Places and Spaces: Pt 2

If you happen to be passing through SE Portland, do yourself a favor and make a pit stop at Whole Bowl - a delicious little restaurant (with two popular food carts in downtown) with just two items on the menu. The Big Bowl (16oz, $5.50) and the Bambino Bowl (12oz, $5.00). The food will knock your socks off! You get served in a paper bowl, reminiscent of a frozen yogurt bowl, filled with fresh brown rice, black and red beans, fresh avocado, salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese and Tali sauce (aka one of the most flavorful and delicious sauces I've ever had in my life).

(Photo Credit: FoodCartsPortland.com)

The Tali sauce, named after the owner, is a pretty huge deal, with Google searches devoted to finding the recipe and recreating it at home. Just one taste of the curry-lemon-garlic sauce, and you'll be hopping on your laptop to do the same.

You leave Whole Bowl feeling satisfied and guilt-free. I can say my fiance and I will definitely be frequenting this place! Can't beat the cheap prices and the incredible taste.

Bottom line: It's a simple idea and a simple menu that packs a huge punch. GO!

Favorites 4.21.12

Stationery

It's no secret that I love a good handwritten note. Especially on thick paper with a cute envelope liner. I'm currently loving Walnut Paperie's line of customized stationery after drooling over it on Cupcakes and Cashmere. I love the chevron liners, the thick paper and the classic fonts.

Clipless Curling Irons

(photo from Conair.com)

Clipless curling irons are a great way to get out of a hair styling rut. They give hair a nice S-shaped curl that can't be achieved with a regular curling iron. You can curl just the ends with a middle part for a more mod look, or curl up to the roots for a Taylor Swift, mega-glam head of spirals.

Voluspa Candles

(photo from Google Image)

Voluspa is one of my favorite candle makers. The scents are diverse and the candles themselves take forever to be completely used up. I'm currently obsessed with the scent Laguna, which literally smells like the beach and reminds me of home. Check out Crisp Champagne and Japanese Plum Bloom as well.

Product Rave: St. Tropez Gradual Tanning Mousse

Back in 2008, I ignored my dermatologist and went tanning. I had just started dating my now-fiance, and he loved the beach. I, the pale ginger that I am, hated the beach with a passion but like most girls who are blinded by the lovey-dovey feelings of a new relationship, I became a beach person. Granted, I took some precautions - I chose a high end salon with a special bed that allegedly blocked the "bad" UV-rays and let in the "okay" ones--like that's real a thing.

Redheads don't tan the same way the rest of you people tan. Instead of a nice tan color, I turned a deep, deep reddishy-bronze that left people confused on what my heritage was. "Are you Armenian?" one man asked me. I'm sure not. "You look sunburned", my fiance commented. This is all for you, buddy!

Finally, I gave up the death beds when I developed a weird black spot on my face that turned out to be nothing. But it was enough to scare me off tanning (and the sun for that matter) for good. I've tried various self-tanners but have always been turned off by the smell. I took a leap of faith with St. Tropez's Gradual Tanning Mousse and have loved the results!

It gave my skin a natural, warm glow that resembles a legitimate tan. The mousse is incredibly easy to use and is practically streak-proof. It smells pretty similar to Betsey Johnson's original fragrance, which I love, so I can actually slather this on before leaving the house and not have to worry about smelling funny.

Bottom line: Great product, relatively well-priced ($40), doesn't have the gross self-tanner smell

My A-B-C's!

Here are the little things that make up me.

Age: 24, currently. 25 in just a few months.

Bedsize: Queen, but dying for a California King (I need my room!)

Chores that you hate: Taking out the trash - that's why my fiance does it

Dogs:  My Punchy <3 

Essential start to your day:  A huge cup of coffee and some Netflix shows while I put my makeup on. 

Favorite color: I really love blush and mint green currently

Gold or Silver:  Both!

Height: 5'5-5'6"ish

Instruments you play: None, but wishing I still played piano.

Job title: Phlebotomist/Student

Kids: Punchington

Live: The lovely pacific northwest

Mother's Name: Mama <3

Nicknames: None, really

Overnight hospital stays: Only once

Pet peeves: The swallowing noise people make, loud chewing, bad manners, and helpless people.

Quote from a song:  "The more I look, the worse it gets" - so true, overanalysis ruins everything

Right or Lefty:  Righty.

Siblings: Three brothers - being the only girl is the best

Time you wake up:  6:30 for weekdays and anything goes on the weekends.

Underwear: Do people still think it's cool to not wear any?

Vegetable you hate: Not a big fan of peas

What makes you run late: My hair

X-Rays You've Had: My wrist when I was a kid

Yummy food you make: I make a bomb beer-braised cabbage and also a really great brussels sprouts dish

Zoo Animal: Hippos!