Reunion

Today was a perfect day for my reunion with Portland and Sydney! Nicole and I visited Sydney's charming new studio and ran into a beautiful ceremony at the Portland Art Museum on the way home... I'm somewhat in disbelief that school is actually starting back up tomorrow, it was beginning to feel like it would never happen! I do have to say, though, that leaving home left me a bit homesick. But Hey! Yoga at 10 AM! Wish me luck!

Rachel

Steve Martin's Business Card

i think i need a business card

-nicole

Bye Island, Hello Fall

I made it back to Portland today, said fare thee well to Hawaii. It doesn't feel quite like fall yet but I am excited for my favorite season.

happy autumn!
-nicole

Happy Fall

Photo: Erica Shires

I know it might seem so, but I promise I haven't forgotten about posting. Well, what have I been doing? Lounging, reading, cooking, and ALOT of working out. School starts in less than a week, and frankly, I'm pretty darn excited. More to come.

Rachel

Feast your eyes

Why yes, those are oh-so-delicious hearty whole-wheat vegan friendly banana muffins. And yes, they are freaking amazing with peanut butter on top. Tomorrow Portland and I are celebrating our aniversary(even though I am out of town)! Photos promised.

cheers

Rachel

It's ok

Multi Polar Projects


finding old treasures around the house

-nicole

cuttings

-nicole

Friday Madness

Well, it's friday, and I have a bone to pick... Trader Joes: I keep trying my luck at their produce, but every time, I find mold-infested, less-than-fresh fruit and pre-packed veggies. Maybe I'm just spoiled from Whole Foods. Either way, I'm a sucker for their Hummus.... observe:

Ps: LÄRABARs, you are the apple of my eye. (Anyone want the key to my heart? Cinnamon roll LÄRABAR, bingo.)

Happy friday,

Rachel

TBA

I went to see two performances tonight as part of tba



I saw Pan Pan Theater's "The Crumb Trail" a funny and dark multimedia performance piece based on Hansel and Gretel

and Back to Back Theater's "Small Metal Objects" a performance in pioneer square, where the audience wears headphones and listens to the drama unfolding in the square, while watching the actors.


(edit: bonus if you find me in this picture)

coincidence photo of the day:



i got a wristband for one of the shows


-nicole

School Days

Well, it's almost that time... and I can't wait. By the time our school starts, everyone will be knee-deep in mid-terms. How lovely is this old classroom? All images found here, via Design is Mine.

OK folks, here is your photo of the day: Aw shucks..

Rachel

Photos of Photos?

These are some test prints i made using coffee as a developer.

Yes, COFFEE as a developer. i love coffee even more now.

i guess the caffeic acid in the coffee acts as a mild reducing agent (in the chemical reaction that develops the paper or negatives), you add baking soda to neutralize the pH and voila! you get a nice warm and coffee stained print!

only two more days of class!
-nicole

Away For a Bit...

A few days ago i flew the coup to well, recoup. I'm spending some time fixing myself up for a few weeks, maybe less. But of course, things never really go as planned... It seems that I can't go a month without some sort of infection. Round One: strep throat, Round Two: strep throat II, Round Three: bladder infection... and now? Infected bug bite, observe:

If you are having trouble seeing it, no fear! The doctor so graciously outlined it in pen as to "track it's progress" (it's pretty much growing up my arm) And of course, it is definitely not sweater weather, and seeing as how I do love to hang out in grocery stores, I totally freak people out.

Well, I think that's enough grossness for one day. I'll be back with some pretty web finds or something tomorrow.

Cheers

Rachel

Eat Yo Cake Girl!

Happiest of birthdays to Queen Elizabeth I, Buddy Holly, and my favorite roommate, dear friend and confidant: The ever-so-lovely Nicole. Like I said, eat cake! Birthday celebrations will commence once we are reunited! Anyway, I hope it was a wonderful day!

Ps, let the photo-a-day begin!

Rachel

Why yes...

That is indeed a braid in my hair! Small, but a braid nonetheless! The locks are finally growing. I demand that everyone reading this go and celebrate. I'm serious, and really, why turn down a reason to celebrate?

Cheers, and happiest friday!

Rachel

Just Words.

This post is a bit different than usual, just a forewarning.. Open, if you will. As I lay in my (ridiculously comfortable) bed tonight, my mind no longer mulls itself to sleep over daily things like what I'll make for dinner the next night, or faintly dreaming of the aroma of my French-pressed Stumptown coffee which will greet me first thing in the A.M., or how pretty the purple 'cheer-up' flowers Nicole picked and placed on our windowsill are. Instead, my thoughts tangle over battlegrounds within my own head. Mine fields, trench warfare, you name it- the whole shebang (apparently it's the 1940's in my mind, also). Anyway, right as I was finally falling asleep i heard through my glass-paned doors (for I have no window!) the sound of mad down-pour. Sure enough, despite all forecasts, sheets of rain are now drenching our inaccessible patio.

And it is this, Ladies and Gentlemen, which sits me here, by the candle-lit window, pouring my thoughts, mimicking the rain. It is this that shakes me from the battled ground of my mind and makes me thankful. Here is a list, thirty things I am thankful for:

1. My Mother's confidence, her disposition, and her strength. (yes, that is all one.)
2. My Father's honesty, and his reality-checks.
3. Flanel pajama pants.
4. Peanut butter.
5. Morning salt in the air, carried by the ocean breeze.
6. Finding new beautiful trails, previously undiscovered by your own footsteps.
7. The fact that I once obsessed over the movie Halloween Town.
8. My dog waiting patiently outside of the grocery store, when I know he's really freakin out.
9. School. Lectures. History books. Taking an ungodly amount of really unneccissary notes.
10. Being able to appreciate a clean apartment.
11. Flowers on our windowsill... Well, even our windowsill in general. Heck, the whole damn apartment.
12. Favorite authors and how they can never truly disappoint.
13. Autosaving of drafts. Seriously.
14. Having my brother live relatively close, even though we never hang out!
15. The max red line (hello IKEA)
16. Feeling fortunate to have a safe place to call home.
17. CHAI. chai, chai, chai.
18. Conversations and people that really, honestly humble you.
19. Being able to look on the past as a road map, reminding you how exactly I got here, again?
20. Moving away when I did (but always missing home)
21. "How Stuff Works" podcast with Josh and Chuck. Nicole will surely second this one.
22. Seasons. ( I know, this should really be higher up than IKEA, but hey.)
23. Places that are open late and getting that safe feeling that people are still around.
24. My and Nicole's plans for coffee table replacements (ex. giant working rubics cube, kiddie pool, rabbit cage- complete with a bunny of course, tree, giant nutella cookie- I may have just added that one.)
25. Remembering that our bodies are simply the costumes.
26. Developing the mind. In school, or out.
27. Smells that trigger unbelievable memories, which sometimes make you realize how sweet past times really were.
28. Developing an even deeper understanding and appreciation for old friends.
29. Thinking, dreaming about what I want for my life.
30. Unpredicted storms. The kind that pull you out of a warm bed at exactly the right time. The kind that inflicts so much reality on you at once, that it makes it hard to believe I had ever neglected any of the above things. The kind that ensures the power of Nature.

Rants. Goodnight,

Rachel

Ps, what are a few things you are particulartly glad to have in your life right now? I'd love to hear.

Tidbits...

I am sorry, so sorry... I feel that I have been a bit off my game lately. So what exactly have I been doing, you ask? Not a whole lot of anything. I did paint my nails (which my Mom would be quite proud of!) and perused the booths at the farmers market this weekend (the poor guy with the hazelnuts seemed confused and a little offended as to why i was only photographing the hazelnuts, not his smiling face.) Also, Nicole and I met with our friend Wesley at Steppingstone and chatted over brunch! I promise promise ill be better over the next few days.

Hope everyone is well (and I hope it cools off in Southern California! Heat is miserable, Sheesh!)

Rachel

Reuben Margolin

Reuben Margolin makes kinetic wave sculptures.

they are incredible



i think i may be in love


-nicole

ps. i hope you are doing well, i have disappeared into the darkroom for the past few weeks, i will have some fun things to show you when i find a scanner