The Weekend Send-Off

May 23rd, 2013 - filed under: Furthermore » Feedback

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All packed up and ready to go // ♥ ♥ ♥ // Working in the airport before my flight.


Hello hello, and Happy Friday from rainy, cold, windy and hail-stormy Portland Oregon. Awwww, it’s so good to be back in this perfectly wet little wonderland!

Despite a depressingly progressing head cold, I’ve been having a blast storming around my old stomping grounds, exploring and visiting and eating ALL THE THINGS. This post is pretty much going to be an ode to P-town, because, well, P-town deserves it!

Today is the first day of Vida Vegan Con, the international vegan blogging conference. I’m speaking on a panel this afternoon (Vegan Pregnancy and Parenting) and moderating a panel tomorrow (Privacy Lines and Over-Sharing), and I’ll also be doing a stint in the “experts corner” on Sunday answering questions on vegan pregnancy and raising vegan kiddos. Im so very excited, to speak and share but mostly to learn from all these amazing vegan movers and makers here. Plus there’s tonight’s Veggie Grill Welcome Reception Dinner, and late night pop-up shop at the vegan mini mall for gorditos and ice cream sammiches, then the Galarama on Saturday night, and of course, Sunday evening’s big goodbye. It’s gonna be a wild weekend!

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And now for my favorite Friday ritual, where we take a moment to pause and reflect on all the little ways in which life shows us the beauty of the world:

Le Love List!

1. The reactions my friends are having when they see me . . .
“Oh my god, you’re all glow-y!!” and “You’re like a different person, you’re so freakin’ happy!” and just the simple “Wow, you look great!”

My Portland friends knew me through a difficult time in my life, as I suffered with postpartum anxiety, undiagnosed illness, and a failing marriage. It’s so amazing to come back to them, just 6 months later, so completely transformed both physically and emotionally. It’s so clear to them that my life is better by leaps and bounds, and seeing myself reflected through their eyes has made me realize how much I’ve changed. How the path I’ve chosen is the right one.

I love Portland, but SoCal . . . SoCal does me RIGHT!


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Me and Libs at Portobello, post-feasting.

2. An epic dinner at Portobello.
On Tuesday night I got to eat an absolutely divine dinner with one of my dearest friends, Libby, and her husband Taylor. I’ve written about Portobello before (Here [wow that was sort of weird to read] and here) and it is truly some of the best vegan fine-dining I’ve ever experienced, easily on par with LA and New York and San Francisco’s Millenium.

We had a long, luxurious meal with many courses and many cocktails (because their cocktail menu is off the hook and their mixologist is seriously skilled) and I even had a Bonzai reader come up and introduce herself while we were waiting to be seated. Hi Marjorie! The Salty Fog was my favorite drink (though the Maui Mule was a close second) and the roasted cauliflower pizza with harissa sauce on cornmeal crust blew me away, getting better and better with each bite. Our salad was covered in tiny fresh flowers and the grilled fennel on my cauliflower steak was like no fennel I’ve ever had. I think the high point was the hot fudge sundae with house-made salted caramel ice cream topped with light fluffy whipped coconut cream and toasted pine nuts. But my personal favorite was the cheese plate, because . . . well, because ♥ ♥ ♥


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This pic is so blurry but it cracks me up and I adore it! Also, Ami is literally over a foot shorter than me.

3. An impromptu party at the Bye & Bye.
On Wednesday night I had plans to meet up with a few of my girlfriends – all mama friends, actually – at the Bye & Bye (an all-vegan bar). Jacqueline was a Bonzai reader who first emailed me when I was pregnant with Waits, and at the time she was living in Ohio. We got to know each other over email and when Waits was born she sent me the sweetest handmade burp cloths and bibs. A few months later, her family relocated to PDX, and we’ve been in-real-life pals ever since.

Jacqueline and I walked into the Bye & Bye, and standing right there at the bar was my dearest Jo – holding her baby and ordering a Spanish coffee, haha. That’s my girl! I ran up and hugged her, started chatting, glanced over my shoulder and saw my friend Joanna running towards me. I totally squealed – was NOT expecting to see her there – but as it turns out, she had invited a bunch of our mutual friends to the same bar at the same time. Serendipity!

The next few hours were a series of squeals and glee, seeing old friends walk through those doors. I got to see Krysta and Ami and Kittee Bee and more. We ate amazing food, took turns holding the baby, and dished all about the past 6 months. It was so special and just what I needed. Love my Portland girls!


Also! my sister’s sheets are the softest squishiest most comfy sheets ever .|. Portland hail storms .|. spending my ENTIRE first day in Portland holed up in a coffee shop working on plans for my clients ♥ ♥ ♥ .|. walking in the rain in search of veggie juice and raw BLTs and local truffles (success!) .|. finally meeting Libby’s baby daughter! .|. long phone calls .|. French press coffee in bed .|. dancing to Macklemore with Libby and her baby girl, who can totally keep a beat! .|. Portland cocktails are really impressive .|. photo booth shenanigans with my girl Gena .|. being in a space full of SO SO MANY AMAZING VEGANS!!!

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Alright guys, now it’s your turn – let me know what you’re loving this week!


This happy little post will stay at the top of the page all weekend, so stop by any time to leave your Love List, ask a question, or offer some feedback! Or if you’re new, feel free to just introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’! This is your community, so get involved!


Hope you all have an absolutely amazing weekend!

  • MathTutor

    So I went and re-read your old post at Portabella, and reading through the comments I noticed one of mine and realized I have been reading this blog for over 2 years! Ermahgerd! Any who, le love list!

    1. I just purchased and financed my first new car…DO ALL THE ADULT THINGS!

    2. Being able to hang out with family and friends during my month and a half sabbatical

    3. Avocados and mangos! I’ve been eating those things up like they are going out of styleeeeeee

    Oh and you do look very glowy and SoCal sexay! =P

  • veggiesara

    Well, this is a LOVE list. I get happy just from reading it (although, a bit jealous too, since you’re at VVC and I am not).
    I have a weekend off and that’s always great. I’m going out eating this evening with old/new friends. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to look for a new dinner table, though we’re a bit early with that since our house is still in a total renovation mode (read: now windows, no floor, just plain bricks). And in the evening I’m going to dance the night away with a bunch of friends. Sunday will be my relaxing day, with probably a lot of baking. The best thing of the last few months will take place next week; the last two workdays of a job I really did not like :-).

  • Erin

    Two years ago when I had my daughter, I came to you asking for suggestions on how to supplement, as we were having a terrible trouble breastfeeding and I knew I would never be able to make it work with my own supply. I was struggling with organic/soy influx/milk based options and turned to you for a suggestion. You told me that I should make the best choice for my family, and to not feel guilty about needing to feed my daughter. That advice resonates with me still. I just wanted to let you know how much of an impact you had that day. Thank you.

  • E.H.Uminn

    Your photos are so FUN! Here’s to the weekend….Cheers!

  • http://www.facebook.com/crystal.dicus Crystal Dicus

    what a fun post this is! Portland is lucky to have you back : )
    I have one item on my love list this week, and that is my Mom and Sister are coming to see me, and in fact will be pulling into my driveway any minute now. These are two of my favorite ladies on the planet YAY!

  • Dana W

    Sounds perfect!
    My love list: amazing dinner at candle cafe west, snuggling all day with my fluffy labradoodle during a thunderstorm, lunch at the farm with my sister, running in the rain, and peanut butter banana smoothies!

    Happy weekend! : )

  • Dana W

    Sounds perfect!
    My love list: amazing dinner at candle cafe west, snuggling all day with my fluffy labradoodle during a thunderstorm, lunch at the farm with my sister, running in the rain, and peanut butter banana smoothies!

    Happy weekend! : )

  • Guest

    As a lurker for years I’ finally decided to participate in the spirit of doing things for once!

    1. drinking apple cider vinegar, it’s amazing!
    2. long walks with my dog.
    3. having the next week on vacation!!!!
    4. Enjoying the simple summery things while not trying freaking out about big life changes

  • lexie

    As a lurker for years I’ finally decided to participate in the spirit of doing things for once!

    1. drinking apple cider vinegar, it’s amazing!
    2. long walks with my dog.
    3. having the next week on vacation!!!!
    4. Enjoying the simple summery things while not trying freaking out about big life changes
    5. The amazing rain we’re having here in Texas!

  • Taylor

    Glad you’re getting to see some of your old friends!
    This week I love:
    Game of Thrones, THE MOON and its amazingness, sunshine in N. AZ, the smell of pine trees in the morning, Fleetwood Mac (but pretty much always), mountains and climbing them, and my puppy’s hugs.
    Have a great weekend!!

  • lysette

    Luv List xox

    ~Feeling like a 16 year old (half my life ago) while hanging out with girl friends from high school.
    ~Laughing so hard my cheeks were exhausted.
    ~Hugging so much my body softened.
    ~Receiving a painting in the mail from a friend far away. A portrait of my dog.
    ~Kale, mustard greens and lacinato at the farmers market. Up north this is the start of our season. I’m thrilled to see the bushy green bundles.
    ~I’ve been drinking apple cider vinegar too! Making my own Bragg’s drink with cinnamon and stevia.~ And a wild flower hike with my Shepherd.
    ~A friend said last night “True happiness comes from the acceptance of change” Her words filled my tank.

  • runcrissierun

    VVC was such an amazing experience! I loved the people, the food (naturally), and more than anything – the inspiration I have to want to be a better person in all that I do, and to start something wonderful in my community (talk about being outside my comfort zone!!!).