Lifestyle | What Jenn Wore

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.

Back-To-School Staycation

August 30, 2019

The days are getting shorter and, even in the summer heat, the wind is changing and leaves are beginning to turn. And…dread, back-to-school is upon us.

I mourn the end of summer. I love warm weather, summer styles, and (above all else) the freedom from schedules. I enjoy being at home with the kids with no agenda. Yes, we have a few weeks of camp sprinkled in between our family adventures, but I enjoy “the dog days” of summer when we spend late mornings in our jammies with the kids building lego cities for hours.

Because this change in season is particularly difficult for me, I try to find joy in and make special plans for our final days before school starts. With 3 kids in elementary school, early fall can be a very difficult transition as our schedules suddenly become much more busy. Each year we plan a final camping weekend over Labor Day with our family friends. And this year, we decided to make back-to-school shopping a fun adventure by planning a “staycation” in downtown Bellevue (a quick trip across Lake Washington from Seattle).

We thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. As a family of 5, we rarely stay in hotels…the kids kept calling every detail “fancy.” And we were fancy! From ordering room service of warm chocolate chip cookies with milk while watching a late night movie, to taking bubble baths in the luxurious tub, we lived it up!

And it’s hard for us to choose a favorite activity. For the kids, the lap- size pool complete with noodles and balls was definitely a highlight. And I certainly enjoyed the convenience to all that downtown Bellevue has to offer. After checking in (and doing a couple of cartwheel in our suite), we ventured across the street to Din Tai Fung for dumplings and their phenomenal green beans (a family crowd pleaser). With full bellies, we settled in to watch the aforementioned movie in our jammies. After putting the kids to bed, my husband and I enjoyed some alone time drinking wine in that giant tub.

When we awoke late the next morning, we headed downstairs to the Hyatt’s beautiful atrium to enjoy brunch. With young children, I can’t remember the last time we brunched…let alone the last time we all slept in past 8:00?! This may be the highlight of my trip! The breakfast service at the hotel’s Eques restaurant was delicious. The kids’ enjoyed the buffet; helping themselves to fresh fruit, bacon and waffles with Nutella. I choose healthier options, ordering a green smoothie and a poached egg on avocado toast that I’m still drooling over.

After breakfast, we thought that a dip in the pool would be a perfect opportunity to get some energy out before hitting the shops at Bellevue Square for some back-to-school shopping. Bellies full and hair wet from the pool, when we finally wandered across the street we were prepared with our agenda. We started at Uniqlo for some great basics. We hit the jackpot (no pun intended), when Jack discovered the elastic waist jeans, which are perfect for a lean child looking for pants. And the girls each snuggled up to fleece jackets. Afterwards, the girls and I headed over the Zara Kids for some more trend-driven back-to-school styles. We capped off our trip with smoothies and a game of chess before leaving for home well-rested and feeling moderately more prepared for school’s start.

Thank you for returning to read my blog. I have taken a much-needed and much-longer respite from this space than I had anticipated. Writing and sharing feels good and I’m happy to be back at it. I hope you enjoy a restful long weekend and are prepared for the changing season upon us. I look forward to sharing more and connecting in this space in the coming weeks. Cheers to the long Labor Day weekend! ~Jenn

A special ‘thank you’ to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue for hosting our family. And we are also grateful to Eques and the Bellevue Collection for their hospitality. While this post was sponsored by these lovely partners, you can always expect all content, photos, and opinions to be my own.

Big Snow, Big White

March 8, 2019

Hasn’t the weather been crazy this winter? We’ve had weeks of snow here in Seattle, which is very unusual. In fact, the kids have 5 snow days to make up this summer (and this doesn’t include the late starts and early releases due to weather!). So, you can imagine that when our mid-winter break arrived amid the many unexpected snow days, we were less thrilled about the prospect of spending vacation playing in more snow!

As you may expect from these photos, Big White sure did prove us wrong! And I can’t say enough wonderful things about the six days we spent in this winter wonderland.

Located in the Canadian Okanagen, Big White is a mere 6-8 hour drive from Seattle (depending on road conditions and border crossing lines). Unlike the Cascade Mountains, which have more wet conditions, Big White is located in the Canadian Rockies and is renowned for dry, powder-like snow…and lots of it!

The Village Centre Mall hosts a coffee shop, ski rentals, ticket kiosks, and is central to the village.

Adult lunch break at The Woods (kids are probably welcome too)

Fireworks every Saturday night at the Happy Valley Lodge throughout the season.Hot cocoa break at the Village Centre Mall

Hot tubing in our condo after a day on the slopes…well deserved!

Having visited Big White last year, we planned an extended stay this time. Caravaning north with Kirsty‘s family, we arrived at our condo in the heart of the village. The true “ski in, ski out” nature of the village is one of the things I enjoy the most, especially traveling with kids. From our condo, we ski down to multiple lifts that can take us to the top of the mountain. Most afternoons, we skied to our condo for lunch. And nothing makes potty breaks more easy than skiing to your front door (mind you, you still have to remove all of those layers…and your skis).

The village at Big White is also low-key and not a “scene”…although I’m sure there’s much of it I haven’t experienced after bed time! If you’re looking for fancy 5-star restaurants, boutique shopping, luxury spas, and celebrity sightings, then Big White may not be for you. However, both the Village Center Mall, which is located central in the village, and the Happy Valley lodge, a quick and fun gondola ride down to the base of the mountain, host numerous family activities throughout the week. For example, when we arrived Tuesday evening, it was bingo night at Happy Valley. And on our last night there, a kids’ carnival, complete with popcorn and games is hosted every Saturday evening…with a fireworks grand finale at 8:15 pm. A truly spectacular send off to close out our trip to Big White!

The Kids’ Centre houses the ski school and is located in the center of the village.

Romie loved her instructor. Caroline is from Denmark.

While the kids are at ski school, adults get to adventure!

The ski school at Big White is another winner and a really important consideration when we began planning our family ski trip. While my kids have been on skis for several years, lessons each season advance their skills and, most importantly, give them confidence on the mountain.

The instructors are enthusiastic, patient (oh, so patient!) and competent, providing a thorough assessment at the end of each day. The instructors makes the mountain fun; after lessons, my kids were eager to take me on “Bumpy Alley” and through the Dragon’s Mouth (note: not as fun on a snowboard). My son, being the most advanced skier, was taken all over the mountain and couldn’t wait to share his adventures with us at the end of each day. Also, we could fact-check his endless bragging because the kids wear a device that allows you to see their progress and map their days (Jack’s stories did check out). Two full days of ski school allowed us to traverse the entire mountain as a family. Often times with Jack leading the way.

Above the Powder Chair, which can take you the Gem Lake Warming Lodge (1 of 4 lodges)

Our personal mountain guide.

What’s with the snow, you may ask? Not being a die-hard skier myself and having spent much of my mountain experience in the Pacific Northwest, I didn’t truly understand what a difference snow can make for your skiing experience until visiting Big White. Big White snow is FUN. Powder-like snow doesn’t make that scratchy noise on your board when your going down the mountain (you know, the one that makes you clench your teeth in fear of falling and skidding down a sheet of ice). Powder doesn’t hurt (as much) to fall in. Most importantly, powder makes you feel like you’re floating down the mountain, eager to return up the chair lift for another run!

Last year we were spoiled in Big White with fresh snow fall every night and beautiful, blue skies to ski under during the day. However, the temperatures hovered around zero degrees Fahrenheit. This year it was much warmer…and we had fresh snow while skiing. Inches upon inches of it! Again, this is dry snow so we weren’t wet. However, we didn’t get to enjoy as many spectacular views of the Okanagan valley below from the chair lift.

The entire family had so much fun in the snow our entire trip! The skiing is spectacular and the numerous other events hosted in Big White are a blast as well. We enjoyed tubbing, which was a fan favorite after last year’s excursion. Ice skating, ice climbing, snow mobiling, and sleigh rides are also offered at the Happy Valley Lodge. Big White also hosts a nordic center for cross-country and snow shoeing enthusiasts.

The kids’ feedback: “BEST VACATION of the year.” My work here is done. And the adults agree too.

If you are considering a trip to Big White, please email, message or dm me on social media with questions. The central booking agents helped us find a gem of a condo this year (we were a bit late to book in October, so schedule early!). Also, be sure to check-in on Instagram as I’ve saved a ‘Big White’ stories tab complete with lots of fun video footage from our trip!

Thank you for reading. And, thank you for patiently waiting for posts (it’s been awhile). Happy Friday! ~Jenn

A huge ‘Thank You’ to Big White ski resort for partnering with me on this post. Their hospitality and generosity continues to impress me and our family is so grateful. As always, all opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

Escape to Portlandia

January 9, 2019

If you are unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest, you may not know that Seattle has a hip and proudly quirky neighbor to the south. Just a mere three-hour road trip down Interstate 5, once you cross the Columbia river, you will find yourself in Portland, Oregon. Recently made famous for it’s hipster portrayal in the HBO series “Portlandia,” Portland is equally well-known for it’s numerous bridges, tax-free shopping, and deliciously eclectic food scene.

An easy trek via Bolt Bus (if you haven’t tried, I highly recommend), I recently spent a quick 24-hour trip catching-up with a good friend. We did our last minute holiday shopping, ate at Portland’s famous food trucks, and finished the evening with some late night karaoke. To top it all off, we enjoyed our one night out at the stylish Hotel Lucia, conveniently located central to just-about-anything, in downtown Portland.

In an effort to offer inspiration for your next trip to the Rose City, I’m sharing with you our 24-hour itinerary.

After disembarking from the bus, our first stop was for food. We had brunch at a Portland institution, Besaw’s. Unable to decide, we shared the seasonal specials: butternut squash French toast and a vegetable hash. And, of course, their specialty cocktail: bubbles with pear and ginger compote.

With belly’s full, next we visited Foot Bar for some well-deserved pampering. A foot massage was the perfect solution – we were still able to chat and catch-up, yet enjoyed the relaxing and reflexology benefits of the massage. A pedicure is an option at Foot Bar, however, due to the rain and wind, we choose to forgo the polish.

Next we wandered thru the Pearl District, a former warehouse area converted into beautiful store fronts and a variety of restaurants. While a seemingly “safe choice,” we started at Anthropologie. Yet, the Portland Anthro is like none you have ever seen – it’s two floors, complete with home furnishings, and many of the items are uniquely curated for this location. And, well…they were having a 30% off sale, plus the aforementioned lack of sales tax (which saves Seattlites 10%)! I bought this terrific plaid jacket. From there we headed to an absolute must stop, the famous Powell’s Books. Powell’s is an independent bookstore that has been in this location, off of Burnside, since 1971. Yes, actual shelves of real books with pages that turn! It is a paradise for the reading enthusiast with a wide-selection books, including rare and out-of-print.

Post-shopping sesh, we checked-in to the beautiful Hotel Lucia. Immediately we were in awe of the finely curated selection of art displayed in their lobby. The hotel hosts the largest selection of David Humme Kennerly’s black and white photography, which graces the walls of the lobby, halls, and rooms. Kennerly is a Portland native, most notably recognized for his historical photography – examples of his subjects adorn the walls of the hotel including Castro smoking a cigar and George H.W. Bush beside George W. Bush, but also many lifestyle shots reflective of Kennerly’s 50+ year career. In addition to stunning photos, around every corner of Hotel Lucia, there are amazing paintings and sculptures, all enhanced by the decor of rich navy and jewel tones mixed with gold. We also just so happened to time our arrival perfectly with the hotel’s afternoon craft beer hour, so we lingered in the lobby longer, enjoying Portland-brewed suds (Portland is also the #1 city for craft beer).

In addition to a long-overdue visit to catch-up with my bestie, we also choose this weekend (the third in December) because it coincided with the Portland Night Market. This is a 3-day event featuring local artists, vendors, and makers selling their wares. Goods varied from craft bitters, ceramics, and jewelry to scrunchies (which I bought for my daughters), cookies, and paper goods. The market was a total scene (and packed), complete with food carts and beer garden. We sampled a hybrid southern/asian fusion of fried chicken on steamed buns by Boke Bowl followed by a late-night churro sundae at Churros Locos.

No trip to Portland would be complete without a trip to the Voicebox. Little known fact, I love karaoke. The only person I know who loves it more, is my best friend. Now, this isn’t a “get up in front of a bar full of strangers” kind of performance, but rather a private room complete with bar service. You get to choose all your favorite songs without sacrificing your ego in front of strangers. It’s the perfect finale to a night out on the town…we didn’t even close the place down when we left at 1:30!

The following morning, we squeezed in a barre class at Barre 3 (which was a miracle, given our late night out!). Barre 3 combines yoga, pilates, and ballet, and just so happens to have been started and still headquartered in Portland. While we missed being taught by Sadie (the inspiring woman that started this fitness empire), we did enjoy a tough workout and the studio is conveniently located within the NW area of town, an easy walk from our hotel.

Post workout, we stumbled into Lovejoy Bakery. After our barre class, an oat milk latte and avocado toast was the perfect start to our Saturday. Their pastries looked amazing as well, but the aforementioned churros from the night before were still fresh on my mind. Then, after a quick freshening-up back at the hotel, it was back on the Bolt Bus for me as I headed home to spend the remainder of the weekend with my family. The timing could not have been better – a Friday night spent in Portland was a perfect break, a quick getaway before returning to reality back home in Seattle.

Thank you for reading! Do you enjoy travel content? Would you like to see more in the new year? Leave me a comment with suggestions. On tap for 2019, my family and I already have plans to visit Big White, Canada (family ski vacation!), Palm Springs, and, of course, Scottsdale.

Happy New Year to you all! ~Jenn

Thank you to Hotel Lucia for collaborating with me on this post. As always, you can expect all opinions expressed on my blog to be 100% my own.

Get Your A$$ to Class

November 15, 2018

Two of my favorite things? Catching-up with friends and getting in a great workout. And when the two collide, it makes for a perfect Saturday morning!

I’m very excited to tell you about a new-to-Seattle, pilates-based workout studio, Pilates ProWorks. The foundation of this quick 50 minute, total-body workout is the Lagree method, which uses a pilates reformer machine to strengthen and tone. Generally classes begin with a warm-up, which often includes a variety of plank exercises; engaging your core. From there, a leg series is usually at the beginning of each class. Think lots of lunges while engaging your abdominal and lots of small muscles in order to maintain your posture and balance. Just when you think your legs are on fire, there is very brief relief in moving on to arms. It’s brief because your arms will soon be burning as well! The springs on the carriage create resistance – arm exercises often use the pulleys to move the carriage (working all the muscle groups in the process). Usually class closes with more core work followed by much-needed stretching.

Eager to try the new studio, which is located conveniently in South Lake Union, I gathered a group of like-minded, fit friends to join me for a Saturday morning sweat sesh. We shared some laughs, as getting used to maintaining your balance on the reformer machine can be humbling. Several of us were new to this type of class but, given that we are all athletic, we easily fell into the class (none of us actually fell!). And, although many of us were newbies, we all got a great workout and felt it the next day(s) for sure!

We’re all busy moms and/or creative professionals. Finding time to catch-up with friends and take care of yourself, particularly as we approach the holidays, can be difficult to do. So grab a buddy and book a class – you’ll be held accountable and, I can guarantee, you’ll feel fulfilled after doing so. New to Pilates ProWorks? Lucky you. You can try your very first class for free! Maybe I’ll even see you there!

Activewear compliments of Brooks. You can find my tights, tee, bra, and tank. Kirsty’s tights and bra as well. Oh, and our matching running shoes too!

Skip on over to Kirsty’s blog to read about her experience trying Lagree pilates, and Pilates Proworks for the first time. Given her grunting and sighs, I can only imagine she’s going to be sharing her true feelings on the workout.

Thanks for reading! ~Jenn

This post was done in partnership with Pilates Proworks and Brooks. As always, you can expect all opinions to be my own.

Thanks to Sarah for photography.

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