Thoughtful Thursday: Play places in Portland

Considering how many wet days we have here in the beautiful Rose City, it is essential to have places to take the kids to play inside.

I am especially fond of The Play Boutique in Lake Oswego, because you can grab a latte, read a magazine, or chat with other moms. It is the kind of place where you actually feel relaxed while little people run around and play. I am also impressed that it is so clean and they even have hand sanitizing stations!  :)

The other spot we like to go is Playdate Pdx down in the North Pearl District. This place is like an indoor amusement park, with its slides and colorful mazes. There is even a special room for the under two crowd full of sized-down structures to climb a little mini slides.  It is an absolute mad house on weekends, but if you can find a time to go on a weekday morning it is the perfect workout for all the kids and adults. Oh, and most importantly they serve Stumptown coffee (my favorite!).

Speaking of rain, I think we may just hit one of these spots tomorrow.

Payton at Playdate Pdx

Tidy Tuesdays: The Simpler the better.

I was browsing through the book Organized Simplicity at my favorite book store, Powells this morning and I was really impressed at Tsh Oxenreider's approach to taking on the messy pieces of our houses. She is calm and collected and has a great sense of humor! So, of course when I got home I had to check out her blog. :) Simple Mom which is so awesome because it gives you lists and walks you through easy steps to make real progress. She is the real deal. I can only dream of being so on top of everything. I only wish I had seen her site earlier because she is running this great Project: Simplify which has a new focus area each week!


Tsh Oxenreider



I guess I need to go back and buy the book tomorrow...



Monday Musings: One thing I know

One thing I know for sure is that the clock runs marthons on Mondays. My level of exhaustion and pace thoroughout the day is hurried and I find myself constantly aware of this pace... My daughter even notices how we seem to be sprinting between stops, taking less time to read signs or practice her new two-word phrases. The truth is that every Monday I feel like I have a fresh start: I want to have everything in order, the magazines lined up, socks paired, and lists checked off. Today we went and played with Payton's two buddies, who are luckily children of my good friends', and I actually slowed down to have some conversation. When we got home we watched Cinderella so I could fold and sort clothes, and walked to the grocery store so that I could even fit in a little exercise. By the end of the walk home I was actually feeling relaxed and re-invigorated. Our neighbor's had a fire going and the smell pouring out their chimney was divine! Payton pointed out the flowers popping up along the road and we met a pudgie little Corgi, named Jack. Even though these type of days end quickly, this particular one was lovely!

Fresh Finds Friday: Rather than the actual object, a painting of the object.

                                                   

This is a fun idea and I love Annechovie's take on beautiful objects in her etsy shop. Sometimes we just don't want one more thing to dust, or another "pretty" as we call it in our household, that a small child will inevitably break. These are beautiful prints or custom pieces of wall art! I think these three would be lovely above some chair moulding in the dining room.

Thoughtful Thursday: My Spring Inspiration

My Spring Inspiration board for my BYW class

I am dreaming up blue skies, sunshine, Arnold Palmer's poolside and an array of lovely garden chairs to relax in...

Wednesday Words: Houses on my mind

But seriously. I decided to start this column as a way to show through words how my Wednesdays always seem to be a mix between chaotic and bizarre. AND, so as not to disappoint, here it goes...

Houses on my mind. Class canceled and a little one running circles around me
New Printer options use different ink, what a waste. Well, we have tons of ink now!
The caller id is hiding identities
Wrote a lovely little note
Note destroyed by toddler baba
Write another note
Seems out of context now, so I crumple
Out the door to meet realtor
Love, love, love, this house
Need to make an offer...
What to offer?
Offer in.
Offer rejected.
Waiting. Again.
Houses still on my mind.

Monday Musings: An amazing Oregon wine country getaway




The Allison Inn & Spa

 I hope you enjoy my photo memoir from our first vacation without Ms. P this past weekend. It was everything I had hoped for. Their spa was luxurious and had an incredible relaxation room that looked out onto the vast grounds/vineyard. We ventured out to Tina's in Dundee (about 10 mins. from The Allison) and had a ridiculously fabulous meal of lamb with brussel sprouts, pureed cauliflower and leek soup and bacon wrapped scallops that were cooked perfectly. My mouth waters just thinking about it now. We meandered around the grounds at The Allison, relaxed on our private terrace and then most incredibly I slept in until 8:00! Thank you to the G Parents! What a lovely and decadent getaway...

p.s. Isn't that staircase incredible? The architects of this LEED certified Inn have created the perfect  "bring the outside in" feel to the entire place. The stairwell is so light filled and you can see for miles at all levels of the building.

Thoughtful Thursdays: For Japan

Wednesday Words: On being late

Late Awakening
Breakfast skipped
Coffee skipped
Early to first destination
Late friend
Muddy Hike
Late to Ms. P's music class
Parenting Mishap
Sad friend
Hectic Lunch
Beautiful Paint Chips
Meet the new nanny
Off to order bookshelf
Online searches
Paint Store Guy Rocks
Love Benjamin Moore
Ms. P naps
Offer on House complicated
Soup!
Hubby Home
Ms. P to bed late again...
I swear, I haven't always been late.

Thoughtful Thursday: A Bulletin Board of my own

I now officially have a bulletin board up to the left of my desk. (Thank you Costco!) I was in the market for a 3' by 4' board but this one is 2' by 3'. I think it will work well for what I currently need. I have arranged all of my current work projects so that I can see them! (and they can see me...) This technique actually works really well for me if you can believe it. I feel motivated and on track all ready...

Now I can work.

“Nothing will work until you do.”
-Maya Angelou

           She's right you know?

{My daughter loves Sesame Street!} Maya and Muppet Photo

Fresh Finds Friday: Clever concept!

I came across this very lovely shop this morning, as I meandered between some new house blogs. (Ha! Fancy that!) I imagined the Newport, RI coast and all things that get better with age... This shop specializes in the concept "buy the house", where the items are sold in a grouping to create the feel of an aging mansion. Brilliant!

                                         {Pip and Estella}

Ok, definitely stealing this fab. idea!

Megan @ Honey We're Home , you are brilliant! Check out this incredible bulletin board. I am green
with envy... I especially love the use of geometric print fabric she scored from Fabric.com

 
{photo from Honey We're Home}

ckldesign: Well, I am finally official!

ckldesign: Well, I am finally official!: "Can you believe it? After months of focusing on my clients' current projects I am officially running a business blog! I am so proud of all o..."

Thoughtful Thursday: Being a student again...

This feeling is exhilirating AND exceptionally overwhelming. I started my blogging class this week and am busily doing my homework over here. My daughter is sleeping, I've got my diet coke in hand and a perfectly sharpened ticonderoga pencil.

HERE IS MY ISSUE:

I want my blog to be authentic and exciting to read, but I am worried that I cannot do both of these things simultaneously! I have a lot of thinking to do!

Tidy Tuesday: The basics

Today I am needing a refresh day! I just brought down bags and labeled them: trash, recycling, donate. I really need to purge! I am amazed at how much stuff has accumulated this past month! In order to really focus in on my work goals, personal goals and creative findings for this blog I need to make a day of it...  I have been using folders and a very small board to keep my thoughts organized and it is high time I had a proper Inspiration Board of my own... SO, I scoured craigslist and I am off to purchace one very large bulletin board! :) Here are some examples of glorious Inspiration Boards that I really love.

found at Simplemom

the lovely Poppytalk

I really love this one from Poppytalk because of the neutral gray background and that elephant is so adorable! We will see what I come up with this afternoon...