Goodbye July, Hello August

Woah- time sure does fly when you’re having fun! After 6 months of gray & rain, I’ve been indulging in late, warm summer evenings and leisurely walks in the sunshine. This little blog o’ mine received little attention this past month (please forgive me, blog!), as I’ve been busy crossing items off my Summer To Do List instead. Here’s an update on some of the things I’ve been movin’ and shakin’ on for the last 31 days.

We snuck up to Seattle the first weekend in July and had a wonderful time visiting friends & family. This view is from my Aunt & Uncle’s rooftop in Queen Ann..beautiful day & night.

Well, wine tasting was not on my summer to-do list but I accomplished this wonderful event twice! We headed out to Newberg/Dundee for a girlfriend’s birthday and we were all pleasantly reminded at the beauty of Oregon wine country, just a mere 40 minutes south of Portland. We made stops at Argyle, 4 Graces and Sokol Blosser…4 Graces Pinot Noir was my favorite wine of the trip.

Wine tasting round 2: Edgefield McMenamin’s for Florence & The Machine. Edgefield is a wonderful outdoor venue with a winery, hotel, amphitheater & more. I spent the afternoon there with my sister & her friends before the concert began. Ohhh yes- it was beyond anything I even imagined. Outdoor concert- check!

My jaw dropped when Mrs. Katie Brown walked down the aisle on her wedding day. She is so simply fabulous, not to mention her hair piece AND necklace were hand made by herself. Congrats again Katie & Corey! PS. I must tell…I scored that Trina Turk dress from Banana Republic on sale for $85.

I’m sensing a theme here…wine, friends & family…no complaints on my end! My family took me out to dinner for my birthday to Nostrana and we further indulged in wine flights & cheese platters. Mouth watering, authentic Italian food + a beautiful, relaxing setting makes for a wonderful birthday celebration.

What else happened for my birthday? The Mr. and I spontaneously decided to book a trip to Mexico. We leave in a few weeks for a 5-day trip to Puerta Vallarta. Mr. Riggar actually surprised me by choosing & booking the resort (he’s so good at it now), after we briefly discussed the thought. The countdown has begun!

Last, but not least, Brewfest. Always a fun weekend of tasting some of the best beer in the nation.

Phew…I’m tired! But, also ready for August! Still have a few remaining items left on my to-do list and plenty of sunshine left to soak up.

What have you been up to this summer? Do share!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

*All images taken by me.