Halloween at W+K!

So every year at my company, Wieden + Kennedy, a Halloween Party is hosted.  Every department in the building is given a small budget and asked to decorate.  Then in the afternoon of that day, parents and families bring their children in to enjoy in the fun.  Here are just a few shots from this year...

Our theme was space related, so for our "costumes" we wore little alien head bands.  Here are two of my peeps, Nataliya and Peter:

Peter and Tara decorating our "Space Hall":

Finished product....

My department...

Kayla : )

Another Fall Day....

So Rafa and I embraced the extra hour from fall back to get a nice day together in.  We started with some with some fresh brewed coffee for me and hot tea for Rafa.  We fed our bellies with some pancackes and then headed on down the road with Bella.

Since Rafa and I have been in Portland, we had yet to visit Sauvie Island, which is known for farms that sell produce and are especially popular during fall for pumpkins, corn maizes, and tractor rides.  We skipped out on the pre-Halloween events and went the day after Halloween, today.  It was very quiet and there was certainly a nip in the air that Rafa and I weren't quite prepared for. Most farm were closed, except for Kruger...

From there, we headed out to a Marine Store so Rafa could buy some parts for the boat.  Then we hit up the Lowe's out that way to get a new stain for the side tables that Rafa is making for the formal living room.  And poor Bella was so tired of driving around, that we indulged her in a little dog park action....

After letting Bella stretch her legs we headed home but not before we drove through our neighborhood to take photos.  Rafa is building a website for our neighborhood and so I took some photos to add to the site.  Having an assignment for taking pictures proved more difficult for me then just shooting away at various events.  Here are just a couple shots...

Handy Man Rafa

It is great to have Rafa as a handy man, even though I miss him when he spends hours in the garage working on "secret projects".  But when something like the this emerges, it is amazing.  Good work Rafa, you get better each and every day!

Fall is in the Air

I guess this is what it is like to be a parent to a child in the fall, Soccer and Pumpkin carving.  While I was feeling under the weather, it was certainly nice to enjoy these small pleasures with good friends, Olimpia and Little Daniel.  Rafa was working in his workshop and went fishing with the boys, neither of which I have pictures for : (

Daniel playing soccer on a beautiful fall day...

The pumpkin carving was a bit of mess, between a ridiculous heart pumpkin, and Bella eating the eyelashes of Daniel and Olimpia's pumpkin, things were totally out of sorts. But love was in the air  and we had spiced wine to accompany the chaos, courtesy of Olimpia : )

Bella trying to make nice with Daniel so he feeds her seeds, or pumpkin, or both !

Olimpia carving....

Heart pumpkin?  Who does that!!?!

Pumpkin Kiss!

Aunt Desi Visits Portland!

So what a great week it was having Aunt Desi in town. Despite a rough start to the trip because of long flight delays, Aunt Desi made it to Portland with an energy and zest to get her vacation started!  The week was filled with sight seeing, many dining experiences, and Bella being spoiled to death.  Is anyone surprised???  It is always a great joy for Rafa and I when family and friends visit : ) 

Started right off with the Greek Festival, a cool and raining evening that was jam packed with people, but that didn't prevent us from eating : )

Here are little honey balls with cinnamon:

Trying out the Baklava (sp?)

But we didn't JUST eat, we watched the dancers too!

The next morning we went to Arleta Bakery and Cafe, where we waited almost an hour to be seated, it was well worth the wait!

Aunt Des had Biscuits and Gravy and I had some egg and potato yumminess.  Is that a mimosa I see by Aunt Desi's plate??

Next we went to the Oregon gardens where the air was very cold!  We walked around for awhile and then ended with a cup of hot tea!

Portland City Grill was next on the agenda.  Had to wait in line for 30 minutes and knock down a few handicap folks just to get a table my the window, but oh was it worth it...look at the view!

Aunt Des drinking her $10 martini, yikes!  We spent a doozy on drinks,  more than the food!

And some of the best food in Portland!

And the best dessert of my life, fresh baked cookies with ice cream!

After recovering from Portland City Grill a few nights later, we went where all Portland visitors should go, beautiful Multnomah Falls! The colors, air, scents, and environment was just wonderful!

And after we enjoy the lovely sights of the Falls, we headed to McMenamin's Edgefield for some gluttonous  wine tasting Edgefield continues to amaze me with their wine, and only $3 for a 6 wine tasting!

An afternoon later, Aunt Des and I visisted the Chinese Gardens, and lucky for us, it was free day!  The air was warm and as the sun was setting we enjoyed tea outside along the water...so peaceful.

We completed our last evening together with Old Town Pizza and a Tour, nothing like the quirkiness of Portland!

And of course a visit to VooDoo donuts, and yes that is a voodoo donut, equipped with a pretzel knife and strawberry jam inside for blood.  Gross!

And one of the most common phrases you will see on bumper stickers in Portland, Oregon (just had to get this shot!)...

What a great week it was, thanks to Aunt Desi, Rafa, Bella, and the wonderful city of Portland!

Polish Festival

Rafa and I had the joy of going to the Polish Festival last night.  Our friend Olimpia plays in the band Chervona.  It was a ton of fun served up with great Polish Beer, Food, and Dancing! 

Olimpia playing the violin...

Girls and Gardens

It was a simple event this year, just a quiet evening at the Oregon Garden Hotel, south of Portland about an hour.  The weather was lovely, the company sweet.  We had dinner outside at sunset, enjoyed a relaxing hour in the jacuzzi and then retired the evening with some beauty treatments.  The following morning we had breakfast and enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the gardens.  My only wish is that all of my best friends could have joined us.  Maybe next time!

Here is a few from the hotel...

Us outside at dinner...

View from the deck of the hotel room...

Beauty treatments!

Flowers during our walk through the gardens...

Olimpia....

Marisa and baby girl...

Just Us!