Mommy Bloggers

I loved this post by Design Mom's Mom.  She is right, blogs are genius, and I love her journal entry "where are all the fans?". 

If my mom had a blog back in the day - it would have been rad.  It would have been about our adventures, our house, our food,  our community, and her projects.  (haha, basically it would have been my blog, 30 years ago).  I would love to see it today. 

And as for my mom and a blog - its not too late.  Birdie is a busy gal, I'd love to see her start to document her life via a blog.  Nudge...nudge...

Photo above came up when I used google images to search "seventies mom"...funny, my seventies mom still has that crockpot on the left and no doubt her blog would have had some delicious "fix it and forget it" recipes...

Balance

Ironically, I have been so busy I don't think I ever checked back in with you about balance.  I went back to work between babies, and back to work again after sweetP.  I can honestly say that 90% of the time I have felt super confident about my decision to work (part time).  I really love working.  That old balance post (link above) was pretty optimistic, and lots of people gave me a hard time and thought I was naive...lots of "just wait, you'll see" kind of conversations.  But honestly, I think its doable.  Not easy, but possible. I work for an amazing company, have awesome daycare, and have a ridiculously hot and supportive hubby - all 3 are key to pulling it off.

The other 10% of the time, I have some doubts, which is usually when the kids get sick or I am feeling behind in life (bills to pay, people to call, emails to send, runs to run, teeth to brush...).  Well this week is part of that 10%.  2 sick babes and the balance feels a bit outta whack.

Work can wait, my babes need me.

Oh, and I want my mommy. 

How's your balance working out my friends? 

Besties

Oaks Park

Skype Offices

I love seeing cool office spaces for cool companies.  Remember the facebook offices I posted a while back? Here are some shots from the Skype offices.  So hip.  So cool.  What an inspiring place to work. 

Photos du Jour

Splish Splash

They are pretty good at sharing

Sel Gris and The Meadow

We were recently gifted with the most interesting, thoughtful and useful host gift - a bit of sel gris from France.  If you haven't dabbled with gourmet salts in your kitchen....go for it.  O and I are amazed at the difference a high quality artisan salt can make.  Amazed.  Ooh la la, merci Steph and thanks for fitting us into your PDX visit. 

Image credit

We are blowing through the generous supply that we were gifted, which got me googling to see where I could refill our stash.  I stumbled upon The Meadow site and was blown away.  PDX-ers, did you guys know about this place and not tell me?  It looks amazing and I am dying to go check it out! 

After spending several glorious minutes (minutes are like hours in working-mom time) exploring their site, I wasn't able to summarize it for you...so I am borrowing their verbiage which, upon reading, will surely make you want to go check it out too:

"The Meadow is a place where the beautiful, the delicious, and the unexpected are brought together for your pleasure. We specialize in artisan salt, the world’s great chocolate bars, bitters and other gourmet items for the bar and kitchen, and in Portland, carry a close selection of Oregon and European wines and vermouths. The Meadow also offers full service floristry, and the air is suffused in the aromas and colors of fresh cut flowers arranged with imagination and a love of nature. Business is intensely personal, a creative and ever-challenging way to connect with, learn about, and go places with people. With a close selection of books on food and culture, curated works of art, and a few comfortable chairs set by the window, The Meadow is a place where you can step outside of time for a moment, linger, and let your mind wander."

So whether you need to replenish your sel gris stash, take a Himalayan salt block cooking class, indulge in some artisan chocolate or just get inspired - I think swinging by the Meadow will do the trick. 

Oh, and the next time you want to send me a bucket of rose city roses...just give them a call (or order online)...

A visit to the Meadow is officially added to my to do list. 

Way Too Much Portland

I have been eager to share a link to this amazing tumblr site for a while...but I guess I was waiting for the perfect picture...and I think this is it.  Love it.  Classic Portland...

Monkeys

It feels like just yesterday we were throwing a baby shower for JGF...and it just feels crazy to me that he is already big enough to monkey around with my babes. 



Art Party?

This photo (for which i don't have the source beyond tumblr) could be the inspiration for a super cute kid birthday party, right?  I love it. 

Farm To Table

The Portland food scene is so exceptional, it would be easy to take the "farm to table" concept for granted around here.  This article is a good reminder that we have something special going on in this foodie town. 

In case I haven't mentioned it...I really dig this city.  

Photo taken at Grain and Gristle is from the O. 

Evening Run

Nothing beats an early morning run...but sometimes it is just so hard to get up. Good thing night runs are pretty good too, especially out on the trails during summer solstice.

BR Does Mad Men

I love Banana, I love Mad Men, and yet I am not sure how I feel about this...

First Buzz: Before and After

Summer Buzzes

Perhaps this will become a father's day tradition?  The boys gave each other buzz cuts on Sunday.  I am loving the results on both of them!!!  A part of me is uber jealous...my hair is so thick and unruly....I'd love a summer buzz cut.

C'est Domage

Such a bummer...the Portland French School (which is only a mile or so from our house) has closed.  My kids were not old enough to give it a try, but we had pictured this as an exciting option for so long...

Funny Confession #98

I would LOVE to be a star  an extra on Portlandia....here is my chance ("cacao") to put a bird on it...

Photos du Jour

Flower Project

 The most creative blogging papa (a Portland guy!) is at it again, check out this sweet and simple project.

Roaming Ramen

Someday I'm going to get my act together and check out Boke Bowl.  Boke Bowl is a roaming ramen project with chef driven, Asian inspired noodle bowls, salads, appetizers, and desserts.

Their next event is lunch on Monday - click here for details. 

The pix below are from the Portland Food Group blog...yum. 

Have you been?

PARIS

I rarely enter giveaways...but we'd all be silly not to put our name in this chapeau...

Funny Confession #97

When I saw this photo (here) I thought...wow, good thing our kitchen remodel was completed before O saw this...

Pretty rad though..

My Favorite Photo

Here is my favorite shot from HVK's shoot...

More Pix of the Nest

My talented friend HVK recently posted some of her favorite shots from her recent photo shoot of our pad.  These are pix beyond those that were shared on stephmodo.