spring fever

I think it is officially safe to declare that spring has arrived in Portland. Today will hit the high 60s and most of the weekend will hit the low 70s. It will still continue to rain throughout the next few months but the birds are chirping so I am happy.



Shoes: Hinge // Dress: xxi // New Hair: Lauren Archer @ Entrust Hair

Last year at my mum's wedding us daughters were to wear floral prints.  I went shopping with my mum, sister and grandmother when we found this dress.  I tried it on and surprisingly enough, my mum LOVED it.  She essentially forced me into buying it as I watched my sister side-eye me. We both felt it was a little much for a church wedding but our mum wouldn't have any of it.  A few days before the wedding I couldn't bring myself to wear it.  Instead I opted for this dress which was more conservative and worked better with my sister's dresses.  Momma, I hope you're happy that I'm finally wearing it!

Happy spring, everyone!

Vegan Peanut Butter Carrot Puppy Biscuits

My friend Courtney and I made a very large batch of vegan peanut butter carrot puppy biscuits (as seen here) tonight.  I don't own food processor or even a box grater so we just kept the carrots chopped up.  I think the carrots finely shredded would have helped out when we mixed all the ingredients together but it still worked out in the end.  Also, I don't own a rolling pin either so we improvised with a bottle of my very classy balsamic vinaigrette.



The ingredients call for:

• 5 cups flour
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2-1/4 cups water
• 5 large carrots, finely shredded
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• Cute cookie cutters
• A dog

Most of you may already have these ingredients in your pantry. Bake them for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. They're super quick, easy and pretty fun to make.

Ava loved the treats.  Peanut loved the treats.  Courtney and I loved the treats.  We spent most of the time eating the batter after dipping it in peanut butter.  We're probably gross.

Puppy, cats and human approved.

dresses!

I know that "April showers bring May Flowers" but come on. It's March and the torrential downpours and bipolar weather is getting a bit tiresome. Spring, sweet spring, I know you're out there!

A dress a day to keep the rainy blues away!

one month

Today is my one month anniversary of adopting Ava!  Happy one month, my little California bear. I love you.



I also just got back from Vancouver, BC today which was a lovely extended weekend filled with bubble baths, hikes, suspension bridges and Ava. She's not even three months old yet and she's already been to two countries and has visited three states. What a spoiled brat.

xo

Ava Bear

I've been conflicted for the past seven years and I think it's time that I come clean.  From elementary school till junior high I never had a cat.  We had rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, a turtle and dogs but we never any cats.   I avoided cats like I avoid spandex as pants.  My first experience with the feline species left an awful lasting impression.  My neighbor adopted a she-devil kitten that she named "Spaz."

Spaz was the worst.  She would wait in the darkest parts of their house and attack me the second I walked past her.  Claws and little fangs out, she would literally ATTACH herself to my legs.  I'd walk back to my house crying and bleeding once the ferocious beast was pried off of me.   So, with my earliest memories of feline demonic children, it's no surprise that I developed a strong dislike and a fear of them.  In fact, she made me hate cats so much that I told all everyone that I was allergic to them so they had to stay far away from me.  It was miserable.

Then my parents divorced and we moved.  A few years later I went back to my old neighborhood and went for a walk with a friend.  There I met her.  The cat that changed everything.  She was a sweet black abandoned kitten that wouldn't stop following us.  I changed my story so much that night to gain acceptance from my mum to keep her so I don't exactly recall the full details.  I just know that my friend and I swept her up, took her home and I drove her to my house the next day.  I named her Tofu.  Several cats followed her.  Then I moved in with Aumie, Morpheus and Romeo.  This is where I think people have become confused.  Everyone seems to think that I am JUST a crazy cat lady.  No, friends.  That's Aumie.  I love both cats AND dogs.  The truth is, I just wasn't allowed to have a dog until now...

MAY I PRESENT TO YOU, AVA MARIE.  The little bear cub that I adopted on Friday, January 18th 2013.



She is Cattle Dog and Golden Retriever. She was born November 21st, 2012 and she's my favorite.  We went and hiked Mount Hamilton in Washington.  She successfully walked .5 miles of it and was carried the rest of the 7 miles.  Naturally I am a bit horrified that she'll get picked on by the other kids or that she'll be a terrible teenager.  Only time will tell but so far she's great.  I'm going to start obedience training with her soo and socializing her with other pups.