girlfriends & deep talks

Over the weekend I spent some time with six of my best friends from my college years. The majority of us were teammates on the track team and our friendship blossomed during early morning workouts and Sunday long runs. Three years ago as we were going into our 30th year earth side we organized a reunion trip to celebrate our friendship and our lives thus far.

This past weekend marked our third anniversary of the trip. Each year we pick a destination in the PNW and get together for a weekend of gin & tonics, laughter, a couple workouts, sing alongs & winery tours.

This year we visited Vashon Island, a 15 minute ferry ride from Seattle, is a little slice of PNW rural island life. We stayed in a 1970’s yurt inspired home with tons of personality and hit up some of the local attractions like an antique shop called Treasure Island, the local farmer’s market, a community center Zumba class (where we double the participants and dropped the median age by 25 years) & Vashon Wines- highly recommend the last two.

Guest Post:

Back today as promised, a day late, to share Dominga’s style tips and perspective on a few pieces you can introduce into your wardrobe to get major style points. But first, a quick reminder to comment below or email Dominga to RSVP for our event next Thursday.

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Each morning I find myself in the throng of harried-looking moms who are gently (or not) prodding their children to the school drop-off line. Whether we’re rushing off to work or to a short stint of precious solo time, we are united in our unforgiving schedules and the promise of another day of mostly the same.  I’m sure I’m not alone in my quest to figure out ways to maximize efficiencies, whether it’s shaving a few minutes off the daily commute or bedtime. Now that my daughter has adopted her own sartorial point of view, we’ve incorporated choosing outfits into the evening routine, which got me thinking about my own approach to getting dressed.

PB & La Madre

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Mark your calendars friends! I will be co-hosting a “madre’s night out” event here in Portland on Thursday September 29th so please spread the word and come by if you are in the area. It will be a mix and mingle event for madre’s and the perfect excuse to meet those of you that I have never had the pleasure of meeting in real life and also those of you who I don’t get to see often. My co-host for the event is Dominga Ramirez, shop owner and mastermind behind the shop Perican Bing in Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood.

this week & last

Mo & his hiking buddies

Last week we took off Thursday in advance of the long holiday weekend and headed out to Trout Lake, Washington to spend some time out in nature at my uncle’s cabin. Our intention was to leave by noon but work and life got in the way of that. So, we left around 3:30pm which was no surprise to our travel buddies and friends who after this summer are more than familiar with McLauer travel schedules. That is them in the photo above. The movie star version of the Mike y Ly couple. Jenn looks like she should be in the PLL cast and I mean that in the best way possible.

Back to our late departure, I like to blame Mike but really it was all me, and some work meetings, that had more to do with it this time. It also didn’t help that we had some last minute house showings right when I got home from work that kept me from getting in the house to pack for the little trip, but that is good news.