I recently got married and one of our favorite wedding presents was this uber-cool back-pack that has “The Cunninghams” embroidered onto it.  It will be used on many hiking, boating, camping, beach trips with my new husband, Cory Cunningham and I as we continue to explore the Pacific Northwest hand-in-hand.  It has plates, silverware, a cutting board, a cheese knife, wine opener and cooler, salt and pepper shakers, cloth napkins, and even a blanket!  All we need is a little food to be on our way…cool, eh!?  This backpack and other incredible cool gifts can be found at www.RedEnvelope.com.  If you need to get a great gift or just want a back-pack to go on adventures with your great guy it’s a great site that I highly recommend.  Enjoy your travels…and eachother!

A wedding present for "The Cunninghams".

It has everything you need!

The annual Glendi Greek Festival is this weekend, July 29th through July 31st.  The festivities start at 4pm today with authentic Greek, middle eastern and Ethiopian cuisine!  You can find some incredible dishes, pastries, beer and wine and lots of music and dancing there.  Bring the kids and explore a new culture with lots of activities and even “reptile man” will be there to entertain you and the little ones.  It is free to attend but a two can donation to the Oregon Food Bank will get you an entry into their grand prize drawing where you could win a trip to Disneyland, NYC, or Hawaii!  The Glendi Greek Festival is located at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church 14485 SW Walker Road in Beaverton Oregon and you can find out more information by calling 503-644-7444.

In 2008 I said that Cory wasn’t really the boyfriend type.  He wasn’t a “player” or dramatic and game playing like the boyfriends I had in the past.  He was extremely honest, sweet, loyal and hard-working.  He was the marrying kind of man you hope you find but hesitate to even dream he is out there.  He was also very patient and not the jealous type, which came in handy when Portland Monthly Magazine named me one of the City’s three most eligible bachelorettes that year.  Now I know him much better then I did in 2008 and the list of good things I could tell you grows longer each day.  Along with all the smiles and good times I have seen him handle misfortune, injustice and injury all with incredible grace.  I’ve also fallen head over heels for his two kids as he has with mine.  We’ve got a good thing going!  We are lucky because our relationship started off sans any scandal and it has unfolded like a fairy tale ever since.  Now we are taking that fairy tale to the “happily ever after” part with a wedding this weekend and I’ll once and for all prove he is not the boyfriend type when he becomes my husband.  Though he is a little shy I wanted to introduce you properly to the man I call home, Mr. Cory Cunningham. 

Cory Cunningham & Nicolle Camarata

The beautiful MotoCorsa showroom is having an event to raise money for one of their employees who crashed on her Ducati.  A lot of damage was done and the road to recovery will be long so some out and show your support.  Spend the day eating BBQ and buying raffle tickets for great products and prizes that include:
Track Days from MotoCorsa, PSSR and MotoFit
Bell Star Helmet
Puma Desmo Boots
Wines from CorsaVino
Coffee from CorsaCaffe
Kick ass parts from SpeedyMoto
Concert tickets and more!

Where: MotoCorsa @ 2170 NW Wilson
When:  Saturday, July 16th @ 10am – 6pm

I’ve always considered myself a shopper but lately my list has been unusually long!  I’m getting married and man, ol’ man, you wouldn’t believe how many things you have to buy that you never even think of  in your “normal” life.  I don’t run around the streets of Portland wearing a garter under my dresses, or top my homemade Birthday cakes with figurines, or spend hours with my friendly florist picking out bouquets and boutonnieres….usually.  So when I needed a cake topper that expressed the personality of me and Mr. Right I asked my friend and bakery owner Lisa Watson where to go.  She suggested New and Blue, an adorable shop around the corner from hers, Cupcake Jones.  New and Blue is located at 1321 NW Hoyt Street and they have traditional and nontraditional stationary, gifts, decorations, favors and yes, cake toppers!  Where as my local craft store only had a couple to choose from New and Blue had a couple dozen with creative designs from a couple kissing under an umbrella (very Portland!) to a bride on the back of her grooms Harley.  Even though Mr. Perfects Dad would have looooved the Harley we went with the couple locked in a passionate embrace because we have been ridiculously “kissy face” ever since we met.  However, the bride and groom were blonde and the shoes were not the bright red hue they will be come the big day so the owner of the shop suggested I paint them.  Challenge accepted!  I hand-painted the figurine to perfectly represent us and I also ordered a ton of signs from my new favorite shop.  They created a custom design for our Mr. & Mrs. sign, our Just Married sign, our Guest Book, Welcome Guests, Rooftop, Photo Booth, Champagne Bar, and on and on sign.  It is a easy to love and easy to find store with lots of services that are easy to use.  If you are marrying someone you can’t stop kissing, planning a party, know a bride or groom, or just like quality “girly” things I suggest you forgo the something old and something borrowed and check out New and Blue.

Custom painted Cory & Nicolle cake topper!

New and Blue, 1321 NW Hoyt St in Portland

In the quest to look and feel great exercise is a must.  But instead of crowded gyms or lonely basement treadmills get out and participate in the 8^thAnnual Lacamas Lake Half Marathon & 4-Mile Run and Walk Event!  The July 24^thraces meander along country roads and through the beautiful trails around both Lacamas Lake and Round Lake in Camas, WA.  If you haven’t participated in this event before, I can tell you that it is a well organized event with absolutely beautiful scenery!  Both races start and finish at Camas High School, which is only ~25 minutes from Downtown Portland and only 5 minutes from Downtown Camas, WA.   The scenic and moderately challenging courses show off the beauty of both Lacamas Lake (1/2 marathon) and Round Lake (4-mile) and offers plenty of aid stations to keep you energized throughout yur quest.  Both the half marathon & 4-Mile race provide beautiful medals for every finisher,that is right…every winner.  Sport your medal proudly.  But that is not all because also included are technical event tees and participants receive a FREE dinner to the Old Spaghetti Factory.   No need to bring a lunch because when you finish; health & fitness vendors, fruit, bottled water and bagels will be at the finish area on the track.  Local specialty running and walking retailer, Fit Right NW, is producing the event and works closely with the City of Camas to ensure this event is a top-notch production in association with the Camas Days Event.  Net proceeds from this event benefit local high schools, Girls on the Run, the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia Team in Training.  This event sold out in 2010 with 1675 participants.  Race Director, Dave Sobolik anticipates that this year’s cap of 1800 will sell out in the next 10 days.  Participants can register for the Lacamas Lake Half Marathon or 4-Miler by stopping into either Fit Right NW store location or by registering online at www.lacamaslakerunwalk.com.

Do you live in that area?  If so you may want to print and post this on your refrigerator:

TRAFFIC ALERT:  The Lacamas Lake Half Marathon begins at 7:30 am on Sunday, July 24^th, 2011 and will affect traffic  from ~7 am to 11:00 am along Leadbetter/232^nd Ave and Goodwin Roads.  The 4-Mile Race will go along SE 15^th St & Se 283^rd Ave.  Both courses will pass along SE Everett St. between NE 35^th Ave. and NE 43^rd.  Additionally, for this event, the south/eastbound lane of Leadbetter and the eastbound lane of Goodwin road will be closed for all vehicle traffic during 7-11 am. If you would like complete details, please click on the 4-mile or ½ marathon course button at www.lacamaslakerunwalk.com for viewing of the race maps.

 All area residents along these routes should know that ~1800 walkers and runners will be along the roadway during this time.  Residents should also know that this event has been approved by the City of Camas, Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Camas Police Department and the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department.  All essential permits and licenses have been acquired and NW Traffic Control will be out along the road way to ensure that race participants stay within the designated road side and that motorists yield to all race participants.

If residents are planning on leaving or entering their residential driveway during this time or will be attending one of the local churches, please be aware that we will have flaggers controlling traffic flow.  Goodwin Road will be WESTBOUND ONLY, NO EASTBOUND TRAFFIC.  RESIDENTS, PLEASE EXIT SLOWLY AND TAKE A LEFT.