Rrrrrrrrip

There hasn't been much excitement at my house tonight. Just reading, writing, and cranking out school assignments. But, then as if the gods knew I needed a laughing break, my boyfriend crossed his legs and ripped his pants! Now I have been laughing for 5 minutes straight. Highlight of my day.

DECA 2010

Last night was the Grand Awards for the 2010 DECA State Conference. All the students dress up to celebrate the end of the conference and anxiously await to see how their projects did. The night started off hot with six of the kids earning trips to Nationals in their series events. Then, a girl who wrote a 30-page Public Relations manual got 1st place in her event. Most shocking of all was that Klamath Union DECA got Chapter of the Year! Chapter of the Year is the best award you can win as a chapter. With only 20 students this year (last year there were almost double that), we never thought we would beat out chapters with over 150 members! After the awards, the kids, their parents and advisors took pictures then we go back to the chapter's headquarters for a closing meeting.

The meetings are always emotional with the students reminising over their time in DECA, the passion for the projects, and the relationships they have made. Last night their wasn't a dry eye in the room. For 3 hours we cry, we hug, we laugh, and we support each other. The seniors always talk about how thankful they are they joined DECA and how it is the best thing they have ever been involved in.  I sat their last night and felt so inspired by these kids. How common is it in life to see mediocre people, and here I am in a room of 15-18 year olds being truly moved by how amazing they are. And not just by winning, but by being a team. It is crazy to think, but I have participated in or helped DECA for 9 years, been on numerous sports teams and associations, but I have never seen a better example of a team than the past three days. The kids supported each other and genuinely cared for how the other students in the chapter competed. All of us pulled long hours each night cooperatively benefitting each other. When a member of our chapter got on stage we all jumped up in enthusiasm and  cheered at the top of our lungs. Other schools were envious- it was that awesome.

On a more personal note, last night was probably the first time I have ever felt more proud of the kid's accomplishments than of my own when I was competing. It was an incredible feeling and one that I look forward to experiencing. I came to work with Klamath Union DECA in a very unconventional way. I didn't go to high school there, but yet I am consider it my chapter. My mentor in high school went to teach there and I followed his work returning each year to work with the students on their business plans. Someone did that for me and I want to do that for these students.

There are about 220,000 high school students that do DECA annually. 1,200 compete at the Oregon State Conference and about 13,000 will be at nationals in a few months. It is an amazing organization.

Here are the kids on stage with their accomplishments:

Mr. Nielson, my DECA advisor, and I:

Pampered Wine Vacation + Me

I got home this evening welcomed by a nice sized package on the kitchen counter addressed to me! When does that ever happen? I gracefully opened it to find the goodies for my upcoming wine country getaway! If you recall I was awarded this $2,000 trip by winning the Oregon Wine Board's Photography Contest back in September. I got to choose how to spend my winnings and this is what the weekend will look like:

2 Nights at The Allison Inn & Spa

1 Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Dinner at The Joel Palmer House

Dinner at The Painted Lady

Additional money for wine

My boyfriend and I are going on March 19th during our Spring Breaks! I am the luckiest girl in all the land :)

We Are the World

I doubt I was the only one that teared up watching the new version of "We Are the World." But, I am wishing they would have taken at least $100,000 out of the Olympic Opening Ceremony production budget to help the Haitians.

Hey "Phriend," Thanks for the Birthday Gift

My birthday gift from my boyfriend:

The love of learning about obscure things is a similarity my boyfriend and I share. A few months back Phrenology, the 1800s brain science study of the relationships between skull shape and a person's character, popped into the conversation. How coincidental that while he was gift hunting for me that he found this Phrenology model at Urban Outfitters!

Just Call Me Mr. T

Doesn't everyone love getting special deliveries in the mail? My boyfriend's grandpa sent me a gift of gold chains for my birthday! He is quite the character. When we visited him last summer he kept giving me gifts left and right. These nine gold chain necklesses and five gold chain bracelets are joining the collection of similar size he give me last summer. Isn't he adorable. Like I said, soon I will be Mr. T. :)

Here he is smoozing with the University of New Mexico cheerleading squad on his 80th birthday!

Another new adventure for me!

I am the newest Portland Wine Examiner! I will be writing about a variety of wine topics, including events, reviews, and recommendations of Oregon wine. Of course, a lot of my articles will be focusing on spreading the love of Southern Oregon wine, as it is my personal mission. :) I have five articles currently posted along with my bio. If you become a subscriber, you will be notified when I post new articles and you will be contributing to my bank account (or wine buying account)!

Thanks for all your support!

I can't believe I am posting this picture, but if you can't laugh at yourself...

A Little Bird Told Me.

I almost feel sorry for my co-workers and boyfriend today as I blabbered on and on about my obsession with this Anthropologie hand-carved mobile. You can see why- its gorgeous! Sadly, it is sold out, but I found one similar.

Flock of Sparrows. That wasn't mean to be for me.

Driftwood swallows swoop and dive beneath curved branches. That I want want want want.

Soon, I will have a place to decorate to my little heart's desire and I am loving these bird influences.

Thanks to Carey at CorksandCaftans for sharing her mobile, so I could go gaga.

Comments Modification

I think I have it worked out now that you don't have to have a Google account to comment on my blog! Yay. Happy chatting.

Move Over Penelope, Watch out Zooey!

After I watched Amelie for the first time last month, Audrey Tautou is now on my list of girl crushes- joining the likes of Penelope Cruz and Zooey Deschanel!

Audrey is as-cute-as-a-button and I am so envious of her honor of playing Coco Chanel in the movie Coco Before Chanel.

One look at Audrey's wardrobe and it was obvious she cares about fashion. Her street style is easy and careless mostly wearing jeans, black blazers, and flats. But, she knows how to pump it up on the carpet with girly dresses and fun hemlines.

My Beautiful New Companion

I got a bike for Christmas and I am just now revealing her to the world!

Globe Vienna 2

I have so many aspirations for our relationship including leisurely rides, sustainable transportation, Tour de Vinos, and things like this:

Jeremiah Ducate pedaled 962 lbs. of food to donate to the San Francisco Food Bank!

Thanks to Don at Don's Bike Shop in Grants Pass, Oregon for having the perfect bike for me!

Top Wines of 2009

I visited my fabulous share of tasting rooms, wine bars, wine festivals, winemaker's dinners, and restaurants to be able to share with you my favorites of 2009.

The Wines:

It was exciting to have the list unfold and see the variety and value of the wines I adored.

10. Illahe Vineyards 2008 Viognier, Willamette Valley ($15)

9. Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($40)

8. Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($20)

7. Arcane Cellars 2007 Riesling, Willamette Valley ($16)

6. Griffin Creek 2005 Syrah, Rogue Valley ($45)

5. White Rose 2006 Soverae Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($75)

4. South Stage Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley ($26)

3. Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($45)

2. Paradise Ridge 2004 Sparkling Syrah, Sonoma County ($45)

1. Piluso Vineyards 2007 Tempranillo, Willamette Valley ($24)

The Locations:

Where I am drinking wine is just as important to me than what I am drinking.

8. Sneaking the Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir into the movie theater

7. Savoring Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Quinta Reserva Pinot Noir Port at the Bentley's Winemaker's Dinner

6. Storytelling after hours in the Piluso Vineyards Tasting Room over Thanksgiving Weekend.

5. Sitting around my boyfriend's Mom's table doing our own wine tasting with 12 wines at 1 o'clock in the morning.

4. Eating a delicious lunch with Grenache at La Boca in Santa Fe, NM.

3. Salsa dancing and tasting Cubanisimo Wines in the sunshine on Memorial Day Weekend.

2. Thirst Wine Bar in Portland, OR. Although I had no clue at the time, it was my boyfriend and I's first date.

1. Enjoying a plastic cup of wine in Zion National Park where we paired the Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir with hot dogs roasted over a campfire.

2009 was full of great wines and fun times. But, I see 2010 as topping it!

Comings (2010) and Goings (2009)

I will never forget 2009, ever.

2009

So many wonderful things happened to me. I loved hard. I got back to being a real working girl. I hiked, and hiked, and hiked. I got a camera and starting building a relationship with it. I had my hair bleached and vowed never to do it again. I fell madly in love with wine, visited over 30 tasting rooms, and spent more money on my wine collection than on my education. I jetted to Florida. I went on a two week road trip that was unforgettable. I got an awesome business opportunity brewing. I didn't have one kidney stone. I became one of the most frequent visitors to the local library. I experienced life changing music. I started liking parmesan cheese. I made my first pie and everyone loved it. I popped more than a few bottles of champagne. I found friendship in the oddest places, including this blog. I laughed until my stomach hurt more times than I can count. I postponed learning to drive a stick because although I say I want to learn, I really don't. I pushed my limits and it was worth it. So long 2009!

2010

I am looking forward with copious amounts of optimism for 2010. It will be a year of finishing one life and beginning another. I will graduate college in June. Move more than an hour away from my hometown for the first time ever. Once I move I will go into a crazy hectic, wild ride of business, that will be worth every moment. My boyfriend is finally going to entrust me to take care of my very own cat. I am going to remember to feed it and change the litter box. I will, I promise future kitty. Many deep, long conversations that last into the wee hours over bottles of wine will occur in the new year. I will learn so much about myself and of the outside world. It will be a year of gaining confidence. I will climb many strenuous mountains and enjoy breathtaking lookouts. I am going to be more aware of my tone of voice and work on being less critical. 2010 will be a year of adventure, love, and devoting all of my energy into giving my best. Hello 2010!

Wishing you complete happiness in 2010!

Cheers.

Oh yeah, in 2009 I did a photo shoot with my favorite wines. :)

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

We all know by now I am a huge wino. Check out the new blog focusing on Southern Oregon wine- what i believe to be the next big wine region.

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

The Staple to my Holiday Diet

Peppermint Patties:

1 packet hot chocolate mix

1 shot peppermint schnapps (brand of choice, Rumplemintz)

Serve graciously.

Or forget the hot chocolate all together and gather the family for a holiday shot of schnapps!

Fashion Foul: Socks and Sandals

I may have to violate one of the greatest fashion rules of all times to show off my new socks to the world... socks with sandals! Gasp... never! Instead, I will show them to you all now.

My boyfriend's mom knitted me yellow socks for Christmas. My favorite things combined- the color yellow and comfy socks.

I am so unbelievably spoiled.

I am hand-washing these beauties to preserve them forever.

Triple Axels at the Ashland Ice Rink

Prior to this weekend I have never been ice skating. When I heard Ashland had an outdoor rink in Lithia Park my eyes lit up!

When I first got to the rink I was so excited to see the handicapped children enjoying ice skating. It was so heart-warming to see them skating around the ice with their walkers and huge smiles on their faces. I was so touched I even took pictures of them. Then Chris informed me that those walkers were ice skating training tools and they were not disabled children. My idealized dream died, especially when this kid started ramming his sister with his walker causing her to fall.

Here we are- Joe, Bonnie, Chris and I! No one fell, technically, although the wall did run into Bonnie. :)

The boys were getting pretty daring with their "jumps." If that is what you can call lifting your skate 3 inches off the ground. Not quite a triple salchow or lutz, but mighty close!

After hitting the ice for an hour we were ready to warm up at a local pub with peppermint patties (hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps=the staple of my holiday diet) .

The Ashland ice rink is open daily through the winter. They even have night skating on the weekends. I had a fantastic time and I want to make it a yearly tradition!

One Frazzled Female

I thought Christmas break would be a time for me to cross the big players off my to-do list, enjoy shopping for gifts, finish reading all the books I started, organize my house, get back to a regular workout schedule and spend time with friends and family.

So far this break has been nothing short of early mornings, later evenings, constant work, errands that take way longer to get done because of the holiday traffic, highflying emotions, a room I can barely walk in to due to laundry piles, a purse I can't even find my wallet in, and a to-do list that doubled in size. My real break will be going back to school in January. At least then I get a 10 minute break between classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The True Way to My Heart...

Is to buy me bubbles! A big thanks to my fabulous boss for being so thoughtful. I love the little family we have created in our office.

The color of this sparkler is so beautiful. I am so excited to crack it open!

My clothing needs shelter

My clothes really want to call this their home (instead of the heaping piles they are in now).

I think I could even recreate this on my own... someday when I have time.