string cheese genius

What you see above is low-fat string cheese stuffed into sweet peppers. Why would I want to blog about this?, you might ask. Well, I’m pretty certain this snack saved my life {and my waistline} this week. It reminds me of a jalapeno popper, and it is so low in fat and calories that I don’t feel bad eating a huge handful of them. Next time you’re having one of those weeks where you want to eat everything in sight {and covered in cheese} you should try this!

nom nom nom.

cup of love

{photo via eatdrinkchic.com}

I’ve been obsessed with free printables lately. Pinterest is swimming with them, and the Huffington Post does a good job compiling their favorites {like this and this}.

So, when today rolled around and I realized it was my coworker and long-time-friend’s birthday, I knew I needed a little help pulling together a last minute gift that was quick, yet thoughtful. So I ran down to Starbucks, threw a gift card inside of a tall coffee cup, and wrapped it with the coffee cup cover {pictured above}. I even threw a red bow on top for good measure.

The sun is shining today. Yesterday was my first day of no tears in a week. The weekend is just around the corner. I think it’s going to be a good day.

awkward & awesome thursdays

Awkward

Opening up my to-go mug full of delicious coffee to find soap bubbles gushing out of the top. At least it was clean?
--

Seeing two high school girls walking in downtown with no coat on and instantly thinking, "Where are their coats? Where are their mothers!?". Yep, I'm turning into that lady.
--
Asking my friend's eight-year-old niece which video games she likes to play and getting this response: "Call of Duty and Zombie Nazis". What ever happened to Mario? And Sonic the Hedgehog?

Awesome

Spending 10+ hours with my sister this week on an adoption scrapbook. I couldn't think of a better family for a couple of munchkins! This family is where it's at.

--
Getting 91% off of a brand spanking new bookcase and tv stand at Kohl's. I'll brag just a bit-- I'm an excellent bargain shopper.
--
Treating myself to breakfast one morning this week before work at Sweetness Bakery. If you Portlander's haven't been there...try it! It is one of my favorites.

And this week, a touch of awful.

I've been a little MIA this week due to a case of a broken heart. On Friday afternoon, I got the awful news that Allan Price, the president of the OHSU Foundation where I work, drowned while vacationing in Mexico. He was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife. He was a brilliant leader-- charismatic, inspirational, and just plain smart. He will be missed by many, but his legacy will live on.

blue valentine

Once upon a time, Courtney and I wanted to make red velvet cupcakes. 

We gathered all the ingredients {including food coloring from the 70's} and got started. See all that red food coloring? We were on our way to delivering red velvety goodness to all our friends!

But, we made a mistake. 


See all that butter under the red drops? Apparently butter doesn't go in cupcakes. Whoops! 


So we started over, and for Valentine's day this year, we delivered blue velvet cupcakes. And everyone loved them! Some mistakes are just meant to be.

awkward & awesome thursdays

Awkward

Hearing my four-year-old nephew {seen above} yell "muskox" every 10 minutes. My brother-in-law taught him to say "muskox" in place of "I farted" after he embarrassed them one too many times. That kid loves to fart!
--

Seeing multiple high-school-age couples making out in the furniture section of Fred Meyer. Apparently this is now the cool place for kids to snog??

--
Getting surrounded first thing in the morning by 5 coworkers who wanted to talk about my blouse. "Oh, wow, I'd never be brave enough to wear such a festive blouse." Was that supposed to be a compliment??

--

Riding the bus. Need I say more? Ok, yeah, I need to say more. First, there's the extremely overweight guy who says "Look at me, I'm 69 years old, only had two triple bypass surgeries, and I'm healthy as a horse. God's just gonna keep taking care of me". Mister, God doesn't control the amount of butter you put on your bacon. Second, the town crier who needed to announce every move she made, "I'M MOVING TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. SOMEONE PULL THE THING, I NEED TO GET OFF THE BUS. I'M LEAVING NOW. GOODBYEEEEE!".

--

Having conversations {also known as yelling} with the drivers around me. I do it a lot. Road Rage Rustine, that's what they call me!
--
Finding my old gratitude journal in my parent's attic. On February 19, 2001 I was grateful for Subway, hot guys, exercise, music, and money. And the next day, I was grateful for Michael's new haircut. Other highlights: being able to french braid, not having gross hair, poppy seed muffins, french fries, shopping at Ross, guacamole, my toothbrush, and napster. Yup, being fourteen is embarrassing. At least I had a grateful heart!

Awesome

Receiving two bouquets of flowers this week. Also, Fed Ex drivers get a lot of cool stuff. The boyfriend's roommate drives for Fed Ex and anything perishable and undeliverable they get to bring home. That means there were a LOT of flowers at their house. The boys were too cute delivering all the flowers to all the ladies in their lives.

--
Working on four sewing projects in two days...and not even knowing how to sew! I helped my mom with a t-shirt quilt, started a homemade camera bag (via the Frugal Girls), hemmed curtains for the boyfriend's bathroom, and fixed my pants that suspiciously had a huge hole in the crotch {I swear it wasn't me!}. AND on top of all that, I got to see my wonderful family all weekend. I'm so lucky to have them.
--
Getting a personal tour of the brand-spanking-new restaurant, Dickie Jo's from the amazingly talented manager. Who also happens to be my ex boyfriend from when I was sixteen and he no longer dates women...but that story is for another day.

--
Getting a stellar review at work. Nothing feels better than being appreciated for working hard! Also, working hard for a company you respect and appreciate. My job is pretty great.
--
Drinking a big ol' cup of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Vanilla tea before bed. That tea tastes like heaven. And once you taste it, you'll understand why it made it into my top awesome things of the week.

--

Thanks to Sydney at 

the Daybook for this 

awesome & awkward idea!

so much love

 He's got the key to my heart.

Yesterday was by far the best Valentine's Day that I've ever had.

It started off with a free cappuccino and cookie from the office. After work, the boyfriend and I thought we'd be supportive and go to our friend's restaurant opening at Dickie Jo's. But the friend forgot to tell me they weren't open for dinner, and it was closed. Just as we were pulling out of our parking spot, the friend pulled up and offered to give us a private tour of the place. It's pretty amazing. He made us a milkshake, showed us how they cook the burgers, and taught us the healthiest options on the menu.

After not getting our Valentine's feast of burgers and fries, we went to New Seasons to pick up some treats. We went back to the boyfriend's house and thought we should probably have a picnic. We talked about falling in love and never falling out of love. I asked him if he remembered the first time he knew he loved me and he replied, "yes...{long pause}... but only because I can't remember a time not loving you." We slow danced to Etta James, exchanged gifts, and kissed an awful lot.

Best. day. ever. I love you, Sean. 

everybody everywear

I heard about the monthly everybody everywear challenge from my best friend over at Charmed in PDX. Each month, everybody puts on their own variation of the outfit challenge. In the past, everybody wore colored pants, maxi dresses, floral prints, and more. This month the challenge is to wear pink and red in the same outfit, and I thought I'd take part. Why the heck not? 


So, in honor of St. Valentine (who I'm sure didn't even like pink and red) and all the lovers in the world, I'm joining in with everybody. All the cool kids are doing it.

saint valentine's day

This is my grandma and grandpa. They would have been married 60 years today. Miss you lots, grams and gramps. Your love lives on. Hope you all find a way to celebrate all the love in your life. 

xoxo

thank goodness it's friday

Well, I couldn't be happier that it is Friday. I've got my Starbucks and my bowl of complimentary Bob's Red Mill oatmeal that they gave us (along with their $25 million , they gave us a lifetime supply of oatmeal. Such generous folks!)

I'm pretty pumped that I get to leave work early today. I'm off to Roseburg to see my family. Mom and the sisters are going to teach me how to sew so I can hem curtains for the boyfriend. We're also making a quilt. More to come on that. Have a great Friday!

get bossy

I saw a good Facebook status last week: “Hey, remember that thing you thought you’d never get over?”

This made me remember a time where I thought I would never get over something. I was a Freshman in college, and it was my first major heartbreak. It was debilitating heartbreak. I’m pretty sure I didn’t leave my bed for a week, and I listened to Hang on Little Tomato by Pink Martini a thousand times over. I remember thinking that my heart would never recover. But it did, and it was even stronger in the end.

It is amazing our ability to “heal and deal”. I first heard this quote from one of the most inspirational people in my life, my friend Dawnn. She was diagnosed with breast cancer nine months ago, and has blogged about her journey through pain and recovery. It is quite remarkable what our bodies and souls can handle. Life is pretty incredible, you know. And if you ever forget, just take a peek at her story.

Dawnn, you are definitely bossier than cancer, and I love you for that.

http://bossierthancancer.blogspot.com/

cleaning out the closet

I love my giant closet. If you want to pause and admire it, that would be okay.

...

But sometimes, because it is so big, I shove everything I own into 

there until it comes crashing down around me. 

Last week, that happened, so I decided to clean it out.

 I found that I have too many coats...

...and too many scarves.

So now I have three giant bags of clothes to get rid of! 

Maybe this will help with my laundry problem...?

awkward and awesome thursdays

Awkward

Hearing my nephew tell the boyfriend, “You might be my uncle someday.” Slightly awkward, but incredibly adorable.

--
Falling asleep with my running shoes on at the end of the party in full horizontal running-man pose. I wish someone would have snapped a picture.

--
Throwing five gutter balls in a row while bowling. Not to mention the hundred others that didn't happen consecutively. Seriously? Bowling is just not my sport.

--

Wearing a bad tights/dress combo. That baby was riding up all day! I looked down at one point and my dress was nearly around my hips.

--

While cooking breakfast potatoes, the kitchen filling up with aroma of McDonalds...and totally loving it. Don't judge. It smells so bad for you it's good.

Awesome

Having a four-day-long birthday. So much awesomeness there.

--
Spending the weekend puppysitting my parent's adorable dog, Dot. She's not very girly or prissy at all, which is why we love putting bows in her hair. It's only a matter of seconds before she manages to get it out, so it's a miracle I was able to snap this pic on my phone.
--
Getting a bag full of MAC makeup and brushes from my Eugene ladies. Looking good has never been so much fun.

--
Knowing that at least 15 people traveled from out of town to come celebrate my birthday. So. much. love. people!
--
Taking an awesome new license pic. So glad I don't have to look at a bad picture for the next ten years!
--
Hearing that one of my friends is marrying the man of her dreams. Only a couple people know...so no announcements yet. BUT I'M SO EXCITED!

the best gift

I squealed pretty loud when I opened this present. This little baby right here was a birthday gift from the boyfriend and I absolutely-positively-truly cannot wait to start with the photo shoots. Beware: I'll probably be lurking around corners snapping photos left and right. Also, wearing the camera around like a medal....and can we talk about that wrapping job? I have the best boyfriend ever.