.tourist life. seattle

On Saturday, Emily and I took the Bolt Bus to Seattle. We left Portland at 8:30 am and 3 hours later arrived at Union Station in the heart of Chinatown, Seattle. It was an interesting trip, and I'll spare you the long story. But suffice it to say, the trip consisted of forgotten wallets, pink umbrellas, almost missed bus rides, delicious fajitas, and lots and lots of rain. 

Here's what I saw as a tourist in the largest city in the Pacific Northwest:

Happy Christmas Eve, my friends! Enjoy the time with whomever you are sharing it with.

Carolyn

Photo of me credit: Emily plantbywater.blogspot.com

.portland aerial tram

Friday morning Emily and I rode the Portland Aerial Tram. The tram is a mode of public transportation that primarily exists to transport people from one terminal of the OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) to another terminal, but alternatively provides some pretty killer views of the city. 

The Portland Aerial Tram bears a striking resemblance to the pods on the London Eye, but instead of traveling in a circle it travels in a "straight line". At 22 mph, it only takes 3 minutes to reach your destination - 3, 300 feet above where you boarded. I mean it's practically like a ride at Disney.

For $4 it's a pretty neat excursion while visiting Portland. I was a cheap date! :)

Here's what I saw one overcast Portland morning:

 

Have a merry Thursday, my friends!

Carolyn

Photo of me credit: Emily {plantbywater.blogspot.com}

.oregon.update

Hey friends!

On my first day in Oregon, Emily took me to some of the most breathtaking sights that Oregon has to offer - the Columbia Gorge.

We saw 3 different waterfalls! I don't think any words I attempt to write will even come close to giving this magnificent place the justice it deserves. So to put it simply, I felt very small and the world God felt very big.

Here's what I saw on a surprisingly sunny day in Oregon:

 Have a magnificent weekend,

Carolyn

PS We're headed to Seattle today!!

.cortese. family session

Last weekend Ashley, of Smitten Design, asked if I could snap a few family photos for their Christmas card. They're so photogenic that it only took about 30 minutes to get more than enough images for a Christmas card! 

Here's what I saw last weekend on an overcast afternoon:

Tony and Ashley, thanks for letting me be a part of sharing your lives with others!

Have a great day y'all. I'm headed to Portland!

Carolyn

.amanda. maternity session

Hi friends, I'm so excited to share these photos with you today! 

My sister-in-law Amanda is pregnant with baby number 2. This sweet baby girl is due in January, but chances are she will come early, and our family will be blessed with the best Christmas present of all. 

Amanda is a fabulous cook, a kick-butt lawyer, and one of the kindest women I know. She has fed me more dinners than I can count, all with a willing heart and not even a thought of something in return. I am so blessed to have her in my life, and so grateful she let me coerce her into posing for some maternity shots! 

Here's what I saw last Friday as the sun shined fiercely over a Tallahassee afternoon:

 

Isn't she beautiful?? Clearly, you would have never known she was 8 months pregnant if I hadn't told you right? 

Have a wonderful Tuesday,

Carolyn

PS Only 3 days until I jet set to Portland, Oregon to visit one of my best friends- Emily!! 

.food photography. grapefruit tea cake

One of the best parts of living in Florida during the winter (besides the obvious, non-freezing weather) is the abundance of fresh citrus fruits- meyer lemons, blood oranges, ruby red grapefruits. They're everywhere- in the markets, in your neighbor's backyard- just waiting to be scooped up and squeezed into a cocktail or baked into a cake. 

I came across this recipe for Thomas Keller's Glazed Grapefruit Cake, and instantly knew how I would use the large bag of ruby reds that sat on my counter.

I know it sounds a little strange, but trust me this cake is a delicious treat and is equally as simple to make!

Here's what I saw:

Recipe found here, via Pinterest.

Have a  sweet Wednesday, my friends :)

Carolyn

.case of the mondays

Hello friends, my Mom made a surprise visit to Tallahassee this weekend! Home is only 3 hours away, so impromptu visits are easy (and happen quite often).

She got here around lunch time, so naturally the first question was "Where are we going for lunch?"

The weekend was eventful, yet relaxing- a perfect precursor to the anxiety filled finals week that is rapidly approaching.

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend, and are having an easier time transitioning to the workweek than I am!

Carolyn