meet dexter.

dexter is a very cute bunny. he is also a very lucky bunny. if nobody adopted this little guy today, he was going to be fed to a snake.

so mike and i decided to rescue him.

i already love him.

happy easter :)

just a monday adventure.

it was just an average day in downtown portland... 

where people smoke pot on the street corner.

the best restaurant resides, hillbilly bento [this place has inspired me to start a new blog, the picky eater's guide to awesome food, coming soon to a website near you.]

dogs of all shapes and sizes trot.

and a women will kindly place the sorting hat upon your head and tell you what house you belong to [we are true Gryffindors, don't you dare forget.]

where mike i become gangsters [the pretend gangsters, of course].

and all the buildings look the same.

an umbrella and hoodie is mandatory.

a creative gift-giver's paradise awaits in paper source.

where you can get lost in the blink of an eye,

then find yourself just as quick.

let's keep portland weird. 

a very special kind of date.

this morning mike and i woke up at 5:45 am to make it to cannon beach in time for low tide. we got there just in time to get right up to haystack rock and witness pippin and winstons first encounter with a starfish.

we decided to drive up to fort stevens so mike could  see the shipwreck of the peter iredale. on the way we saw these cute little stands selling daffodils. they were EVERYWHERE! 

mike and the boys enjoying their shipwreck. 

we were so super happy to FINALLY have a day off together where the weather was decent enough for us to pack up and go to the coast for the day. our favorite date :]

Gap Give & Get Coupon!

one of the many perks of working for gap inc :]
to my family and friends, ENJOY! just click the link.
our non-profit is the world wildlife fund.

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from March 17-20 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

the city of trees.

just a few things i loved about our latest trip to good old boise, idaho...

i finally have proof that my dad is, in fact, a dog person. not just a dog person, but a dog lover. who loves to dance with pippin. 
visiting with grandma and grandpa jenkins. i love to hear all the amazing stories they have to share. they have both lived such amazing lives and have great wisdom to share!
iceberg milkshakes. these things are massive! and so yummy. thank you to my sister kirsten for introducing us!
boise towne square mall. its really nothing special...but there are so many old memories there. but i was SUPER bummed to find out there is no pronto pups there anymore. we really wanted our prickly pear lemonade!
farm country. the outskirts of boise are so bare. a lot of people may find it ugly, but in a weird way its so comforting to me. 
watching the dogs fight over who got to sit on mom's lap. i didn't think winston would even come home with us by the end of the weekend...he really loved that lap! 
buffalo wild wings. we have them up here...i work about one hundred feet from one...but there is something about relaxing and talking with one of your best friends over chicken wings. 
making memories around the kitchen table. its where all the best ones start in my family. good food and games are what get-togethers are made of! and laughing until you cry (if you are ever in need of a chuckle, play apples to apples with my sister-in-law, nichelle. endless laughter).

needless to say, we had a fantastic time. we always do :]

[this picture of the wind turbines is from our trip home. there are hundreds out by arlington. they are an eye sore to most, but we found them quite majestic. had to snap a quick picture!]

glass half full.

 "there are always flowers for those who want to see them."

it's hard to be positive. it takes so much extra effort! the last 5 days have been jam-packed with things that have not made me a very positive person (uhmm...snow?!) luckily the big things all got turned around into happy endings. and the snow melted. 

people are just mean sometimes: have you ever wanted to punch someone in the face? i mean right there in the nose. or maybe pull them aside and really tell 'em off?  it is not a pleasant feeling! and deep breaths, going for a walk and time just don't do the trick. but then, you realize that you are a classy girl that keeps her emotions in check. plus date nights at peachwave make those feelings go bye-bye real fast!

the husband who hates valentines day: i love mike, obviously. he stands up for what he believes in and won't let anyone sway him. unfortunately for me one thing he does not believe in is valentines day. for the last 4 and a half years i have BEGGED him to put his anti-v day feelings aside and just acknowledge the day of love. after a supremely horrible morning on monday, mike shows up to my work with a vase full of my favorite flower...daffodils. way to go, hubby :]

creative writers block: well, it's not exactly creative and i could have at least painted the dang things...but look how fun! of course i am talking about the WALK hooks i bought at michaels for a buck a piece. attach pictures of the men of the house, add leashes and a treat bag and BOOM! a semi-crafty and functional wall display! 

my poor winston: our jack russel-chihuahua spent the first year of his life in a puppy mill with 500 other dogs. enter health problems. this time he has a yeast infection in his ear. ugh. we are very lucky though...winston is AMAZING at the vet and he is going to be just fine. totally treatable. a bit of medicine and he'll be good to go. he's already able to perk up both ears!

crappy days are better with surprises: good surprises. like a box of chocolates and a card that says "i love you and wanted to show it. that's why." have i mentioned how awesome my husband is? :]

we're really looking forward to our boise trip this weekend. its been almost 8 months! can't wait to spend time with family, play games and just hang out. <3

hello, two-thousand-eleven!

may the new year bring you happiness, good fortune and sanity. 

love,

mike + ellen