Tuesday, August 30, 2011

pdx is love.

A little late, but here none the less.
Photos from a quick trip to Portland.
Unfortunately I took not nearly enough pictures and now I'm pissed.
Whatever, there's always next time.
 lunch in the Pearl.

 envious of anyone that can knit...mother, i'm talking to you.

 architecture, rawr.

 can I live here please?


Oh, Portland, I love you so.
I'll be back to visit in October + I'll shoot the hell out of you with my camera.
Promise.
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Portland, Oregon is by far my favorite U.S. city.
Curious to see what your favorites are...do come tell me.

Friday, August 26, 2011

sup.

Oh hey guys, I'm still here no worries.
Today I'm over at Megan's blog,
you should go check it out and cyber stalk Meg if you haven't already.
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I've got some things to share with you.
Like photos of downtown Portland.
And how I spent last Saturday.
But that will have to wait.
Seeing as today is the last day I will ever be 21.
Aka tomorrow I'll be 22.
Meaning I'm already into my twenty second year on earth in Germany...where I wish I was right now celebrating. But it's cool, maybe next time.
So anyway, I'll be feasting on cupcakes and booze this weekend.
I was little once. 
Tomorrow I'm like a real adult.
p.s. totes cried when I lost that shirt.
CRIED.

Who else has a birthday this weekend?
Anyone?
According to Facebook it's 5 people's birthdays' today, including my cousin Gwen, the big 1-8. Holla.
Happy Weekending :)
xo, Hay

Friday, August 19, 2011

oregon in july

I love, love, love, love, the beautiful state of Oregon.
It's no secret, and I'll be headed there for school next year.
[maybe sooner] 
But for now, the two youngest grand kids, my brother Tucker, and cousin Gwen are headed to UO next month.
We drove up for their IntroDUCKtion and to visit Portland + Eugene.

The drive up was beautiful, as per usual, with Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake as viewing points.


We arrived on campus where the 'kids' went off with their orientation group, while I walked the streets of Eugene with my mom and aunt. I also had the pleasure of sitting through the parent classes and meetings as well.
[insert sarcasm here, please]
Not going to lie though, I was totes jeal. 
Totally should have gone away to college after high school.

[name the movie this building was in]
You're right, it was Animal House!

I obsessed over the architecture and bikes.
Obviously.
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I'm so excited for Tuck and G...
GO DUCKS!

Where did you go to school?
Who is your favorite team?

Saturday, August 6, 2011

my most memorable vacation

For the first time ever, I'm linking up with FTLOB on a writing prompt.

One of my goals on my new year's resolution list was to write more, and I think this is the perfect way to get going. So, without further ado, my most memorable vacation...

It's no secret that I love to travel, and travel I do. Even as a small child I have endless amounts of memories from family trips, girl scout camps, schools trips, new trips, trips by road, and trips by air. But the one that stands out in my mind as most memorable, or significant rather, is my first solo trip. To Scotland.


My Dad had planted the idea in my head, and with careful planning, consideration, and financial assistance from said father, the trip was in motion. I had time off during my stint as an Au Pair to travel and I chose to fly into Edinburgh, spend two days there before grabbing a train north to St. Andrews.
Leading up to the trip I was excited. I had my flights, trains, and hotels in order, but the rest was up in the air. I researched the cities and had a tentative idea of what I wanted to do and see. But it wasn't until 6:00am the day I was travelling until I freaked out a bit. 


I was sitting on the bus on my way to the train station, the first leg of my journey. I made there on time, grabbed an English magazine or two, coffee, and went to wait for the train to take me to Amsterdam Schipol. The airport that I had become very familiar with during my time in Germany. I sat with two Americans who had just finished studying in Osnabrueck [my German home] and on their way to Italy. Talking with them helped cure my nerves, and by the time I made it to Amsterdam I was set. I found my way to my gate, got on the plane, and made it safely to Edinburgh an hour later.


Right from the get-go I realized that one, Scotland is beautiful. Two, the Scots are so friendly. Everyone from the taxi driver to the waiter at the pub were eager to hear my about my life, my story, and help me out in any way they could. I spent the rest of my first day there walking around old town and fell asleep that night feeling mature, brave, and incredibly blessed to have such an experience. I spent my next day trying whiskey, shopping, photographing the hell out of the Royal Mile, museum hoping, and eating the best baked potatoes ever. When I traveled up to St. Andrews I had a similar experience, but felt humbled as I sat next the Road Hill Bunker at The Old Course talking to my dad on the phone. Talking internationally, of course, but it was worth it to share in his experiences, as St. Andrews is one of his favorite places. Ever.

Walking the cobblestone streets of St. Andrews, the same street that Wills and Kate walked (this was two weeks before their wedding so the town was decorated appropriately) , I had a lot of time to really be alone for the first time in years. I realized that I am at a place in my life where I can do whatever I want. Study whatever and wherever I so desire, and if I want to travel all over the world, I can. I felt like I had really made it to adulthood when an American family staying in the same hotel asked me what I was doing in St. Andrews. 'Just a vacation', I replied. They asked if I were alone, to which I said, 'Yep. Just felt like going to Scotland.' Do it now they told me, as they smiled lovingly at their two children, or you'll have quite the bill to foot with these guys tagging along. 


We talked about where I was from, where they were from, my experience in Germany, their families' jaunt around Europe for six months. All of it making me aware of how small this big world is (they were from California too-of course), and how easy it is to see it, granted the right resources. This trip is easily my most memorable, and I long over travelling to Scotland again. I also know what I am capable of and can't wait to travel solo again. It is something every person, or traveler at least, should experience.

 To see, and read more, about my tips to Scotland you can do so here.
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Happy Weekending,
xo...Hay

Thursday, August 4, 2011

fill in the blank friday.

click on the photo to link up!

1. My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is :
a cute sundress. something I can get groovy on the dance floor with, while keeping it classy. I love dressing up for any occasion. 

2. This week has been:
a lazy week for me. I feel like I haven't gotten anything done, but I'm getting sick and just got back from 2 whirlwind vacations, so I guess it's okay.

3. When it's dinnertime and I'm feeling lazy I'll usually eat:
a grilled cheese, or a super plain salad. like lettuce, dressing, croutons. nothing special.

4. My favorite pair of shoes is:
any of my colorful sandals. But in the winter I love boots. Not a heels girl though.

5. A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with is:
I think just any little trinkets from my mom. We buy each other little things, usually people/figurines, that remind us of each other. So they do serve a purpose, but I wouldn't normally buy them on my own. 
I also seem to save things like museum brochures, coasters, postcards, anything really whenever I go somewhere cool and new.

6. My favorite person is:
Well I could never choose from my "real life" peeps [friends, family] but I will say Jason Segel. He is the funniest man alive and I have a major crush on him.
adorbs.

6. If I were going to write my own blank it would say:
If you could escape to anywhere in the world for a last minute summer vacation, where would you go?
So leave a comment with your answer!
I can't wait to see what you choose :)
[mine would be Croatia, Seychelles, or Bali...see a trend?]



Hipsta-Oregon

Last week my mom, one brother [Tucker], and I traveled up to Oregon to visit family in Portland and to take Tucker and our cousin [Gwen] to IntroDUCKtion at the University of Oregon.
 [left to right. row by row]
watch out for rattle snakes in the rest stop. my new nixon watch. highway five in northern california.
more scenery. paper star lanterns in eugene. sculpture at UO.
my lovely aunt twirling. aunt courtney + me. yellow roses.

a quaint house in eugene. us, again. hoffman[n] sign for my german fam.
my laptop got some new stickers. hotel hallway is a wee bit trashed. go ducks.
more paper lanterns. mama y yo. dr. pepper + pills.
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I adore Oregon and hope to move up to Portland next year for school.
Our trip to Eugene was fun too, so proud of Tucker and Gwen.
I'll post more this week.
xo, hay

praha >> 2007

Praha, or, Prague, Czech Republic, is one of my favorite cities.
I was excited to see Prague because of my ancestry and because it's Eastern Europe [my favorite region].
 museums, architecture, swoon.

 keeping it classy in the cathedral.
[alliteration win]

 take my breath away, 

 beautiful stonework + culture.

 color everywhere.

 check out the flying buttresses and baroque symmetry! 
[art history...still got it]

 prague has the most gorgeous stained glass windows out of any european city i have seen.
swear it.


I also scored big time at the open market.
This was back in my, "I'm not interested in photography but I'll take some pictures for the memories" stage.
Hence, not a ton of pics.
Prague, I'm coming back for you.

budapest by night: 2007

Budapest, Hungary is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.
I long to go back to explore more of Hungary, and Eastern Europe, because of my visit here.
My camera died the morning after we took this boat tour of the city, hence the only photos of I have of Budapest are taken on this night tour....le sigh.

home to the most beautiful sunset I have ever laid eyes on.

 architecture envy.

 blurry, but pretty cityscape at night.

 night+lights+water=loverly.

my wanderlusting heart is missing Europe.