2013.

Happy New Year! It's amazing how you can go from drinking an entire bottle of champagne by yourself one minute to feeling incredibly inspired, excited and organized merely 8 hours later. Ah, the beauty of what the new year brings!

The BF and I made zero new year's plans this year, but after meeting up with a girlfriend yesterday afternoon, we decided to have them over for an impromptu game night. It was a perfect way to usher in the new year; plus it's a goal of mine is to make time for others and enjoy my friends' company throughout the year. It's a resolution that I plan to never break.

After hours of playing the most hilarious board game with friends, burning my mouth on pizza that was so conveniently delivered at 11:47pm to our doorstep, and tuning in to watch the ball drop, we called it a night and got a full 7 hours of sleep. I feel old, but so happy that I didn't wake up to a vodka hangover! I feel like 2013 is my year. A year for what? I couldn't tell ya, but it's all gonna happen this year. Mark my words!

I hope you'll join me for the ride. I always say it around this time, but I plan to ramp up my blogging this year. All five of my readers are thrilled - let me tell ya!

and in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

(via Wit & Delight)

Friday night we brought back the very overdue 'date night.' After sending a text and purchasing tickets on Fandango earlier in the day, we were set. I read the Perks of Being a Wallflower in high school, but I honestly couldn't remember the storyline very well. We grabbed a bite to eat in Director's Park and made our way to Fox Tower for the 7:45 showing. I was laughing, fighting back some tears, and after a few glances over to the BF, I could tell he was diggin' this flick. My film choices are always a bit of a stretch to get him to join me, but I did good! (watch the trailer here)

I'm planning to reread the book soon and can't wait to see it again when this movie is out on Netflix. Complete with great acting, an amazing storyline and clever writing, I really didn't want this movie to end. There's something so relatable about the highs and lows of being a teenager. Two thumbs up.

there's your sign

I have found out that ink offers and deals on laptops are not my passion. I think I knew that before, but I never realized how important passion and interest were until I took this new job. I left a job I loved and a group that felt like family to seek greener pastures and it ended up not working out. Lesson learned. 

Even though I started just 3 months ago, I've decided to change my fate and have accepted a position as an Account Executive and sell billboards and other out of home advertising in the Portland market. Part of me feels like I failed - a tiny bit. But the other part of me is so damn excited that I've chosen not to settle for anything less than what makes me insanely happy. Forty plus hours a week is a long time to be doing something you don't love; and I intend to make the very best of this learning experience. So for that, I'm estatic. While I've done plenty of complaining due to the growing pains of learning a new job and industry, I've decided to change my attitude and my situation.

I start this Tuesday (after a much welcomed day off on Monday), and I can't wait to hit the streets and sell some billboards. If you know of anyone looking to advertise their business and drive traffic into their locations, please send them my way! Referrals are a girl's best friend, dontchaknow?

this one's for the girls

Sometimes you just need a little gal-pal time. This weekend was full of quality time with my ladies which was so overdue and so lovely!

This summer, I have 2 old friends named Kate that are getting married. Not to each other, let's be clear. Two Kates. Two weddings. To two great guys. I went to Kate #1's shower on Saturday to toast to the blushing bride. While we have been friends since 6th grade, I always assumed she'd marry at Backstreet Boy. Since Brian Littrell is off the market, I'm so happy she has ended up with someone just as fab and less Google-able. We have stayed in touch over the years but haven't been extremely close (which I plan to change immediately). And even though I didn't know many people at the shower, it was so fun to catch up and partake in her special day. Aren't we just the cutest? I almost resurrected an old school picture of us from back in the day, but they're all in storage (totally need to dig some out though). Her mom said I look exactly the same as junior high, to which I replied, "Oh, god! I hope not!) Her comment is equal parts not true (phew!) and frightening.

We played Mad Libs, had some boozy cocktails and all swooned over all of the great gifts she received from Anthropologie (did not know you could register there - good mental note).

On Sunday, I met three lovely ladies for a delicious dinner at Gracie's inside of Hotel deLuxe. While we often frequent The Driftwood Room inside the glam-tastic Hotel deLuxe, we had never eaten at Gracie's before. It's fancy, it's pricy and it just wasn't on my radar unless it was a special event. Here in Portland, June is officially Dining Month. Restaurants that partake in Dining Month draw up a special 3-course menu and charge a reasonable $25 per person to indulge. I got the grilled asparagus, pork chop and creme brulee.

Yum! I was entirely too full, but who can resist a glass of wine and catching up with your gal pals? Hilarious times. I love that we each got a different dessert. Chocolate mousse, bread pudding, cheesecake and the creme brulee! I wish every month was Dining Month, but at the rate that the BF and I go out to eat, it pretty much is.

Oh (and don't judge me), but I totally wore my new, green maxi dress to both events. Different audience you know.

viva las vegas

One of my closest girlfriends is gettin' hitched - so we've booked a girl's weekend to Vegas to properly celebrate. I'm so excited to head out of town in August with the gals. Last time we were all there together was 4 years ago, but it feels just like yesterday. We're going to pile in a room, lounge by the pool and pop the champagne. 

Booking travel for five gals is no joke. After checking a million travel sites, we finally pulled the trigger the other night. We were like giddy school girls on the phone when we all pushed "purchase." I've learned that my calling in life is planning other people's celebrations. I have a Google Doc at the ready for this trip...color coded, links embedded - the whole shebang. Now to plan my outfits! I only have a month and a half to figure out 2 days of outfits. Oh, the stress!

aloha!

splurging on the convertible Mustang
was one of our favorite memories in Hawaii.

We're back from our vacation to paradise. It was nothing short of fabulous. After spending our days lounging by the pool and swimming in the teal blue ocean, I'm catching up on a pile of laundry and a DVR full of Gossip Girl and Bethenny Ever After. 


Not going to lie - it wasn't easy adjusting to the time change or sitting at my desk today (especially since it was so gorgeous outside), but life off of the island ain't so bad. Can't wait to share all my adventures throughout the week. Mahalo!

fields of gold

With just a little over an hour until the Academy Awards (otherwise known as Oscar Sunday), I thought I'd do some investigative reporting. While the broadcast focuses on honoring outstanding filmmaking, gawking over fabulous dresses, and excellence in all things related to motion pictures, I am most interested in the traditions of this entertainment milestone. 

While cheesy trophies seem so 4th grade soccer team party at the pizza parlor, this one is a keeper. It's the most recognized trophy in the world and has been on display on bookshelves and mantles of the greatest filmmakers since 1929.

Here are some facts about the beloved, gold fella:

Official Name: Academy Award of Merit, but the statuette is better known by its nickname, Oscar.

Height: 13½ inches

Weight: 8½ pounds

Number of Awards Presented: 2,809

First Recipient: Emil Jannings, named Best Actor for his performances in “The Last Command” and “The Way of All Flesh” in 1929

Design: A knight holding a crusader’s sword, standing on a reel of film. The film reel features five spokes, signifying the five original branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers).

Designer: Cedric Gibbons, chief art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Sculptor: Los Angeles artist George Stanley

Manufacturer: R. S. Owens & Company in Chicago

Manufacturing Time: 3–4 weeks for 50 statuettes

(Audrey, a big ol' pile of nerves, via Pinterest)

I'd like to thank The Academy...

So how does this whole voting thing work? Each November a campaign begins to get an Oscar nomination. Publicists send out invites to screenings and DVDs to make sure that each (nearly 6,000) of the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sees their film. Nomination ballots are mailed to the Academy's active members in late December and are due back to PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international accounting firm, in January. Final ballots are mailed to voting members in late-January and are due back the Tuesday prior to Oscar Sunday for final tabulation.After the final ballots are counted, only two partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers knows the results until the envelops are read onstage during the award ceremony. 

(the morning after the Oscars via Pinterest)