Red Bull Flugtag

This is the craziest thing I have ever seen! Red Bull sponsors this event, called the flugtag. This is where regular people like you and me, build some sort of flying contraption and launch it off of a ramp into water trying to fly. This comes to Portland waterfront about every 4 years, no one really flies and it is hilarious!

First they dance...


Then they fly... (sort of)

Grey's Anatomy = Thoughts for Life

I am a big fan of Grey's Anatomy. I love the drama and I love the connection to real life (the feelings not the affairs). Yesterday as I was searching for new and inspiring quotes I came across this:

"A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, he said, which you can do today. This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying." - Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

Now I know what you are saying, that's a serious thought for life from Grey's Anatomy. Yes, yes it is. Not to mention some brilliant writing.

You must have somewhere to sit

Look what I bought!! I think I have been to just about every furniture selling junction in the northwest and finally found something I love! I went and saw this set the other day, loved it but wanted to keep looking - just in case! I went to about 3 more places yesterday and saw some nice stuff, but couldn't stop thinking about this one set. So I went back, sat on it again and bought the couch and chaise. I love love love it and suprisingly enough it's so comfy! It won't be here until Monday, but I am so excited that I finally made a decision.

What is my style?

Here I am in a new city, in a new apartment and aside from my desk, bed and 2 closets full of clothes, my 1000 sq.ft apartment is empty and I am at a loss as to where to start. I have been out of my parents house since I was 18 years old, I have lived in 5 different apartments and somehow each one was decorated. So I think my amazement at discovering that I have no style is justified. I am 25 years old for heaven sakes I should know how to decorate! The discovery of having no style came simply - when I got here I knew I had a lot of space to fill, so what did I do? I went shopping! I walked and walked and walked and bought nothing, that is unusual all in itself. But when I would walk I would think, "that is cool" or "that is cute, but will it go?" GO WITH WHAT?!? Nothing, sure that will go with nothing just fine! How do I not have style? I pick out clothes just fine (I think?) and I have been known to watch hours upon hours of HGTV, so I definitely have an opinion, but actual style, I don't think so. Now here is what I did, I decided to start with furniture. Easy enough - FYI furniture is expensive. So I decided I would buy something slightly used from craigslist, after all that is how I found this apartment. Bad idea - used furniture is different than renting an apartment. Needless to say, Thursday I thought I found the perfect used couches and Friday I brought them home and decided I couldn't sit on them because it stressed me out to think what they may have been through, today I sold them. Back to square one, but smarter nonetheless. New plan, I will buy new furniture, I sat down and mapped out each of my rooms, made a list of the things I need. I think once I have anchor pieces - couch, bookcases, blah blah, accessories shouldn't be hard. I understand color, I understand prints and patterns, mixing and matching. I want to say my style is traditional/eclectic, but I seem to be drawn to contemporary furniture, but not so contemporary accessories hopefully I can meet somewhere in the middle and add a little shabby chic glam to it. There must be something about this being just mine that I want to make it perfect. Cross your fingers I get close, and when I do this will probably be the first place I post pictures. So stay tuned.

The Plan

Moving to Oregon!

I am here, I have been for a almost a week, but I needed a second to settle before I posted. Here is the story... Bryce and I left last Thursday night - car packed FULL - we set out to drop me off on my new adventure. The car ride was so fun! He slept, I slept, but he slept way more (see pictures below). It took about 11 1/2 hours to get here and it didn't seem that long. Idaho is a boring drive, but Oregon is nice and since we were first-time-drivers to Portland the scenery was extra exciting for us.

I just thought this would be a funny picture, turns out it was and I will do it more throughout the trip!

Check out all the stuff! Illegal?

Welcome to Oregon!

Hilarious! But he is missing all the trees!

We love the lottery! - To date I have won approx $15 dollars! I am lucky!


Then we arrived...


So Shannon and Dan came over and helped me move in all my boxes. Bryce insisted that we unpack everything that weekend so he could help before he left. He is a workhorse! I had to ask for breaks and water! Just kidding! We got most everything unpacked Friday and Saturday morning and then we were able to have fun for a couple days before he left. The first few days in my new home were like vacation, site seeing and such. It was a blast!
This is on the tram that goes over the city from the college to the hospital. You can see the whole city! It is cool!


The Rose Gardens

Cheesy - I know!


This is Shannon and Dan

Lake Oswego - although the lake is kind of hard to see in this picture.

The Coast - check out our wheels!


Shannon and Dan

Haystack a.k.a Goonies Rock


The house where the Goonies lived - Dan and Bryce were VERY excited about this

The Portland Temple, which is about 2 minutes from my house

Bryce left on Monday and then it was back to work! Thanks Bryce for helping me get up here and unpacked. I am pretty much moved in and as soon as everything is cute I will post pictures of my place. I love it here, it is beautiful and I am slowly learning my way around. My new favorite thing is finding a destination all by myself! Like I am 4 or something! I am catching on, but driving downtown is a tad bit intimidating. Hope everyone is doing well, I send my love from Oregon!

Happy Birthday Bryce!

I feel like it has been forever since I've posted something. Bryce's birthday was actually 10 days ago, but I wanted to post some fun pictures of what we did. First, we went for a yummy seafood dinner, then for a hike up Bell Canyon in Sandy and went fishing in the reservoir. Oh my gosh, it was so beautiful up there! We had the best time fishing (me attempting to fish and about falling in the water every time I cast out) and making s'mores and fondue in the portable s'more maker! Best invention ever! Even though he guessed what we were doing right before we went, it was still a little bit of a surprise. Thanks to everyone who helped me plan! I was EXTRA prepared and we had such a fun time together! Bryce, I hope you had a fabulous day! I sure do love birthdays!!

The hike



The Reservoir

Wasatch Back Relay 08'

181 miles in a nutshell, if you love running 3 times in 24 hours, being completely exhausted and laughing your rear end off then this is the race for you. As second year veterans, Rapid Thigh Movement (that is our team name), had the relay strategy down. We ran, we laughed, we ate, we ran, we danced, we puked, and we ran again.... and then we showered. It was HOT and comfortable sleep was not an option. But my favorite part of the race, and in my opinion the reason people come back for more, is just when you think your body CANNOT go one inch further because it is just plain tired, it does. I think anyone who has run this race has proved the mere fact that your mind is so much more powerful than your body. You body wants to quit, your mind knows you can't and you have a team cheering you along the entire way! It seriously doesn't get better.

The Starting Lineup


Gearing up for my first run

Man that's a good hand off!

Bryce came to Heber and ran my last leg with me. Thanks Bryce!

Rapid Thigh Movement 08'