Man, it is beautiful out today! We're not used to seeing the sun around here in December and it feels oh so good. I saw someone call Portland sexy today on instagram, and I gotta agree- those blue skies and big sun are beckoning!
Continue reading "Well hello, beautiful day! & goodbye til next year " »
| |
|
...and the mister, around the neighborhood we feel so lucky to live in, on a crisp and clear Autumn evenin'.
No, this wasn't today- today is a total sogfest, as is Portland most of the time during fall. But that just means when the sun decides to peek itself out, it makes it all the more magical.
Dang.
| |
|
The mister and I went on a little mid-week daytrip to the beach last week, and gosh it was gorgeous! We went to Lincoln City- ate some Mexican, checked out the antique stores and were lucky enough to catch the whole sunset from the beach. Come watch the sunset with us, won't ya?
| |
|
Each year in Portland, we get a population of Swifts who roost in a chimney at a local elementary school for the most part of September, as a stop along their migration path.
During this time, just before sunset you can see the swifts start to gather and hundreds of them swirl and whoosh and fly around the air together in unison until they ultimately whirlpool down into the chimney where they roost for the night.
It's a totally amazing sight and one that we've been wanting to see in person for a couple years after watching a documentary on our PBS station about them- and a couple weeks ago, we got the chance to go with some friends of ours and it was AWESOME! In the truest sense of the word- nature is crazy amazing and awe inspiring.
But I didn't catch any pics of the birdies swirling into the chimney at the end as they do, because you really need a zoom lens and tripod for that, so I thought the photos were kinda a bust. But I was checking them out again yesterday and eventhough I didn't catch the money shot at the end, so to speak, there were some pretty beautiful moments along the way that I did catch- so I thought I'd share them afterall!
{our little friend Juniper}
There was a hawk waiting on the edge of the chimney ready to grab his dinner as the swifts came in, and they would swoop in a pack and scare him off and the crowd would cheer! And then the hawk would go for a kill and dive, get nothing and the crowd would cheer! And we wouldn't see the hawk for a little while and the swifts started to swirl around like they were going to go into the chimney, and the hawk would suddenly return and the crowd gasped! And the swifts would swirl around and scare him off again, and the crowd cheered!
It went on like that for about half and hour until the hawk finally caught some dinner, and then the swift's roosting ritual could go back to normal. It was hilarious! A whole hillside packed with people just riveted watching nature unfold in front of us- pretty darn cool.
God, I just love the fall! I feel like I come alive in a whole new way this time of year, I love watching all the changes happening around us.
Do you have swifts where you live? What sort of natural phenomena is making you feel happy to be alive lately?
| |
|
I've just spent literally hours sifting through all the photos I took this past weekend on a little trip to the coast with my friends Jen & Julz!
It was amazing weather, an incredible spot to stay, and there were so many memorable, photo-worthy moments. Here are just some of my favorites from the weekend!
We stayed at the Anchor Inn in Lincoln City, which is decked head to toe in vintage collections- it's trippin' the kitsch fantastic in there, such an awesome place to stay!
Hanging out in Jen's room at the inn- that's not quite tea we were sipping out of those cups ;)
Ate dinner (and breakfast the next day, which is included!) in the Tiki Lounge
It's only a few blocks from the beach- we walked down to watch the sunset that night.
We stumbled upon a magical fort that had been built out of driftwood. We claimed it as ours and played there as the sun went down.
I wish I could transplant that fort, and the sound of the wind and ocean along with it, to my backyard to escape to whenever I need to relax- it felt so incredible there.
We stuck around the Anchor Inn that morning to eat, try out Jen's Clarisonic (I want one!) and say bye-bye to the super nice people who run the place.
And we headed back to the wild beach one last time...
And we walked back to that magical fort, a fog started rolling in...
And then it was time to hit the thrift stores, and say bye to Lincoln City!
My only complaint about the whole trip was that it was too darn short!
Jen and I actually went there to scope this spot out as a potential place to have a Maven Circle retreat in the future! And after spending such a relaxing, inspiring and fantastic weekend with supportive friends there, we agreed, it's the perfect place!
We're taking the flood of ideas we came up with over the weekend and starting to plan already for how to create a magical experience here for a group of creative, passionate women (you wanna come with us?) We're planning for early 2014 so you'll hear lots more about it in the coming year. It's going to be SO MUCH FUN!
It felt so good to getaway, so reviving. It really makes me realize how I need to do it more often to feel balanced and whole.
Have you gotten to take a getaway lately, mini or large? Or planning one? A change of scenery can be so inspiring, don't you think?
| |
|
Hello! Man, Monday holidays always screw me up a bit, I feel like I'm missing a day- poo!
Well over the long weekend we hung out with some friends in town from San Francisco and one day we took them out on a relaxing hike in the Columbia River Gorge. I brought my camera along, of course, so come along with us as we walk the trails, jump river rocks and admire the views.
Here's to these last gorgeous days of summer!
| |
|
I wanted to share some trip photos from the mister's birthday last week. We drove out to Tillamook and went to some thrift stores & ate ice cream. Then went over to a Cape area from there and down the coast to Pacific City where we played on the beach and got some grub. And then chased the sunset back home. It was a really fun and beautiful day.
Happy day!
| |
|
We've had so many pretties blooming in our little backyard garden over the last couple months. Here are some of my favorites... (check out may and june's flowers if you missed em!)
dahlia- from old house dahlias, in our hood
impatiens, with a litlte geranium bud peeking in
chocolate cosmos that ACTUALLY SMELL LIKE CHOCOLATE. No joke.
cally lily
bee balm- the hummingbirds love this one!
potato vine goin' buckwild- covers our chain link fence, we love it
little friend, watching me take pictures
yarrow
dahlia
so many roses
hydrangea
And here's a wider view of our garden and little backyard shed, where I film my doses of mojo videos!
Ok so it's techincally video, singular, at this point, but I'm filming more and have so much good stuff coming up soon soon- can't wait to share! The fall feeling of shifting into high gear is starting to catch me. I love this time of year!
Although today's my Mr's birthday (I love you, Mr!) and I'm off to play hooky with him at the coast to eat ice cream, take pics, drink a beer and take in the ocean breeze. Squeezing the last out of summer where we can!
What's been blooming in your neck of the woods lately? Feeling that fall buzz yet, or dreading the end of summer?
| |
|
So I got one of these olloclip lenses for the iphone, and it's pretty dang fun! Do you have one? I LOVE the macro view- I really like looking at things in depth and seeing different perspectives, it totally shifts your world. The above shots are of my begonia plant- it's like a strange and beautiful alien landscape!
In other news, I'm seeing Fiona Apple tonight and am so. freakin. excited! I grew up playing piano and she was my idol, I was obsessed with her! (ok, still kinda am :) I have butterflies! Whee!
Hope you're having a good Thursday!
| |
|
More photos from a walk around the neighborhood in the sunshine. See the first set of photos here, and let's take a summer stroll together!
Have a happy day! <3 Jena
| |
|
It's finally feeling summery around here! Story goes summer really starts on July 5th in Portland, and that certainly seems to be the case this year.
It's blue blue and warm finally and feels so good out there! I went for a long walk with my camera and took a bunch of photos around the neighborhood- I have too many favorites to share in one post, so this is part one of a summer stroll around the neighborhood. Come along with me!
I have more awesome skies, trees and houses to share with you next week. Happy summer!
<3 jena
| |
|
{delphinium- so blue it's hard to even capture on a camera!}
{lily}
{roses!}
{a litle bouquet of roses & peonies}
{poppies!}
{mountain laurel}
{potato vine flower}
{lavender}
...........................................
Oooh, there's lots of color in our flower garden this month. Some of my favorite flowers are blooming right now- the poppies were ridiculous! Those are tops in my book, but they're all so beautiful. Which flowers are your favorites in your neck of the woods right now?
Can't wait to see what July brings! There are lots of little green arms reaching up right now, more good stuff to come. I love perennials- it's like seeing an old friend again, every season.
Well I'm a bit distracted today as my thoughts are with my dad, who is in the hospital for the next 5 days or so for a heart related procedure- no fun at all. And my aunt & uncle from Colorado Springs had to evacuate their home last night due to the crazy wildfires out there! I'm so glad they're ok, but I hope their home will be as well, and everyone's homes! So scary.
If you have any extra thoughts of love and positivity to send their way today, I know they could use the extra boost and I'd appreciate it too.
Reachin' a little further to find the mojo today! Going to soak up some sun- I think that'll help :) Hope you're having a good day!
<3 jena
| |
|
The mister and I felt like taking in a little greenery this past weekend, so we headed east to the Columbia River Gorge, grubbed on some veggie burgers and then took a walk down to Latourell Falls!
{photos 5, 9 & 12 by the mister, @drsmoothdeath}
There's so much energy in the water as it plummets into the rocks below, crashing and lifting into a misty breeze that you can feel on your skin.
And as you stretch your neck way up to see where the water spills over the edge, you remember how small you are, such a tiny, but integral, piece of the whole puzzle.
-------
By the way, I'm giving away 4 copies of my Tip-Top Pitch Kit over on Handmade Success today! Stop by to read my post on how to take the fear out of pitching, and enter to win a kit!
And we have the wonderful Susannah Conway as a guest over at The Maven Circle today sharing how to survive the crash from loss, and some of her beautiful photos.
Hope you're having a good week!
<3 jena
| |
|
Well we certainly had enough April showers to bring on the May flowers around here! Here's what's popping up in my garden lately. I can't get enough of them!
Lupine
A purple poppy! My favorite backyard flower of the moment :)
Snapdragons (and a stick bug- can you see it?)
Columbine
Iris- so far, only my white/peach ones have bloomed- I love them!
Peony, about to pop (I can't wait!)
I had some pretty white ranunculus too, but didn't catch a pic- more bulbs I planted a couple months ago seem to be popping up tho, yay!
What's blooming in your neck of the woods right now?
| |
|
We were headed to an Andrew Bird show last night and it started pouring rain as we were getting ready to go. I was dreading the inevitable long walk from the car to the show in the middle of a sogfest, but just as we were leaving, the skies opened up and the clouds starting clearing. We headed west towards the show, and the sunset, and it was spectacular!
These moments right after the rain are one of my favorite parts of living here! This place takes my breath away all too often.
And to top the night off with amazing music?! Twas a good night!
What are some things you love about where you live?
PS: Only a few days left to enter my 6 year blogaversary giveaway! Win a free mojo session + pitch kit- just ask me a question about your biz to enter- details here :)
| |
|
...taking advantage of the few sunny days we had last week, walking around the hood.
...watching Unzipped, an old documentary about Isaac Mizrahi putting together his Fall 1994 collection. Had all the 90's supermodels in it plus was so interesting to see behind the scenes! Good rainy day movie.
...wearing about 18 layers, including a kitty layer, to stay warm over the weekend when our heater was broken.
...catching up with some magazines.
...hanging with the Bobohead mud-monster.
...recording a guided meditation for The Catalyst Course! A very interesting experience for me to listen to my own voice for that long, sounds so weird!
...dog-earing the new Free People catalogs. I want that aqua rain jacket!
...consulting the deck.
...wondering why the heck it's so cold all the sudden?
...getting lots of to-dos checked off!
...shopping for supplies for a couple projects I want to work on.
...waiting for spring to come!
I've been keeping busy while the mister is gone. I've lost all notion of what day or time it is without him here, it's strange. His work schedule kinda keeps me on track with the rest of the world- without him here, I'm staying up all night, sleeping all morning, eating at strange times. I'm all outta whack! Not to mention, I miss him! But he's coming home tomorrow morning, wahoo! I'm so excited!!
What's making you feel excited lately?
| |
|
Just wanted to pop in and say hello! The sun is shining bright here in Portland! There's something about waking up to a sunny day that feels incredibly refreshing and special, cause it doesn't really happen all that often here!
I'm busy busy behind the scenes of The Catalyst course this week- it's going SO AWESOMELY WELL! Jen & I can't get enough of it! Seeing all this hard work we've been doing for months come to fruition, and being able to connect with people in there and share our stories and advice, it's without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had in my life! Already! It's on a-whole-nother level of big time serious wonderfulness, Jen and I can both feel it.
I just feel so incredibly grateful to be doing all this stuff right now with Miss Modish & The Maven Circle both- it feels like right where I'm supposed to be!
In other news, the Mr. left for Japan approximately 26 hours ago, and I miss him terribly already! Good thing I have plenty of work, and 4 furry babes, to keep me company- and nice friends willing to feed me dinner while he's gone! hah.
How's your day going today? Any projects you're feeling excited about?
| |
|
Hello! Just popping in to share some pics of this stunning double rainbow that shined right over PDX this weekend. It looked so vibrant across the whole sky, it brightened my whole day and I thought it could brighten yours too, today!
Hope you're having a great day!
| |
|
{photo by the mister!}
Sometimes all you need is a weekend away to feel renewed and relaxed, hmm? We spent the past weekend with friends at the Oregon coast and it was so nice to unplug for awhile- play scrabble instead of watch tv or click away on the laptop, eat homemade meals instead of take-out and best of all, walk along the beach that was right outside their door! And to top it off, we had crystal clear skies and calm winds, which is pretty much unheard of in Oregon in Dec, so it felt pretty special. I wish we could go out of town every weekend!
ps: The awesome ladies at Little Paper Planes asked me to create a lookbook & I did an ode to roadtrips! See more pics from other fave trips, along with fantastic art from LPP to inspire your wanderlust.
| |
|
Sometimes pretty scenery is all you need for a rejuvenating little pick me up, and we got lots of it during our drive out to Hood River yesterday! We went for a little day-trip to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, which is tomorrow! One married year almost down, I can't believe it! The stuffing our faces with delicious food portion of the anniversary will happen tomorrow night, yum.
I just love foggy fall in the pacific northwest, it's so, so beautiful. Hope it helps you have a nice start to your week, too. Happy Monday! Make it a good one! (as my Mr. would say :)
| |
|
