I.C.E. Pop Up Shop Setup

Our friends, Shannon and Christy, needed help setting up the I.C.E. Pop Up shop at Criminal Records. Luckily we weren't too busy and were able to lend a hand. It was fun to design the layout of some of the shop and create product displays before the Scoutmob party the next night.



We were back the next day to put the finishing touches on the shop, and we took a break at the Porter. We had their insanely potent vinegar popcorn.



The Scoutmob party was a success, and tons of people came out to do their holiday shopping.



We even got to sell our letterpress stationery, Camp Paper & Goods.

Senbei Cracker Disaster

I've been doing my best to go gluten-free with an occasional slip. One of my favorite gluten-free snacks are senbei crackers, but they can get expensive. So I decided to make my own. It's not so easy. The rice flour comes apart really easily, and it was really difficult to get the flavor right.



Not looking or tasting so hot, I decided to keep buying them.

Indie Craft Experience Holiday Spectacular

Every year, Andy and I help out with I.C.E., put on by our friends Shannon and Christy. Andy loves running the bar with David, Shannon's boyfriend.



We always have such a blast because the whole craft community comes out including a lot of our friends, so it's great to catch up with people over the two days during the event.

No Mule Riding for Me

My girlfriends and I get together once a year (we're scattered across the country) for a little R&R. This year we planned to ride mules into the Grand Canyon. Everything was planned and paid for. I was even arriving a few days early with my family to do a quick tour of Las Vegas, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, etc. Alas, I came down with a serious case of bronchitis, and for the first time in my life had to cancel all my plans. The girls went ahead with the trip, there is no stopping them! I sent Joanna with some supplies I had put together for the ride.



Here are the ladies visiting Hoover Dam. So glamourous!

Culture Shock Halloween Party at the High Museum

Back to Portland/Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

We were nearing the end of our trip and really sad to leave the Coast behind, but we were looking forward to driving through Portland to see the Columbia River Gorge.

We stopped at Bunk Sandwiches in Portland for a quick lunch, and I may have overdone it with the grilled tillamook cheese, but dang, it was delicious! And I am salivating for some as I write this...





We took the Historic Columbia River Highway which wound its way through the Gorge.



Stopping at the Crown Point Vista House. The octagonal structure reminded me of the entrance to the Georgia Tech Library, which is done in a somewhat similar Art Nouveau style.





We drove by and stopped at too many waterfalls to count, but the most majestic (and popular) of them all was Multnomah Falls.



Once we got our fill on waterfalls and beautiful scenery, we made our way back to Portland and stopped at Fred Meyer as I hunted for an Oregon magnet to add to my collection. We marvelled at the enormous beer selection. Might this be enough to entice Andy to move to Portland?



We met up with Travis and Lizy one final time at Sweet Hereafter, a vegan bar in SE Portland. Ok, this place was yum-tastic, and I wish we had gone sooner so I could try their entire menu.





It was a great way to end our two and a half week trip in the Pacific NW!

Oregon Coast - Part II

Breakfast was included in our stay, so we ate at the Inn and then drove to the gorgeous Ecola State Park just north of Cannon Beach.







For lunch, we drove back to Cannon Beach and ate at Seasons Cafe. I had a really great veggie wrap.





We continued our drive down the Oregon Coast toward Manzanita and stopped at Smugglers Cove, which came highly recommended from Travis. We spent a good amount of time in this magical place.







It was quite cold and windy, but surfers were coming in droves to surf in Smugglers Cove. When we got cold enough, we returned to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock.



We ate supper at Morris' Fireside Restaurant. Then we settled into our room to watch Whip It.