quote.

"It's a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks and feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what's changed is you."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

december.

A few winter pretties to brighten your day. 

adieu.

This (along with that other lovely write up) is my parting gift to the summer.

It's been grand!

summer update.

This summer I have perfected the stay-cation, and I am quiet alright with that. Boston is an adventure all on its own. Whether it is the North End (Boston's own little Italy - filled with cannolis and guidos) or Harvard square (where I can creep on all the tourists and look smart). Here are a few snippets of my new love. 

harvard square. people watching galore. 

a little patriotism in the midst of downtown crossing, not to be confused with downton crossing. It happens people. 

I tend to return to the Charles River quite often, I have a big thing for sail boats. You can also always find a perfect spot to spread out, soak up some sun and read. As my co-worker so bluntly told me after I shared my weekend highlights, "Isn't that what everyone does in Portland? Hang out in parks, drink home brews and listen to The Shins?". I suppose I fit into that stereotype just a little bit.

boston common. 

boston public library. 

mecca. I have been searching for good coffee (aka pdx coffee) since I moved here. When I spotted this sign I practically jumped with joy. Unfortunately the usual sighting of west coast hipsters were not found inside, but that's okay. The coffee made up for it. 

timeline.

I am apologizing in advance for extreme amount of photography I am throwing your way, but it is a much simpler way of describing the chaotic-ness of this past month. I am glad to say that as of right now I am much more sane, relaxed and excited about my new adventure. And so it begins...

A few weeks before I made my move I had the pleasure of spending a few days with some of my favorite people. My California trip can be summed up by the following...

Coffee. Food. Food. Coffee. 

Sweet love. 

Check out more photos of my new favorite married couple at Color Me Rad.

Friends!

Sun. 

Food again. 

Then I returned to Portland and the reality of moving across the country hit me like a brick wall. I tried to keep it together by soaking up as much of Portland as I possibly could.

Wandering around the Pearl. 

Pottery painting with the mom and sis. 

Delicious food. 

Then I was off. The people at PDX probably thought I had lost it. Little to no sleep the night before and an emotional goodbye leads to KO tearing up through security, and continuing throughout a five hour flight. Get it together. 

 One of the best parts of my move was knowing that I had a friend to greet me. Sara. You are a lifesaver. My first night in Boston I was greeted with a few too many G + T's...but just the right amount of fun. 

I am glad to say my things all arrived in one piece...just barely though. 

(anyone want to send me a new Portland mug?)

My first piece of mail!

Of course I couldn't wait too long to find a piece of home. 

My baby arrived all in one piece. 

 After way too many trips to Target and IKEA within a seven day period, I saved this weekend as a time to explore. I hopped on the T (AKA the Subway) and made my way to the Back Bay area of Boston. (I am a lover of all things Brownstone so this area is most definitely a fav). Block after block of Brownstones, old historic churches, yummy restaurants...and wait Starbucks? Yes it is true. Dunkin' Donuts is a bit of a "disease" over on the East Coast. I apologize for all you lovers of the "cheap and quick" coffee...I am not one of them. I wish I could get a little Stumptown, but tracking down a Starbucks will do. 

Trinity Church

Boston Public Library/Subway stop.

Boston Common - Best park ever. 

Looking forward to sharing even more of my new adventure as it continues! 

quote.

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded. 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

holy images.

I stumbled upon these beautiful images on NPR this weekend. The photojournalist Betty Press lived in Africa for a little over twenty years, and captured something beautiful. Press stated in her interview that she went to Africa to photograph images of  "beauty, creativity and courage of the people," versus the poverty stricken Africa we seem to be inundated with on a regular basis. Her new book, I Am Because We Are: African Wisdom In Image and Proverb (filled with all these lovelies)...now on my Christmas wish list. 

I want this somewhere in my home...would make me smile every time.