Veterans Day - November 2014

I'm all about getting out of town whenever possible. This year I had Tuesday off (after working Monday), and so Joe and I decided to go camping- one last trip before it would get really cold and miserable. Okay, there MAY be plans for one more. But certainly the last mid-week camping trip of the year!

 

 

After some back and forth about where to go, we made it to the beach just in time for sunset:

 

 

 

We camped on the beach and woke up to this:

 

 ^ perfection!

 

Waking up and being the ONLY one on the beach (Joe and Khan slept in) was awesome.

 

 

We spent the rest of the day driving up the beach, eating pizza and walking on the beach.

 

 

It was such a great camping trip/ beach day! Especially since the forecast for tonight is snow and ice. I guess it's officially winter!

Dufur, OR (day two)

Waking up to this view pretty much ensures that the day will be great.

 We started off with a walk down the road and it was promptly gorgeous, a perfect fall day. 

We even walked with our coffee cups! Sometimes my Mom will break the rules, and I think it's amazing that I can be a bad influence on her -even though I am sure the people at the hotel didn't care at all!

 ^ that's Dufur! Population 609.

 ^ from the top deck of the hotel

And then we were VERY begrudgingly (one night was NOT enough!!) off to the bridal shower. Not that we weren't excited for that, just that I could have used about 3 more days of R & R and apparently Dufur is the place. I just wanted to find a corner in the yard and read... next time. And there WILL be a next time!!

Dufur, OR (day one) October 18th 2013

Last weekend, my Mom & I went to Dufur, OR.... she has been RAVING about this hotel (the Balch Hotel) and we stayed one night before we went on to my cousins bridal shower. If you haven't been there, plan a trip immediately. Seriously, it's that great.

^ view from the Bridge of the Gods

My Mom picked me up from school (I had a friend drop me off in the morning) and we drove up for the night-the hotel is about 15 minutes out of Hood River. And it's AMAZING.

 The rooms are so cute, and each have their own little quote, and tons of other adorable details. They're only double rooms (we had a queen bed)... and there are no children allowed at the hotel! Which I thought was really nice. Not all the rooms have bathrooms, but who cares. The hotel was built in 1907, and the history is actually pretty interesting... especially if you're a history lover (like me!!). There are no TV's, or phones... just lots of sitting rooms and space to talk and hang out. (My mom and I played chess). 

 There is a cool empty building next door with all these broken down old cars.

And a totally beautiful yard area for parties, dancing and outside hanging out.

It's totally one of my new favorite places. Plus the rooms are only $100/night (for 2 people) and that includes breakfast (which was really good. seriously the best quiche I have ever had!!). I am convinced that I want to do a girls weekend there with some friends soon! 

But for dinner, my Mom & I went across the street to a bar, for dinner. It was really good, I am such a sucker for a burger and onion rings though :) It was a totally adorable small town bar, with lots of animal heads, and pool tables.

We ended the night with a little High School football.....before we got way too cold, and went back to bed.