Memorial Day Weekend in the Oregon Wine Country

This weekend has been filled with great friends, good food and a few rays of sunshine, plus several great wines.

I am eternally grateful that I live in Oregon and have the privilege of having some of the worlds greatest wines at my fingertips. It has become a tradition to wine taste every Memorial Day weekend since so many winery's open and have glorious spreads of food and vino for their patrons. One of my dearest friends has her parents visit Portland over the long weekend, and we take a day to explore and enjoy all the the Oregon wine country has to offer. 

First we went into Carlton and tasted at the Ken Wright winery where we enjoyed some delicious Chardonnay and some Pinot Noir straight from the barrels. Not to mention there were some handsome men teaching us about the good years for growing and the terrible rains of 2007.  

     

While in Carlton we walked along the quaint street to a small winery called Scott Paul. Here we discovered, from Scott himself, that he created the number 9 wine out of all the wines made in 2010. Can you say WOW! He is also one of the lead importers of champagne and burgundy for the U.S. 

Making our way to the third, and only winery we visit every year, Patricia Green Cellars. Welcomed by dogs, and a laid back soundtrack of Coldplay like music, we sipped on at least 10 different wines, and noshed on truffle cheese and handfuls Marcona  almonds...yummmmm! I picked up a gem of a bottle of wine here too! The Estate Old Vine 2010, it's so smooth, it almost feels like a sin.

On the way home we decided to take a detour into Forest Grove and taste a bit more at Montenore. Having a wine and popcorn pairing was fun, and the wines were delicious. Our favorite part however was venturing into the vineyard for a photo sesh...haha here are some of the snapshots!

It was a beautiful day!

Xoxo,

Courtney

 

So this is what it feels like to be a student...again

I am two weeks into my first term of college in 6...yes 6 years, and boy did I forget how much work and time it takes to be a student. Let me rewind two weeks and tell you how I came about taking classes again.

I called my Graduate program to make sure that I could take the prerequisite courses I still need while I am enrolled in the Grad program . "OH NO HONEY," is what  I was told, "You must take them BEFORE starting in July..." That meant I was supposed to start classes in 3 days (insert panic here).

So there I was trying to navigate a new online system, calling the admissions desks about 8 times and feeling like a dumb ass because I couldn't sign in to enroll in the classes. While I wiped my stress tears and figured it all out, I realized what I was in for. Needless to say my mind was racing for the entire weekend...ok it was more like the 5 days. 

One of the classes is an online Children's lit course which is proving to be A LOT of work. I am gaining a ton of useful info though, and I aced my first assignment, so I guess I can't complain too much. I did however dread attending my 4 hour class on Thursday nights...about  the Fundamentals of Music.

I pictured a dried up old professor lecturing for 4 hours about Bach, Chopin and Beethoven. Boy was I surprised when in walked my exubernet teacher, and his tales of teaching in Compton Ca,  explaining that the Recorder (yes the instrument we all learned about in elementary school) would be our bff this term. I was in for 4 hours a week of  horn tooting and pizza references (learning to read music). 

The one thing I was looking forward to about attending class on campus was the potential of meeting some guys through my class. Much to my dismay this is a typical Education course, aka there are only 2 males in the class and 1 is married. The other is a rip off of the Fonz. Epic fail.

Any whooo...  with all of that aside, I think this is going to be a great adventure. I do already know that having 6 years off from school has certainly given me more perspective to be a better and more productive student now. I could also chalk that up to the fact that I'm the one footing the bill this time around (Sugar Daddy applications being accepted).

Reasons

It is funny to think that all the things we have experienced in life thus far have molded together to create the beings that we are today. I notice more each day that the characteristics I embody really stem from the past. Not to say that reflecting on what has made you who you are doesn't equally inspire you to strive for more and the thrill of newness in the present and future. I have been thinking about many things recently...friendships, relationships, life goals and visions. It made me realize how many rich life experiences I've had, and have yet to tackle.

This thoughtful examination lead me to create a few goals that I feel won't expire over time. So here it goes:

1. Smile more than you want to.
2. Give people the benefit of the doubt, but don't let go of your gut feelings...they are there to keep you aware.
3. Believe in the power you have over yourself and anything negative that may be thrown at you.
4. It will always be worth it, even if it doesn't seem that way in the moment. You will learn, and that's all you can ask for. The rest is a blessing.


Often I find things on Instagram that I will save as a reminder to keep a positive outlook on life, here is one of them...

I know I got serious on you, but as in life there has to be a a balance of sassy and serious.

I ask you to think about your life and look at what it's lead you to be like today. Pretty amazing isn't it! Be proud, humble and genuine...after all there is only one you.

XOXO,
Courtney

IPad love

It's kind of ridiculous how much a new piece of technology can consume you. As a happy Friday to myself I finally purchased an iPad!!! (Yes, all those exclamation points are necessary...it's flipping amazing!)

I am an iPhone girl, so I figured I wouldn't get that addicted to it, but I was VERY wrong! I must say it makes my phone look like a teeny tiny zoolander-esque cell phone...haha. If you don't know what I'm referring to you better study up on your Zoolander ASAP!

With a friend-cation in September to Wells Beach, Maine I figured I would need something to keep me occupied on the plane...on that note I needed some cute "luggage" for the iPad too. Hence this beauty...

{Griffin}

Yes, I know I have a problem...I am working on it! But in the mean time, why not just read about others who have a love for fabulous things like I do...haha, no really... I began reading a really funny/awesome/entertaining book called "White Girl Problems" by Babe Walker. Check out her blog...it's too much! And by 'too much,' I mean great! I am sure that if you know me you will know why I like her style. 

Cheers to another week going by...

XOXO~

Courtney

New year New you

There is something to be said about making Resolutions. I know that most of the resolutions we create are swept under the rug without a second glance, but this year I am making a valiant effort to accomplish a few. I have been teaching for almost 6 years at a wonderful child development center, meanwhile I have also been putting of going back to school to earn my master's degree. Finally I am taking the next step and applying...aka, taking the bull by the horns and living my life how I have always envisioned it.

While my stomach is in knots and my bank account wonders "how do we pay for this?" I know that if I don't act now, I will feel as if I am missing out. You see I haven't felt this urge to enroll until just recently. Maybe it's because I don't feel the pressure from others to go, maybe it's because the people around me are fulfilling their passions, or maybe I have found the strength and drive to be what I've been working to be for so long. Ok...truthfully it is all of those factors mixed together.

I have to have my application submitted by the first of February, and then the waiting game begins...YIKES!

Lets hope, wish and pray that all goes as well.

XOXO,
Courtney