Los Angeles or Bust!

Last week Mom and I took a little overnight trip up to Beverly Hills. We'd both been to and around L.A. before, but this was our first time in The Hills. We stayed at a gorgeous hotel, enjoyed two days of beautiful sunshine, and did plenty of relaxing. We enjoyed ourselves so much we plan to make a return trip with our husbands when we can! Can't always be mommy-daughter day. ;)

Boarding the train. My new romper from ModCloth was so comfortable to travel in! The fabric was lightweight and kept me cool on the train. Plus, it's so ridiculously chic, how can you not want to travel in it?!


The bougainvillea in San Juan Capistrano was breath taking.



Mom and I enjoying a light lunch. The food was exquisite. We ate at the hotel twice and we weren't disappointed!



(Isn't that teeny tiny tart the cutest thing ever??)



Walking down Rodeo Drive.



Enjoying the hotel's complimentary limousine. ;)



Mom and I ate at this fabulous restaurant called "The Stinking Rose," which is a garlic themed restaurant. Oh. So. Yummy!



We each ordered a small tureen for our appetizers (Mom: garlic clams, me: garlic and tomato shrimp), and had we not filled up on the garlic bread as well, we probably would have gone for something else before our meals (Mom had the halibut in a lemon-garlic-butter-and-caper sauce, while I had garlic dungeness crab).



We felt like serious tourists while walking around and taking a bazillion pictures of the murals and rooms!



Coming home and going back to reality was such a bummer. After just two days of everyone opening your doors everywhere you go, I'm suddenly very offended to have to do something so mundane for myself! ;) Definitely gives us something to look forward to doing again!

Guest post by Sophia @ PinkieLarue

I am so excited, because for the first time ever, I have a guest blogger! Go me and my tiny little blog! Whoo-hoo!! I met Sophia through our mutual networking site, 20 Something Bloggers and we did a blog swap. Sophia does a lot of traveling and since that's something you won't be seeing anytime soon here at The Nutshell (unless you want to hear about Jason's bargains in the desert market places), I thought a travel post would be a welcome distraction from my usual rounds of DIY.

I had the chance to throw some very random questions her way (who likes only typical interview questions?) and I was loving that she happily played along with my inane line of reasoning.

What made you start blogging?
I've always written in some way or another. I have about 30 hand written journals and diaries from age 8 to present! So blogging just came naturally. I started in 2001 on livejournal and haven't stopped since!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an alligator, but since that dream was crushed in 1st grade (darn you, Mrs. Mitchell), I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. Oh how things have changed! I'm currently studying to be a nurse.

What's one thing you wish people did better?
I wish people would clean/pick up behind themselves. I am constantly disgusted with the way people treat the environment. I hate seeing someone throw a wrapper out of their car on a highway or dump trash at the end of a street.

If you could gorge yourself at any restaurant or on any food, where/what would it be?
Huey's Cheese Fries! Huey's is a chain in Memphis, TN with the best burgers and amaaazing cheese fries topped with bacon bits, chives, and a side of sour cream. So bad for you, but delicious.

What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
People may be surprised to know that I was a model from age 16 to a couple of years ago. Nothing professional (I wasn't in vogue or anything :P), but I've been in tons of runway shows, commercial modeling for brochures, promotional events, photo shoots and I've even had a photo spread in a national magazine (Boycrazy! some teen magazine about hot boys. My pic was attached to an article about staying friends with your ex).

So, without further ado, please welcome Sophia from PinkieLarue!

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You are probably expecting a post from the lovely Amber, but you get me. Sophia, also known as Pinkie Larue. It's a nickname turned internet alias that I use all over the place. I'm a geeky, 27 year old and after living all over the place (The Netherlands, Texas, Tennessee, and a teeny stint in Jersey) I am now in West Virginia with my boyfriend who I met in World of Warcraft (told you I was geeky!). I start nursing school full time in the fall, play roller derby, and I'm a mac. You can find me over at my blog, PinkieLarue where I blog about geeky things and whatever's going on in my life. Now that you sort of know me, on with the post! It's about a recent road trip with my boyfriend. The plan was to visit Toronto,Canada, but we made pit stops in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York, and Lake Eerie...what?! I wanted to see a lighthouse! Here's what went down:


Day 1-our town, West Virginia to Buffalo, New York This part of the trip was only supposed to take 4 and a half hours, BUT in Pennsylvania I saw a sign pointing to the direction of Lake Eerie and lighthouses. As I had never seen a lighthouse and it was still pretty early in the day and not out of the way, we stopped at a beach/park on Lake Eerie. :D We spent an hour walking and driving around the area. I got to see my lighthouse! And a couple of other beautiful sites. Random pit stops are the best!


After the pit stop we drove the last hour and a half to Buffalo. We arrived and had buffalo wings for dinner. When in Rome! We went to the Anchor Bar which is the home of the original buffalo wing. The place they were invented. They were yummy, but I've had better. I got extra hot and the bf got BBQ. He's a baby when it comes to hot stuff where as, I am an West African girl who was raised eating the spiciest foods! It was nothing for me. *brushes shoulder off*


After dinner we rested for a bit before driving 30 minutes to Niagara Falls to see the falls at night. We got there and I could barely see anything because of all the mist and hellooo?! It was dark. I was kind of disappointed and after walking around for 15 minutes I said "SCREW IT! Let's go back to the car". We were walking back when *click*, someone turned on the lights! All of a sudden the falls were lit up with green lights in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It was beautiful. I turned my grumpy frown upside down and enjoyed the lovely view! Wouldn't it have been a pity if I had missed out on that? Day 2- Niagara Falls to Toronto, Canada! The next day we woke up and had a big breakfast before heading out to see Niagara Falls during the day. The plan was to see it from the American side, the Canadian side, and then on to Toronto! The view of the falls from America's side were kind of crappy (comparatively). Due to ice, there were lots of barricades and because you're next to the falls, as opposed to across from them like you are on the Canadian side, the view is kind of obstructed.


The Canadian view was amazing. You could get a lot closer to the falls, so we spent quite awhile sitting there enjoying it. The sound of the water falling was so loud, but soothing. I joked to the boyfriend that I should record it to fall asleep to. (I sometimes fall asleep to recorded nature sounds)


After a few hours at the falls it was on to Toronto! Unfortunately, we had a little setback at the border patrol. We were one of the lucky cars that got picked to get searched. Yay! :/ They searched the car COMPLETELY! I mean, the door panels, everywhere in the trunk, under the seats-it was very thorough! They especially got curious over the baked goods we had in our car. Jennifer, whom we stayed with in Buffalo, gave us homemade cookies and brownies for the trip. The patrol guy actually opened and sniffed every Ziploc and questioned us if the brownie marked "w" was for weed.


We assured him it was for walnuts as he sniffed it! Haha, after the search we got our stamps and continued to Toronto!


Days 3, 4, 5-Toronto, Canada! Toronto is SUCH an artsy/hip city. Also very international and diverse. Foreign people make up 50% of the city. And you could definitely tell since there were "ethnic" neighborhoods called like Little Italy, Corso Italia, Greektown, Portugal Village, Koreatown, Little India, Little Jamaica, and my favorite Chinatown. I love shopping/eating in Chinatown's. Up until Toronto, NYC's Chinatown was my favorite. But not anymore! Toronto's Chinatown is HUGE! It's the second largest in North America. It spans for streets and streets and has tons of shops/bubble tea places and even malls! We spent an entire afternoon there-exploring, having lunch, and shopping.


Most of our time in Toronto was spent walking around exploring and eating yummy food! But we also did some touristy stuff. We took a walking tour and went to the CN Tower-the second tallest in the world. (It's one of the seven modern wonders of the world, which means I got to see 2 wonders on this trip!) We took the all inclusive tour, which was expensive, but definitely worth it. The tour takes you up the tower, in a glass elevator. I'm not usually afraid of heights, but I was definitely a little uneasy in this swaying, glass elevator, going 1500ft above Toronto! Once we stopped on the first level (1200ft) I was ok. The view from up there was amazing! On this floor there is a glass floor. Yup. A glass floor 1200ft above the ground! Of course I was scared, but I walked on it and to avoid ridicule by me for the rest of our lives, the boyfriend did it too. It was such a crazy feeling looking down. The people and cars looked like ants!


After hanging around on that floor for awhile, we took the elevator up to the highest point, 1500ft above Toronto.


The rest of the weekend was spent exploring the city and then celebrating my birthday with a cupcake, a nice dinner, and some beers! All in all a great little vacation and birthday.


I enjoyed sharing my trip with you and I hope you enjoyed reading. Thanks for having me, Amber!

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I hope you stop by Sophia's blog and say hey! I loved having her here and reading about her trip. Sometimes living vicariously through someone is the perfect little "getaway" you need from your own life! ;)

a nut's guide to las vegas: things to see

PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE, THINGS TO DO

Zumanity (New York, New York)
As "the sensual side of Cirque du Soleil," Zumanity is part fetish, part sex, and part comedy. We were surprised that we actually spent more time laughing than anything else! Tip: spring for the expensive seats--the audience interaction is F-U-N!

Bite (The Stratosphere)
We saw Bite the last time we went to Las Vegas, and I do have to admit, it's not the same the second time around. But if it's your first visit, you can do a lot worse than classic rock and half naked vampires!

Jersey Boys (The Palazzo)
A-effing-mazing is the only way to describe this show! We sat in the 24th row, and they were still excellent seats. The entire show really does make you want to stand up and dance. Plus, learning the stories behind the songs is quite entertaining.

Club ROK (New York, New York)
We got put on the VIP list for club ROK, and it was a blast! I got free champagne for most of the night (ugh--hangover city the next day), and the DJ kicked ass. If you're looking for a good club in Las Vegas, ROK is a great place to visit.

The CSI Experience (MGM Grand)
If you're a huge CSI nerd like we are fan of the show (or the series), test your armature sleuthing skills and play pretend that you're on the clock in Las Vegas! You get to play around in the faux-labs, take in an autopsy (all digital, so don't worry about blood and guts), and you can even have your CSI "diploma" printed out.

The Titanic Exhibit (The Luxor)
I wish I could explain how moving this exhibit is. But I'd also have to admit that it's rather chilling as well. A bit like seeing a holocaust museum--no mater how some one's story begins, you know that it almost certainly ended badly. The exhibit features its own iceberg for you to touch so you can get an idea of what so many suffered through that night. They've even rescued a large piece of the hull and displayed it. Don't tell, but I snuck a photo to share with you all. I know it's difficult to see, but notice the portholes--some still retain shards of the original glass from when they broke.



The exhibit will be in Las Vegas for about 10 years, so if you can't make it right away, you have some time. I really recommend going. These are pieces that you'll never see anywhere else.

The Grand Spa (MGM Grand)
Escape into the lap of luxury at the MGM's spa. We spent about 4 hours here and could have spent many more! I did their classic spa package, while Jason did their gentleman's package. You get the use of the facilities for the entire day which includes a sauna, steam room, and Jacuzzi (clothing optional). Do yourself a favor and don't make plans for after the spa. You'll only want to relax the whole rest of the day!

---

Now it's back to reality (happily). I'm anxious to get back to work on our living room (and breath clean smoke-free air). I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, while we try and recoup!

a nut's guide to las vegas: eating

PLACES TO EAT
If it's called "sin city," we definitely partook in the gluttony aspect of the seven deadly sins! (Note: links will take you to the restaurant website, not the hotel.)

Margaritaville (next to The Flamingo)
Try... the classic Cheesebruger in Paradise (like the song!), with a big kosher pickle on the side! And bonus: they're finally offering veggie burgers on the menu.

The Café Bellagio (inside The Bellagio)
Try... the Chilean sea bass with roasted asparagus. The fish is pan seared, which makes the edges golden and crispy. Mm! Enjoy a fabulous cocktail with your meal--the pomegranate cherry martini is heavenly, but watch those cherries on the skewer! Baby, those are sour!

Nine Fine Irishmen Pub (inside New York, New York)
Try... the onion rings (which are first marinated in bloody Mary mix) with hot mustard, and the fish n' chips with the malt vinegar. Classic pub eating at its best. Plus, live entertainment! And if you're feeling really daring, try one of their many types of whiskey.

Yours truly after having her first shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey. I was positive that I was going to have hair on my chest later that day.



And if you fancy some lovely Irish-inspired jewelry, they can help you out there too! Check out the gorgeous diamante necklace I snagged. I couldn't resist the perfect emerald green or the way the lights bounced off those crystals.

Lombardi's Romagna Mia (The Miracle Mile Shops inside Planet Hollywood)
Try... the shrimp scampi, if you're in the mood for something light. Garlic and capers add a wonderful taste to this dish. And if you're int he mood for dessert, their crème brûlée is creamy without being too sweet.

The Grand Wok & Sushi Bar (inside The MGM Grand)
Try... the spicy tuna roll, if you like sushi (like Jason), or the Vietnamese spring rolls if you can't quite handle the raw stuff (like me). They're stuffed with chilled shrimp, rice, and a hint of mint. If you're allergic to peanuts, be sure to ask them to leave the crushed stuff off the dipping sauce (it's delicious)!

Fellini's Ristorante (inside The Stratosphere)
We popped into Fellini's for a quick bite before we caught a show. Try... the shrimp cocktail (I couldn't get enough on our trip). You get six huge tiger shrimp, each with their own lemon wedge. Their cocktail sauce has a nice little kick to it as well.

Trevi (inside the Forum Shops at Caesar's)
Try... the eggplant appetizer and the cheese ravioli--both large enough to share! Their cheese ravioli isn't like your grocery-store-variety. The cheeses are smokey, nutty, and rich. Plus, you can enjoy your meal under the lights of the (replica) Trevi Fountain.

America (inside New York, New York)
Try... (and share) the nachos--get 'em sans beans if you're a veghead. For comfort food, dig into their creamy macaroni and cheese. And to satisfy your sweet tooth, try one of their delicious milkshakes! Simple as it was, this had to be one of our favorite meals while we were in Las Vegas. Sometimes, there's no substitute for "home cooked" meals.

The dessert bar in the Village Eateries (inside New York, New York's Greenwich Village)
Try... the caramel apple bar, and the lemon bar. If I could let out a guttural moan of sheer delectability, I would! This dessert bar caught my eye and I couldn't stop staring! Jason and I shared two of the dessert bars (I wanted one of each all to myself, but my husband quickly vetoed that idea).

JJ's Boulangerie (inside Paris), and Café Belle Madeleine (also inside Paris)
I'm grouping these two together because neither is outstanding. While the café has some amazing desserts (try the six-inch chocolate éclaire), both it and the boulangerie have horrible line systems, a seemingly clueless staff, and a run-down atmosphere. "Everything's sexier in Paris"? Mm, not so much.

Tao (inside The Venetian)
Try... the crispy Thai shrimp with spicy pineapple sauce, the Imperial vegetable egg rolls, and the Hong Kong XO shrimp with long beans. Yeeeeah...we definitely got gluttonous in Tao. And that's not even counting the delicious chocolate spring rolls we had for dessert...

you-pick pillows

We're getting ready to take a little vacay to one of our favorite places: Las Vegas! You know we had such a great time last year we decided to go for an entire week this time around.





I was trying to cram a week's worth of work into a few days and whip up some posts to keep everyone busy while we were away. But the need to pack took over the need to add trim to our big hulking wall unit, and the filler posts were feeling empty, forced, and sub-par for the wittiness that is my blog. ;) I'm too excited here folks! We have tickets to see three shows while we're there! Not to mention reservations at a fabulous restaurant and all sorts of plans for shenanigans (and spas...mmm...spaaaaaaaaaas...).

However, this morning Jason notified me that our new pillow inserts will be arriving from eBay soon! I'm so excited! I'm also so happy that I went the eBay route, because through places like Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs I was going to rack up a $70+ bill on just three pillows alone--and I'm in need of six! Once they get here and I can thoroughly inspect their quality, I'll be happy to share my supplier with you all. :) In the meantime, you can help me decide on a design for my lumbar pillow.

Design #1:



or Design #2:


(Love this font? Find it and download it for free here.)

The only difference is the little lines under the "o," but I can't decide which I like better. The pillows will have simple burlap covers. And the significance of "No. 19:" we were married on the 19th of February. ;) You'll be seeing a lot of 19s popping up here and there in the future.

So cast your vote, pray we don't go bankrupt in Vegas (not! we're so not gamblers), and I'll see you all next weekend!

october 29

I think Thursday was the chillest day we had in Salem. The wind was biting through the layers of shirts and jackets we had on. But we couldn't let that stop us because we had a full day of sight seeing ahead! One of the only things I wanted to do while we were in Oregon was take a tour of Deepwoods Estate, an historical Queen Anne Victorian home.





There were truly so many gorgeous details; I hate to try and break it down into just these eight pictures. But unless you want to stare at a million shots of hinges, doorknobs and other silly things I shot photos of, I'm afraid these are the best I can do! ;) The fireplace was a work of art, as was most of the construction of the house. They tried to restore it to its original decor--so yes, the orange paint on the parlor walls was actually correct for this home! The stained glass was also gorgeous and featured some intricate designs such as hand painting (shown in the second set top right photo). And what's truly amazing, the house was wired for electricity--but was lit by 8-watt bulbs (seen in the second set top left photo)! Just to give you an idea of comparison: the light bulb in a refrigerator is a 15-watt bulb.

That afternoon, we followed my grandfather and Uncle Andy into McMinnville, Oregon, which was waaaay out in the boondocks. We knew we were going to the aero-space museum, but no one had told us of the great (BIG) surprise it held inside.



That would be Jason and I standing under Howard Hugh's infamous Spruce Goose! When we pulled up, you could see its enormity through the glass and we were breathless! It was so large and so grand, it was almost intimidating. It truly is a wonder how that man ever got the thing into the air.

We also saw a number of other incredible things like the original lunar rover (as in, "One small step for man..."), a large part of the Berlin Wall, and even one of the Apollo pods that the Navy rescued from the sea.



If you happen to make it up to Oregon, the trip out McMinnville is most certainly worth the drive. Where else will you ever see an array of history like this?!

october 28

Wednesday might be my most favorite day that we spent in Oregon. Jason and I were talked into driving up north to the Columbia River, which separates Oregon and Washington. Along the way we stopped for a gorgeous photo op at Willamette Falls.



Fun Trivia Fact: In the movie "A League of Their Own," Dottie and Kit come from the town of Willamette, Oregon.

The town along the river was so quaint and adorable. It was literally like something out of a movie. Afterwards we hopped back on the freeway and headed for Multnomah Falls. The scenery, like the rest of Oregon, was gorgeous.



By the time we arrived at the falls, we thought we'd gotten a pretty good eye full of what Mother Nature had to offer. But nothing could prepare us for the splendor and awe inspiring views of Multnomah.





You better believe we were bundled up! It was COLD! I swear a few more degrees and some rain and we would have seen snowfall. We followed our hike with a lovely lunch at the Multnomah Lodge and headed back home for some hot showers and cat naps.

We napped a lot on our vacation...

october 24

7. Don't pack it in the outside compartment of your suitcase unless you're prepared to lose it!

I should have taken a shot of our dismayed faces when our luggage came off the carousel and the front zipper compartment was flapping open! A whole bag of toiletries and Jason's military leave papers were gone! We were furious because our bag was (literally) only a fraction too large for the carry-on box they make you size your luggage with and we were forced to check it. Now we were missing vital items. The toiletry bag was carrying my brand new bottle of Clinique foundation, my contact solution, my cold cream, face scrub, moisturizer, and a much loved bottle of hair serum I bought from my stylist back in North Carolina. I knew Jason's papers were more important than my make-up, but I was pretty distraught.

Thankfully, his leave papers were retrieved and Alaska Airlines was nice enough to cut me a check for my missing items right at the counter. Sanity somewhat restored, we headed over to Avis to pick up our rental car. I do have to do a quick plug here: we ended up with a Dodge Caliber and it was a wonderful little vehicle! A bit like a cross-over, Jason and I have put it our our list of possibilities for our next car.

We set out for Salem, all the while enjoying the very scenic drive.



By the time we got to my Uncle Andy's house, I thought Jason was going to kill me if I asked him to take one more picture of a tree! ;) So I grabbed the camera and shot the backyard like crazy. I also firmly decided that our forever home has to have a huge picture window!



Before retiring to our hotel we swung by Wal-Mart to try and recoup some of my loses. Product (un)Plug: I made the mistake of buying Pond's Cucumber cold cream, thinking it would be like the original, just with a different scent. WRONG! It was actually rather drying; whereas I could have used the original cold cream and not follow up with a separate moisturizer, it was an absolute must with the cucumber cream. I didn't even bring it home, I hated it so much.

We arrived at our hotel, Marriott's Residence Inn, and settled down for the evening, thankful we'd made it in one piece. Well... almost...



My trusty powder container somehow shattered mid-flight. I suppose it lived a long and prosperous life, but I'm sad I had to part with it.

Our heads hit the pillows at 7:30 and we slept off the not-so-happy start to our vacation. Thankfully, it was our one and only bad day in Oregon. :)

Pssst! You voted, I wore!



Not the greatest outfit shot ;) but the winning combo was the black cardi, jeans, faux snake-skin heels, and vintage grey jacket with pearls to accessorize. Thanks for helping me dress readers!

You can see the rest of our trip here: October 26 & 27, October 28, and October 29.

Amber's travel tips

Aka: The Things I've Learned:


1. If you can, carry on! Most towns nowadays have Wal-Marts, which makes getting your (mini)essentials that much easier, and less of a hassle to travel with. If you're like me however and need certain brands or items, pick up a handy-dandy airplane bag. You know just how much you're allowed to pack. Be sure to check your local TSA website for update rules and regulations.

2. Always read your labels! Last night I was purchasing some contact solution for the trip and a bunch of the boxes had little airplane icons on them. However, they were four fluid ounces each. To my knowledge, the limit is still three in the U.S.

3. Empty containers are great. I pack my cold cream, facial exfoliate, and sometimes even lotions or oils in the empty containers they carry in the mini-aisles. Until they make travel-sized cold cream or apricot scrub, this is the only way to keep my face looking pretty on a trip.

4. If you have hotel reservations, car rentals, or anything of the sort, print out your confirmation pages. I can't tell you how many times Jason and I have shown up, only to be told there's no reservation under our name. Because we had proof they were required to find a room for us--and sometimes we were even given better suites because of it.

5. Eye drops, Dramamine, gum, and water are essential in airplane travel. And if you can get a glass of Airborne down as well, more power to you! Eye drops are great for re-hydrating and whitening your peepers; Dramamine is great for fighting off air-sickness (if you're prone like I am); gum and water are great ways to get your ears to pop on ascent and descent--as well as tipping your head back. I don't know why it works, but it does.

6. Have fun! Sometimes it's the journey, sometimes it's the destination--and sometimes it's just getting to travel with a really hot companion (Jason♥). But the most important thing about traveling is to make the best of everything and enjoy yourself!

See you in a week!

need your opinions dear readers

So we take off Saturday morning and I am having a hell of a time figuring out what to wear on the plane! We all know there's that unspoken "rule" about airplane-chic, but we also know that nowadays an ensemble has to be security gate friendly as well. Thankfully, we're only in for a two hour flight which makes the ability to wear something a little more chic and not have to worry about much discomfort.

I had been planning on wearing my grey jacket with grey tights and black shoes for the flight. However, the shoes have buckles on them which makes for a struggle to take them on and off to walk through security. The whole jacket-dress combo may confuse the security guards and the last thing I want to do is have to flash a Travel Security Agent or be taken off to some little room because I refuse to remove my jacket (which is actually being worn as a dress). Plus, I wear a vintage brooch on the lapel and that's sure to set off alarms unless I unfasten it and send it through the x-ray machine. Quite an ordeal to start the trip, wouldn't you say?

Therefore, I've come up with these outfit alternatives and I'm needing your help deciding on which one I should wear.

Outfit #1

Black bow cardi with jeans, faux snake skin slip-on pumps (I can do airports in heels), grey jacket (worn as a jacket), and pearls to accessorize.



Outfit #2

Grey chinos with layered tees, grey knit sweater (which is a little longer than bolero length), and choice of shoes. The shoes directly correspond with the combination I layer the tees in. If I wear white on top of brown, it takes on a grey hue and looks fabulous with my faux snake skin heels. If I wear brown on top of white, the colors match perfectly with my Ugg boots. The sweater would also be accessorized by a vintage brooch and I'd wear my diamond earrings to top it all off.



If it makes any difference, right now Oregon is experiencing highs near 60-degrees F (or 15-degrees C), and lows near 40-degrees F (or 4-degrees C), and no rain for the day we arrive. However, both Friday and Sunday are calling for about an 80% chance of rain, so I'm not expecting that prediction to stick!

So what do you think?

onwards! (updated)

Now that my parents' birthday bash is over, the move is behind us, and the Highland Games have come and gone until next year, it's time to start the final preparations for Oregon!

I'm so excited and I cannot wait to see my cousins! I can't wait for Jason to meet this other part of my family who I spent so much of my childhood with. Plus, I've never been up North at this time of year. I know it's going to be cold but I'm also hoping to see some gorgeous late-fall foliage.

But being the little prissy thing that I am, I'm looking forward to the wardrobe aspect of the trip just as much (does that make me a bad person?). I've got one outfit hammered out already, and I'm thinking I'll build the rest of my wardrobe around it. Just imagine it with grey tights, black gloves, my Coach glasses from the Highland Games, and a scarf of some sort.



Vintage grey dress jacket - Etsy; shoes - Söfft; vintage brooches - Etsy.

I also have my grey jeans from Banana Republic which are super comfortable and will travel well, so they'll go into the suitcase too. The only other items I want to be sure to fit in are my brown snow boots which I purchased last year for the cross-country drive--good thing since we did actually encounter snow!


(Note to self: see if I can fit pea coat into luggage!)

I still have another week to decided on all the details, but at least I've got a color scheme in mind. If it can go with black or grey it will be considered!

Let's see how our calendar is shaping up since last we checked it...

September 11 - baseball game
September 12 - professional head shots
September 12 - Mom & Step-dad's 50th birthday party
September 13 - baseball game
September 28 - planned move date

October 10 - Highland Games
October 11 - Highland Games
*October 16 - TV audience participation (<--- canceled)
*October 17 - pumpkin patch
*October 17 - family BBQ @ Aunt & Uncle's house
October 24 - leave for Oregon
October 31 - return from Oregon

November 3 - leave for San Francisco
November 5 - return from San Francisco
November 17 - planned trip to Houston
November 19 - planned return from Houston (canceled--it was my event and I decided not to go)
*November 26 - host Thanksgiving dinner (!!)
November 27 - free resort weekend
November 28 - free resort weekend

And in between all that I still want to:
- repaint dining room table
- strip & paint table leaf (for Thanksgiving)
- finish computer chair
- get house in order for the holidays

The house will be my absolute number one priority after we get home from Oregon. I want to talk about Thanksgiving in another post, but we'll be hosting it this year which is a first. That means (to me anyway) my house has to be in tip top condition so I can show it off and open it up. Right now it will just be six of us, but I've told Jason that any little lonely Marines in his shop are more than welcome to share our table--I just hope they like Tofurky! ;)

seaside highland games

The lowest "High"land games in history, held at just three feet above sea level! ;) Jason and I spent the weekend in Ventura, California representing our Scottish Clan MacFie at the Highland Games. Sadly, we were the only MacFies there as the clan is rather small. I'm hoping that next year (when we attend the San Diego Highland Games) we'll have better luck at meeting some of our fellow Scotsmen.

All bundled up and ready to go. Ventura was very cold!


(I'm wearing the family colors in my scarf.)



There were British cars on display, which I loved. I've never seen a car with a left sided steering wheel!





This truck was my favorite. I've always wanted a vintage truck and this one is my size!



The athletics taking place. Putting the Stone (it weighs 26-pounds!).




(Now you know what men wear under their kilts!)

Throwing of the Weights. The bar is raised to 20 feet in the air, and the contestant tries to throw a 50-pound anvil over the top.



He just barely missed!



At the Tartan Information Booth. The display of military tartans made me cry when I saw this plaque:



Honor
A veteran--whether Active Duty or Retired,
Reserve or National Guard--
is someone who at one point in his or her life,
wrote a blank check made payable to
"The United States of America"
for the amount of
"up to and including my life."
You have earned, and deserve, the respect of your country men.

We loved this map of Scotland showing where all the clans came from. Jason was tickled to find out we're actual Highlanders. Here we are on our own little island!



This group was our favorite part of the whole weekend. It's a family group called "Celtic Spring," and they're too amazing for words. I shot this video in hopes that it would do a better job at describing their immense talent than I could!


Featured in the video is Mary (mother), Greg (dad), Elizabeth, Maire (pronounced like Mara), Sean, Patrick, and young Aiden.

And of course, there was lots and lots of delicious food! We partook in fish and chips, garden burgers, and the Celtic version of strawberry shortcake: scones with strawberries and cream.



Sláinte!