Freedom and Fireworks

Happy Belated Fourth of July!

We all know that Emily LOVES a good reason to celebrate… And what better excuse than our freedom!? Bring on the Hot Dogs, Cocktails, Fire Works, and American Flag garb, I live for this shit!

I took advantage of my trip to Oregon, and spent Sunday at my best friend Mattie’s place. You guys, her and her husband just bought a HOUSE! I am so beyond proud of them and so excited I finally got to see it. It is the cutest ever, and the perfect place to start celebrating The Fourth. We decided to toss on our favorite combination of Red, White, and Blue and have a little Independence Eve barbecue.  

   

Evening highlights included burgers AND brats, fries, cheese sauce, cowboy caviar, ‘smores, and all the Moscow Mules we could drink. We rounded out the night with Fourth Man Out, a totally random movie we found on Netflix. It was absolutely adorable (highly recommend it) AND the last scene in the movie is a Fourth of July barbecue. #nailedit

I headed back to Seattle early the next morning, and spent the bulk of my Fourth of July afternoon reading on the porch. You can tan through the clouds, right?

That evening, I went to a movie. A little non-tradish, I know, but I wore a totally festive outfit and saw Independence Day sooooo I feel like it was okay. In fact, on a dreary Fourth of July, it was actually kind of perfect.

Finally, I joined my roommate and his girlfriend on our tiny little rooftop deck to enjoy the fireworks around the city. It was a great way to conclude a weekend of celebrating. Plus, I got to sport this little gem.

 

Hope everyone had all the beers and brats they could handle this weekend! Cheers to freedom & other Fourth of July things!

Baby Shower Sweetness

Happy Thursday, Dolls!

It has been another one of those weeks where I have barely caught up from the prior weekend’s festivities and it is time to start a new one. I can’t believe how quickly this summer is flying by. There are so many exciting things going on in the lives of my friends and family, and I am have loved all the opportunities to celebrate with them.

This weekend was another trip down to Oregon to prepare for the upcoming arrival of my best friend’s baby!  It is hard to believe that only two short years ago we were celebrating Branden’s Wedding, and now we are getting ready to welcome his first child into the world. So much has changed, yet when we all get together it feels oddly as if time has stood still.

 

 

 

I came down a little early so that we could all enjoy a little time together before the shower. We spent Friday night sitting at Branden’s place in the nursery guessing baby names (well Branden & Casey did, I already knew) and swapping remember whens. It was so nice to catch up and equally nice to make Taco Bell before the night was over!  

The following day, after Casey’s dad made me waffles (#winning), Casey and I dashed around to prepare for the baby shower. How adorable did my present turn out? You all know I love a good themed gift! Plus, best book ever, amiright?  

 

Somehow, we managed to fit in a pit stop to grab our all-time fav burritos. Granted, the detour made us a LITTLE late to the shower, but it was worth every bite.

 We arrived at the party just in time to partake in the decorating of bibs and onesies. Obviously, we took it WAY too seriously and spent the bulk of the shower meticulously perfecting our works of art. Don’t worry, it was totally worth it when Casey and I swept the competition with a one-two finish. SWEEP. Oh also, NBD, but I also kicked ass at the matching game! I know you can’t win a baby shower… But I kinda feel like I did…

It was such a blast catching up with everyone and watching Branden and Katie open all the thoughtful gifts they received. I love when gift giving becomes interactive with a friendly game of bingo… But I lost, so hardly worth mentioning.

Overall, it was such a special day to celebrate the parents-to-be. The party lasted several hours and was absolutely perfect from start to finish. I loved spending time with all the people that came to support them, and am so excited for all the love that baby BOY will be showered with. I can’t wait to meet you, Branch Gordon! I love you so much and it is such an honor to call myself your auntie.  

Bacheloretting

Happy Friday!

I had every intention of posting this on Monday, yet here we are… So don’t mind me, I will be shamelessly reminiscing on the weekend as we get ready to dive into another one!

It was one of those weekends that “remember whens” are built from, where every moment creates a lifetime memory. The type of memories you don’t even realize you’re making… Except I did know. From start to finish, I knew this was a weekend I would be reliving for the rest of my life. We were celebrating Caitlin’s bachelorette party, and it could not have been more perfect. From the wonderful guests to endless supply of wine (#bitcheslovewine), it was everything I could have imagined.

 

 After an awesome housewarming party Thursday night, I peeled my hungover ass out of bed and headed to the train station early Friday morning…. BTW, how cute are my roommates & I?

Once I arrived in Portland, there was no time to spare. Caitlin and I grabbed Red Robin, obviously, then headed to McMinnville. We were the first to arrive at the house we rented in our beloved college town, and it could not have been cuter. I will say, the neighborhood looked a litttttllleee sketch, but once inside the little cottage we totally died, it was everything we could have dreamed of. Luckily, we snapped a few pics before it was overtaken by straighteners, purses, and piles of shoes.

 

 

 

Before we knew it, the house began filing up and it was time to think about dinner. There was no question, we had to hit up Thai Country, our all-time favorite Thai Restaurant. I always assumed Thai Country simply held sentimental value, but after scarfing down every last bite of my Cashew Nut Stir Fry I can confirm that it is hands down the best Thai cuisine there ever was… So good! Although we barely rolled ourselves out of there, we miraculously had plenty of room for cocktails and animal cookies back at the house! We spent the rest of the evening drinking, hot tubbing, and reminiscing. It was the perfect start to the perfect weekend. 

The following morning was equally delightful. We leisurely got ready for the day and enjoyed bagels and donuts from our favorite grocery store. Once we were all dolled up in our matching shirts, our chariot arrived… And by chariot, I mean a mini bus driven by the world’s most inappropriate tour guide ready to take us on a Willamette Wine adventure. When we climbed aboard and he was BLASTING Eminem, we knew we were in for a treat.



First, he took us to Starbucks because we are blissfully basic and can’t even without our coffee, and then we were off.

 

He took us to 4 unique wineries, each of which we absolutely adored. The first was Anne Amie. It was absolutely immaculate, and was a great way to start the tour. We had a lovely time exploring the property as we sampled a few incredible wines.

 

 

 

Next was Redmond Cellars. This was a totally personal experience because it was run by the sweetest woman who lived on site. She filled us with snacks and stories, and made us feel like we had known her forever.

 

Our third stop of the day was probably the most beautiful place I’d ever been. I legitimately felt like I was visiting a castle. It was totally breathtaking and the perfect place to enjoy the charcuterie lunch that Wayne had packed us.

 

 

The final stop of the day was Ghost Hill. It was a rustic, family owned winery that was rich with history and eerie tales of the ghost that haunts the property. We loved meeting the family and hearing their stories. They even gave Cate a free bottle of wine to celebrate her upcoming wedding!

We were all pretty exhausted when we got back to the house, so we relaxed a bit before getting ready for the night. We all got dressed up for the evening and took Caitlin to her favorite restaurant in McMinnville followed by cocktails at one of our favorite bars on 3^rd Street. It was such a special way to end the day, and watching Caitlin’s joy and tears with each surprise was nothing short of magical.

 

With all the fun and excitement, you would think there wouldn’t be room for anymore… But there is ALWAYS room for Muchas. If you’ve never been, your 2:00 am self is missing out. Walking through those greasy doors was a total riot and probably completely unnecessary, but it had to be done!

I could ramble on for hours about this perfect weekend, but I will end by saying how truly heartwarming it was. Being surrounded by such incredible women speaks volumes about the kind of person Caitlin is. I feel unbelievably blessed to have her as my best friend and to have the opportunity to share these special moments with her. Cheers to the perfect celebration for the incredible bride to be.

Yay, Summer

Happy belated first day of summer. I had the cutest little “Summer Must Haves” post planned out, but I totally dropped the ball on that one… Whoops! Instead, you get a run of the mill weekend recap. Wah wah. Hoping to share a few of my summertime favs later this week!

As for the weekend festivities… It started off on a great note when my boss and I got free coffee from McDonalds! #regulars

Work was work, then it was time to hit the open road with Zach and head down to Oregon… Only the road wasn’t so open. Traffic was a nightmare so we decided to pause the road trip for a quick bite to eat. When I saw that there was a BJ’s nearby, it was game over! Did someone say dessert for dinner? Oh yeah, that was me! Pizzookies for the win!

When we finally rolled into town, Zach and I parted ways and it was time to watch Finding Dory in 3D with Tayla. I honestly don’t know what was better, the movie or the GIANT tub of popcorn Tay and I devoured before the movie even started. #bothgood #whatdiet

The following morning Tayla and I grabbed an early breakfast before I headed to my Dad’s place to start our early Father’s Day Celebration. My anxiety levels shot through the roof when I saw the remodel.

 

Yes, that is our kitchen. Yes, I cracked open a Mike’s Hard before 10 AM because I was mega stressed and because I couldn’t find a water cup. You do what you gotta do I guess.

We escaped the construction zone and did a little antiquing with my dad before heading to his 40^th class reunion with him. After watching my dad flit about with old classmates, I completely see where I get my social nature from. Plus, he was a total stud... I definitely won in the Dad department.

He loved showing us off, obviously, but couldn’t be bothered to entertain us… Luckily, a good friend my sister and I went to school with was there. Reunions for dayyyzzzz.

 

 

During the celebration, our friend’s mom sent us to the store to pick up a cake. Here is the thing… It’s Clatskanie, so OF COURSE the Safeway didn’t have a cake. Don’t worry, we improvised.

 

Finally, the reunion slowed down, so the three of us headed to another friend’s place to have a reunion of our own. Obviously I drank too much, and obviously I felt like shit the following morning on the train back home, but whatevs. That’s par for the course at this point.

 

Sunday was spent at my roommate’s soccer game soaking up the sun and celebrating the begining of summer.

Yay, Summer! Yay, Father’s Day! Yay, Reunions!

 Happy Second Day of Summer, All.

 

Cheers! 

 

Oh heyyyy. Happy Tuesday. I really don’t have a single solid thought going on, just lots of little things running through my head… So I am just going to empty my brain out real quick.

1. The past few weeks have been an interesting blend of “how is it only Tuesday” and “where did my week go” and it is blowing my mind.

2. McDonald’s Oatmeal is seriously on point. Also, I love that McDonald’s has made an appearance in the last TWO posts. #sorrynotsorry #macdsforlife

3. I was kicking myself this morning for not dressing warmer for my commute, but I am kind of loving this little bit of chilly weather before summer hits Seattle. Bring on the boots and scarves while I cherish the cool, crisp weather for just a few more days.

4. I’m loving how refreshed I feel today. I have really been go, go, go since moving into my new place; so I loved having last night to recharge. I got lots of cleaning, vacuuming, and laundry done (love having a washer/dryer in my unit, btw), made dinner, and spent the evening relaxing with one of my roommates. He mentioned how important it was to have nights like that, and today I am realizing how accurate he is. We spent the remainder of the night watching The Breakfast Club and it was just the coziest, most perfect end to a relaxing evening.

5.  Also, the ending of The Breakfast Club is almost TOO good. That shit is cinematic gold! I had forgotten how much I love that movie.

6. My snooze button game has been far too strong lately. I probs need to knock that off.

7. Finally, Facebook just popped up to remind me that it has been FIVE years since I graduated college. Holy Moly. It is making me feel super old, super nostalgic, and super blessed to have had so many friends and family surround me on such a special day. Also, how crazy is it that five years later I live with two of these goons!

Cheers to things and stuff, because that’s really all I’ve got for today!

Happy Monday, Loves!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Mine was dedicated to a dear friend’s graduation, and all the dinners and parties that surrounded it. So after a weekend of great food, strong drinks, crafts, and tears; it is time to get back to the grind… But first, how about a few Monday Must Haves to start the week?

 

1.       McDonald’s Coffee – MacD’s is my always my jam, but their coffee situation is totally clutch. A buck for a large coffee? Sign me up. Plus, the coffee is actually super solid. And since I prefer my coffee black, it is important to me to have a high quality coffee. No joke, my boss and I go to McDonald’s daily for coffee. The only struggle is not ordering a McGriddle every time!

2.       Celebrity Pink Super Soft Skinny Jeans – So, as you may remember, my world came crashing down when my all-time favorite jeans were discontinued. The wounds are still healing and I am savoring every last second with them, but I did find an acceptable substitute. The Celebrity Pink skinnies are as soft as the name suggests, and totally comfy. They have good stretch, and have enough room in the stomach while fitting snuggly on my legs. They will never fully replace my old jeans #rip, but these are definitely a great option. I bought mine at Macy’s, and they come in all sizes.

3.       OPI Infinite Shine 2 Nail Polish: From Here to Eternity – I am OBSESSED with this color, this brand, this everything. From the fun names to the quirky colors, I have always loved a good OPI polish, but this stuff puts their old stuff to shame. This bright pink is perfect for summer and it seriously lasts forever.

4.       Hanky Panky Panties – You’re welcome. These are simply the BEST. I was introduced to the Hanky Panky panties when I got them as a bridesmaid gift. This bride obviously knew what she was doing because I am totally hooked. There are super soft, stretchy, lacy, and so comfortable. Plus, they are like the cutest undies EVER! They can be found online, at Nordys, and if you’re a real bargain hunter, you can usually snag a pair or two at Nordstrom Rack!

5.       Paper Source Foil Planner – I would be lost without this little gem. I’m totally rocking the gold one because… Obviously. It is totally adorable, fits comfortably in my purse, and is perfected for keeping track of all my things and stuff. Yes, I am aware that I can use the calendar on my phone; and no, I am not interested. I like my precious paper planner, thank you!

6.       Hip Hop BBQ Pandora – I love all music, but early 2000’s Hip Hop really steals my heart. From wine nights to road trips… From getting shit done to getting our dance on, Hip Hop BBQ is always the right choice.  

Cheers to a few fabulous products that I couldn't live without!

Shower Sweetness

I know, I know, I am the cheesiest, but I don’t even care. We threw the most adorable bridal shower for my cousin Kayla on Saturday, and I can’t even contain my excitement. After months of planning, crafting, and shopping; it finally came together.

I’m a sucker for a good theme, and given that my cousin is the best little baker there ever was, we decided to throw a treat themed party. Obviously, the most important part of the party was the dessert table. #treatstreatstreats

 

I was totally obsessed with the way it turned out. We filled the table with all the pink candies, some homemade cakes and cinnamon rolls, a few tasty donuts, and the cutest Starbucks treats there ever were. I have been eyeing those Ice Cream Cone cookies for a while now, and this was the perfect excuse to indulge!

 

I don’t even think I need to tell you what the second most important part was… MIMOSA BAR.

 

We kept it pretty simple with 3 types of juices, Dollar Tree champagne flutes (shhhhh!), and plenty of champagne.

As much as I wish we could have stuck with candy and cocktails, we had to have a few other refreshments… for the LAME party guests.

 

We filled the snack table with chicken fajita wraps, fruit kabobs, and some watermelon cut into hearts. So stinking cute! We also had a leaky drink container filled with watermelon lemonade which was bomb.com! Thank you, Costco.

One of my favorite parts of any party are the little details that often go unnoticed.

For the entry way, we filled an old trunk with aprons and left a sweet little chalkboard note for the bride to be.

The guestbook was an empty cookbook which we asked guests to fill with their favorite recipes. It wasn’t wildly successful, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

For the centerpieces, we filled mixers with some Costco flowers alongside a few homemade coffee filter flowers. And, of course, lollipops EVERYWHERE.

Last but not least, the games! We did a little twist on the classic “can’t say wedding” game by using candy necklace. Everyone started with a candy necklace (aka candy watch due to a little mix-up). If you were caught saying “wedding,” your watch would be stolen. Low and behold, my sister cleaned up at this game, but we made her give up her prize to the next in line. Then we played a rousing game of “Who knows the Bride Best.” Kayla was appropriately embarrassed, but it was nothing to compared to the way she felt when we busted out a few questions that we had asked her future hubby. We cried at his explanation of the reasons he loves Kayla so much, but my favorite response was when we asked him what his least favorite thing about Kayla was, and he said “she acts like my manager.” We couldn’t stop laughing at his painfully accurate answer.

The shower seriously so wonderful, but I can’t say it went off without a hitch… It was a MILLION degrees that day, which made setup difficult and exhausting. It even prevented us from playing the tinfoil dress game because it was just too damn hot. Then there was the bee community that was totally DT Party. #showercrashers Then, of course, there were all the things that were forgotten at home.... You win some, you lose some.

At the end of the day, it really was the sweetest of showers and I couldn't feel more honored or excited to be a part of Kayla's special day.

Here is to luke warm mimosas and melty treats! Cheers.