June Gloom

I've been saving these for a rainy day, and this is it. The June gloom. I took these on another rainy day a month or two ago. They were right next to my old apartment complex and I couldn't get enough. Don't mind that half are pink and half are purple, they all turned out so different and I didn't want to go through and get the temperature just right. I kind of like it anyway.

Also, the 25th was my birthday! The big two-one for me. I had a loaf of bread and a lemonade from Macaroni Grill. Go big or go home, right? Now my parents are here and I'm headed to Park City for the weekend. Hallelujah, I miss those trails of mine.

Need a good rainy day song?

Here's one for you.

Coastin'

i love cobs sun-imposed-monocle, and my hair you GUYS. but isn't little gracie the CUTEST?

I know I know, I'm double posting today. I just couldn't wait! So here we go. Let me start by saying, this was my most favorite day of the trip and I'm sticking to it. The second we got to Richard and Stacys' home Coby was SO happy. And when I say happy, I really mean weird. He and Richard were hilarious to watch -- talking crazily, lots of bro punches, making fun of each other, just little cousins reunited at last. Like so weird. After Coby read some books to Gracie (melt my heart wontcha') we were off to the Tillamook factory!  First of all, Oregon is BEAUTIFUL. The trees, and the open fields, and the greens and the yellows and the farms and ohmygoodness sensory overload. Couple that with the best strawberry ice cream from Tillamook and there ya go. I can feel my dad's jealousy about that last little bit as my mom reads that last line to him (hint hint, right mom?). Then we hit the coast! Goonies, good vibes, and a tender walk on the beach. It was such a nice day out there. I loved it I loved it I loved it. We returned to chips and salsa and dinner with strawberry shortcake included. We all watched the movie Spirit and tried to get Tooley the cat to snuggle with us.

May I just stop here to talk about Stacy for a bit? Hi Stacy, how are there not any pictures of you? And I stalked your blog and you are the best crafter. And it was her birthday that week! And I usually feel weird posting pictures of other peoples children but oh my goodness Grace is just too cute. Stacy, thank you for such a fun day.

The next morning the boys played frisbee in the park while us girls sat in the shade. Richard and Stacy sent us off with sack lunches (so nice) and played a little "guess what's on this cracker whilst blindfolded" before we headed back downtown. After people watching at the farmers market we said goodbye to some of Coby's family at Niketown and homeward bound we went.

Now to close with a somewhat mushy summary. This trip was amazing, I loved each and every day. It was so nice to get out of Provo and the routine of things. I am now a believer of staying with family, everyone was so kind and generous to open up their homes. And because I'm all about keeping things real, Coby and I learned so much more about each other and grew heaps on this trip. We hit some lows but they were so necessary. I may or may not have had the hardest couple days of my life post-trip that included a lack of appetite for two days and then diving right into the nutella the next. I know Coby and I are only dating, but regardless of what our future holds, I am so happy to have spent my birthday week with him in my new favorite city. That's all she wrote.

And scene.

Oh, and did you know that the fourth of July is my favorite holiday?! Cause it is! Have a happy fourth!

Seattle Son

Seattle! Oh Seattle you were a dream. Pikes Place was just as I expected it would be. Only add in all of the cherries eaten, some not so great chinese, and a chocolate croissant. The street performers and mini run in with the missionaries were highlights. As was looking out over the water at the ships and such (awww). Fun fact: Coby loves boats, who knew? Next up was the EMP museum, which was actually one of my favorite things this trip. Learned a lot about Nirvana, soaked up my girl Gwen Stefani performing on the big screen (I love her I love her), and danced around outside post closing time. We made our way to Kirkland to stay with more of Cobys' family. Played on the tramp with mini Coby (his cousins' son is named Coby too!), cuddled with the kitty, and walked down to the docks with the BEST gelato from La Sirena with Reagan. Finally finished out the day with some criminal minds, chicken and berries from Trader Joes, then it was off to bed. I don't ever want to forget these details. New places and new people and new memories are so precious, don't you think?

also, don't mind my lack of makeup in all of these close ups, yikes.

Next up, the Coast!

Nature is my Favorite

Voo Doo Doughnuts and Multnomah falls. So many different shades of green. Hike to the top. A fight (eek). Lake Oswego. Ribs on the back porch of his aunt's amazing home (a Rothko, she has a Rothko!). More hydrangeas and looking over Portland. Dishes with his uncle. Soccer with little Anders. Salt & Straw ice cream. Reading about Maria Kalman before bed. Aspiring to be Coby's aunt one day. I LOVE PORTLAND. And scene.

Birthday Day

Day one in Portland was my birthday! Hip hip hooray! I'm twenty now, can you believe it? I've always felt a mix of insecurity and a baby bit of pride about my "relatively young" age for my place in life (whatever that means)... That said, I'd been eagerly awaiting the departure from my teens until about a week or so ago when I wondered what in the heck I was thinking! Come on Natalie, leaving the teenage years? Those are like supposed to be fun and stuff, right? Reckless abandon! No responsibilities! Riots!

Alas, bye bye teenage Natalie. I welcome you, twenty, with open arms.

But only if I'm still allowed to draw hearts all over my notebooks.

Anyway, to celebrate such an occasion I picked out a cinnamon roll for breakfast. It was glorious. The rest of the day was spent at the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, eating quesadillas from a food truck, taking a bike tour around the city, a wood fire pizza birthday dinner (pizza is my jam), dessert at the Grilled Cheese food truck, romping around town, a birthday dance from four year old Emma, and watching videos from my neices over and over again.

I loved it all.

+the burger shot is from the drive up, poor Coby was so stoked to get whatever the equivalent of steak-nuggets are.

And they were not good. But my jalepeno burger was alright. So cheers to that.

+also, the entire time at the Rose Garden I was just thinking about the

singing flowers from Alice and Wonderland, they were that cool.

P City to Portlandia

Hello blog land, how are you?

I was able to celebrate Father's Day with my parents in Park City. We went on the most amazing hike (per usual) up the mountain that was just covered in these beautiful white and purple flower bushes. Covered. It really was a fairy land. My mom is like a mountain goat and can practically run up that thing while my dad and I trail behind. Me takin' pixs and dad hiding in bushes and such. It's always the best of times - hiking with them. We followed that up with a kick ajax dinner of steak and baked potatoes and salad and watermelon and strawberry lemonade and holy cow if I don't love those summer mountain dinners I don't know what love is. Speaking of love, if there's one thing I appreciate about my dad, it's his ability to grill a steak. Bison burgers included. He is the absolute best and I love him more than he could know. He is always sensitive to me and whips out the best "dad jokes" like it ain't no thang.

Sports camps have been filled with late nights and new friends and blood coming out of girls' eyes (!). It's also made my snapchat feed that much more entertaining so that's always a plus. A definite highlight of the week was entertaining an auditorium of nine to thirteen year olds with jokes and talents and too much Taylor Swift and finally THE game six where I have never seen so many children out of control. My ear drums were on the brink of explosion. And I'm sure, if a parent were to have walked into that room, who knows what would've happened to BYU sports camps good name.

Dearest Erin visited for the weekend. I didn't see her much due to some newfound summer lovin', but it's nice to remember that your friends still care about you. And even if you aren't seven year olds sharing crayons in primary on her first Sunday in Arizona, you can share a room and some pillow talk on her first real night in Provo. ET phone home. 

Other festivities included a hot-pink-and-polka-dotted-wedding and a moonlight-super-moon-lift-ride up at Sundance. And people, that lift ride was amazing! Amazing! Once Tristan tucked her extra blanket around my frozen feet I was one happy rider. Couple that with Coby's hard core fear of heights (so sad but so cute), horrible story telling, J-Rob's big ole laughs and a twenty minute conversation about pizza and that may very well be the best night of my life. But the view! Oh the view. The moon really was super, it was so bright you could see forever. I loved that. 

I've also been a collector of books! My birthday gift to myself was Mindy Kalings' book, finally. Say yeee-ahhh! As a blogger*, I've tried to stray more and more away from the serious posts (aka long and painful and angsty and over-sharing but beautiful in a weird "I'm a sad, white and privileged girl" way) and leaned toward frivolous, pop-culture laced posts instead. The only downside to this is, well, celebrities are kind of the worst and my life really isn't all that comical. OH and that I read off like a complete and utter dummy at times. This is where Mindy comes in handy. I'm not quite sure how... But she's smart and loves Beyoncé. I idolize her and her book was no different. I swear I am educated you guys. Or at least trying to be. My mom gifted me with a book on happiness, that's up next. And then Coby bought me The Fault in Our Stars for my birthday! (Rach, you're number one on my waiting list). So ya know, you could say I'm crossing off my book list. Do note the blaring absence of classical lit, I'll get there. 

As of right now I'm sitting in a bed in the most beautiful, recently remodeled Arts and Crafts home in Portland. There are fresh hydrangeas in my room. Fresh you guys! Coby and I decided to take a trip for my birthday (okay okay, it's tomorrow you caught me) and I don't know what says happy birthday more than FRESH HYDRANGEAS IN MY ROOM. After eleven hours of driving (ahem sleeping) we arrived to Thai food and fairy houses with sweet four year old Emma. A puppy named Lucca, homemade chocolate ice cream, and of course soccer playing with Jake. People can be so nice.

So that's the latest from me. I'm excited for this week and appreciative of everyone around me. And I can't wait to test out my new birthday lenses from mom and pops! Happy happy!

P.S. yes I do love Portlandia, yes I want suggestions of things to do (Seattle too!)

*As a blogger? Did I really just write that?

Cake

Dearest Coby's birthday is today! Hurrah! We've been sorta celebrating all week, with random outbursts of "happy birthday" singings and such.  On Wednesday we were supposed to see Postal Service with Coby's incredibly generous brother & sis-in-law, but because they rescheduled (severe cryings) we went out to dinner and saw FAST & SO FURIOUS SIX YO. Guys. I love the FFs, Fast Five was SO good. Like, one of the best movie-going experiences of my life (this is Brasil!).  On Thursday we celebrated some more with turkey burgers on the side of a mountain, and we mayyy or may not have watched the original Fast and Furious for good measure. So good. Last night was another family party in the most beautiful backyard I've ever partied in. And today will be wonderful too!

So more about Coby!

He rocks! Like really rocks. More than the Rock rocks.

Did you know that he has a blog? Because he most definitely does, the best poet that one.

In all seriousness though, Coby has made my life so much better. He deserves the best birthday! He is happy, kind, gracious, so willing, and a surprisingly good rapper. And he loves chocolate, so that's a plus.

cake cake cake cake cake cake.