Places I’ve Been

Eating Should be Enjoyable

/ jennced15 / 10 Comments

You know what . . . you should really enjoy what you eat. I think if we enjoyed what ate all of the time we would have a better relationship with food and by default a better understanding of food as well. I am sad to say that there has been things that I have eaten that were less than sub-par. I am slowly learning that if it isn’t enjoyable; I walk away. It saves a lot of calories to walk away from the less than stellar items. That is a bonus in my book.

But I am not actually here today to talk about your relationship with food or calorie consumption—I am here to tell you about the best things that I have eaten lately. Some I made at home and some I bought out but all of them had me savoring each bite and looking forward to the next “good” meal.

So here is your assignment for the rest of the month—Enjoy the Food You are Eating!!

  1. Chicken Pad Thai from Cooking Classy (Side Note: Tastes great even as left-overs 4-5 days later)
  2. Simple Lemony Chicken & Spring Veggie Soup from The Cozy Apron (Side Note: I added fresh asparagus as well)
  3. Homemade Hot Pockets from Happy Money Saver (Side Note: I inserted mine with pesto and fresh veggies. Nothing else and they were fantastic!) 
  4. Otis Cafe in Otis, OR: This place is VERY small and you probably will have to wait but you should and without a doubt, try their German Potatoes. HEAVENLY!!
  5. Pacific Way Cafe in Gearhart, OR: I love that this place is not in one of the main coastal tourist towns. In fact you could completely miss it but I wouldn’t recommend it. They have wonderful calm chowder (seasoned the way I like) and a WONDERFUL Dungeness crab open-faced sandwich.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

/ jennced15 / 2 Comments

I can’t seem to help it; spring is making me very happy this year. I am ready to spend my time looking at beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs. I am ready for the assault of color that spring brings after the dreariness of winter. In fact, I have to share with you some of the best places I have been to in order to see blooms.

  1. The Butchart Gardens located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
  2. Woodburn Tulip Festival located in Woodburn, Oregon
  3. International Rose Test Garden located in Portland, Oregon
  4. Ballymaloe Cooking Garden located in Shanagarry, Ireland
  5. Avoca located in Wicklow, Ireland

All the Best of Luck

/ jennced15 / 4 Comments

Last night I was sitting in my car talking to a friend on the phone and staring at the forest in front of me. I am noticing that the grass is seemingly a little greener, the trees have leaves just starting to come in and even the moss seems to be picking up life again. I decided that I like the color green. It is fresh—new and best of all lucky! So this morning when I was driving in to the office, witnessing the most incredible sunrise and rainbow; I realized how lucky I was.

Of course the next thing I thought of . . . St. Patrick’s Day!! Hope everyone is gearing up for some green Irish fun next Thursday. I myself will be wearing a green sweater and my lucky clover necklace from Ireland and looking for something fun to do. So here is a nod to some of the best places to be for St. Patrick’s Day around the world and a few places right in my own backyard!

  1. New York
  2. Chicago
  3. Dublin
  4. Kells Irish Pub
  5. Paddy’s Pub

When it Rains

/ jennced15 / 1 Comment

Today started as a beautiful day. It was sunny and headed to the warm side of fifty but by the time I was getting ready to leave, I started watching the gray clouds roll in. By the time I got on the freeway I had drops hitting my windshield. So the drive was slow and the rain was falling fast. Since I had extra time to sit in traffic and think; I had a thought . . . Where would I rather be will it is raining? (I’ll be the first to say that I hate driving in rain)

So in answer to that question; here are my favorite places I have been while it is raining.

  1. In bed: There is nothing better than the permission the rain grants you to stay in bed just a little longer and be lazy for the morning.
  2. Reading in your favorite spot: You know the spot. The one on the couch or chair or floor that has your name written all over it. Probably pretty close to a fire and near the window so you can watch how calm everything is and get caught up in the world of the book.
  3. The beach: I know this sounds weird but it is pretty awesome to stare at the ocean while it is stormy outside.
  4. The middle of the forest: Have you ever been out hiking or camping and it starts to rain? You might not feel the rain at first but you can hear it falling on the leaves and trickling to the ground.
  5. In a skyscraper office with floor to ceiling windows: Did you know that some skyscrapers I have been in are so tall that the cloud cover is actually below me? I can look down and see the cloud and leave the building to be in the rain but I can also see the sun shining brightly above it all.

One thing I have learned over the years; there is beauty in all kinds of weather. You just need to learn to appreciate it.