Birthday Bangs

I woke up on Friday morning after our GRand Adventure and decided that I wanted big, blunt bangs again. I mean, is there really any better way to ring in my 27th year of life than with blunt bangs? I don't think so. So, what did I do? I booked an appointment with my favorite Kalyn in Hood River and drove down to Oregon that day with Gaby right behind me in her pink nugget. That 4 hour drive felt like nothing after driving all the way across the country a few days before. I swooped up Beth's sister, Emily on my way through Portland, landed in Hood River and chopped my hair.

 ^^Emily and I in Hood River after I chopped my bangs^^

 

After my hair appointment I went and got a manicure (hair did, nails did, everything did), patiently waited for Beth to get into town from Boise and discovered that I had separation anxiety after being with Gaby for so many days in a row (I was having issues functioning alone). When Beth got into town we met at Henni's to share small plates and have drinks. We were joined by Gaby and Marissa part way through dinner before calling it an early night.

^^Only at my parents' house do people wake up to such a sight^^

Saturday was the most wonderful day. I had breakfast with Beth, shopped for baby gifts, relaxed and spent time with a lot of good people, sat at Ground and drank a cider, and then had an early birthday celebration.

^^The best breakfast sandwich on a homemade English muffin at River Daze Café^^ 

^^Dylan and Beth at Ground^^

 

^^Ryan and Beth at Ground^^

 

^^Dylan is a brat^^

 

Some of my favorite people joined me at Double Mountain for dinner, showered me with love and presents, and ate pizza and drank beer with me in celebration of my 27th year of life. After dinner we went to Cebu to watch our friends play some music and then made our way to the Trillium after discovering that both the Red Carpet and Jack's (my favorite dive bars) were both closed (BOO!).

 

^^Birthday present at dinner^^

^^Dylan and Mo^^

^^Dylan, Gaby and Mo - I love these three #ground4lyfe!^^

 

Mo gifted me a pint of fireball for my birthday so we definitely all shared that outside the bars like we were teenagers and it was so fun and definitely led to a nasty hangover Sunday (side note: fireball pulls, beers and jello shots DO NOT mix), but it was so much fun and it was all in the name of my birthday, so YAY! #birthdayprincess

 ^^Mo and I outside Cebu with our fireball, sneaky sneaky^^

Sunday Beth, Emily, her boyfriend, Gaby and I had breakfast at Bette's before saying goodbye and heading our separate ways (slash leaving Gaby safely in White Salmon - GRand Adventure END). Have I mentioned lately that I love it there? Guys, I love it there.

Weekend trip to Hood River (April 2013 edition)

Last Friday after work I hopped in the Corolla and drove myself down to Hood River for a weekend of fun with my favorites.

When I got there I immediately headed to Marissa's to spend a few minutes with her and Z before heading downtown to meet up with the rest of the crew for a few drinks.

 Me, Sarah and Beth at the Pub

 

It was so fun to be able to see so many friends so soon after I got into town. Yay for Hood River night life!

 

The next morning, after a sleepover with Beth in her tiny new apartment (which I love), she and I met up with friends (Sarah, Josh, Ashley, Phinney, Faith, Huggy, & Tonya to be exact) for breakfast at the Riverside Grill. We had bloody marys and eggs and the whole thing made my heart ridiculously happy.

 

#foodporn

 

After breakfast, Beth and chilled out at her apartment for a while. She hung some pictures on her wall while I offered moral support (best friend award, right here), we played music videos on youtube (A$AP Rocky!! #sogood), and got dressed up in our FOREVER SUMMER outfits (despite the rain... screw the rain!). Hawaiian shirts (and my new sunnies) are my new jam, by the way.

 

After we were dressed, we ventured out for fro-yo and we even dropped some off with Dana and Marissa at work. Because, I mean, just because you have to work doesn't mean you shouldn't get to enjoy some forever summer fro-yo love.

 



#FOREVER SUMMER #froyofairies
Beth and I at Parts+Labour

 

We also went to Ground to see Mo's artwork on the walls, and get some coffee from her and Calvin.

 

Mo, myself and Calvin behind the counter at Ground, where I worked on and off for 7.5 years

 

And we got a beer at Double Mountain, which I've decided is 100% the happiest place in the world. Take me back, please.

 

Beth with our beers at Double Mountain

 

Finally it was time to BBQ at Josh and Sarah's, so Beth and I went to Rosauers and got some steaks and beer to take with us.

 

We spent the evening hanging at their house, eating meat and drinking beers, chatting with some of our favorite people and having an epic all girls dance party for hours. I can honestly say it was the best night I've had in a really long time. I even got bruises on my knees from dropping it lowww. Whoops!

 

Marissa and I poppin' our Ps and droppin' it low!

 

The next morning I went to breakfast with Beth and Cole at Nora's Table (which is my new, very favorite breakfast spot in Hood River. Guys, it's soo good).

 

I got the chicken and waffles with some poached eggs. It hit the spot. And, after breakfast, when Beth and I dropped off Cole, he gave me a kiss through a parking receipt. Take that, Beth! It was magical.

 

 

 After that I hung around town for a while before finally heading back to Seattle. It was the best weekend with the best people. I love Hood River!! Take me back, please.







Hood River Summer

Don’t worry, friends, I’m not dead or feeling too sorry for myself in a heap on my bed or anything like that. Just trying to keep myself distracted in the Gorge, which has subsequently meant that I haven’t had time to blog for the last week. But I’m happy to report that after a really bizarre, but mostly fun and exciting Hood River Summer week I am feeling better and also that I have wonderful, amazing friends! YAY!

Here are some things I’ve been doing in the Gorge with those lovely friends of mine:

When I got back into town last Tuesday, I met up with my friend Marissa and her mom and her daughter Zara and we went to Ruins Tuesday at a winery in Hood River. They had the Solstice Wood Fire Pizza Wagon (I actually worked as a waitress at Solstice one summer in College, so it holds a special place in my heart), and beer and wine and music and a dance floor, and it was fun:

  

Zara is such a cutie with her silly faces. We’re basically BFF these days which I have been loving!!

Since Marissa’s mom was in town we decided to take her out for “girl’s night” on Friday. We went to Brian’s Pourhouse for a glass of wine and appetizers and then stopped by the Pub to say hi before ending up at Jack’s to show her a taste of what Hood River is really like. Haha. I don’t know if it was a completely accurate representation.

And then the other day my parents’ had a BBQ at their house. Chip and Katie and the kids came over. My brother was here too. And Beth, Marissa and Josh came when they got off work. It was super fun. My parents bought a new BBQ so the boys (my dad, Chip & Brother Jim) set it up while Katie and I watched, then we grilled, then we all took turns riding on the 4-wheeler, and going to the barn to see the cats with Kyle and Tabby, and looking at my dad’s garden with him and doing other farm-ish-things. The only bad part of the day was when I got stung by a bee. BOO!

       

Later that night I ended up at Brian’s Basement Bar with Joe and Karen (who I love). You may remember that Karen even came and visited me in the trailer park!! It was rad! Anyway, they convinced me to go have a drink with them and then Joe basically peer pressured me into taking a shot (ok so maybe it wasn’t that hard to convince me, free for me Patron? yes plz)!

Then yesterday I woke up at Beth and Marissa’s house because clearly I couldn’t drive after my shot and Beth, Josh and I went to breakfast at Egg Harbor and it was delicious. After a quick pit stop back at the house to watch way too many youtube videos with Josh (I’m on a boat, three way, Boats & Hos, Shake that Bear (I would NOT recommend ha), and drop it low), we picked up our friend Dave and went swimming at the Punch Bowl until Marissa was off work. When she got off we made tacos and then went and saw Cowboys and Aliens with some smuggled in beer from the house. Then we went back up to the house and watched more youtube videos (for hours) and it was good.

I loveeee my friends the most. They have definitely done the best job of keeping me busy and distracted. And as a little distraction for you, isn’t this just the best Hood River Summer song?

But now I have to go go G-O because it’s time to get ready for work. Oh yeah, did I mention I’ve been picking up some shifts at the coffee shop while I’ve been here? Ground 4 Lyfe! Seriously. I just can’t seem to get away after 6 1/2 years. Oh well – I could definitely use some extra money!

Oh and P.S. thank you so much for all of your comments the other day. They honestly made my heart so happy. Love!