"it's called the ground, when it's outside"

7 things that made me happy this week . . .


photo via nbc.com

one: since my favorite episode of parks and recreation thus far was "Hunting Trip," i was so excited for this weeks camping episode. it is now my new favorite. i had a terrible time coming up with a quote for my title though because there were just so many great lines! like: "fishing relaxes me. it's like yoga, except i still get to kill something." or "i should lead a teen abstinence project." "that might be incredibly effective." and every scene with andy lost in the wilderness and tom's skymall tent. and also the last scene where ben was trapped in the crazy bed and breakfast. love this show!


photo via nbc.com

two: my new favorite breakfast. greek yogurt, granola, and fresh berries. so delicious and tastes like summer.

three: the beautiful sunshine this weekend! it has been a bleak winter and nothing lifts my mood faster than being outside on a lovely day.

four: the British miniseries, Downton Abbey. it aired on Masterpiece on PBS in January and is now out on DVD. the creator, Julian Fellowes, also wrote Gosford Park. i love everything about this. the intrigue, well-developed characters, amazing attention to period details, the clothes, the class hierarchy, it's all so good! it also makes me really excited for upstairs, downstairs.



five: people watching at the gym. it's great anywhere, but especially fun at the gym. you get to see awesome gym outfits, guys who act like they don't know anyone's watching them, but are totally loving it, and all while working up a good sweat! so entertaining.

six: i think i found my bridesmaid dress. phew! now i have to find the perfect shoes to go with it!

seven: planning a california getaway. so many people and places i want to visit and i hope i can fit it all in one trip. and maybe even sneak in a day at disneyland?! where would you go if you were in california?

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: going back to school and work after spring break. such a bummer.

two: my travel wish list is impossible! california, boston, seattle, new york, utah, france, chicago, memphis, austin, i can't decide! and i also don't have nearly enough money.

three: having to work this weekend and missing conference. good thing it's all online.

let's talk chocolate

i just had to share some new chocolate products i have tried and loved.

i love hot chocolate, but i am very picky about the taste. my favorite is starbuck's nonfat hot chocolate because it is not too sweet. since it's not very cost effective to run out and pay $3 every time i want hot chocolate, i went to whole foods to find some alternatives. a very cute employee told me that dagoba has "won lots of awards" so naturally, i went with that.



well, it was delicious. it has a rich, deep chocolate flavor and isn't too sweet. i also love the little bits of chocolate that don't quite melt all the way. definitely my favorite starbucks alternative.


i love nutella. i love nutella on waffles with bananas and strawberries. my ultimate treat. so naturally, i was devastated when i found out that nutella is made with hydrogenated palm oil. until i found this:



sold at whole foods, this is a delicious chocolate spread made without hydrogenated oils, gluten, or trans fats. it's also fair trade certified. it has a slightly different taste than nutella, but is just as delicious.


what are your favorite chocolate treats?

weekly 10: spring break edition

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the beautiful beach house we stayed at in pacific city. it was unreal to look out the windows and see the waves and watch seagulls divebomb. thanks aunt charlotte!

two: discovering a new sandwich joint, jimmy johns. i have really missed hearty sandwiches since i stopped eating meat, and their vegetarian sandwich is killer. not to mention, the deli pickles. a meal in itself.

three: watching lots of movies, including old favorites [easy A; the young victoria; little mermaid] and fun new ones [the karate kid; grownups; limitless].

four: meeting little huck, who was wearing stripes, of course. so smiley and happy. and a shameless flirt, that baby!

five: all the wonderful shopping that was had this week, such as h&m, where i scored my long-searched-for anorak, j. crew factory, where i found the perfect grey skirt.



six: the amazing, life-changing run i did at the gym. i managed to run for twice as long without getting tired. turns out that slowing down does help you run longer! that and a really good playlist.

seven: tillamook mudslide ice cream in a fresh waffle cone. at the tillamook cheese factory. and i'm not really a cone girl. it was that good.




photo

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: sleeping in a bed that is not mine. my least favorite part about traveling is trying to get comfortable in a strange bed.

two: carsickness. if i'm not driving, car trips are so not fun.

three: overpriced restaurants. not cool. your food was good, but not that good.

awesome sauce!

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: discovering new music, like jessie j.

two: this SNL digital short.



three: the amazing pita wrap i had at the portland saturday market. anybody have a good recipe for tzatziki sauce so i can recreate it?

four: eating an apple the regular way, instead of cutting it up. so satisfying and dare i say it tastes better?

five: girls' night out at the canvas art bar & bistro. ridiculously amazing food and a fun atmosphere.

six: a mix-up in directions led to the most beautiful drive downtown, ending at union station. i didn't even know there was a train station in portland. i LOVE living here.


photo from greatstreets.org.

seven: p.rex is back! anybody else rooting for leslie and ben? i love them.


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: criminal minds. why are you kicking off all of the girls? not cool. kelly, i'm hoping you'll have some insight on this.

two: having to choose between an elephant ear and a crepe at the market. a decision i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

three: trying on wide-leg jeans at GAP and not being able to see my feet. i don't think there are shoes tall enough to make them work. darn.

just because i love you . . .

it's that time of year again, GAP Give and Get. What is that, you say? Well, let me explain. GapCard members get 30% off at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy and get to share that discount with all of their friends. And, Gap will donate 5% of your total to a nonprofit of your choosing. I chose FEED America this year and I'm excited to see how much money is raised. Yay for making shopaholics feel good about themselves!

Would you like the discount? Just leave a comment with your email and I'll forward it along to you!

grey skies.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the black druzy ring that i bought for myself. and the way cool jewelry store i found it in. pictures coming soon.

two: watching aladdin with my little sister because she had never seen it before.

three: hearing adele and mumford & sons playing during yoga somehow made it so much better.

four: stumbling across the 25th anniversary les miserables special on pbs and getting major goosebumps from nick jonas' performance as marius. check it out.

five: the lovely girls' lunch on friday. let's do more of those!

six: my always entertaining book club. we read nurture shock and i highly recommend it.



seven: finally got some decent headphones for running. now i just need an amazing playlist. ideas?


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: no parks and rec, 30 rock or community this week. getting low on my funny supply.

two: one sunny day this week and grey rainy days the rest. so ready for spring.

three: so disappointed with everything that transpired with this guy. took me a lot of hard thinking to come up with this happy list. still so grumpy.

here's to better days!

so, i'm a chicken.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: all of the pretty dresses from the oscars. seriously, when is it my turn to get dressed up all fancy?

two: the starbucks banana bread that i made from this recipe. amazing.



three: going to see the adjustment bureau and remembering how much i love emily blunt. thinking of rewatching the young victoria and devil wears prada this weekend.



four: realizing today after blowdrying my hair for the first time in weeks that it's long now! i'm dreaming of all of the ways to wear it. goal for this week? heidi braids a la orchid grey and krystal

five: the safe arrival of this baby. so excited for meg and chris and little boston! can't wait to visit soon.



six: joining the pinterest bandwagon. so addictive but so fun.

seven: the super-cute boy that i stared at all during church. and i think he was staring back.

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: i did not talk to that boy because i wimped out. and i have searched facebook for an hour to no avail. lesson learned.

two: finally went to the h&m store and was disappointed at the quality of the clothes. i guess you get what you pay for though.

three: tomorrow is the series finale of greek. i hate when shows i love end too soon.