My sister graduated with flying colors this last weekend from a very well known private art school in Portland, OR. We are rediculously proud of her and the weekend went by way too fast.

Gina is not only graduating but she is leaving for a THREE MONTH trip to Europe on Wednesday. Of course she’s not entirely prepared and we briefly hit the mall to look for supplies. The Portland mall scene has recently incorporated public service announcements with an education-y feel to them:

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My mother’s side of the family was there for the celebration; this includes two aunts and an uncle we only get to see on special occasions like graduations. We had an enormous dinner at a chinese restaurant in the Hawthorne district. We’ve been eating their food since we were kids and Hawthorne wasn’t such a hipster destination.

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My dad ordered ten dishes–half of them were very thoughtfully vegetarian for the vegan mistress of the hour. Sam and Erin had me take their picture a whole bunch so they could pick one for their wedding announcements. I feel like the one I captured at the Fujin was probably the best one:

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Sam bought Gina a half dozen vegan cupcakes from Saint Cupcake, the new royale of Portland. I hate to say it, but they rival what we have in Seattle.

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Sammy very thoughtfully treated me to my own cupcake experience after dinner. Here is Gina standing next to the huge story of Saint Cupcake written on the wall (it looks like she has a horn!)

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I’m so proud of my sister!  Stay tune for pictures from her stellar senior thesis entitled “10 Feminists”…and as a bonus here is my brother and my aunt sharing a beer my brother tapped from the fridge/kegerator in his garage:

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