Day Trip || Stormy Garibaldi

There's nothing quite like spending a stormy Fall day on the Oregon Coast. The gray skies, the misty rain, the salty air and the sounds of buoy bells in the distance. My parents and aunt and uncle spent the weekend in Garibaldi fishing and crabbing and I decided to drive my Nuna (grandma) down for the day to reap the benefits of their hard work. My mom sent me a picture of the 44 crab they caught the day before and I assumed they would need help putting a dent in it. Who can resist fresh caught dungeness crab.

The house was located across the street from the Coast Guard station and although it was a little dated it had an amazing view of the Tillamook Bay where we could watch the fishing boats and kayakers. After having some crab for lunch I was able to cozy up in the sunroom and indulge in a little quiet reading time followed by a quick power nap. 

It was a hasty but rejuvenating trip and was just what I needed to kick off the Fall season. The drive home was a little less rejuvenating and I had some white knuckle moments in the dark and pouring rain. Especially the moment when I saw a spider crawling up the windshield and I had to quickly pull over on the side of the road. As the cars rushed past me and I stood drenched by the rain I lost the spider and then had to get back in the car to continue driving. It was anxiety inducing. Needless to say I was happy to make it back home safe and sound. I look forward to the next beach trip that doesn't require night driving. 

What are your favorite ways to cozy up in the Fall?

Best Products for Sun Protection

I have always been a sun worshipper. I love having a tan and I love laying out on a hot day next to a body of water. However, now that I am getting older I am beginning to realize that all that sun is just going to cause more skin damage than I would like to deal with. I figure that it is time for me to start taking sun protection seriously. With that being said, I do not like all of the crazy chemicals that can be found in most sunscreens so I gravitate towards items that seem healthier (ie. more expensive). This Summer I stumbled upon some new faves that I never left home without. 

Sun Bum

I first tried Sun Bum when I had to buy sunscreen in Hawaii a few years ago. The product is gluten free and vegan, but best of all it smells amazing, just like coconut. I am obsessed with the smell which is helpful in reminding me to reapply throughout the day. It is paraben free, oil/PABA free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, retinyl palmitate free, propylene glycol free, and cruelty free. I typically don't like to use the spray sunscreen because it can be bad to inhale, but I purchased this one so that I can spray it on my back when I am home alone working in my yard (that seems to be the time I burn my back the most).  I purchased all of these products from Target and have seen them at Ulta as well. 

Bare Republic

Next up is my favorite for my face. This is what I would put on under my moisturizer when I knew I would be in direct sun all day. This product was perfect for my face. It is a cream texture, but it felt like putting on a dry oil. It was thin and absorbed quickly. It has a nice smell and does not clog pores. I actually ended up liking this better than my daily moisturizer with SPF. This product is free of chemical actives, paraben free, retinyl palmitate free, has no synthetic fragrances and is cruelty free. A major plus is that it has 40 minutes of water resistance for those days you are floating in the pool. I purchased this product at Target.

Coola

I stumbled upon this product while browsing through Ulta one day. I was familiar with the brand because I had received a sample of their SPF moisturizer in one of my Birchboxes. What I liked about this product was that it was a makeup setting spray that you could put on after you did your makeup and you could add throughout the day. I used this while at an all day concert in 99 degree heat and direct sunlight and I did not burn one bit, not even a pink nose. The product is 70% certified organic and cruelty free. It has green tea, cucumber and aloe extracts that cool and sooth your skin. I have fairly sensitive skin and this product did not irritate it or cause any breakouts. 

Peter Thomas Roth

There is something magical about a powder that can also provide SPF. This all in one product is the perfect for on the go protection. Just pop the lid off and give it a little shake to release some powder and brush all over your face. I loved using this product when I wanted to make sure I didn't look oily or sweaty. It is compact enough to throw in your purse or clutch and therefore works great when attending an outdoor event. I found this product at Ulta but have also seen it at Sephora. 

All of these products can help keep your skin safe, but it is important to remember some other staples of sun protection. Don't forget to wear your sun hat, sunglasses and stay hydrated! 

Hiking in Forest Park

I love going on day hikes, and living in Portland offers plenty of places to explore. A few weekends ago a few friends from Levé decided to go on a hike in Forest Park to enjoy the outdoors and catch up on life. We started the day by meeting at St. Honoré Boulangerie on NW Thurman Street. 

After grabbing a quick bite and a coffee we started our adventure. We had a vague idea of where we were going but figured we would work out the details as we went. We approached the bridge and decided to take the stairs down to Macleay Park. 

We started along the Lower Macleay Trail and followed along the creek until we reached what locals call 'Witches'. It is known on the map as Witches Castle and many believe that it has a haunted past. Not to spoil anyone's fun, but the creepy stone building was actually a ranger station and restroom before it was abandoned. 

None the less, it is a great place for a photo opportunity.

We continued along the trail, commenting on the citrusy floral smell that was emanating from the woods and our curiosity was confirmed by some strangers that passed by discussing the same smell. A short way past 'Witches' the trail split and we walked along the Wildwood trail for a bit. Wildwood winds through all of Forest Park and is much more than we were looking to take on for the day so when we came upon another split we chose the Aspen Trail and headed back into the nearby civilization. 

Winding through the old northwest homes we talked about which houses were our favorites and where we imagined living some day. My favorite part of the whole hike was stumbling upon a Dinosaur National Park. It was such a fun surprise to see and so creative. 

The hike lasted a little over 3 miles and took us just over an hour (and the rain held off until I reached my car). It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning and I look forward to the next day hike in or around Portland. 

Exploring PORTLAND FLEA + FOOD

I decided to brave the heat this past Sunday so I could go out exploring. My friend Lisa and I wanted to check out the Portland Flea + Food event going on behind Rejuvenation on Southeast Salmon and Sixth Street. I have been to Portland Flea back when it did not include the Food part of its title and when it was held at Union/Pine, but this was my first time experiencing the expanded space and vendors. The event is held on the last Sunday of the month April through November. 

Our first stop was at the Pip's Original truck to grab some doughnuts to snack on. This was my first time having one of the highly praised Pip's doughnuts and they more than lived up to the hype. They are made fresh to order and are the perfect bite size (although you do have to order at least a half dozen. Fine, twist my arm). We went with three of the cinnamon sugar and three of the Nutella with sea salt. Both were to die for, but we agreed that the simplicity of the cinnamon sugar made them the best. 

After our quick pick me up we started checking out the adorable shops. Right away some treasures caught my eye. Mainly the necklaces from This Fine Day, the adorable cut out cactuses from Scout & Whistle and the wide assortment of products distributed at Made Here PDX.

After awhile our friend Wendy joined us with her adorable samoyed puppy, Yuri. While we grabbed food from Koi Fusion and Bunk Sandwiches we got to experience the crazy amount of people that squealed every time they saw Yuri and the four questions that everyone asked -  What type of dog is it? How old is it? What's his name? Can I pet him?

Yuri was desperate for shade so we went to check out the quaint little florist shop called Anna Mara, located on the loading dock of Rejuvenation. 

When we had thoroughly explored the event and were near heat exhaustion we left to find a place to grab a drink and some shade. 

It was so much fun checking out this Portland scene and I look forward to going a few more times this Summer (and maybe buying one of those funky little cactuses I saw).

Where to Spend a Day Wine Tasting in the Willamette Valley

One great thing about living in Portland is the access to so many great adventures. Only 60 minutes to the mountain, 90 minutes to the beach and a wine lover's paradise is a quick 45 minute drive out of town. I typically end up in Dundee, Oregon a few times a year to celebrate a friend's birthday, have a girls' day, or just go pick up my wine club shipment from Sokol Blosser. The Willamette Valley offers some amazing wine tasting and fortunately for me, my palate has evolved to a point where I LOVE a good pinot noir (which is what we are known for in these parts).

This Spring I had the pleasure of heading out to a few vineyards on the super cool Double Decker bus for my friend Wendy's birthday. The bus was incredibly accommodating of our large group. They allowed us to bring food and drinks on the bus and be as rowdy as we could be. We had a great coordinator that made sure we were all happy and kept us on schedule, which can be tricky when dealing with 30 tipsy 30 somethings.  There was a great group of friends and acquaintances that made the trek out to Soléna Estate, Sokol Blosser and Stoller Family Estate for the day. 

Double Decker PDX

Friends

That's a lot of glasses

It was my first visit to Soléna Estate. The venue was absolutely beautiful. The tasting room was large and made you feel like you were in a mountain cabin. And the view from the deck was stunning, surrounded by trees and a pond in the distance. 

Soléna Estate

Our next stop was Sokol Blosser. This is one of my favorite wineries, which is why I am a member, and I love their wine. They have the absolute best rosé which I am completely obsessed with. Their sparkling is also very nice. They have two tasting rooms, the original building and their new building. I'm partial to the new building due to its openness, clean lines, and modern feel. 

Sokol Blosser

Our final stop was Stoller Family Estate. This was my first time visiting that vineyard as well, although I had heard a lot about it since it is a very popular place. The tasting room is a 4,000 square foot, environmentally sustainable, modern building with floor to ceiling glass garage doors. It sits on an amazing piece of grassy property. They have a ton of white Adirondak chairs to lounge in and in the distance is a large oak tree with a tire swing. It's a great place to take a picnic and spend the day. 

Stoller Family Estate

I love visiting old favorites as well as discovering new favorites. If you have any suggestions of where to go next time, let me know!

First time in NYC

I finally did it. I can check visiting New York off of my bucket list. Well, not really. The four days I spent exploring the city with dear friends was not nearly enough to quench my thirst for such a vibrant and exciting place. Even after cramming in as much as we could in the short trip I have an overwhelming feeling of missing out on so much. Aside from the typical tourist attractions that we couldn't make it to: Statue of Liberty, MOMA, Ellis Island, Radio City Music Hall, etc., I find I am longing for the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the city. I want to wander the streets from neighborhood to neighborhood with no agenda, stumbling upon hidden gems.
But, until this dream can become a reality I am relegated to browsing through my vacation photos reminiscing on the amazingness of my first taste of New York.

We arrived to our hotel at 9 o'clock on a Friday morning and hit the ground running. We decided to wander around the city and see where our feet would take us.

30 Rockefeller Plaza

Bellini at the Boathouse

Visiting Alice in Central Park

Exploring The MET

Champagne on a friend's balcony on the Upper East Side

Oysters at DBGB Kitchen

Private karaoke room at Nemo

Top of the Rock

Finding Neverland on Broadway

Sometimes your shoes are so uncomfortable that you have to impulse buy a new pair 

at JCrew and leave the old ones on a New York City street. 

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge

Striking a pose

Deliciousness from Doughnut Plant

Touring the Tenement Museum

9/11 Memorial

Selfie on the Hudson River

Panoramic of the Hudson River

Savored every bite at Boqueria for my last New York meal

I'm looking forward to my next visit and all of the amazing adventures I will have.