The Cheesy Finish to My Summer Road Trip and a Bit of Greige

September 18, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

Hey all!
Um, please excuse the paint.

Nine shades of greige

We’re sort of swimming in a sea of greige right now.

According to our realtor (and more importantly, Pinterest), greige is the BEST paint color to sell your house. So we’re awash in neutral.

Anyway, back to where I left off weeks ago. Which was that pretty cool Pacific Northwest road trip we took in early June. For weeks I’ve been blogging in my head about it (and other topics my mind would like to figure out, like how I might sell dust bunny crafts on Etsy, bc I’ve found OODLES of dust bunnies behind bookcases my friends), but as cool as you all are you probably can’t read my mind (this is a good thing, it’s dusty in there).

So without further ado, here’s the last bit of our trip.

The Oregon coast highway 101

The BEST part of this day was waking up knowing that the only thing on our agenda was getting from point A to point B, with miles of awesome stops and discovery along the way.

Sea monster on the beach…or driftwood?

The views on the other side of the road were spectacular too.

Netarts Bay. Loads of clams and crabs. And muck.

Dear mystery couple in the muck,

I’m sorry for taking your picture.

And for being entertained by you.

And for using you as entertainment here.

That’s all. xo

This is Nye Beach.

It’s like a million miles to the water’s edge here, but we stopped at plenty of beaches along the way. Including one with dozens of ladybugs on the sand.

Unexpected. And pretty cool.

Ladybugs are my jam.

We like factory tours. Tillamook was delightfully cheesy.

A Tillamook grilled cheese sandwich with gluten free bread. Yay!

Have you ever found something unexpected or interesting at the beach? Or been to a factory tour?

Happy Friday!

Gulls (and Boys) Just Want to Have Fun

January 6, 2014 | Coleen Patrick

Recently I challenged myself to try to catch some action shots with my phone’s camera.

Not much action here. Just some seagulls, hanging out.

Although, some gulls took a little time for reflecting.

Others stretched their wings–or showed off.

Can’t say for sure as I’m not really a gull expert.

BUT…

I do know that birds like bread.

They will crane necks to get bread.

They will swoop and fly.

They will get rowdy.

Not all though. Some will be cautious–maybe even a bit suspicious.

This gull probably has an agent.

So I moved on to other subjects.

Replaced the bread with a Frisbee.

And … action.

What challenges have you set up for yourself lately?

Happy Monday!!

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Expectations, Success, & the Sun-streaked Possibility of Summer

June 24, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I like the idea of summer. It really does feel like a new beginning. Or at least a chance to catch my breath.

Even though I’m not in school anymore, I’ve been anticipating the shift into this new season.

Yeah there may still be work to do (and troubles to deal with) but I’ve been looking forward to longer days, sunnier days…days that somehow seem open for MORE.

Well, more of the things that seem to allow you the space to breathe.

Our days can be packed with obligation. Too many times I’ve ended a day staring up at the high bar of expectation feeling like I just missed it. Again.

There’s a lot of noise when it comes to the definition of success. Not only with work, but health, relationships, and life in general.

Not enough. Do more.

But there’s something about summer that leaves room for the good kind of more.

More color, more fun, more daylight, more possibility.

More space to be you.

What do you love about summer?

🙂

Check out super cool writer, Emily R. King! Emily lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest–and she’s been shark cage diving!

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Playing Hooky: The Beach is not a Place to Work

May 13, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I was NOT on vacation this week.

But I did go to the beach. I drove two hours to spend a few days with family to celebrate my sister’s graduation from nursing school.

She lives only ten minutes from the actual beach, so…I mean, I couldn’t NOT go.

So in terms of meeting my typical work quota last week. Didn’t happen.

I skimmed emails and stuff via my phone, but mostly I felt like I was out of the country.

And I’m so okay with that.

🙂

There was too much good stuff happening anyway. Experiences I am happy to fall a little behind at work for…

The Pinning Ceremony.

I couldn’t miss the only time my sister would wear white tights with white shoes.

My heart at the beach.

So I got a little behind at work. Totally worth it. Now, it’s like I’m sailing back on a salty sea air breeze.

Okay, so my mind may be a teensy bit too clear, but I’m going to take a cue from my four-year-old nephew, who one night, spent a really long time deconstructing and constructing a plain old brown box.

Creativity, you really can start anywhere.

Task number one—today I’m over at Kourtney Heintz’s blog, author of The Six Train to Wisconsin, talking a bit about my journey as an Indie author. I hope you can stop by! Bring cheese fries if you have ’em.

What people, places, or things are worth getting a little behind at work for to you?

Have a GREAT week!

Coleen xo