Trillium Lake

It's not news that I work a lot of hours these days, which usually makes for early bedtimes and not much free time for other activities - but this past weekend I had Sunday off and I made sure we made the most of it. Even with all the football on, I still convinced Brad and a few friends to head out to Trillium Lake for the day. The way I see it football will be here all winter when the weather is crappy. I want to get out and enjoy the last few days of sun and fall goodness, before the grey and rain are here to stay. 

Sunday's weather was perfect, the picnic was enjoyable, our friend's puppy was the cutest, the company was lovely, and the view couldn't be beat. We even got our Florida girl to hike a little, even though it wasn't originally on the agenda. If you're in the Portland area, make sure you venture out towards Mount Hood and check out all the hiking and lakes in the area. 

Know Before You Go: Suavie Island

Hello, Hello! 

Happy Monday, folks. Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy, productive, and restful all at the same time if that is even possible? Friday evening was spent making boozey margarita cupcakes similar to these guys right here and falling asleep while watching the Lego Movie. Saturday was spent working at the gym and Sunday was a good mix of productivity and rest. I went to yoga. Got my hair done. Went to brunch at Olympic Provisions and had a bomb Bloody Mary. Lastly, we ventured out to Sauvie Island, where we quickly learned a few things to know for our next outing. I figured I would be a good Portlander and share with you all:  

//You have to pay for parking in order to enjoy the beach 

//You can only pay for parking with cash. 

//You should make sure you bring cash with you.

//If you happen to forget cash, you should stop at the first you-pick farmers market at the beginning of the island to see if they have an ATM before you drive 15-20mins, get all the way out to the end of the island, and realize you have no cash and can't pay for parking. 

//It might also be wise to start your trip out to Sauvie Island before 4pm, especially if you struggle like we might have with the whole no cash situation. 

Either way it was still a pleasant evening even if we didn't ever make it to the beach. I still got to enjoy the farmers market with Bradley. We shared a peach iced tea, which I always forget how refreshing peach iced tea is. We listened to country music with the windows rolled down, because it is mandatory when you're among fields of corn that you listen to country music.  And I took a few pictures too. Now if only I would take the time to put them on my computer.

Cheers!

<3 BB

Ps. How good does Bradley's Stache look in the above photo? #CreepsvilleUSA

things that are my jam

//The fact that there was rain this morning. Which makes me the most typical Oregonian ever. I am not ready for dreaded winter grey and rain, but I have to admit the free car wash and the smell of rain on the pavement was quite enjoyable. Also, Oregonians are weird. One second we complain about rain, the next we are complaining that it is too hot and we want the rain back. You can't have it both ways., people!! 

//This song:

Well, actually, if we're being honest, anything by James Bay is my jam right now. Maybe it's because he has the voice of a 65 year old smoker with that seductive growl when he sings. Maybe it's his 13 year old looking face...or maybe it's the fact that he has better hair than I do? Maybe it's because he looks like he could be the 4th brother of Hanson? Whatever the case, James Bay, you're killing it.

//These little to-go pouches of applesauce. Costco had organic ones in bulk and they are perfect for when I am rushing from one job to the next. 

//This dress from Madewell. I want it for myself. I kind of want it for my bridesmaids. I kind of want it in every color. Then again I want everything from Madewell in every color. But mostly, I kind of want it to not cost 148 dollars though. 

//I am getting my hair done this weekend. It makes me happy every time I have an appointment to look forward to. Thinking about maybe going a little more blonde? We'll see. Also why can't my hair look like Kate Mara's every day?! It probably has something to do with the fact that I hardly brush it - let alone take the time to style it. In fact, right now it is at the perfect length where the ends hit the top of my shoulders and curl out, but everything else is straight. Just like in middle school where I would take the time to actually use a curling iron to create the same look. What was 7th grade Brooke thinking?! This is the same middle school child that also wore pukka shell necklaces because I thought they were cute. The horror. 

Ok, that is all, I have an applesauce to-go calling my name. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

Tuesdays, ugh.

So you know how everyone says that Monday blows and is the worst day of the week? Those people have obviously never met Tuesday. Tuesdays are the worst. Want to hear how my Tuesday has gone so far and it's not even 8:00 am.... 

//Alarm goes off at 4:30 (which I did get to sleep in a bit so hooray to that?) 

//Zombie walk through my routine and slowly get ready to go work at the gym. 

//Realize my zombie like state has no left me running behind. 

//Quickly go make coffee in the Keurig only to realize I have hit the BREW button before I have even grabbed a coffee mug out of the cupboard. 

//Coffee starts pouring out of the machine making a mess everywhere. 

//Frantically run to the cupboard and get my situation under control. 

//Finally make it to my car and while struggling to open my car door (because I can never leave the house without 3 bags, my cellphone in hand, my coffee mug, my keys, etc.) proceed to pour out my coffee from my travel mug all down my arm, all over my jacket, and onto my garage floor. 

Basically, what I am saying is sorry I smell like a crappy Starbucks location all day, coworkers. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

move over style me pretty

Today let's discuss more wedding and engagement talk....because my blog will obviously only be a wedding blog from now on. Move over Style Me Pretty... Oh, speaking of Style Me Pretty, check out my bestie making it on the website with her photography. So, so proud of Anne Blodgett and her photography. I am also super excited to do our engagement photos wither her.

Now let's talk about how people thought I was crazy to start looking for wedding venues less than a week after getting engaged, but it turns out I am not the crazy one, seeing how the original weekend we wanted to have our wedding next year was already booked at every venue we have looked into. October is over a year a way people. Why is it filling up so fast? Did you women start booking venues before you even had a ring? Why is wedding planning so intense?! 

Good news is our second date is available and I think we have found our venue. We haven't officially decided, but Castaway, right in downtown Portland, is looking pretty perfect for an October wedding.

Also, can we talk about how Brad's sister and her hubs sent me the cutest gift for our engagement and it is perfect for my forgetful self. Now, I can't promise Bradley that I won't forget to put my ring back on after I take it off from time to time, but at least I will know where to find it when I do.

In other wedding talk, keep the words Country and Chic out of my wedding. I don't want them anywhere near it. Rustic might even be a little too pinterest perfect for my simple, un-country taste. Don't get me wrong, I can't stop looking at Pinterest for wedding ideas and I am for sure balling on a budget here - but the last thing I want is to have my wedding look like Pinterest threw up burlap and country chic all over my special day. Some of the DIY ideas are just horrible. 

Give me modern, give me natural colors, and give me all the pretty flowers, please. Also, give me good music too! 

Speaking of good music... last weekend Bradley and I met up with a few friends for the Avett Brothers concert at Edgefield. First off, it was really nice not going alone this time. Secondly, we had the most hipster couple of all time scold us for talking during the show. Um, hello, why don't you yell at the loud children that are to your right and get out of my life. Ugh. I don't like people. 

Other than that the concert was perfection. I heart those Avett Brothers more than most. Ok, maybe not as much as Alissa and Kelsey, but I try to keep up. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

just call me snooklyn

Well guys,

Big news here on Babbling Snooklyn Brookelyn...I got engaged over Labor Day weekend. Eeeeeek. I will officially be Brooke Snook after the wedding. Yes, you read that right. Brooke. Snook. It's comical, you can chuckle. 

So yeah, last week I was debating back and forth about whether or not I wanted to make the long drive down to my parents' house this past holiday weekend and couldn't figure out why Bradley was so overzealous about the idea - even though we would not even be there for 48 hours. 

Turns out he had a plan up his sleeve the whole time. I, of course, tried to ruin the plan multiple times throughout the weekend. That should not surprise anyone though. 

There is this beautiful hike called Watson Falls 45 mins from my parents' home where I grew up that I had taken Bradley on over 3 years ago. Well, rumor has it, that first time I took him on the hike he knew that it is where he would want to ask me to marry him. Fast forward a few years and he asks if we want to go on this hike during the jam packed Labor Day weekend. 

Let me list the ways I tried to ruin this day for him. (This is how you know I was not expecting a proposal anytime soon) 

//I refused to shower before we went on the hike, even though he asked multiple times if I wanted to get ready and look presentable. but no really, who showers before hiking?! 

//I did not wear any makeup.

//My nails had chipped polish, from over a month ago, on them. 

//I tried to talk him out of going on this specific hike - multiple times. 

//I invited EVERYONE in my family to go with us. Luckily they all knew what was going on.

//I took him to two other falls before the one he actually wanted to ask me at. 

//I kept wasting time by taking photos of said waterfalls that he didn't care about.

//I rolled my ankle pretty badly during the week and the thought of hiking uphill did not sound pleasant. Hence part of the reason I didn't feel like hiking to begin with. 

But good news... he was able to overcome all these obstacles and still wanted to ask me to marry him. Not sure if that was smart on his part or not. Then again if he hasn't figured out I am a struggle after almost 4 years of dating, then maybe he isn't all that bright and I should be questioning why I said yes.... 

So yeah, moral of the story....we're getting mawwwwwied and the thought of planning a wedding is daunting, but I am excited none the less. Anyone want to send money to my non-existent wedding fund?! 

Cheers! 

<3 BB