I have a lot of history with Santa Barbara. My dad lived there most of his life, and his mom stayed there until just a few years ago, when she moved with my aunt and uncle to Berkley. My mom is from Palos Verdes but moved up to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB for college. She met my dad there, and they lived there for about 5 years before moving up to Oregon together.
Read MoreThis past weekend David and I took a much needed trip to the countryside and had an amazing time staying at the Bali House outside of Silverton, Oregon, about 1 hour south of Portland. We are moving in together (!!!) this Friday, and with all the stresses of the move, the upcoming holidays, and lots of winter travel this year, the trip was everything we could have wanted.
Read MoreThe Heathman Hotel in Portland is known for their tea, and it is especially popular at Christmas time, when the hotel is decked out in decorations and you can enjoy your tea next to a blazing fire. Our experience was on one of the last days of summer, but it was definitely still every bit as beautiful!
Read MoreSeattle is such an amazing city, filled with great food, art and culture. I love exploring the different neighborhoods and walking through town, stumbling across a cool new bar or restaurant.
Read MoreIf you haven't been to Departure, you are missing out! Portland isn't known for their rooftop bars (although this is changing), but Departure is located high above the city and offers amazing views of Portland. With two outdoor decks (one for dinner service, the other a designated bar with a delicious happy hour), as well as a full indoor restaurant, the views cannot be missed
Read MorePortland is known for having great beer and breweries, so this past Saturday we organized a small brew tour through Northwest Portland.
Stop 1: Lucky Lab
Lucky Lab has multiple locations in Portland, but my favorite is located right in my hood, on 19th and Quimby. My favorite aspect is the great outdoor patio, which encourages customers to bring their furry friends for a beer and pizza. I love getting to see all the dogs, and the atmosphere is the perfect spot to hang out with a group of friends on a sunny day.
I've never been a big camper. I love the outdoors, but going to the bathroom outside and sleeping on the floor? Not exactly my idea of a great time. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of it, but in practice I can usually only handle about one night before I start really missing the comforts of home.
Glamping, on the other hand, is right up my alley.
Read MoreI cannot wait to have a dog. I would love to have a little friend that I can take everywhere with me, that I can snuggle with at home, and that gives me a great reason to get outside more and go on more walks (especially to our neighborhood dog park!). However, I definitely know that I am not at a point in my life where I'm ready to be a responsible enough dog-mom, so for now I have to hold off. What keeps me going, though, is dog-sitting!
Read MoreThe Bite is always one of my favorite events of the year in Portland, combining two of my favorite things- socializing and eating!
Read MoreEvery year, Portland hosts a great Real Estate Event called the Street of Dreams. 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the event, and my first year attending as a realtor! The event runs from August 1st through the 30th, and I attended this past Monday, Realtor's Day.
Read MoreThe Oregon Coast is different than any other beach I've been to in the most special way. The towns are always sleepy and quaint, full of coffee shops, cute little stores, and a few local restaurants. The people are kind, the weather is temperate, and the sound of the ocean is gentle and soothing.
Read MoreIf there is one thing I love, it's wine. It's even better when I get to enjoy it outside on a gorgeous day with my best friends, which is why Lauren's birthday wine tasting day was so amazing.
Read MorePortland loves to celebrate warm weather and the late evenings during the summer months, so the city hosts both First and Last Thursday. Last Thursday takes place on Alberta Avenue, but First Thursday happens in the Pearl District of NW Portland. 13th Avenue shuts down between Hoyt and Kearney, allowing vendors to set up various stands to sell and showcase various art, jewelry, housewares and other unique crafts.
Read MoreEven though Hood River is only about a 45 minute drive from Portland, I haven't been since I was a child. I decided that needed to change, so David and I took a day trip to get out of the city and see something new.
Read MorePortland is famous for their food carts, so last weekend we checked out some options at the Mississippi Marketplace in North Portland, after enjoying a beer at Prost next door.
Read MoreOne of my favorite places to go on a warm June day is the Portland International Rose Test Garden. There are over 10,000 plants displayed within the park, which is full of wide open spaces, including a small amphitheater and stage that puts on a variety of shows in the summer.
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