My Top 10 List of Lessons Learned in Portland

Today is my last day in Portland. I can't believe that my time here is done already! As I have been thinking back on my time here, I realized how much I have changed and how much I have learned. So, in honor of my time in Portland, I wanted to share with you the top 10 lessons I have learned while living in Portland.

10. Vitamin D is a rare and valuable commodity.

9.  It's a sweet juxtaposition to be 30 minutes away from the mountain and an hour and a half from the ocean.

8.  No matter the weather, flip flops are always socially acceptable, and can even bring out the sun sometimes.

7.  Foursquare is much more than a playground game or an evangelical church. And it's actually fun.

6.  Catapulting little, screaming birds into poorly constructed buildings to kill green pigs is highly addictive.

5.  As much as I love skirts and high heels, jeans and Chacos are much more comfortable.

4.  Umbrellas really are for wimps. Rain jackets are just so much easier.

3.  Just because some dude is selling food out of his van in a parking lot, doesn't mean it's sketchy.

2.  It is possible to live and work with a best friend and come out stronger in the end.

And the number one lesson I have learned while living in Portland:
1.  Everything looks better with a bird on it.


Hope you can gleam wisdom from my experiences
and laughed a bit in the process.

Much love from PDX,
Amie Lou

You've Just Unlocked...

Foursquare is no longer just a playground game or a charasmatic church. Foursquare is now yet another way to keep in touch with your friends. Orgininally created for New York City, foursquare allows people to "check-in" wherever they go and can see if any of their friends have checked-in nearby. But foursquare puts a twist on the new face of social media that brings me back to Kindergarten. As you check-in to different places, you can earn badges (reminescient of sticker rewards on a chore-chart) and with enough check-ins, you can even become the mayor of places that you frequent. And with every check-in you earn points and can soar to the top of the leaderboard among your friends or even in your city (and like Whose Line is it Anyway, the points don't matter, but they're fun to collect anyway)!

Foursquare is a super-fad in our office. We have joked this whole year about having our own badges while we have all battled for the mayorship of the office and the local Starbucks. So, for our end-of-the-year retreat, I created foursquare-esque badges, individually tailored for each member of our team. Check 'em out...

Katie, you've just unlocked the "Swiss Army Knife" badge.
No matter what comes at you, you've got the right tools to get the job done!

Tristan, you've just unlocked the "Designer" badge.
Whatever the group, place, shape or environment, you shape it to be more beautiful!

Jack, you've just unlocked the "Big Business" badge.
What's with you acting like you own the place? Oh wait, you might someday...

Nathaniel, you've just unlocked the "Cat-Like Reflexes" badge.
Who are we to disagree with Jon Acuff? You're a fast-mover!

Chris, you've just unlocked the "Endless Summer" badge.
40 degrees and raining? No worries, because it's always calling for warmth at your desk!

James, you've just unlocked the "Ninja" badge. Silent and unnoticed, you execute your mission with swift effieciency.
And to be honest, we had a difficult time tracing your check-ins. A true ninja!

Amie, you've just unlocked the "Son-Shine" badge.
We can't help but notice things have gotten a little brighter and Christ-centered since your check-in!

Terry, you've just unlocked the "Moving" badge.
Always on the go, aren't you? Now go buy some packing tape!

Sam, you've just unlocked the "Super Mom" badge. Juggling three kids, a blog, the 4sq leaderboard,
an active social life, and looking great while doing it? Yup, you're Super  Mom.

Darren, you've just unlocked the "Super Leader" badge. You may not be mayor of your workplace, but you lead with grace and a firm fist. Now look out over the office and "Get back to work, you slackers!"

You've just unlocked the "GNW Ops 2011" badge.
Thanks for checking in this year, and don't forget to put a bird on it!

*And if you're looking for more good blogs to read, I linked my co-workers' names to their blogs. I work with some pretty great people!

A Friend I'd Do Anything For

Me and Jackie at a Utah football game 

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can 

grow separately without growing apart."

-Elisabeth Foley

Friendships are funny things. I have seen many people come and go from my life and somehow through all of the distance and life-changes, we can come together and talk as if no time has elapsed. Jackie is one such friend. Arguably, she knows me better than just about anybody, and even though we don't have the opportunity to talk very often (especially since we live 1,000 miles apart now), I know that regardless of life circumstances, I would be able to call on her for support and prayer and friendship.

We have danced for joy together, we have cried with sorrow together. We have spontaneously decorated pink tee-shirts out of anger. We have made up songs about oatmeal out of delirious exhaustion. We have shared life, cars, shoes, and our hearts. We have supported each other in crises of faith and sung praises as our prayers have been answered. We can communicate paragraphs with just a glance and can laugh for hours without stopping. Jackie is my Junior Bible Quiz walking concordance and my fiery red-head who gets angry for me when I can't get angry for myself.  

Jackie has been such an invaluable support and friend in my life. I would do anything for Jackie, and waking up at 5:30am today to see her just for 20 minutes was worth every early second of our brief conversation. Even though we are growing separately and living our own lives, I know that we won't grow apart. 

I love you Jackie. Thanks for always being such a great friend and letting me see you this morning, despite the circumstances. Je t'aime beaucoup mon cher ami!

My Roommate is a Dragon Slayer

Tristan, named after a famed and fearless explorer, was destined for greatness. Even as a little girl, she dreamed of the day when she could take the ranks of her ancestors and go down in history as a great Slayer. Well, for her young and monumental birthday, last week she was deemed worthy of wielding The Great Flaming Sword of Arcadedium. She is now ready to face any dragon. It doesn't matter if the dragon is in the Middle East, Fort Collins, or anywhere else in the world. Tristan can now slay any dragon with ease and coolness. Tristan truly is The Great Slayer.
I am so glad she is my roommate.

Good Old-Fashioned Photobooth Fun

I love my Android. I love Amazon. And so I extra-love the Amazon Android App-Store. Yesterday's free app of the day on Amazon, Pocketbooth, was a steal deal. Because, honestly, who doesn't want a photobooth in their pocket?? Well, when I downloaded it, I wanted to try it out. It was fun. But it made a horribly loud snapping noise as it took the shot. It took me a few seconds to realize that sound was coming from my phone, and then I was shocked and almost disgusted at the wall of sharp sound that was emanating from my device. And  then I was confused because I couldn't figure out how to make it stop! I love these photos, because you can see how my emotions progressed in 2-second intervals.

Shot One: Shaky image because of the startling noise

Shot Two: Okay, let's try this again...

Shot Three: That noise is LOUD!!!!

Shot Four: How do you turn it off??!?!?

So, I hope you got a good laugh out of this today. And if your Wednesday drags-on, just come on back and look at these pictures again, and your day is sure to brighten! ;)