updates

It's been a few weeks! Don't give up on me...I just haven't had a lot to blog about! Not to mention we've been wrapping up the last weeks of summer, with the usual insanity of activities.

Can I first just say how utterly bummed I am at this sudden burst of rain we are having? I have to be honest - I am so tired of everyone saying how much they are excited for the rain and loving it. THIS torrential downpouring IS GROSS. What's wrong with everyone?!! Either they're all lying or I'm just off. I was just talking with a friend about it today. Aside from the wonderful fall clothes which are emerging, I am DREADING this season change. Some people live for sunshine and nice weather; others love the season changes. I know I would be 100% satisfied living in a climate where the sun shines year round. But that's just me. In my mind, the sun makes everyone happier - not to mention, more attractive (at least for the time being :)!!

So, let's just cherish the memories of the last bits of summer. Here are some updates from the past couple weeks since I've been the MIA blogger...

*Spent a lovely weekend in Seattle with my family over Labor Day - Jeff and my dad spent Saturday at a local "Oregon fan" bar, cheering on the Ducks, while my mom and I power-shopped for the latest fall fashions. We even saw sunshine a couple of the days!

*Have upped the urgency of trying to sell our house - finally lowered the price, and are getting more aggressive. We had an open house on Sunday which was quite successful if you ask me! Jeff and I were just talking about how we felt encouraged through it - we were just reminded not to give up, and that there are still people out there who are/may be very interested even though this market sucks. Last weekend we looked at a couple of "vintage" style Portland bungalows that were actually new or remodeled, and it definitely got us giddy. We are starting to get excited about how much farther our money will go when we do buy again!

*The leaves are starting to change - ahh, fall is here! Enjoying the colors and thoughts of cozy meals as the weather starts to get cooler...

*We are in full-swing trip-planning mode (aka Kelly is spending many hours :). We take off for a trip to Holland, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria in just one month. This will include a few days in Amsterdam, some cozy time in little mountain villages in the Swiss Alps (only accessible by gondola), a drive through romantic Bavaria, Germany, a few days in Salzburg (home of the Sound of Music), seeing the sights in and around Munich, walking through castles, concentration camps, and finally driving the Romantic Road to Frankfurt. It will be quite the adventure, as neither of us have rented a car in previous Europe excursions! Hopefully we don't get lost and buried in the side of some Swiss peak. :)

*Which brings me to...I cannot stop thinking about cheese fondue.

*Duck football season has begun, which means our (well, ok, sometimes I don't always watch...) Saturdays will be filled with passionate hours of cheering for our home team. Go DUCKS!

*Work slowed down for me, for about a week, but now I'm in full swing mode again. Jeff also has had a normal schedule for a couple months now (thank goodness), aside from some freelance projects he's been doing.

So you can see, all is well! At the close of the summer, I have just been feeling especially blessed to have such amazing friends and family in a close range. Being home more the past month or so has given us more time to enjoy everyone that we love so, so much. Despite the icky weather we get here in Oregon, I would stay just because of the people in our lives that we wouldn't want to live without!

love it here

Just returned from our semi-annual trip to Black Butte with Jeff's family. Always so relaxing! I swear I could stay in that place forever. The weather wasn't the best, but still we got in some good games of tennis, hottubbin', golf, wine, walks, movies, reading, and yummy food (including my smoked oysters which everyone was afraid to touch :). Sad to see August end, but this was a great last hoorrah!

Sunday view of the mountains from the BB Lodge

The house we stayed at this year - great deck on the golf course

Tennis time

Susie and Terry at Sunday breakfast at the lodge

Jeff and Grandma on a sunny post-breakfast walk

dream house

Can I just say - THIS is my dream house. Too bad it's just a $300 doll house at FAO Schwartz! Just came across this picture on one of Jeff's design websites. I absolutely love the open floorplan, gigantic windows, rock walls, and modern edges. Someday maybe...

san diego

I am obsessed with July and August - usually (fingers crossed) it's amazing weather. This summer, just like every other, both of these months have been full of fun weekends - here in Portland, and also a few getaways.

To finish off the summer, I flew down to San Diego for a few days to hang with my good friend Maggie (who lives in Portland): lots of sunshine, good eats, and beach time included! A tradition began last year for Jeff to spend a few days each year hiking a new portion of the Pacific Crest Trail with some good buddies...thus, each year, I am left to plan something fun for myself! Bummer, right?!

Maggie was my tour guide, and is quite the planner - she never lets me down, that one! She had me bustling all over the city, visiting the best beaches, Mexican restaurants, wine bars, and hotel pools the city has to offer. What a fun week it was - and not a cloud in the sky! Highlights from the trip include: Enjoying the beaches (Mission beach, La Jolla Beach, Coronado Beach), breakfast burritos at Hector's, a great dinner in Little Italy, pizza at Wine Steals, the best pineapple frozen yogurt, walking along the beach, swimming at some beautiful pools, sunset happy hour at C-Level, lots of laughs and great convo, yoga night at the W sand bar, getting to know some awesome new peeps, and soaking up oodles of Vitamin D.

Here are some pictures from our girl trip in San Diego...

Sunset walk on Shelter Island - Maggie and I

View of downtown from Shelter Island

La Jolla

Watching the seals in La Jolla

Beach time in La Jolla!

Pizza and vino at Wine Steals with some great gals!

Morning walk on Mission Beach - Mel, Amanda, Maggie, and I

pacific crest trail hike: year #2

Meanwhile, Jeff was on his second backpacking trip in central Oregon, part of the effort to complete a new section of the PCT each summer (trail runs from Mexico to Canada). Last year the team was just Jeff and his buddy Pete, but this year they added an essential new member, good friend Justin. They started around the Mckenzie View Pass and ended at Elk Lake. The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

For weeks they all get ready for this big hike. Not to mention how many trips Jeff makes to REI, all giddy like a kid in a candy store. There is always something that can be bought at REI for the big hike. Too many times I overheard Jeff muttering to himself about his fabulous new hiking gear...i.e. the other night, he was in our bedroom examining his new sleeping bag, saying to himself "I just can't believe it's SO small!" heehee. Pure excitement over something so small; this must be appreciated. :)

This year they hiked around 45 miles (I think) in 4 days, which is less than last year's 60 miles. Maybe there is a new goal to actually enjoy themselves on a trip like this. Jeff returned with absolutely filthy clothes, a raging beard, and war-wounds (aka blisters) on his feet: all signs of mighty manhood!

Here are some pictures from the excursion. What great memories these three are making! I get the definite impression that it's a great time of strengthening friendships. Jeff's so blessed to have these amazing men in his life!

we're makin' sushi

A couple weeks ago we had dinner with three of our favorites, Justin, Jess, almost-2-yr old Mackenzie. They had us over to their backyard oasis, complete with lush garden, white lights, and DIY dinner table (see how-to link here). Of course the eats were fabulous too - they always are in the gourmet Scott household - but this dinner was especially creative I thought (and blog-worthy too!)...HOMEMADE sushi!


I regret not taking more pics of this beautiful spread! We had smoked eel, sticky rice, both smoked and uncooked salmon, mango, avocado, tuna, and more. The process involves smearing sticky rice onto the nori (seaweed), then layering on the toppings of choice. Next, the tricky part (which Justin is a master at): rolling the sushi into a roll! But once this was done, we had gorgeous homemade sushi rolls, and no doubt at a more affordable cost. I kept saying, "I just can't believe we made these!" You must try it!

snuggle time

I love my bubba boo.

devoted

Just had to share this picture I took of Jeff over the weekend - we had to run into Cinco (his office) on our way downtown, so he could send a couple of files over to the printer. Can I first just say, too bad this HUGE computer screen isn't a TV loaded with sports channels, because he would have it MADE! Unfortunately, it's not, and he's been spending 50-80 hours a week here the past few weeks. And yay - that is now over. One thing I love about my husband is his endless dedication to creating perfection; never jetting away from work until a project is absolutely the best it can be, for the client, as well as to uphold the creative reputation of Cinco. I am proud of my worker bee! :)

lime-cilantro pork tacos - only 400 calories for two!

By now, my friends have to know that I will steal the yummy recipes they make and put them on my blog for the world to see. I get excited about food I like, and I crave to share it with everyone (see the recipe below also for another stolen recipe :). My friend Whit made these the other night, and I was shocked at how low fat, yet incredibly tasty they were. I just made them again tonight for Jeff and he loved 'em too!

1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into cubes or thin strips (Whit did cubes)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1-1/2 c. chopped onion
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 c. fat free, less sodium chicken broth
1/2 c. chopped plum tomato
3 T. chopped cilantro
2-1/2 T. fresh lime juice
8 flour tortillas (I use the uncooked tortillas from Costco - soo yummy)

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Add oil to the pan. Add pork, and saute 4 minutes or until browned. Remove pork from pan; place in bowl. Add onion and jalapeno to pan; saute 5 minutes or until tender. Add broth; reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in tomato; simmer 2 minutes.

Return pork and accumulated juices to pan. Stir in cilantro and lime juice; cook 1 minute or until pork is done.

Heat tortillas according to package directions. Spoon 1/2 cup pork mixture into each tortilla; roll up.

Nutritional information: Calories 416 (28% from fat), Fat 13.1g, Protein 30.2g, Carb 43.1g, Fiber 3.6g, Cholesterol 75mg, Iron 3.8mg, Sodium 569mg, Calcium 101mg

katie's granola

Just like the recipe above, I stole this one too! One of my friends, Katie, made this granola and I was lucky enough to get to taste some last weekend while camping - I knew I HAD to have the recipe. Lately I have been trying out different Trader Joe's granolas as a healthy breakfast option, but they don't even come close to the one Katie made. I have never been a huge granola fan, but I am SOLD. Make this and you will have a wonderful breakfast every morning and feel amazing afterwards! :)

Katie's Granola
Makes 6 cups

• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)
• 1 cup sliced raw almonds
• ½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• ¼ cup unsalted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) or shelled sunflower seeds
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
• 1 cup dried fruit (such as raisins, currants, cranberries, cherries)

• Heat oven to 350° F.
  
• On a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss the oats, almonds, coconut, and pepitas with the maple syrup, oil and sea salt.
• Bake, tossing once, until golden and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool, then add the dried fruit and toss to combine.
  
• The granola will keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 weeks.