Weekend Update, Picture Perfect Edition

I had one of the best weekends ever this past weekend. My pre-birthday! weekend, if you will.

Why, you ask?

Well, first! because I got to spend half a day with the stylishly savvy and incredibly down-to-earth Kali, soaking up the sun, chatting about everything and nothing, stuffing our faces with Italian food, making fun of American Apparel clothing, and finally, watching The A-Team.

Dear American Apparel, This is u-g-l-y, it ain’t got no alibi:

Dear American Apparel, 1987′s Debbie Gibson called. She wants her sweater back:

My review of The A-Team in a 140 characters or less, and without spoiling anything:

No, but really. It was awesome. And you should go see it. Like, tonight. The characters were super engaging, and the comedic timing was near perfect. Sure, there were ridiculous action sequences that could never actually happen, but hi, welcome to all the best action movies.

Cool guys don’t look at explosions.

It was quite amusing to discover Kali and I were watching The A-Team at the exact same time Angella and her husband were, some 10+ hours away. We were equally smitten with the film, and I was definitely not surprised. Angella is awesome for many reasons, not the least of which being her appreciation for (Bradley Cooper, and) great action movies.

On Sunday I woke up early with absolutely zero to do beyond meet Hans for some coffee consumption and studying. While I would wait until later to drink coffee (I dropped in at Barista to see my friend Meggan’s husband, Daniel, and drink their delicious brew), Hans and I had an awesome morning people-watching and conversing at Sip & Kranz, which for some unknown reason I have called Sip N’ Kranz since I first visited the place over a year ago, as if (I can’t read signs, or) it’s a coffee shop doubling as a boy band from the early ’90s.

We sat outside for hours and watched sleepy, happy Portlanders amble by with myriad sized dogs in tow, and listened to kids splashing in the community wading pool at the center of the small park laden with trees and shaded benches. That is, until a man came to sing and play his portable keyboard, just for us.

I also shared the magic of the (very free) MacGruber app for the iPhone with Hans, complete with MacGruber mullet generator.

Reason #437 why I love Hans: She’s a great sport. Especially when it comes to computer-generated mullets.

After leaving Sip AND Kranz, we meandered over to Bridgeport in the Pearl for some patio brews, wherein “brews” mostly means “brew, singular,” as in “I had a Haymaker Pale Ale while Hans studiously studied.”

After monopolizing Hans’ Sunday morning, I hiked around Northwest for a few, eventually stopping in at REI to get into trouble spend some birthday money (See also: my grandma is cooler than your grandma), eventually deciding on a pair of Chacos (a preemptive expense for some river rafting I’m so psyched to be looking forward to as part of Rhi‘s bachelorette weekend in August), and a pair of green Tevas. I then proceeded to get ridiculously sweaty on my trek home. This just in! Leisurely walking: I apparently cannot do it! At least, not when I’m walking solo.

A super “artistic” shot of my new Tevas from underneath the table at 23 & Hoyt.

After changing so as not to stank in public, I went to meet two of my favorite people (Ms. Long Story Longer and the aforementioned Rhi!) for drinks at 23 & Hoyt, and convinced Hans to come and delay her studying a bit longer. A good scholarly influence I am apparently not.

From left to right: Long Story Longer, and Rhi. They make me laugh. A lot.

While chatting with Kali on Saturday, and with the rest of the girls on Sunday, I realized, for the hundredth time probably: I really do have the most amazing of all friends. They are witty and hilarious, kind and generous, and some of the most supportive people I have ever known. I am beyond blessed to have each of every one of them* in my life.

In short: If the rest of the summer is anything like this particular weekend, I will officially be a happy camper.**

So, tell me, what did you do this weekend?

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*Each and every one of YOU if you are a friend of mine reading this right now. (Also, hello! Happy! Monday.)

**No actual camping is planned for this summer, as I’m pretty sure a tent, a sleeping bag, and a desire to camp are prerequisites for camping.