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Archive for January, 2010

polaroids from my birthday.

January 17, 2010

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As promised, here are the polaroids from my birthday picnic.

See the original post of images here.

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I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend so far! Since it’s been a while, I thought I’d share with you all a few of the things that I have been enjoying.

+ avatar. just saw this film and thought it was amazing. i stayed until the end of the picture credits just to enjoy the rest of the 3D scenery. :) it also reminded me to reconnect with everything around me – something i think we all forget to do regularly.

+ something like this would be so, so lovely in a home.

+ let’s pack a sleeping bag & lunch & camp out in the backyard.

+ i so, so need to make these! isn’t the recipe printout so charming?! and i’ve fallen in love with eva juliet’s illustrations. i want one myself!

+ quite possibly one of the best gingerbread houses on the planet. inspired by UP. :)

+ a french macaron recipe to try!

+ if only it snowed in san diego… i’d make these.

+ how charming is this?!

+ and finally, the eight irresistible principles of fun! now, go out & have fun. :)

Posted in Personal, Photo A Day, Polaroids | 1 Comment »

i heart fall.

January 16, 2010

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It’s not longer fall but I do heart it more than any other season (although this was taken in December! lol, oh, you crazy So Cal weather) :)

Posted in Photo A Day, Polaroids | 1 Comment »

clarity . {the west coast road trip 09} . day four.

January 14, 2010

moody skies over nye beach . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

Day four was here, and my last day along the coast. It started off cloudy (what else was new?!) but it was going to be a much more leisurely day of travel because I had less distance to cover to my next destination. So that allowed me spend more time exploring places. :) I started the morning off journaling in my pajamas while looking out the window over the ocean, then grabbing some coffee and a camera and heading down to the beach. (Coffee and I would become great friends on this trip). I absolutely loved how moody the clouds were over the water.

moody skies over nye beach . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

crab shell . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

just the two of us . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

beach grass . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

After a good stroll, I headed towards the bayfront, and then to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. It’s very similar to the lighthouse in Point Loma, shaped like a house, and the inside set up with 19 century items. I love seeing all those things, and imagining how they lived back then. After touring the lighthouse a bit, I hit the road for Cannon Beach.

bayfront . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

09.09.24 yaquina bay lighthouse
yaquina bay lighthouse . newport, oregon . polaroid sx-70

yaquina bay lighthouse interior . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

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yaquina bay lighthouse . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

yaquina bay bridge . newport, oregon . canon 5d mk2

trees in grass . oregon coast highway . canon 5d mk2

two lands joining together . oregon coast highway . canon 5d mk2

tree on rock . oregon coast highway . canon 5d mk2

haystack rock . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

to haystack rock . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

09.09.24 cannon beach stacks
haystack rock . cannon beach, oregon . polaroid sx-70

the beach . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

haystack rock . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

Immediately, Cannon Beach struck me how much it reminded me of San Diego beaches, except the huge sea stacks that were smack on the beach & in the ocean. It almost gives you a sense of scale and grandeur. Also, instead cliffs like you see in San Diego, you see mountains. I stopped into town for lunch (Sweet Basil Cafe) before heading towards Astoria, my last stop before heading to Portland.

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mini sand dues & rain n shine . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

quaint little barn by the water . cannon beach, oregon . canon 5d mk2

I literally stopped the car in the middle of to road after passing by this barn and said out lout “You’ve got to be kidding me!” It was that quaint & unassuming!

on the way to washington . columbia river, oregon/washington border . canon 5d mk2

whoops! welcome to washington . point ellice, washington . canon 5d mk2

Hm. Whoops! When navigating through Astoria, I ignored my GPS and went left instead of right, which forced me to cross the Columbia river into Washington! And let me tell you, that has got to be the scariest bridge ride I’ve ever done (and I’ve done many), because of how high you visibly climb in the beginning, and then how close you are to the actual water towards the end. And I wasn’t thrilled to have to do it all over again to make it back!

back over the bridge . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

astoria-megler bridge . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

While in Astoria (which reminds me of a miniature San Francisco), I decided to go up to the Astoria Column which I found on Yelp (let me tell you, Yelp was my *go to* when I was on my own during this trip!), and walked up the 164 flights of stairs to the very top, which was EXHAUSTING, but well worth the stunning 360 view.

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astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

looking northwest . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

looking west . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

looking south . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

looking east . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

‘little’ boats . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

sun rays . astoria column . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

I was falling in love with Astoria, one bit at a time.

I had a bit more time before sunset (I was determined to see a sunset on this trip!) so I hurried into downtown, to see if I could get a view over the water.

through the trees . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

quaint little neighborhood . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

Before getting to the waterfront, I decided to walk a bit through the town. I really fell in love with Astoria. The vibe, the feel, it really was like a miniature SF! I so wanted to stay longer, but I couldn’t. However, I did find this charming, charming, charming coffeehouse (Astoria Coffeehouse Cafe) and hung out there a bit. I fell in love with the entire place and ordered myself a chai to drink, which was the best chai I’ve ever had in my life. They also offered Stumptown coffee, which you will hear more of down the line. :)

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astoria coffeehouse cafe. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

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astoria coffeehouse cafe. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

astoria coffeehouse cafe. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

godfather’s books. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

liberty theater. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

streeview. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

pilot. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

09.09.24 columbia river astoria
astoria-megler bridge. astoria, oregon . polaroid sx-70

Reached the waterfront! But blast! I can’t see the actual sunset, so I headed back up to the column to try & see if I could catch it up there.

columbia river looking towards washington. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

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from my polaroid travel journal. astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

astoria-megler bridge, after sunset . astoria, oregon . canon 5d mk2

Of course, by the time I drove up there, the sun was gone. Alas, another sunset has alluded me on this trip.

But I had fallen in love with an entirely new town. Astoria, though my time with you had been brief, you are lovely in every way. I will be back soon. :)

Thus ends the coastal portion of my trip and I head inland.

Portland, here I come :)

Previous road trip posts:

the beginning.
day one.
day two.
day three.

Posted in Photo A Day, Roadtrip 09 | 10 Comments »

those who matter don’t mind.

January 10, 2010

‘Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.’ - dr seuss.

How often have we censored our thoughts simply because we’re afraid what others will think of us? I know I do it all the time. But like wise ole Dr Seuss said, those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. So say what you think, really, cause I think the world could always use a bit more authenticity. :)

Posted in Personal, Photo A Day | 3 Comments »

on happiness.

January 9, 2010

‘happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.’ – unknown

Posted in Personal, Photo A Day | Comments Off

for the love of farmer’s markets.

January 8, 2010

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I absolutely adore farmer’s markets. Some of my earliest memories of the farmer’s market is with my mother, on early Sunday mornings. The farmer’s market where I grew up was in a freeway underpass, so I mostly remember the feeling of being under the giant freeways in the early morning, with people (mostly old ladies) pushing the wire carts, bargaining for the best price for produce.

Now I just love walking through them, taking a look at what’s in season, what people are growing. I love chatting with the vendors, talking about the best way to cook something and how you should eat it. When the farmer’s market in my neighborhood just opened up, I was ecstatic – I would go every week. I became a regular – the fish guys would chat with me about the best way to cook the fish, and the almond guys would smile in recognition. I would get talked into buying pickled garlic (which is GOOD especially if you love garlic like me) and the most delicious cured meats. The flower vendor that was in the back of the market was the sweetest man – he once complimented my boots, and gave me a free small bunch of flowers every time I would buy from him. And he would smile so happily. It was for this reason that I would only buy flowers from him in the whole market.

I just loved being able to connect with where my food comes from – seeing the faces that grew the food. You can tell just how much they care about it. And of course, it’s good for the environment to buy locally. :)

Next time you need to buy some produce, give your local farmer’s markets a try. Maybe you’ll love it just as much as I do :)

Posted in Food, Personal, Photo A Day | 3 Comments »