Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad

One of my goals this month was to explore at least three different things in Portland/ Oregon. I didn't waste any time by jumping on the good ole fashion railroad to take in the scenic Hood River area located in the Columbia Gorge.  Dave and I drove an hour in the rain to get to Hood River and board the train. The whole drive there, I was nervous it was going to rain all day long and put a damper on our adventure. However, in good old Oregon fashion the sun came out and shined during the excursion and started to rain again when we got back to our car!

.i love the colors of the train cars. 

The cars we traveled in were mostly from the 1920s - 1940s. You could turn the seats to face others or have some privacy, which was nice (and reminded me of train we would take from Newcastle to Sydney, Australia). You could also walk between cars and get yourself a snack or beverage, if you didn't bring one with you. 

We rode the train for 1.5 hours to the small town of Parkdale, OR. Parkdale is located only 40 miles from the base of Mt. Hood and I'm sure its a sight to see on a clear day. On the way to Parkdale we saw orchard after orchard, making my mouth water thinking of all the delicious fruit this summer. I can't wait to do the Fruit Loop!! The conductor of the train taught us how farmers kept their orchards from frosting over as well as knowing the difference between cherry trees and pear trees (pair trees have rough bark, cherry trees have smooth). AND around 80% of the orchards in the Columbia Gorge are pear!

When we arrived in Parkdale we explored the orchard before grabbing some lunch. After the rain we truly enjoyed walking around the small town in the chilly spring air. We took our time taking pictures everywhere in town before grabbing lunch from the local grocery store. We found the perfect spot to relax and eat before the train blew it's whistle for us to board again. 

All in all we had a fabulous day on the railroad, taking pictures, and having a quick little adventure. Plus the drive from Portland to Hood River is beautiful in itself. We went in early April before spring had officially sprung, I recommend for others to wait until middle of April or later so you have more color outside your train window. 

Dave and I got our tickets through Groupon, but you can also find more information on the Mt. Hood Railroad website. 

WIW: dog walking

Do you ever have those times when you just don't want to wear another pair or pants...or all your pants just don't seem to fit? I am definitely in the mood right now. I have a few pairs of jeans out of my many that I ever feel like wearing, but still times I just want to switch it up.  So, I decided that it's the perfect time to start layering my dresses to give me both warmth on chilly days but also spice up my wardrobe. Plus, who says you can't wear your dress as a skirt?!?!

When I put this outfit on, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. Would it be to much with the print and the graphic...however, I ended up liking it and loved the feeling of being comfortable all day long! Plus, wearing this sweater over my dress makes it more flattering for me than if I wear it with jeans (no muffin top/tire!).  I love this sweater, it's seriously one of the cuter ones I own! 

Have you seen my favorite purse? I think I shared it before, but how can you not swoon over it!! I have been in LOVE with this purse since I laid my eyes on it over a year ago. I use it whenever I can and always try to make sure that my skull is facing out so I can share it's beauty with others. I didn't lie in my other outfit posts, I am seriously in love with my motto boots. I wear them with almost every outfit! Plus with such a spunky print and graphic, I feel that the boots balance it out so the outfit doesn't go to girly girl for me.  

.the details.

dress: Target

shoes: Target

jacket: Forever 21

sweater: Lane Bryant

tights: Lane Bryant 

purse: Loungefly

* Maggie was an excellent sport for stopping on her walk for me to take some pics *

.the reading list.

Since one of my April goals is to read more, I figure why don't I start sharing some of the books I've been reading. I won't give away to much about the books, just a quick little synopsis and if I liked it or not. I love looking at other people's books lists so hopefully you like this new post series as well!

Orange Is The New Black: Piper Kerman

Did you watch the Netflix series based on this book? OH. MY. GOODNESS. It is soooo good! I devoured the first season within a week or so and can't wait for the second season to start. I knew that I wanted to read the book but was skeptical, cause really could it be as good as the show? The answer is: it's good, but not as great as the show...which is to be suspected because the show is loosely based on the book. In the book we follow Piper as she navigates her year in federal prison. She is not your average inmate and we experience her trials and tribulations as she tries to fit in and survive. I recommend this book, it was interesting and an easy read. I feel a little bit more prepared for any future sentencing (which hopefully don't ever occur)!

A Walk In The Woods: Bill Bryson

I love this man, Bill Bryson can always make me laugh out loud. He is not only hilarious but he can make the most uninteresting things really interesting! In this book he takes on the adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail with one of his high school friends. The Appalachian Trail runs all the way from Georgia to Main and is hiked by thousands of hikers each year. Bryson does a great job of blending facts and history in with his own personal experience on the trail. I learned a lot about the historic AT while laughing out loud and enjoying it without all the work of hiking it myself.  When reading it, I had to take a picture and share this passage with everyone...its SOOOO FUNNY! I highly recommend this book and all books by Bryson!

. i still read this and just giggle. 

Bossypants: Tina Fey

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book, it is amazing! I absolutely loved every minute of reading it. The book is a story about Tina Fey's life and I felt as if I was having a conversation with her. This is one of the first memoirs I've read in which I felt this way. She shares her stories with you, most of them are super funny but she also gives us a dash of hope and optimism. I highly recommend the book, especially if you love to laugh and are looking for an easy, fast read!

Gone Girl: Gillian Flynn

You have probably heard of this book, even if you are living under a rock, you heard of it somehow. This book was huge, it was on the best sellers for months and months. I worked at a used bookstore and we couldn't keep a copy in stock for a whole year..yeah, it was that huge of a book! Because it was so popular, I think I had higher hopes for the book. I read her earlier books before this one and I loved them. This one, I didn't love this one as much. The story follows the disappearance of a wife, her husband is a suspect, and you follow both characters both past and present through the ordeal. I didn't like the characters, maybe if they were a bit nicer, I would have like them and appreciated the book more. This is a book, I say check out for yourself..it wasn't for me, but millions of others loved it!

What books are you reading?

.the numbers are in.

I've calculated the miles from March when I either ran or walked intentionally ....

drumroll please......

With my longest runs being 6 miles and 8 miles at one time. 

My goal for April is to move more miles than March and keep building on this success! 

.Munson Falls.

We discovered this beautiful spot on our trip to the Oregon coast, but it was so beautiful that it needed it's own post. Dave and I were driving down the highway heading into Tillamook for some Christmas Day chinese food when I saw a sign for the falls pointed towards a small dirt road, of course I didn't hesitate to turn off the main road. We drove up a one lane, dirt road, laying beside a  corn field as we made our way down the road slowly turned into more pot holes than road. We almost turned around but thankfully we pushed forth because this is what was waiting for us at the end of the pot holed road...

It was a moss covered fairy tale wonderland.  We pulled into a small circle parking lot, parked and then jump out of the car to explore. We didn't have to walk to far before we were blown away, becoming speechless by the beauty that surrounded us. If you follow the path you come to a beautiful waterfall that makes you stand in awe. This was one of the most beautiful places I have been. It seriously is in my top five...and closer to the top than the bottom!!

If you ever are in Portland. Jump in a car, head to the coast, and view this beautiful natural treasure when you are there! It's just right outside Tillamook,  you can take a tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory and then walk off all that cheese at the Munson Falls!!

.Oregon Coast - Part 2.

Please enjoy some more photos of our quick trip to the Oregon Coast in December! I honestly can't wait to go and take all my friends who visit me to the coast. Coming from a land lock state that is filled with over 10,000 lakes, it still has nothing like the ocean (even though Lake Superior comes pretty close). I will always hear the ocean call my name and am happy to answer the call from time to time. 

(PSSSTTTTTTT....you can view Part 1, first..if you want..or after..whichever)

.when you see a turn off with a great view, you HAVE to pull over and 

place your bulldog in front of the view for a picture!! It's a MUST!!!.

.Pacific City, Oregon. 

This little gem was hidden off the main road. When driving down the highway we saw a scenic highway sign and took a sudden turn without thinking. The road lead us to a very small town, we turned down some really small roads and landed in this beautiful spot. We climbed a sandy hill, ran through the tall grass, and enjoyed the view that we had all to ourselves. 

.Rockaway Beach, Oregon. 

.Hug Point. 

(yes, we did hug...of course)

.Cannon Beach, Oregon. 

Have you seen The Goonies ( Hey you guuyyyyysssssss!!!!)? Well, if you have then you have seen Cannon Beach and you would love it as much as you love the movie!!! I truly wish we would have arrived earlier and spent more time at Cannon Beach, but I guess making it in time for the sunset is just as wonderful! Dave and I first pulled into a viewing spot, got out, pulled the end scene of The Goonies up on our iphones....and then realized we were on the wrong side of the rock! So into the car we went to try and get on the correct side because I HAD to see it just like in the movie. I don't know why I had to but I just did! 

Most of our stops along the coast, Dave and I had to ourselves. It was so peaceful, beautiful, and relaxing to take little breaks staring out into the ocean. The only spots we encountered a lot of other tourists were Hug Point and Cannon Beach.  Even though they had lots of tourists, I would go back to both places to explore more. The coast is only 1 hour 30 min. away from Portland, so if you are in the area make sure you take a day to explore! I know we will be making many trips this summer, answering those calls of the ocean whenever them ring us come!