adventurous hearts

Just a few moments from an adventure I took with some friends this week.  I think these may be some of my favorite shots I've taken in a while.  Enjoy!

What kind of adventures have you been having?

Portland: In Books and Food

In October I got to fly to Portland for SocalityPDX and when I wasn't surrounded by hundreds of picture-snapping-Instagram-lovers, I was wandering the city with my mom and my niece, Kenzie.  Two words can define my favorite experiences: books and food.  

If you are in Portland you pretty much cannot miss Powell's Books.  It's literally every bookstore you've ever been in smashed into one giant maze of books.  Basically, heaven. 

If you're ever in Portland, you absolutely have to go to Lardo's and eat copious amounts of amazing fries.  I still dream about those fries---and I'm not kidding.  It's even an experience just sitting there and watching the customers.

The Salt & Straw is one of the greatest experiences in ice cream history.  Every person gets to sample any and every one of the flavors of homemade ice cream on silver spoons---and with flavors like Pear & Blue Cheese and Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache how could you go wrong?  Yes, I know that probably sounds way too strange to be ice cream, but it's amazing. My personal favorite was Honey Lavender.  It's swoon worthy in my book. 

Have you been to Portland?  What was your favorite part?

Twenty Lessons Learned

This year has been a fun one, full of new experiences and friendships.  Here's a list of fifteen lessons and randomness learned over the course of 2014.

one

Set alerts for anything and everything or else you just may find that you slept through your ACT (true story).

two

Always double check for mailboxes that sneak up behind you when you back up.

three

Sometimes "fake it till you make it" can be a motto.

four

Never underestimate the power eyeliner or lipstick has on your mood.

five

I'm a last second gift buyer.  Unfortunately, that's not a good thing. 

six

I crave authenticity, not pep talks. 

seven

If I am contemplating chopping my hair off, it's probably Taylor Swift's fault.  I mean, her hair is brilliant.  And did I mention her clothes? I love them.

eight

Once you find the people you click with, spend as much time with them as you can.  They will change you and mold you into a better person.

nine

Sometimes the power lies in knowing when to let the picture pass. 

ten

My car will probably become my second closet in college because I love clothes way too much. Way. Too. Much. 

eleven

What you hold onto is just as important as what you let go. 

twelve

The coolest thing about being 18 is the fact that I can now check out movies at the library. woop, woop.

thirteen

Community is the backbone of who we can be.

fourteen

If you can incorporate GIFs into all texts, you definitely should.  

fifteen

God sends people into your life exactly when you need them.
sixteen
Colorado holds a part of my heart.
seventeen
Adam Levine is Jewish.  Why anyone needs to know that, I don't know, but now you know.
eighteen
You don't have to be good at something to enjoy it.
nineteen
If you find something you're passionate about, pursue it with intensity.  You'll thank yourself later.
twenty
"Two good ol' boys behind the wheel, chasing down bad guys in Lucille" is always a good song to bring out.  Especially when you're riding in Lucille. If you're totally confused about this one, look up "Leverage chase music" on YouTube.  You can thank me later.