As soon as I quit my job, three weeks ago, I knew I wanted to have some alone-time at the beach before starting my new job. I had three weeks, and did plenty of lounging (catching up on TV) and hiking, but was thrilled to plan a stay at the Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa for my last three days of funemployment. My goal: chill out. Breathe salty air. Have sandy toes. Sleep. Spa. Hot tub. Lounge.

Mission very much accomplished.

If you follow me on instagram, you most definitely saw some gorgeous scenes last week from my stay on the Oregon coast. After I arrived (and was greeted by some very helpful and kind front-desk staff), I walked into my room and literally cried it was so perfect. The rooms are spacious, and the floors are gorgeous weathered wood. There's a bathtub to die for, an equally gorgeous shower, a comfy couch and warm fireplace, and then: the porch. Every room looks out over the beach, and has two comfy chairs for sitting and watching the ocean. Seriously, that's pretty much what I did the majority of the time. I sat on the porch and watched the waves (WHALES! THERE WERE WHALES!), people on the beach, the sun, etc. It just never got boring!

I treated myself to a spa treatment at the in-house spa & wellness center, Tidepools. The steam room and exercise equipment (and classes!) are available to guests free-of-charge, and their menu of spa treatments was perfect - there is something for everyone! Also: the hot tub. You can see the Haystack Rock from the hot tub (which is saltwater and HUGE), and it's open until 11pm for guests. I definitely enjoyed that feature!

I honestly only left the lodge to walk on the beach - other than that, they have everything you need! I ate at The Meridian, inside the lodge, which has glorious windows overlooking the beach (I think almost everyplace in the lodge has windows overlooking the beach - even the stairwells!). Chef Andrew Garrison has made a great menu, full of vibrant vegetables and fun flavors. I loved the beet salad I ordered - it had cauliflower and ricotta and was all sorts of perfect! For my main I had the rockfish, which was cooked perfectly and came with some delicious vegetables (and you know how I feel about vegetables!!).

My three days at Headlands were perfect - really truly what I was looking for, and the most gorgeous/comfortable place to chill out. The rooms were above and beyond luxurious, with wonderful attention to detail. The crew there has really done a great job thinking through what will make you happy - like warm showers outside on your way back from the beach, with towels just inside the door! Perfection. Also, pantries on each floor with items like pints of ice cream and La Croix? Yes. Yes please!

If you're looking for a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the coast, I highly recommend Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa. They have king and queen rooms in the hotel, and also multi-bedroom cottages with all of the same access to the spa, restaurant, etc. I cannot wait to go back (and live there forever, ha!).

My stay was complementary, thanks to Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, but all opinions are my own!

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Feast 2016 has come and gone, just like that. "Just like that" meaning "with a lot of delicious food and drink and wonderful company and fun", obviously. I loved this year just as much as last, if not more - it's so much better when you actually KNOW people! This year I went to only one main event - Night Market - so had a chance to experience a new-to-me event! SO MUCH FUN!

This post is basically gonna be a photo dump - a sliver of scenes from a wonderful weekend! If you haven't been to Feast before, get it on your calendar for next year!! I don't think dates have been announced, but keep an eye on the Feast website for news!

As usual, a HUGE thanks goes out to the organizers - thanks for such a great weekend!! I'm so glad to be part of a generous, fun, inviting food community! I can't wait for next year!

PHOTO DUMP TIME! xoxo

See you NEXT YEAR!! XO

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This time last year, I had no idea what was coming in the following days. I'd heard so much about Feast, but somehow it failed to sink in that there were precautions to consider in order to have a successful weekend! Since Feast week has OFFICIALLY ARRIVED (!!) I'll share just a few easy tips that I'll be following this year, and hopefully some newbie out there will glean a few helpful tidbits!

1. Come hungry. Last year I wasn't sure what to expect at the Grand Bounty, so I had a small breakfast beforehand just in case. Um, totally unnecessary. For any event you attend (ok, except drink tanks I think) you absolutely do NOT need to eat beforehand. Obviously if you're going to a night event, eat a normal (maybe modest...) breakfast and lunch, but definitely expect to have more than enough food to eat at the event itself.
2. Be comfortable. I definitely fall on the "comfort first" end of the spectrum, and while you'll definitely be socializing all day (and therefore perhaps want to look good), make sure you'll be comfortable walking around, standing A LOT, perhaps growing outwards a bit (fo reals, stretchy pants or dresses are a must), and being in the elements. The forecast this year looks sunny and warm, but it'll cool down at night - be ready!
3. Respect your limits, physically and mentally. Hippy talk time: be mindful of what you need!! This definitely applies to the eating/drinking aspects - there is no reason you HAVE to keep eating/drinking! - but also to your general mental status! If you need to go take a quiet moment, or leave an event early, or skip an after-party: DO IT. I did it last year on Friday night, and was so glad I did. No shame in taking care of yourself!
4. Consider alternative transportation. If you can avoid driving, do. I biked to most events last year, and then took cabs when it was dark/riding didn't seem prudent. Program this number into your phone RIGHT NOW: (503) 227-1212 - RADIO CAB. I'm decently anti-Uber and Lyft, so if you're an app-only-cab-hailer: download Curb. It'll sync you up with local cab companies, but with the convenience of an Uber-ish app. However, if you were to end up in a collision in one of these ridesharing vehicles, you might need to find yourself a lyft accident attorney that could help you through any legal processes that may occur as result of your accident.Use the cod 70E35C to get a $5 credit on Curb!!
5. Relax. Remember that this is supposed to be fun. If you don't make it to every tasting opportunity you want, it's okay! We're here to raise money to fight childhood hunger, and that's what should matter at the end of the day!

Have questions? Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email! I'm no expert, but I am always willing to chat! xoxo

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Here we go again, folks! Feast is back, this year for it's fifth anniversary, and looks to be better than ever. COMIN' IN HOT! Get ready, it starts next week!

You can check out my posts from last year to get a sense of what Feast is like (before, kick-off, after!), but I can easily sum it up in one sentence: YUMAZING. Okay, that was one (made-up) word... but seriously, I was blown away last year by the incredible food presented by creative chefs and brands with awesome products I was happy to try and learn about! I'm looking forward to this year (and even taking a day off of work - COMMITMENT!).

If you haven't picked up any tickets yet, hurry!! Most of the main events are sold out, but there are some tickets left for the Grand Tasting on Friday, as well as Drink Tanks on Friday and Saturday. I'll be at Grand Tasting on Friday, so come join the fun! You can check the schedule and buy tickets HERE!

In case you forgot why we Feast: "Feast Portland is proud to support charities working to end childhood hunger in Oregon and across the country. Since its inception in 2012, Feast has donated more than $230,000 to charity. Feast Portland's sole charitable partner in 2016 is Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon." - Feast

If you can't make it to any events, you can absolutely participate from afar by donating!

If you already have tickets, let me know what events you'll be going to! I'll be at Night Market, Grand Tasting, and as many after-parties as I can manage (HIGHLY encouraged to RSVP "yes" to as many as you get, newbies!!).

I'll have more FEASTY PREVIEWS next week! XO

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This weekend was GO GO GO GO but in all the best ways - potluck with friends (and pooches!), out with more friends, high school reunion (old lady status right here), bachelorette party (NOT mine), buying more plant babies (a philodendron!), and going on a VERY steep VERY early hike. HOT DAMN!

Dog Mountain is a super popular hike around here - it's about an hour East of Portland, just across the river on the Washington side of the gorge. Despite it's insane incline, if the weather is nice the parking lot is full by 8am! So, despite a late Saturday night, when Naked Juice encouraged me to PRESS PLAY on summer, we packed up at 6:45 Sunday morning and headed out to Dog Mountain. Hallelujah for perfect weather and friends to hike with!

We took it pretty easy, and enjoyed the shade of the green trees between stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge. Hike like these remind me how grateful I am to be back in Portland!

Marc and I were dog sitting Coda (LOVE OF MY LIFE, REMEMBER?!), so this hike was also our attempt to get some of his energy out and show him a good time! Nothing like a steep hike to wear out a dog, right? He was BEAT when we got back, which made for excellent snuggling later in the day.

We also brought along plenty of Naked Cold Pressed Juice - a pretty awesome refreshment when it's early and you're tired and thirsty and in need of fruits and veggies. I think some of the other hikers were jealous 😉

A few tips for this hike, if you so choose to explore it:

• Bring lots of liquids! It's steep, and some of it is exposed, so you'll want to be hydrated!
• Wear pants! There is a lot of poison oak along the trail, and dogs who brush up in it (and then against you). Be prepared!
• Get there early! Like I mentioned above, the lot fills up QUICK, and there really isn't overflow parking. If the weather is nice, plan on being there before 8!
• Know your limits. This is a steep hike, no matter how you do it. Make sure you're prepared to go up AND DOWN very steep terrain.

That's all I've got for you guys! Cheers to a wonderful summer of exploring!

This post was sponsored by Naked Juice. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep The Kitchen Paper up and running!

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I'm still not recovered from the weekend, but we're gonna plunge head on into the amazingness that was FEAST Portland 2015! OH MY GOSH.

If I have one recommendation for you next year, it is to make sure you're at Feast Portland 2016. BE THERE. It's 4.5 days of absolute insanity, if you describe insanity as "all the great food and all the great drinks and all the great people IN THE LAND." Un.REAL. Here's what I did this weekend - very VERY quick thoughts on each, otherwise this post will literally go for days and I'll never stop talking about it:

• Pre-party at Jacobsen Sea Salt. Pips was there, Olympia Provision has the most IMPRESSIVE charcuterie setup, Mei Lin made some crazy delicious ice cream, and I fell in love with Bee Local. This was the first event, which meant I had no clue what to expect, but everyone was SO PSYCHED that the vibe was great! Good times were had by all!

• SANDWICH INVITATIONAL. This was the first MAIN event - and dare I say the most famous? I've heard nothing but good things about the Sandwich invitational, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I think there were something like seventeen chefs, about half from Portland restaurants, who each made a sandwich. This is a COMPETITION, so we had to try as many as possible, then vote! I was a huge fan of the sandwich from Imperial, which won People's Choice award, AND Gregory's crepe from Departure - which won overall! They both hit me right in the "I love pickled Asian-ish veggies" spot, which totally worked well for me! Eggslut was a close third (their bread was PERFECT), and the rest were certainly delicious. I haven't been that full in ... ever? And it didn't quit after that! HUGE thanks to Tillamook for hooking me up with a last minute ticket - I was THRILLED to be there!!

• After the Sandwich invitational we headed over to the Doug Fir for Pork of Ages - SO MUCH MEAT. We all came to the consensus that this year's events all had a big focus on pork - which was not a bad thing! I could barely muster a few nibbles at the party, but was again: blown away. Skewered meat with creative flavor combos? WINNING.
• Media breakfast! SUCH A SPREAD! Big thanks to Hotel Lucia for hosting us for a beautiful breakfast, prepared by more wonderful chefs. I was thrilled to gobble down some grilled bread cheese (THE BEST. SERIOUSLY!) and lox and as much else as I could, all while knowing I was about to keep eating for 6 more hours. The struggle was real.
• FRIDAY OREGON BOUNTY GRAND TASTING PRESENTED BY ALASKA AIRLINES. This was a marathon in the best possible sense - and I met up with Meg (Yay new blogger friends!) and we made sure to get there as soon as it opened to media (an hour before the public) and make the rounds. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and happy to share their products with us. Those are the best people! It's great to meet others who are psyched about their product - be it cheese, wine, chocolate, fruit, etc. - because it totally made ME psyched for their product. And then, of course, all the samples. We ate, and ate, and ate. All darn afternoon. It was great! And then I didn't eat again for like 20 hours.

• Oregon Media Group SMOKED! Uuuh this was so cool. We were outside at The Fields park in NW Portland, and it felt like the most fun, happy, smokey, family barbecue you've ever been to. With way better food than any other barbecue I've ever been to. I pretty much drowned myself in Wagyu beef and corn and oysters and paella and hibiscus and more corn and brisket - it was really pretty darn impressive. This was the new "Main" event and I think it should be a staple! Everyone I talked to absolutely loved it!

• Tillamook Brunch Village. Uuuh you KNOW I love brunch, and this was essentially a ton of wonderful chefs cooking up little plates of brunchy goodness that did NOT disappoint. I had a ridiculously tasty lemon ricotta pancake, a brisket benedict with a quail egg, lots of coffee, THIS, chicken and waffles, and an over-the-moon Turkish-style egg with chili butter and greek yogurt. I think that last one took the cake, for me! INCREDIBLE!

There were some other parties and media meetups thrown in there to make the whole (long) weekend an incredible non-stop party. More than anything, I was so impressed with 1) How well organized it was (LGP, you guys did an AMAZING JOB!), 2) How SUPER nice everyone was. Maybe it's a Portland thing, or a foodie thing (scratch that, I don't think that's it), but everyone at each event was so happy to chat, connect, enjoy, etc. which made it all the more enjoyable. I WILL BE BACK! There is pretty much nothing you could do to keep me from enjoying Feast 2016 - I'm already counting down the days! Tickets won't go on sale until late next Spring (if it's similar to this year), but you should be checking in with their website, twitter, and instagram to keep an eye on what's up!

HUUUUGE thanks to the organizers! I didn't get to meet Mike, but I was thrilled to meet Carrie and Jannie and others on the Little Green Pickle team - you guys rock! Thanks for treating us bloggers like royalty, and putting on a killer event! I can't wait to see more of you around town 🙂 xoxo

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Here's more of a look into my week in Iceland - photos from my iPhone. I won't write much, because honestly it's hard to say anything that does the land justice. These pictures don't even begin to convey how magical the land is. I've never experienced a landscape as powerful and dramatic! Every corner brought new breathtaking vistas with impressive colors, textures, and pure energetic amazement. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: go to Iceland! Go now. {If you haven't read my post on traveling via camper van, check it out here!}

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I'm not going to write much about my day to day there, but if you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll make sure to answer it! xo

{now, to Iceland! Keep up on instagram!}

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Here's a peek into my experience hiking Hadrian's Wall! Hadrian's Wall was built in 122 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian - to protect the Roman Empire! Google "Hadrian's Wall" if you really want to learn more! I walked the length of the wall - advertised as 84 miles, but really quite a bit longer - with my family. We're an odd bunch, choosing to walk many many miles every day for a "fun" family vacation! We really did have fun, though, and stayed in cute B&B's and rooms above pubs along the way. For the most part we had great weather, with a few drizzles here and there. What sticks out most in my mind are the gazillions of sheep and cows we saw! They are scattered all throughout the green English countryside, and I loved seeing them! You'll notice some city pictures at the start - Newcastle is near the beginning of the wall, and you hike right through the city! After that it's mostly countryside!

Some of these photos are from instagram, all are from my iPhone, and roughly in chronological order!. Enjoy! xo

Now I'm off exploring Scotland... pictures to come eventually! xo

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