Blog Haitus & Europe Checklist

This time next week we'll be driving through Southern German countryside on our way to Neuschwanstein. I can't wait! And this girl won't have international bloggin' technology, so y'all are gonna have to take up watching General Hospital or (a-hem) working while I'm on a blog break. And then prepare yourselves for the epic post when we get back :) I'm gonna make sure you are sick of me again, promise!

My Europe Checklist:

1. Oktoberfest
2. See the Glockenspiel do it's thang
3. Eat donner kebab
4. BMW factory
5. Castles and mansions, oh my!
6. Gondola?
7. Opera
8. Pasta
9. Vino
10. Pastries
11. Sunrise in the South of France
12. More mansions
13. Some historical stuff
14. ART
15. Sangria and paella
15. Architecture

The end. I can't wait!!! What would be on your hypothetical Europe Checklist, y'all?

Stuff n' Things

Yesterday was my little sister's birthday! I'm so proud of her. A few days ago we went out to dinner at Madame K's in Ballard (before it closes for good...tear!). It was sooo yummy. Thanks for being born, Courtney! I love you and am so proud of you!!!

I feel like sharing with y'all the expression that my dog has perfected:

The art of looking pathetic and sad and cute. She does this every morning until I finally break down and stop being lazy and take her for a walk.

Last Friday I managed to grab a couple of blurry-low-lighting shots of "The Diller Room" where we went to happy hour. Supercute location complete with tin ceilings and friendly Cornhusker fans. Good times! Not the cheapest happy hour around but it does have this chandelier.

Last but not least...a blurry picture of me with CHER. I cannot WAIT to see this movie!!!

Gasworks from a Kite

Kite Aerial Photographs of Gasworks Park by Rod Hoekstra.
{via MyWallingford}

This is what this blog has come to.

Dad goes nuts dancing to Bieber.

AOTD

Chris Maluszynski’s Las Vegas Carpets series {via GalaDarling}

Alice in WaterLand by Elena Kalis {via MirrorMirror}

Falling Garden by Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger {via JealousCurator}

Colour Pencils by Jonna Pohjalainen {via JealousCurator}

Bellingham State of Mind

My lil' sis is back up at school and we had to go check out her new crib! It was fun to make a day of it and she showed us all the cool stuff and I got to take a little trip down memory lane...college!

First stop: Boundary Bay. We got that tapenade I couldn't stop thinking about from last summer, and salad and chowder and of course, oatmeal stout. Mysty waited impatiently outside for us, making friends and enemies. Obnoxious!

Next stop: Lafeen's! Court reminded me about this awesome place. Ladies, remember the pj-clad late night doughnut missions? Good times...

 

This place is friggin' classic...and they have wifi!

The classic.

Apple fritter goodness.

My raspberry jelly doughnut. SO GOOD.

Yeah.

Noshin'.

I love my sister!

Where to next? How about Whatcom Falls. And let's check out the fish hatchery while we're at it...

Fishy makin'

Fishies being fishies

Supercute bridge

Court I think you are channeling Aunt J here...

Falls. Some crazy people jump here ;)

Another fall.

Whew! Worked up an appetite. Headed over to the other other B'ham brewery...

Chuckanut...sat outside and enjoyed the view and last moments of Summer...

Cohab got the sampler, of course!

I got the Kolsch. It was Kolsch night! I like this a lot...

Chowdah. Really good.

Last stop: tower on campus. I did not even know about this when I went here. It's this really creepy tower on the top of Sehome Hill that you can climb up and see all over. That's Canada over there. I think.

Mt. Baker.

B'ham!

There ya' have it, Folks. Another day trip to B'ham to visit the sis in the books. I can't wait to go back. Maybe we'll have to make a Winter trip up there. Thanks for hosting us, Court! :) :) :)

Weekend Re-Cap

A quick re-cap of my "weekend" (in quotes because weekends are everyday in unemployment world) and then on to the "week" recap!

We trekked over to Husky Stadium for an awesome tailgate and the game. The dawgs won!!! Woo! So much more fun with a win. I also love tailgating. It's never not awesome. Thanks to the Loganns and their families for basically planning and making the whole thing happen. I love when parents are around.

Megan and I, being "honorary" dawgs for the day. Hey, WWU doesn't have a football team, anymore!

I love the hardcore tailgaters. Ice sculpture? Nice.

Broheims. Can I get a witness on how my honey totally has the Randolf Engineering MadMen sunglasses? He's so trendy!

Bartons. Phil with Amelia, striking supercute poses. Love this little one!

I went on a spree taking pics of sibs. Here's Megan and Kristin!

Keene and Marissa. All the O'Connors say "heeeeey!"

And of course, the couples pic.

I had a blast at the game. Any excuse to wear a CRAZY HAT.

Then on Sunday I wasn't feeling very awesome but Keene still got to go along on a plane ride with Pilot Phil. He loved it! I will definitely have to make sure I go next time. Check out some of the shots he took from the plane...

Pretty cool stuff, huh? It was a super duper weekend all around!!! :) :) :)

List and Comm: if I had the time...

You Guys, do you ever get inspired and think of all the things you could do and try and see? I have to make lists, because I can't always get to this stuff in a timely manner. Some day, sigh!

Things I Really Want to Do Right Now:

1. Learn to can and pickle, take a class
2. Assemble mini pies and freeze to enjoy this winter
3. Get out my sewing machine and experiment with altering my clothes
4. Make more jewelry
5. Make chili
6. Work on my halloween costume (high stakes among my pals)
7. Learn to golf
8. Take tennis lessons
9. Go to a First Thursday Artwalk
10. Go get a pumpkin spice latte (this one I can actually do today!)

What are y'all inspired to do this Fall?

{image via WeHeartIt}

90th Birthday Bash

Last Sunday my Grandma turned 90 years old. *NINETY!!!* It was such a milestone day and we no doubt hat to make sure she celebrated just how she wanted. Lots of family and friends came over and my Grandma looked beautiful. I hope I get to 90 with as much grace and style as she has!

Me and Gram as the party is just getting underway!

Had to have a touch of yellow at the front entrance.

Here's part of my big picture project I did: little streamers that started at the front door. (BTW many thanks to my girls who helped me cut circles and put these together)

We added them to the french doors inside too.

I wanted to highlight some of Gram's favorite pictures...she is so gorgeous!

Gotta have the birthday bunting, right? :)

Put out some of the frames we had with pretty pictures of Gram over the years. Gorgeous again!

The spread. Lots of food: Grandma's recipe chicken casserole, salmon, fruit, crab, caesar salad, artichoke rice salad (thank you, Cohab!), the cake, and pasta salad.

My mom made my Gram's favorite: butterscotch pie. Yum!

And here's Margaret who was so sweet to come over! Her and my Grandma are besties. Margaret bought Gram some maps which was some inside joke between the two of them. They are so cute.

I had a great time celebrating my Grandma and her milestone birthday. Can't wait to have some butterscotch pie again next year for her 91st!