don't you just love new york in the fall?

i wasn't actually in new york, but yesterday i had a truly magical day. lacey and i had planned to spent most of the day studying for our med-surg test that i took today. hoping to offer motivation to our studying, we drove to portland, without a specific destination in mind. we were hoping to find a cozy coffee shop, which seem to be in abundance in portland and hibernate for a few hours.
when lacey learned i'd never been to 23rd avenue, it soon become our residence for the next hours. we stumbled across tea chia te, a tea bar. we both ordered their pumpkin chai. after getting settled at our table near the window, we were served our tea in a clear teapot, sitting atop a clear container, which contained a small tea light, keeping the tea warm. genius! it was especially fun to pour the foamy beverage into the japanese tea cups, wrapping my hands around the entire cup, sipping and studying.





















when we started to get hungry, we headed out of the then-crowded shop to find gluten-free food. i felt like i was in a movie. the contrast between the old brick buildings with the fall leaves and sunshine was enchanting. it was lovely to have a friend to share it with.



















we ended up at a grocery store at the end of the street, which reminded me of the grocery store in you've got mail. if only there had been a cash only line!























i bought a stuffed baked potato, which was actually cold. although i initially wasn't anticipating a cold potato, it was delicious and made me feel like i was on a picnic as i ate it with a perfectly ripe pear.
when it was getting close to dinner time, we had to head back so lacey could be in time for her room-mate dinner. but study time wasn't over yet! when her dinner was over, we were both in pajamas, ready for our final study session. we went to her mom's apartment where we drank hot tea and ate gluten free chocolate cake. to reward ourselves after studying all day, we watched an episode of house and were even able to apply some of the information relating to cancer we'd been studying!
it was a beautiful day-fall colors, sunshine, conversation and spending it with lacey.