Archives for October 2019

Girlfriend Trip Travel Guide: Portland, Oregon

October 23, 2019

One of the perks of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest is the proximity to mountains, beaches, and several bustling metropolises. For instance, in a less than 4 hour drive south of Seattle, you can find yourself in Portland, Oregon. Aptly named “The Rose City,” Portland is known for a chicken named Colin (Portlandia reference here)…but in all seriousness, an excellent food scene, hipster styling, tax-free shopping, strong coffee, and 12 bridges that straddle the Willamette river, which divides the city.

Recently, a couple of girlfriends and I headed to Portland for weekend getaway to enjoy good food and taking advantage of tax-free shopping; escaping the weekend soccer mom drill to reconnect with each other and let our hair down. Leaving early on a Saturday morning with plans to return mid-afternoon on Sunday, we refined our itinerary to make the most of our quick trip. I’m sharing our top picks below:

Up first…Brunch at Olympia Provisions

An absolute MUST…this stop was a crowd favorite. After our trip south, we were famished and luckily had the foresight to have made a reservation for this popular charcuterie spot in NW Portland. Even with our table reserved, we had to wait probably 15 minutes to be seated (sadly, such is the food scene here in Portland). But the food was well worth the wait! We shared the Spanish charcuterie board filled with Spanish salami, ham, and chorizo. While the others enjoyed an eggs benedict (which they continue to dream about), I had a delicious hash of sausage and delicata squash topped with the most perfect poached egg. The wait staff definitely knows their stuff, as our waitress helped us navigate a menu with many delicious options. This is probably one of the best brunches I’ve enjoyed in recent memory!

Then meander thru Northwest Portland & the Pearl District

In addition to saving 10% in sales tax, Portland has some fantastic shopping. The Pearl District and Northwest neighborhoods are host to a number of great options; both small and large retailers alike. Right off of Burnside (the main east/west thoroughfare), you could spend hours browsing the shelves of Powell’s Books, Portland’s famously huge independent bookstore. I would suggest first grabbing a coffee across the street at Stumptown Coffee. You may see their nitro coffee on the shelves of your local Trader Joe’s or grab their beans at your favorite grocer, but this is an opportunity to have a barista craft your coffee in the Motherland.

From there, we headed into the Pearl District. You can find local fashion and houseware boutiques such as House of Lolo (premium denim, luxe cashmere, and refined basics), local designer Bridge & Burn (a quintessential NW fashion house filled with plaid, beanies, reusable designer coffee mugs, and perfect flat-brimmed hats) and Porch Light (air plants, unique handmade jewelry, cards, glass and tableware). I would also recommend a trip through Anthropologie here. I know, you likely have an Anthropologie store in your backyard, or at least are familiar with their offerings via their website. However, Portland is home to one of only two “Anthropologie & Co.” stores in the nation, which are more like a department store; offering a wide selection of home furnishings, a BLDN bridal boutique, a shoe section as well as their assortment of unique fashion finds. In addition to two floors of beautiful home displays, the downstairs also features a boutique with apparel and jewelry unique to the Portland store.

Then dine at Mediterranean Exploration Company

Or try one of the other restaurants within the Toro Bravo restaurant group (these include the famous Tasty n Alder and Toro Bravo, among others). Renowned for their fusion flavors combined with seasonal PNW flare, you cannot go wrong with any of these unique culinary experiences. At MEC, we were recommended the yellow tail carpacacio (pictured) and I was skeptical when I was told that the octopus is a staff favorite. Ordinarily I find octopus to be chewy, but this was smoky dish melted in your mouth. Quite honestly, the best octopus I’ve ever tasted! I would order it again. House made labneh (a cauliflower-based dip) with two orders of pita…also a must. The table next to us highly recommended sharing a Turkish coffee after our meal, we’re just old ladies that can’t drink caffeine that late!

Although we didn’t make it this time, I would highly recommend making a reservation at the Voicebox, which are private karaoke suites complete with bottle and food service. While I would never be brave enough to belt out tunes in front of a bar full of people, I have a running list of my favorite songs (mostly 90’s favorites like “4 Non-Blondes”) in preparation for a private concert among friends. In addition to a full bar for courage, they also serve delicious late-night snacks like tater-tots and buffalo cauliflower. Reservations are recommended and there is are minimum requirements for weekend nights.

Rest at the Radisson Red

With a central location and unique, pop decor, The Radisson Red is a fantastic stay in downtown Portland. Central to most everything (located in the downtown core), the hotel offers both hip vibes and the comforts of home. We loved all of the fun photos ops with pops of color everywhere and interesting murals around every corner, the devil is in the artistic details at this hotel. Yet, at the end of a long day spent exploring all of Portland’s offerings, we snuggled into plush down comforter laden beds and slept in peacefully. For comfort paired with a cool, downtown vibe (and an insta-worthy venue), look no further than the Radisson Red.

Also, we got around Portland really easily using Uber. Rather than spending time navigating an unfamiliar city and parking at various locales, we choose to rely on Uber to transport us. This was probably the best idea we had; we shopped, dined and explored without a care as to where to leave the car, who was driving and how to get there. And I experienced my first Uber Tesla ride in Portland!

Another genius idea? I ordered Uber Eats when returning home Sunday evening. With my family at home awaiting my arrival, the last thing I wanted to do was prepare a last minute meal. Instead, I found our favorite local Indian restaurant on Uber Eats and had it delivered to our doorstep shortly after I walked through the door.

Reflexology Massage at Foot Bar

You cannot visit Portland without a trip to Foot Bar. My close friend lives in Portland; she turned me on to this gem years ago and I seriously visit every time I find myself in the Rose City. I even have an account there! This natural spa focuses on reflexology massage that will change your life. Relaxing vibes start with armotherapy and tea service (although you can order wine as well). I would suggest at least a 75 minute massage and, yes, it may “just” be your feet, but you will feel the benefits throughout your body. In particular, when planning a girlfriends’ trip, this spa is the ultimate in relaxation because you can both unwind yet sit side-by-side and chat. In addition to foot baths complete with scrubs, masks and the massage, they also offer non-toxic polishes for a true pedicure.

Travel and time with loved ones are two priorities for me; both are accomplished with a quick girlfriend weekend getaway. Even with hectic schedules due to work and family commitments, it’s possible to make even a short amount of time to explore and reconnect.

Portland is a gem of a city to visit. With more time the city offers plenty of additional activities for outdoor and cultural enthusiasts alike with Forest Park and the Portland Historical Society located close to downtown. There are also many delicious restaurants to try and a fantastic vintage shopping scene still left for me to explore. Luckily, with Portland’s proximity to Seattle and with close friends living in the Rose City, I’m already planning my return!

Thank you for reading. Please leave me any Portland recommendations or, if you’re planning a trip to Portland soon, request any additional recs in the comments. Happy travels! ~Jenn

A special ‘thank you’ to Radisson Red Hotel Portland and to Uber for partnering with me on this post. While this post was sponsored in part by both the hotel and the ride delivery service, you can always expect all opinions expressed on this blog to be entirely my own.

Beautifully Conscious

October 14, 2019

As a follow-up to last week’s post about sustainable style, I’d like to share a few other “green tips” as you continue to make purchases that can impact your health and our planet.

Beauty: Did you know that cosmetics sold in the US are not required to have FDA approval for their ingredients? In fact, according to the Environmental Watch Group, cosmetics have fewer regulations than pesticides. The only regulation passed by the FDA (in 1938, no less!) mandates false claims on packaging with no regard to the actual ingredients found in the products.

I take my skincare very seriously and was initially concerned about the effectiveness of products that didn’t contain ingredients created in a laboratory. I had tried products off the shelves of health food stores and wasn’t impressed with their efficacy (nor packaging); however, the clean beauty space has been revolutionized in recent years with even cosmetic retail giants such as Sephora taking notice and starting to shelve clean brands. And, I have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin since I have begun using clean products. In the past, I have struggled with inflammation and rosacea. My nose and cheeks frequently used to be red, requiring makeup to conceal. Since changing to plant-based, all natural products, my skin tone and evenness have dramatically improved. So much so, that I rarely wear makeup. And I haven’t had to sacrifice effective anti-aging products; there are many products that contain powerful ingredients found in natural (fruit acids are one such ingredient), which exfoliate and renew skin cell turn over.

A one-stop beauty resource I trust is Follain. If you are in the Seattle area (also Bethesda, Boston, Dallas and NYC), you can pop-in to Follain’s beautifully designed store to seek a consultation in person from one of their experts. However, Follain also offers an online skin quiz that can help you replace some of your more toxic beauty favorites and/or address your skin concerns. In addition to their rigorous oversight, I also love how Follain curates the best products within each line that they carry (rather than simply carrying an entire line). This way you can be sure that you are getting effective products that have been tried and tested.

clockwise from left: Rahua Leave-In Treatment, Kari Gran Lip Whip, Tata Harper Floral Essence, French Girl Neroli Eye Serum (also found at Delia Skin & Nail Boutique), Well People Mascara, Kjaer Weis Foundation (pictured above)

For those readers shopping in Seattle, I highly recommend several salons and spas that focus on using clean and natural products. The first is Sarah Kahn Hair located in lower Queen Anne. Aside from Sarah’s amazing hair color work (which I obsess over on Instagram), her beautiful boutique also stocks several favorite hair and cosmetic products including Rahua hair products, Kjaer Weiss cosmetics and Herbivore Botanicals skincare.

Looking for an effective yet organic facial? Look no further than Bella Fiore Medical Spa in Queen Anne. I’ve been doing their Infusion Facial for a year now – this is an alternative to a chemical peel and uses only natural fruit acids to gently yet effectively exfoliate and refresh your skin. I’ve also done a number of their medical spa treatments including IPL and, most recently, their Platelet-Rich Plasma facial (check out their video…you may recognize the client!).

If you are concerned about the toxicity of nail polishes and also the cleanliness of the spa, then a trip to Delia Skin & Nail Boutique is in order. With a wide array of colorful non-toxic polishes (including gel polish) and 2 expert technicians who specialize in nail art, your mani doesn’t have to suffer in the name of the environment! Also, their technicians work at ergonomically correct seats and their pedicure bowls don’t have jets or a drain (which can harbor yucky bacteria). Plus their new space is absolutely stunning…beautiful spa plus beautiful nails!

Household

There are many “green” cleaning products on the market. However, I caution you to do your homework as “green washing” is something very popular within this industry. I’ve been surprised to learn that a number of products sold on the shelves of popular grocery store chains and even Target, include harmful chemicals.

One brand I have been really impressed with is Dropps. I’ve been using their felted dryer balls for more than a year. Think: no dryer sheet waste and no synthetic fragrance (one of the greatest chemical offenders!). Instead I put a few drops of lavender essential oil on the balls and my laundry smells fresh! I’ve also been using their laundry detergent pods (both the unscented detergent and the oxi booster pods). Free from fragrance, dyes, chlorine, phosphates, and enzymes, the detergent is an excellent alternative to your grocery store brands. Additionally, all of the products are sent in recyclable cardboard and the pod membranes are made from biodegradable and water soluble polyvinyl alcohol (which is broken down micro-organisms like yeast, fungi and bacteria). Less plastic waste and a cleaner detergent…it’s a win!

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

This may be a tip only for my fellow Seattlites, but it’s definitely worth looking into a similar service in your city. I’m so excited to have subscribed to Ridwell; a service that offers expanded recycling in the greater Seattle area. What to do with those batteries, light bulbs, and plastic film (this is a biggie!)? Ridwell recycles all of these and far more than our city recycling program offers. How does this work? Ridwell partners with local companies and nonprofits to turn things normally sent to the landfill into new things. Each pick-up, they will take your bags full of plastic film, batteries, light bulbs and old clothes (I reserve the ones that are not fit for donation or consignment – holey socks, camp t-shirts, rags, etc). In addition, each pick-up offers a rotating category; last pick-up was electronic charging cords, up-coming categories include broken jewelry, outdated eye glasses, and corks. There is also an extra charge for recycling styrofoam.

Being mindful of recycling with Ridwell has also brought to my attention just how much we discard each day. With reuse in mind, I have started finding products that will not be trashed after a single use; like these mason jar lids (my metal ones always rust), reusable cosmetic wipes, and washable nylon produce bags.

What are your green tips? I’m constantly learning. Please also share any clean beauty or household products. After all, this is a journey. And when I try any suggestions, I will be sure to share with this community.

Also, please be sure to follow along on Instagram. I tend to be sharing more there these days, with lots of everyday greening tips (among other real life) found both on my feed and in stories.

Thank you for visiting my corner of the internet! ~Jenn

Stylishly Conscious

October 4, 2019

Did you know that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters on this planet (second only to the oil industry!)?? Globally, we are now consuming 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year, an increase of 400% compared to two decades ago. Aside from the destructive consumption cycle (with significant amounts of discarded clothing ending up in landfills each year), there are also important social implications as well. Millions of people work in the fashion industry, many of whom are women and children living in poverty because they aren’t paid a living wage.

If you follow me on Instagram (and you should!), you may have noticed a change in my approach to styling. Personally, I have been feeling like the culture of “buy now,” which social media has helped propagate, is something that I can no longer participate in with a clear conscious. I cannot afford to keep up with every passing trend and, even more importantly, I began to think of the environmental impact of my shopping habits. And while I still believe that trend-driven (aka fast fashion) still has it’s merit…mostly in bringing trend-forward pieces to the masses at an affordable price point, I am trying to instill the value of investing in timeless and quality pieces that will withstand the test of time.

Aside from the fundamentals of “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle,” I’ve included below several brands that you should know about as you become more aware of how products are made and what is in them:

Amour Vert

I’ve mentioned this sustainable brand before. As Amour Vert in French translates to “Green Love;” this California-based manufacturer and retailer is on a mission is to make sustainable clothes that are both stylish and good for the planet. In addition to planting a tree with every purchase, their products are only made from renewable resources (like the Mulberry silk shirt I’m wearing above) and they pay their manufacturers fare wages (97% of their products are made in California). If you see something you like, be sure to snap it up quickly! Their designs are made in small batches in an effort to eliminate waste while maintaining their high production standards. If you are in Seattle, you can try for yourself at their University Village location, or several stores in California, Atlanta and New York. If you do buy online, all of their packaging is also compostable!

Veja

I’m obsessed with these sneakers, the fact that they’re sustainably-made are a bonus! Meaning “look” in Portuguese, Veja sneakers are made in Brazil using organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and up-cycled materials. These sneakers have been worn by the “fashion set” for a number of years and now can be found at such retailers as Shopbop, Nordstrom, Free People, and (of course) our friends at Amour Vert.

Xirena

Pronounced SUH-REN-UH (meaning “mermaid” in Spanish), this ultra-laid back brand evokes the beach lifestyle of Southern California and, it’s founder’s inspiration, the coast of Spain. Made in Los Angeles, these simple silhouettes combine natural fibers with stylish flare – my personal favorites include the metallic accents. And, most of their garments are made in the US.

Girlfriend Collective

This collection of activewear, made to flatter all of your girlfriends, is made from…(wait for it)…recycled plastic bottles. Founded with the goals of transparency and sustainability, Girlfriend Collective aims to design leggings that you will continue to reach for over the years (for every workout). And yes, all of the polyester leggings and bras (even the thread) is made from BPA-free hard plastics that had a former life as your Nalgene water bottle, for example. I encourage you to read their entire bio on the processing – in detail they describe where their material is sourced (fishing nets for nylon?!) and how it is ethically manufactured to produce these colorful AND comfortable leggings and bras.

Next week I plan to share (and re-share) some of my favorite natural beauty finds (think toxin-free cosmetics that are never tested on animals!). In the meantime, a truly green way to continue styling yourself with a conscious is to shop less (a work-in-progress) and buy second-hand. If you are in the Seattle area, please message or email me for a list of my most favorite local consignment and thrift shops.

Happy Friday! And thanks for reading. ~Jenn