screen door

YUM YUM YUM. Contrasting from the post below, if you're looking for a comfort food, huge-portions type of cozy spot, visit Screen Door! You may have to wait for an hour or two, but it's well worth the wait. Many Portland folks visit for the amazing breakfast, but we went for dinner. Love the open kitchen feel, the simple interior, and the food that sticks to your stomach. But most of all ... I found my new favorite dessert that maybe even tops Irving St. Kitchen's butterscotch pudding.

I would highly recommend the Screen Door Plate, which allows you to choose three selections and also comes with a side of delicious cornbread. I chose the local greens with strawberry salad, crispy fried catfish, and the macaroni and cheese. Yes, I know, a bit heavy :) Oh boy, but don't you just have to have one of these meals every now and then? Jeff went for the traditional southern specialty, crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, and collard greens dripping in bacon fa--AHEM--juices. I was dying to try the lowcountry creamy grits, but will just have to save that one for next time!

And...oh, the dessert!!! Try the Ban-offee Pie! Our friends Katie and David introduced us to this one, and I swore I wasn't going to eat any I was so full. But when it came around, there was no turning back. Shortbread and pecan crust layered with caramel and bananas topped with whipped cream. See ya later, folks....I'm taking off to go get some right now.

YOU MUST eat here sooner rather than later!! Just a fun Portland dining experience!

DOC - a culinary experience

Jeff and I are all about the experience when we go eat somewhere special. I love love that he appreciates food as much as I do. Yesterday was our 6th anniversary, and Jeff had made reservations at a teeny little spot we've heard amazing things about, called DOC (make reservations way in advance because it really gets full on weekends). It's right off Killingsworth, on NE 30th, tucked away in an adorable little neighborhood. The restaurant is just about as quaint and cozy inside as it looks to be from the outside (maybe a total of 10 tables?). I knew right away...this is going to be my type of dinner.

Upon entering the restaurant, you walk right through the kitchen, and sometimes even get a little welcome from the chefs. Our table was right in the front, allowing for an optimal view to watch the team prepare their culinary masterpieces. The menu (which is printed every day) listed an array of flavors, and it was obvious that each selection had been carefully planned with great attention to detail. As you can somewhat see in the picture, the chefs took time and care to present everything beautifully.

DOC offers a 5-course tasting menu, which is an absolute steal for $55/person. With this, you get Ken's Artisan bread/olives/butter, two antipasti, two primi (a pasta), two secondi (main course), and two desserts. It's quite a bit of food! We ate a late lunch and weren't too hungry so we ordered a la carte but will definitely be going back for a try of the tasting menu on a special occasion.

Thinking of this blog, I did want to whip out the camera for every course....but I restrained myself :) Among the things we tried...

• Ken's artisan bread with olives and butter
• A selection of local cow and sheep cheeses with fruit purees (aaaaamazing)
• Cavatelli pasta with mutton sugo and pecorino (similar to a red sauce with meat but not really)
• Sturgeon with cauliflower butter over cauliflower, fava, and scape (some funny but awesome looking veggies!)
• And for dessert....ahh, summer berries with hazelnuts and basil ice cream over top (huckleberries, golden raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries)...a truly amazing combination which I will definitely attempt to re-create at home!

It was the attention to detail that we so appreciated and noticed! Jeff ordered wine, and instead of him just ordering off of a by-the-glass wine menu (there isn't one), they brought several bottles over and let him taste before he chose which one suited his fancy. With our dessert, they poured us a complimentary "house favorite" white wine simply because it paired splendidly with our dessert. Each time a course was brought to our table, the server explained in detail what we were about to eat and where it came from. The service was fabulous, with one server tending to all of the tables. It was such an intimate eating experience! The food was being specially created just for us, and by people who view food as art and worthy of their time.

Definitely would recommend eating at DOC if you are looking for a special night out!

coolest little thing!

Just saw this great lil' device on my friend Kir's blog, Restored Style, and wanted to help get the word out there. This rad alarm clock was designed by some local Portland peeps, and if they raise enough money by August 19, they will start producing it and make it available to all of us!! I can just see my hubby loving one of these. Maybe then we can finally get rid of our ghetto little clock which I've had since 5th grade. Visit kickstarter's site here, and the Restored Style page here.

preview: nursery of ella kennedy

Here is a little preview of the work we have been doing to get this nursery looking good before the arrival of our little bundle! Hard to tell from the pictures, but the walls are a light gray (not green :), and the rest of the colors don't look quite accurate either. There are definitely still some finishing touches and accessories that will be added - the chair still needs to be covered (in white textured fabric), more colorful pillows added, a mobile hung (still trying to find one I like!), and a couple more things to go on the walls. But, here is the raw finished product!

Here is the chair that still has yet to be covered. The drum shade is from Anthropologie but I found it on Craigslist. Accessories: West Elm. Framed print: Etsy. Shelf: Ikea.

I couldn't resist this little birdie and the matching "bouquet" that went with it from West Elm - added a girlie touch :) And I always have just loved the lyrics to "You are My Sunshine"...

Changing table - I had a changing pad cover made to match the sheets.

I decided to get crafty with some paper, lace, and mod-podge one afternoon...

Another great use for the popular Expedit bookcase from Ikea :) This will hold toys and books! Print: Etsy.

I had all of the crib bedding custom made by an Etsy artist - all of the different fabrics are from the "It's a Hoot" line by MoMo for Moda.

Jeff designed these cool prints! Just love the definition of her name - a bright and shining light.

A better shot at one of the fabrics. The turquoise is actually lighter than this.

Another bedding option, with the bumper on.

Closet organization = success! These bins from Ikea sure helped put good use to the shelving system I designed.

Coco Bloom baby bouncer/lounger, which looks cool, but let's hope she likes to use it too! :)

a lazy saturday

Well, we are only a couple of weeks away from meeting our baby girl now! Or days? Or hours? She really could be here anytime. Which is one thing I'm not liking about this whole adventure - all of the unknowns, and not being able to really plan for them.

Normally our weekends are pretty busy it seems, but somehow on this long, 4th of July weekend we found ourselves with notta-lotta! Yesterday as we were walking and chatting, we decided it's pretty perfect really - three days together with nothing planned has been an absolute gift in disguise. Jeff and I have had such a blast together, and it probably came at the most perfect time because it could be our last weekend just us two, for a while. Here are a couple pics from our sunny day downtown yesterday - at the Saturday market, a walk along the waterfront, and lunch outside at Cafe Yumm on 3rd Ave.

Our life is about to change. People everywhere keep asking us - are you ready? My answer would be - can we be? for something we have never done before? What is "ready"? It will all be a day-by-day adventure and learning experience. I know it's not going to be all easy. I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a wealth of people surrounding us who have gone through this before and who I know will positively encourage us as we go. We know some things will change...but we fully believe that other things, our little girl will learn to adapt to. Jeff and I both have passions...family, friends, travel, food, experiencing new things, getting outdoors, and the list goes on...and we are wholeheartedly committed to submerging our girl in these things too! No one around us has hid the fact that it will be more work to travel now :)...maybe so...but maybe it'll be worth the extra energy to keep doing what we love and to show our child what is out there in the world? The challenge gets us excited - and I cannot wait for our little family to develop new traditions and passions together too. I look forward to the little getaways we will have just Jeff and I, and also the ones where we will go with our babe. I feel thankful that Jeff and I have had six years of marriage before this to know each other, to travel, to talk, explore, and try new things.

So here's to the next chapter - an adventure - I can't wait for what's ahead!

father's day

On Father's Day we had the most splendid afternoon. We spent the day with Jeff's dad (Roger), stepmom (Mindy), and two of his brothers (Sam and Phil), soaking up sunshine and stuffing ourselves silly with wonderful food. One thing I always appreciate about going to Roger and Mindy's house is that they love food just as much as I do. To say we eat well whenever we are at their house would be an understatement! This particular day it was BBQ steaks, shrimp, potatoes, grilled caesar salads...and just when I thought I might explode...(keep in mind that because of the baby my now-miniscule stomach is squished up near my neck at this point, folks)...Mindy served fresh berries over homemade shortcake with whipped cream for dessert. The best summer dessert in my mind! The three brothers were in full-swing boy mode, jumping into the pool with their clothes on, shooting guns, getting into wrestling matches, and doing what boys do. Chloe even took a swim in the pool...she's turned into quite the little swimmer, that little one.

Here's to all of the wonderful dads out there - including my wonderful darling who is soon-to-be one! :)

farmers market

We have always loved farmers markets in the summertime! Recently we expanded our horizons to the Beaverton Farmers Market, because so many of our friends go there often and love it. I was so surprised to see how HUGE it was - a much bigger market than the other ones around Portland in my opinion (I also have liked Lake Oswego's in the past). I think most of us don't realize how many amazing LOCAL food companies exist - ones that offer such quality foods. Did you know that for each day a vegetable or fruit is traveling/not eaten after it has been harvested/picked, the vitamins slowly diminish? Not to mention, buying local foods = using fewer resources.

This particular morning Jeff and I meandered the aisles, bought some basil and mint plants for the garden; sampled fresh breads, homemade hummus, an assortment of fresh soups, and a host of other samples from vendors. Ate lunch at a wood-fired pizza cart - best pizza I've had in a long time - and then grabbed a juicy, fresh strawberry shortcake piled high with whipped cream for dessert. I think Jeff and I just about started a spoon war as we frantically struggled to scoop up every last bite before the other could get it. DEEE-lish.

It was a warm and gorgeous day - my idea of a perfect Saturday morning with my hubby! Shop local when you can - you'll enjoy the experience, and I think the food tastes better too. :)

gas works park

Over Memorial Day weekend (yes that was a month ago...so I have dropped the ball on the blogging lately...) we spent a fabulous long weekend in Seattle with my parents. The weather was gorgeous every day for the most part - one afternoon we decided to explore Gas Works Park, which is where this picture of Jeff and me was taken (I am 32 weeks prego here). If you're ever in Seattle, make sure you get over to this waterfront park and check it out!

isn't he a cutie?

Hee hee, this picture of Jeff when he was little just makes me grin from ear to ear. :)