2011 is going to be EPIC

Last year, I think Rob and I were a little down about 2010. We had just moved, and it kind of felt like we just wasted all of our excitement on 2009. Don't get me wrong, I'm always the optimist so of course I knew 2010 would be a life changing year for us: wonderful things would happen, I would turn into a supermodel, Robert would become a professional athlete and faeries would come out from the woods to guide us through a truly magical year. But I'm a planner. The kind of person who schedules her next vacation before the last one is even over so she has something to look forward to. In 2010, there were no markers already laid out. No major events on the horizon. We were looking forward to buying a house, but we weren't sure if it would happen (for LOTS of reasons). I certainly did not expect for my work life to be turned upside down by an incredible product launch, to run three half marathons and finish a full marathon, bring 90% of my best friends all on the same coast (I'm still waiting on you, Emelie!), and get engaged to the love of my life. All things considered, 2010 surprised me in some wonderful ways.

However, the planner in me knows that 2011 is going to be EPIC!! Seriously, EPIC. I already have two trips home planned. Wedding planning is on the horizon (if not already in full swing). We're registered for our first 50K so we'll end 2011 as ULTRAMARATHONERS, which has always been a huge goal for me. We'll finish the year as husband and wife. And there are potentially some other great changes coming down the pipe that I can't share just yet because I'm superstitious and if I tell you, my wishes might not come true.

Tonight, as we run our first run of the year on the banks of the Willamette River, I will say goodbye to a year that treated me very well and embrace a new one that I can only hope will exceed my expectations. Thank you to everyone who made this year exceptional: My family and Rob's, my besties Emelie, Christine, Katie, Katy, Shonna and Sarah. My PDX friends who have been so wonderful. And Robert.

Be safe, and I'll see you next year!

We're Engaged - PHOTOS!

 Dancing to the finish line. I don't think the guy behind me who had been trudging for 5+ hours was super happy about it. I think this is when Rob made up his mind to propose. He was really worried I would be vomiting or crying at this point. 

The finish line in view. If you look to the left, you can see my parents!! I'm very close to them, so it was incredibly special that they were there. Both because I was finishing my first marathon, and because of what happened next!

 He got down on one knee just after the finish line! Good thing there was a photographer there to capture the images really well. Someone also got it on a cell phone and shot it our way. I never thought I would like to be proposed to in public like this, but it didn't feel like anyone else was there. 

This is my, "what just happened?" face. My head was swimming for a full 20 minutes after the race. This was the LAST thing I was expecting. Complete surprise. Considering that we've been together for eight years, living together for four and talking about marriage for just as long, that was quite a feat for him. Slow clap...

I am so happy! If maybe a little confused. Just looking at these photos makes me all warm and girly inside. I'm very lucky. 

Now on to the wedding planning! My mother was discussing bridesmaids and dresses before we even got into the car!

One Year Later

OMLG. I am so embarassed that I have not updated the blog in a full year. I must say, especially since I work with bloggers on a regular basis, I have to tip my hat. Blogging is hard. It takes a lot of time, effort and vulnerability.

I am actually making it a resolution to update the blog more regularly in the coming year. I have lots to share! We've had some amazing trips, lots of hikes, great races and just general PNW fun. We've also had a couple of big life changes this year. Robert became an certified EMT, we ran our first marathon and WE GOT ENGAGED! Although I realize that last one is kind of a long time coming and a surprise to no one. Since my family is a full state away, I want to be able to share wedding planning updates here!

I will certainly share the full engagement story shortly, but here is a quick sneak peek.

The First Thanksgiving

This holiday season, Rob and I decided to prioritize the travel budget to take three weeks off for Christmas. We'll be headed home on Dec. 22 and leaving back to PDX on Jan. 5, so mark your calendars.

However, this meant our first Portland Thanksgiving with just the two of us. This might sound sad to some, but we were actually really looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving without any traveling, and this year did not disappoint. I made a full spread -- 12 lb. turkey, cheesy mashed potatoes, the famous Shultz-Mahlendorf squash casserole, green beans and kale, sweet potato casserole, ginger cake for dessert and two different kinds of cranberry sauce. Not only was it a complete culinary success, but we had plenty of time to lounge and generally enjoy each other's company. We even started the day with a great 10K in Sherwood that supports the Oregon food bank.

We'll be eating delicious leftovers for days.

The whole weekend has been fabulous. We picked out a gorgeous Christmas Tree -- 7+ feet for less than $20. I love Oregon. We even finished decorating the apartment, which isn't much of a challenge since it is only 2 bedrooms. We lit a fire and some candles, put on the Christmas music and hung up the lights. It couldn't have been more fun or more festive.

This is what happens when you must stop for bubble tea after a Christmas tree has been tied to your car.

We spent Saturday with a friend and her family who were kind enough to show Rob and me around Oregon wine country. We tasted some incredible Pinot Noir, which Oregon is known for, and I may have even picked up a present or two. The 2006 from De Ponte Cellars was the best wine we tasted all day -- and I don't even like red wine!

Finally, here are some long awaited photos of the new apartments. We've been slow to put these up so I apologize. Enjoy!!

Pacific Northwest Romance

Before we moved to Oregon, I could probably count on my two hands how many sunrises I'd seen in my life. Living in Portland, I've now seen three this week. It is quite an adjustment that I wasn't expecting -- as I noted in an earlier post.

Sunrise on Kauai, Summer '09 -- We actually sought this out

I was considering purchasing an alarm clock that wakes you up with the gentle increase of UV simulating light. But I don't need one, because I have Robert, who even though he may be a-typically romantic, is still very romantic. This morning when my alarm clock went off, Rob got out of bed and started quietly turning on lights around me. First he lit the living room so just a little light hit my face, still in bed with my eyes closed. Then he turned on the bathroom light, then the closet and finally my bedside lamp.

Oddly, I can feel the difference in my mood this morning. I don't know if that is because I woke up more naturally or because I have the best boyfriend ever.

Things I don't love about Portland

As we get more and more settled in our new place (which, BTW, we're planning on providing pictures of in short order -- but I need to finish a painting first), I fall more and more in love with Portland. I even started my own hashtag on Twitter! (#reasonsiloveportland) Be sure to use it now before it catches on en masse. It is even better than I imagined. The city is beautiful, fun and unique. I find myself making daily lists of all the things I still really want to do - new coffee shops, bookstores and farmer's markets to visit. We practically live in Forrest Park - which has more hikes and trails than I know what to do with. And now we actually have a FALL!! The view from our bedroom window is like a painting filled with green, pink, red, orange and yellow leaves.


There is one thing that I've discovered I hate about living in Portland -- and that is waking up at 7 a.m. and feeling like it is the middle of the night. In Los Angeles we literally woke up to the sunshine. Now, we wake up and it looks the same outside as it did at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. the night before. It also doesn't help that it is cold, but I think I could deal with that if wasn't so dark outside.

To top it off, the time change is this weekend. I'm looking in to buying a sunrise simulating alarm clock. Let me know if any Pacific Northwest folk have tips for adjusting.

We're finally here

If moving to Portland has taught me one thing, it is that I am a really bad blogger. I stopped documenting the move at the most mission critical time! That is just what happens when you have too much going on. It has been completely insane. I can't believe that it has been just a little more than a week since we first arrived in Portland. It feels like we've been here for much longer.

I'll give you a quick synethesis of the past week so we can start looking forward:

We packed the U-haul, truck and prius until 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. We slept for three hours and got up to pack some more. It was a fun couple of days. I do have to say that Robert is the most perfect, burly, manly man packer in ther world. He managed to fit everything and didn't even ask me to move the refrigerator.

We drove home to Visalia Wednesday morning and had a great last two days with the family. Rob's mom cooked us an amazing going-away dinner, and I spent all Thursday afternoon painting ceramics with my neices. It was perfect.

Then Friday morning my parents, Rob and I left for Portland at 5 a.m. The drive was long and rough. We did discover that we won't be taking any road trips back to visit the parents any time soon. Once we got to PDX at 9:30 p.m., I took a look at the apartment and kind of freaked out. It wasn't at all like what we looked at when we visited in April, nor was it up to snuff in general. The microwave wasn't installed, it was missing blinds, there were no burners on the stove. In short, it was a hot mess. So we didn't unpack that night, and slept on the ground in our disappointing apartment. The next morning we talked to the leasing office and they upgraded us to a MUCH better apartment on the second floor, and we're really happy.

We had a couple of great meals and some good bonding time with the parents before they left. Then work started.

It has been an INSANE week. I'm just starting to get some rest. We bought a couch and I need to stop blogging right now so I can organize my closet. I will really try to keep up more with the blogging.

It is a little overwhelming, but we love it so far. We even went for our very first hike today. More to come.