upside down

Do you ever just stop and say..

"Wait, I don't know the first fucking thing about being a functional human"

I hate those days. Where you think you have it all figured out and then all of a sudden you feel as though you wandered off the path a few weeks ago but only realizing today. Now you're frantically trying to figure out how to get back on the right path. All the trees and plants you thought you knew turn out to all sorts of wrong. Then you realize your guide book is for a different country and your shoes are on the opposite feet. How are you just noticing this now?

Now everything is so upside you question everything. Is this really the color red? Do I really even like hiking in the first place?

Oregon

I know all of you have read over and over on how obsessed I am with the place I call home: Oregon. But why the hell not be in love with where you live. I hope everyone else is just as fortunate as myself. The clouds and rain that come with the winter are too much for most people keeping Oregon's population down (thankfully). The newbies that manage to make it through the winter by complaining via Facebook and threatening their new coffee shop friends they're going to move back to LA, Phoenix or New York (or some other not as cool city). Those who make it get rewarded with-- the beautiful Oregon Indian summer. A preview of that perfection made an appearance this past weekend with 85 degree weather, which lined up perfectly with Shwood's new project that was released today, even more perfectly named..

This is Oregon

Shwood teamed up with Julian Bialowas, a Canadian photographer who happens to be one of my favorites. His photos not only scream with talent, but finish with inspiring travel, self and adventure quotes. So naturally, I was obsessed. Then when I was told that not only were they going to do a photo adventure with Julian, but focused around inspiring people to go outside? I was swooning. If the video wasn't enough for you, check out more..

Julian's stuff here

 or 

more of Shwood's rad projects here.

This weekend Taylor and I took advantage of the weather and headed for the coast. He even took me to a few spots where they filmed their project. 

I seriously love this place, I love this world and I love people who share the same love for being in it with me. Simple things, like lady bugs, sun tan lines or hiking an hour just for a view.  

new

Know what's awesome?
The fact that we wake up every day and go to sleep every night.
Waking up everyday with the sense of "new". A new day, a new start.
I love that.
Everyday we can choose to start over, or do something a little differently.

modes of transportation

I have a thing for modes of transportation. Car, plane, boat, train, anything really. Just being in a state of movement, physical and mental. A chaotic, stressful time for most but for me..

 it's my happy place.

It's truly when I feels the most peaceful. I love these photos because each of them have a thought, dilemma, idea, revelation and emotion tied to them in some way because it's when I feel the safest to really feel and think.

Train: Canada > Home

Car: Idaho > Montana

Kayak: Jackson Lake [Wyoming]

Plane: Home > San Francisco, CA

Car: Colorado > Utah

Boat: Granada > Isla De Ometepe [Nicaragua]

Plane: Home > Sydney, Australia

Bus: Honduras > Guatemala

I have a thing for modes of transportation.

best friends and breakfast make the world go round

The planets have a way of aligning when it comes to Rena and I.
This really resonated with me when we started reminiscing about our never boring adventures throughout our friendship. It's not just luck when the Florida trip came through, that we found the perfect sublet in Orange County or how I had the exact amount of air miles to keep her with me in Portland last summer. 

It's more than luck, it's fate.

This weekend was yet another occasion of fate. We both have been trying to make a visit happen since I got back from traveling in December, but failed attempt, after failed attempt left us to skype. After a catch up phone call with Darcy I was informed that he was headed up to Whistler for photog stuff! Next thing I know my favorite red head and I are northbound. After some mandatory hassle from the border we finally made it. 
PS Mr. Bacha is killing it (as usual) with photo, including photo of the year with Powder Magazine! Check out his site and prepare to be mind blown-- clickin skills

Vancouver.
Sun? Lots and lots of it which was a pleasant suprise since Portland somehow missed the memo that it is in fact Spring. So, we drank, we ate $3 breakfast, we bonfired, we laid in the sun, we played games and we went on a sunset run. I haven't laughed/ danced/ laughed that hard in a long time. Much needed best friend soulmate time.

I feel so lucky to have what I do with Rena. To have someone that by just being around them you feel a sense of purpose, belonging, a feeling where you just make sense. During the usual catch up time upon arrival, she always has a way of asking my the right questions about where I am in life, real heart things. In turn allowing me to answer in a way that I'm solving my own dilemmas. This was especially needed this weekend. Maybe someday we'll live in the same place for more than a few months at a time, but maybe the world isn't ready for that yet.

an easy kind of love

The easy kind of love. Something that flows.
Obsessed for all the right reasons.
All the cliches, but adding a twist.

I take no shame in admitting for everyone that they want that. 

The only problem is, I don't think I'll settle for anything but.

Which makes things not so easy.

However, very real.