hehe, Happy start of the Holidays you El-Jourbagy's out there. xo

The old one, the new one, a moment while sipping on a mocha at Backspace and a scene today forcing me into the holiday spirit. Human puppets!

Sitting underneath its shade - such a peaceful place to sit and think.

A looky what I made last week. Helped make, that is...

Hello world! I have this really bad ache in my shoulder blade. What could it be? Something spurred on by the stress from work, the change in weather or the fact that the holidays are here already? What is with everyone making the whole city feel like Christmas! The stores are filled with reds and greens and that music that just makes me want to go WHY now? Then again, November is almost over with and we have one more month in the year to finish 2010 out with. Where does the time go? Who cares, I say! So who's with me --- Who's ready for some TUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRKEY!

and currently working on the project Play for Keeps, click here for details.

Cheers

The Robertson Tunnel.

A trip to the Morning Star Cafe followed by a hike near the Hoyt Arboretum...What a great way to spend my day off!

Hello all! Hello you! I have been getting rained on like crazy! The Portland rain is here and it is here to stay. I'm hoping that Steven and I can go snowshoeing over the weekend! AND we just found out that Uncle Trevor is celebrating his 60th birthday next summer and all we have to do is fly out there and wish him all the best! Either somewhere in Italy, France or Spain. WE are going!!! Euro TRIP!

Portland Reigns in the National Geographic Traveler.

Another Sunday of mine.

The rain and fall colors are hereI saw a little girl painted on the wall that reminded me of myself, ;)I loved the bottled effect here attempting to give you a blurred view of houses lined out on the street in the SE area.These berries were just breath-taking. Hanging there all together with a degree of security yet hanging on for dear life. My weekends seem to just run into one another and do not really serve as breaks between the work weeks. It all started up again this past Thursday night when I went straight from a full work day to a hospitality suite to the 1st Thursday art walk. We saw again that Italian photographer who they say 'came out of hiding' and I find him to be unusually strange. On Friday, I helped out with a morning event and breakfast, afternoon trade show and then off to the hospitality suite I went. That Friday night, Alex, Steven and myself all hung out at the one-of-these-days-to-be-open bar/restaurant and yes, it should be written long-winded like that. I woke up the next day at 7 am to make it to the breakfast cruise on the Willamette River. The weather behaved giving us some blue pockets of sky until right after I headed home from the pier, got into my apartment safe and sound and that is when the sky poured down on Portland - buckets and buckets of rain fell on the city. I spent the afternoon with Steven watching movies at home (the best!) and then took off for the hotel for a night at the Portland Art Museum. All I will say here is check out the China Design Now exhibit. Or just for that matter, head over to the museum. It's the oldest museum on this side of the West Coast.

I was on the Willamette Star this morning for a breakfast cruise. Tonight, I'm off to the Portland Art Museum for a banquet and some art wandering.

Its those moments that I just love...

I be trying to get a good shot, ya hear me over dare. You hear me barefoot and pregnant people. I is trying to enjoys myself. Will post soon with me here new camera.

Right now I'm just in awe of this new little addition. I'm just getting the hang of the little guy.

Phew for glass windows...

Can you believe not only will I be celebrating another Halloween with the camels, I'll be celebrating my FOUR, count them - four, years in Portland, Oregon. When it gets up into the years digits, it's really hard to look back and pick out just a few great moments because they were all GREAT. I am looking forward to a few more celebrations in the near future and if anything just to celebrate that I'm doing well with my life and I'm trying to defend myself from all the evils of the world. This morning, I was right next door attending a meeting on the top floor with Travel Portland, our visitor's bureau, and while I was sitting there looking out into the fog filled city a huge black crow just flies right into the window, snatches himself a bug off the window and then takes flight again for one of the rooftops. I texted Steven this bizarre incident and he replied back with "thats cos its almost Halloween." BOO! Tonight, I'm heading for an afternoon of food, drink and networking at Nel Centro, one of downtown Portland’s newest restaurants. It's located adjacent to the Hotel Modera and serves up a Mediterranean cuisine from the cities of Nice and Genoa.

So with that coffee table book that comes out soon where I got a page of my own photos and all in it, a prequel to the launch of this book is tomorrow night's Slideluck Potshow Portland. One of my photos along with many others will present the slideshow "Local" at Studio 3.

Taken last year about this time of the month...can't wait to capture and see again!

I want to be here and here again soon!

hehe, one of my colleagues wrote this about me as part of our marketing campaign...

Greetings once again from the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower!

Enclosed is your second installment of our 2009 Team Trading Cards. I have the pleasure this time of introducing you to Natalie El-Jourbagy, another member of our Sales Team. Natalie has been with us for the last four years, coming to us from Atlanta, Georgia working in the hospitality and restaurant business for over a decade now.

Natalie is a particular favorite around here as she is the guru of all things cool to do in Portland. If it is crazy, unusual, or downright FUN, Natalie is in the know! She is a great lover of fine food, enjoys trying the newest restaurants and she can find the hippest boutique without really trying.

At this time of year, late Autumn heading into Winter, we usually find Natalie dreaming of not only a white Christmas but also snow on our local mountains. A new snowboarding junkie, Natalie takes learning new sports to an extreme and hits the slopes as much as possible during snowboarding season.

Natalie’s focus at our hotel is on all groups, all types and from all regions, with rooms of 45-99 on a peak night. Thank you for taking the time to get to know Natalie a little bit better. We look forward to many opportunities to work with you!

Who would have ever thought that I would be looking forward to a weekend alone with Steven! hehe. I promise to blog everything that has been going on in my life over the weekend. It's catch up time!

October's first thursday artwalk 2009. Always something new to see, touch and feel!

snow south southeast. it happened, yes it did.

So here I am. What are you doing? Not sure why I'm not posting a lot as of late. There is too much going I suppose in my life to even find time to write about it.

Just the two of us... you and I! xo

Met the cowboys, Steven and his brother, Daniel on the waterfront after work this evening. What a beautiful walk home. We stopped to see the new Saturday market location - water fountains included - stopping in the Monkey and the Rat store and then poked our heads thru the gates of the Chinese Gardens for a glimpse of its rare sanctuary. The rest of the walk was lit up by a beautiful reddish hue off of the Northwest hills. I love Portland. Yes, I do.

Marguerite, Steven and I visited the lovely Mississippi area last night. She took us out to eat at Lovely Hula Hands as a thank you for taking care of her boys, Lucky & Bear during her 2 week vacation. The company and food were just perfect! xo xo

I've been helping out at a store called Eclexion this weekend. Melissa, the owner, is someone I met about 5 years ago at the Saturday Market. She had a small store in Skidmore building on the second floor. Now, she has a shop on 2nd between Couch and Davis. I highly recommend you stroll on over to her store as soon as you can! One of a kind dresses, amazing jewelry, messenger bags to name a few. I'm going to bed my lovelies. More in the AM!

It's 3.3o in the morning and I am awake. City life is what I feel and see. Experiencing it all is amazing and I wouldn't change it for the world. You must enter this zone with me... Enter, and it will change you.

Let the photos speak for themselves...About to get serious with my picture taking. hehe!

To busy watching Manchester vs. Beskitas but...

Announce this, announce that. Blogs are all about announcing! Aren't they? hehe. I have plenty to announce but I feel like I must lay low and be quiet on here. Damn shame, isn't it! Or maybe I'll let loose like that lady at www.dooce.com. She is so, way cool! I envision ME too be something like her. haha! More later my lovely audience.

Hi! First time in a long time where I've been able to sit down and really blog again. As I sit here coping with ninety degree weather (WHY? can't it just cool down already. This is WHY I left the South. My skin and my mind cannot tolerate hot weather), I sit here loving the new shoes I just bought from Sole: I love that store. Last weekend, I grabbed a copy of the Chinook Book. We already used the coupon in there for Wildwood and it pretty much paid for the book itself. I have a lot of happy thoughts racing through my head right now. Some are ones I can't share on my blog out of respect to those who dislike my love for blogging. As for the others, I am waiting for the right moment to tell you what is all going on in my world. Housesitting, dogsitting and carsitting for our friends' has also kept us on our toes. You should see the photos they've been sending me, from Phoenix, Sedona, Bell Rock, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon and their final destination, Las Vegas. Incredible! I've already gone ahead and booked us a weekend at Sunriver Resort for the end of this month. I can't wait to head down South again. xo xo

Photoshoots about to happen...getting geared up for all that sh&t. xo

In the evenings during these last few days of summer have been spent in front of a 42" flat panel TV with over 200 channels... drool~

...well I did make it to the market this afternoon...

No, I didn't buy that Nefertiti like necklace and yes, I bought this new red coral ring at The Saturday Portland Market~ I wanna TRAVEL!~

Bad habit, bad.

I have a heaven's helles relationship with getting up in the mornings. I have every good intention of waking up early but I end up snoozing leaving myself with only twenty to thirty minutes to get showered, dressed and to work on time. Hmmmmmmm...a bad habit of mine, when will it ever stop. What hasn't stopped is my photography and I have my first assignment for the Portland Saturday Market coupon book come mid-September. I'll be taking photos for their website. I will be borrowing a fancier camera for the shoot but I hope to have my very own camera here soon. ***Donations accepted*** In the meantime, my day job is probably the reason why I can't get up in the mornings. I truly enjoy what I do for a living but as of late its been draining. Hmmmmmmmmmm... hold please. Oh below are photos from when my mom and father were out here in June of this year:

Somewhere in Portland, Oregon...

We've got the windows wide open with no screen door over here. I just love watching the city from the comforts of my couch. I can hear the sounds of the occasional police siren, busses and truck noises and sometimes the sound of the bell the new MAX train likes to make. I can see the wind swaying in the trees and the clouds changing color as I type. The sky is pale blue in color and the light outside has a calming effect on me. I made us turkey sandwiches for dinner and now Moe is on his way over - its ps3 time. So... only 1 person commented to my last entry. Hmmmmmm... Hold please.

Sorry...

I am sorry, just sorry for not writing on here like I should. We've done some traveling which is the reason I've been absent from posting regularly on my blog. Give me a project you wonderful people out there. What would you like to see me photograph for you?!

Travel with me...

The Lost Lake report. Hard to put into words.

The sickeningly sweet life of jaded flags...

...hang from the balcony rim. What's new is that we purchased our very own 42" flat panel TV AND I got my passport in the mail. I will start writing (and traveling) more here soon. First destination on the list Vancouver, BC. But first we are taking off for Clear or Hidden lake this Saturday for a little bit of all-day fishing and photo-taking. I also noticed tonight that the bar/restaurant Steven works at is located a block from the building you see below with the four wind turbines show on the very top. If you have trouble seeing them just click on the photo to enlarge. Wind turbines IN the city!!??

Need sleep. Need more food in the refridgerator. Need cooler weather. Have love. Have happy thoughts. Have understanding of what matters. Know you. Know myself. Know that we all are very alike, just different ways of thinking. See so much beauty. See everything with an open mind. See it with me? Nothing bothers me anymore. Nothing to fear. Nothing to write about much today? xo

And the skinny is...I am making a name for myself in the art scene here in Portland, Oregon through my photos. That is what's up! I just attended my first private art gallery reception and absolutely loved meeting so many neat, just neat, neat people. AND I still am in awe when I see people ponder over my photos as they try to see meaning and beauty in them. The Mildly Lost collection is for sale. I'll let you know if any of them sell. If anything, more gallery wall creations are being developed right now by ME and the wonderful Brian, the Tribute Gallery, Steven and everyone else I meet along the way. Oh, did I tell you that one of Steven's charcoal drawings was featured in the front window of the same gallery. Feels good...Feels O so good! Thank you Brian~

I've broken free...

Hello there! I've been trying to find the time to blog. WHA! Unheard of. It's just simple unheard of. I'm in the midst of something big. I can't even describe how I feel right now. Things just seem to have fallen into place and I'm living out the things I once thought were out of my reach. Do I keep you guessing or do I just spill the beans?

Tomorrow night at Tribute Gallery

Off to Lake Billy Chinook after some artwalk Gazing! Oh! Is that my stuff on the wall! One word: Wow! Be back on Sunday. Till then LIVE and love every minute of it!

Peek a boo! I'm still quite sleepy. When you are constantly doing stuff it eventually catches up with you! I've been asked "do you have 3 photos that represent "Tribute" to you ? I am going to be opening a gallery next month....Preview this thursday! I would love to show you Monday or Tuesday Night! THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING NEWS regarding my photos and getting them seen!

This hot weather has given me blogitis. A condition where one just doesn't feel like blogging. The temperature will soon be cooling down here but until then I shall bid you adieu. ***I'll be back soon***

So how I am handling the bloody record breaking heat! Three words. Hanging in there. How I've handled this insane heat is a). we've ghettofied our bedroom AC window unit, b). threw a lot of icy cold water at each other and c). tested our insanity at times. haha! Because of the heat and it getting to our heads, we impulsively bought a Rockband kit. Other than that, I got away with a few dress code rules (without pantyhose), kept my integrity intact and feel like I am one step closer to owning a new SLR camera (thank you MOM and PAPA for giving me a call today). But what I do know is we landed ourselves a stellar deal through our friend Alex a deal on a 40" HD flat panel TV. I can't wait to hang it up in our living room. Start your engines its time for an update in our living room decor. We're heading over to Alex&Linds' place tonight for a night full of entertainment and central AC!!!!! and then tomorrow, I hope to find some cool lightware (lampware) to cozify our apartment and if Steven has to work, I'll spend some time at our office picnic over at Oak's Park. I'll take the bike over there, fo sho, but first over to Julia's place to peruse through her yard sale in the southeast area and then we'll all bike over to the company picnic.

Another shot that I fell in love with...

Garden love

Quick and Easy

I got my Instyler today! My hair will never be the same. The weather is finally nice again. Open windows, ahhhh, so nice. Leave me a comment. Tell me a little about yourself?

Oregon living. The only way to go.

Look, a rare mix between the purple podded (purple) and beurre de rocquencourt (yellow) green bean and look, it matches my dress colors too! hehe! Another dinner to be made this evening with a whole bunch of fresh and local veggies from the market.

Today at Smugglers Cove

For once in my life I didn't set the alarm and as it would happen to me I woke up to the text message 'we'll be there in 10 minutes.' I jumped out of bed, scurried around furiously to get dressed and ready and managed to get enough kisses out of Steven before running out the door and into Chris&Marguerite's car. OFF WE GO to the great roughed BLUE!~ Chris wanted to stop first at Camp 18 for a hearty breakfast located in Elise, Oregon. Sitting at the Burl table, I felt like a midgit. Click here for a photo of my breakfast. We took off once our bellies were full for the coast. Somewhere a little South of Cannon Beach right as you enter Oswald state park through the first tunnel and to the right is where we parked the car and walked about half a mile through the forest which opened up to a secret hideaway: Short Sand Beach at Smugglers Cove. The water was freezing cold. Good thing I snowboard and not surf. Even with a wetsuit on, it must be chilly on the bones! Below are photos taken after spending a perfect day on the sand...

Passport photos. Check. Package ready to be sent to my guarantor in Monticello, Georgia who will then forward my application to Canada. Check. I can't wait to do some serious traveling in the near future.