Adventures in Portlandia

Random, last minute trips are the best. Especially when they involve awesome friends. 

This is Natalie, circa Semana Santa, 2010. Through a random connection, I showed up at her (then) apartment in Guadalajara, stayed in an extra room downstairs, then went on an epic last minute road trip to Puerta Vallarta during Spring Break. Probably one of my favorite weeks ever. It was the only time I'd hung with this awesome gal....

Until January 2013. I decided to take a last minute trip to see this awesome friend for the 2nd time ever. And to explore her home- Portland! Its crazy how you can continue to enjoy someone so much after years of not seeing them, and even then, it was just that one time. Haha. 

Anyway, aside from Natalie's awesome-ness (more on that later), Portland is pretty rad on its own! Despite the freeeeeezing days (a girl from Cali can't hang that long), I love-love-loved this town! Kinda residential/big city at the same time. Hipster meets farmer. And lots of plaid and beer. I was happy. 

First evening in, we went to Voodoo Donuts when there was no line (!!!!) and I figured out why long-sleeved layers are so important. 

Then, walked across the bridge (Brunswick, I believe) straight to my first Portland house party where Robyn is a dance party must and they actually do jello-stands (WTH?!).

The next few days were a blur of farmer's markets, beer, FOOOOOOOD, and Girls from HBO. Oh, and Oregon has no Sales Tax! On anything. I should've bought more things.

We searched for the best biscuits and were actually given blankets to use at the restaurants because its soooo cold. But seriously. Best. Biscuits. Ever. And, Im pretty serious about my biscuits. 

Super cool town, super awesome people, lots of vintage-y goods and even more food. I seriously don't think I could've eaten more, but (not so secretly at all) wish I could have. Its like a bubble of cute things, beards, strip clubs, and delicious-ness that I would for sure re-visit. 

So, finally, yeeeeears after our first advenure, we re-united with less beach time, more scarf time. But, still had a rad weekend filled with Gaycation, first-time strip clubber, beer drinking, baby bunnies (literally, lots of them) fun! Can't wait to add to our epic adventure/awesome friend list!! 

XOXO- V

PS- Dance filled February. Can't waaaaaaaait!!

I loooove this week!!

New dresses, Brunch with besties, walks through the 'hood, and a movie night with favorites (as in theaters... fancy in these parts). Sunday was awesome. And I already can't wait for the rest of the week! Yeah, a night of insomnia, but I'm just using it as extra time to get pumped for the dance filled, new adventure days I have ahead of me. And I'm sure some extra nyquil will handle that problem soon enough.

 And in case you're wondering, sweet biscuits and tofu scrambles in the Lower Haight are amaaaaaazing. 1/2 hr waits in the cold ain't got nothin' on us!

Days of saying something, and actually DOING IT! I'm glad you're back and you're treating me better than ever.

 XOXO- V

Don't ask. Its just timeless.

 

2013!!

Ok... I'm about to get all sensitive, boring, and real-life for a minute, so braaaaace yo'self! I just spent the past 2 hours doing house chores. Sounds super boring for the first weekend of the new year, or just boring for a Saturday morning, period. But, it actually felt really good. I was thinking back at how this time, last year, I was broke, lived in the nastiest apartment ever, and was just in a super lame, insecure mental space. And, I dunno... this morning I thought to myself, "Fuck yeah, I'm cleaning my house and bumping Willie Colon on vinyl on a Saturday morning 'cuz this is what grown women do." I will take self-sufficiency, independence, and grown-up responsibility any day. That being said, the holidays this year were AWESOME. Lots of holiday part-ays. Went to some, performed at some. Fam Bam time, homemade mac and cheese by yours truly, and some badly needed time off (not from work, just from living the ongoing teacher/performer double life that I don't see ending any time soon. It makes me feel like Wonder Woman, but with less shiny gold spandex).

 Performing at the Yahoo! Holiday Party. We DEFINITELY opened for Train (sorta...).

Las Primas en Navidad!!

My lil' cuzzo!

New Years... happened. Ja. We'll just say, there was champagne, a whiskey, jukebox tunes, and a party at my house. All fun. See for yo'self!

I like 2013 already, despite it being an odd number (I'm sooooo not a fan of odd numbers). I don't do New Years resolutions, but I DO have a list of 28isms that I totally plan on doing. Here's to another year of Fun, adventure, Dance Dance Dancin', LOVE, and grown-ass woman-ness!!

 XOXO- V

 Soundtrack for today

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