3 Awesome Things While I Was Out

In blog world I've become that unapologetically selfish friend who only stops by when she wants you to know something about her life. 

Well maybe that statement also holds true in real life so let me work on it - but hear me out about three awesome things since I last contributed to the internets.

1. Brother made it back safely to the USA

I made a quick trip to Seattle two weekends ago to see my brother in Seattle while he looked for housing. It was pretty amazing to spend only $44 on transportation versus the hundreds/thousands I used to spend when he lived in Europe for 4 years - even though I only had the pleasure of making the trip twice. He's now permanently relocated, owns a fancy new car and is trying to re-learn how to be an American again. 

2. Dad has successfully retired (and my mom is a much younger woman)

My dad exited the work force Saturday night and did it in style. He left the building he's worked at for the last 12 years wearing his favorite hawaiian vacation shirt and a satisfied smirk on his young face. Two hours later while we were out shooting pool at a bar it became his birthday, making mom a much younger woman for about 6 weeks. 

Then mom worked way too hard on an epic all-encompassing celebration for the homecoming / retirement / birthday and we got to spend time together on Sunday. Somehow I don't have any photos to prove that any of that actually happened, just trust me that mom knows how to throw a party.

3.  This Guy

It's pretty special when you're in a long distance relationship and your guy gets to come to town for work. It's even more special when he makes the choice to extend that trip for a few extra days in town on the weekend and genuinely wants to spend our last days together for a while with my family. My family has opened their arms up (more than once) to this special man of mine and it makes me happiest.

We laughed, we played, we worked hard, we ate tasty Portland food, we hiked, we contemplated existence and we filled our happy-tanks together. Now I am trying to quickly get through the rollercoaster of missing that always happens the first week that we're apart. 

Pretty exciting stuff! Plus I wore my boots for the first time yesterday. Hello, Fall! 

Happy Favorites

No stinkin' way you guys! 

After I spent way too much effort writing yesterday's post about how I wanted Summer to ship on out till next year, the blog gods came down and granted me with a rainy morning and some pretty yellow soggy leaves on the ground. The rainy kind of morning where my hair was a mess the rest of the day and I didn't even mind because the frizz was validation that my favorite season is ready to reveal itself. 

The "calm and peace" that I expected didn't exactly play out like I thought they would, but that's to be expected during the work week. Now that it's Friday we can kick back, snuggle up and jump straight into some of my favorite things that happened this week and that are about to happen in the next 72 hours. 

Who else is linking up with Amanda's Friday Favorites?

:: I am headed up to Seattle this evening on my magic bus to rendezvous with my brother (who has been in Europe for 4 years and is officially back in the USA in 1 week from today!). I'll see him around 10pm and be back on my way home around noon - likely in need of a greasy breakfast sandwich.

:: These ferrets lose it when they get tossed into a box of peanuts (the styrofoam kind). I adore this. 

:: These clever tips on how to find happiness once you're really ready to. 

:: The Target dresses are as fabulous and wonderful as I ever hoped they would be. I've worn 3 of the 4 and have plans to use and abuse them.

:: It's not this week, but my dad actually gets to retire next weekend. Great vibes for everyone and I can't imagine how that must feel for my parents.

:: Speaking of the parents, after much anxiety around the entire situation, Brian met the people who mean most to me (minus my brother) and [we think] it went "as well as it possibly could have". I say that because there was genuine conversation, not a lot of awkward silence, over 100 rounds of Cards Against Humanity to break the ice, puppy love and even an open arms hug from the mother... the figurative cherry on top.

Happy weekend, all! 

Unseasonable

This unseasonably warm September weather has got the Portland native in me all sorts of mixed up.

See, in the Fall I feel like I've got it all much more together - "it" being life, organization and peace of mind. 

There's something about September that usually brings out the student in me. The student who eagerly waited for her first homework assignments of the year. The student who got more excited over shopping for school supplies than for the latest clothing styles. The student who spent the first 3 key weeks of school trying to win over her teachers rather than trying to fit in with the popular crowd. September used to be a re-birth of organization, creativity and self-expression - things that in today's world don't carry as much importance anymore.

The turn to Fall makes it easy to wrap myself up in layers and spend an entire weekend day at my favorite local coffee shop. It brings me peace and clarity to match the clacking of my fingertips against the keyboard to the rhythm of the raindrops falling on the pavement outside. It brings me comfort to cradle a warm mug of coffee in my hands while I watch the sleepy neighborhood go about its business. The business I have no stake in but find interesting to play make-believe nonetheless.

There's even a part of me that feels like typing on a computer is taboo this time of year. The simplicity of it all is welcoming, but at the same time I crave the sincerity of pen in hand with my deepest thoughts making their way onto some beautiful stationery. Like I need a pen-pal or a friend who I can pass sneaky notes to in a language that only we understand. Even more of a pleasure would be to write these letters by the fire or near the glow of a brand new scented candle.

This aroma, this feeling and this peace I've described make me thankful for the change of seasons. Specifically the way that the personality of the seasons allows me to grow, reflect and revitalize.

While I've squeezed every last drop out of the past few months with vacations, love and hope for a bright future, I'm quite ready for the peaceful vibes of my favorite Northwest season to settle in.

Out of my way, Summer! There are scarves, boots and sleeved dresses in my closet that have missed me dearly!

[Edit]: It's raining in Portland today! Life is great!