4th of July weekend 2015 AKA #5daysofBrit

This year for the 4th of July I took an extra day off work in order to have a very much needed 4 day weekend. The weekend kicked off on Wednesday which was Brittan’s birthday. A group of us went to dinner in Ballard and then headed to the Tractor Tavern for some live music and drinks. Day 1 of Brit was a success!

Day 2 of Brit didn’t really include Brittan, whoops LOLz. I loaded up my car that morning and headed down to the Gorge. I stopped in Portland along the way to have lunch with Marissa and Zara which was the best!

 ^^Marissa and Zara at lunch^^

 ^^exploding nucks w/ Zara on the hot as F*ck summer day^^

When I got to Hood River I met Josh and Sarah for dinner at Solstice, and a pre-dinner drink at Camp 1805, which is our favorite 3rd wheel date! After dinner Sarah had to go home to wait for her cousin and Josh and I went down to the British Pub to meet Gaby and my friends from high school, Rob and Matt for a drink outside. We sat outside and Rob offended some people and it was a successful summer night.

Day 3 of Brit was also hot as f*ck. Like 105 degrees hot. Ohhhh man. I woke up to find my mom had brought be a coffee from Starbucks (they live like 30 minutes from town so this was an extra exciting treat), I snuggled with Fluffy Cat and hung out with my parents for a few hours until I left to go meet Beth at Everybody’s brewing for lunch (bethfrand + nachossss!). I then got an American manicure, some coffee and headed to The Dalles to Brittan’s parents’ house. I arrived just after Natalie and Erin and SURPRISE! Des! Des emailed me a few weeks prior telling me she wanted to fly up to surprise Brittan for her birthday and after a few scares (Brittan thinking she was going to have to cancel the trip to work, ew) she made it and Brittan was successfully surprised! Birthday win!

When I got to the Schwartz’s we headed down to Mill Creek to sit in the water and drink a beer. Brittan’s dad took this great picture of us being “River Folk”:

^^Natalie, Erin, me, Des and Brittan sitting in Mill Creek, drinking beers^^

A little while later, Ambur, Adam and Rob arrived in The Dalles with awesome matching Salute Your Schwartz shirts for everyone (thanks Ambur!!). We spent the night partying at the spot where they have Milstock every year (which is the best place in all of the Dalles!). Brittan’s parents grilled us dinner, we ate birthday cake, we drank beers, we dance partied hard and eventually fell asleep under the stars in a big pile.

 
^^Me, Des, Rob, Natalie, Erin, Brittan, Adam, Ambur, Kathy and John^^

Day 4 of Brit was the 4th of July. The 4th of July is my favorite day. I love America! We woke up with the sunshine, headed up to Brittan’s parents’ house for breakfast and then headed over to Washington to the Klickitat River where we were supposed to be meeting Dustin and Pickle for a float. We didn’t have cell service and ended up not meeting up with them because we couldn’t find them (sad face emoji). We did find Gaby and Adam though! And a few other friends too. I ended up finding Dustin and Pickle at the very end of the day when I was driving my car back from the put-in spot. The float itself was longer than anticipated and I fell into the water going over some rapids at one point and f*cked up my finger (it was SOO swollen and bruised and still hurts, UGH). I also lost my shoes and a paddle during that. Luckily I was wearing a life vest. Yay for life vests! Rob also fell in going over this waterfall thing that had appeared because the water levels were so low and almost died. Sooooo I’m pretty over floating that river for the rest of the year. Let’s all cross our fingers this winter is a wet one.

After floating we headed to our hotel in Hood River. We got ready (read: put on our red, white and blue) and went to 6th St. Bistro with everyone + Josh and Sarah, for dinner and then we headed to the British Pub where we watched the fireworks and then I went home early because I felt soooo dizzy (dehydration? Maybe I hit my head AND my finger when I fell in the river? IDK but it was dumb).

Day 5 of Brit got off to a slow start but Dustin and I eventually met Brittan, Natalie, Erin and Des downtown Hood River where we ate ice cream to try and beat the terrible heat before we all went our separate ways. Dustin and I stopped in Oregon City on our way back to Seattle at my uncle Bert’s house. He was having a BBQ with my parents and my cousins, and so we had some delicious food to fuel the rest of our drive. 5 days of Brit was a success! Hooray for long weekend in my favorite place! So necessary!

Summer 2014 Disposable Camera Dump

Right before I headed back to White Salmon for the 4th of July weekend I thought it would be a great idea to pick up a disposable camera to capture the fun of my favorite holiday. It turns out a disposable camera actually has a lot of pictures on it, and it ended up taking me the entire summer to finish (4th of July – the weekend after Memorial Day). I packed that thing around with me everywhere and got made fun of a little, but you know what, I’m really digging the whole disposable camera thing. You get actual, hard copies of photos and I always opt for the CD too so I can have soft copies as well. I also learned that almost no one knows how to take a picture with one of those (so many fingers in the photos), and also people really like to bunny ear hard copy pics. Fun times!

Anyway, here is a summer recap by way of soft copy disposable camera photos:

The night before the 4th of July I decided to meet Beth for a post-work-beer at Chip’s (this really divey bar in Bingen, WA with a sign that says Liquor in the Front, Poker in the Back out front), we ended up running into a bunch of people I went to high school with and we convinced my brother and his BFF Jered to come join us. We definitely closed down the bar that night and it was actually a blast: ^^Jered, Josh, Beth and Brother Jim at Chip’s^^

On the 4th I went to the annual 4th of July party at the TREW house. I always dress up in my best America outfit for the 4th since it’s my favorite holiday everrrrr. This year did not disappoint:

^^Sarah and I with our matching America glasses^^

^^Captain America letting everyone it was shot time!^^

^^Beth and Capitan America + his mullet^^
    ^^Beth and I in our patriotic 4th of July gear^^

That same weekend Gaby and my friend Dan came through town (on an epic road trip) with his daughter Allison. I met them at The Gorge White House for lunch and a walk through the grounds:

 
I also went to a Mariner’s game with a huge group of friends and coworkers this summer. We ended up running into even more friends and had a total blast. We ended the night in Ballard where one of my flip flops broke so I decided to just go into a bar, Kings Hardware, with only one shoe on, HA:

^^A cute picture of Dustin and I “ruined” by a stranger giving him bunny ears and my coworker Dave photo bombing LOLZ^^

^^Dustin, Meli, Me, Brittan, Danielle, Natalie and Jeff^^ 

  ^^I also found some sorority sisters at the game: Allison, me, A Jo, Kate and Erin^^

In August, I went to Millstock, which is the best thing ever. The next day I took Brittan, Justin, Natalie and Millie to Hood River on our way out of the Dalles and back to Seattle. It was the middle of August and it was SO hot, so we decided to walk down the train tracks to the tressle. On the way we grabbed a bottle of wine from the Springhouse Cellars and bribed the bartender to discreetly open it for us so we could drink it straight from the bottle while swimming like the classy people we are:

There were also Sunday morning brunches and farmers market trips in Ballard with Brittan and Natalie, which is one of my very favorite things:

 
Memorial Day weekend, Brittan’s brother got married in the Dalles. I ended up meeting up with Brittan and Justin in Hood River the night before the wedding. We went to ALL  the bars and drank too much. I took them to Jack’s for the first time and got them their obligatory scorpion bowl which did not help the situation. Whatever, it was so fun!

I went to see Foster the People at Edgefield at some point in August with Gaby and Sarah. It was fun. After I met Beth and Tonya and Christa and we had girls night where we ran around taking shots and dancing our faces off. It was really sweaty that night too.

^^Beth, Christa, Moriva, me and Tonya. Moriva bartended us our first shot of the night – so let’s blame her for our shenanigans ;)^^

And finally, the weekend after Memorial Day I stayed in Seattle (literally the last weekend I spent in Seattle – omg really looking forward to NOT driving this weekend). I went to Friday night Zumba, I got drinks and dinner with Brittan and Natalie, and on Sunday I met up with Katie and Josh and Katie’s dad who was in town from Ecuador and we went wine tasting in Woodinville. It was awesome:

^^Josh, Katie and I^^

^^Katie’s dad with his “marshmallows”^^

Anddddddddd that was my summer! Hooray!

my first day off

My favorite holiday is just a few short days from now and I could not be more excited. The Fourth of July is most wonderful (I get to wear American themed clothing, there are fireworks, friends and usually sunshine - although Seattle looks like it’s going to let me down on the whole sunshine thing this year – and all around goodness) and it is even more wonderful this year because it is my ONLY day off during all of this bar prep madness! I need a day off like you wouldn’t believe (and everyone around me needs me to have a day off too – sorry for being a cray, Dustin).

Anyway, things lately have mostly been weird and boring and stressful (like there was that one time last week when 1/2 of my body when all numb and I had to go to the emergency room… but don’t worry, I’m ok).

But things aren’t all weird and bad. Like, for example, last night I took a little break to go to a BBQ at a friend’s house with this guy (isn’t he handsome?):

It was a very welcome and nice break!

Ok that’s really all I had to say. Basically just a long, rambling hello.

Oh, and just in case you need a little more American themed awesomeness… THIS! From last year:

best weekend

I seriously had the best weekend. 
Yesterday after all the 4th of July madness Dustin and I woke up camping. Really, surprisingly early. I blame the uncomfortable air matress. And the early sunlight. But it was all good. Dustin made us camping breakfast and coffee and we walked down to the river for a while and had quite a hard time trying to take a shower at the camp site showers. After we were all ready to go, we drove into Hood River and I got a sandwich at New York City Sub Shop (because I’m hungry ALL THE TIME) and then we headed toward Mosier.
Once we were in Mosier, Dustin took me to “the Pocket” where he used to go swimming at all the time when he was younger. I had heard of it but had never been there:
Tour guide Dustin:
Me getting ready to stick my feet in (the water was freezing):
It was really cool seeing the places he used to hang out when he was a kid. I wish I knew kid Dustin. Seeing his old hang outs made me heart his face even more than I already did :)
After the pocket we went up to the Mosier Tunnels trail head. We parked and Dustin showed me the Indian gravel pits:
 
After that we set off on our “hike” through the Mosier tunnels. The trail you take goes from Mosier to Hood River and used to be the old Highway before they built 84. I had never been up there before. There were a TON of bikers biking the trail.
Dustin’s “shhh” face at the beginning of the tunnels (that are built through the side of huge cliffs in the Gorge):
me standing in front of some wild flowers on the way up to the tunnels:
On the way up we took a pit stop/photo opp. It was REALLY hot out so a little break and some water was totally necessary at that point. But it was pretty cool inside the tunnels, so that also provided a nice break from the sun/heat! Here are some of the photos:
HOME! White salmon is down there on the right, on the upper part of the hill and you can’t see, but Hood River is on the left. Oh and Bingen is below White Salmon and is the part that looks like it’s sticking out into the water a little:
Dustin and I at the view point:

looking the other way (toward the Dalles). It’s crazy to me how scarce the trees start getting so quickly when you leave White Salmon heading east:

a more close up picture of White Salmon and Bingen and Underwood:

Dustin enjoying the view <3

After we hiked through the tunnels we headed back down the hill to the car. We were super hot and our feet were starting to hurt from our decision to walk in flip flops. We decided that since neither of us had ever been on a tour of Full Sail Brewery that should be our next stop.
It wasn’t the most exciting thing ever, but it was pretty cool and we got free full said pint glasses at the end. Here is a sunny Dustin on the tour, overlooking some of the finished products:

After the tour we decided to go to Double Mountain Brewery & Tap Room for some pizza and beers (since the tap room at Full Sail was sooo full, and don’t tell but we kind of love Double Mountain beer more, plus you can really only get it in Hood River). Dustin’s mom works at DaKine right next door so when she was getting off work Dustin surprised her at her car and she joined us for a beer. I had never met her before and felt a little sad that the first time I was in a swim suit and dress, all sweaty/mostly makeupless/wearing a messy bun. Oh well!
Next we went to Dustin’s parent’s house and I met his dad and re-met his sister (who I had briefly met before we started dating). It was good. We hung out there for a little while before heading back to the camp sight for about an hour. At that time it was time for Dustin to take me to my car so I could rush to my parents’, grab all my stuff, and drive back to Pendleton. It was really late when I left and the drive was miserable. I was SO bummed to be leaving. I finally made it to the trailer around midnight, brought my stuff inside and immediately went to sleep.
Part of the reason I left so late was because I knew I couldn’t leave this morning because it’s about a 2.5 hour drive from White Salmon to Pendleton and I had a client meeting scheduled for 8am. However, my client was a no-show. I was so so frustrated after he no-showed knowing that I could have spent another night at home with Dustin on his vacation instead of in the trailer park. Had he been here it would have been no big deal to me. I like my work when I actually have some to do. Boo. I am super upset with my client because this is his third no show. And now I’m here with nothing to do. That’s mostly because I haven’t had a client in two weeks. I do, however, have another meeting scheduled for later today and hopefully she shows up!
Anyway, I need to stop talking about work now because it’s bumming me out. I’m going to go look at all the pictures from this weekend again. This weekend was seriously the best!!! Love love! I got: a little Seattle time with the roommies, first time ever at Ho Ho’s, Hood River friend time, show at Everybody’s, Jack’s dance party, Double Mountain more than once, Ground, Sunshine, Dustin surprising me in Hood River, Brunch Party, TREW party, Dustin time, Camping, Fluffy, I went on a boat with my cousins and brother at Lake Billie Chinook, Mosier Tunnels, the pocket, brewery tour, Golden Rose, NYC Sub Shop, I met Dustin’s family, and did I mention a ton of Friend and Dustin time (those were my favorite parts)? It was seriously one of the BEST (very long) weekends. And also I can’t wait for Dustin to come see my trailer park tomorrow, EEK! I’m excited!! So bye for now, friends!

4th of July part two

After the brunch party Dustin and I drove to Tucker Park (which is on the Hood River) in search of a camp site. We found one we liked along the river and got all of his camping gear out of the car only to find that his tent poles (to his HUGE house-like tent which he was SO excited to set up) weren’t with his camping equipment. They were at Pickle’s house in Portland. So what did we do? Drove to Portland to get them. Bummer. By the time we got back and set up the tent I was tired/starving/allergy attack status/wanting to be at the TREW party/maybe a little grumpy? But Dustin said it was all worth it because he loves his big tent – which is like the size of my 1L apartment haha. And since he is on vacation this week and going to be camping for a few days he wanted the big one so he’d have room/wouldn’t have to crawl in and out
We finally got the tent and the camp site all set up, so we ventured down into Hood River to find some food before heading to the TREW party (the boys BBQed a 122lb pig earlier in the day, but since we had to drive to Portland we missed the BBQ part and wasn’t sure if there would be any food left). We decided on the restaurant part of the classy Chinese restaurant turned dance club (Jack’s  = the bar part, Golden Rose = the restaurant part) and had some tasty, unhealthy Chinese food.
After that we were ready to head to the HUGE party that the TREW boys were throwing.
Party highlights:

122 lb pig that they BBQed
live band
street magician/comedian (who was actually really entertaining)
we watched the Hood River fireworks on the roof of their house (kind of sketch b/c there were like 50 people on the roof)
6 kegs for free (everything was free – thanks boys)
elementary school playground games (think 4 square played with drinks in hand and corn hole)
lake in the yard with a row boat
and dance floor/dance party after the fireworks
all of our friends were there (like everyone in HR was there ha)

It was a super good time. I always love the parties those boys throw, they do such a good job!

Here are some party pics:

we’re cute (me, beth, greg, marissa)

   

Fireworks (the port of Hood River puts them on every year – P.S. I LOVE fireworks (and America haha)

Everyone watching the fireworks from the roof of the TREW boys’ house. Sketch.com!
Dustin and I and our glow sticks after the fireworks and before dance party!

We heart America!

So on the morning of the 4th my friends Beth, Marissa and myself hosted a brunch party at Beth and Marissa’s house. We had lots of red white and blue decorations, red white and blue granola/yogurt/fruit cups, delicious quiche, huckleberry pancakes, bacon, mimosas and blody mary’s. It was delicious.
The most delicious part? Dustin surprised me by showing up (right at 10 when it started). I was SO excited to see him (it had been a long week – he missed his flight and got stuck in Iowa for an extra day so my very short trip to Seattle last week was super lonely without him).  Yay!
My other favorite part? Beth and I made a photo booth on Saturday night and we took lots of pictures in front of it! Enjoy:

Dustin totally plays along and also totally loves America! YAY!
Mildly inappropriate butt pictures? Sure, why not:
 
Favorite people:
    
I was just SO excited!
 
Two of my fav ladies looking super patriotic/American ha:

Dustin said he knows this look too well. I disagree :)

Happy 4th of July, everyone!