Updates on Life

I’ve been (unintentionally) neglecting my blog for the past few weeks but I have been Tweeting a lot instead. It’s easie but I apologize because I know it’s not the same. Do follow me on Twitter if you can’t resist.

Here’s a few updates on what I’ve been up to recently.

+ I went camping on the coast last weekend with the roommate, the BF, and a friend. Instead of heading straight to our campsite at Fort Stevens we made an hour long detour to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some ridiculously delicious icecream. I’ve only recently realized that kid’s sizes are perfect for me because one small serving of junk food is just all about that I can stomach. Unfortunately, I don’t always remember that and I ended up ordering two huge scoops of icecream on a huge waffle cone.  Oh, and this was right after I had a huge (but delicious) burger for lunch.

Enough about food. Camping was fun. It rained but only when we were ready to sleep; it was nice falling asleep and waking up to the sound of raindrops hitting your tent. The next morning started off a little overcast but the sun eventually came out. Played around with a toy shotgun someone bought. And by play I mean we tried to shoot squirrels with it. The boys also swam and ran around on the beach while I chose to just read. I did get a little sunburned on my nose.

+ My sister and her BF were in town for a few days. It was a laidback visit and consisted pretty much of baking, cooking and lots of eating. A Pizza Scholls (hands down best pizzeria in Portland, Ore.), chocolate krinkle cookies, Chinese food from China Town, meatloaf, garlic cheddar cheese chicken, Portland, Farmer’s Market, KFC, meatloaf, banana blueberry pancakes. Oh, and I baked the most delicious raspberry buttermilk cake ever. Mmm. I’ll share the recipe and photos for that in the very near future.

Yeah. I eat a lot. Probably too much for my own good.

+ I did, however, sign up for another month of bikram yoga. We all know how much I love bikram yoga. This is definitely something that I’d like to do long-term. I’m going to try attending more sessions from now on–maybe up it to going every weekday. Oh, I also managed to talk the BF into signing up for a month of bikram yoga with me. Haha.

+ The job hunt is going well. I’m not going to say anything because I don’t want to jinx it but hopefully I’ll be with good news soon. I’m still looking though–this time focusing more on connections and networks–because there’s no need to stop and jump for joy yet.

Yesterday

I experienced two “bests” yesterday: the best bikram yoga class I’ve had since I started last week and the best ramen I’ve probably ever had. I guess it was a good day for working out and eating.

Yesterday’s bikram class was the first one where I didn’t sit out on any of the poses or think to myself, ‘How much longer do I have?!’ I did all 26 poses rather well and felt very peaceful despite being in a 105 degree room for 90 minutes. I was surprised by how much easier some poses had become and how much more flexible I was. And I was even more surprised when we reached blowing in firm–the last pose–beause I found myself thinking, ‘Did we miss any poses? We’re already done?’

I really like bikram yoga. It’s a nice way to rid yourself of physical and mental toxins. I always feel happier, healthier, and more relaxed at the end of each class. I’ll even go as far as to say that I “glow” for the rest of the day. I keep trying to convince people to come with me but I haven’t had much luck…

I went to grab some beer and Asian food to celebrate a friend’s birthday afterwards. Instead of getting the Hazelnut Brown (as I always do and I think after the huge mug I had on my birthday I’m set for a while), I tried the Captain Sig’s Northwestern Ale. It was… okay.

Waiting for our food.

Anyway, beer isn’t the point–ramen is. We went to Biwa for dinner and it was delicious. I really like the funky, clean, and tasteful decor but I liked the food even more. The small appetizers are good but not really worth the money. The ramen, however, huge servings and so delicious. It was $9 but during happy hour it’s only $5… and happy hour is from 5 to 10pm. Yeah. I know. Who has happy hour then?!

It’s a little hard to get to Biwa if you don’t live in the area and don’t have a car (or a bike) but I think it’s within walking distance of a couple bus lines. I know it’s also received some bad reviews but it’s gotten really good reviews from people who know Japan and Japanese cuisine. I guess you can’t please everyone. Oh well, I definitely want to go back to Biwa.

My Beginning Experience with Bikram Yoga

After two consecutive days of classes, I am officially in love with bikram yoga. It did not, however, start off very well–I fainted after the third or fourth pose yesterday (first class). It was probably a combination of not having had enough to eat and drink that day and not breathing properly. For the remainder of the class, I sat out and only joined in when I felt like I could do so without overexerting myself.

I went back today determined to do even better and it proved itself to be a very wise decision. The class today went very well for me and I sat down immediately the two or three times I did feel the tiniest bit dizzy. The whole experience–the physicality, the stretches, the sweat–is great and feels so natural. You can just feel the toxins being expelled from your body. As soon as you step out of the studio and take a breathe of fresh, cool air, you just feel so refreshed and energized. It is tiring though; it’s only 10pm and I’m just about ready to pass out.

I’m already looking forward to going back tomorrow.

In my next post related to bikram, I’ll provide some tips and advice on how to prepare yourself before and after a class.  I did a lot of research when I got back home yesterday, followed them today, and felt great!

Photo Blog, Mother’s Bistro, Mississippi Street Fair + Bikram

© 2009 Maddy

My sisters and I started what is already becoming a sweet daily photo blog. This is the first photo I uploaded to it–it’s what I see outside my window when I’m sitting on the bed.

Let me know if you want the link to the photo blog.

© 2009 Maddy

The BF and I had brunch at Mother’s Bistro today and it was OMGdelicious. Everything we ordered–omelet, hash, and mascarpone-filled crepes–came from the Mother of the Month’s menu; it didn’t disappoint. Some four hours later, we’re both still really full but I’m just waiting until I have the appetite to eat the surprise raspberry cupcake the BF got to go for me.

We may also check out the Mississippi Street Fair later this evening. I’ve been reading people’s Tweets about it and they’re all saying it’s twice as big as last year’s and there’s ice cream on every block. (Ahk… for the latter). After today’s brunch, I’m going to try and refrain from consuming more unhealthy food.

I haven’t been able to go running or biking since we moved into the house. There’s no scenic loop (or sidewalks) to go on unless I want to run on the undesignated “sidewalk” along this major road. I will, however, be signing up for bikram yoga this week so I’ll be getting some work out in. I’ll even get cardio in if I decide to do the 45-ish minute bike ride to-and-from the studio, which is the ideal scenario.

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I Feel Like I’m Martha Stewart

Lately, I’ve been really creative in and out of the kitchen. (The former more so than the latter.) I’m bakin’ and cookin’ as if there’s no tomorrow.

Here’s some of what I’ve already done:
+ Bread
+ More bread
+ Brownies
+ Cookies
+ Muffins
+ Risotto
+ Paintings
+ A homemade present

And here’s what I plan to make:
+ Pickled dill cucumbers — these are pickling in the refrigerator right now, and they should be ready in two days!
+ Cupcakes — I just keep forgetting to pick up paper cups for these.
+ Caramelized onions — I realized I don’t have enough onions.
+ Chili
+ White bean dip — the beans for this and the chili are being soaked as I type this.

It’s cheaper to make products if you have most of the ingredients at home already (i.e., bread and pickles). Plus, it’s healthier and you can adjust it to your preferences. Too bad I can’t start a garden. Although my homemaker skills would probably start to run rampant if that ever happened.

Wouldn’t I make the quaintest housewife? Probably not. Haha.

My workout regime has gone downhill the past fortnight (which is in no way correlated with my Martha Stewart-ness) but I’m starting to get back on track. I’m running 3 miles every day or 2 miles (the usual) if I get some biking in. It’s unfortunate that the pool is only open during lunch–it was already a stretch but now with work it’s going to be impossible.