Single Life

My new life has a soundtrack, which I'm not ashamed to admit is 98% Motown. It has a beat, you can dance to it, and if you're like me and constantly getting a contact high from the smell of your own freedom, you belt out those Diana Ross hits like the soul sister you know you are.

Anyway, this post is brought to you by Booker T & The MG's and the following song:

Green Onions Bet you didn't know that song even had a title!

Can I just stop and say something right here, right now? I'm not technically supposed to swear on my blog, but I FUCKING LOVE PORTLAND.

I never really got to know the city until recently and now every time I cross a bridge, I fall in love a little bit harder. I've mostly even stopped getting lost! Just get me to that roundabout in Laurelhurst or that seedy bar on Alberta or Powell's Books and I'm home straight. No GPS required.

I guess my point is, if there was a perfect city in which to wake up at age 34, suddenly single, and in the market for a little fun, Portland, Oregon is a good place to start. I'd certainly recommend it.

Speaking of rugs? Guess what I just crossed off my life list?

THE BRAZILIAN WAX.

Awwwww, yeah.

I was sick of getting razor burn from my bathing suit! Then there was that one time I cut myself! Boy that was not something I wanted to repeat.

So let's just say that if Brazilian waxing had a Facebook page? I WOULD LIKE IT.

And guess what? IT DOES! If you're local and you want your girly bits to look like a work of ART, go see Valerie at Bare Down There waxing. I'm totally putting her in my next book. She'd make one hell of a character.

Seems I catch a few canaries these days.

And cross this magnificent river more than should be legal.

And my apartment? Well it's just RAD. No two ways about it.

And good LORD, the breakfasts I've eaten. This one was at Fenouil. Eat there.

I. swear. to. god.

There are good shoes.

Better adventures.

Shorter dresses!

My My Peg Bundy hotpants have gotten me into some trouble.  Good trouble.

And did I mention the breakfasts?

I had no idea how good breakfast could be.  Especially when the cook is tall, dark and handsome. And he makes you laugh till your guts split. Seriously. There were CRAB LEGS in that omelet.

  And don't get me started on the coffee.

Stumptown should start a church. They'd get more donations than the pope.

50% Mommyblogger, 50% Badass.

Call it a mid-life crisis if you want to, but I refuse to apologize. There's nothing on this page I haven't told my own mother, who, incidentally, loves giving me dating advice ("If they're over 40, check the medicine cabinet! You don't want to see a bottle of little blue pills in there!").

Every other week, I get to be my own protagonist. I get to choose my own adventure.

This book is writing itself.

Comments

[angelynn]

I think I love you even more than before. You are rocking the single life ;) xoxo

[Sara]

Lady- I LOVE the necklace in the last picture! I'm fairly certain I will be borrowing it sometime!

Talk to you soon, xoxo

[1hot&tiredmama]

Thank God you're back! :o)

[Annika]

Girl, how is it we have the same taste in shoes! Awesome!

[Eliza in Vancouver]

Last saw you at Bossy's (no)Book Tour. Lots of positive changes in your life! I love it.

[Sheryl]

Glad you're having fun :o)
But I gotta say, I feel so sad reading this post.

[laura]

okay i love my life but im a little jealous. i just want a week in those shoes with that nail polish in your apt. and eating the breakfast...that looks soo freaking awesome. love ya and glad your liven life to the fullest! way to go :)
ps you look freaking awesome!

[Lola]

I love those shoes. And that breakfast looks divine (I LOVE BREAKFAST). And that dress.

Remember when you battled about cutting your hair?!? You are rocking it now. :o)

[Stephen]

Shrugs, Amanda has been proven to be the blogger equivalent of the "unreliable narrator". Basically take everything at face value as her last life turned out to be the exact opposite of everything she posted for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreliable_narrator

I hope you can find real happiness Amanda, but you seem to be working overtime to convince internet strangers just how happy you are, which is classic for people avoiding reality.

[Debra]

I may not agree with everything going on in your life, but I love the shoes.

[Siera]

I know this is so cliche, but you go Girl! I love Portland, I would love to get to know it better. It's only a 6 hour drive or so from Port Angeles and I live just across the water from there.

[Rebekah]

Love you in the last picture! Those sunglasses are perfect for you! :)

Portland is FAB - my husband's mother lives there, and every time we go, a little part of me dies when we have to leave to come back home... hopefully the NW will be our home someday.

Have you checked out the Stepping Stone Cafe?

http://www.steppingstonecafe.com/

Another great place for an amazing breakfast... hope you enjoy!

[Andrea]

Amanda:
Delurking to tell you that you really look amazing. I have read your blog for the past few years and was sad to hear about your life changes. That being said, a lot of life has happened to me since I started reading your blog, and it's just too short to be miserable. You are beautiful. Ignore the haters and WORK IT, girl!

[Andrea]

brazilian wax? tall dark handsome cook making you breakfast? are you finally saying why you were not "in love" with your husband anymore? I"m glad you're happy, and I'm glad your life is so much better now, and I do pray your kids are adjusting as well as you are to this new life of yours.

[Rhi]

The brunch at Fenouil is magical.

[Therese]

You look amazing!! I'm saying, what I hope you already know, but only you know what is best, so keep doing what you feel is best and right And keep us posted!

[Cass]

How adorable are you?!?! Seriously, Portland agrees with you. I've only been there a handful of times but I've always enjoyed it.

And I had my first Brazilian wax last month, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My technician was great also, although I didn't have to get in that position, just held my knees to my chest. ;-)

[Audrey]

So, so, so happy that you are finding happiness!! I am truly enjoying following your new adventures. Good for you, Amanda, for doing what was/is best for you.

[Cponce]

I don't think I can read another word of what you write. It seems so fake. Sorry to be so blunt, but you make your self sound like a slut and I think that you are!

[Susan]

Your happiness is truly inspiring. Good for you!

[Helen H.]

Ah, if the supporters only knew the real truth. Doesn't matter though- the ones who count do.

[sye520]

Oh, but do spill Helen H.

[Colleen K.]

WOW! Seriously people.....who's life is it? Who's business is it for any of us to judge what she does?? She's not telling us that she's hitting the sheets with every strange man in Portland. If she met a hot man that she's having fun with, more power to her. She's SINGLE! GET OVER IT. It's time to move on. Amanda has, the rest of you need to too. She doesn't need our approval. If you don't approve of what she's doing, go on to another blogger's posts. I am happy to be here to see what happens next. Have FUN Amanda!!!! More power to you!

[Allison]

Whether you're proclaiming your love for the life of a 50s housewife, or savoring your midlife crisis, I find you very likeable, Amanda.

Have fun! EVERYONE deserves to have a *little* fun. Some of your readers should try it! ;)

[A lost fan]

Oh my god. Get over yourself.