Me in Melange

Beat the Heat

Wow, Oregon sure isn't like it used to be! The old adage "it rains 9 months of the year" used to be true, but no longer! We're lucky if it rains three months of the year now. Summer didn't used to arrive in Oregon until July, and even then there was no guarantee of sunshine - often my birthday on July 8th was rained out.

Now though, Oregon's summer begins in March, and there really is no real winter at all! The last week in Portland has been 90 - 100 degrees every day. This is really unusual here. I remember we'd get maybe two 100 degree days per summer, just a decade ago. It's not yet July but everything is getting brown and crunchy. I'm afraid my water bill will be high because I can't stand to see the bushes get dry, and I like to keep the bird water fresh and cold, the poor little guys. 

Hub, Faye the dog, and I headed to the river at 7am on Sunday morning to beat the heat and the crowds. It is worth leaving early to drive without any other car on the road, floating along in the cool morning air and finding an empty parking lot and a quiet beach when you get there. Ahhhh, peace. The breeze was so deliciously soft and cool at that hour, and the light was only just starting to come up. When we left, the parking lot was full, and there was plenty of traffic on the road, but we felt relaxed and happy having gotten a few calm, cool moments alone in the city.

We're not the only ones who are hot! The critters need your help to stay cool and hydrated during these summer days. Here is a link to how to make a bird bath. My own is very simple, a piece of wood hanging from a branch, holding a bowl of water. It is extremely busy all day long, so many beautiful birds big and small visit it, it's so much fun to watch them! :) Happy summer days to all! XOXOXO DR

 

Polished, Pretty, Prairie!

We're so in love with this fabulous new collection from Prairie Underground! Sometimes unpacking the boxes is more exciting than Christmas around here! The beautiful City Caftan in luscious Beet is the perfect rich pop of color for summer and for fall! Love the idea of this piece with bare summer legs now and super-fine boots in the fall! The perfect foundation for any summer accessory or jewelry! Our favorite equation: summer color + organic cotton = summer cool! 

Summer Bounty

I wish I could get away from the city a little more often. Portland is almost literally EXPLODING with construction right now, and there is almost nowhere safe from the rumble of heavy trucks, back-up beeps, traffic jams, nail guns and screeching saws. It's a little overwhelming, and sometimes I crave the peace and quiet of a smaller town. But...happily Portland is also filled to overflowing with nature - from the huge old trees that shade nearly every street, to the rich, ripe wildness that is people's front yards, or allies and side-lots. The smell of warm fruit and dry grass is a heady perfume as you make your way down pathways that nature is trying its to reclaim. I am truly grateful on a daily - hourly - basis for the lushness of Portland's greenery and character of its old neighborhoods. Faye the dog and I notice all kinds of magical things on our walks. If I can't get out of the city as often as I like, at least I can find pockets in the neighborhoods that are still free of construction (so far), and have instead filled themselves in with the clean and peaceful bounty of nature. xoxoxo DR

Salad Nirvana

The other night I made this recipe to RAVE reviews from both the husband and the teen daughter. It really is a super-tasty-cool treat for a hot summer night, and the dressing is SOOOO good, you'll want to put it on sandwiches, baked potatoes, chips, toast...anything you can! It is packed full of fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, parsley and garlic...with the juice and zest of five limes! You can't beat it. You can't keep it around either, so I'm making another batch tonight to use the rest of the herbs. Btw, your fingers and the kitchen smell like heaven when you make it, which is an added bonus! Enjoy! (note: I don't have a grill so I roasted the corn in the oven. Also, I substituted garbanzo beans for the hemp hearts and added kidney beans and a handful of cashews for a little creamy texture. Add anything you want to this salad, it only gets better!)

Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 jar of Vegenaise or Greek yogurt (about 1 ½ cups total)
• 3 scallions, green and white parts
• 2 cloves raw garlic
• ½ cup fresh basil
• ½ cup fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup fresh parsley
• 1 green jalapeno, deseeded if you want it less spicy
• 1 tablespoon honey (or agave or maple syrup to keep it vegan)
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Zest and juice of 5 limes (add more or less to taste)
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a food processor or powerful blender, combine all your ingredients and blitz well until you have a smooth, creamy consistency.

2. Season to taste with salt and pepper, adding more lime juice to brighten it up if needed.

3. Store the dressing in mason jars in the fridge for up to a week.

Salad

Ingredients

• 2 heads romaine lettuce, shredded
• 1 cup cooked chopped sweet potatoes
• 1 avocado, pitted and thinly sliced
• 2 ears of corn, charred on the grill until tender, kernels cut off the cob
• other veggies of your choice. I like chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, cashew nuts and roasted sunflower seeds. Maybe a little fake bacon bits too! 

Directions

1. Evenly distribute the salad ingredients among four bowls or plates. Drizzle a tablespoon of dressing.

2. Serve with extra dressing on the side.

Summer Fun

The hubby and I strolled out on a warm evening to see the new Mad Max film. Not my usual genre, but I SO loved the original Mad Max movies when I was a 20-something that I had to see the latest installment, and I have a huge crush on Tom Hardy from his days as Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights", so I was already tempted when we saw that it was playing at the Cinemagic theater. That was the clincher. 

The Cinemagic is just one of several wonderful old movie theaters in Portland that show first-run and second-run movies at a discounted price. They also serve DELICIOUS beer and food. I've long-loved the Laurelhurst Theater, the Mission, the Bagdad, and the Academy. And for one thrilling period in my late 20's I worked at Cinemagic! 

I remember what a thrill it was to go into the little projectionist cubicle over the theater, how those ENORMOUS projectors and film trays dominated the space, how complicated it was to thread the film onto their never-ending series of wheels and cogs, how the little space smelled: of machine oil and hot film with a little sweat and popcorn thrown in. AND...how exciting it was to, when the time was right, to turn down the house music while at the same time dimming the lights, starting the projector and pushing the button to open the sparkling golden curtain in front of the movie screen. So much fun.

So it is always great to return to Cinemagic and sit in those creaky old seats and watch a movie. And Mad Max did not disappoint! Tom Hardy was hot,(literally hot in that awful wasteland with no water), Charleze Theron was hot, and the action was fast. Great visuals, heart-pounding chase scenes, etc. With a tasty IPA beer in hand in the cool, dark confines of a classic old theater, it really was Cine-MAGIC!

XOXOXO DR

Goddess Salad

I have to share this absolutely DELICIOUS salad and dressing I made last night! Introducing the vegan Cobb Salad. As hearty or even heartier than your usual turkey/egg/ham ensemble, this salad gives you all the protein, fiber, anti-oxydents, anti-inflammatory, blood-cleansing, skin-clearing, stomach-filling, sweet-n-savory combination you could possibly ask for! It's a teenager and a husband-pleaser too, which is sometimes a hard target to hit. But hit it we did, and that's why I have to share! 

The salad and the dressing is SO easy to make. Simply chop your romaine and fill a large bowl. Then line up your chopped ingredients side by side over the top, you'll be delighted how they totally cover it, and consequently fill each bowl with delicious chunks of avocado, nuggets of crunchy cashews, salty faux bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy kidney beans, sweet corn, and all drizzled with the tantalizingly delicious dressing.

Enough, I'm starting to get hungry again!

Here is the recipe! Bon appetit!!! :) xoxoxo DR

INGREDIENTS

• 1 head of romaine lettuce (julienned)
• ½ cup diced tomatoes (100 g)
• ½ cup cooked or canned red beans (95 g)
• ½ cup chopped tempeh bacon (70 g) I like to use Smart Bacon, it's so yum! 
• ½ cup diced avocado (75 g)
• ½ cup corn (95 g)
• ½ cup raw unsalted cashews (70 g)

For the dressing:

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (54 g)
• ¼ cup water (62 g)
• ¼ cup agave syrup (84 g) (I have used honey, but that means it's not vegan, fyi).
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp garlic powder

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the lettuce in a large bowl and top with arranged rows of tomatoes, red beans, bacon, avocado, corn and cashews.
2. To make the dressing, you simply combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. You can also whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Serve the vegan Cobb salad immediately with the dressing.

 

 

My Super Simple Summer Bucket List

I have lofty, but simple Summer goals this year….here's what I have so far:

1.  Drink lots of water, and lots of rosé.  No judgement on which one I drink more of.

2.  Take better care of my dog.  He's the last on the list all year long…and luckily he is super lazy so he doesn't miss his walks as much as a normal dog, but STILL, he does deserve a little walking.  Goal: walk the dog.

3.  Eat a LOT of caprese sandwiches.  I have some big basil plants…not sure they will be big enough.

4.  Assume my position on the patio when not working, with view of the pool, kids swimming, my book, and my beverage (see #1). Note, that book you see on the table is "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo….it talks all about what I should be doing if I wasn't working on my summer bucket list.

 

Surf's Up!

Just in time to adorn ourselves for summer a new Bronwen
collection arrives! There is just nothing like the laid-back luxury of Bronwen's silk ribbon wraps stacked up on your arm to remind you of summer's pleasures. Gorgeous color, twinkling charms, and summery skin go to together like water and sand. Like waves and wind. Makes us want to grab our surf boards and head down to the beach. Or, we could just bring the beach along with us and sport our Bronwen bracelets everywhere we go. A great way to hang ten! 

 

Luscious Luxury

Oh we're in love! Prairie's new pieces are summer perfection. An especial crush is on this amazing Cosmic Butterfly Top in the prettiest grey. You'll love this piece as much as we do with its beautiful, figure-flattering silhouette. Such wonderful design! LOVE the adjustable ruching at the hip, so sassy! An asymmetrical neckline looks modern and elegant, and the tunic length is just pure ease. As versatile as you please this beautiful Aluminium goes with any summer crop pant, jean, white denim, or bare legs - and just add any pop of color with a printed scarf, summer jewelry,or accessories. Prairie's luscious organic cotton feels like pure luxury! So very Prairie! xoxoxo 

The Love Parade

PRAIRIE UNDERGROUND

 

 

Oh boy, we're so excited for new Prairie Underground! Nobody does organic cotton like Prairie, it's the perfect combination of elegance and comfort. Their amazing tops, leggings, and dresses give us the best of both worlds: the original, artful, and very flattering design AND total comfort. Add to that the amazing range of gorgeous colors and natural dyes that Prairie saturates their fabrics with and the result is truly are breathtaking, one-of-a-kind pieces. And so easy to mix and match, from any season. Tunics that work with bare legs now transition seamlessly into fall with a pair of leggings. Sleeveless pieces transition with a long sleeve layer or cardigan. Prairie pieces are must-haves in our closets all year long. 

Shown above: Prairie Undergrounds beautiful "Love Parade" tunic top in Peacock blue. Pair this top with these sexy Nouveau leggings and you're good to go!

Stay tuned, the shipment is due any minute!