What I (honestly) Wore Wednesday

Maryam over at Pamplemousse has a really awesome link-up about what we wore, honestly, on Wednesday.  Now for my Wednesday I technically had three outfits.  While you may think it's crazy I have good reasons.  Or at least, I think so! 

Outfit 1: Work

Shirt-Target, tank-H&M, necklace-local artisan, pearl studs-F21.  Not pictured: Levi Jeans

So I totally had to take my own picture so hence the no jeans.  Plus my feet were shoeless since we don't wear our shoes past the front door.  My work is kinda picky about what we wear, and I associate the clothes I wear to work with work, so I change when I get home if I am doing anything.

Outfit 2: Run

Long sleeve navy tee-Old Navy, white sports bra-Wal-Mart, black capri workout pants-Target
 
Look at that awesome post run glow!  No, not really, I look awful.  I started the C25K a few weeks ago, but I got a cold and I fell out of the saddle and now I am back in it!  I will say the Champion capris from Target I wear are so freaking comfortable, I kinda get why women wear them, and pants like them, all the time now.

Unmatched, silly, brightly colored, and holey socks totally make you run faster.  It's proven by science!

             Outfit 3: Pre-Birthday Dinner

Dress and cardigan-Target, scarf-from the lost and found at work, belt-Charlotte Russe, necklace-Wet Seal, bracelet-gift from  Chris

Boots-DSW

Chris' best friend came down for a surprise pre-birthday visit.  We went to Hop Valley for dinner and beer.  I decided that I wanted to 'fall-up' my favorite summer dress...Just by adding scarf and boots.  I also rocked my white and black Columbia fleece because it's Oregon, and that's house we roll.  Chris took this picture (well more like half a dozen) at my picky insistence. I still don't like the way it turned out, plus we were watching Archer so it was hard to make my picture very fashiony.  Plus, we lack negative space in our apartment so the front door was the only option.

My Hobby Is Weird.

Or, at least some people may think it is.

 In my free time I dress up in medieval clothes; hang out with my friends; learn how to finger loop braid for the millionth time; watch some fighting; attend a royal court.  Yup, in my hobby is medieval reenactment with the Society for Creative Anachronism. I am quite involved in my local barony, the Barony of Adiantum, I am even our official newcomer greeter, the Chatelaine. I have been involved in the SCA for only three-ish years and I took to it like a duck to water. At my first event I seriously felt like I was coming home, without even knowing my heart and my mind had been searching for something like this.

A lot of people are always shocked when they find out what I do for a hobby.  I suppose it's not a hobby you run into everyday. But I think it is a lot fun. There is a chance you might think it is fun too!

In the SCA we like to say that we reenact all the good parts of the middle ages, and there are many aspects to the SCA.  There are people who fight (men and women); people who make things such as clothes in a medieval method; or people who help out constantly.  I feel that if you have an inclination or desire to try out the SCA I am sure you will be able to find a niche of your own.  There is no limit to what you can do, only your own limits can restrict you.

Me at An Tir West War this past July, in the first dress I ever made.

"How is an SCA event different from a Renaissance Fair?" is a question I get quite frequently.  Most Renaissance fairs are businesses that act much like a theme park.  You pay to get in and then you are entertained by paid performers. At an SCA event you are the performers, you're encouraged to participate and dress-up, rather than just watch. At an Renaissance fair you see people doing this that and the other, but you're not included.  At an SCA event you're able to take classes or just ask people about what they do in the society.  From fighters to artisans to heralds.  Everyone is almost always to happy to talk to you and teach you how to do what they do.  You just don't get that at a Renaissance fair.  The other thing is that the SCA is a non-profit, educational, historical society.  Schools, boy and girl scout troops, libraries, and other community groups have asked us to come in to show children and community members about the middle ages.

Things to do at SCA events are watch fighting, such as wars or tournaments, go to classes for medieval arts, and there is always volunteering.  For me it's pretty much a camping trip, in fun clothes, with my friends, and just some different activities.  A thing at events I love is called court.  This when the royalty, such as the Baron and Baroness, Prince or Princess, or even the King and Queen, hand out awards to the populous.  If you're at a local or smaller event more than likely some people you know and love will be called up and honored.  If you've made an impact on the group or done something awesome you will be awarded, eventually.

Getting my Award of Arms in court from the King and Queen of An Tir, court is all about pageantry and I love it.

One of the best parts?  Matching eras (we're all in Roman) and great friends!

 The SCA has been a great way for me to extend my social circle.  I had a few friends from the dorms, being an RA, and student groups.  However a lot of them had moved away, and I found myself socially stagnant and a skoosh lonely.  Joining the SCA has given me some really awesome friends I cannot see myself now not having, from all age groups.  The other really nice thing is that we're all nerds, deep down.  So our friendships transcend the middle ages to general geekery about table top gaming, Joss Whedon, Star Wars, anime, comics, and other fun nerdy stuff.  My local barony has really become my family.  I have met so many people who I can always rely on to be there for me.

Me, after I got my Award of Arms at An Tir West War this past July.

Doing the SCA gives me another sense of purpose, outside of my normal daily life.  Within the SCA when people do well with fighting, or arts, or volunteering they're given awards.  Each award has a name, meaning, and sometimes you've received a certain award you get a title or your given access to a sumptuary law.  Since I have my Award of Arms I am Lady Aoife (pronounced Ee-faa, it's a Gaelic name I choose myself). I got my Award of Arms, much to my own shock,  I was so emotional that I started to cry in front of the King and Queen of An Tir, then I walked out of court the wrong way, with Chris chasing after me. Awards are a big deal, but not everyone needs them or wants them to have a great experience in the SCA.

If the SCA is something you'd ever find yourself interested in try it out!  There are almost always events happening in your local area.  There are also evenings that local members get together to work on crafts, home their fighting skills, or figure out what is next to happen in their local group.  These evenings are really low-key and a nice way to get to know everyone!  Remember to contact your local Chatelaine, if they have one!  Go into it with an open mind and I am sure you will have a great time!

How to find your local group! 

This is not an official SCA website and does not reflect the policies of the SCA.

Fall, So Far

I am a big fan of taking an exorbitant amount of pictures.  I figure if I post them on my blog it will cover up the fact that I have no idea what to write about.  Prepare some carpet bombing with pictures!

Nathan, Elisa, and Devin came over for Rosh Hashanah dinner.

My cousin Andrea married her partner of 7 years, Matt in an offbeat wedding.

Chris and I at Tiffany's 26th birthday dinner.

I made her a gluten free cake, Chris put the Alot on it.

Tiffany, blowing out her Alot of candles.

On a very perfect fall afternoon Elisa and I to a walk and got pumpkin spice lattes along the way.

I love being able to wear sunglasses in the fall, probably because it's always rainy here.

Fall means boot weather! My boots were from Chris for our first anniversary last year.

Last week was Sukkot and I had Nathan and Devin over for stew, fun was had by all.

That has been about it for the first two months of Fall 2011.

How to Order Thai Food, Like a Boss: Part 1

As I am sure you can tell I am not Thai, however I have worked as a waitress in a local Thai restaurant for almost 5 years.  I feel like I know Thai food quite well, and since people always like have suggestions or ask a million questions here is a handy-dandy guide to ordering Thai food.  Not all restaurants are going to have the same items, but I am sure that you would be able to find something you'd enjoy after reading this!

First, let's start with some misconceptions of Thai food:

1.  Everything is spicy: Nope.  While some dishes may be spicy right off the bat like a curry (since curry is a naturally spicy spice) not everything is spicy.  All restaurants should have a base level of spiciness of level/star of one or two that can be made hotter.  It's just hard to make anything less spicy if it already is.  One way to look at is that in Thailand they eat all their meals family style, as in there are several entrees that everyone shares.  So if mom likes something with a level three of spice but dad likes a 10 and their daughter likes 2 they have to make something at a base line of spicy.  Then they would heat it up with hot sauces.

2.  Thai Tea: It is not made with coconut milk, but diary.  We use both condense milk and half and half.  Also Thai tea is very different than Chai tea.  Despite the fact that Chai is Indian and Thai tea, is well, Thai, Chai is spicy and sweet while Thai tea is just sweet all around.

3. Thai food is just like Chinese food: Several customers have said this to me on many occasions.  No, it's not.  They're two very both unique, beautiful, and delicious cuisines with deep historical and cultural significance.

4. Chopsticks:  While many Thai resteruants (including the one I work at) have chopsticks available to customers they don't actually use chopsticks in Thailand to eat Thai food.  They'll use them for other Asian cuisines like Chinese or Korean.  But when they eat at home they use a spoon and fork.

5.  Pad Thai:  It isn't made with peanut sauce, just has peanuts on the side.  It's primarily tamarind juice.

6. Salad Rolls:  A lot of Thai places have them, some don't.  Salad rolls (sometimes called summer rolls) aren't Thai.  They're from Vietnam.  So my restaurant doesn't have then because they're not Thai, and our owner likes to keep things traditional.

The next parts will be about dish suggestions, how to order them, and suggestions for kids.

The Hawaii Posts: People

I think it's best to start this series with the people who made our trip possible.  Chris and I spent countless hours with his amazing family and friends who treated (and spoiled us) with much kindness, generosity, and love.  This was my first time meeting many of them, you know, beyond Skype.

This is Chris' half sister Natalie. She hung out with us after we checked into the hotel that Chris' dad and step-mom work at.

Chris and Natalie together.  Would you believe she's 13?  She is tiny just like her mom, Lucy.

I took this picture of Chris with his best friend's Andy's mom, Sue Jan.  She calls Chris the fourth son of their family.  I stayed with her, her husband, and their eldest son Greg during our trip.  She's a kindergarten teacher and a great cook.

Chris' Aunty Cheryl took us and several family friends to dinner at a teppanyaki restaurant called Kobe.  It was a lot of fun for the kids.  Aunty Carol brought her two sons Nicholas and they had blast.  Here is Chris with Natalie, Ethan, and a tanuki statue.  Notice the sizable nads on the tanuki.

This is Aunty Jewel with her partner Aunty Cheryl Anne.  They live in a beautiful house on Koko Marina.  This was taken on the top of Mariner's Ridge.  I enjoyed all of the time I spent with them.

This is Chris' dad Greg.  He is a big foodie and baker just like me.

Please ignore Chris in this picture.  This is the only picture I took of his Grandma.

This is Chris' step-mom, Lucy, who is Natalie's mom. See the resemblance?

This is Greg, who is Chris' best friend older brother. He's huge Doctor Who fan, just like me.

These pictures weren't taken in Hawaii, but the night we got back to Oregon:

This is Elisa, she came and rescued us at airport in Portland.

 Chris, using my phone to talk to someone. I think it was Andy's mom.

This is Andy, Chris' best friend, and me.  He's Greg's brother, Sue Jan's son.

So, that's it for the people we spent our holiday with.  I miss them dearly and the made our trip that much greater.  Sorry the spacing between the picture is wonky.

Oh, Irony

Last night I decided it was the night.
The night that I was going to blog.
The night that I was going to blog about my holiday in Hawaii.

I was excited to say the least. I had divised a posting system (see below) that I thought was perfect. So I set out choosing the perfect pictures and putting them into organized (well, for me) files.

I started my first post and I noticed my MacBook's battery was low. No big, plugged in my charger, hooked it to my baby and I started typing away again.

Then I noticed that the light wasn't on. It wasn't charging.

So I checked the power strip, which was working, because I had my heating pad plugged into it and it was working just fine.

(Yes, I am an old lady.)

So I tired just about every combination of cords and outlets with no result.

Apple is calling me at 4:30 today.

Hopefully whatever is wrong is covered by the warrenty.

Is it too soon to blame Steve Jobs' death?

(I have a very dark sense of humor.)

The Hawaii Posts

For two and a half weeks this summer my boyfriend Chris and I went to Hawaii to visit, and for me to meet, his family.  It was a really amazing vacation filled with great sights, amazing people, and delicious food.  I have decided instead of doing one giant post I am going to divide up the posts in five groups:


People
Places
What We Did
Food
Us

Once they're all completed I will link them with in this posts (in the list above) and to each other.

Each post will contain a lot of pictures, so bear with me.  Also a lot of things will over lap, especially with places, food and what we did.  But I tried to not duplicate pictures so each post will be different.