Single Summer Shenanigans

It's been 6 years since I was single last and I couldn't think of a better time to be newly uncoupled than summertime in the PNW. The weather is magical, the days are long, everyone wants to be out doing stuff, work has temporarily slowed down for about a month and I have a slight suntan. CHEERS.

This month has been a whirlwind of saying yes to what feels good while also being gentle with myself. There has been less exercise and more drinks with friends, less salads and more dinners out and I'm really into all of it. I've been out of my apartment more, hanging with people I love who I lost touch with a bit, and generally packing in all the things I feel like I missed out on or couldn't want to do in the past few years.

My sorority sister Julia got married at the end of July. We went out the weekend before her wedding for a bachelorette party that included almost naked men, a rooftop bar, dropping it low at the Alibi Room downtown and finally late night Mexican food. I had a blast, and more importantly, so did Julia.

^^The bachelorette party outside the Triple Door^

^^Sisters^^

^^Julia (far left) onstage at the Buckaroos show (YAS)^^

Julia's wedding was on her family's farm on Camano Island. Dolly's fiancé (now husband!!) Wes drove Erin and I up to the wedding. We stopped at the Stanwood Saloon on our way for a few pre-wedding drinks and then threw it back, college style, with a few cold Coors Lights in the car before walking over to the ceremony site. Always keeping it classy.

^^Stanwood Saloon, beers and a tequila shot each before the wedding (obviously)^^

^^Car Bar SnapChat Selfie - PS can we talk about how hard it is to save photos from SnapChat now? Someone show me how.^^

The wedding was really beautiful complete with great food, friends, live music, drinks, cupcakes and an option to camp which we were going to take but last minute Erin decided to drive us back home. I was so happy to wake up in my bed the next morning, even though I was covered in mosquito bites which still haven't quite healed. UGH.

^^Love my PC05 Sisters^^ 

^^I definitely put on my bright yellow Ocean Shores sweatshirt part way through the wedding when I started to get cold. Gotta keep it classy!^^

I've been lucky enough to spend a bunch of time with Erin and Alli lately. Alli just recently moved back from Brooklyn and lives so so close to Erin and I (who live less than a mile apart, the best)!! It has been so nice to have a single friend to do all of the things with. Erin's man friend has been gone the past few weeks so the three of us have been having the most fun together which makes my heart so so happy. There have been yoga classes, drinks, flirting with random men, talking about random men, watching the new ghostbusters movie, dinners, shopping trips, etc. and it has been so, so good.

 ^^Sister Erin and I out in Ballard^^

^^Sneaky shot of sister Erin and a man we met at the bar who was definitely interested in taking both of us home so we left together in an Uber without him, lolz^^

Gaby came up to visit one weekend too (well, she came up for work and I got to hang out with her which was amazing). We spent one entire afternoon drinking ALL the beers at the Latona Pub (I've actually spent a lot of time there in general lately, it's my go-to neighborhood spot and I'm so thankful it exists and that the people who work there exist too).

^^Gaby and I single lady day drinking at the Latona Pub^^

Also, I spontaneously booked a trip to NYC!! EEK! I've always wanted to go and I figured now is the perfect time. I go for a night by myself and then Gaby meets me the following afternoon and I cannot fucking wait. Gaby is the best travel partner and we've talked about going to NYC foreverrrr and it's finally happening (because single Rebeka is sooo spontaneous) and I am about to burst. I'm really, really doing what feels good and it's the best. I would recommend it to anyone going through a change, or just anyone in general, really.

What else, what else?

There was also pizza for dinner with my law school+ group of friends right after Brittan and Brian got back from traveling the world. Then there was an evening in Columbia City in the park with them where we drank entirely too much pink wine, ate snacks from PCC and listened to music while sitting on blankets. I eventually had to send myself home in an uber and watched Netflix in my bed for most of the following morning. Worth it. 

^^Paul La's arm, Natalie, Brittan, Brian, me, Gaby, Erin and her man friend, Ambur and Adam. Rob is behind the camera^^

Oh! And Adam and Ambur finally set a date for their wedding. It's so soon and so small and I'm bursting at the seams with happiness for them. I will happily add one more wedding to my summer if its theirs. Congrats friends!

So yes, because I feel like I get asked every day how I'm doing here we are. I'm doing well. I'm keeping busy and I feel mostly really happy. Life lately has been an adjustment but I think I'm adjusting for the better and morphing into a really great version of me. So, for the next few months I'll be soaking up as much summer as possible and doing all the things that seem fun and hopefully popping in here to recap the good shit (even though all of my life is pretty good these days, I'm not going to lie). Thanks for all the support, friends. Cheers!

Bachelorette Party Part 2

After our day of wine tasting we were ready for dinner. We went to a nice restaurant, brought some bottles of wine, and enjoyed a meal together. I love all-girl-dinners!

At the end of our dinner a jazz band started playing on the patio, then moved inside to play in circles around our table. I think they got the memo that we were there for a bachelorette party. We loved it!

 

After that we walked around a little bit until we found the place to be in downtown Healdsburg. This bar was seriously wedding central!! There was a post-wedding-group, and two other bachelorette parties there. So naturally we had to party it up for an hour or two before heading back to the house.

   

After a drink or two (plus a shot, so I guess that makes three) we headed home. Back at the house Danielle, Kate and I sat in Danielle and Courtney’s room and reminisced for a few hours about our days in the sorority. Courtney joined in because she was also a sorority girl back in the day. Carly was in on our convo too, despite the fact that she didn’t go Greek. That’s ok, we love her anyway haha!

The last night in Napa totally made the trip for me. It was a lot of fun. I’m definitely really looking forward to Danielle and Steffen’s wedding Labor Day weekend!

Bachelorette Party Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

Or should I say wine drinking? Because let’s be honest – that’s what I did.

As some of you may remember I am a bride’s maid in my friend (and sorority sister), Danielle’s wedding. So this last weekend I flew down to Cali to go to her bachelorette party.

I got there on Thursday afternoon. The groom-to-be, Steffen, picked me up from the airport and we spent some quality time together before Danielle got off work, picked Kate up from the airport and met us back to their apartment. After we were all reunited (YAY) Danielle and Steffen took Kate and myself to dinner in downtown Palo Alto (they live like two blocks away – amazing). Then they took us to Yogurtland for some FroYo and it was sooo tasty! After that we headed back to their apartment to watch a movie and have a low key night.

The next day we drove up to Napa Valley (Healdsburg, more specifically) to the party! When we got there we played some games and dressed up in our bridesmaid shirts had dinner and drank at the awesome house the MOH, Carly, had found for us to rent.

The next day we woke up bright and early for some breakfast and then some wine tasting. We hit up three wineries on Saturday. The first was Ridge. This was the view from the deck where we were tasting:


And here are the rest of the girls tasting (I was taking the picture):


Next, upon recommendation from the guy pouring our wine at Ridge, we went to Bella. We all loved the fun atmosphere and pretty setting there. Not to mention that one of our tasting was paired with a snack. Win!


We also really loved the fact that 1/2 of our tastings at Bella were in the wine cellar, which I thought was sooo cool! It was right under the vineyards and the inside was beautifully decorated and felt really special and secret.

the bride and me

Next we drove to downtown Healdsburg to go to La Crema tasting room. Danielle and Steffen are actually serving their wine at their wedding, so it was really neat to go there for a sneak-preview of the wine I’ll be sipping drinking at their wedding. 
 

After all of our wine tasting we were all pretty tired so we got some amazing sandwiches at Oakville Grocery and took them back to our house, where we ate and laid in the sun and watched TV and napped until it was time to go to dinner. That post to come later.

All in all, Napa Valley Wine Tasting for Danielle’s Bachelorette Party was a success!       

Because I have been slacking lately here are some things that have happened lately:

Last week my boss came into town to do some will executions with me. He got there the night before the will executions and had e-mailed me earlier that day asking me to dinner at a steak house. Obvi I said yes! So after work I went to the gym then I came home to get ready. I decided that I would have a beer while I was getting ready, even though I know this might not be the best idea ever, since I was going to meet my boss and I didn't want to seem like a total alcoholic. But I decided to do it anyway. Except when I opened it and took a sip it did NOT taste right. It was expired. I failed. Oh and P.S. by I decided to have a beer while I was getting ready, I mean that I tried to take a power shower, because I'm fratty like that. Also if you follow me on twitter you already knew that (so sorry).

After my power shower fail I went to dinner with Doug. And it was awesome. When I got there he was already 1/2 way through a drink. He had 3 more at dinner. And we ate steak, and clams and drank and it was fun and delicious and I'm pretty sure he got drunk and then the next day he tried to tell me things that he had told me the night before when he was drunk. I didn't know what to do so I just pretended like it was new info. Fun times.

I had yet another trailer park visitor! One of my favorite friends, Beth came and visited me on Sunday night. We had drinks and dessert at a restaurant in town (so fancy ha) and her cousin came and met us too. I wish I would have met her cousin earlier because she seemed super cool. Super cool people in Pendleton? What? No! There couldn't be? I'm such a loser..... Anyway, we even topped off her visit with some Shari's breakfast while I was supposed to be at work. Shhh don't tell my boss! It's ok though because I definitely ended up working late yesterday. So it's no biggie.

Also I have been crazy busy at work this week. So so busy. I've had like 15 clients in my first 8 weeks here. Total. On Monday I had like 4. Today I had 4. Crazy times. So SO busy. But it has been good because I have been able to work more yesterday and today so I won't have to work as much on Thursday and Friday when I go to California for Danielle's bachelorette party!! Napa Valley here I come!

But now I am super bored in my trailer. But I get to go back to Seattle tomorrow after work. Then I only have one week left. And I'm done. No more Indian Wills, no more trailer parks, no more internship story time for you guys (some of you are probably pretty stoked about that haha), so soak it up while you can.