40 Hours in Portland (is not enough)

This was my first visit to Portland, and it was awesome. Full of food, beer, independent shops, food...Needless to say, after Seattle and Portland combined, I'm glad to be back in Sacramento and getting back into my routine of yoga and jogging. 

Breakfast the first morning at Glyph

From Glyph I walked over to Powell's City of Books. The place is worth all of the hype I read about through Pinterest and other blogs. The store is HUGE. It's broken into different sections, color coded, with an information desk in each room. 

Literally laughed out loud reading this book

I had already read through about half of Amy Poehler's book Yes Please from the kindle version I bought. But it is so freaking good that I wanted the hard copy to put on my shelf and be reminded to read again later. So I bought it here to always remember my trip to Portland, too.

Then it was on to Blue Star Donut. I read a lot about Voodoo Donut, too. And I am disappointed I never made it over to there. But from everything I read, Blue Star is more of a local favorite. And I can see why! I got the Dulce de Leche with Hazelnuts. Easily the best donut I've ever had. 

I walked around the Pearl District area, wandered through some fun boutiques, then stopped in at Tasty n Adler for a drink and cheese plate. 

I had read about some bike tours of the local breweries, and thought that would be a fun way to drink local beer and meet some new people. I decided to go with Brew Cycle Portland and had a great time. We made three stops along the way. 

We started here at Back Pedal brewery

First stop: Pints

Second was Old Town

Last up was Fat Head's Brewery

We only had about 25 minutes at each stop, so when were at Old Town we didn't have enough time to order a pizza. But the smell was delicious and pizza is pretty much my life, so I went back after the tour and got a pizza to go.

I found a boutique called Back Talk where I was able to pick up a new ring (because you can never have too many dainty rings). Such a sweet, feminine space. I didn't even look at the clothes though because I just knew they were outside of my budget (even though there's no sale's tax in Oregon! I should have planned ahead better and done some research on a leather jacket to get while I was there)

Probably my favorite shop I found was called Tender Loving Empire. It was full of posters, cards, accessories, clothes, just really awesome stuff. I ended up buying a couple post cards to mail back home, and a print that says "Vive le Feminisme"

My second (and last) day in Portland I slept in, packed up all of my things, then headed out for a couple more stops before heading to the airport. I made it to Love Joy Bakery in the Pearl District for a sandwich to take with me to the airport. It was amazing. Really fun/cool atmosphere, too. It was full of people for the lunch rush. They have a great patio seating area, as well as inside the cafe. 

And of course I had to get a coffee from Stumptown. I've had their cold brew coffee here in Sacramento because it's carried at several grocery stores here. But in Portland I got a mocha and it was amazing. Not too sweet, no bitterness to the espresso. It was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up before heading out.

Next time I visit Portland I will go for at least three days. And bring clothes for hiking or exploring the outdoors. I read about so many trails and waterfalls and outdoorsy things that are part of the Portland culture. I also missed a couple spots on my list, like Salt & Straw ice cream, and a yoga studio a student recommended to me...Guess I'll just have to plan another trip to the Pacific North West:)

xxo

Seattle Sunshine

During this past semester I was feeling bogged down with school work and life responsibilities, so I planned a quick weekend trip to Seattle to keep me motivated and focusing on fun to come. I loved the city, and when I was planning my summer trips I knew I wanted to go back.

I started out at Oddfellow's Cafe+Bar. When I was last there I was only able to get a biscuit and latte to-go because of the brunch rush. Can I just say that I fantasized about that biscuit and tried many times to recreate it at home.

Vanilla Latte

Brioche French Toast

I obviously took a biscuit with jam and butter to-go. And off I went (right next door) to Elliott Bay Book Company. This place is a dream. Gorgeous storefront. Hardwood floors and racks and racks, stacks and tables, of books, magazines, cards...

I bought a new book I had read about online. It's called The Luckiest Girl Alive, by Jessica Knoll. After about an hour there I walked over to Local360 for lunch. 

Delicious Fried Chicken Sandwich

The weekend before I came was Seattle's Pride festival. Rainbow flags were in most of the businesses and restaurants, and many of their sidewalks were decorated too.

Lots of shops and buildings have awesome murals like this one

Cute little daycare field trip

Awesome letterpress studio

Amazing ice cream from Molly Moon's

"Ice cream makes you happy"

The next morning I walked to Healeo. It's amazing. Cold pressed juice, smoothies, delicious and healthy foods...

Even my breakfast was happy :)

I was able to read my book for a while at Healeo while I ate my breakfast. Then I wandered back over to Oddfellow's to read, binge-watch the new Lifetime series UnREAL, and of course, savor a biscuit and a couple glasses of bubbly.

Here it is, in all it's glory...le biscuit

After a leisurely afternoon in Capital Hill, I took an Uber to the Amtrak station where I boarded my train to Portland.

The two-year-old I nanny for loves trains. I got so many pictures and videos to show him.

xxo

Slow & Steady

When I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago, I spent the first four days running around from one activity/landmark/restaurant to another. I was tired and hot and thinking about what to cross off my list next...
On my last day, something magical happened. I woke up, threw on some clothes, walked to coffee, then kept walking until I got on the L and rode into downtown. With no agenda, no hurry, I was able to roam downtown, snap some cool pictures, people-watch at the Riverfront, and enjoy a nice picnic. An overwhelming sense of gratitude overcame me. I had the means-financial and time and courage-to go on this adventure.

Being in Seattle now I found myself falling into those same tendencies: to move fast and get in as much as possible. When I got in to the Seattle airport I had forgotten how to get to the Link to ride it in to downtown. I rode the wrong tram that just took me to another terminal, then missed the express bus that would have taken me right to Oddfellows. I had to wait another 20 minutes before the next express came. In that waiting I reminded myself: move slow, be calm, enjoy a change of pace.

My usual schedule is so hectic, between working full time as a nanny, teaching four yoga classes a week, and juggling school when semester is in. Vacation is about exploring a new city, yes. But it is also about rejuvenating, revitalizing, and reconnecting with yourself. I can't tell you how many times I have already had to remind myself to slow down (it would embarrass both of us). But that is what I will continue to do. I a product of this culture (fast and furious), but I am also awakening to the beauty of the everyday...

xxo

Dining with this Dear...

Melissa and I have been friends since high school. And as the years go by, and we've gotten involved with different schooling, activities, jobs...our relationship just seems to get stronger and more meaningful. I was lucky enough to pin her down for a dinner date last Saturday. We went to Piatti's (one of my long time favorites because I am an anomaly for my age and prefer The Pavilions over Midtown) and got so carried away by conversation that I didn't take pictures until the dessert (which is probably just a subliminal message that dessert is the most important part of the meal and you should always say "yes" to seeing the dessert menu!)

But the best part was catching up and checking in with a dear friend...

xxo

Rescue the Princess (fair warning, this is a bit of a rant)

Photo Credit

I grew up on Disney princess movies like any other girl in my generation. And I like a nice Rom-Com, sic-fi, adventure movie just as much as the majority of Americans. But let’s be honest: there is WAY too much focus on men, and the “man saves his woman” ideal. I am a feminist; I believe men and women should be treated equally. But reconciling my feminism and romanticism has been a hard road to travel. 

There is a Civil Wars lyric that has always hit me right in the gut. It’s from the song “I’ve Got This Friend.” They sing about a loveless romantic. The first time I heard this song and lyric I immediately thought, “That’s me, a loveless romantic.” 

Subliminal messaging is so slick. It’s like the devil that pretends to be a friend or confidant, a comfort and encourager, then pulls the rug right out from under you. 

Last night I was watching the 2012 remake of Total Recall with Colin Furth and Jessica Biel (HELLO elementary school flash back of watching “7th Heaven” religiously…[pun intended]). If you were to watch the movie purely for entertainment or as brain candy, your review would probably be that there was a strong female character in Jessica Biel, and probably even Kate Beckinsale. But here’s the thing…

When you watch it with a more critical eye, you see that in almost every scene Colin Firth and Jessica Biel are in, Colin’s character, Hauser, is protecting or helping or assisting Jessica’s character. EVERY.SINGEL.SCENE. He’s always shielding her, or grabbing onto her jacket or body to help her jump/run/escape. He grabs her hand to lead her down one hallway or the other. And we WANT him to…that’s the thing. We (read: I am) are so conditioned to want the man to be the protector and provider and one to make the tough decisions or to lead the way…And in the end (spoiler alert) (But not really, i mean, this isn’t Game of Thrones where the main characters get killed off in almost every episode!), he saves the “good girl” from the “bad bitch.” Actually, I’m not even sure we ever hear Jessica Biel’s character’s name in the entire movie…at first she’s known as the girls from Hauser’s dreams, then as a rebel fighter for team Matthius.

Other reviewers might write Beckinsale’s character off as a “bitch.” (oh how i HATE that word…but that is for another post). If Kate Beckinsale’s character were a man though, would the character get the same review? Would we define the character as a vindictive bitch? or would the character be a leader and powerful adversary if it were a man? 

The double standard is both blatantly obvious, and so subtly weaved into our daily consumption.

I love Total Recall. Partly because I love Jessica Biel’s hair in the movie, partly because I love that it reminds me of watching Bond movies with my dad and brother growing up (and partly because I know I can put it on while I do the dishes or clean house and because I’ve watched it so many times and have it mostly memorized).

But if we are to be conscious participants in this culture and life, we must ask ourselves the harder questions…is this promoting gender equality? do I want to support it with my time, money, and energy? if not, how can I make a change and impact on the world around me, and the world as a whole?

xxo

P.S. Listen to Sara Bareilles' "Fairytale" if you want a new anthem to fight off the damsel in distress illusion.