Why Knot {explore}: Tillamook Forest

 One of the best parts about living in Oregon are the endless amounts of adventures that are SO close to you. Want some waterfalls? Drive 30 minutes east from Portland. Want a lush forest within the city? Walk or hop on public transit to Forest Park. Want a forest a bit more secluded? Drive 45 minutes to Tillamook forest. Want the coast? Drive an hour and a half west (from Downtown). And then there's places like Bend and Eugene or if you want a longer drive, Ashland, all at your fingertips. It's a little more manageable than California because it's a smaller state and it sure is beautiful!

 Before I moved here I started a list of fun places to eat/drink/hike/explore/etc. and I'm slowly making my way down the list and adding more every day. I've done a pretty nice job so far but I love that there are so many more places to explore. If you are thinking of heading up this way, let me know and I'll give you some of my recommendations!!

 My friends and I had the day off for Veterans day last week and we wanted to make the most of it. We realized none of us had explored Tillamook forest yet so we set out for a fun hike! We drove a little longer than we would have liked but the hike was gorgeous nonetheless. I can't wait to explore that forest a bit more in the coming months.

Also, I don't have any good hiking shoes and I didn't want to get my bright blue running shoes dirty so I hiked in my snow boots! I figured they must be waterproof and would prevent me from slipping (everything was wet from a recent rain) and I think they held up just fine! A little heavy to lug around at times but they got the job done! 

There's always something to do here and it makes exploring easy! I still have so many places on my list of things to do/places to eat! I crossed one off last night by going to Luc Lac! There's definitely no shortage of good food here in Portland. 

Where have you gone exploring lately?

These are my reflections

**shout out to Usher via Confessions for the title of this post**

22 feels a lot like this picture most of the time. There's a semi-clear cut path ahead of me yet no end in sight. It's beautiful but also a bit intimidating. There's a tendency to keep walking through to the end but forget to stop and admire the lush green landscape that lies to either side. And I do this a lot. I get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and the endless to do lists and forget to remember my age, the blessings in my life and admire the bright, puffy clouds above me. 

 

I've found I'm getting better at stopping and sending up little prayers throughout the day since I've moved to Oregon because it's fairly easy to do. Just yesterday I was driving to my school observation and the sun was rising above Mount Hood and the city in the most brilliant display of colors. It took my breath away and I sent up a prayer of gratitude. 

Wednesday night I lied in bed so perfectly content and thought to myself, "22 is a pretty fun time!" I have nothing tying me down and I live in an amazing city. Instead of dwelling on what I don't have and growing frustrated, I stood in the moment and thought about all that I DO have and thought about how I should allow myself to have more fun! I'll be 30 soon enough! 

So the path isn't clear but it sure is bursting with beautiful things to admire as I walk my way through.

Master of None

 Are you in need of a new show to binge watch?? No? Well you should watch this anyways! 

Master of None is Aziz Ansari's new comedy (dramedy?) on Netflix and it. is. amazing.

Seriously. I am so sad that there are only 10 episodes because I've gone through them so quickly! 

Aziz gets what it's like being a millennial. I would say this show is the perfect blend of his Tom Haverford character from Parks & Rec and his stand up.

 Each episode tackles a different societal norm or theme from casual dating to losing your friends to babies to appreciating your parents and grandparents. He handles each topic with humor and warmth that makes the show easily lovable. Also, all of the secondary characters are from unique backgrounds and are actually realistic!! Weird! What a thought! Each topic he tackles deals with real life things and not in a Sex and the City way and not as uncomfortable as some Girls episodes are. 

Aziz get's it. Is it cheesy to say that he just understands us in a way that the media has failed to portray??

Some of my favorite episodes are Old People, Parents, Indians on TV and Ladies and Gentlemen. Although Nashville is pretty great too. Some of the episodes are definitely more risque in that I would probably not recommend my parents watch them (or maybe just not with me haha) but the heart of the show is so. darn. good. Also, fun fact, Aziz's real parents play his parents on the show!! And they are so great! 

So what are you waiting for?? If you only have a little time, definitely watch the episodes I recommended. They're safe bets. :) 

Happy streaming!!

Let's Get Real

I kind of despise exercising. I love natural exercising like going on hikes or long walks with no real end in sight but force me to jump on a treadmill and I would rather die. (Ok, that's an exaggeration but stick with me) Lifting weights? Yeah, no. Leaving after a long day to attend an exercise class somewhere? I'll pass. 

And besides going to Italy and gaining a few and having to run off the extra pounds, this has worked for me. (I am incredibly blessed with a great metabolism, which I know is really annoying) But as I get older I know my metabolism will inevitable slow down and it would be nice to nip that in the bud right now. Another thing about my body is that I can't touch my toes and I am basically one big knot. I put on muscle really easily and I'm sure this isn't technical in anyway but I think that easy muscle just piles up in my body and gets stiff really fast! 

SO!

Why am I rambling on about exercise or a lack thereof? 

I am on day 5 of a 30 day yoga challenge through Yoga with Adriene on YouTube and I. Am. Obsessed. My body feels SO good, my back is hurting a little less day-by-day, and I can feel my body slowly loosening up a bit. I definitely can't touch my toes yet but my goal is to do so by the end of 2015! (I work best when I have short term goals and an end in sight!)

I think the point of exercising is to find something that works for you. I know myself and I know that I do not do well when I have to leave the house to exercise. I won't do it! I'm lazy I guess. :) BUT. If I lay a blanket down on my floor, put my computer in front of me and turn on a yoga video, I'll do it! And then I can go back to homework and making dinner without feeling like I used up so much valuable time! 

Have you found what works for you? My roommates run and love it. They just completed a half marathon!! And my sister is working towards a half marathon now as well! But you know, I have no desire to do that. AND IT'S OK! So find what works for YOU and stick to it! Or, you can always start the 30 day yoga challenge with me! 

Let's go!!