West Coast Whirlwind: Our Unforgettable Book Tour Journey Through Washington, Oregon, and California

Can you believe it’s been a whole three weeks since our last book tour update? Time truly flies when you’re on the move! While our silence might suggest otherwise, we’ve been on a thrilling adventure, navigating bustling airports and scenic highways, bringing us ever closer to the grand finale of our book tour. This latest leg of our journey finally delivered us to the breathtaking other side of the United States, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the vibrant cultures and incredible communities of the West Coast. Get ready for a detailed recap of our memorable stops across all three Pacific states: Washington, Oregon, and California.

Tacoma, Washington: Kicking Off the West Coast Adventure

Our West Coast escapade began in Tacoma, Washington, on Friday, January 25th, where we were guests at the lively Tacoma Home & Garden Show. The event organizers were absolutely fantastic, going above and beyond to spread the word about our presence. We were particularly delighted to see ourselves featured in a local newspaper article, complete with an absolutely awesome, and frankly hilarious, illustration. I genuinely think my likeness was spot-on, though Sherry might argue she had a touch of Courteney Cox. But let’s be real, the true star of that drawing, hands down, was Burger.

The Home Show was hosted at the iconic Tacoma Dome, a colossal arena renowned for its concerts and sporting events. We even discovered that Lady Gaga had graced its stage just the week prior! Naturally, we couldn’t resist spending a few minutes exploring the backstage areas, uttering playful phrases like, “Lady Gaga totally used this bathroom! Probably!” and striking a few dramatic Gaga poses. Full disclosure: that was mostly Sherry’s doing, much to my amusement.

However, the Dome presented a distinctly different ambiance during our visit compared to a typical rock concert. Much like our previous experience at the Portland Home & Garden Show, the entire venue was transformed. It was a wonderland of vendor booths, showcasing everything from innovative home solutions to breathtaking garden displays meticulously crafted for the duration of the show. I distinctly remember being captivated by a particular water feature – it was so artfully designed, it truly felt like an outdoor installation, despite being nestled within a massive industrial dome. The illusion was incredibly convincing!

Our absolute favorite section was undoubtedly “The Vintage Market,” which felt like a delightful surprise. Imagine a sprawling flea market or an antique mall, perfectly integrated amidst the usual home show offerings. We spent a good chunk of time browsing, spotting countless treasures. Among them, a vintage classroom map of the United States particularly caught our eye. Priced at $50, the only thing that ultimately prevented us from acquiring this fantastic piece was the logistical nightmare of transporting it all the way home. Ah, the challenges of travel!

Sherry, meanwhile, developed a mild obsession with a collection of charming old metal chairs, finished in a lovely powder blue. I, on the other hand, found myself utterly enchanted by the array of vintage letters available at various booths. It was probably for the best that our carry-on luggage had strict space limitations; otherwise, we might have made a considerable dent in our bank account!

After attending to some press engagements and a lovely private meet-and-greet with Ali and her family (you can read all about their wonderful experience on Ali’s blog), it was finally time for the main event: our presentation and subsequent book signing. They even granted us the honor of making a 10-minute warning announcement over the PA system. My sincerest apologies to anyone within earshot – it was our inaugural experience addressing an entire dome full of people, and I’m quite certain we projected our voices with more enthusiasm (read: yelling) than intended. I distinctly recall it commencing with my incredibly smooth opening line: “Hello? Is anyone listening?” Pure sophistication, wouldn’t you agree?

The stage for our presentation was rather impressive, making us feel considerably more legitimate than we probably were. We even had microphones! It’s always a bit surreal to see ourselves in such a professional setting, especially knowing our humble beginnings. The energy in the room was palpable, and we felt incredibly grateful for the turnout.

Looking out at the sea of smiling faces, interspersed with the occasional baby stroller, was genuinely awesome. It’s moments like these that truly bring home the incredible connection we share with our readers, transforming online interactions into real-life smiles and conversations.

Following our talk and a brief, engaging Q&A session, it was time for the much-anticipated book signing. While books were, of course, the primary items, we were delighted by requests to sign some truly fun and unexpected objects. One attendee presented a sexy, gold spray-painted rhino – I believe the only rhino Sherry could possibly love more than a white one is a gold one! And I, for the first time ever, received a request to sign a plunger. Before you delve too deeply into interpreting the hidden meaning behind me signing a toilet tool, let me clarify: there was a booth nearby giving them away. So, I’m fairly certain it was merely a coincidental, home-related item. At least, I sincerely hope so, because I think I ended up signing three by the day’s end, becoming an inadvertent plunger-signing expert.

Tacoma truly blew us away with the incredible thoughtfulness of its residents. Reina and Tina from hello, cupcake, though unable to attend the signing, sent over a dozen personalized cupcakes. Not only were they utterly delicious, but we also earned some serious brownie points with the home show crew for generously sharing them around. It was a tad surreal, though, inviting people to take a bite out of a cupcake adorned with our own faces! Sherry bravely consumed Clara, and I, missing Burger immensely, devoured his sugary likeness.

Sherry also received her very first pair of gifted underwear, a moment that had me in tears of laughter. Andrea, the generous giver, thoughtfully selected them for Sherry, citing the gold lettering (representing Jersey!) and the “Young” reference. But her most candid reason was simply that “if Sherry’s underwear situation is anything like her bra situation – the girl needs ’em.” A truly memorable and hilariously practical gift!

Beyond receiving our first undergarment, Tacoma also marked the location of my very first baby dental exam! This impromptu check-up was courteously performed by baby Ruby, who was so utterly mesmerized by my mouth that she simply had to get a feel. Her mom, Jennifer, expressed deep apologies for the incident on her blog, but I must confess, I wasn’t fazed in the slightest. Despite what my face might convey in the photo below, how could anyone harbor anything but affection for that adorable little lady?

As the signing event concluded around 4 PM, after having been there since 9 AM, we were more than ready to call it a day. But first, I insisted Sherry try out a rather peculiar contraption. I initially thought it looked amusing, but to my surprise, I actually had trouble convincing her to leave once she experienced it. It was essentially a dry hot tub or a steam-free sauna – if your curiosity is piqued, you can find a more detailed explanation on their website. It was a wonderfully odd way to unwind after a long, exhilarating day.

Portland, Oregon: A Return to the Rose City

The very next morning, we hit the road for Portland. With the drive being a manageable two-hour journey, we opted for a rental car, eagerly bypassing the usual airport rigmarole. Road trips are definitely more our style – had we infinite time and energy, I’d happily drive to every single stop on this entire tour. There’s something special about seeing the landscape change and having the freedom to stop wherever inspiration strikes.

Upon arrival in Portland, our destination was the renowned Rejuvenation store for our book signing. This was actually our very first time stepping inside the store itself; during last year’s visit, we somehow managed to get completely lost trying to locate it. So, we were absolutely thrilled to finally experience it. Beyond their stunning collection of new production lighting, furniture, and accessories – which is what I primarily associated them with – we discovered an entire other half of the store brimming with incredible architectural salvage. I could have easily spent hours delving through those treasures, but alas, the dual constraints of figuring out how to transport bulky items home and the imminent start of our book signing swiftly curtailed our shopping adventure.

We kicked off the signing with a quick talk from a makeshift “stage” at the bottom of a grand staircase. I sincerely hope no one who came was disappointed when they realized we weren’t actually selling snacks, despite what the prominent sign above our heads seemed to indicate! For those curious about the content of our talks, you can watch a video of our presentation from Austin earlier this month.

As the signing commenced, we were once again greeted by an incredibly thoughtful and delicious surprise: more amazing personalized cupcakes! This time, they were from Lindsay at Undercover Cupcake. After the signing concluded, I eagerly devoured the Burger cupcake – and it was absolutely incredible, a perfect sweet treat to cap off the event.

In the “unusual items signed” category for Portland, we absolutely cannot overlook Ellen’s unique request: to sign the inside of her black blazer. This was done in a humorous tribute to Sherry’s unofficial book signing “uniform.” Sherry, in her practical wisdom, has rocked the same blazer for every single event, simply swapping out her earrings, shoes, and the shirt underneath. I genuinely appreciate this consistency to no end, as it spares us from a giant “what should I wear?” debate before each of the 22 stops on this tour!

Another memorable request came from someone who asked us to sign their book by adding speech bubbles over our pictures. Sherry, ever the sweet one, penned something perfectly normal, complete with an abundance of exclamation points. I, on the other hand, opted for something a bit more obnoxious. While I wasn’t actually hungry at that exact moment, I figured “I’m hungry” is a thought that frequently crosses my mind. So, in essence, I was aiming for peak accuracy in my internal monologue representation.

These signing events are truly fantastic, primarily because they allow us to put so many faces to the names we recognize from comments and interactions online. It’s also a joy to see familiar faces, like Katy, whom we first met in Portland last year. During that previous meet-and-greet, she famously broke the mold by asking us to pose with her lying on a nearby model-home bed, setting a high bar for her photo concept this time around. She certainly delivered, suggesting we strike a wonderfully cheesy 80’s sitcom pose. She absolutely nailed her role as the wacky neighbor!

We absolutely love when folks, like Katy, approach us with the suggestion, “Let’s take a funny picture!” Since we’re rapidly depleting our repertoire of weird facial expressions, we’ve started improvising with some truly strange, off-the-cuff actions. Case in point: this photo where Sherry cleverly swapped places with Amy, making her and Ben look like hilariously excited fans. I adore Ben’s commitment to the role, and Amy even perfectly replicated Sherry’s signature head-tilt. These spontaneous moments are what make the tour so much fun!

We also heard a truly heartwarming engagement story during our Portland visit. Veronica’s now-fiancé had initially planned a romantic weekend getaway, coinciding with the day of our signing, intending to propose to her. However, when he realized how desperately she wanted to attend the signing, and a business trip unexpectedly shifted, he thoughtfully rescheduled their engagement plan a few weeks earlier. This ensured Veronica could receive both her beautiful ring and her signed book. Sounds like she’s definitely snagged a good one!

The signing actually wrapped up a couple of hours before we needed to leave for the airport, so we were genuinely excited at the prospect of taking in a few more Portland sights that afternoon. So excited, in fact, that I wasn’t paying proper attention while chatting with someone and closing the trunk of our rental car… with the keys still inside. Yep, you guessed it. So, instead of enjoying the vibrant streets of PDX, we spent a delightful 90 minutes waiting for the rental car company’s roadside assistance to come to our rescue. Lesson learned, eventually!

Thankfully, we had visited Portland last year, so at least we didn’t feel entirely cheated out of experiencing the city’s charm. For anyone planning a visit, you absolutely *must* check out Pine State Biscuits, Por Que No, and Salt & Straw – all of which we adored during our previous trip. In fact, Portland holds the distinction of being the only city on this tour where we didn’t spend the night (well, it also happened in DC, but that’s local-ish for us). Since we drove from Washington that morning and then flew out that very night to Northern California, we impressively managed to visit three West Coast states in a remarkable span of just 12 hours. And this wasn’t just a layover situation; we actually enjoyed breakfast in Washington, drove to Oregon for the signing and spent most of the day there, and then flew to California that night to check into our hotel and finally get some sleep. A true whirlwind!

Northern California: Sunshine, Family, and Furry Friends

After getting some much-needed rest in our Palo Alto hotel, we were up bright and early, eager to spend some quality time with my Aunt Liz before our book signing event. She resides in nearby San Jose, so she and her friend Joan kindly came down to hang out with us for a bit. And for the benefit of my other aunts, I feel compelled to mention that Liz was the creative force behind the charming sign she brought!

And if anyone happened to witness people cutting the line and sneaking in a quick picture before the official event commenced, that would have been my dear friend Jamie and his fiancée Ashley, who live in Berkeley. You might recall Jamie from the incredibly thoughtful gift he gave Clara last year, so now you understand precisely why he was granted such special privileges. Friendships have their perks!

When the signing doors truly opened, our first greetings came from a group of lovely ladies who had made the impressive drive up from Los Angeles that very morning. If that wasn’t sufficient proof of their dedication, they had also DIYed these absolutely awesome homemade shirts! How cool is that house design with the heart in the middle? Sherry was immediately enamored and wanted one for herself.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Emily (on the left) and her friends Abigail and Jillian, who proudly brought some of their fantastic finds from completing the Macklemore Challenge earlier that weekend. It’s always inspiring to see our readers embrace these creative, thrifty endeavors. You can delve deeper into their adventures and finds on Emily’s blog.

Tasneem and her husband Asif arrived with a particularly touching gift: a white ceramic dog. Asif, by the way, drove an incredible 300 miles from LA, even though it was his birthday – talk about dedication! Their thoughtful gift was meant to help us cope with the still-fresh loss of this guy. I think our matching, bittersweet expressions in the photo say it all – a truly kind gesture that meant a lot to us.

And how incredibly cool is this? Akiyo, a talented artist who makes these adorable stuffed penguin toys, crafted one specifically for Clara that’s dressed in a Burger costume! It might not be ceramic, but it instantly rocketed to the top of my list of favorite animal-themed items in our house. It’s such a thoughtful and creative tribute.

Palo Alto also brought another delightful first: our initial canine visitors on the tour! I desperately wish I had the mental capacity to recall their names now, but regardless, their adorable presence was more than enough to soothe the persistent “missing-Burger” ache we inevitably carry on these long trips. There’s truly nothing like a furry friend to brighten your day.

After the signing concluded, we briefly reunited with our wonderful friends Matt and Kristin. They’ve made several appearances on our blog (here’s one of their features!) thanks to their incredibly stylish home in Charlotte, NC. Last year, they actually made the big move to San Francisco, which explains our fantastic meetup on the other side of the country. It was such a treat to catch up.

We went out to lunch with them at Oren’s Hummus, which was absolutely awesome! We happily chatted and caught up on their exciting new life in the vibrant Bay Area. Oh, and as an extra special treat, they even drove us to a nearby street boasting a very unique and familiar name. You’ll never guess what it was called!

We then spent the night back in our hotel, bracing ourselves for a crazy early start – a 4 AM wake-up for our flight back to our side of the States. It was one of those days where you desperately wish time zones worked in reverse; despite departing at sunrise, we didn’t finally get home until sunset in Virginia. A truly long day of travel, but every moment was worth it.

Despite the exhaustion, we are so incredibly glad we had the opportunity to spend time on the beautiful Pacific Coast with so many of you. I genuinely regret that we didn’t have any other scheduled stops elsewhere in California, but I hold out hope that an LA stop will materialize someday for another fun event. And if that ever happens, we’d better get to meet a celebrity, or I’ll feel utterly cheated! Someone get Matt Damon on the phone – we have a book to sign!

Psst – If you’re eager to catch up on some of our previous book tour stops, you can find a comprehensive round-up of them right here.