Food on food on food

Hello everybody! I'm really excited about today's post. Why? Well, because it's about food, and who doesn't get excited about food?! 

Today I will be showcasing food that means a lot to me along with a little surprise at the end. The reason this food is particularly incredible is because it's all dorm-made either by me or by my roommates for our roomie dinners, which happen four nights every week. We each have one day during which we are responsible for making dinner for everyone, and once it's prepared, we all hang out and eat together. Definitely one of my favorite parts of college so far :) 

Let's get started!

Pancakes with bacon strips (in the pancakes!!) and to add some healthiness, a side salad.
This was Bri's incredible creation.

Another revolutionary meal by Bri - eggplant pizza! Delicious, unique, and healthy!

DJ went all out for this dinner by preparing a gourmet hand-crafted burger, guacamole, and coughwinecough (for extra classiness!) -  absolutely DELECTABLE! 

Lately Bri has been really into eggplant, and this is her healthy version of lasagna - made out of eggplant instead of pasta. Definitely a success!

THE meal for a gloomy, cold, depressing day. Chicken, gravy, dinner rolls, green beans - what could be better as comfort food? As always, a success by DJ.

Not a dinner, just my go-to meal for lunch: eggs, spinach, and Dave's Killer bread.
(Fun Fact: Dave's Killer Bread started out at PSU's Farmer's Market and now is a big-name brand, as well as the most delicious and healthy bread out there!)

Burbon maple glazed donut

And now, the sweet surprise to end the post. We have discovered the most incredible place in Portland: Blue Star Doughnuts and Coffee on SE Hawthorne St. Not only is the area wonderful, filled with unique, cute boutique shops, caffés, and thrift stores, which by the way have some great finds. But Blue Star is where it's at - literally everything about it is perfect. The food is delectable, the ambiance of modern white classiness is well above par, the service is beyond friendly, music selection - fantastic, and did I mention that the food is DELICIOUS?!

Lemon poppyseed doughnut 

Unfortunately, I was so captivated that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of probably the most unique item on their menu - Fried Chicken and Doughnut. May sound strange, but turns out that it is a heavenly combination. Apparently even better with the hot sauce. We serendipitously stumbled upon this haven on Friday and may or may not have gone back today...

Definitely, though, Hawthorne and the Sunnyside District is one of my favorites in Portland. We will certainly be visiting there again...many times.

Well, that's it for today's post. Hope I didn't make you too hungry!

Thanks for reading :)

Running 'round Portland

Since moving to Portland, I've been occasionally going on runs and exploring the area. And boy is there a lot to see around here! Everywhere I go, I find a new view, treasure, secret, and it's wonderful! 

Here is some of the beauty I have encountered while running:

Random artwork under the Morrison Bridge

I've found that Portland is a plant sanctuary. All of it, everywhere!

This majestic forest ten minutes away from downtown.

Cute paths that lead to even more beauty.

And the fact that the air is always fresh and clean after
 the last rain makes each run even more pleasant.

Trees on trees on leaves on vines on branches on beauty.

The infamous Portland, Oregon sign as seen from the
East side of the Willamette River.

Hidden view of the city from the hill that is the view out of my window.

And this stunning end to the day that I witnessed during my last run along the waterfront. 

Despite Portland being an urban location, it is a very biker and runner-friendly city! Whenever I'm out, I see fellow runners, rain or shine, getting out there and enjoying the wonderful outdoors. That gives Portland and exceptional vibe that makes living here that much more pleasant.

This is the end of the post, but there is much more beauty to be explored around here, so an update will surely follow. Hope you enjoyed today's simple update post :)

Oregonian Fall

Happy November, everybody! It's that time of the year when fall is in full swing, the leaves are dramatically changing color, my nose begins to match Rudolph's, and here in Portland, apparently, the ceaseless fog becomes a permanent resident.

We're all saying our last good byes to the summer and blue skies, preparing to brave the gloomy winter ahead.





This is more of a drastic-looking fall morning, where the clouds have taken over everything in sight, and the morning hours are the most sluggish and will power-less time of the day.

Although it does look quite poetic, doesn't it? So much mystery blanketed, hidden out of sight. On mornings like these, I feel as though I've been transported into a new, unknown world that I know nothing about. So magical...






Then there's rain...a lot of it. And when it rains, it pours. Oregon rain is reminiscent of Colorado rain because the droplets are freezing, individual, grape-sized monsters that plummet from the sky and hit with an incredible force. So if you (I) get caught in a rainstorm, there's practically no chance that you (I) will stay remotely dry without either an umbrella or proper attire consisting of tall, waterproof boots and a rain jacket with a hood. Needless to say, if you (I) move to Portland, be prepared to get soaked at least once due to inexperience.

The front of my pants: soaked.
The back of my pants: dry.
Got a lot of funny/awkward stares...

My white Converse + rainstorm =
terrible combination...shoes ruined.

But, it's all good, because I had a blast! After about ten minutes of trying to stay warm but keep moving closer to home, I had to give up because there was no chance. At that point, I just went all out and got drenched. I was enjoying myself so much! Just walking, skipping, looking up and having the raindrops fall into my mouth...it was magical and so freeing! I probably looked like a crazy Portlander, but hey - I was having a blast.

(Can you tell from this picture that I had a lot of fun? I look like a madwoman!)

But then, once in a very long while, the clouds will break and a picturesque skyline will appear outside my window, bringing the day to a beautiful close.

But usually, this is what a typical day in Portland looks like. Misty gray skies with no hope for sunshine to break through and grace us with its warmth and beauty. 

 This right here is what I live for now a days...that tiny sliver in the parting clouds that comes through like a blessing, revealing the beautiful bright blue sky.

Really, my roommates will confirm this, every time the sky is blue I point it out. Because I know that the day will come in the middle of winter when we are all so fed up with the grayness and lack of sunshine, and we'll have to take it upon ourselves to remember what life was like before. And there I will be, reminding everyone of those momentous snippets of blue sky that we would see once in a while, and there will be a renewal of hope! I just know it!

Now who can talk about fall without mentioning two very, very important things:
1. Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks
2. The changing colors of the leaves

Both of these are incredible, fall perks, and both of them are very important to indulging in fall to the fullest.







And HALLOWEEN!!! This year was an especially important Halloween because my suite mate, DJ, had never carved pumpkins before. So, naturally, we carved pumpkins, and, if I may say so myself, she did an incredible (and humorous) job carving - buckteeth and all!

The first pumpkin DJ ever carved!

Bri's pumpkin on the left, and mine on the right :P

But as for Halloween itself, we didn't dress up or go out. Instead, we road tripped to the near by Multnomah Falls and hiked all the way to the top with DJ and Bridget.

I had been about a month ago, but this time, the waterfall was even more massive, since the winters here are so wet. It was a truly spectacular sight.

The waterfall consists of three tiers, the two bottom of which are pictured to the left. The top third tier can only be seen from the top of the waterfall, so we decided to hike all the way up - a 1.25 mile journey with an elevation of 512 feet.

 Along the way, there were several mini caves, lots of different foliage to examine, stunning vistas of the Colombia River Gorge, which divides the states of Oregon and Washington, and vibrant fall leaves.

We diverged from the path a bit and stumbled upon a small bridge, which I, jokingly, almost got pushed off of. (Thanks DJ...)

But overall, the hike was very pleasant, not too strenuous, and definitely worth it to experience the picturesque views along the way.

And when we arrived to the final destination of the third tier and saw this view, I could not complain... This is Oregonian fall* (pun intended) at its best.

Hope everyone's fall is going great! If you are experiencing sunshine, be grateful, very grateful, and send some over here - that would be very much appreciated.

Happy November! Stay warm, my friends, and smile at all the beauty around you :)

fooooooood

One of the main things, if not the main thing, that has brought my roommates and me closer together is our mutual love for food. And by "love" I mean LOVE. There have been several times where we have gone out of our way just to get free food. We watched an hour-long documentary for free pizza. We spend hours at the farmers market sampling. We constantly debate leaving our dorm room, braving the rain and cold, and attending a random club meeting just because we know there will be some sort of free food... It's real. It's intense. And it's a really fulfilling (see what I did there? haha) bonding moment for us.

But not to worry, Mom, we also make our own food and eat relatively healthy. In fact, we have a tradition going that every week, we each have a day on which we are responsible for cooking dinner. Preferably something cultural and extra-fun, but really, we don't discriminate. Then, we gather all around and have dinner together! It's really cute...I wish I had a picture of us four having dinner together because #1 it's the cutest thing ever and #2 we are the embodiment of diversity, one of the main principles of PSU. It's fantastic.

Here's a sample of what we've been eating for dinner. (I should probably have more pictures, considering that this happens often, but usually the food is gone by the time I remember to take a picture...oops.)

One of Bri's first ever 'cultural' dinners was this delectable taco from a family recipe. Pictured is the beautiful arrangement that got devoured within seconds (you're welcome for restraining myself enough to take the picture.) 

My attempt at creating a rainbow pizza, which looked so much better on Pintrest...that seems to always be the truth. But hey, pizza is pizza and it was delicious, if I may say so myself. 

Bridget, my suite mate who is from China, is known in our room for making the best meat ever. She marinades it, adds a touch of love and a sprinkle of magic, and it always tastes incredible. Toss in some bok choy, peppers and rice, and we've got ourselves a meal!

Another one of Bri's family recipes is for stuffed peppers. I honestly don't even remember what went into this meal, but not only was it scrumptious, it got bonus points for adorable plating!

I also cook...I promise! In fact, I made some Russian food and introduced buckwheat, a common Russian side dish, to my roommates! But, naturally, I didn't take a picture. Next time!

Finally, seeing as we live in Portland, there is a lot of tasty, unique, and mostly healthy food out there to try. The other day we stopped into a small sandwich shop, which turned out to be our absolute favorite place. It's called Theo's and this is what it serves:

BREAKFAST WAFFLE SANDWICHES! Soft waffles filled with scrambled eggs, either sausage or bacon, cheese, and topped off with a concluding touch of their special maple syrup/sauce that perfectly completes this heavenly dish. Oh and did I mention that all of this is $4?!?!

WE LOVED IT.

SO MUCH.

(cough-goingbacktoday-cough)

Really, a gem in the rough. So glad we found it.










So that's a general overview of the food that has been adding deliciousness to my life here in Portland. A very general, brief overview....

Trust me when I say that there will be several follow up posts about food.

So if you ever find yourself in Portland, make sure to go to Theo's and, really, you almost can't go wrong anywhere around here when it comes to food. Everything is scrumptious, and I am determined to try it all!!!!!!! (...eventually...)

Hope this post didn't make you too hungry! :)

The Story of the Hidden Gem

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away called Portland, there were three roommates: DJ, Sasha, and Bri. One fine day in early October, the sky was blue, the sun was out, and realizing that this might be the last warm day, the three roommates set out to make the most of it. A carpe diem feeling was in the air, and they embarked on an adventure to visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden. 

DJ, Bri, and Sasha strolled along the waterfront, soaking in the sunshine, trying to get as much Vitamin D in as possible before the wave of dreary, sunless, rainy, foggy weather set in for the winter. 

Being from California, both DJ and Sasha were worried about the upcoming lack of sunshine and the effect it may have on their spirits. 

They arrived at the garden, and Sasha was in heaven...

A beautiful, majestic landscape opened up before them, filled with elements of feng shui, which instilled a sense of peace and quiet within - a pleasing change from the hustle and bustle of Portland.

The words on the six intricately carved panels in the center of the garden rang true within the girls:
"Most cherished in this mundane world is a place without traffic; truly in the midst of a city there can be a mountain and a forest."

 The beautiful part of the garden was that it was a full five-sense experience. The fresh scent of the lush greenery, the calming song of the gently cascading waterfall in the distance, the harmonious arrangement of the paths, the herby taste of some green tea, and even the tactile cool from the perfectly placed stones that comprised the ground - all of these aspects brought about a peaceful serenity deep within.

The beautifully patterned walkways particularly entranced Sasha, who experienced them fully by walking barefoot on them. (It was awesome!!!)

Every direction the girls would turn, they would encounter a stunning landscape, one that had the potential to become a painting.
To fully experience this natural beauty, the girls were provided a pamphlet, which contained a "window" for them to peer through and imagine the scene before their eyes as masterpiece paintings.

Sasha, DJ, and Bri thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Lan Su Chinese Garden, as it revitalized their spirits and made them happy to know that this wonderful place exists not too far from where they live, so they can come back any time.

Sasha will probably get a membership to save money...

Their adventure was lovely.

THE END.




...But really, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a gem that I feel not many people know exists in Portland. If you ever visit, be sure to stop by this hidden sanctuary right in the heart of the city.

Thanks for reading :)

Les Fleurs de Portland

[Disclaimer: Despite my cleverly-disguised title for this post, I will be straight up with you, dear reader, and warn you that this post is 100% about flowers. Just beware...you've been warned. But most importantly, enjoy all the beauty you're about to see!]

When I decided to transfer to Portland State University, I was not aware of the fact that the city of Portland is known for it's roses. So when I got here and found that out, you can only imagine my excitement!

In fact, roses can be found everywhere... Portland's nickname is The City of Roses. The professional women's soccer team here is The Thorns. Each man-hole lid has an engraving of a rose on it (see the picture on right). Every Police car intimidatingly flaunts an image of a red rose on the side doors...super intimidating. And most importantly, Portland is home to the International Rose Test Garden, where hundreds of species of roses are experimentally bred together to produce various (and mostly delicious!) fragrances. You (I) could spend a whole day there just sniffing away, and you (I) would be in sweet-smelling heaven.

So, yes. Roses are everywhere, and they're wonderful. But before we get into that, I should mention that Oregon has more flowers than just roses, and they're beautiful too.

These balls of sunshine are bright and cheerful - a very necessary combination to counter-balance the typical Oregon grey and dreary weather. I found these while visiting my friend Tianna at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. They have a magical garden right on campus!

These, I know I've already showed them, can be spotted on the side of any freeway. They are simply wild field flowers that particularly enjoy the higher mountain altitudes. Not too sure what they really are, but they look to me as though they come from the bean/pea family. 

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS AND IT'S KILLING ME! Anyone have a clue? I found these on a run to a near-by track in Portland, and it seems like they haven't opened yet. I'll have to go back and see if the petals have opened up, but until then, I'm stuck! Such a strange and unique plant - I've never seen anything like it before! "Keep Portland weird...eh?"

These wild purple daisies are so cute! I've mainly noticed them in the more forested parts of Oregon, where those vibrant petals pop amidst the lush greenery. Such a treasure!

And last of the non-roses, but certainly not least, are these beauties. I love the pastel-purple/pink petals, the vibrant golden-yellow stamen, and the nearly chartreuse pistil. They're delicate, vine-y, and wonderful. 

And now, back to Willamette University to begin the Rose portion of the flower post. 

Oregon is home to all different species of roses. From multi-colored, small roses...

...to single-colored hearty roses - so dense with petals that the pollen didn't even show through enough to be able to smell it. 

From thin-stemmed but thorny roses...

...to perfect petal-swirl, speckled roses.

From roses at the end of their blooming life, but still beautiful in their own way...

...to young, vibrant, near-porcelein roses.
(This is my favorite picture of all the roses I've seen so far, by the way.)

There are even roses to fit Portland's funky personality, with petals poking out from everywhere!

This rose in particular was a cross-breeding success because it had the most appetizing fragrance - think: green tea with rose infusion and an aftertaste of fresh crispness. 

And finally, an all-around ideal rose as the cherry on top of this post.

Luckily for me, the International Rose Test Garden is only ~2 miles away from where I live, so I can easily have it be midway point to my runs. As soon as I stepped in, a wave of delicious aromas hit me and I was hooked. I'll be back soon, that's for sure.

As you can see, Portland is home to millions of flowers, all of which I won't be able to capture unfortunately, but I am determined to try. It's lovely to live in such a green, plant-friendly city and to be able to marvel at its beauty every day. Can't wait to see what other flower-treasures I stumble upon during my time here!

Well, those are all the presents I have for you for now. Don't worry, there will be many, many more to come. You know you love it!

Hope you enjoyed getting to know some of Oregon's flora! Come back next weekend to see what I'll have in store for you then :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Flowers are the music of the ground, from earth's lips spoken without sound."