ThanksChrEaster

I don't really do holidays, and I don't really have a lot of family. But I do have a lot of friends, and I do really love to host a dinner. So I created a Holiday... a high class conglomerate of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I packed it all into one night full of my favorite people, tons of food, and endless wine. I am a firm believer in building your own family, one made of all of your favorite people! Holidays need not be stressful nightmares of distant relatives, they do need to be fun and uplifting! ThanksChrEaster was all of those things. Can't wait til next year.

Bird is the Word

I am not sure if I have actually featured my current favorite dress yet, so this is my Official Endorsed Bird Swirl Wrap Dress Post. I am actually not the owner of this amazing swirl wrap dress, it belongs to Solanah, who got it originally from her aunt, Amy of Team Jessup (who is featured below.) I can not even look in the general direction of most items in my closet due to my now 34" waistline, so I have been living in swirls. In this post I am wearing it on a recent trip to Astoria to stay with Team Jessup. I really do have some of the most amazing friends, and I am so thankful for each one of them!

I really love that picture of Toma and Joshua, do they not look like they are about to mug someone? I hang out with scary people. HA!

Lunar Art

This month marked the opening of Toma's art showing at Lunar Boy Gallery in Astoria, OR. They have a special opening night, which we attended alongside Team Jessup. Amy of the Jessup party suggested we dress up a little spooky, as the show bore the title "Day of the Dead." It was a lovely night on the town, getting strange stares, and spooky compliments.

WANDA

In my mysterious world, I seldom have days off from work, and even less days off without my children. Some how through a serious of otherwise annoying and unfortunate events, I ended up with a Saturday free to do as I please. I know it might seem like the only place I ever venture to is Astoria, and really... I guess that is the only place I go, but I love it there. Toma and I got a very late start to the day and made the hour and a half trek to the Mouth of the Columbia, where Team Jessup also happened to be for the weekend! Before leaving Toma took some outfit shots of my very Wanda-from-Crybaby-esque attire. I find myself often channeling Traci Lords a la 90's rockabilly style. Toma often finds himself taking pictures that should probably not make the cut on the blog as seen by image number 2.




In Astoria we did the obligatory sight seeing that accompanies most trips to this location. Lunch at Fort George (YUM!) and Oogling at Vintage Hardware (Spectacular!)
If you ever roll through the streets of Astoria make sure to stop in at Vintage Hardware, which is located in a decaying turn of the century hotel. There are tons and tons and tons of old artifacts and what-not-ery for your hearth and home. Also, it serves for a very unique blog photo backdrop.






I am glad to have spent a lovely free day with Team Jessup and their beautiful Astoria home. And while we were in town we stopped by the Lunar Boy art gallery, where Toma submitted some of his current art. They liked it! It appears he has been offered a spot for a few pieces this coming October. Our life is so abundantly full of tiny blessings.



Until the next time Astoria, Its been real.

Independenly, independent.

For whatever reason I am in no mood to write, so this is the shortest, most picture filled blog about nothing ever. Here is a photo re-cap of the 4th of July party hosted by Team Jessup. The usual suspects were in full attendance including Solanah and Coedith. It was sunny, warm, and loads of fun. How is that for a dull and lifeless post?

Kingpin

I know it seems that the only thing I blog about anymore is going bowling, but to be truthful in the soggy northwest, there is not much else you can do indoors for entertainment. On that note, I had a great outing with blogging family Team Jessup, Toma and Solanah. My kids get bored easily with prolonged games of bowling, so they mostly just played in the arcade.


As you can see from the above evidence, I tend to fall at bowling allies and Team Jessup always looks adorable.. always. The foot picture is the only picture Solanah would allow me to
take of her that night.


(OK, on a side note, while re-reading through this, I noticed in both pictures of my children they look like crazed hungry wild beasts??!! HA! Products of mine no doubt..)

Obligatory Holiday Post

Regardless of your stance on the holiday known as the feast of Saint Valentine, you must admit having a good excuse to dress up is always a good time. This years Valentines found me at Team Jessup's house, for a fancy soireé with pink cocktails. Our most favorite multi-dimensional blogging family was entirely present, with Coedith in a fabulous handmade themed circle skirt. Solanah was there too, wearing a full length mink coat that was outrageously pretty. Sloe Gin Fizz got the best of me, and I had to go home early, but the party and the games we played were quite fun!

Is this photo not hilarious? I think it totally reminds me of the picture your mom would snap in the minutes before you are out the door and off to your senior prom.
Other than the cheese factor of this picture, do take note of my FABULOUS dress which I got from Dandelion Vintage. Such amazing stuff on her site, you should go browse after you are done reading this blog post! Oh, and the date... yes, I had a date. Shhh... If you are a regular follower you will notice its the same guy from this post, and this post...

Our parties are so amazing, and little known fact, we are actually the mob. We even have the bald Italian guy who points his finger a lot.

Hope you had a memorable holiday weekend, or in the very least ate chocolate. I am pretty sure that is something you must accomplish on or around valentines day. I don't make the rules, I just enforce them.

Au Revoir Astoria!

Last weekend I, my kids, and Solanah made the short journey out to Astoria, to visit her brother's family... Team Jessup. While Astoria is generally a pretty soggy place to be, we arrive to stunning bright sunshine. I couldn't believe how lovely it was! Being that we are all bloggers, we spent the entirety of the first day taking pictures to remember our trip. Everything was a photo op.
My outfit was cozy and warm with a 50s wool circle skirt, and cozy brown gloves. I added my NEW Leopard print bonnet I won from Dandelion Vintage! It matched perfectly, and was the warmest thing my head has ever know.


We ate lunch several times at Ft. George Brewery, which we clearly recommend. If you know anything about me, you know I like delicious food and craft beers. Even better when you add friend/families. After lunch we headed to Astoria's newest playground. It is huge with play buildings shaped like castles, and boats, and bridges. The kids had a blast while we snapped a bunch of pictures.




Thank you self timer for bringing us one fairly solid picture of the whole group. There are more adventures we went on, but I feel that this might need to be a part deux. This post has been rather photo heavy already. So, tomorrow... be excited to see what else we did!