Endless Coastlines

If we remember correct, it would appear all festivities for my 25th birthday were canceled. Much to my surprise, Toma had other ideas entirely. Upon coming home from a doctors appointment, I found him and the children awaiting a drive to the Oregon Coast.
We spent the day and night in Seaside, OR but ate delicious food in Astoria. For those unaware, Astoria is my favorite town in the entire world (not that I have explored the entire world.. I am a little bias.) So we returned in the early morning to devour the most spectacular brekkie ever at Astoria Coffee House, of which I highly recommend flying from where ever you are to experience.
We played in the sand, saw aquatic animals in captivity, slept in a roadside motel, and ate like kings. It was a pretty good birthday after all.





On the subject of the above octopus, does anyone know for a fact if it lives in its tiny captive water cage at all times? It looked quite unhappy and claustrophobic in that prison. I kind of want to contact the Seaside aquarium to discuss further, not that I think it would do much good.

Long Beach Summers

It seems I have been at the ocean side a lot this summer, which is unusual for me. I love the beach, and would live there if plausible, yet rarely find the time or money to make the trek out to our family cabin in Long Beach, WA. This trip we brought the kids with us.. which I doubt will happen again til they are much older. It was mostly fun, and we spent one night with Team Jessup at their cabin. The following day we drove up to our family house, and played around a bit.
We took the kids on a hike to the lighthouse at Cape Disappointment, and toured around the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. At the Cape, there is an old bunker that was once Fort Canby. Its so fun to play in all the different fort bunkers around the Washington and Oregon coast, and makes for fun photography. Alas, my husband is poor with the camera, so this is the best you will get!
On the way out, we always pop into Jacks Country Store in Ocean Park. It's a lovely local grocer, but the back of the store is a nostalgic treasure trove. Being a lover of old as I am, I could positively spend hours lurking about each aisle. They have lots of vintage reproduction items, like table cloths, lamps, and stoves. I just found out this weekend, they have a website for the whole world to shop! How delightful?

Now I am back to the daily grind, and back to work.. All my vacationing is coming to and end for the summer, and I must get in the back to school mindset. Au Revior for now!

Coming Home A Winner

I am back from our anniversary vacation, and still in vacation mode. I can't muster up the energy to blog or work. I drank a pot of coffee today so I could bring you the results of weeks of top secret planning. Over the past weekend we attended Jake The Alligator Man's 4th Annual 75th Birthday (say that three times fast!)
Every year this event is held in downtown Long Beach, WA and every year there is a big car show, live music, and of course, a pin-up contest. I entered this pin-up contest, but I brought a secret weapon... another (more)Beautiful lady! Seeing as Jake is a half-man half-alligator side show freak, I figure, we too should be side-show oddities. Thus, the Siamese Twins, Olga and Elsa were born!
We made this entire costume for about $25 and it was loosely based off 666 Photography's Dia De Los Muertos Set. Very Loosely. But after a few nights of white wine, flowers, ribbons, and injuries, the costume was finished. All the pain and late nights were worth it in the end, because we walked away winners, The Bride(s) Of Jake!
We won a gift basket filled with many lovely treasures! The greatest prize at all was the 2 night stay to the Breakers Hotel in Long Beach. I see a siamese ladies night hotel party in my future!
We also go some stunning GothFox Pasties, and several piece of Lucky Cupcake clips and jewelry. There were lots of people and old friends at the event, even Team Jessup made an appearance and asked that we take a snap with their cutie-pie son.
We caused quite a stire on the Penninsula, because even the local paper wrote about Olga and Elsa! Read about it in the Chinook Observer. I know there are several more pictures that will surface in the coming days, but I thought I would give you guys the first glimpse of our winners suit.

I have more re-capping to do about our weekend at the coast, and our visits to Astoria to sip craft beers with Team Jessup.... But that will have to wait til tomorrow.