Learnings This Weekend

Okay, okay I'm back! 

Things have been a little busy in my world with work, meetings, playing and well.... summer.

The highlight of last week was taking the work day off on Monday and getting some awesome girl time with Marisa, a sweet girl I met through blogging who was my first "blind blate". We had coffee, got pedicures and talked about the serious importance of "mental health days". From there I only blogged last week for confessions and focused my energy toward work things.

I can't promise perfection but I can say I'll be better.

Here's some of the fun things I learned this weekend (which is really just a fun way of saying recap, right?)

:: Weekends are way better when I'm cat sitting this handsome guy

:: I can't eat my raspberries as quickly as they are coming in! I need a partner in crime!

:: The start of Orange is the New Black Season 2 is lackluster..... but you already knew that.
:: Sunday date with mom is awesome, but chocolate made it much better!

:: Bears are the best zoo animals, especially when one comes home with you.

:: But really, cat sitting is the best. Come back any time, Shady!

Are you linking up with Katie today?

Restaurant Review: Torta-Landia

Saturday night Dan and I were couch potatoes. We kept talking about what our 'plans' were for the rest of the evening and couldn't come up with anything better than catching up on our DVR with shows dating back to March. No time for TV

I really didn't want to spend the rest of my night just sitting, but I also only wanted to spend the evening with my guy. I saw an update on Facebook that my parents were headed out to date night and I was convinced that Dan and I needed to have one too!

The last time I was with miracle worker Maggie, she recommended a restaurant that was great for an upbeat vibe, delicious chips + guacamole and a feel good 'hole in the wall' spot off the beaten path. I told her we'd check it out and I wanted to do it before my next appointment at the end of the month.

Torta-Landia is located on SE 60th avenue just off of Foster Road and within 2 miles walking distance of our home. Since we were feeling like bums we weren't going to drive so we bundled up, put on our walking shoes and headed out the door holding hands and soaking in sights of the neighborhood.

We arrived to the restaurant just past 8pm and found a packed house with live music and margaritas everywhere. We had to join in!

What We Drank

2 House Margaritas ($5.50 each)

We almost went with the Corona-rita (Margarita with an upside-down corona) but had already been drinking most of the day while watching the Masters. #Sorrynotsorry

What We Ate

House Made Chips + Side of Guacamole ($3 + $2 Guac)

Carnitas del Diablo Burrito ($8.50)

Slow roasted carnitas sauteed with habaneros & jalapeno peppers, borracho beans, green rice cilantro-lime crema, queso oaxaca, and habanero salsa.

This burrito was big enough that both of us felt satisfied with the food we'd eaten and our bodies were warm walking back in the cool 50 degree evening.

Know Before You Go:

• It really is off the beaten path, hidden behind a used tire lot on Foster Road


• Happy Hour is 3-5pm Tuesday-Friday and 9-close Daily


• They had live music the entire time we were there - it looked like it was set up for the same scene every night


• Even Dan thought the burrito was massive - check the menu before you go and split a dish or two


• Location: 4144 SE 60th Ave, Portland, OR


• Hours: Closed Mondays, open Tuesday-Sunday starting at 11am.

Enjoy!

Easter Weekend

This past weekend was unbelievably gorgeous in Portland and I fear that this week of spring sunshine will come and go - not to return until July like many spring/summer transitions here in the Northwest.

To kick off the weekend Dan and I joined Brad and Brooke for the Hoppity Hops 5k that circled the Willamette River along the Eastbank esplanade and back around with views of the Saturday Market and lots of puppies...45 to be exact! Dan and I like counting puppies on our runs - hate us yet?

It was probably the fastest I've seen Dan hustle on our runs together and I can admit that I was picking up my usual pace too. Brad was goofing off with an 'easy' pace for him and Brooke was right in line. Dan and I are going to have to put in some hard work to get to where we need to be for our big Tough Mudder 2013 race in June.

After the race Dan had a tee time on the West side, so he kicked me to the curb somewhere between home and the freeway by my request and wasn't a minute late. My afternoon was a little different in that I ran the 3.4 miles home to round me out to 100.5 running miles in March. It also gave me the opportunity to count 30 more puppies and enjoy a relaxing afternoon home alone to catch up on reading blogs, watch my bracket remain in the #1 spot and begin some food prep for the week ahead.

Saturday evening we had plans to stay at mom and dad's house and met them home at the same time as they had returned from the coast. I've always enjoyed how casual Easter is in my family and this was the perfect example of that fact. Lazy evening with BBQ - falling asleep on the couch - being woken up by ice cream cones and puppies. I wish every evening looked like this.

Easter morning we woke up to the sound of puppies upstairs ... Okay, actually I woke up and nudged Dan for about 45 minutes telling him to listen for the puppies upstairs. They got more ZZzz's than we did.

As soon as they shot out of their kennels they raced down the stairs outside our door and before I knew it there was a puppy pile on the bed, rays of sunlight beaming through the window and a kind of memory that won't be going away for some time.

The rest of Easter Day we played, talked, ate and played some more. I'll stop here and let the photos speak for me:

We had a sleepy growing sister around!

Oh, did anyone get pranked yesterday?

Restaurant Review | The Original Taco House

Do you have that restaurant that reminds you of everything good in the world? The restaurant that was your reward after a big win, or your destination for a special birthday party. A place where you can go and see a familiar face each and every time you visit? For me, that restaurant in Portland is The Original Taco House. Authentic Mexican flare, comfortable neighborhood vibe, great eats without getting away with the "hole in the wall" ambiance and mostly importantly: no shortage on tortilla chips... ever!

Original Taco House has been a family staple for years and it was one of the first places that I showed Dan when he first started to court me. We have continued to return and enjoy it more and more each time we go back. I always dream that OTH is a well kept secret close to my heart and my family, but when I see how packed it was last Friday night I know that it's no fluke they've comfortably thrived for 53 years in PDX.

What We Drank:


2 El Bravo's ($9.50 each)

A wonderful mix of six liquors and juices garnished with fresh orange wedges, lime wedges and maraschino cherries. Served in a big bowl with even bigger straws. Dan and I choose the evenings carefully when we think we can handle one two of these.



What We Ate:

Tostada Regulario ($7.45)

Lettuce, grilled chicken, black beans (substituted), tomatoes, cheddar cheese - all piled atop a yellow corn tortilla flat. Add the house dressing and you're set for an amazing meal.

I don't even look at the menu anymore. I know that I can never finish this salad on my own and I'm happy that it's become one of Dan's favorites as well.



Chips + Salsa (free and unlimited)

One minute you see them, the next you don't. Good news is a refill is on it's way in minutes!







Know Before You Go:

• They cater and their fresh salsas can be found in a grocery near you


• Happy Hour Daily; 3-6pm and 9-close.


• I've heard rumors of some excellent lunch specials.


• If the restaurant is busy and you're 21+, head to the Cantina.


• Save room for their mouthwatering (AND FREE) cinnamon cookies at the end of your meal.


• Locations: 3550 SE Powell Blvd Portland, OR // 3255 NE 82nd Ave Portland, OR


• Hours: All days 11am-10pm
  


• If you know anyone in Southeast, expect to see them there.

I'll see you there!

<3 JE

Super Weekend

Boy am I stuffed from the Super Bowl and a super weekend. I mean look at this breakfast!

Dan and I invited a few friends over to watch the big game and show them what we'd done with the place. We were quite happy with an intimate group of only four so that we could make sure everyone was comfortable, had enough food and that there were plenty of Otto's leftovers wouldn't overwhelm Tiger in his first week home with us.

Brooke was solo for the weekend with Brad on special assignment in New Orleans, so we were happy to adopt her. We were also thrilled that she brought the most wonderful fresh veggie salsa to share with us. I must have that recipe and I'd recommend you follow her now because I assume she will be sharing it soon. Corn, avocado, black beans, peppers, tomatoes...drool. The perfect mix that you can make in big batches and keep fresh for an entire week and never get sick of it.

We wanted SF to win, but overall we were happy about the mid-game comeback that had us on the edge of our seats for the second half. The puppy bowl was, however, just how I was hoping it would be.

Dan and I did a thorough clean-up of the house and I'm thrilled with the results. We have committed to doing it more than just when company will be coming over and I think it will be a big step in getting us feeling more relaxed when we get home from a long day of work. We also printed out the sold out game "Cards Against Humanity" and brought it to an all-genders welcome baby shower for a friend of ours who is due at the end of the month. Tears, laughs and jaw dropping is inevitable and we can't wait to see how mom and dad react when we pull the game out with Matt home in March. 

This weekend was also an excellent opportunity for bonding time with Tiger. Dan and I proved how much we want the best for our boy and spent an hour in a PetSmart Saturday evening before they closed selecting the perfect accents for his home. He's over the moon about his heater, a sweet skull and an upcycled bowl that was previously used for popcorn, chips and fruit salads.

We realized this past week who he resembled... #GetItFromMyMama:

#RunChat: I'm happy to have 10 miles already under my belt for the month and plan to rack up some more this evening. Tomorrow will be a hectic day at work as most Mondays are, and I'll be happy to decompress and prepare for the next. I made sure to pack a great lunch, had an extra cup of coffee and hugged my sweetheart first thing when the alarm went off.

Happy Monday, all!

<3 JE