50 plates

Mmmmm YUM! My parents took me out while I was home. 50 plates is one of my all time favorites. Conor, I am so sorry that you had to miss it! So far Salt Lake City has been amazing.

How I ended up in Portland

Ace Hotel Elliot Smith random flickr "made in oregon sign"

Yesterday was a pretty stressful day. I woke up at 4 in the morning with plans to fly to San Francisco, enjoy a nice long layover (3 hours) in SFO airport and then i was to get on an airplane to Salt Lake City. I would then be picked up, taken to a nice warm home full of old friends and go to sleep. It was going to be a simple day. Well, that didn't happen. Instead of enjoying a nice long layover in SFO, I spent over ten hours there. Sure, the first few hours were fine. I got myself a bread bowl full of broccoli cheddar soup, spilled a little of it on my shirt, set up a laundry room in the bathroom to get the soup out of said shirt and read a magazine. Marie Claire to be exact. I also visited the "Just Desserts" counter for some mango sorbet. It seemed typical. But then I got bumped off of my flight to Salt Lake (an exceptional friend has provided me with flight benefits so I fly stand by) I started to get a little antsy. 

"No big deal!" I told myself, "You will get on the next flight. You have been here a long time, but no need to feel like Tom Hanks in Terminal... everything is going to be fine"  

There were several more flights and plenty of time to get on one of them. However, several more hours passed and I found out that not only was I not getting on the next flight but, the next flight didn't leave until 8 in the morning. I also realized that during my extended stay at SFO I had bonded with a special corner in the airport and some one else was now sitting in it. They too had noticed it for it's exceedingly convenient qualities, They had their electronics all plugged in to my outlet and they were enjoying my great view of the monitor. It was a prize spot, and trust me, I was in that airport long enough to know a prize spot when I saw one. I didn't feel like Tom Hanks anymore but like Gollum from Lord Of The Rings. I was Gollum and that spot was my precious. I was tired and lost and getting so irrational. Tiredness and frustration make me a ridiculous person. The rude ticket agent told me (with out ever once looking at me) that my chances for getting on the morning flight to Salt Lake were the same as they had been all day. NOT GOOD. I was stuck.

So, after shedding a few tears out of frustration I walked up to Juan-Paul at the ticket counter, informed him that his co-workers were very rude, complimented his long slicked back hair, and begged him to get me on the last flight to Portland that night. The only place I wanted to go was home. The stars must have suddenly aligned because I got on that plane. I ordered milk on the flight, dipped the Oreo's in it that Conor had packed for me 20 hours earlier and fell asleep. My dad picked me up from the airport and took me home to sleep in my old bed. My mom had turned my space heater up to 88 degrees just how I like it and I snuggled under 2 down comforters. I love home. After feeling like a needle in a haystack for so many hours I was so happy to finally be in the one place I know I always belong. I love home, I love my mom and dad and I love Portland.

PS. Janelle, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for everything you do for me. I am blessed to have you in my life.

GuestPost:The Apocalypse

I am not used to this. It's only been four hours since she went missing. I can't even make a good sandwich without Jane. Somehow I ended up with bread, peanut butter, pickles and mustard on the same sandwich. I am going nuts. The world is ending. Send Jane back now so she can bring some order to my life. She was right though...the surf was epic this morning.

Off to Las Vegas

I am off to Las Vegas for the week (with a quick stop in Salt Lake City to see my sister and babies of course). So excited to be attending Breathe and Making Things Happen. Perhaps my husband will do a guest blog post for me while I am gone. But don't hold your breath. I'm sure he is going to take full advantage of my time away to surf as much as humanly possible. Anyway, enjoy these old photos from Life Magazine (via Nevada Tumbleweed) of Las Vegas in the 50's. I wish the strip looked as classy now as it did back then. But alas...

Happy Valentine's Day to my Lover and Friend

Dear Conor, I love you. Thank you for being so wonderful all the time. I have more fun with you than with anyone else. You are my best friend. Glad we will be spending eternity together. Love, Jane

Happy Valentines Day

I like to keep Valentine's day simple. No gifts, just a little picnic with my lover and some friends. Tomorrow is busy (so I hear) so Sunday night was the best time to celebrate. We ate bagel sandwiches, played card games and fell asleep watching The Bodyguard. I love early 90's Whitney Houston. "I have nothing, nothing, nothing... if I don't have you."

Happy Weekend + Giveaway winner

some more photos from a rainy day...photos taken by Natalie Norton

Hope everyone has a great weekend! We are looking forward to seeing lot's of our friends and eating great baked goods. Everyone is invited! See you soon!

Winner!
Using a random number generator online we have found a winner to the little bow brooch giveaway. The winner is Janis! Janis, please email me (erinjane85 at gmail dot com) your mailing information and your color choices quick! Thanks everyone for entering!

Book Recommendation #5: Penny Lyra

My friend Rachel (from the blog Penny Lyra) sent me a list of her and her husband David's favorite books. On the list not shown here: Kafka on the Shore, The Harry Potter Series, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Golden Compass, The Nancy Drew Series, and Number the Stars. Rachel is a very interesting person, her humor and wit have always intrigued me and I have found myself laughing at things she has done or said years after the fact. Rachel introduced me to The Little Prince when we were freshman in college together. I have loved it ever since. When I started doing book recommendations I wanted to know specifically what would be on Rachel's top favorite book list.... hence this blog post. Thanks Rachel.

P.S. The little bow brooch give away ends tomorrow. This is your last chance to leave a comment. Click Here.

Anthropologie's Wedding Line

Did anyone else get the email about Anthropologie's new wedding line BHLDN? I loved the colors and the small glimpses of styling that it presented. I am looking forward to seeing everything they have to offer on February 14th. But for now here are a few of my favorite styles so far. You can find more sneak peak images here.

In the mood for... Valentines Day

1. Indian Chief Notebook, Bear-ly in love with you notebook 2. Vintage clip art 3. Waialua Soda 4. Paper Doll Valentine 5. Wild Unknown Calendar 6. Gypsy Caravan Perfume 7. Striped Straws 6. Axe Card

When I was little I made up a club called the Cool Cats Club. I was the president. And the only member. Club members were required to do cool stunts on their bicycles up and down Quail Lane daily. My parents laughed when I told them I was the president and only member.