Modern Prairie Girl

Two words.

Amazing

and

short.

As in needed-to-be-at-least-two-days-longer SHORT.

The view from the air was enough to get me excited…anytime I leave rain and arrive in sun and BLUE BLUENESS, all is well.

PH won the trip through work, so to say that this is a resort that the Blairs would not have seen otherwise is an understatement. We knew we were in for a fab experience when our own personal concierge met us at our car and told us that she was personally responsible for making sure we had an incredible time (!).

After exchanging mouth-dropping looks as we tumbled our pastey bodies into the hot lobby, we officially high-fived and vowed that we would take advantage of every perk.

Right down to the ice tea and mango juice picnic that was waiting for us on the terrace of our room when we got to the room (and like complete five star resort amateurs) ooooh and aaaawed our way through the tour with the concierge, who I’m sure was amused at how giddy we were…especially when PH mad-dashed his way over to don the fuzzy robe (that was his size, btw—they had us email it to them the week prior) and was parading around like a RockStar…MY rockstar, ready for some fun…the man has been working like a dog and traveling far too much away from his girls…it was so great to see him relax.

This resort is “Villa style” and absolutely beautiful.

It was a beach with lots of rocks…meaning crashing waves and thicker sand.

The terrace was a big resting spot….

Hmmm….which do we choose today…

balcony?

Beach?

Infinite pool?

So great to have choices…..

Okay, so my beloved felt it necessary to capture the window from the potty, because by golly, that is the “best toilet view he has ever seen”….yes, I rarely get to count the gulls dive-bombing the waves when atop le toilette…such a luxury.

We’re early risers…probably because we’re programmed to the am 6 am alarm in our “normal lives” and luckily, the sunrise was just about that time in Cabo. Friends…this is the view from our bed facing out to the ocean…I didn’t have to get my lazy tuckus out of it to get this snap….let’s just say I would never get OUT of bed if this was home. Yes, can you say, “Fantasyland”?

First dinner in paradise with crashing waves below us and fireworks show that almost made me jump into the drink because I had no idea there was such a thing. PH seriously thought I might fall in….not a glamourous way to start out this adventure.

ATVing in the desert with the ocean next to us was a highlight.

First, let me say that I grew up in the city. I thought ATV shenanigans were reserved for hillbillies with gunracks and “Insured by Smith and Wesson” bumberstickers…..

I’m a convert…

Complete chaos and crazy fun…

I loved it and almost threw myself off several times…but still a blast.

My gangster PH on the left…

This beach was perfect for playing, but we weren’t allowed to get off them rigs….just enjoyed the spray as the waves came in.

Lots of cool wildlife…Igor, our pet Iguana (for about 30 seconds until he disappeared under a rock) was beautiful…we had several sightings all week.

Unbelievable flowers that I just wanted to stuff in my purse…thinking our agricultural gestapo at the airport probably wouldn’t have approved…just have to settle for some snaps.

Told PH that we must do this arrangement at home this summer. He laughed his maniacal laugh, knowing that A) it’s hard to grow such beauties in the moss and shade at Chez Blair and B) I kill every plant I look at in a 2 mile radius.

sigh…

sure is pur-dy, though.

One common denominator with luxury resorts..funky, modern art pieces all over the grounds…does this wolf look hungry to you? What kind of metaphor are we striving for here? I wanted to put my face in that hole, but I feared the gardeners who were lurking nearby…maybe they were really “art security guards” looking for awestruck tourists to wrangle.

Fire dancers at our “last supper” on Saturday night. Very cool show without even one singed eyebrow.

Amazing.

Back to reality…with a flight to S.F. and then Seattle (not Portland, which is 20 minutes from home) and a 3 hour drive down to Vancouver at 10:30 at night. Woo-hoo! PH had the Grande Latte and fought the sleepies the whole way home…but we did recount our adventure and vowed to go back there again some day…

As you can probably tell, the Big Kahuna stayed home again on this trip….I think I just worry about it getting “hurt” during travel…and more importantly, I just don’t want anything that reminds me of work when I’m supposed to be relaxing. If he had come…it’s quite possible that I would’ve gotten lost on the resort property (sans PH) chasing iguanas and waves and pelicans, subsquently ruining my romance potential with my travel buddy.

There is NOTHING like being away in a magical place without your kids. Rest assured, we missed them terribly by the last day and talked about them all the way home on the plane….dissecting every facet of each of their personalities and DNA combinations…it happens every time….BUT, there were moments when it was just DaveandLara…before all of THIS…and by THIS, I mean absolute blessing upon blessing of childrearing, and homelife and family adventures. But sometimes it’s just so great to be moving your couch onto the terrace in your hotel room, lying feet to head and reading trash magazines to each other (ashamed to admit this, but ask me anything about Sandra and Bradgelina right now…I’m loaded with ammo..sad, but true)…Most of all, it’s so nice to have uninterrupted conversation and joke time. PH is definitely “on” when he’s in relaxation mode (“Is this thing on?” “I’ll be here all week” “Don’t forget to tip your waitresses”, etc) and I laugh more than anything.

Grateful, grateful is this NW girl!

Missed you guys…really did!

OX.

I was sick this weekend and had very little energy to do much, but last week before the “ick” set in, I was able to jaunt over to NE Portland with the hub to walk our old stomping grounds.

You see, this little Love Nest is where it all started (minus the green window trim) when we began dating. He owned this cute bungalow (5 minutes from downtown Portland) and I lived in Seattle. One of us either drove down or up every weekend for a solid year before we got married (I was in school getting my Masters and couldn’t move down). It was hard, but oh-so-worth it.

Whirl-wind

romantic

weekends

are a great way

to start off your life together.

The people who bought this from us 11 years ago are still there with two kids…amazes me that a family can live with one bathroom (maybe they’ve added one since).

Unbelievable how everything is in bloom here in February! Not the norm by any means, but WE WILL TAKE IT. These cherry blossoms make me so happy.

Some trees still look pretty naked and loom way above the small houses in this adorable neighborhood called “Hollywood”.

We did the same run through the neighborhood above ours called Alemeda 4 times a week when we lived there. This little tiny gate was always a favorite spot.

Cutest gate EVER.

I’ve always been in love with this yellow house. The “Happy House” I used to call it. So glad it’s still in good shape. We watched a massive remodel over two years and how I coveted this place…Mr. PH and Bad Dog Daisy posing happily.

Portland dates always involve Pepino’s and a Thai burrito…my greatest weakness. If I was on Survivor and was offered one of these bad boys I would give ALL my cash all at once to get it. We love walking up and down NW 23rd—it has the best shopping and the greatest people watching.

Via.

Question: What is the best way to finish off a date with your boy in the big city?

OR

What is the best use of your tax return?

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Buy a TANDEM.

We’re excited to ride when the weather gets better. I think it will be a good date activity….also good for my butt, which needs some firming up since I’ve been injured in the running department (one can only walk so much on the treadmill—good grief, I’m going through the the chick flicks like crazy!) I’ve got grand plans of riding around the San Juan Islands this summer pulling a small trailer full of camping gear behind us.

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So, there you have it. The world’s perfect date in the Blair household.

Some early spring-art for you, my lovelies~

Have a great week, lovelies~

OX.

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There are times in days of family and marriage and kids that we go through our days doing what we’ve always done.

We forget to really look across the table at our beloved and think about what they mean to us…

…what we have created together.

Well, I was lucky enough to get the chance this past week to focus on the US, rather than the “All of US” and it was the best gift I could’ve been given in a long time.

Yes, I am in love with this man…more today than ever, but I enjoyed the deep conversations more this time around than our first solo trip to Maui 13 years ago on our honeymoon…yes, the honeymoon is, well, the gift we give ourselves as a married couple after all of the self-inflicted chaos of the wedding and it is WONDERFUL, but I think when you share history….stories…family funnies…creating little people together, it makes it all so rich…

and so fulfulling...

and amazing.

I am grateful for that safe place I feel when I snuggle in to the PH chest (he’s got 13 inches of height on me) and know all will be well. We’ve had a ridiculous amount of moving and change and chaos in the past 13 years, but it is all GOOD…especially when my face is in this spot, looking up.

So in my little world…small as it is…there is Romeo and Juliette, Tristan and Isolde, Samson and Delilah, Edward and Bella…and Lara and Dave. I feel so much gratitude for picking my mate well…goodness knows my friends and family were worried about me doing this too with some random dating situations I had there (hoo-boy!). I didn’t have a lot of modeling going on of what a good relationship should be growing up as a child of a nasty divorce. At least I took some cues of what not to do…at least I felt certain on that day 13 years ago…even more certain now.

Thanks for reading my personal drivel…this time was so important for both of us and I am so glad to share it with you, my sweet lovelies.

Some Maui fun things to do….

Rent a convertible! You’ll never go with the top up again…

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Drink a ridiculous drink in a glass that looks like you should be soaking in it (like the Poconos, for crying out loud!)

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How on earth we decided to jump in the hot tub with our clothes on I’ll never know…drowned rats walking back to our room….at least the lei is dry!

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Our feet and the surf at Big Beach…right where they should be…

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I’ve got so many snaps of footprints, it’s a bit much…this was my fave…

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Love looking at old churches ANYWHERE on the planet, but in Hawaii it’s so incredible.

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I’d like to reserve one burial plot next to the ocean, please….

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We tried to top ourselves each night with sunset pics…of course, the Big Kahuna was asleep at home in WA, but we did get a nice Panasonic point and shoot that I really like—actually my friend Will, a pro photog I’ve talked about, recommended it and we think it’s just great.

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PH took this great shot. Check out that outrigger in the corner…nice framing, mister!

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I call these “God lights” because they look like He could be communicating directly through them….peace, love and happiness.

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Okay, so it wasn’t REALLY our anniversary (our Lucky #13 was on July 27th), but it certainly felt like our big day at Spago, one of the best meals we had. The Four Seasons is a gorgeous hotel and we enjoyed ourselves a lot at that meal. Plus, that added chocolate is nothing to scoff at…of course buttoning my pants at this point isn’t going so well—what a fab-u-lous way to go into Thanksgiving…great

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I hope you have a wonderful Monday, lovelies…drop me a note to let me know what you’re up to for the holiday.

Big smooches!

OX.

Today, dear MPG’s, we are after a little romance. It’s important. Most women crave it. It’s about the notes and the unexpected moments (especially if you’ve been married awhile)….I’ve been enjoying the sudden long hair PH has lately. Not sure why b/c he’s usually Mr. High-n-Tight with the cutting scissors, but in the last month he’s let it get a little longer (we’re not talking “mullet” here, just a little long all around). To say that I LOVE it is an understatement.

You know that goofy thing teenagers do when their boyfriend leaves for the evening to go home and they sit and hold his sweater up to their face because it smells like him? Well, I had an urge to snuggle up to PH’s t-shirt tonight (he’s out of town). Must have been how it made me feel to watch him with the girls. He is their utmost hero—so patient with them in every way and tolerant of all of the drama shmama we put him through. I saw him out the window jogging around the yard on an imaginary horse with R and it made my heart sing.

TGIF….Let’s look at some fab kissing art, shall we?

Via Lovely Happenings.

Via Vi.sualize

I love what a good wedding photog can do with the kiss…

Via Vi.sualize

Via Vi.sualize

Via Vi.sualize

Via Vi.sualize

Via Vi.sualize

This movie 500 Days of Summer looks like it has some good kissing scene potential~

Pic via Lovely Happenings,  a fun blog.

Love the lyrics to this song “Kiss Me” from Six Pence None the Richer~

Kiss me out of the bearded barley
Nightly, beside the green, green grass
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step
You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress.

[Chorus:]
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon’s sparkling
So kiss me

Kiss me down by the broken tree house
Swing me upon its hanging tire
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat
We’ll take the trail marked on your father’s map

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Barn House Boys are having their last sale of the season on Saturday—looking to meet a couple of you blog friends there…I’ll be the one with the Big Kahuna around my neck and a swing in my step. Come find me!

Happy weekend~

OX.

Via Vi.sualize

Okay, girls…we all need it. This is true. Especially sappy ‘ole me. The tent conversations on Whidbey this past week reminded me of how much I enjoy spouse/sans kidlet time and what it can mean to a relationship (one that just celebrated lucky number 13 years last month). Yes, I get frustrated with PH’s lack of understanding of my gypsy-furniture/photo prop hording/late night creation time obsessions, but I also think the reason I am sane is that he is the part of my brain that is missing. He always knows how to say things that need to be said without hurting my feelings, and to the girls, for that matter—I am in awe of his diplomacy in this estrogen-heavy household…probably because diplomacy is not one of my spiritual gifts. When I watch him with these little people in our midst, I simply can’t believe I got so lucky….if they ever find half the man they have in their dad, they will be doing pretty well. Potential boyfriends of Blair girls, beware—-you’ve got big shoes to fill someday.

The song “Magic” by  Colbie Callait song gets me every time I hear it. I had to pull the car over the first time I heard it…what is it about this song? She has such a comforting voice anyway and then you pair it with the line “You are crazy gentle in the way you kiss” and you’ve got something there. Phew!

You’ve got magic inside your finger tips

its leaking out all over my skin

everytime that i get close to you your makin’ me weak with the

way you look through those eyes

And all i see is your face

all i need is your touch

wake me up with your lips

come at me from up above

yeaaaa, oh i need you

I remember the way that you move your dancin easily through my dreams

its hittin me harder and harder with all your smiles

you are crazy gentle in the way you kiss

All i see is your face

all i need is your touch

wake me up with your lips

come at me from up above

Oh baby i need you to see me, the way i see you lovely,

wide awake in the middle of my dreams

Via Vi.sualize

Have a great weekend, my lovelies…can you believe it? It’s 6 am something and I’m all dressed and ready for the Barn House sale…rose right out of bed without an alarm.

OX.