What's Been Going On

Over the past week, I've been trying to take some time to enjoy some of my favorite things and favorite things to do.  

I took my car through the car wash, and then it was dusted in pollen again by the next day.  It's a good thing I actually like washing my car, so the second time I washed it by hand!

Trying to savor some of the sunshine we go in Portland last week!

Noticing that I am going to get another free drink from Starbucks soon!

Spending time with my best pal at one of my favorite restaurants.

Another favorite restaurant of mine, Cafe Yumm. I treated myself to lunch there last week. 

Have a wonderful week!

Outfit Crush

{I am Khatu}

Khatu, from I am Khatu does such a wonderful job of pulling off bright colors and this awesome flower pin.   She always inspires me to pair bright colors together and varying clothing shapes together.  I believe this is an outfit that she wore for a day of traveling, but I think you could wear it on almost any casual Friday.  In fact, I'm lucky enough that I could wear this almost any day of the week!

This One Time We Made Pasta

{Flour ready for the eggs, some oil, and water.  Knead until just mixed.}

{Once completely mixed, roll out using a pasta maker or rolling pin.  

Roll it out as thinly as you can.  Next cut using a knife or pizza cutter.}

{Fettuccine shape and size pasta ready to be cooked!}

{Almost done and ready to be eaten.}

I've been wanting to make pasta for awhile now, and with the simple ingredients (eggs, flour, and oil) I thought it was worth a try.  With one of my favorite fellow cooks and best pal, Justine, we set out to make some pasta.  One item that I didn't have which would have made the process easier is a pasta making tool.  They have some really awesome ones that attach to a Kitchen Aid mixer and others that just sit on your counter.  This time we just used a rolling pin and pizza cutter.

Although the pasta could have been better with the use of a pasta maker, it actually tasted like pasta and the process couldn't have been easier.  This is the recipe that we used, and we also used some whole wheat flour and some all purpose.  Once the noodles were ready to be cooked, we whipped up a mushroom, Parmesan, and butter sauce to go on top.  Delicioso!

Outfit Post that Could Have Been

{Sweater: Forever 21, Skirt: Banana Republic Factory, Heels: Ralph Lauren}

I give major kudos to all of the wonderful style bloggers out there who are able to get everything together in order to take outfit photos.  I had every intention of taking a picture of this outfit today, but time got away from me, and now I'm sitting in my oh-so-comfy pj's and thinking about how I should have taken a picture of the outfit.  So I did the next best thing, I took a picture of each item nicely folded and crossing my fingers you can picture how I wore it.

Awkward + Awesome

{Blazer: Old Navy, Button-Up: Forever 21, Belt: H&M, Jeans: Gap, Boots: Guess}

Awkward ::

Minding my own business while using the restroom at work, only to see a cockroach (!!!) scurry across the floor in front of me.  After seeing this and squealing like a little girl, I washed my hands (of course keeping an eye on the little bugger) and rushed to find the first guy in the office to have him kill it.  After trying to step on it about ten times, the thing finally died.  Gross!

Seeing someone wearing a monochromatic outfit, and I'm not just talking an all black outfit.  Oh no, I'm talking a magenta-meets-purple-meets-flamingo-pink outfit all the way down to the ear buds.  That's right folks, a purple person walking around on the streets of Portland.

Seeing one too many "man/she" people in downtown this week.  It's a pretty normal occurrence to play the "which one is it" game, but this week there were so many "questionable" people.

Being so tired that I used conditioner instead of shampoo.  Has anyone seen the low water pressure episode of Seinfeld?  That's how I felt all day after that incident.

Dodging random areas of spit on the side walk, I mean seriously, is it ever that necessary to spit?


Awesome ::

Striped shirts.  I mean can a girl really have too many of them? I would wear one every day if I wasn't afraid of looking like a lunatic who only likes horizontal stripes.

Going to bed before my boyfriend, and having him tuck me in like a little caterpillar.  It's so sweet.

Also having the boyfriend remove my toenail polish for me so that I didn't ruin my manicure (he would not be happy to know that I'm writing this - whoops!).

Thanks Sydney for the great awkward + awesome idea!

Outfit Crush

{Kendi Everyday}

For some reason white pants seem to really intimidate me.  I love the way they look on others, but I'm not sure how to pull them off.  Kendi pulls off this almost completely neutral look and how it looks effortless.  Do you have any tips or tricks on how to pull off white pants?  Also, how do you make sure the pants aren't see through?

Chambray Love

chambray, red, leopard, + black by quartknee42 featuring a leather buckle belt

chambray + black maxi by quartknee42 featuring gold gladiator sandals

chambray, teal, and leopard by quartknee42 featuring tahitian pearl stud earrings

My chambray button-up is easily one of the most worn pieces in my closet, yet I still hear people calling it a "Canadian Tuxedo" when worn with other denim pieces.  I think that pairing it with denim is perfectly fine, so long as they're two different colors of denim, but there are also many other ways to wear this versatile item.  I took one simple chambray top from American Eagle and have created three different ways to wear it for a variety of occasions.

Blog Filled Weekend

{Three trips to the grocery store last week}

{Just a few chocolate chips}

{Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies}

{Rianna & I at the dinner party}

{Fun SWAG from the Portland Blogger's Meet-Up}

{Playing pool with my love}

This past weekend was very busy, but also really fun.  I had the opportunity to attend my first Portland Blogger's meet-up and meet a few local bloggers.  It was so nice to meet the people behind some blogs that I already follow, and add a few more blogs to my Google Reader. I highly encourage any local bloggers to attend the next meet-up and come socialize with other bloggers!  I also went to a friend's dinner party, played pool with my love, and went to Creative Connection PDX.  All in all a great weekend, that I wouldn't mind repeating again.

Green Light

{Coat: GNC, Button-Up: Forever 21, Belt: H&M, Jeans: Banana Republic, Heels: Urban Outfitters}

I originally wore this outfit a few weeks ago, and just remembered that I never posted the pictures.  I think that one of the best ways to remedy a gray day is to put on a bright jacket or blazer and it's virtually impossible to be in a bad mood.

Happy Friday

Outfit Crush

{Madewell via Pinterest}

Lately I've realized how much I love layering.  It is something that I've never consciously thought about when putting together an outfit, but now I find myself putting a sweater over anything.   Recently, my favorite way to layer is a v-neck sweater over a button up.  It is so easy, and lets you utilize some basic pieces in new ways.

Everybody Everywear :: Pastels

{Blazer: Old Navy, Sweater: Forever 21, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Old Navy}

I was excited when I saw that this month's EBEW theme was pastels, since I already had an outfit planned that would work! I have had this blazer (along with most of my other blazers) since high school.  It's from Old Navy, and I think that most would be surprised to find that out.  Not only have I gotten my money's worth out of it, but it is also perfect for our temperamental spring days!

Sunshine, Ovo, and Pals

 {Oreo enjoying the sunshine}

 {I was able to wear flats on Saturday without my feet getting wet!}

{The birthday girl, Rianna}

{Ovo on Sunday}

 {Before the show}

{A lady bug wanted to be Tanner's friend}

{Finally replanting my root bound plants}

I feel a little bit like a broken record, but I had another wonderful weekend.  I had drinks with my best friend and her boyfriend Friday night, celebrated a pal's birthday on Saturday, and saw Ovo on Sunday with my love.

Have you ever been to a Cirque Du Soleil show? Ovo was my first one, and now I want to see all of them - they are amazing.  I was incredibly impressed with each characters acrobatic ability and feel really lucky to have been able to see it yesterday.  How was your weekend?

Smile

Despite the spring rain we got in Portland all week I had quite a few things that put a smile on my face.  

1. Tulips from work that help support the March of Dimes

2. Updating my closet with some spring colors and patterns

3. Delicious mango drink from Saucebox