedly ensured all their employees will receive Holiday Bonus' this year.   We brought the Polly pup so we could show off her new Lumber Jackie hat!  Turns out dogs aren't allowed in Ikea, but we didn't find out till we were leaving

;-)  Shucks.  Plus - she's not really a dog - she's more like a little human. 

 

We seriously have problems.

 

And lastly, have you voted for the World's most adorable baby in the Gerber baby contest yet?  If you have a few extra minutes, show a fellow blogger some love and vote for Courtney's adorable little Mia (Entry ID 249510). 

My Backyard - Current City

Remember my last post about my hometown?  My next little post is about my current city, Portland, OR.

Guys - it's B-E-A-Yoooootiful here.  Gosh darn gorgeous.  We put up with 9 months of rain for a reason: The Summers.  July, August, and September could not be any prettier than up in the Pacific Northwest.

We have festivals almost every weekend in the summer, everything is about beer (and microbreweries), the food is amazing, and we have color.  Tons of color.  The people are colorful.  The city is colorful.  It's wonderful.

I joke about living with hippies, but in all honesty I'm totally serious.  There are hippies galore here.  If you move to Portland or visit here, you'll learn really quickly to recycle (you want me to have HOW many trash cans?) and appreciate Gluten Free/Vegan foods.  And get used to the smell of incense (blech gag vomit).

So with that being said, here are some of the pictures we've taken while we've lived in Portland!

Woodburn Tulip Fesitval!

Hop, skip, and a jump away to the coast

BERRY PICKIN'!!

Outdoorsy stuff.... like skiing

A beautiful waterfront

A forest... smack dab in the middle of Portland.

Good beer and perfect temps

Waterfalls... everywhere

 

Amazing hikes and beautiful rivers

Bridges, Bridges, and Bridges

Now that I've fully exploited this beautiful city we're living in, come visit (curing July, August, or September).  We love guests and love to share this wonderful city.

Color Me Rad

Hi Friends!  The fiance and I have recently returned from our week-long vacation.

Yep - you read it right.  AN ENTIRE WEEK!!  And it felt so good.

We started the vacation with the Color Me Rad 5k run and had ZE BEST time.  We did the run with another couple and had so much fun.

If you haven't done a color run, you HAVE to sign up.  Like, now.

We have so many pictures from our vacation that I'm realizing I need to break up my bloggy posts rather than do one massive photo dump.  Beginning with the color run of course...

Forest Park Frolick

Sunday was my "run day."

I've got this crazy idea that I want to run 7 miles a week.  That could be 1-mile a day, two 3.5-mile days, anything.

My idea is that eventually running may get easier.

But let's be honest.  Running never gets easier.

ANYWHO.  Since it was really warm outside, boyfriend recommended we go to Forest Park.  You know, because it's shaded and "flat."

As long as it's flat, I'll go.  I don't want any stinkin' hills.

Lo and behold our run was not a running path, it was a hiking trail.  

Hiking as in "not flat."  

Hiking as in "switchbacks."  

Hiking as in, "straight uphill death."

I made it the entire 5 miles.  No I did not run the entire 5 miles - because I would have died.

But we had fun and enjoyed a beautiful part of Portland.

I thought I'd share some of our photos :-)

The hikerun was so green - it's crazy to think this is right in the middle of Portland

Our hikerun led up to the Pittock Mansion.  I always wondered what the big whoop was until we saw the view.  If only I could show in a picture how long Aaron just stood there mesmerized staring at Hood.

Where's Waldo Boyfriend?

We ended the entire hikerun with some Lardo.  Nothing like a massive sandwich to gain back all of the calories you just burned :-)