10 on 10 - October 2014

This month, the 10th kinda snuck up on me. It's been a whirlwind of a month. Luckily, I had my camera in tote a few weeks ago for a good friend's 30th. A true, unplanned, day in the life if you will. Before we get into the festivities though, make sure to check out all the other 10 on 10ers. As always, they are sure to have lots of good stuff for ya.

Shaw Photography

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Button Media

CLB Creative

Brittany Conner Photography

Here in Portland, we have had a pretty incredible summer. I mean, it's hard to beat a summer in Portland on a regular year, but this year, our beautiful, sunny skies have stuck around without much rest, and all the warm, summer weather with it. 

As part of our fall/summer festivities, we celebrated Jeff's birthday. If I have learned anything in my 20 some years, it would be that another year older does not necessarily mean any of us have actually grown up. Most of us went to college together. Then spouses and other friends were added here and there, but when we all get together again, it's like no time has passed. It was like freshman year again in a few different ways...

If you are in Portland and haven't had a chance to try BrewCycle, go schedule it now. Some inward facing pedals on a wood and steal frame, music on the overhead speakers, and three stops of your choice. A pretty nice little Saturday. Our stops were Pints, Old Town Pizza, and Deschutes Brewery. There are a few seats that don't have petals, and those of us who were really smart took their turn on that seat when we were headed up hill. Mwahahaha. Suckers!

 

Thanks for being born and having a great 30th birthday celebration Jeff. Cheers to many more gatherings together for many years to come!

Until next time...

Portland at sunrise

I know that you all likely saw the first and second posts from last week and the week before with 1 photo for each day that I had the 5 lenses and camera body from Chase Jarvis and Borrowed Lenses . ...if not, click on those links so you aren't behind the class. The rest of us will wait. ;)

Anyway, there were a few days in that month that I thought deserved a few more photos and even a full blog post. One in particular was probably one of my favorite experiences this summer. On the last day that I had my month long, gear rental, I ventured up to the top of one of the west hills in Portland, to the OHSU look-out deck, lugging all my camera gear, to catch a summer sunrise over Portland.

While I did my best to capture the moment, it really is something to experience in person. A whole new side of Portland that not too many people dare to see. It was after all about 5am and not enroute on my morning commute. If you have the time (and some coffee), I highly recommend a trip up the tram to watch the sunrise. This particular day was in August, but I can also tell you from experience this view is also incredible to witness in the fall. On some crisp, fall mornings, the river is covered in fog and and it spills over into all the buildings downtown.

But I digress. On this particular day (August 18th, 2014), the colors in the sky were incredible. We have had some fires in the area, so there was a slight haze in the air, but luckily, not enough to eclipse either Mt. Hood or Mt. St Helens.

I have a few other posts in queue. This summer has been sooo insanely busy (in a good way), and I'm finally getting some time to be able to sit down and edit so that I can share what I have shot over the last couple months with you all. More soon, so stay tuned!

Until next time...

Bottoms Up!

If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that Nabil and I got the opportunity to go to a food tasting at the Heathman Hotel this week. I'm not quite sure how all this happened, but a few weeks ago I got a message from someone who works at the Heathman Hotel in Portland. She mentioned that she had read my blog (to which I gave a big screachhh on the inside), and then she invited me to the Heathman's Restaurant and Bar for an exclusive tasting. Free drinks and hors d'oeuvres? Count me in! I think it took me all of ten seconds to reply back with an emphatic "heck, yes!"

So here's the scoop. Kathy Casey and Michael Staton have created a new drink and food menu for the Heathman Restaurant and Bar. We were invited for a meet and great and to taste the new menu. It was all delish, but my favorite was The Providence (below, left). Those little fire sticks are actually an edible plant that tastes vaguely like asparagus.

Here's a little taste of the drink menu:

Luxury Spiced Vermouth Manhattan - rye, house-spice infused red vermouth, Liquid Kitchen Golden Era Bitters; stirred and served up with a spirited cherry & 23K gold flakes

Signature Tea Court Lounge Punch - rum, Cognac, pomegranate, guava, orange & lemon juices, Fonte Earl Grey Tea Spiced Syrup, Angostura Foam (with an individual tea pot service)
Vineyard Margarita - Reposado Tequila, Combier d’Orange, fresh lime, organic agave nectar, fresh rosemary, topped with a float of Willamette Valley pinot noir 
Northwest Grapefruit Negroni - house-bottled local gin, Carpano Antica, Campari, Combier Pomplemousse 
Oregon Berries & Bubbles - local vodka, Oregon raspberry puree lemon elixir, Argyle sparkling 

All the invitees even got a cute little gift basket with some stir sticks and a DIY spiced, red vermouth ball. How fun is that?! Martinis at the Zerizefs' anyone?

Thanks again for the invite and for showing us a good time Portland Heathman Hotel. We had a great time.

Until next time...

10 on 10 - August 2013

Seriously, it's been a month already?! Another 10 on 10 is officially starting. At the end of this post, there are a list to 6 other photogs from around the country. Make sure to check out their 10 on 10 posts, because they are all fantastic!

Onto my 10 on 10 post... July was the busiest month I've had all year, but it was jam packed full of fun. Mini vacation, birthday, weddings to photograph every weekend, house projects... the list could go on. To top this past month off, Nabil and I celebrated our five year anniversary! Boo-YA!

You know when you are young and it feels like a month creeps along at a snail's pace and each week takes forever? Well, apparently when you're a grownup, life stops standing still. I'm not sure where these last five years have gone. We have done so much and come so far, new jobs, new house, new pets, vacations traveled..., and yet it seems like I was waking up waiting to walk down the aisle yesterday. I suppose that's what happens when you've gone and got hitched to your bff.

To celebrate the occasion, Nabil and I took a jaunt around Portland to some of our favorite places in the city. To start, we had drinks at Portland City Grill. It's really impossible to beat the view of the place. Cocktails in a room with floor to ceiling windows on the 30th floor, yes please!

I've have actually never been to this next place before last night, but Portland is known for it's amazing food, and Mother's did not disappoint.

And, last but not least, we ended up in the Pearl at Cool Moon (as usually). The ice cream is hard to beat, and the neighborhood is the best to wander around and admire the city vibe.

We left, with two very large food babies in the tum-tums, but it was great night. I loved being able to spend it with my numero uno hubby. I look forward to many more posts like this and many more happy years to come. Thanks to Nabil for being so patient and sweet to me and for being my constant rock over the last 10+ years (yes, it really has been that long). I couldn't have ever asked for anything more. I love you more than I have the words to write.

Now, for all you sorry saps that are still reading, dry those tears and go check out the links below. Find a new favorite photog of the month and then come back check us out again next month!

Anya Elise Photography

Grace Photography

CLB Creative

Twinty Photography
Jennifer Whalen Photography
Jamilah Photography

Until next time...