Day 3 With Mom

Today my mom and I went to the Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden, which are just across the street from each other essentially. They were both so beautiful and tranquil (aside from the occasional screaming child, ugh), which was good, because I got bad news about a job I really wanted right as we arrived at the gardens. Therefore I apologize for my depressed gaze in most of these photos. I wasn't feeling quite up to smiling for photos. It was nice to be with my mom in such a beautiful place, though.

















I'm wearing: F21 dress, Target shoes, Urban Outfitters backpack.

Now my perfect boyfriend is going to make us fried rice for dinner! We're so excited -- it's pretty much his specialty. Om nom nom.

Day 2 With Mom

Day 2 with my mom hasn't been quite as exhausting as yesterday, but it's close! We got up early by my standards (11:00am), and took the MAX train into downtown. We got coffee and pastries at Powell's, browsed the books for a while, and then poked around in Anthropologie, Whole Foods, and this cool store called something like Versailles Interior, which had a neat tapestry which is pictured below. Then we got delicious curry at Thai Peacock for lunch, and came on home.









Welcome to Goob Central. Where'd my chin go?








I'm wearing: F21 tunic, Target leggings, Ralph Lauren sunglasses.

We'll be having drinks at McMenamins Kennedy School later, which is this old school that's been renovated to house a restaurant, movie theater, several bars, meeting rooms, and a stage for live music. It's pretty awesome, needless to say. I'll try to get some cool pictures of it for my next post!

P.S. For dorks who think I'm silly to go to B&N over Powell's, please note: Powell's is in the middle of downtown, which is a pain in which to park (and expensive), and way farther away than B&N. Also it's a tourist trap, constantly full of people, and it's super hard to find a place to sit in the coffee shop. And if you do find a seat, you will be surrounded very closely by other people who are talking all loud. It's the opposite of relaxing, and kind of an ordeal. I'd rather drive up to the much more chill Lloyd Center and get my skinny latte than deal with Powell's on a regular basis. Just so nobody thinks I'm purposely being a gross box store supporter or anything!

Day 1 With Mom

Huzzah, my mom is finally here! I'm so happy! We spent most of our first day together downtown, exploring the Saturday Market and Pioneer Place mall. We also had an amazing turkey panini for lunch. And my mom is the most amazing Mom in the world, because she bought me clothes at Forever21! N'aww, Moms. Now my wardrobe doesn't feel so barren and depressing! ♥

Anyway, I took very few photos today, but I will let them speak for themselves. I'm so exhausted from walking so much. I never walk. I'm more of a sitter.









I'm wearing: Urban Outfitters dress and backpack (which you can't see), American Eagle tee, Wet Seal belt, Target shoes, Ralph Lauren sunglasses.

Mmmm Bagel...

Hai guys! What's up with you on this fine Friday evening? I hope you have something badass planned, and if not, I hope you at least eat some ice cream and watch a movie, because that's what Friday's all about. All I'm doing is seeing my mom later... no big deal. Except that it is! I'm so excited!

Also, I could really go for a bagel right now. Toasted, plain, with some cucumber and red onion cream cheese. I miss Bagels on Broadway. They didn't make bagels the correct way, but they were so delicious, and the only place in Missoula to get decent bagels. Greg worked there and he would sometimes bring me free bagels. One time he gave me two huge bags of bagels and cream cheese to bring to work! It was amazing; everybody loved me best at work that day. Bagels.











I'm wearing: Target skirt and shoes, Old Navy tee, thrifted belt.

This skirt is ridiculous, and I only still wear it because the floral pattern is amazing with super awesome colors. My problem with it is that the elastic got all wonky somehow, so it's kinda like... twisted, and the fabric does not hang properly from it. The nature of the waist also makes it so that my waist looks two sizes bigger than it actually is, which is annoying, because my waist is my only asset. Wah! And yet I wear this skirt... because I have pretty much only two skirts.

BAGEL. I wish Greg was a bagel summoner instead of just a bagel baker, because then he could summon me a freshly baked bagel including cream cheese, and I could eat it while watching him play the FFXIV beta. BAGEL. Bagel... bagel.

Anglophilia

Hey look, it's my 50th post! How exciting! I can't believe I've taken that many pictures of myself. Ridiculous how that happens. I feel like I should somehow celebrate this milestone, but I'm feeling lazy, so maybe we'll save the celebrations for my 100th post instead. Good idea, Meg. Thanks! (Also I look like such a goob when I smile! Eeesh.)









I'm wearing: F21 skirt and tee, Target socks, Aldo shoes.

Ah, my Oxford shirt. I don't think I've worn this yet for the bloggiwog. I ordered it from Forever21 when I lived in Montana, because when I saw it on the website I knew I had to have it. I mean, it's Oxford. I'm not sure if you know this (I'm not sure why you would), but I am a huge Anglophile. A huge Anglophile. It used to border on the ridiculous, but I feel I've done a teensy bit of growing up, and thus my obsession has died down. Don't let that fool you, though. I definitely have London-inspired earrings with double-decker buses and Union Jacks on them, and a red phone booth keychain, as well as an unhealthy obsession with all things Doctor Who, Jane Austen, and English Victorian poets. I used to drink only English Breakfast tea, and I had this alter ego that was an English elf from alternate history... and... well now I'm just talking too much. Awkward face. Suffice to say, I love England! Harry Potter! King Arthur! I want to live there. The end.

Except, not the end! Ha. I need advice. I have two interviews tomorrow, both for call centers doing customer service type stuff, so what tips do you guys have for me? I don't know much about call centers, so any suggestions for qualifications I should emphasize in my interview would be great. ♥

Escape to B&N

I'm updating today from the Barnes & Noble in the Lloyd Center mall, in order to escape the heat and languish in air conditioning. Apparently the entire neighborhood had the same thought. Luckily, the table behind mine is occupied by a group of super loud and annoying teenage girls. Best table ever! I also, thank god, forgot my headphones, so instead of listening to my music, I can overhear their dulcet tones discussing typical intelligent, engaging teenage girl things.

Forgive my sarcasm. Yesterday was not my best day, for many reasons, and I was hoping today would shape up to be better... but it's not looking good, thanks to my neighbors in the cafe here.





I'm wearing: Wet Seal dress as top, Old Navy skirt and shoes, thrifted belt.

Once again, I'm wearing the Old Navy black skirt. I won't apologize! It's perfect for days when I don't know what in the world to wear. I also spent a record time getting these photos done as quickly as possible. Note my pained face in that third photo. Ah, summer!

Well, I'm dying of excitement because my mom is coming to visit, and she arrives Friday night! I cannot wait! I'm going to show her around the neighborhood, introduce her to my favorite places, and check out some touristy stuff around Portland that I haven't seen yet. I've never been away from my mom this long, and while I'm 24 years old, I still get momsick. I can't wait to see her! Maybe she'll let me post some of our photos here in my blog, so you can see her too.

What do you guys think? Should I suck it up and go to Radioshack and buy some cheapo headphones? Or suffer the teenage girl soundtrack behind me? Decisions...

A Favor to Ask

Hey guys, I know I've been spamming you today; I apologize. However, I promised that I would get this up tonight, and I like to keep my promises.

Thing is, I have a favor to ask of you guys. It's actually for my darling friend Nikki, of Snailbird.com. She and her girlfriend run the site I Love Rescue Animals, a website dedicated to, in their words, "celebrating rescued animals, supporting shelters, rescues and animal rights groups and to animal welfare worldwide." I think this is such a great cause to support, and not just because my friend runs the site! Go check them out, and admire Nikki's amazing web design and artistic skills while you're at it.

Now, the favor. I Love Rescue Animals has been nominated for a Petties 2010 award, and they've already made it to the final four. Thing is, there's some pretty steep competition, and they don't quite have the following that some of the other nominated blogs have. So I said I'd ask my readers to go and vote for them in the Petties.

All you need to do to vote is go here, and select I Love Rescue Animals under the Best Cause Related Blog category. It doesn't matter what other blogs you vote for, but Nikki suggested PawCurious.com (Pet Blog), Boulderdog.net (Dog Blog), and SparkleCat.com (Cat Blog).

It only takes a few seconds to vote, you just need to enter your email address and that's it. Nikki and I would really appreciate it, and so would the rescue animals. Thanks, guys!

Back to your regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.