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…
After spending 10 days in Japan, followed by a week in Korea, my mind is still processing the whole, amazing experience. I visited Japan in 2008 on my round the world trip, and it’s still one of my most-loved countries for so many reasons. For now, I’ll start by sharing some of my favorite Instagrams from Japan! Frozen yogurt and freshly made potato chips, drizzled with chocolate sauce…
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” –Helen Keller This has been one of my favorite quotes for a while. I asked myself ‘Why?’… I love that adventure is a unique perspective – that everyone’s definition of an adventure is slightly different. Daring is also a loaded word. It’s a bold statement, and very absolute. It’s personal. It reminds me that life is extremely short, and to try new…
Ah summer! This Week: Bar Avignon – I love Bar Avignon, but I wish they had better happy hour prices on cheese. Regardless, summer sangria! Cheese & Crack cheese cart – speaking of cheese, there’s a new cheese cart in town. It was $8 for a little “pizza box” full of cheese, crackers, berries, honey stick etc. I ate it all for lunch, but I’ll be back to…
I was commenting a few days ago on the difference in how you feel just after eating some thing good vs something good [for you]. Post-cheese plate, I feel like “mmmmmmm… that was good, I feel satisfied and full and now I want some more wine and a nap” vs post-‘hippie bowl’, I feel like “mmmmmmm… that was good, I’m so good, I make good choices and I’m…
I have a hard time remembering the last time I got completely absorbed in a book. Mildly embarrassing, but I spend so much time reading online, that I hadn’t picked up an actual book in too long. So I took The Rum Diary (Hunter S. Thompson) to the park on Saturday and left a few hours later, book finished. Reading undisturbed for hours on end, while drinking rose…
Summer, my friends, has finally arrived in Portland. I may have said summer is on its way a few times this year already, but it’s finally here! This Week: Oblique Coffee Roasters – you would think it would be easy to find a coffee shop open at 5am, right? Maybe that’s just wishful thinking. My quest led me to Oblique, which opens at 6am. That’ll do. Tubing on…
I’m turning 30 soon — well technically I have to turn 29 first, which gives me about 13 months to do a 30 Before 30 list. As mentioned, I decided to take a break from the 101 things in 1,001 days list this year. My bff started a 30 before 30 list, so like a good clone I’m copying her! Turning 30 is just part of the adventure…
Thankfully, turning 31 brought with it much less introspection that turning 30 did. Phew! Now I don’t have to worry about that again, well probably until I’m turning 40? I did however take the day off work to celebrate dia de Olivia in style. This Week: Edgefield – I celebrated turning 31 at Edgefield. Always fun to play a round of pitch and putt golf, drink a beer,…
When I heard there would be a first annual (faith people, there can be a first annual!) Portland Beer and Cheese festival I was so thrilled. Two of my favorite things. Then I was sad that it was $27 and you couldn’t buy a ticket at the door. Then I ponied up the money and moved into anticipation mode! Portland Beer & Cheese Festival was hosted at The…
Last week’s ‘Create or learn every day’ goal was a success! Here’s what I created and learned last week… Monday: Create – Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing design and background Tuesday: Create – P&L Statement for a Coffee FarmMy dad has been in the process, for the last couple years, of working on his coffee farm in Nicaragua. So after talking a few weeks ago, I decided…
As PDX Beer Week came to a close this week, it’s a been a fun mix of beer and exercising to counterbalance the beer. This Week: Kettleball workout – I tried a kettleball workout for the first time this week (Lululemon had a free class at Skogg Kettleball gym at NW 10th/Everett). Intense! Fun though, I’ll definitely be trying it again. It was the kind of workout that…