We found the one!

We found our house! After eight months and many offers we have found the perfect house for our family. It has everything we wanted, including: Ballard neighborhood, craftsman feel, and charm all over the place. We are scheduled to close on November 20th and couldn't be happier!

Front yard

Back yard

Tis the season

Election season is infiltrating my every move; I swear, it is all people are talking and thinking about (including myself). According to Nate Silver, NY Times Political Analyst blogger, Obama is going to win with more than 270 electoral college votes. I don't know about you but I am stoked for four-more years!!! 

31-years old and so much to do...

Today I am 31-years old. I remember the days when that seemed real old. I am glad, however, to be in full swing of my 30s.  Some things I hope to accomplish in the next less decade:

• Walk the Camino de Santiago.
• Grow closer with some family members.
• Elevate and grow my career. 
• Travel to Africa, Eastern Europe, Portugal, Middle East, and more.
• Show friends and family how much I appreciate them.
• Have a baby or two.
• Climb mountains in the Annapurna range.
• Volunteer more.
• Purchase a home.
• Learn how to swing dance.
• Help run a political campaign.
• Throw (and attend) lots of parties.
• Bike tour through Europe and Canada.
• Attain a Masters degree.
• Sing more.
• Knit a damn scarf.
• See as much live theater as possible.
• Ride my bike lots.
• To name a few...

Here's to the next decade!

***These are in order of NO priority. 

d and e tree

The Smith family made us a lovely e and d tree of love. If you look close you can even see the words that make the tree are our wedding song lyrics, "Hopefully" by MMJ. Thanks Jo, Kev, and Brodie; We love you.

Lincoln Beach

The Oregon coast is one of my favorite places. Even when it is rainy and cold it is so nice to wake up to a view, play on the beach, warm up by the fire, laugh with good friends, and eat pupus! I love catching up with my people and find it damn refreshing to be so connected with friends; I mean, we may of just solved all the worlds problems in one weekend!! Until next time...

fall boots

It might just be time for a new pair of fall boots!

cyclocross: inspiration or fear?

I have been on the peripheral of cyclocross racing for many years. I go and watch, take lots of photos, yell for my friends, ring cow bells galore, and always feel inspired to race myself.
I don't know if it is the mere energy of the community supporting everyone on as they race, the look of fear and ecstasy in people's brows, or the feeling of adrenaline for a whopping 45-minutes that impresses me so. In any case, my newest goal is to race next fall. That gives me plenty of time to get in to shape and practice sweet cyclocross moves.

Here's to next fall and finally moving from the peripheral to..., well we'll see.

guilty pleasure (one of many)

How does the predictable and often cliche television show 'Grey's Anatomy' still make me cry every time I watch it?  I am not alone in this; the show once had the highest rating in drama television in the 19-49 years of age demographic. It also has received numerous awards, has landed on many critics top ten list, and most recently in 2011 was the fourth highest revenue earning show in ad sales. After eight years I'd say the show has still got it.