Well, we spent the weekend in Newport, Oregon...
But this was as close as we ever got to the beach. (We kept making plans to go for a walk down on the shore but it just never happened.)
Besides, we were busy hitting every thrift store within a 60 mile radius.
And we were busy searching for the best places in town to eat.
We actually met up in Albany so that we could hit a few shops.
Our first stop was The Golden Pear.
Where they just happen to carry the Rosepetal Betty bathbomb cupcakes that Jill makes.
I curled my hair so I could look all purdy for Jill.
And then we went to the best fish & chips place ever (The Depot in Albany) before shopping some more.
That's Jill's 'Is-that-a-Fire-King-dish-I-see-in-the-window-?' look (I on the other hand never even knew what Fire King was until this weekend...but am now the proud owner of a Fire King mixing bowl and a Fire King salt & pepper shaker).
And that's Jill's 'Does-anyone-need-a-clam-shaped-silver-plated-dish-but-I-really-just-want-you-to-see-my-cute-black-boots-?' look.
Jill knows where every Goodwill is in the Pacific Northwest.
And they play really good music at the Goodwill that I like to serenade Jill with while she is trying to shop.
And we find great humor in shopping at Goodwill thinking about things like how excited the Harold who just happens to be an OSU Beavers fan is going to be when he finds this cup for just $1.99.
Or how happy the woman who collects miniature beaded dolls with hand-muffs is going to be when she stumbles across this rare find.
We don't really run into problems with wanting the same things too much unless we're in the apron section. (We actually had to start taking turns with who got the cutest apron at each of the Goodwill's).
I don't really cook much but am convinced that if I buy enough cute apron's from the Goodwill for $1.99 each that I will start wanting to cook.
At one of the Goodwill's I saw a chipped tin coffee cup that reminded me of an old orange one that I used to drink lemonade out of while sitting on a green stool at my Grandma's house. I actually started crying right in the Goodwill (in my defense, I was feeling sentimental and hormonal and some stranger had been mean to me at the street market earlier that morning so the orange tin cup was just the straw that broke the camel's back).
We also like shopping at places called the Eager Beaver (although shopping at places like the Eager Beaver require an extra squirt of Purel once we get back out to the car).
And Nye Beach has some great places to shop too.
Especially if you're looking for cute new shoes. (Jill came dangerously close to purchasing these in leopard print.)
Or a pair of beer goggles.
And the chicken pot pie at Nana's Irish Pub really is good (thanks for the recommendation).
After Jill does her hair like a newscaster each morning, she likes to say things like "Now, coming to you live from the channel 10 newsroom it's Jill Radley" while holding a pretend microphone (and it doesn't matter how many times she does it, I always find it just as hysterical as the first time she ever did it).
And then we shopped some more.
And I found some really cool vintage buttons and a old melon baller.
And then we found the mother of all finds (I have been wanting movie theater seats for years now). They had two sets with three chairs per set and they were only 50 bucks per set (practically free).
So we loaded up our matching movie theater seats into Jill's Honda (we have matching cars too) and then called our husband's to tell them the exciting news (however, neither one of them were all that excited).
We spent the whole weekend laughing about all the same stupid crap that always makes us laugh. We talked in the same stupid voices that we always talk in when we're together (I'm sure we're really annoying to be around) and we broke out in same songs that we always break out in.
We stayed up until 4:00am talking. We ate until we were sick. And we laughed until our faces hurt over things like Bananas Foster.
Man, I needed a weekend like that.
DANG you guys are so cute!!!!! :) sounds like an AWESOME weekend!
Posted by: Tanya Webster | October 14, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Thanks for helping the Albany economy!! I, too, love the Golden Pear and have the added benefit of knowing one of the owners--I worked with her husband and his sister used to babysit my kids (it's a really small town sometimes). And the Depot is one of my favs, too. Glad you like it here! And glad you had a great weekend. My BFF since middle school lives in Montana and we are exactly the same as you and Jill when we get together.
Posted by: Terrie | October 14, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Fun times, fun times. I almost spit out my Lean Pocket as I read it. Gonna have to eat a lot of Lean Pockets to make up for the Bananas Foster.
Posted by: Jill | October 14, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Just reading about it made me smile. I'm glad you and Jill had such an incredible weekend. . . now I can't wait to see what you do with those movie theater seats.
Becky (aka: beckywedd) :)
Posted by: Becky | October 14, 2008 at 01:51 PM
OMG! I have been waiting to read you blog all-weekend-long! Meeting you and Jill at the Golden Pear was the highlight of my weekend - MY BFF, Laura (owner of the Golden Pear) and I are still giddy about it. It looks like you guys had such a great time...Laura and I are going away soon for our own "girls weekend" - thanks for the inspiration! Can't wait to take your "10 things" class in Salem in December and your photography class in January!
Posted by: Mandy | October 14, 2008 at 02:08 PM
isn't the depot the best?
YUM. I might need to go there this week :)
glad you two had a fun time!
I was at the coast this weekend as well (in bandon)
and it was a GORGEOUS weekend for it!
Posted by: sarah | October 14, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Looks like you had a wonderful time! Sounds like a perfect weekend! Can't wait to see what you do with the movie seats! Those are so cool! Loved all your pictures!
Posted by: Addie | October 14, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Just had to tell you that I just emailed my sister this post and told her that you two are just like us! Thrift stores, Purell, laughing till one screams "STOP, please stop or at least let me go to the bathroom!" Too fun!
Loved the photos and the post.
Posted by: Sandi Keene | October 14, 2008 at 02:38 PM
your weekend sounds divine!! Glad you enjoyed and now I have the motivation to have an equally great weekend with my BFF, my MOM! Thanks for an amazing blog, of which I stalk daily! :)
JaDell
Posted by: jadell | October 14, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Love the Depot, my fav sister lives in Albany, and I have to say it sounds like a superb weekend! I'm going to have to hit the Golden Pear.
Posted by: TerriB in Oregon | October 14, 2008 at 03:44 PM
I wish the post was longer :)
Posted by: Basia | October 14, 2008 at 03:46 PM
you look more like sisters!
i have a friend like that too, she always makes me LAUGH, i have known her since 4th grade and i always wonder why we let time go by without getting together...
i think you forgot to mention that she was your best friend in the whole wide world LOL!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | October 14, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Looks like you had a great time Karen!!! So glad you took the time to get away for the weekend!! Just wish I had me some theater seats too :)
Posted by: Bobbi in KY | October 14, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Oh man , there are 13 of us "Scrapbook Girls" getting together for a retreat, lots of cropping for some , lots of goofing around for some and just plane get away from all the stress and "laugh our pants off" sometimes pee a little bit when laughing to hard.... whoops !..... You know who we are and are always invited.... bring Jill you two will fit right in..
Laura P
Southern OR
Posted by: Laura Plunk | October 14, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Glad you had a great weekend, Karen!
Posted by: Dina | October 14, 2008 at 05:35 PM
love love love every photo..I too wanted more visuals of your adventure. My niece has the leopard danskos and they are great, and honestly, not as crazy looking as I thought they would be...SO happy you had such fun! Great post!
Posted by: janel | October 14, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I love the Depot in Albany, fish & chips and a Anchor Steam beer, can't get much better then that! Looks like you found some great treasures
Posted by: claudine | October 14, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Wet Wipes AND Purell !!!
Sometimes I can't get the thrift store smell out of my nose...but it's worth it for finding a pair of Born boots $8.95 for my sister a few weeks ago.
You need a nose plug or VapoRub to walk through those shoe isles! ha.
Y'all are too cute--love the do's. It's true--girls dress for each other!
Thanks for all the fun pics & glad to hear it was like old times. You know your friendship is true when you get together it seems like no time has passed since you saw each other last. And then... wreckless abandon! ha.
Posted by: kat-in-texas | October 14, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Sounds like a simply marvelous weekend! I am curious what you're going to do with those movie theatre seats though.
Posted by: Christine | October 14, 2008 at 06:55 PM
So glad you had a good time!! And stoked (and a little jealous) that you made it to Nana's! :)
Posted by: Sarah | October 14, 2008 at 07:03 PM
i love the depot!!! good food and such a cute little restaraunt. love, love, love nye beach. did you eat at the chowder bowl or is it house? YUM! looks like you guys had a blast. love newport. love that they finally have a starbucks there.
Posted by: rochelle g | October 14, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Your comments honestly just make me dream of the same type of weekend with my very own best friend. It's been so long that we've spent this type of time together that it's almost begun to feel uncomfortable... like you can walk past each other and not say a word, and think about it and hurt, but still not say a thing. But. Reading this makes me feel like it's all so close... like I can reach out and touch it. And it reminds me that I should work really hard, even harder than before, to just make it happen. Because if ever there were a time, it's now. When things in her life are just about as bad as they might ever be. Thanks Karen, once again, for sharing these details of your life... they inspire me. I read your blog like the morning paper (I've missed your posts these last few days!).
Now I'm off to find my OWN theatre seats. Our theatre (now Opera House) was renovated a few years ago... I wonder what they did with those seats! WTH! I have never ever wanted movie seats. See what you are doing! Stop it. Stop it now! lol
Posted by: shabbyVTchic | October 14, 2008 at 07:50 PM
You and Jill look so happy together; I love your photos of the girls weekend. You helped me to remember how much fun and how therapeutic spending a few days with my bestfriend always is and how I really need to make it happen. I'm so glad you and Jill had such a good time. You look so relaxed and beautiful in the photo together. TFS.
Posted by: dragonflydreamer | October 14, 2008 at 08:24 PM
What a great weekend. :) I hope it isn't another four years before you do that again!
Posted by: April | October 14, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Karen,
Glad you had a great time!! Newport is my favorite place in the whole wide world to visit. Every summer when we would return to Oregon to visit family we would go to Newport, go crabbing then go to Nye Beach and eat them. Then we would eat at Mo's down by the docks. Even tho I live in Oregon again I rarely get to Newport. As for "junking" I love that more than going to the Mall! Know every GW from here to Portland. And if you ever get the chance you HAVE to go the the Goodwill Outlet Store in Portland where everything is in bins and you pay by the pound. OMG I am in heaven when I go there. Bob and I spend hours and hours there!! The one on Ochoco is the best one! My son text me this a.m and said Mom, I just passed a GW outlet in Vancouver, coming up this weekend? haha! P.S. you need buckets of purell when you go there tho!
Posted by: Neighbor Cheryl | October 14, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Nothing like a good girlfriend weekend!!! So glad you guys had a great time. You two do look like sisters as noted in an above post and I'm sure not the first time you two have heard that.
Thanks for posting your pics.
Posted by: Michelle T. | October 14, 2008 at 10:45 PM
What a terrific read. I am envious of your "girlie" weekend. I am in need of one of those. Thank you for sharing.......My day will be brighter now because you made me smile this morning.
Posted by: kimberly | October 15, 2008 at 01:33 AM
Looks like an awesome weekend! Glad you are feeling recharged.
I guess if you can find a place for old theater seats I should let DH have a place for his stadium seats LOL but orange is such a hard color to decorate around!
Posted by: Sherri | October 15, 2008 at 07:10 AM
awww...so glad ya'll had such a great weekend. Cherish these times. I so miss spending time with my BFF..we lost her to stupid brain cancer 3 years ago and no one can ever take her place. We were just like ya'll....laughing at the same stupid things, singing, eating and having fun. Enjoy these times! and as always.....love your pictures!
Posted by: Nina | October 15, 2008 at 07:33 AM
What a blast you & Jill (your best-friend-in-the-whole-wide-world) clearly had! Makes me smile just looking & reading! And those theater seats are THE BEST!!! What a great find... can't wait to see what you do with them.
Posted by: Colleen | October 15, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Looks and sounds like you had a GREAT Weekend! Wayyyy too much fun. Love the "real" beer goggles and the beaded doll! Glad that you could spend some fun girlie time together, you needed it by the sounds of your last few posts.
Posted by: Ann Grounds | October 15, 2008 at 09:20 AM
what an amazing soul filling weekend for you!
*and to think you were in albany/corvallis???
(i live in corvallis) and you're practicly a celebrity to my friend catharine and i*
:) glad to see you and your bff smiling great smiles!
Posted by: anne | October 15, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I am so glad you had a good time! ANd you scored some awesome goods!!!!! Love those seats!!!
Posted by: KT | October 15, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Reading this is so funny. I can totoally relate, except for maybe the excitment over the beaver mug. But I am ALWAYS searching for Fire-King. I even want to paint my kitchen Fire-King jade green. I also collect vintage aprons (and no, I don't cook). They look really cute tied around a door though, then you can use the pockets for storage! And... the plate that Jill is holding up, wellllll, I have the larger size in the same plate hanging on my wall. And...my best friend and I just made a pact, that we are going to start making bi-weekly Goodwill trips. So reading this made me laugh. I wish you lived in Bend, then I would invite you to go to Goodwill with us.
Posted by: Carrie Hicks | October 15, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Glad to hear you had such a great weekend! Love the movie seats!! And the melon baller...seeing it made me remember one that my mom had. What lens did you have on your camera? Your pics were great...love the shoes.
Posted by: Tracy | October 15, 2008 at 07:11 PM
That is waaaaayyyyyyyy tooo much fun, way tooo much, sounds like a perfect weekend, just perfect.
I'm being repetative.
:J
Posted by: MamaJayne | October 15, 2008 at 08:02 PM
I saw the menu and went..."Hey! That's the Depot here in Albany!" I love their Bonnie's Crunch Shrimp Salad.
What a wonderful weekend! Totally dig the melon baller!
Posted by: Dianne Nelson | October 17, 2008 at 08:17 AM
I just LOVE this post Karen :). Makes me miss your laugh. Those seats are the FREAKIN best find - way to go. If you guys ever need a third wheel on one of these adventures let me know :).
Posted by: Amy Cline | October 24, 2008 at 07:49 AM
I cannot wait to see what you do with the movie theater seats! Love them!! I too just bought some pinkish ones in Utah; I'm planning to use them for my photography business.
Posted by: Lori | November 01, 2008 at 01:30 PM