Tens

Over at Harper's Happenings the other morning  she posted about her flashback to Myspace days when questionnaires ruled the web space. I decided to jump on the bandwagon and answer her questionnaire. (I started this the day she posted... It took me 3 days in between work and school to piece this together. Ah... I love my busy life!)

Picture.

Here's a little teaser (me being a dork) from the Katy Perry photo shoot I did for my birthday. Look for my post tomorrow! 

10 Randoms.

1. I like to sit with my back to the wall and not toward open spaces. My father generously passed this quirk onto me. I would continually ask myself why we do this? And I always come to the conclusion that my dad was in the mafia or a spy. Right? I mean why else... Thus, being his shadow my entire childhood, I developed the strange obsession too. 

2. I purchase a song, throw it on repeat for a week solid. In the shower, the car, at work. I eat, sleep and breathe that song and then I can't listen to it for months. Oddly enough I can't seem to remember the lyrics.

3. I recently found out I have 5 out of 6 types of ADD. Which may explain the lack of lyrical consumption.

4. When asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I would always answer with 3 professions. A CEO of some major company so that I could tell people what to do and then go to  Egypt and be an archaeologist all while I photographed my worldly travels. I blame my mother's obsession with the library/travel and my vivid imagination. Who wouldn't want to be a professional photographer archaeologist CEO?

5. I am the oldest of 6 kids and yet at 5'7" the shortest. (Except for the 6 year old that's already at my waist.)

6.  I eat the outside of cookies first and save the middle for the last bite. Actually -let's face it- I do that with most everything, I want the thing I remember tasting to be the sweetest, juiciest, softest bit.

7. I dislike tomatoes, cauliflower, sprouts and most seafood (except crab, I love good crab meat). But I like prunes, okra and eggplant.

8. My right pinky toe doesn't bend, I've broken it so many times that it's stuck straight. So when I walk in areas that footprints can be left it looks like I only have 4 toes.

9. I don't have pierced ears.

10. I'm studying to be a personal trainer but I have the biggest sweet tooth ever. 

10 HH Questions.

1. have you ever met someone famous? I had the pleasure of meeting most of the Dallas Cowboys in the mid 90's when they would stop by their "lady friend's" apartment who lived across the hall from us. Lady friend. Parents come up with ridiculous descriptions to protect the innocence of youth.

2. what is your happiest childhood memory? Happiest childhood memory... Oh but there are so many good ones. I think I would say my mind flashes back to constantly having the sun on my face, something that doesn't happen frequently in the NW.

3. favorite album of all time? Um. Entire album? I don't have one. RHCP and Spin Doctors ruled my childhood.  Now I listen to pop music.

4. are you a salty or sweet lover? More sweet than salty but their combo? Salted chocolate. Genius.

5. what is favorite guilty pleasure tv show or movie? 90210 I lust after the clothing and wish I lived in California.

6. Describe your favorite sandwich.  Avocado, spinach, a gourmet cheese, non deli turkey meat, miracle whip (yep. I said it.), Dave't Killer Bread.

7. what was your first pet? A hermit crab. Traumatic experience.

8. what is your biggest accomplishment thus far in life? Helping others reach their goals and do things they never thought were possible. 

9. what is the first blog you started reading? My friend's private family blog then A Cup of Jo.

10. if you had to choose one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be? One? Not ok. I would probably cheat and do one of those combo desserts.

A Second Snow Day?

Snow does not often stick in the Vancouver/Portland area so to have two days where there was a blanket of snow on the ground is quite the event.I was one of the few lucky people to see the snow fall at 1:00am this morning. A perk of late night study sessions!

I  watched the snow fall as I read one of my books for my research paper, Brittany drifting off curled up in a ball covered by a blanket laying on the floor at my parent's shop (we're quite the pair). When I started to feel the lull for sleep I woke Brittany and we ran out to start our cars so they could warm up. Naturally two best friends in the snow resulted to a snow ball fight. Our bare hands were frozen and my flats were soaked but it was well worth it. 

After a four hour 'nap' I woke to a winter wonderland. Taking my pups out for their first real snow experience was hilarious. Ivy stepped outside and as soon as she got to the snow line she stopped and looked at me like "you're kidding right?" Megatron loved the snow. 

 

New Things

For my birthday I bought myself presents. I do it every year. It's sort of one of my things. I feel like I spend a lot of money on other people and making things happen for them so once a year I try to buy items that I want but normally wouldn't purchase.

This year I went big. My first present to myself was a big one. I bought tickets to Coachella. 

Remember my little sneak peak I gave you at the beginning of February? Well these were the beauties I bought for my Katy Perry photo shoot. Bebe Omega Glitter Wedges, they have the most spectacular shine and their color, the color! I couldn't resist this purchase, unfortunately their design was poor for walking in so they ended up being just for the photo shoot. 

And then I bought these treats at Ulta:

1. My splurge was the LIPPY gloss, normally I would never purchase $17 lip gloss but that's what a birthday does to me. I've been wanting the perfect bright pink lip color for ages and LIPPY nailed it. The color, the texture, the shine... magical. Seriously.

2. Katy Perry's new perfume Meow! The scent attracted me from 3 isles away! An employee had just sprayed a tester, when I found out it was Katy's new fragrance, I knew it was fate. 

3&4. I've been wanting purple polish for ages and as I had an Ulta certificate for a free polish... I couldn't help but pick up the blue polish as well. Hello spring! 

Rocking the new lip gloss today, I paired it with Revlon's 720 Fire & Ice. 

I am in love.

Sick Pup

I hate it when my babies are sick! Megatron about broke my heart last night with his sadder than usual look and continual attempts to cuddle on my lap.

Did I mention he about broke my heart with his sickness? I mean seriously. Look at these photos.

Weekend Recap

Continuing the birthday theme: My baby brother's birthday was one week ago today. We are three years and two days apart. Growing up we would always celebrate our birthday together. This year we were planning on going to LA but his travel plans fell through.... hopefully next year! But I still wanted to do something special so this weekend I sent out a care package.

Included were some of his favorite cookies: double chocolate chip using this recipe.

I also decided to try the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar that's been circulating Pinterest for weeks. My brother Daniel and I braved the weather and walked the pups to the store to grab a few ingredients. We literally experienced rain then snow and when slush started falling from the sky decided to take shelter in Petsmart and buy the pups treats. By the time we left the store (15 minutes later) it was sunny. Honestly, this weather!

While waiting for the oven I spent some quality time with the pups.

Megatron enjoying his new toy:

V having separation anxiety this weekend, trying to have me hold her anytime I was in her sight:

After baking and a ridiculous amount of chores I headed out for the night to celebrate my birthday with my Vancouver friends. We were going to go to Harvey's comedy club but the show was sold out so instead we headed to Le Happy, a creperie on the west side of Portland. Their crepes are amazing. The atmosphere is eclectic and it's very small but if you're in the mood for crepes this is a must stop in Portland. Afterward we went to Shiraz Grill a Mediterranean bar for drinks. The drinks were good and their homemade fries are stellar but our waitress was extremely pushy and put a damper on our experience. We ended our night listening to music and grabbing another drink at Jinx. I couldn't have asked for better company or a more relaxed and hilarious night.

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend, happy Monday!

Panera and Sun

I took a little study break to treat myself to lunch at Panera. Nothing beats a cold winter day like a hot bowl of soup.

I love their broccoli cheddar soup. Slight obsession.

The drive home from the library was beautiful, the calm before the storm.

Birthday Activities

Kells Irish Pub

It is no secret that Kells is by far my favorite pub in Portland and when I found out a few months ago that they have a sister location in Seattle I insisted to Ryan "I have to go on one of my upcoming trips!" He remembered my request and took me there last Friday night. The Seattle Kells is practically nothing like the Portland Kell's but it's still just as amazing. Have you ever had a Washington Apple? It was our beverage of choice for the night.

Tea Time

On my actual day of birth, we spent the entire morning and early afternoon baking a plethora of cupcakes. Mid afternoon rolled around and being up to my elbows in cupcakes (literally), starving and in need of a hairbrush the boys convinced me to put the spatula down and attend tea time. My friends have shared stories about this illusive tea time for ages and last Saturday I finally was able to experience it for myself. Tea time occurs at The Grill on Broadway, the restaurant its self is gorgeous and their $5 sliders and teas are unbelievably good. 

The birthday kids Brad (on my left) and myself with Brandyn, Ryan and Tiffanie. 

Best Seattle hosts.

There was a pre-event going on at The Grill that night, we had to join in on the fun. Naturally.

After dinner we headed to Red Light Vintage & Costume. That place... ridiculous. I could easily spend way too much money in that store.

Movie Time

After our photo shoot (pictures to come!) we headed out to Purr, a bar on Capital Hill. It is our regular bar of choice, not fully recovered from my week of sickness I  ended up sitting at a table observing for most of the night, secretly excited about going back to the apartment for movie time. We watched a number of movies over the weekend but the birthday night movie choice was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I had never seen the movie before and I loved it. The awkwardness of the main characters and monologues of Flint the main character kept me laughing again and again.