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{Portland} Walk Through Peninsula Park and 4 Neighborhoods

May 18, 2012 – 3:07 pm

 A discovery like the Rose Garden at Peninsula Park is exactly why I started following the Portland walking tours in Walk There!. Upon deciding to move to San Francisco I made a goal to complete as many walks in Portland as I can. I wanted to discover new places and revisit old memories.

The Rose Garden at Peninsula Park is an example of a sweet spot that always existed but I’d yet to find. This park took me back to the months I spent traveling Europe. It brings me back to Portland with its roses. Portland is the Rose City after all.

 This rose garden is far and away the highlight of the walk through the surrounding neighborhoods. Aside from Peninsula Park we passed by Multnomah County Library, Piedmont neighborhood (a streetcar-era neighborhood), Portland Community College and Villa St. Rose.

 This walk is near Alberta St. and Mississippi Ave, which makes it a great walk to complete before checking out the Happy Hour scene. We stopped by Prost on Mississippi and Skidmore after our walk. This bar has a great patio area and a decent selection of German beers.

Peninsula Park and 4 Neighborhoods Walk

2.6 miles

  • Start at the North Portland Library on N Killingsworth Street and Commerical Ave.
  • Walk north on Commercial
  • Turn left on Jessup
  • Turn right on Kerby
  • Cross Ainsworth to enter Peninsula Park.
  • Exit the park at the northwest corner, Albina and Rosa Parks Way
  • Cross Rosa Parks Way and turn right.
  • Turn left on Borthwick
  • Turn left on Bryant and walk towards the wall for I-5
  • Turn left onto a path and then right to cross the foot bridge over the interstate.
  • Turn left on the frontage path
  • Turn right on Saratoga
  • Walk west to Interstate Ave
  • Turn left onto Interstate Ave
  • Walk or take the MAX 12 blocks to Killingsworth
  • Turn left on Killingsworth
  • Walk on Killingsworth to the starting point at Commercial Ave.

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Oregon Portland The PNW USA

{PDX} A Walking Tour of The Pearl District and Nob Hill

May 10, 2012 – 11:39 pm

It is my belief that all afternoon walks should begin with brunch and all bruches should begin with drinks. And here I am living up to my belief. We set out to walk around Nob Hill and the Pearl District, but first we ate brunch at Stepping Stone Cafe (Quimby and NW 24th).

Get a load of the size of that biscuit. I made sure to order my omelette without a biscuit and then proceeded to eat about half of Rachael’s. I tried to stop myself before I started, but I cannot resist the power of a good biscuit.

The omelet with Portobello mushroom, feta and spinach wasn’t half bad either. I give Stepping Stone a solid thumbs up for their brunch.

Contrary to typical fashion, I didn’t spend the day shopping on 23rd. This is my favorite place to shop in Portland! There’s a great combination of chain retail stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. My favorite place to stop is Moonstruck Chocolates. These chocolates are so cute and delicious. I also like to shop at Lush, Blush Beauty Bar, Urban Outfitters, Blake, Pinky, Paper Source and Ether.

 The Mission Theater is another one of my favorite spots. The movies are only $3 and you can eat and drink in the theater. This theater also hosts events, such as craft bazaars, which are fun to check out.

The Mission Theater is one of the many McMenamins pubs in Portland. The McMenamins spaces are typically old buildings, such as schools that have been repurposed into pubs, theaters and hotels. The spots are usually pretty cool inside and they brew their own beer.

The walk we chose from the book, Walk There!, outlines a meandering course through the Nob Hill neighborhood and the Pearl District. We made a light-hearted effort to follow the exact course but ended up veering off quite a bit.

There were shops we wanted to go to off the course and friends we wanted to meet up with. Regardless of the path, this is one of my favorite walks in Portland. There’s so much shopping, eating and prettiness in these neighborhoods.

We didn’t make it too far before stopping at Lovejoy Bakers. This is one of those places that I’d seen a million times and never stopped at. The day was unusually sunny for Portland and this spot is packed with prime outdoor seating and therefore packed with people.

There are plenty of other spots to eat and shop in the Pearl, such as Barista, hunt and gather, Cargo and…Powell’s!

Oh, Powell’s my good friend. This place is a full city block and three floors of books, over a million of them that is. Not only does Powell’s have almost every book I can dream of, they also have used copies and signed copies of many of these books. Don’t forget to pick up a calendar while you’re there. Powell’s hosts several of authors and events each month.

Powell’s is located in the Brewery Blocks, so by all means grab a brew while on your walk. Deschutes, Bridgeport and Rouge are a few spots worth the stop. Even the Starbucks on this block serves beer.

During the entire walk, I thought about Salt and Straw ice cream. I had heard so much about their unique flavors and never tried any. Conveniently, we had parked our car close to the new Salt and Straw location on 23rd.
A taste of their ice cream required a bit of a wait. The line moved quickly and once inside we used the wait time to try to decide which flavors to get. Pear and blue cheese? Rhubarb and anise? Dandelion and spring flowers?

I chose a scoop of strawberry balsamic and a scoop of almond brittle with salted ganache. I could not have been happier with my choice. I’ve developed a bit of a strawberry balsamic obsession since this day. I’m currently hunting down recipes for strawberry balsamic jam.

Pearl District and Nob Hill Walk

3.3 miles

  • Start at the PGE MAX station on SW 18th and Morrison
  • Walk north on 18th
  • Turn right on Everett
  • Turn right on 11th
  • Walk east on Couch (Brewery Blocks)
  • Turn Left on Park
  • Turn left on Glison
  • Turn right on 10th
  • Turn left on Johnson
  • Turn left on 13th
  • Turn right on Glisan
  • At 19th cross diagonally through Couch Park
  • Continue west on Hoyt
  • Turn right on 23rd. (Time to shop)
  • Turn left on Northrup
  • Turn right on 26th (check out Wallace Park and watch for the Vaux Swift birds)
  • Turn right on Thurman
  • Turn right on 23rd
  • Turn left on Northrup
  • Turn right on 22nd
  • Turn left at Kearney
  • Turn right on 21st
  • Turn left on Irving
  • Turn right on 18th
  • Walk south on 18th to the starting point at PGE park

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Food Home

Six Whole Grain Breakfast Options

May 8, 2012 – 5:05 pm

In an effort to incorporate more whole grains into my diet and switch up my breakfast routine I experimented with different whole grain breakfast cereal options. I eat oatmeal virtually every morning. Moving away from this comfort zone is not my favorite, but I loved the idea of trying a few new things.

Brown Rice

A brown rice breakfast cereal works really well if you have left over brown rice from the night before. I added some milk and microwaved the rice. Then I added some more milk and my favorite toppings: fruit, cinnamon and nuts. I added some lemon on this day, but that did not taste very good. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Brown rice goes well with my favorite sweet breakfast flavors, but I don’t like the texture. I prefer the smoother texture of oatmeal for breakfast. However, if I have left over brown rice in the fridge I typically use it to make a breakfast cereal because it’s quick and nutritious.

Quinoa

Though not technically a grain, I usually lump quinoa into the grain category in my mind. I like to eat it for breakfast because of the protein content. It’s not my favorite flavor in the morning, a bit too earthy.

I love quinoa with dried fruit and nuts, especially dried cranberries and pistachios. On this day I ate it with cinnamon, almonds, dried cranberries and almond milk. I didn’t love the cinnamon and almond milk with quinoa, but the nuts and fruit tasted great.

 Bulgur

This is a bulgur recipe from Super Natural Every Day. The bulgur is cooked in coconut milk to give it a silkier texture. Without the coconut milk the bulgur has more of a brown rice texture. I added fruit, almond milk, nuts and seeds. The mixture came out great.

I like to make bulgur breakfast on mornings I have a little extra time and still want something wholesome. It takes 2o+ minutes to make on the stove top, but its worth it. Especially if you’re a coconut freak like me.

Millet

This is my favorite whole grain breakfast next to oatmeal. I love the taste of millet with oranges and cinnamon. Delicious! I also like that millet doesn’t have as hard of a texture as brown rice or bulgur cooked in water. It’s closer to a quinoa texture.

I also like to eat millet because it’s gluten free. I don’t eat a gluten free diet, but I like to reduce my intake occasionally to give my body a break.

Amaranth

This was the very first day I tried amaranth. The consistency reminded me of cream of wheat, though it retains some of its texture after its been cooked. It felt a little like tiny beads in my mouth. Sounds odd, but it’s an interesting texture experience. I didn’t find the amaranth to be very flavorful on its own, which made it a bit of a blank canvas to dress with my favorite breakfast toppings.

Overall I really like eating amaranth for breakfast. This is another grain that doesn’t take too long to cook and is gluten free.

 Oatmeal

Oh, oatmeal, my first love. I promise there’s some underneath all those toppings. Though I learned from my experiment that I do like other whole grain breakfasts, oatmeal is still my favorite. To be fair, I have years of perfecting my oatmeal technique under my belt. I know exactly what flavors I like with oatmeal and what is my preferred sticky to soupy ratio. I rarely go wrong with oatmeal. Only when I get too crazy with mix ins and add everything but the kitchen sink. Or the couple times I tried savory oats. Not a fan.

All in all, I love oatmeal. I do however, eat oatmeal fewer times a week than I did before this experiment. Now I try to cook extra grains for lunch or dinner and save the leftovers for breakfast.

 The most important lesson I learned during this experiment is to beware of the breakfast bandit. My sister’s cat lives in the mindset that my food is her food. Not true! Bad kitty.

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Active Home Oregon Portland The PNW USA

{PDX} A Walking Tour of Laurelhurst and Sunnyside Neighborhood

May 3, 2012 – 5:17 pm

A walk in Portland was our evening plan, but before that could happen, us ladies needed some nourishment. The walk started at the Belmont Library so we picked a restaurant near there, Pho Dalat. We wavered between restaurant options but as soon as I saw a sign for Vietnamese food I zoned in like a bird about to attack its prey.

The walk we’d chosen is one from the book, Walk There!, which features walks around Portland and surrounding neighborhoods. The book includes maps, sites to see and distances. Below is evidence of what happens when I am trying to read a book and take pictures at the same time. I looked like a tourist in Rome, not a girl walking through a town she’s lived near for 20 years. I love that this book gives me motivation to both get some exercise and be a tourist in my hometown.

One of the best sites on the walk are the trees. We walked by several historic trees, such as the mammoth heritage Zelkova tree on the top right. We also passed a heritage Carolina popular, a Japanese red pine, a heritage American ash, and a heritage monkey puzzle.

There are several beautiful houses and gardens on the walk, such as the ones on Peacock lane. We also passed this 1912 mansion, designed for the mayor of Portland at the time, Russell Albee.

Laurelhurst Walk

Walk There! edited by Laura O. Foster

3.5 miles, low difficulty

  • Start at Belmont Library on SE 39th and Taylor. Walk North on 39th.
  • Turn right on Belmont.
  • Turn left on Peacock Lane. (These tudor style homes are decorated with lights every Christmas.)
  • Turn left on Stark.
  • Turn right on 39th.
  • Turn right on Oak. (heritage Zelkova tree at 4066)
  • Turn right on 41st.
  • Turn left on Couch. (heritage Carolina popular at 3945 and a Japanese red pine at 39th and Couch)
  • Turn right on 39th.
  • Turn right on Glison.
  • Turn left on 41st.
  • Turn left on Royal.
  • Turn left on Imperial.
  • Turn right on Laddington.
  • Turn right on Glison.
  • Turn left on Hazelfern. (heritage American ash at 412 and a heritage monkey puzzel at 419)
  • Turn left on Flanders.
  • Turn right on Laurelhurst.
  • Turn right on Ankeny. (1912 mansion at 3360 with a 1923 Mediterranean mansion next door)
  • Turn left on 33rd.
  • Turn left on Alder.
  • Turn right on 34th.
  • Turn right on Belmont.
  • Turn left on 33rd.
  • Turn left on Yamhill.
  • Turn right on 38th.
  • Turn left on Taylor.

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San Francisco USA

{SFO} 48 Hours of Friends, Food, Sights and Walks

April 30, 2012 – 10:14 pm

PZ foresaw my love of San Francisco. She’d relocated there from DC and spoke of the city as if it were made for her. She loves San Francisco in a way I didn’t quite get it, but I’d never really visited. I’d stopped for a bit on a road trip to Lake Tahoe, but didn’t really know where to go. I also stayed one night in Japantown with Peace Corps volunteers before flying to Thailand together. That time around I was far more interested in meeting the 50 people I’d be texting from the rice fields than exploring the city. She invited me repeatedly, but San Francisco always seemed so close to Portland and therefore easy to put off.

Finally, last week I flew down to visit. Within minutes of telling PZ I’d be coming for a visit I believe she had a color-coded, prioritized, plan A-B-and-C list of places to see and foods to eat and people to meet. I have a mental picture of her writing these lists and hiding them under her bed, or keeping them under lock and key in a password protected Google Doc because I don’t know how one person can possibly retain so much information about a city. She pointed out every restaurant with the best (fill in the blank food) and shared memories at every park and ice cream shop. The girl breathes San Francisco.

She chose Local Mission Eatery for dinner on the night of my arrival because they were holding a winemaker series. On the last Wednesday of every month Local Mission Eatery hosts a local winemaker and their wines. There is a tasting menu with dishes suited for each wine. Before each course the winemaker pours the wine and explains its flavor profile. The night we were there featured wine by Kevin Kelley of Natural Process Alliance. One of the first details he shared about his wine is that the grapes are fermented in their skins. This adds some interesting flavors and characteristics to the wine. The last course of grilled ribeye with Sunhawk Red was a food dream come true. The ribeye was medium rare, but charred on the outside. As much as I hate to love it, I really do love practically raw meat. It’s so flavorful! The meat was delicious in itself and the asparagus and wine were like the whipped cream and cherry on top.

I visited during the week, which meant I was my own tour guide and entertainment extraordinaire while PZ went to work. Before I arrived she told me that there would be a Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the de Young Museum. This immediately skyrocked to number one on my To-Do List. I love textile exhibits and especially love seeing pieces and collections by fashion designers. Gaultier’s exhibition showed a wealth of his clothing and art work. I love the corsets and dramatics. Every time I found a piece particularly interesting I’d look at it for a bit and then have a moment where my brain went, “Wait, is that wheat coming out of her corset?” The designs were interesting enough as a big picture, then the details often times revealed unconventional materials.

The de Young Museum is in Golden Gate Park, which has several other interesting stopping points and walking paths. Since I was in the area I decided to stop at the Japanese Gardens. I love Japanese design styles and influences. The Japanese Garden in Portland is one of my favorite spots in the city. The garden in Golden Gate Park did not disappoint. The trees with their crooked branches are my favorite and I love me some cascading purple flowers.

I also stopped by the Botanical Gardens. This wasn’t so much of a “I must check this out! Moment” as it was a “Why the heck not? Moment” There were some real fine flowers in that space, but I was slightly more distracted by the fact that my feet had started to absolutely scream in pain. Seasoned as I may be in the sightseeing arts, I still make the mistake of going for the cute shoes over the functional shoes. I thought I could walk miles in my sister’s size and a half too small kind of cowboy boots with the small heel shoes. Not true. I can walk about a mile and then break down in agony as I commit foot murder.

My feet started to hurt so bad that I took of my shoes and walked around in my socks on the pavement for most of the time in the Botanical Garden. This is especially tricky when plants have been recently watered or when the redwood grove, which is the highlight of the season, is on a dirt path. No good. Regardless of my self inflicted misery, I loved the flowers. The park was a bit tricky to navigate because not everything in one area is in bloom at once. I had to read the brochure to find out what was at its peak and use the map to find their hidden locations. But when I did find those at peak flowers, they were a real sight and smell.

When I felt like I’d conquered all the sights I wanted to see in Golden Gate Park, I was a little unsure of where to go next. I didn’t want to shop  because my purse was already really heavy. I still had a couple of hours to kill before PZ got off work, so I decide to walk to her house. This means I walked from Golden Gate Park to The Mission. Not sure exactly how far that is, but its far. Let’s just say that it took me an hour by bus to get there and more than two hours to walk the same distance. This is exactly what any logical person does when their feet hurt. In my defense, I love walking through neighborhoods. This is what I did with my free time in New York. I love the microclimates. I love how the vibe changes from one street to the next. I love to see the eclectic group of people who make up the city.

As much as I can pine on and on about how I love a good walk, I don’t know why I decided to walk a ridiculous distance in shoes that hurt me so bad. Somewhere around Ashbury I decided I was done with the shoes. I would have left them on the street for good had they not belonged to my sister. So yes, not only did I walk for 2 and a half hours in San Francisco, I walked the majority of it in socks. Yes people looked at me, yes I narrowly avoided dog poop and yes I tip toed on wet concrete. The thing is, once I set out to walk this distance, I was bound and determined to complete it. Come hell or high water, I was would walk from Golden Gate Park to The Mission. And yes I did!

My victory of walking barefoot through San Francisco was short-lived considering it completely zapped me of my energy. Luckily, PZ is a ball of boundless energy and still took me out to Indian food, a sundae at Bi Rite Creamery, a nap in the Dolores Park and a brunch or two. During the entirety of time leading up to my visit and the first day there she plotted and schemed to convince me to move to San Francisco. Within the first 24 hours I was convinced and booked a one way return ticket. I love the food culture, the techie nerds and my friends. No walk from hell could convince me otherwise. San Francisco was meant to be my new home.

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Food Home

Granola Bar Rookie

April 18, 2012 – 11:55 am

In an effort to weed out a few more processed foods in my life, I decided to try making my own granola bars. I’ve already been down the muesli and granola paths a few times, but never dabbled with granola bars. I researched several recipes and websites in order to come up with my own amalgamation. In the end I decided that since it’s my first go, I’d follow a tried and true recipe from someone I’ve had success with in the past. Enter smitten kitchen. I used her basic granola bar recipe and oh boy are they good. They’re chewy and sweet without being too sweet. The only alteration I made was adding a smidgen more salt because I’m a salty sweet freak. I see a bright future in granola bar making ahead of me.

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Middle East Teaching

Q&A: Teaching in Abu Dhabi

April 12, 2012 – 9:02 pm

*I’m not sure exactly how I found Jill’s blog, battered suitcases. Nor am I sure if I realized that we went to high school together before or after I started following the posts. Funny how the blog world works that way sometimes. What I am sure of is, I love reading her stories of travel and teaching. I’m fascinated by her experience teaching in Abu Dhabi. Jill was nice enough to answer all my questions, here are a few of her responses and photos.

How did you find the opportunity to teach in UAE?

The school district I was working for at home announced it would need to lay off 144 teachers. I realized that there was no way I’d be getting a teaching contract for the fall. I decided it was time to look for other options. I began to look into teaching in Alaska and Australia. I was nearly set on Australia but very confused by the visa process. My very good friend from teachers’ college was laid off around this time. She found an opportunity to teach in Abu Dhabi through Search Associates. During her interview she asked if her friend could come too. Her interviewer told her to have me email my resume in. Abu Dhabi was never my intention, but I saw an opportunity. I emailed my resume and had a phone interview the next day. My contract was signed a few days later.

What was your teaching experience before this?

I substitute taught for one year and spent another (fantastic) year on a long term substitute contract as a librarian.

Did you need a TEFL certification?

You don’t need a TEFL certificate to teach in Abu Dhabi but you do need a valid teaching certificate and two years of teaching experience.

What does a typical work week look like? 

There isn’t one! It all depends on your school and the school schedule itself might change mid-year. The most recent schedule at my school required teachers to be on campus from 7:15am – 2:30pm. Of course, I was usually at school before 7:00am and often stayed much later than 2:30pm, and add a 45 minute commute each way. Contrast that with my friends who have a 10 minute commute and can leave school at 1:30pm! It all comes down to your principal. In general, the primary teachers teach six 45 minute periods each day to two groups of students. For example, you might teach one group of students periods 1, 2, 3 and a different group 4, 5, 6, with period 7 being your break. Of course it’s never that simple and each day of the week will have a different schedule. Depending on your school you’ll be in meetings after school 2-3 days a week. And there are always surprise field trips, lectures, parties, and activities that no one will tell you about until five minutes before!

What are some of the perks of your job?

The best perk of the job is being so close to so many other amazing destinations. I never thought I’d ever travel to Oman. Now I’ve been there at least 5 times and feel like it’s an undiscovered worthwhile destination. Since moving to the UAE I’ve been able to visit 25 countries. As someone who loves to travel, that’s quite the perk! Other perks include plenty of holiday time, a bonus at contract completion, and airfare home.

What do you do for fun in Abu Dhabi?

One of my favorite things to do for fun in Abu Dhabi is go desert camping. Incredible sand dunes are only three hours away and if you’re not so much concerned with the scenery an easy 45 minute drive outside of town will do. You can camp just about anywhere you like. It’s an amazing experience to be out in the dunes and under the stars. Camping season is between November – April so you can tease your friends and family back home with stories of camping in January!

Where did you meet your friends there?

Typically teachers here arrive in large groups so it’s easy to meet people in the beginning. Some of my friends I met this way. Others I met through friends or we worked at the same school.

How did you transition into your new life in Abu Dhabi?

The first few months in Abu Dhabi were pretty rough. I didn’t have an apartment. I didn’t have a car. I didn’t even have my passport! There was very little communication from my employer and rumors were going crazy. Eventually I got my apartment which helped me to feel settled and allowed me to cook healthy food. I obtained my drivers license and rented a car which took away the stress of getting to and from work every day. And I received my passport back with a nice little residence visa inside which allowed me to begin planning my first trip. After a few months I fell into a nice routine of working, napping, and socializing.

How do you cope with hard moments (loneliness, culture shock, homesickness…)?

I tend to be a very independent person so I don’t get as lonely or homesick as some people. I enjoy spending time alone and working on small projects like sewing or baking. That being said, sometimes I get really grumpy (like this past Christmas) or especially stubborn (Thanksgiving 2010) and can’t figure out why. I’ve realized it’s usually homesickness. My coping method at that point is to just let myself cry. That’s probably not the best way to do it, but it helps in the end! I also keep a blog that helps me feel connected to friends and family, and more recently have begun using FaceTime on occasion. As far as dealing with culture shock I’ve found that it helps to just think of things in terms of telling a good story. You might be incredibly frustrated or annoyed at the time… but in the end, it’s another good story.

What are some of your best memories of teaching in Abu Dhabi?

I taught the same group of girls for two years and we really bonded. I was their first Western teacher and they were my first class of my very own. At the beginning of our second year together one student came up to me to say, “Miss Jill? I love you too much, much much.” That’s one of my favorite memories.

What are some of your best memories of life in Abu Dhabi?

So many. One in particular stands out as I’m writing this. My friend Molly and I wanted to visit a new emirate for New Year’s Eve. We set out after school on what should have been only a few hours drive. It turned into a much more complicated affair that involved incomplete overpasses and a bloody nose. Eventually we reached our destination and set up our tent in the dark just minutes before midnight. We had a little toast and went to bed…only to be roused from our sleep by men shouting in Arabic and random unidentifiable screaming. We did not sleep easy. The next morning we exited our tent to find that we had not only set up camp in someone’s front yard, we were right smack in the middle of a herd of goats. The random “screaming” had been explained. The owner of the home came out to offer us tea (we think) but we were ready to move on. I still laugh when I think about that experience.

What are your favorite foods there?

For the most part, traditional Emirati food is something that you are only exposed to in a local home. Being vegetarian and not fond of dates, it’s not my favorite cuisine. However, Lebanese food is really popular here. From my apartment window I could see three Lebanese restaurants on my block with a fourth going in around the corner. I really like fatoush, which is a salad made of lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, and if it’s really good, pomegranate. And being ever a fan of snack foods, I love Square Crisps which are basically just salt and vinegar chips but much much tastier.

Any advice or encouragement for someone thinking about teaching in UAE?

You must be flexible. Begin stretching now.

*Thanks Jill for sharing your experience and answering my questions! Don’t forget to check out her blog battered suitcases to read more about her travels and experiences in the Middle East.

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Food Video

Homemade Almond Milk is Easier Than I Thought!

April 9, 2012 – 12:47 pm

I’m loving homemade almond milk these days. I started experimenting with it for a cleanse and loved it. The almond milk is especially good with some cinnamon, cardamom and maple syrup. That’s right, I said it. It’s like chai without the chai.

This video helped my fine tune some kinks in the experimenting I had done. Come to find out the video was made by Sarah at My New Roots. Should have known. I have a major blog crush on My New Roots and it only grows stronger everyday.

The second best part of making your own almond milk (after the great taste that is) is making nut jokes. Like if you ask someone to pick up some cheese clothe at the grocery store and they ask why, you can say, “To squeeze my nuts!

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Active Food

Travel Inspired My Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle

April 6, 2012 – 4:44 pm

I learned how to ride a bike in China. Ok, so I learned to ride a bike as a kid, but I had an accident in second grade and didn’t get back on a bike until China. So it felt like learning to ride a bike all over again. In China, biking became my main mode of transportation. The first week was terrifying. Not only did I have to relearn to ride a bike, I had to do it in streets packed with cars, obstacles and other bicyclists. Every time I sat on the bike I could feel my heart beat in my throat. Over time I became more and more comfortable. Eventually I was zigging and zagging through traffic like someone who’d do this their whole life.

Not only did I gain more confidence and pride in my abilities, my body changed. I started to look more like someone who exercised moderately and less like someone who ate Easy Mac in front of a computer at 1 AM. Before the trip to China I led the sedentary lifestyle of a college sophomore who ate way too much out of the pastry case at the dining center and couldn’t tell you how to get to the Rec Center on campus. I wanted to be more active and to eat healthier but lacked the motivation. Seeing the physical results from a change as small as biking everyday sparked the motivation I needed to begin a journey to a healthier lifestyle.

That was 2006. Since then I’ve made lifestyle tweaks here and there that have led me to live more wholesomely. This doesn’t necessarily mean changes that lead to weight loss. This means changes that make me healthier in mind, body and spirit. As I think back to the “a-ha moments” that encouraged me to live a more healthy lifestyle, I realize that most of them are travel related. Travel makes me feel alive and passionate about life. It’s no surprise to me that changes in my mindset are linked back to travel experiences.

On Learning to Love Food

I’ve always loved eating food. I haven’t always loved food itself. Living in the heart of farmland in Thailand taught me to appreciate food. Not only did I see firsthand the amount of time and labor that goes into growing food, I reaped the benefits. My small village produced bountiful harvest year round. I never thought I liked coconut until I tried a fresh one. The food in the village included ingredients I’d never heard of or rarely ate. Eventually I developed a taste for flavors I never thought I’d like, like spice and fish sauce.

Trying new foods and learning about local cuisine became a favorite activity of mine. I loved taking a cooking class in India, drinking beers in Germany and eating a daily dal baht in Nepal. I love the stories local foods tell and the traditions they share.

On Climbing Mountains

A more active lifestyle started with biking in China. Then there was the occasional jog back home in the States. Then there was the sight-seeing in Europe, which felt like a sport unto itself. Once in Thailand I started running regularly for peace of mind. Sometimes a jog through the village and rice fields was my favorite part of the day.

While with some Peace Corps friends in Indonesia, the idea of climbing a mountain came up and I said yes. I hesitated at the exertion, but I knew it was achievable. As I climbed the mountain, I thought back to the days before the trip to China, when I would have barely made it to the top, if I went up at all. I hoped to never again be in a place where my unhealthy lifestyle could hold me back from an experience. Eventually PZ and I trekked through the Poon Hill Circuit on Annapurna Mountain, which killed me, but inspired me. I returned home knowing what I could accomplish, which made smaller feats, like afternoon jogs, seem like a walk in the park.

On Being A Little Vain

Learning to ride that bike in China was the easier lesson I learned. The harder lesson came when I returned home and people started asking to see pictures. When I pulled up pictures from my trip all I saw was how unhealthy I looked. These pictures were taken in freakin’ China! I wanted to show off all the places I’d been to, not hide the pictures because I didn’t like the way I looked.

The next time I traveled I was in Europe and vowed to take pictures I loved. If I couldn’t be as skinny as I wanted to be, then I could at least pencil on some eyeliner and wear a cute pair of earrings. Small changes like this made a huge difference. Not only did my pictures look better, I felt better. Getting ready for the day and putting my best face forward somehow made me feel more energized and confident. I went through high school and college not putting any effort into my appearance. In Europe I found a balance. I relearned how fun it can be to get cute and noticed the impact this effort had on my day. I swear to you, in Thailand, there were mornings when putting on some lipstick was the first step in pulling myself out of a bad week.

I guess vanity isn’t something one would usually write about when reflecting on their journey to a wholesome lifestyle, but in my journey there is a definite link. Taking care of myself makes me feel great and feeling great makes me want to take more steps in the right direction.

On Living Passionately

My life is generally the healthiest and most fulfilled when I’m doing what I love. This is why travel inspired my journey to a healthy lifestyle. I live passionately when I’m travelling. I savour experiences and interactions. The world feels like my playground and I’m anxious to explore. At home this means finding other interests that get me excited, like cooking, taking pictures, reading magazines and playing outside.

When I live passionately I don’t need bad habits to fill the holes. Yes, I still chose to indulge in bad habits at these times. What can I say? It’s fun to be bad sometimes. But it’s different. I tend to make those choices consciously. I’ve learned to see the times that my lifestyle feels unhealthy as a warning sign that there is a bigger problem going on. It’s usually a sign that I’ve lost my passion. It’s time to go for a walk, start a new book, try a new recipe, catch up with a friend, journal at a cafe, or paint my toes. Now that’s my kind of healthy living.

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Music USA

SXSW: Nerds Party Too

March 27, 2012 – 7:00 pm

Guestpost: Bekah a.k.a. PZ a.k.a my counterpart on many travels, recently took part in a few SXSW festivities. I loved hearing her stories from the festival and asked her to write a post to share her experience. Thanks Bekah! Photos via an awesome post on Mashable of 45 Insider Instagram Pics From Bands at SXSW.

@paytonius and @dawsonheringer

Nerds know how to party. As a native East Coaster and festival goer, South by Southwest was on my radar. I envisioned a few days of country music and bluegrass, Lonestar beer, and maybe a few cacti dotting the landscape. My expectations were shattered upon arrival. The first segment of SXSW is called Interactive, affectionately referred to as “Spring Break for nerds”. Many Austin locals are in attendance, as the town has a thriving tech scene, as well as a large representation of the San Francisco start-up community. Interactive came to fame when Twitter launched there a few years back, and ever since start-ups compete to have the best, most highly attended parties and generate the most buzz.

@geographermusic and @dragonetteband

There is the official side in a conference center with badges, panels, awards etc… but really, Interactive is where techies go to blow off steam. I did not have a badge and still managed to find myself at a constant stream of parties. Resourceful as I am, I barely spent any money on food or drink, choosing to subsist on open bars and hors oeuvres. The events ranged from super networky, schmoozy type affairs where bright, young, entrepreneurs try to connect with investors, to electronic music ragers in art galleries where hackers demonstrate yet again that they have no rhythm. For the duration of the festival, “South By” takes over Austin. Almost every bar, club, and space plays host to events, and lines wind around the block as attendees fight to get in to the “hottest” parties. It is all about who you know, which seems slightly absurd in this scenario, as those with the “in” are computer and investment geeks. A word to the wise: no parties are worth waiting an hour outside. Tis far better to be grooving in an off-the-radar locale than clawing others in line on a sidewalk.

By the time the weekend wound down, I was exhausted. I decided to spend a leisurely morning in a coffee shop and enjoy the lull between Interactive and Music. Then the door opened, and 5 painfully trendy young men walked in, all with absurd haircuts, ironic tattoos, ripped articles of clothing, and scowls. The music crowd had arrived. Walking down 6th street (the Bourbon Street of Austin) that night, the demographic shift was palpable. Gone were the tee-shirts with start-up logos and athletic shoes. Enter LA hipsters. Suddenly I was no longer the coolest kid on the block.

@deltaspirit and @weareexitmusic

Every inch of space was repurposed for concerts, from parking lots to old furniture warehouses, and rumors bubbled over about who would be playing where and when. Unlikely sponsorship partners combined forces, such as the Hype Machine’s Taco Bell and Tito’s Vodka sponsored shows, where you could indulge in free tacos, basic vodka drinks, and see Miike Snow. Fader Fort, the Levi’s sponsored venue, is a mini festival within SXSW, where fans line up for hours to get a wristband, but once inside, there is free Lonestar beer and a great music line-up. SXSW Music is a combination of major celebrity performances, like Jay-Z, and up –and-coming acts, like the Austin-based group Wild Child. Similarly to Interactive, where strappy young start-ups can rise to fame and fortune by gaining a following at SXSW, so too can bands and DJs find their careers launched through sheer buzz factor. This year, everyone was talking about Kimbra and Grimes. Keep an ear to the ground. They are going to be huge.

After 10 days of partying, breakfast tacos, and no sleep, I was ready to head home. SXSW managed to drain me of my party stamina, which is no mean feat. Exhausted as I was, I departed secure in the knowledge that I gave South By my all. I left with dozens of business cards, sore feet, an appreciation for good salsa, and the satisfaction of being in on the next big everything.

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Food

50 Smoothie Ideas to Start the Day

March 26, 2012 – 8:35 pm

There are only few foods that I haven’t tried to make into a smoothie at some point. There are a few items that I’m not sure are food that I’ve tried to make into a smoothie. Celery tops? Done. Apple cider vinegar, been there. Today, I scoured through blogs, magazines, and Pinterest to find a few new ideas. I made a list of new smoothie recipes to try and thought I’d share them with you too.

Açaí Smoothie via Golbuka

Almond Milk-shake (with dates and oats) via With Style & Grace

Apple Carrot Ginger Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Avocado Smoothie via Bon Appétit

Avocado Pear Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Banana Oat Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Bee Pollen Smoothie via My New Roots

Berry Smoothie via With Style & Grace

Berry Tofu Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Beet Carrot Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Blackberry Cinnamon Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Blackberry Wheat Germ Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Blood Orange Smoothie via edible perspective

Blueberry Orange Smoothie via Bon Appétit

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie via Green Kitchen Stories

Buttermilk Date Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Cacao Coffee Banana Smoothie via A Cozy Kitchen

Cantaloupe Smoothie via edible perspective

Carrot Cake Smoothie via Oh She Glows

Chamomile Banana Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Cherry Berry Rooibos Tea Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Cherry Vanilla Breakfast Smoothie via Shape Magazine

Chocolate Almond Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie via Eating Bird Food

Coconut Lime Tropical Smoothie via A Feathered Nest

Coconut, Strawberry, and Banana Smoothie via Bon Appétit

Cucumber Honeydew Melon and Mint Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Ginger Banana OJ Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Gingered Beet Smoothie via With Style & Grace

Grapefruit Avocado Smoothie via Golubka

Green Tea Honeydew Melon Smoothie via eat live run

Green Power Smoothie (with cocoa powder and coconut milk) via With Style & Grace

Kale Spinach Pear Smoothie via Joy the Baker

Kiwi Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Macha Green Tea Smoothie via The Chic Life

Mango Coconut Water Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie via Shape Magazine

Pear Oat Cinnamon Ginger Smoothie via Whole Living Magazine

Pina Colada Smoothie via Paula Deen

Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie via Oh She Glows

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie via Bitter Sweet

Sea Buckthorn Smoothie via Golbuka

Spiced Pear Smoothie via With Style & Grace

Strawberry Cocoa Soy Smoothie via Scandi Foodie

Strawberry Cucumber Smoothie via Joy the Baker

Strawberry Peach Smoothie via Food For My Family

Sunburst Smoothie via Shape Magazine

Super Citrus Smoothie via Joy the Baker

Super Spinach Smoothie via Joy the Baker

Tropical Cilantro Smoothie via Honest Cooking

Tropical Cloud Smoothie via Zesty Cook

Vanilla Date Breakfast Smoothie via Bon Appétit

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Portland

Local Love: Portland’s Foxfire Teas

March 21, 2012 – 12:23 pm

I received four Foxfire Teas for Christmas last year and fell in love. The blends are delicious and I love that they’re a local Portland company. This week I made the pilgramage to the store to restock my supply. I ended up purchasing five new teas/herbal infusions. So far my favorites are Bliss, Harmony and Jamaican Red Bush. The teas are purchased by the ounce and come with instructions for steep time. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I make another trek back to the store to pick up some more blends.

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