Couples Retreat...

And I am not talking about this kind of Couples Retreat: 

Ok, so actually it wasn't a couples retreat at all. More just a group of friends that happened to head to the beach in pairs for the weekend. I promised I would have photos of our weekend at Cape Meares and here they are! 

The small group included me and Bradley, my brother and his girlfriend Rachael, and our friends Tyler and Justine. 

We stayed at Tyler's parents' beach house and it was wonderful. The house does not have wifi or cable, which I really enjoyed.  Instead we got our Jenga on, read, played cards, and just had plain ol', good conversation.  And laughing, there was a lot of laughing.

That has to be record height, no?!

We even shot a music video for the next up and coming Boy Band: Beach Boyz 4eva. Might have made that part up.

We got to enjoy experience pretty much every type of weather from fog, wind, rain, sun, and even hail throughout the weekend. So, basically, your typical Oregon day. We tried to sneak in walks when it was calm, but definitely got stuck in a downpour during one of our outings.

There were multiple logs along the bank that had random paintings on them like the one above.

So pritay.

This weather def made me realize Hunters are in my future.

A hint of sun after rain is always my favorite.

It was awesome to see what the community has done along the beach from building forts like this to community fire pits (where we tried to make one, but it was raining and it ended up being an epic fail, because all the logs were soaked, but that's neither here, nor there.).

The BB4Eva in all their glory.

It was a tad windy and cold, but we braved the beach anyway.

The house in the middle is the one we stayed at and and I loved it...but I am hoping the one next to it goes on the market soon so Bradley can buy it for me ;) I wish. 

Beautiful sunset on Saturday evening.

Get excited for Cheese Factory photos tomorrow!


Cheers to the beach!

,<3 BB

Tuesday Tunesday + Hip Flexors Are The Worst

So, I am officially the girl that cried wolf hip pain.  Here is the deal: my hip flexors are constantly sore and I have no one to blame but myself and Brad for the workouts he makes me do.  I complain about them all the time, especially to Brad, but have been really bad about stretching.  Especially since I need to not only be stretching my hip flexors, but the rest of my lower body as well.  I think my body has finally had enough of it and is mad at me.   The past few days my right hip flexor has been doing this weird pinching pain pretty much every time I take a step and it aches when I am sitting... hmm.

Looks like I need to take it easy / for reals do more stretching and yoga. Last night I tried to switch up my workout.  No squats or mountain climbers, or burpess, or anything like that for this girl - my awesome swim cap and I hit the pool instead.

Just your typical locker room selfie, because that's a cool thing to do. said no one, ever.

Anyway enough awesome pictures of me.  Let's listen to good music instead.  Maybe the tunes will heal my hippie!


Little Boots :: Motorway
This video is trippy and the song is catchy.  It almost sounds like it should belong on the Drive soundtrack, almost.

Gabrielle Aplin :: Please Don't Say You Love Me 
A beautiful song with beautiful lyrics.

Born Ruffians :: Needle
This band kind of reminds me of a more uptempo Fleet Foxes or something and I dig it.

Bastille :: Flaws
So I can't find this version to add it this post for the life of me, but do yourself a favor and click on the link above. The world is right again. This is the most fantastic version of Flaws that your little ears will ever get to listen to.  I came across it like a year and a half ago, but then it was taken down due to copy right issues.  stupid. BUTTTT now it is back and I am happy not stupid.  I love everything about this song.



Of Monsters And Men :: Skeletons (Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Cover) 
Best of both worlds.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs are always doing it right and this is a great take on their single by Of Monsters and Men.  Plus my girl Creshea hooked me up with this cover.  Good looking out.

Shadows On Stars :: Little Bit (Lykke Li Cover)
Am a big fan of this take on Little Bit, too.

Ghost Beach :: Miracle (Gigamesh Remix)

This remix takes the already good song to another level.  Check out the difference here. Whole other vibe with the two versions. 

That's all folks.  Wish my hip flexors good luck! 

<3 BB

Beach Time

I am writing wrote this post while I sat at my friend's beach house just outside of Tillamook, sipping on a glass of wine in the window nook with an amazing view of the ocean and setting sun after a downpour ... It was quite..... perfect

I needed this weekend:

To Unwind
To Recharge
To Slow Down

There was:

No TV
No Internet
No Facebook
No Instagram (ok, there might have been a tiny bit of insta, but it was taking forever to load - so I stopped)

Instead there was:

Great Conversation
Card Playing
The Happiness Project
Good Music
Good Food
And many walks on the beach between the storms.

There were also lots of photos taken with a real camera, but that would have involved me uploading them last night and I just didn't have the energy. Forgive me, but I was still on beach time.  

Happy Monday! 

<3 BB 

Happy Friday!

Friday, I needed you. Although I didn't need your alarm to come quite so quickly this morning.  This girl had every intention of getting up early for a morning workout, but when that alarm went off there was no way I was getting up.  Kind of like how I have been meaning to stretch / yoga every morning and night too....yeah that hasn't happened either.

natalie dee

Good news:  I brought my running clothes with me for a lunch time workout! Win some, lose some. 

Double good news: As long as I get through this work day I get to head to the beach for the weekend. The weather is maybe even going to be decent! Say it isn't so?! I am hoping to play with my camera on the beach some and eat cheese curds at the Tillamook Cheese Factory! Wish me luck.


Anyways, Happy Friday! Here are links to get you through the weekend or at least your afternoon of work.


Don't be a dummy.

Why Joseph Gordon-Levitt is perfect.

Please don't tell me I am the only person who loves Lionel Richie this much?!

I can only imagine that this is what The Postal Service auditions were like back in 2002.

If only I had moves like this.

Behind the scenes of Kid President.

15 signs you're an adult.

When it comes to marriage proposals, simple is better.

Are you addicted to social media?!  (Speaking of insta you can easily follow me by clicking the little pic on the upper right hand corner) shameless plug


Enjoy your weekend!!!!!


duces,

<3 BB

drops mic, walks away. 

sweet potato, kale, and black bean hash

Here is the deal - I am really trying to make an effort and step up my food game these days.  I came to realization I needed more content for my blog that we were making a lot of the same meals week after week and I was getting very bored.  So over the weekend I decided to try this awesome hash. It is super versatile and can be eaten at pretty much any time of the day,  I chose to make it for brekkie (aka breakfast), then added chicken to the leftovers the next day and ate it for lunch! #resourceful 

{here is what you need}

::2 cups chopped green onion
::2-3 sweet potatoes
::1 can of black beans
::2 cups chopped kale
::sea salt
::coconut oil
::avocado


{here is what you do}

::chop sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch cubes 

::toss them in coconut oil 

::spread them on a baking sheet and roast at 325 degrees until they are cooked through (should take around 25 minutes)

::coat a skillet with coconut oil and saute onions until just a little soft over medium heat.
::add sweet potato and sea salt - cook over high, stirring occasionally (add more coconut oil if potatoes start to stick to the bottom of the pan)
::when the potatoes have softened and the onions are cooked through, add black beans and cook for an additional two minutes stirring gently to avoid sticking
::add kale and fold in until it's completely softened

::serve with avocado and your favorite hot sauce (Tapatio is my first choice!)

::devour!

Naturally, because I am a bad food blogger, I forgot to feature the kale in the picture of ingredients.

Also, did you know that sweet potatoes can be yellow?!  MIND BLOWN. I thought I had grabbed the wrong ones when I peeled them and saw they were yellow, but after a quick google search, I realized I had been wrong all along.  Figures.

Yum, yum, yum.

Fact: Avocado makes everything taste better.


Enjoy!

<3 BB 

Not The First or Last Time Brad Embarrassed Me

Last Sunday, was the West Linn Lions Annual Bowl-A-Thon to support their Sight & Hearing Foundation.  Since my Grandparents are super involved with their local Lions club, our family makes a point to bowl in it every year.  It is super entertaining and another excuse not that we need one for us to get together for laughs, food, and fun.  Plus, in this tourney they have what is called 9 Pin No Tap or what I like to call: if you knock all but 1 of the pins down on your first throw they consider that a strike and you don't have to bowl the second ball.  PAD THOSE STATS! Still didn't break 200.

This past Sunday also happened to be an important game for the Indiana Hoosiers Men's Basketball team. Seeings how Bradley is Indiana born and bred he made sure to ask the owner of the bowling alley if they could turn the game on (along with Tiger Woods for the rest of my family of course) while we bowled. 

Here is where things start to get embarrassing interesting.  Part way through bowling I look over at Brad - as we were not on the same team, because Girls Rule, Guys Drool - and he is ever so proudly sporting the gift he recently received in the mail from his parents......

CLOWN PANTS! Also known as the Hoosiers Candy Striped Warm-Up Pants. Evidently these things are so popular back in Indiana that his parents had ordered them for his birthday back in January and they just came in the mail this past week.

REALLY?! REALLY, Brad?! Was my only reaction.  And although embarrassed, I was not really that surprised he wore them in public. He is an odd duck like that. I am pretty sure the only reason he has taken them off since he got them is because he works for Nike and they are Adidas pants. My family and the rest of the bowling alley found it entertaining and thank God luckily Indiana won.  Brad says the win came because he was sporting the pants. I beg to differ.

Speaking of win everyone should ask him who won when it came to bowling.... I'll give you a hint: Me!!!!!!!! I mean, just look at that form. 


Cheers to clown pants bowling!

<3 BB

Tuesday Tunesday + New Design

Everyone - come see how good I look my blog looks!!!!

She got a face life yesterday. Kelly from Pink + Lola hooked me up with a super affordable and crisp, pre-made template for my blog and it makes me happy :) Plus, it was actually easy to install it on my own - which is saying something, because I am by no means tech savvy when it comes html coding and whatnot. I hate clutter and this blog design really cleans everything up, as well as puts all my social media outlets all in one tidy area so it is super easy to hop on over and follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Bloglovin' now.

The only thing I may change is the pink color, but for now I am enjoying the touch of girly - as long as I tell myself it is more coral than pink it's not even a little bit coral, I know! Anyway, if you're looking for a new blog design for a great price head on over to Pink + Lola.


And now let's enjoy some music shall we?!


Jamestown Revival :: Fur Coat Blues
First World Problem Blues as they call it.  Also, check out the stache on the blondie. #epic

Lewis Watson :: Sink Or Swim 
This little youngin' reminds me of a baby Ed Sheeran or something precious like that.

Jessie Ware :: Wildest Moments
Mark my words: Jessie Ware is going to be one of the next big things to come out of the UK.  I mean she even makes singing in a cab sound good.

CHVRCHES :: Recover
Bands are getting smart these days.  Take CHVRCHES, it's actually pronounced 'churches', but they spell it with a V so it is easy to find when you search on google. Plus, they are Scottish Electropop and that's just cool.

The Deep Dark Woods :: Ballad of Frank Dupree 
Going to be honest with you, this song is long.  Like 10 mins long, but don't let that scare you off.  It's one of those songs that's so enjoyable you don't even notice the length. Plus, the guy that plays the keyboard is pretty badass.

Allen Stone :: Celebrate Tonight 
I can't say enough good things about Allen Stone.  He is just so fantastic live even if he is a goof ball.  Here is his latest music video that just aired yesterday. Get it while it's hot! 

Thoa & The Get Down Stay Down :: Holy Roller 
I want love and the aftermath. Love those lyrics. I think this song is going to be right up Creshea's alley.

Tootles!

<3 BB