Birthday and Trip

Tyler's 44th Birthday and a Trip to Portland

We've had quite a lot of fun things going on around here lately, hence my lack of posts. Anyway the biggest celebration was Tyler's 44th Birthday!! That is always a happy celebration but after the year we have had it was EXTRA special. Tyler's birthday tradition is to celebrate and have his party on Superbowl Sunday. This year was especially exciting with the Seahawks playing but alas we won't discuss that sad situation.

We made some alterations to Ty's Superbowl Birthday Cake

We had a great time celebrating Tyler and eating all of his favorite foods despite that which must not be discussed... *sob*.

I treated Tyler to a trip to Portland as one of his birthday gifts. I am not sure how much of an actual "treat" it was for him as it was also a Sisters Creed business trip. Still...we had a fantastic time and it was a much needed getaway for both of us. And...I really appreciated him pulling the trailer, helping set up for our show, helping to tear down, lugging heavy things, and dragging the trailer home. He is so great to do all of that for me. To show my appreciation I also got him a new dolly to help with all the loading and unloading. It's shiny and green, his favorite color. :) Seriously though, he is so great to support all my dreams. My dreams become his dreams and he just jumps right in to help make them a reality. He also helps load and unload my mom's trailer every.single.show. and that means a lot to me. He's a good guy. I did well in the husband department.

Last year Tyler didn't come on the Portland trip so he was super excited to go and have some fun this time. We love Portland.We were as giddy as school kids as we pulled away from home. There is just something so exciting about heading out on an adventure together. Unfortunately we got to the edge of town when I realized that I forgotten to pack jeans...or really pants of any kind. Who forgets pants?? Does that sound familiar? I DO!! On a regular basis. This is the second trip that I have done that. I blame leggings. I had leggings on...in case you were worried...but due to the fact that I had leggings on (yes, leggings are pants in my book) packing other types of pants/jeans completely slipped my mind. I had my cute dress and boots packed for my show and my nighttime wear (wink) but I had clearly forgotten everything else. So we had to turn around and come back. After retrieving my necessary clothing, saying goodbye yet again to our children, and being mocked by my sister, we got back on the road.

There is something so joyous about bidding goodbye to the gray of Spokane and saying hello to all the greenery and milder climate of Oregon. Not to mention the beauty of the trip. Outstanding. The gorgeous Columbia River and all the waterfalls soothed my frazzled soul.

Multnomah Falls in one of my favorites. We love waterfalls. I think that after lakes they are my favorite part of nature. I grew up in the shadow of a huge one...Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon...and that was where Tyler and I met as well. Waterfalls are kind of our thing. Multnomah is pretty spectacular and it was Tyler's first time stopping at it. We jumped out and hiked around. I was stoked that the bridge had been repaired and was open to walk across again. It was closed due to rock damage last year. We ran around and took all kinds of nerdy pictures...see below...and had a great time. It was quite romantic. The lodge there is so pretty. I would love a house that looks just like that and that is situated right by a huge waterfall. Perfection.

Picture from the Multnomah Falls Lodge website

It started pouring rain but we didn't care a bit and I had the frizzy hair to prove it!

Then we headed up to the bridge...

The view was breath taking!

We also checked out this waterfall too...

Horsetail Falls

Isn't that one of the best sounds in the world? I'd love to come back, bring the kids, and hike to all of the many falls in the area. Gorgeous.

Then we headed on in to Portland. We were a few hours ahead of my mom so we had time to check out some sites in Portland, check into our hotel, and get ready for dinner. My cousin, Paul, is a chef at a FABULOUS restaurant in Beaverton called DeCarli. We had the culinary experience of our lives there last year and Tyler was eager to check it out. Paul was working that night so it was extra fun to see him in action and eat his creations. He sent out all kinds of amazing dishes to us. Again... unbelievable gastronomic experience. Tyler was blown away.

Tyler, Me, Paul's daughter Zoey, his wife Whitney, and my Mom...horrible picture quality but whatevs.

Me and Zoey doing our Oregon "duck faces"...ha ha! Zoey is the cutest thing ever!!

It was so fun to hang out with Whitney and Zoey and catch up on what has been going on since we last saw them in November at my Uncle Mike's funeral. I LOVED seeing Paul cheffing it up in the kitchen. He REALLY has such a cool job!! I love his passion for food and I love that he is doing what he loves to do in an amazingly trendy and fun restaurant. The place was packed full on a Thursday night and Paul said that it is full every night of the week. How awesome is that? If you are in Beaverton go eat at Decarli. You will LOVE IT!!

The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, it was set-up for Junk Salvation. Set-up is always stressful, especially in a new venue. This was our first show in Oregon. We attended the show last year but just as customers to check out the show, and also to support our vendor friends who were there. So figuring out the loading and unloading...and all the arranging can be tricky. Plus, Stacey wasn't there to help. Anyway...it all got done. This show was fun because we could have Valentine decor, and even some Easter, in addition to all our regular merchandise. Here are some pics.

Remember that weird orange packing crate thing that Kirk and Tyler were working on over New Years?

Here's the finished product:

Our smaller and more mobile cash wrap. We have a big huge cool one made out of an old drafting desk on casters but we needed a smaller one to use at certain shows and this turned out fantastic.

After set-up we had an hour or two before the evening sale so we hustled back to our hotel to change and run back to the show. The show was fun and went until 9pm. By then we were absolutely exhausted. We found a quick place to grab some dinner before going back to our hotel. I love that Portland has so much to choose from...even when you just want something quick...there are a whole bunch of good fast-casual places to choose from. Spokane REALLY needs more places like that.

The next morning we grabbed breakfast on the run and had to be at the show by 9am. It was fun to be in a different area with a different vibe. Lots of Oregon vendors who were fun to meet, great customers, and interesting people. Tyler took off and spent the day with Paul and Whitney. He had a wonderful time with them and ate all kinds of amazing Vietnamese food. When the show was winding down they all came to see us. After tear down and the loading up of two trailers...in a complete down pour...we met up with them at a fun restaurant. We were absolute drowned rats but they were kind enough to be seen with us in public. It was so nice to be able to talk and laugh and cry. It was wonderful to be able to talk about my Uncle Mike and reminisce and reconnect. We missed seeing my cousin Wendy and her family. Unfortunately, they were all sick with colds and the flu. :(  We headed back to our hotel late that night only to find the hotel and parking lot bathed in abject darkness. It was pitch black. Apparently a tree had come down on some power lines causing a fire. The hotel was without power for over 12 hours. We were given two flashlights (Tyler grumpily declined the GLOWSTICK we were originally offered. Can you believe that?) and sent on our way. My mom's room was across the hall from us so we could find each other in the dark if need be. Luckily it wasn't too hot or too cold and it ended up being kind of a crazy adventure. The power came on sometime during the night and we were able to have hot water in the morning or that would have been a real problem!!

Before heading out of town we stopped at IKEA and loaded up with all kinds of fun things and food. Who can turn down Lingonberry juice on tap, Swedish pancakes, cream cakes, rye crisps and all kinds of good things?!

 Not this Scandinavian Boy!!

There were a few things that I couldn't turn down either...

I so wish there was an IKEA closer to me. My house has had a good sprucing up with all kinds of fun...yet cheap...new things. I love it.

Tyler and I also stopped at several places and we picked up some great pieces of furniture to redo for an absolute steal. There are definitely great buys to be had in Portland. We are already planning another buying trip in the spring before my biggest show of the year...FARM CHICKS.

On our way out of town we managed to hit one of my very favorite cafes. Cafe Yumm. They have amazing vegetarian food (and other non-vegetarian items). My friend, Janyse, got me addicted to Cafe Yumm and this sauce!! I am forever in her debt. Yet I cruelly texted her pictures of me eating it. Ha ha. Yumm sauce is out of this world delicious...kind of lemony, tahini-y, kind of nutty. Trust me. It's delish.

I love tempeh!!

We arrived home that night safe and sound to a spotlessly clean house (thanks guys!) and to cute kids. It was a great rejuvenating trip!! Now, when can I go on another one? :)