Sunday, December 29, 2013

0061 -- xmas recap

X-mas has come and gone and what a nice one we had! It was one of many firsts-- our first married, our first without our families, our first in Portland, our first with the CatCamp. The day started with the CatCamp all waking up and exchanging gifts and having coffee. Marp and Stephen had some family stuff to do so off they went and we had some cinnamon rolls followed by a walk since it was sunny!
I love our street!


We got some really stuff from our friends all around! 

Spoke to the fam back south!
Our orange glazed cinnamon rolls, nom!
Mom Cat sent us a tree since we can't have a normal one because Larry will eat it...
Had to play a few rounds of Boggle!
Most of the rest of our day after our walk was spent in the kitchen making X-mas dinner. A peking duck that Marp and I had made the brine for the day before, home made maple butter, lavender cookies, wreath cookies, roasted veggies...




I made a new cocktail that was crazy yummy! Just rose lemonade (you could make your own by mixing lemonade with rose syrup), a few shots of vodka, and just a dash of rose water liquor! Yum!
Sorry for all those who don't eat meat, but this bird was crazy yummy!
Roasted butternut squash, roasted carrots and broccoli with peanut sauce, veggie stuffing, and duck!
After dinner Marp and Stephen headed out to get their puppies and we headed over to Lyndsay and Wesley's for a little X-mas dessert! Their daughter Phelyn and I are just becoming the best of friends! <3 aly="" an="" auntie="" being="" love="" p="">


My folks are in town and work has needed tending to so I appologize for being absent!
Update again soon!!

xxo


Thursday, December 26, 2013

0060 -- holidaze

I've had since last Friday off work and have been trying to use my time wisely...sleeping, enjoying the cats, running errands, and trying to prepare for Marissa's arrival back home. 
While we were in Seattle Marissa and Stephen arrived back in Portland. This time for good! They're staying with us so we've been trying to make sure the spare room is all comfy and the fridge is stocked for our festive times! Larry loves Stephen and decided that he would make himself right at home so that hopefully they would think he was just a bed attachement...
We also finally got our holiday packages sent back down south. They'll be arriving late, but at least they got out! We still have to send our international packages...but hopefully before the new year!

We also got the house as decorated as we will for X-mas. We're not big fans of putting a tree up since our cats are real demons. And I had made a wreath already so the smell of pine is in the air!




On X-mas eve, after a yummy meal of soyrezo burritos we walked down to Peacock Lane, THE street to walk down during the holidays. Every house was done up with lights and some kind of fun theme! It was really incredible. We're also lucking out that the weather is holding up and staying in the 30's and 40's for us!




I'll update again with X-mas day proper soon!
Hope your holidays have been merry and bright!

xxo



Wednesday, December 25, 2013

0059 -- Seattle (quickly)

This past weekend a gal pal of mine from college had a holiday party that we decided to venture up for. Ms. Boots Brady (I know her as Peach) knows how to throw one heck of a party and everyone in attendance was just lovely!! I'm so thankful that our little circle is getting bigger and brighter every year. 
The drive to Seattle from Portland is only about three hours and it's gorgeous the whole way! There's tons of bridges crossing over the various rivers and streams that flow up here in the pacific wonderland. So much different than what we're used to seeing back south.



Seattle was gray and drizzly, as usual, when we got in. We don't mind this weather so much as it gives me an excuse to layer up and wear all my fun coats and hats! 
We used one of our wedding presents to stay at the Ace hotel in Seattle (we've stayed at 3 now and visited 4 of the Ace chain and we love them more and more every time we go).
I'm not sure is it's sad or just a testiment to how much fun we were having but this is the only photo that I have from the party on my phone. Boots' cheese plate was insane so was the pate, the tuna spread, olives, decor...I could keep going! Really the best part was the white elephant gifting. Jordan and I ended up with some whiskey making treats, chocolates, and a candle we're burning right now!
The next morning before heading home we walked down to Pike's Place Market to see what the artisans had for sale. We came across tons of floral arrangements I wanted to buy, scallops the size of a fist, and the freshest veggies around. I was pleased to be able to pick up a few gifts for my dad while we were there too!



Update again soon!

xxo




Tuesday, December 24, 2013

0058 -- wreath treats

Jordan and I had some last minute running around to do this morning including a stop at the grocery store. Since the holidays are here and that means treats galore we decided to grab the ingredients for holiday corn flake wreaths!! Super easy and sure to bring a little cheer!!

4 cups mini marshmallows
1/3 cup butter
1 teaspoon green food coloring
6 cups corn flakes
some cinnamon dot candies

Melt butter on low heat in a stock pot. Add in marshmallows and allow to fully melt. Fold in food coloring. Once fully combined stir in corn flakes. 
We wore gloves since we didn't want green fingers and sprayed them with a bit of oil and then formed little mounds on wax paper. Top off with the cinnamon dots and you're done! 

Of course you could put any topping on these so we did some nightmare before christmas, Zelda, and plain chocolate sprinkles too! 



Update again soon!
xxo

Saturday, December 21, 2013

0057 -- the change

Sometimes life comes out and just yells at you "Hey! Guess what? You're doing it right!" And that's exactly what life just did! Work has started for the new job and I'm really enjoying the new change to being constantly busy and wanting to see it succeed. Other than that we've been trying to get out a few nights, trying to finish all of our Xmas shopping, and keep these cats entertained!

Today were heading to Seattle for a friend's holiday party. We've been lucking out again with weather as it's back up to in the mid 40's and just at freezing at night. It's made for some really pretty days. 

I'm off work until the second of January and I'm looking forward to having my ladywife in Portland and my parent's visit on Boxing Day. 
Update again soon!

xxo


Monday, December 16, 2013

0056 -- waxing and waning

The last two weeks have been a roller coaster over here! Good things are happening but it seems like before they do I always have a bit of a "boo" period. My mum and I call those times when you're just too tired, too stressed, and just blinded by the boo hoo of the current situation. Anyhow, I have been working for a fabrication's company that is out in Gresham. I was getting up very early to go to work which was a little rough for me to get used to. Thank goodness Jordan gets up with me and goes out to warm the car for me, such a doll! The drives were really pretty for a bit there with it being so clear (and so cold), making sunrises over Mount Hood just gorgeous:



We've also been trying to get to our Bikram yoga classes at least three times a week which is really helping me with my stress and my really odd sleeping patterns. This past week unfortunately it took a back seat cause I had some major changes come about...
First, I got my Canadian citizenship this week! I can now apply for my passport and if we decide to ever move there it will be much, much easier! I had sent in all my paperwork a few days before we got married and I wasn't expecting to hear anything until spring. We're really thrilled and now Jordan will need to apply for his citizenship too!

Along with that, I also got a new job! I know rather strange considering I just started at the fabrication company two weeks ago, but this position just fell into my lap and I couldn't turn it down!
When we left LA I was determined to find myself an art director position and I really wanted to work for a company with similar ethics to my own, well I got just that. I have accepted a position for an eco-conscious company as their art director!!! I'm thrilled and nervous all at the same time!!

This weekend was also our three month anniversary! I can't believe it's come and gone so fast already! And my how life has changed...I can't wait to see what the next three months hold and all the time to come after that. We had quite grand plans to go out, but with my new work schedule we opted for a night in just the two of us. 

Sunday morning we went over to Lynsay and Wesley's where we had some killer vegan French toast and we gals made wreaths!!! After we left them and ran our errands, I got a new little tattoo (of course, looks just like Jordan). It was my first time gettng tattooed by a lady and I'm so excited to have gotten tattooed at this shop!!


Update again soon!!
xxo