Oh, Hollywood.

You have invaded our neighborhood...

but we are loving it.

The movie "Gone" is currently being filmed in Portland,

and so far several scenes have been shot within a block or two from the loft.

 Again, the great thing about movies/TV shows here...open sets!

As long as you're not in their shot, you can literally stand as close to the action as you'd like.

The movie stars Amanda Seyfried, who in real life, is teeny tiny pint sized.

And the sister from Dexter, Jennifer Carpenter.  Who in real life, is super stretched tall.

Watching them film has been fun, 

but what we're most looking forward to is seeing the 'hood on the big screen.  

Our building could be having it's 15 minutes of fame soon...

Bath time

Audrey at bath time.

Some of my all-time favorite photos of her.

Mediterranean Bound

I told you I had fun travel plans to share…this weekend I’ll be finalizing the details of our trip to Croatia!

I cannot wait.

However in true procrastinator form I’ve nearly waited until

the last minute, once again, to completely book this trip.

I’ve had the air booked for months. Many months. But hotels? Not so much.

And we leave in June.

Fun fact about Croatia. They celebrate a national holiday on the live in’s birthday!

(And, we just happen to be there on his birthday.)

I wonder if he’ll be in a parade or something?

We’re going to visit two islands and the city of Dubrovnik.

We’ll plan to take ferries from the island to island, but cross your fingers that actually works out for us.

Reading their online ferry schedule is a bit challenging to say the least. Right now there isn’t exactly a ferry scheduled to go from island #1 to island #2, but what’s the point of worrying about that little detail just yet.

(Speaking of getting left on a island…did anyone see Sawyer from Lost on this week’s Community? I just love him. I especially love his ability to give people random nicknames.)

I’ll keep you posted on the travel planning as I check off my list…

(Image: Travel Photo Blogging)



Our last reflection photo.

I like this one.

If you look closely you can see two reflections...one from the window, and then one from the mirror inside.

  

Our Walk Home...

On Saturday night the live in and I spent a great evening with our friends.

Enjoyed a little dinner and symphony.

And while that actually deserves a post of it's very own, I don't think

it would translate well without photos.  Sorry.  

Let's just say it's the first symphony I've been to that made me blush.

But as we made our way home from the symphony that night this is what we came across:

(I don't think we could have loved Portland any more!)

(A random street band set up outside of Nordstrom's.  They were actually really good.  Think unpolished Mumford & Sons.  Oh, and there was a pirate too.)

(Again?!  We couldn't tell what movie they were watching on their laptop, but it must have been a new release because they were both really into it.)

(4th meal at little big burger.  My fave.)

   

The Conversation that Ended an Argument

While in the middle of a semi-colorful argument last week, 

after I had allegedly given him a bad look:

TLI:  See!  You can't even listen to what I'm saying.

Me:  What?  I didn't say anything.

TLI:  It was your body language.

Me:  So, you're a body language expert now?

TLI:  Well, I am a Communications major.

He was 100% serious.  Utterly ridiculous.  I erupted in laughter.    

Minneapolis

Minneapolis was a blast!  I miss my friend already.

Here's a few iPhone pics from our weekend.

Note to Portland: adopt the rent-a-bike aka "nice ride" program from Minneapolis.  

You won't regret it.

Earth Day

This Friday we’ll be hopping on a plane to visit one of my very best friends in Minneapolis.

Friday also happens to be Earth Day.

So, and this is a big step for me in travel, in honor of the day I’ve made the executive decision that we’ll be using mobile boarding passes instead of printing them out.

That’s right, two less pieces of paper being used. You’re welcome mother nature.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

I realize thousands of people use mobile boarding passes every week…

but I can just see the live in and I screwing this up somehow.

We already have a reputation for tardiness in getting to the airport.

I received the below email from a friend today.  A good friend.  One of my best.  I thought I would re-post it because 1.  it's pretty darn funny and 2.  maybe you were thinking the same thing. 

Her email is in the pretty blue font, my comments are in hot pink.

I have been meaning to discuss something with you…in 2009 you had 151 blog posts. In 2010 you had 93. So far this year you have 11…at this rate that would be about 37 posts for the whole year. I calculated your trend and am sorry to report at this rate your blog will not exist by 2012 (I can assure all of you that the blog will exist beyond 2012.  I have way too many problems to turn my back on this free form of therapy). Ericaaaaa!  This is breaking my heart. But I am not one to sit around and be sad so I have been thinking:
1. You could sell ad space on your blog to generate income and increase your motivation to blog.
2. Ideas for blog topics:
     a. More Chad
          i. The fish (Done!  I have the perfect (but let's keep low expectations here people, we are talking about a fish) story.
          ii. The man
     b. http://promediablog.com/blogging-tips-10-most-popular-blog-topics-to-make-money-online/

3. Tell stories beginning with, “Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.”
4. Since you are busy actually living your life, dictate your blog (call it “team bonding”) to the new guy so he has more work.
5. Go on another vacation so you have more adventures to write about.  (Okay!  Actually pretty soon we'll have something to share about our next adventure.)

In case this is even more serious than I know: http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingroadblocks/tp/block.htm

While I continue to spend the better part of my evening on the phone with our lame 

internet provider I thought I'd quickly share my last 

photography project with you.  

I know, multitasking at it's best.

BTW, it appears that a deadly combination of Apple TV + Instant Netflix + the Emmy award 

winning show, Greek, has landed us in internet jail.  And with only one season left!

I think engagement sessions have become my new fave.  I mean it.  

See more images here. 

TV Groupie?

It’s no secret that the TV show Leverage films in Portland.

Mostly in our neighborhood, I think. I’ve seen them filming a few times before…and, I don’t know the proper lingo, but it appears that they have an “open set”…or something like that. 

Meaning, you can literally walk/drive/pedal right on by while they are filming.

They rarely close off streets from what we’ve seen.

So, imagine my delight when I was running an errand on Friday, totally minding my own bees wax,

and I find myself driving through (literally) their set.

I don’t watch the show, and couldn’t name one actor on it…until now. Christian Kane.

He walked right in front of my car. We locked eyes. He smiled. I didn’t. Played it cool, you know.

Ladies, he is waaaaaaaaaaay better looking in person than on TV. The hair is a shame, but who cares.

When the live in got home that night I begged him to walk back down to where they were filming. I told him about the connection Christian and I have. He was not amused. But, we did go back down there and he did agree that the whole process is pretty impressive. Aside from the business they took over and transformed into their set, they also take up an entire empty block with tents and trailers and buses and food.

Makes me wanna be a groupie…

A Wednesday Gift

I adore my friends.

Especially the ones that alert me to news like this!

I am already googling the Portland Timbers schedule to see when they play Kansas City...

Here's to hoping...

Seattle

This weekend we took a mini road trip

up to Seattle to catch up with some friends.  

(One of the live in's BF's from high school, actually.  It's always 

a true treat to hear stories about the teen version of my husband.  I love it.)

Of course, no trip to Seattle is complete without a cruise through 

Pike's Place Market...

Just a pic...

...of us getting ready to meet our friends for the symphony!

One of my favorite things.      

At the Cabin

This weekend we met my parent at their cabin for 

some snowmobiling and relaxation.  

We couldn't have asked for better snow...

(The teeny black blob in the center is the live in.  He refused to slow down long enough for me to take a picture.)

(my Dad!)