Portlandia Day Two

Our second day in Oregon was incredible. We enjoyed lovely, mildly warm weather. We loved the food, the friendly vibes and the gorgeous nature everywhere you look! I swear we walked into a living Subaru commercial.

Friendliest cat we've ever met

Olivia snapped this awesome photo

I did some research for our trip and I found out that Portland is all about that brunch.

I had so many great options to choose from but when I saw Slappy Cakes on the Food Network I knew we had to try it! Story & Chris have been wanting to go there too but there is always a crazy long wait. We checked out a cool vintage video store while we waited to be called. It's ridiculous how many great movies we've missed in theaters because we don't go as often, but when faced with thousands of DVDs to choose from, all we could decide on is The SpongeBob Movie for Liv and Veda.

We parked near a food truck lot. There are incredible food trucks (and trailers) everywhere!

Here was my order, buttermilk pancakes and fresh blueberries

You guessed it, it's a cook your own pancakes restaurant

Slappy Cakes Portland from sunkissis on Vimeo.

Liv requested a snail, I ended up eating it

Obviously, this is my pancake, it broke during the flip

Pancakes de la Totoro for Antz

Our next stop was Multnomah Falls to take in the beautiful local nature.

Aren't these photos insane? I didn't have to edit anything.

I'm still in denial she's five years old!

So pretty!

We also checked out a fish hatchery where we saw a 100 year old sturgeon named Harold. We headed to downtown Portland for donuts at the popular tourist attraction, Voodoo Doughnuts.

We only had a few minutes on our parking meter and the line was ridiculous so we passed on buying anything. Story assured me she knew a better donut place closer to their house.

Every single thing that Carrie & Fred make reference to on Portlandia is 1,000% true!

We finished the day with dinner at McMenamins Kennedy School which is an old school renovated into a hotel, venue and restaurant. I heard they have an insanely beautiful soaking pool but it was closed to the public due to a private event. I took these photos of almost two year old Veda being adorable outside on the patio.

I can't tell you how much I've missed our dear friends. So far we are convinced we are moving to Portland!

A love letter

Dear Antzy,

Thank you, loving husband for all that you do. You are taking the next 3 days off of work...to work in our kitchen. You send me and the bebe to my Mom's house to have fun while you do all the dirty work that would cause us to sneeze and have itchy, red eyes. You listen to me go on endlessly about all my desires and you sweetly reassure me. You are the string attached to my balloon of ideas that keeps me grounded when I become overwhelmed with color selections, budget and light fixtures. You make possible what I think is impossible.

You are patient, kind and good.

You are one in a million and we love you so much.

We miss you!

Love,
Your Girls

E & O


P.S. I really like these knobs and pulls for the kitchen cabinets.

Happy Anniversary!

Sunday, August 18, 2002 I married a boy named Anthony. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I didn't wake up with jitters or nerves. I was calm and excited. I took an hour long bath and ate strawberries and drank champagne. I went to a spa across the street from the hotel we were staying at *Malibu Beach Inn* and had a wonderful massage. Then things happened that I can happily laugh about now. For instance, I somehow stepped in tar *gross* and had a black spot on my foot that wouldn't come off no matter how hard I scrubbed. I sent my maid of honor *Aimee, of course* over to the groom's suite with his wedding gift. I got him a watch and a cheesy card. I remember getting ready and hoping to see dolphins in the ocean. I ended seeing 4 dolphins but they could have been porpoise. It was an overcast day but we were happy because that meant less people on the beach and no hot sun for our guests. On the drive to the beach we were delayed but no one told me why so I had my one Bridezilla moment. It turned out that our shuttle *that we rented to take our guests from the reception site to the ceremony on the beach* drove right onto the sand and got stuck. I freaked out as any bride-to-be would have. Luckily I didn't cry but I did tell my Mom that I was going to sue the shuttle company for ruining my wedding, haha! I didn't sue but we had a 45 minute crisis before the groomsmen somehow got the shuttle out of the sand and my wedding commenced. We chose the Nutcracker Suite as our wedding soundtrack. I walked down to the Sugar Plum Fairy song, a favorite of mine since I was a kid and I heard it in Fantasia.



My Aunt Eloise flew in from Oklahoma to officiate our wedding. My sister-in-law, Clinnie sang Ave Maria. As I walked down the aisle my veil fell off. After we were married, Antz flip flop broke. It's little things like this that put a smile on my face. Although the day had hiccups, our lives together feels perfect. We are definitely soul mates. We get each other completely. I couldn't ask for a more perfect partner and friend. I can't believe how quickly 10 years have gone by but time flies when you're having fun. I look forward to celebrating our 50 year anniversary. I love you Antz, more than I could say. I feel like having you as a husband is the icing on the cake and having Olivia is the cherry on top. I am so blessed to have such an extraordinary life. Happy 10 years!! PHOTOBOMB

Trolley drama!!

the exact moment his shoe broke

My BFF, Aimee, my maid-of-honor and the Thelma to my Louise

Our Shuttle, I wanted to strangle the driver

I was a mess during Aimee's toast, it was so emotional

Photobombed by our photographer, George

I was so drunk at this point

Once upon a time I had a tongue ring, real classy!

I'll fill everyone in on our lovely plans tomorrow. Have a great weekend!