Ah spring – the worst is over! Every year it’s the same feeling, like by the end of February you begin to believe that the grey and rain is just not going to end this time. But it does and it’s always worth it. Seeing blossoms all across the city makes me a little giddy. Here are some things I love about spring in Portland… cherry blossoms at Waterfront Park blossoms in general, all around the city escaping the rain Japanese gardens last basketball games rum horchata at Por Que No rollerskating at Oaks Park Tulip Festival! fair weather biking cupcakes Read more…

My annual end of the year goal [review/planning] time snuck up on me this year. Last year was the first time we combined goals with an overnight getaway — and I really like this as a new tradition. It’s really helpful to get out of my daily routine/distractions to take some time and reflect and plan for the coming year. So on Saturday night, realizing 2013 was steadily approaching, I started thinking Astoria would be a closer and cheaper option than back to Pacific City (like last year). And turns out there’s a cool, budget hotel in Astoria now that Read more…

Next week we welcome another autumn into our lives. As a thoroughly predictable human being, every September I fight the changing season, and then start warming up to the idea after reminding myself of all the things to love about fall. I finally give in (short of relocating, what’s a Portlander to do?). This years autumnal equinox is September 22, so as the rains arrive, I’ll be re-reading my annual fall list. I started this proper list of things that I love about fall a couple years ago, just to remind myself… So here’s the 2012 updated, with 79 things Read more…

Notice anything different around here? I did a redesign — and I designed it all myself! Whaaat?! Yep! I’m a little giddy. I’ve been blogging around here since the summer of 2006, and while I’ve updated my design a couple of times (by finding a new, free template online), I’ve been saying “someday I’ll design my own WordPress theme” for more than a few years now. So the idea of designing my own template has always been intriguing to me, but I didn’t really start thinking about how I was going to go about accomplishing this lofty goal until I Read more…

Farewell, 2011. Every year towards December I start feeling like I didn’t accomplish as much as I’d hoped and planned, but then when I complete my end of the year personal review, and see things all on one page, I feel proud of all that I accomplished and excited to plan for the coming year. Yay! Goals! Yesterday, I shared my yearly goal setting template. For me, setting yearly goals is slightly similar to the dreaded New Year’s resolutions, in that they’re things I plan to do in the coming year, but way different in that my expectations are different. Read more…