Oh Lordy

You know when you pack so much good stuff into one weekend that you feel like you need a weekend from your weekend to get caught up.... Well that was this weekend. Ps how many times can I say weekend in one opening paragraph!?? Answer: After seeing this paragraph about this weekend, a lot of times. 

Melissa came all the way from Winnipeg to visit Jessi and I and we tried our best to give her a good Portland weekend filled with sunshine, thunder storms, food, hiking, wine tasting... more wine, food, more food. And did I mention food? 

Thanks for visiting, my favorite Canuck! Come back soon.  Ps. Anyway one who wants to visit Portland..Jessi and I will be sure to show you a good time wink, wink. 

Cheers!

<3 BB

Summer Solstice Loving

Happy Summer, My Peoples! 

Can we talk about how it is officially summer?! This is mind blowing to me. I am already sad summer is going to be over before we know it and it technically just started this weekend. I have that feeling you get on Sundays when you know work is right around the corner. Get it together, Brooke. You have so much fun to still partake in this summer. 

With that being said I celebrated summer in style this weekend and did some paddle boarding on the Willamette River. We rented our Stand Up Paddle Boards from Alder Creek Kayak and met up with good people for some sunshine, some paddling, and a little workout even. This whole paddle boarding thing is no joke. A few hours spent on the SUP and you have yourself a nice core and stabilizer workout. You also have a little sunburn too, if you're lucky. 

After paddle boarding we headed over to one of my favorite breweries, Base Camp. It might not have the best beer in town, but it sure does have one of the coolest vibes. They were even having a summer solstice celebration too! Double the fun! Brad and I also learned that the nail and hammer game Hammerschlagen is harder than it looks. Also, the word Hammerschlagen is oh so German and oh so fun to say. 

Oh, and the fat kid in me wants to share a little secret regarding Portland Eats. We tried Smokehouse 21 this weekend. Rumor has it they have the best ribs in the city. Man, oh man, they weren't kidding. The ribs and the mac n' cheese with bacon and the deviled eggs and the cornbread and the pork cheeks and the collard greens were fantastic. Ok, I am hungry again. I need to stop myself. 

Cheers to Summer!

<3 BB

Things I learned this weekend

Ok, so here's the deal, guys, Katie, from I'm You Katie Que, does one of my favorite type of weekend recaps and I wanted to steal her idea. So without further adieu - here are a few things I learned this weekend.

//Oregon weather has a harder time making up its mind than I do. At the meet on Saturday, we had rain, rain, more rain, lots of wind, and sun all in the same 15 min span. Mostly it was rain and wind though.

//3 courses of Fondue will make you full.

//Sugar gives me a head ache

//Urban Fondue is delicious

//So is melted cheese.

//Cheese hurts my stomach.

//My clean eating was anything but during our fondue time for Portland Dining Month at Urban Fondue.

//The soundtrack to Divergent is legit. 

//Movies just don't get everything from the books. I mean Divergent tried and I really like the movie - but it just couldn't come close to my love for the book (which I finished over the weekend, so I could go see the move.)

//The name Tobias will forever remind me of never nudes.

//I would like to see Tobias from Divergent in a pair of never nudes.

//I love clean sheet night.

//I hate doing laundry

Happy Monday!

<3 BB

shanana-eats

Let me share with you the burger that kicked off my weekend. I took myself on a date for Portland's Burger Week.  Restaurants all over the city were offering their ridiculous burgers for only 5 dollars, so I had to partake. 

This burger featured 3 buns, a fried egg, and 3 patties.  I didn't even attempt to eat two of the buns and it was still huge. This monstrosity can be found at a place called Tilt, up in the industrial part of north Portland. Gawd, it was fabulous.   

Because of said burger I had to workout a lot this weekend. Okay, I didn't have to but I wanted to. Luckily, Saturday wasn't too hot (it was a little humid by Oregonian standards though), so I took myself on a 45 min. run, which sadly, is one of my long runs. Anything over 30 mins and I get bored. Trying to work through that though. 

Also, do you ever have those weekends where you do a lot of fun stuff, but then don't really document it. I guess it's not really a bad thing at all...Means you were actually enjoying yourself. Anyway, I had one of those weekends. #badblogger #whatever. Got to see a few different college friends that were home from out of state and it was lovely, but I have no photographic proof, minus this coffee from my coffee date with my old college roomie at Stumptown (I don't know what makes their coffee so fabulous, but it was the best soy latte I have had in maybe ever. Magic beans obviously.)

Lastly, did I commit to doing a 60 day Paelo challenge with my friend Anne?! I think I might have. Good thing most of the food in my house already is. Had this strange concoction last night.  Sweet Potato, Apple, Chicken, and green hot sauce, with a splash of honey and cinnamon. Sounds weird, tasted good... Where is Jessi when I need her, going to have to get creative with my meals. 

Overall my weekend was low key and my shenanigans were on point. Now I must attempt to get out of my food coma and get to work.... ugh.

Cheers!

<3 BB

birthday shenanigans

As you all know I celebrated my birthday this weekend. Minus the fact that I am officially old ballz 25, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. On top of the Nike Fuel Band that Brad got me, he also made me cook my own dinner on Friday night at the Portland Culinary Workshop... and I had a blast. 

We attended a 4 course cooking class that featured a Sommelier and wine pairing with each course. 

The kitchen was adorable (and had exposed brick, my favorite!). 

Melinda Casady and Susana Holloway are the owners of PCW and here is what they have to say about the place on their website:

We could wax poetic on how we LOVE food, LOVE to teach and are a hoot to hang with, but the nitty gritty of it all is that we are two smart, hilarious women who talked over a breakfast one morning and knew what we had to do. We had to follow our dream of teaching our way…for you.

Susana was our instructor for the evening and she did a fantastic job of balancing teaching techniques and sharing kitchen tips, with letting us learning on our own.  

These mashed potatoes were lovely, in case you were wondering. 

Check out that form. 

We were paired up with another couple for the evening and they were super friendly, which made the experience more enjoyable, since we did have to share equipment and food with them. 

My favorite dish of the evening, besides the Pork entree, was the Huckleberry and Rhubarb compote over ice cream. 

It was paired with a sweet port and it was fantastic. 

Do you have these must have items in your pantry? If not, get on it! 

Once we were done prepping our food, the whole group (24 of us total) sat down family style for the meal, while the Sommelier, Maxine Borcherdine, explained each of her wine pairings. I found that portion of the evening super informative, because while I know my way around a kitchen fairly well and have worked in a restaurant, I am by no means a wine expert. 

Like I said, how cute is this space? The tables were made from doors and that brick, I want! 

Plus we got to take home goodie bags that each featured a 10 inch chef's knife. Yes please! 

Needless to say, I had a great evening and a great birthday weekend and I HIGHLY recommend checking out one of PCW's classes if you're in the Portland area or ever want to come visit me and cook together!!!! 

Cheers to 25! 

<3 BB 

need a vacation after someone else's vacation

Do you ever feel like you need a vacation after someone else's vacation?! Brad's sister and her hubs got here on Thursday night and we were busy all weekend playing tour guide.  Of course I took a lot of awesome photos like a good blogger should....but didn't get them uploaded or edited like the not so good blogger I actually am ;) So I'll leave you with some instavom until I get a chance to catch up on life. 

Portland Rose Garden isn't messing around.  They don't call Portland the Rose City for nothin'

The view of the Columbia River from the Vista House is fantastic. 

Managed to sneak away from being tour guide for a few hours for the Timbers game.  Where they got the W and are sitting top of the West. Heyyyyyo! 

One of the MANY great food establishments we hit up over the weekend. IPAz for dayz. Love Deschutes. 

And now I need to sleep, but I don't think my boss would be amused to find me asleep at my desk, but then again maybe he would? I should probably try it and see what happens. 

Anyway, I'll try and be a better blogger tomorrow, but am not making promises. 

<3 BB 

ruby jewel

With the nice weather comes ice cream. le duh. (That's how the French say it.)

Brad and I headed over to Ruby Jewels on Mississippi Ave. for a pre-dinner dessert the other day and gosh it was so worth it.  Whoever decided dessert comes last has been doing it wrong the whole time. I got to enjoy my ice cream and not feel like I was force feeding my full stomach the goodness. 

Here is the blurb from their website:

Ruby jewel creates extraordinarily delicious ice cream for all to enjoy. Every flavor is carefully hand-crafted daily in our North Portland kitchen using the best ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and food producers in Oregon and around the Northwest. Family owned and operated since 2004, we are committed to supporting our local community, economy, and limiting our impact on the environment wherever possible.

preach it! 

Ruby J is known for its ice cream sandwiches, but you can also get ice cream cones as well.

drool worthy

Yeah, that is a double chocolate cookie with peanut butter ice cream sammie.  Brad picked a winner with that combo.

I went with espresso ice cream in a cone and it was lovely. I have also decided that espresso ice cream is definitely in my top three favorite ice creams. Along with cinnamon and maybe strawberry or chocolate chip mint? The last one is up for debate. Suppose I will just have to keep eating ice cream until I can come to a decision, daumn.

We sat outside but were still able to smell the waffle cones because the floor to ceiling windows were open and that's my favorite. If that doesn't make you stop for ice cream then you must have the heart of the devil or be extremely diabetic.

I told myself I am cutting back on sugar (which I have been), but this was too good to pass up.  Sometimes you just gotta splurge. Which I did! 

I wish ice cream was as beneficial for you ask Kale is. A girl can dream. Oh well...

Cheers to ice cream!

<3 BB