Portlandia Part 1

       I think I have now been to Portland enough times to admit that I love it here. I can comfortably say it is my favorite US city and I could see myself living here one day (big deal!). The people are great. Portlanders are very open and welcoming and I feel they are my kind of folks with whom I fit with nicely. The vibe is alive and happy and healthy and laid back while simultaneously buzzing with activity. Each neighborhood is unique and every house uses it landscaping and paint job to express its owners personality, giving the entire city a very individual experience. No cookie-cutter concrete jungle here! ;)
       If you're lucky enough to be out on a nice morning before 9am the footsteps of runners become your serenade. They come in pairs and singles from all directions, wave as they pass and the disappearing sound of their feet dominating the pavement is soon replaced by another. The energy reverberates from the streets and the shops and makes me reconsider my decision to give up running.....
       Portland is the city of tattoo sleeves, gluten free muffins, organic produce, Powell's Books, REI Headquarters and a million other things I have yet to discover. I am reminded that although the sky is cloudy, the air is clean and not all city drivers are jerks. I feel this city breathing life into me and slowly reviving my soul. I feel creative again. Energetic. Motivated. Content-ish. Welcome. Thanks Carter and Jenny for this amazing stay-cation, I can never thank you enough ;)

       For those of you who don't know, I came to the be in this lovely area because my Aunt and Uncle are off enjoying all that New Zealand has to offer for three weeks....Enter me, house sitter extraordinaire ;) Upon my arrival I was outfitted with a month long pass to LA Fitness and a punch card to Root Yoga Studio which I use almost every day and twice on some days! YOGA OVERLOAD!!!! :D There is also a Whole Foods within walking distance of the house, which for those of you who know me, realize that means in order to preserve my wallets integrity I avoid it like the plague.... except on rare occasions when I just go wander the aisles and gawk at all the foodie works of art. What a life.....


       Not to fear!!! Not all has been sloth!! I have been here two weeks now and in that time have sewed a quilt (which will likely be my last due to its overly tedious and time consuming nature!) , joined an exotic dance class (where I get to wear these shoes!), and found a volunteer position at the Artists Repertory Theater.  I also found a girlfriend form college residing here in Portland whom I convinced to eat FroYo and go bowling with me...which was not hard to do as you might imagine. Thanks Rachelle!!! We ROCK at bowling! 
       Last Saturday Charlie and I took advantage of the elusive sunshine and took a hike up to Shellburg Falls after which the little guy was so tired he passed out on the back seat and slept the whole way home!
       Also the first week here I made Valentines treats(Chocolate Chip Banana Bread) and ODed on Winter Olympic Sports. This year to honor the Olympic games in Sochi I made some of my favorite dishes from around the world including Central Asian dumplings, Chinese steamed buns, Turkish baklava, Russian Shepard's pie, and even Swiss fondue!! Thanks Jack for helping me eat all this!!
 
 
       The trip over here was Charlie's first commercial airline experience (although he has been flying in mom's plane since he was 10 weeks old!!!) and he was a superstar!!! There was no whining or barking as he sat perfectly quiet under the seat in front of me the whole time. On our layover we went outsidefor a walk and although he wasn't so keen on going back through security he handled it like the traveling champ he is!! Way to go Bean!!
       As always I will end with a darling pic of Charlie (I can't help it really.....). He followed me into the shower one day and I closed him in for a few minutes...cruel Mama!!! ;) I love and miss you all and hope you are well where ever you find yourself these days. xoxo

Visit to Moscow and More

        Well it looks like I arrived back in McCall just in time for that very special and equally maddening time of year...WINTER CARNIVAL!! I must say I was super impressed this year with the sculptures. They were large, ornate, interactive and very visually appealing; you go McCall businesses! Here is a picture of the Stacey Cakes cupcake I took while driving (safely of course...), however if you want to see better photos, you can go online to the StarNews website to see the winners. They are superb.

        Of course with all these sculptures going up, the tourists are bound to follow, so I got my share of winter fun in the week before and the escaped the craziness of the weekend by taking a trip up to Moscow, ID to visit my dear friend Kyler! Oh boy! Kyler was recently promoted to assistant manager at the Moscow branch of WinCo. Right on kid!!! However, as a result of added responsibilities I soon discovered he was living off of deli chicken strips and microwave "Texas Toast" (whatever that is...). So we spent a few days having cooking lessons and stocking the freezer with healthy meals! Naturally I was in heaven. Cooking mass quantities of all my favorite foods for someone else...I think I should be a personal chef in my next life!! What fun!!! In addition to our kitchen extravaganza we went hiking, swimming, and spent some time walking around my old college town and catching up. We even had breakfast at my favorite old coffee spot, Bucers, where they still make the best bran muffins under the sun. It was quite relaxing and a real treat. :)

        When Charlie and I arrived back in town, things had calmed down a bit and we are able to get out into the snowy wonderland without the crowds. I met up with this girl for an amazing snow shoe out by Little Lake where we trekked in knee deep powder for nearly 2 hours! It was terribly exhausting and yet extremely fulfilling. While struggling through the snow with Mr. Charlie strapped to my back I had a moment of appreciation for where I was. The sun was out and the sky was the kind of blue you see in calendar photos.  I was in the woods with one of my best friends, my furry companion, nearly numb toes, snow in my hair, and air in my lungs so crisp it burned on the inhale, and I thought, "By God, this is it! This is what people dream about. This is most definitely the good life." Of course these things have been present almost all my life growing up here in McCall, but only after suffocating in a place like Tianjin can I truly appreciate them....funny how that goes huh? Sometimes I just have to remind myself to stop and take it all in sometimes :) Thanks for the adventure Carly Kay!!! xoxoxo

        Anywho, as we draw near the middle of February I find myself preparing for a another mini-trip! Next week Charlie and I will be boarding a plane to Portland, OR to house sit for my Aunt and Uncle. I get to spend close to 4 weeks in one of my most beloved cities!! Yahoo!! This will be Mr.Charlie's very first airport/plane ride experience; not to worry it will be well documented and many photos will be shared! 

      I think that is all to report for now, and I hope to hear from all of you with updates about your own lives!! As is custom here is a darling photo of Charlie to close. Love and miss you all! Take care! xoxoxo