MIA

It's been a long time since I've blogged so I thought I'd post some fun picks from the past few months...hope you enjoy!

PDX Highrise Highlife

Thursday was my last night in Portland so I tried to make the most of it. I waned a proper way to bid this wonderful city adieu. After work I went out with the ladies from work to VQ. I had the seafood stew and fries and they were both to die for. After dinner I met up with some climbing friends. We hit up my friend Ray's high rise and had some drinks at a local pub in the Alphabet district. We rode the street car (which I hadn't done yet) and strolled home through the remnants of First Thursday. Then we ended the night with some hilarious YouTube videos and a good round of laughs. It was a wonderful way to say "see ya later" to a place that has become like a second home! PDX, I'm gonna miss you!

I heart Music: Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons: Little Lion Man

Album: Sigh No More

Weep for yourself, my man, You'll never be what is in your heart

Weep little lion man, You're not as brave as you were at the start

Rate yourself and rape yourself, Take all the courage you have left

Wasted on fixing all the problems that you made in your own head

But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?

Tremble for yourself, my man, You know that you have seen this all before

Tremble little lion man, You'll never settle any of your score

Your grace is wasted in your face, Your boldness stands alone among the wreck

Learn from your mother or else spend your days biting your own neck

But it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I, my dear?

Ross & Jess get hitched

This weekend my dear friends Ross and Jess tied the knot. I have known this amazing couple for 10+ years and I was so honored to share this special occasion with them. The wedding was lovely. It was the first wedding that I've been to that actually felt like a celebration of love, a celebration not only between two people, but also between a greater group of friends, who all totally support each other. I am so thankful for the amazing friends I have in my life!

PDX-I heart you

Oh, Portland, how I have come to love you over the past few months. You have become a home away from home. Here are just a few reasons why I love you:

1. The Ace Hotel

2. Clyde Common

3. Stumptown Coffee

4. Lumberjack hipsters

5. Carver bouldering

6. Portland Rock Gym

7. The Circuit (minus the shitty bouldering pads)

8. Food Carts

9. Serratto

10. The Portland Outdoor store

Santi Tortilla's BBQ Birthday

This weekend we celebrated my friend and climbing partner, Santi Portilla's birthday. We BBQed at La Loma Park in Berkeley. His mom made some kick ass food and the weather was amazing. It was a great time being lazy with friends. Happy Birthday my Tortilla! XO!

WORD

FAMILY

I opened my emails this morning and to my surprise received a few photos from my great uncle in France. The first one is of my grandma and my great, great Aunt Jany, who I visited in Vence last month. The second one is my momma and my grandma on my mom's first birthday! So sweet! And the last photo is of my grandma with my Aunt Reisha when she was a baby. My grandma was always so stylish, I wish I could have shopped her closet back then!

Style Inspiration-Utilitarian Chic

*images from FFFFound.com, JJJJound.com, and Lookbook.nu

Joie de Vivre!

A 30 minute bus ride outside of Nice there is a wonderful town called Vence in the rolling hills of the South of France. This is where the remaining part of my French family lives. I took the bus to Vence with my mom and met up with my cousin, aunt, and uncle from the states. This was the soul purpose of my trip to France, to spend time with family and visit my great, great Aunt Jany who's house sits high in the hills in Vence overlooking the surrounding cities. The town is breathtaking, a nod to simpler times, with cobblestone streets, rose gardens, and a town square with a farmer's market.

We spent the day with Jany and had a wonderful lunch with a group spanning four generations of our family. Jany is 88 and a force to be reckon with. She is amazing, still feisty, witty, and elegant all at the same time. She doesn't show any sign of slowing down, still so full of life or as my mom says "joie de vivre". It was really inspiring to spend time with her and to have a piece of family that is normally so far away.

PS-I think "joie de vivre" will be my next tattoo, written in a delicate script. A reminder that life is what you make it and the happiest people are those who live for what they love.

Home away from home

The whirlwind jet set tour of my life continues as I head back to Portland this evening. All this traveling has me a little burnt out on stale airplane air and security checks, but at least I have a nice place to rest my head. Here are a few pics of my little home away from home, the Ace hotel and the local area.

The magazine library and Internet lounge at Ace.

My super comfy bed. I am dying to buy one of these moose Portland blankets but they are like $300!

Love the detail at Ace. Look at this cute vintage inspired mailbag they use for laundry.

Custom murals in the rooms. Last time I got a wilderness theme with a little story about "the Portland gentleman".

The mini bar (I mean mini box)!

More murals. This room is so me, it even matched my luggage!

Cute car I spotted in the Pearl.

The mecca of street eats, Portland's famed food carts.