The Great Chili Cook-Off

Drum roll please....... and the winner of the Beaverton SDA Church chili cook-off, held at the Annual Barn Party is..... Delicia!

Ok, maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic... but I am still excited just the same. On my sister's urging, I entered a chili in the Chili-cook off contest at our annual Barn Party and was surprised to take home the prize. Surprised because it was a vegetarian chili contest and I'm not well versed in cooking vegetarian food. So, I hoped on line, grabbed a couple recipes, picked and chose from the spice cabinet and away I went. Things went well, until I had a slight mishap with the temperature control... as it turns out, level 4 is considerably higher then "Low", and will burn your chili. Thank goodness I was able to save it with my mystery ingredient... peanut butter. Shocking, but delicious. I think it was a blessing in disguise, because the addition of this secret ingredient made the chili very unique and tasty. I wanted to share the recipe because it's packed with veggies and very good for the weather we're having right now. Even meat lovers will enjoy this meal. It's super hearty and very robust.

Delicia's Veggie Chili

2 Tbsp oil
1 large (softball size) onion, diced
1-2 Serrano chilies, seeded and minced
2 red bell peppers, diced
3-5 cloves of garlic, minced (depends on your preference)
1 medium zucchini, cubed into 1/2" cubes
4 portabello mushroom caps, stemmed and cleaned, then cubed
3 Tbsp chili powder (I used 2 Tbsp regular and 1 Tbsp chipotle chili powder)
2 Tbsp cumin
1 tsp Alderwood Smoked salt
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red chili flakes
28oz crushed tomatoes
15oz tomato sauce
2 cups veggie stock
1 can each black beans, pinto beans and kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 - 1/2 c peanut butter - taste

Saute the onions, garlic and peppers in the oil until soft and slightly browned on the edges. While these are going, saute the cubed portabellos until slightly golden. If you don't want to do this separately, remove the gills of the mushrooms before you cube them because they will muddy your chili if cooked all together.

Add the zucchini and already sauteed mushrooms (or raw mushrooms with gills removed) to the onions and peppers and cook until the zucchini is tender. Add your spices and toss to coat evenly. Add the tomatoes and stir. Add the beans and combine thoroughly. Simmer for 20 min or until thick.

Add the peanut butter and stir to melt. Taste and season to taste. This is a thick chili and your serving spoon should be able to stand up in it.

Enjoy!

Let the Cooking Classes Begin

This past weekend was the graduation ceremony for my class at the Oregon Culinary Institute. Although I wasn't able to attend it (my pastor of 14 years retired and delivered his final message), I spent a few moments remembering the months I was in class, baking and cooking up a storm. It was definitely one of the most wonderful experiences I have had in the last few years... up there with marriage and the birth of my son, of course!

Then I got to thinking... while a restaurant schedule is not conducive to the schedule a mom needs to keep, there had to be something else I could do to utilize my newly acquired skills and to share my love for food. Enter the Oregon Food Bank's "Nutrition Education" program. With a little research and some tips from a friend, I found out that the Food Bank offers cooking classes to the public, to learn how to prepare nutritious, affordable meals for your family while also providing education on label reading, dietary needs and meal planning. Perfect fit for me! So I signed up and ended up in my first class last night as a volunteer. Every Tuesday, I meet a group of volunteers at Tigard Highschool and we teach a class of 10-13 students how to make the yumminess that is Ratatouille, Apple Crisp and roasted garlic bread. We all prep, cook and then (the BEST part) eat the meal together, talking about what brings everyone together, what each person is hoping to get from the class and sharing cooking stories. The evening just flew by. Perhaps my favorite part is at the end of the end of the night when we send each person home with a cloth bag filled with all the ingredients needed to prepare the meal we just created in class. They are able to take this food home and make a delicious meal for their families. I couldn't believe how enthusiastic everyone was as we chopped veggies, minced garlic and peeled apples. There is something about food that inherently brings out laughter and joy. Good food and fellowship feeds more then the stomach, it feeds the soul. I'm super excited to see how the class progresses and we all become friends and experience more culinary adventures together. What an excellent way to use my skills to spread my passion for food and health. Thanks to the Oregon Food Bank for allowing me to be involved in their classes.

Making Memories

This weekend we took Ryker on our annual trip to the Plumper Pumpkin Patch. Starting in 2008, when he was just 1 month old, my family (parents, siblings and spouses) go to the same pumpkin patch and explore the animals, pumpkins and country store. I don't think I've appreciated a family tradition more then this one... probably because I am doing it with my own little family. It is amazing the memories you can build by doing little things like this. For instance, this is a picture from our first visit:


Plumper Pumpkin Patch 2008

 I can't believe how tiny he is! We dressed him as a pumpkin that year and got lots of offers for him. I remember the trip also being exhausting and a bit cumbersome. We weren't use to carrying a lot of stuff around with us yet, we were still not getting much sleep... but it was a wonderful feeling to be taking our own son to this place and starting his memories. Now, here's a picture from this year:


Plumper Pumpkin Patch 2010

Look at us! 2 years as a family... and we get to compare the changes year by year... can we bottle these memories somehow? Save the happiness and joy we share here? I have a feeling it will only take a couple more years and I will be able to sit on Ryker's lap! While I am excited to see our family grow and change, I wish I could freeze these days forever.

Just a little off the top!

My little man experienced another major milestone in his quick paced life... he got his first haircut! I know, I know, he had adorable curls... but he was starting to look like a California beach bum, with his flip flops and shorts, so a cleaner, shorter cut was due. Luckily, we had 2 years pictures taken a couple days prior, so we have memories of the curly top.


We went to Little Clippers, where they specialize in giving squirmy little monsters haircuts. Perfect for Ryker. He got to sit in a Lighting McQueen car, watch Finding Nemo and eat a lollipop... heck, I wanted to get a haircut! Look at him now... he's so clean cut and grown up looking. Where does the time go?

Something Borrowed, Something Blue...

A woman gets one day to wear the most beautiful dress she will ever own, and it passes in a blur of pictures, cake and toasts. The dress then gets sealed in a plastic bag and only admired from then on. It's a shame, I tell you... But I was a lucky girl this weekend!

I was blessed to be a part of the Rose City Bridal Show at the Portland Convention Center. I got to model the the most gorgeous gown from Bella Victoria Boutique. It fit like a glove and made me feel like a beautiful bride again. What a wonderful opportunity. And not only was the experience fantastic, but I met some of the kindest, most beautiful women I have ever seen... it was strange being amongst them. We were together only 2 days (8 hours a day) but some instant friendships were created. Maybe it was the magic of marriage in the air? The feeling of love and excitement from the soon to be newlyweds... but the atmosphere was lively, uplifting and full of happiness.

It took me back to my wedding day... the day I got to marry my best friend of 8 years. Our story may be slightly complicated and a bit non-traditional, but for us, it is perfect. Perfect because it ended with us at the alter, reciting our vows. This experience allowed me to reflect on just how blessed I am to be a married woman... to have the love and support of a wonderful husband and the unconditional love of my son. Without which, I wouldn't be able to come close to the woman I am today. What a lovely day.

Rachel and her assistant: Bella Victoria Boutiques

Shasta 2010

8 hour drive + 4 days on a houseboat + 2 years old = absolute madness

This is the only way I saw this equation working out, but I am happy to report that I was completely wrong. This year, my family was able to revive our cherished tradition of sending out the summer- we rented a houseboat on Lake Shasta and spent the week together. Yes, all of us t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r. 7 adults and a 2 year old. We waterskiied, innertubbed, kneeboarded and attempted to wakeboard. We lounged in the sun, went on boat rides and 'swam' with Ryker in the hot tub. Never has an unplanned week passed so quickly. I am use to being on the go all the time, so this break was just what was needed. Some quailty time with my family and wonderful new memories with my son.

Ryker did amazing. He rode in the car like a trooper, chatting away with his Tigger and Pooh Bear puppets and sleeping. He adored the houseboat, being on the water and going on shore to throw rocks into the lake. He entertained us all with his silly dances and crazy word combinations (he's experimenting with sentences). All in all, we were blessed with an enjoyable experience. On the way home, Grammie and Grampy decided Ryker needed to stop at the WildLife Safari in Winston, OR to see all the animals. He loved it!

I am very thankful for 2 things:

1) I have a family that enjoys hanging out with each other. A family that enjoys spending quality time together. What a blessing! I'm not saying there weren't a few bumps along the way, but we came out still loving each other...

2) We have the means to be able to go on vacations together. The financial situation of our economy is so uncertain, and it is weighing heavily on families. I am thankful that my family members have jobs and are willing to prioritize our finances so that we can escape from time to time to focus on our family. This is something I hope I never take for granted.

Biggest Blessings come in Small Packages

Ryker comforting Daddy at Grandma Eve's grave.

One of the most amazing blessings my husband and I have been given is our son, Ryker. Born September 22, 2008, this almost 2 year old has re-opened our eyes to the beauty of the world and the simple pleasure of life. His unconditional love and adoration for us make us want to be better people, so he will have the best examples to grow up with. I think God sends us children to remind us that there are more important things in life then career, money and material success... "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

My Positive Pink Piggy

I brought a new friend home with me today... I've been eyeballing her in the store for months now but didn't have the confidence to walk right up, introduce myself and invite her home. 'Why should I be so confident?', I thought. 'You'll just be setting yourself up for disappointment.' So I left her on the shelf, day after day, telling myself I didn't deserve her.

But today is the day! Today I decided to STOP listening to that self-saboteur living in my head, marched right over to the shelf and picked up my newest friend... my "Nationals" piggy bank! That's right, this darling little pink piggy bank is my first step in believing in my goal of being crowned Mrs Oregon 2011. Lenny and I have agreed that each pay period we will invest in this goal by feeding my pink piggy a predetermined amount of money. I still slightly shudder at the thought of planning that far ahead for something that is definitely not a sure thing, but after a long talk with myself, I have to admit that it's a positive thing to do.

I recently read a short entry entitled "You Will Become What You Believe You Are", by Delton Doucet and a quote stood up off of the page. It said "If you ever do anything yourself and nothing else, please allow yourself to believe in you." Ouch... I will be the first to say that I DO NOT like to believe in myself. Not that I don't think I am capable of great things... I just find there to be a very fine line between confidence and arrogance, and I am terrified to cross over to the dark side. Entitlement and cockiness do not look good on anyone, no matter how wonderful they are at something. So, to make sure I never reach the danger zone, I have become my harshest critic. Nothing I can do will ever be good enough for... well, myself. Just listen to me talk about my cake creations and you'll get the picture real quick! So, when it came to thinking about saving money for the possibility that I will be attending the Mrs America 2011 pageant in April, I dutifully made out a list of reasons I would NOT be attending the pageant, and accompanied it with a lecture on the naughtiness of such over-confidence. It was as though the simple idea of preparing for the future meant I assumed I'd be crowned Mrs Oregon. That is something I would never do, therefore having the piggy bank was ridiculous as well.

Believe it or not, I'm sort of getting tired of my position as head critic. It's exhausting to spend so much time finding all things wrong with myself. But can I undo all this training? This piggy bank is the first step. I am going to believe in myself and my abilities. I am going to allow myself to give 100% in the pursuit of this goal and spend more time thinking about how to succeed instead of how I will fail. I will chant 'See the crown, want the crown, be the crown...' OK, I will NOT do that. :) But I will tell myself that I can accomplish what I put my mind to. I may not win, but I will perform to the best of my abilities and leave no room for regret. And my hubby put it so concisely - "We will need the money if you win, but we will need the money for something else if you don't... so what is the harm in saving money?" Leave it to a man to see things so logically. My piggy bank will be useful no matter what... but right now, it's helping me focus on positive thoughts. That is one powerful pink piggy!

All American Girl Pageant Weekend

If the thought of spending a 4 day weekend with some of the most adorable little ladies and some of the most outstanding young women makes you want to throw on pink and party, then this post is for you! I was fortunate enough to be the Head Judge for the National All American Girl Pageant held right here in my hometown, Portland, Oregon. Tracy and Lisa, the Directors of this fast-growing pageant, invited me to represent my title as Mrs Portland and to be a part of this great event. I moved into the Holiday Inn Hotel by the airport on Thursday, August 12th and settled in for what was bound to be an enlightening weekend. Little did I know...

The All American Girl Pageant is an all natural pageant for girls ages 0 - 21. They promote family friendly pageantry and the all natural idea of beauty. These 2 ideas are what really drew me to participate in this event. If you've ever watched "Toddlers and Tiaras" (admit it, you have), you have seen just how insane pageants for young children can get. Little girls all dressed up to look like mini adults, fake eyelashes and all. That is the style of pageants I try to steer clear of. If you choose to become a contestant with the AAG Pageant, girls under 10 cannot wear any makeup and older girls are allowed only a little. Nothing false is allowed and clothes need to be realistic for the age group, in appearance and price.

I left for the hotel slightly apprehensive... my pageant experience is minimal at best, and I've only been on the contestant side of things. Was I really qualified to judge? I wasn't going to get much time to warm up to the idea of being a judge either, because things were set to roll as soon as we arrived. Interviews on Thursday afternoon, banquet in the evening. With a little help and support from my own pageant director, Libby, I walked into the interview and claimed my table, armed with my little notebook stocked with "thought provoking" questions I was sure would make me appear to be a serious judge. Then, the first contestants toddled in... seriously, toddled. 0-2 years old, the Baby Miss division stopped by each of our tables so we could ooohhh and aaahhh at them, then they all played together so we could see how they interacted with others. I was smitten! They were just so darn cute! And the girls got cuter and more charming as the ages went up. At one point, I found myself involved in what felt like an adult conversation with a 5 year old! My questions went out the window and I just chatted it up with the girls all afternoon. At dinner that night, I got to socialize a little more and meet some parents.

Friday was casual wear and personal introduction day. Each girl dressed in their casual wear of choice and came out to present themselves. They each had a little intro that told us about their state, their interests and their goals. It was great to see the amazing stage presence of all these ladies. Saturday was party wear, so imagine lots of poofy dresses. Both evenings held parties for the contestants, families and staff to enjoy, with themes like "Red, White and Blue" and "The Pink Party". We danced, did the limbo, hula hooped... and ate enough sugar to require an entire mouth of fillings... I had such a good time!

Then came Sunday... dreaded Sunday. All games aside, it was time. Finals were in the afternoon and Vickie, Stacy and I had to make our decisions. As head judge, I spent the entire morning organizing head shots, writing out different lists of awards, double checking all our work. We wanted to head into finals with a good idea of what we needed to see to make all our final decisions. The girls gave it their best one more time and we were wowed... as we headed up to the suite to finish making all our choices, we jokingly threatened not to come back because we didn't want to be forced to make a decision. Up until then, we had really been enjoying ourselves, but we were all nervously eating chips and avoiding all eye contact. The awards were announced, the winners were crowned and the night came to an end. As we surveyed the stage, we silently nodded at each other, knowing we had made good choices and that we didn't regret the outcome. That's a good thing, right?

It was definitely a VERY emotional weekend, but I would say that all the good times outweighed the tears that were spilled at the end (both by the contestants AND judges). It was such a self-esteem building experience for the girls, who made a ton of new friends and, more importantly, made some outstanding memories with their families. And for me... well, I don't know how judges can do this. I enjoyed meeting the girls and watching them shine, but I saw first hand the hard lesson that only one person can win at the end of the day, and you have to be willing to reach over and offer a hug of congratulations to your friend as she receives the crown you had wanted so badly. I hope that as I near the day I will, once again, be back on the contestant side of this lesson, I will remember how important it is for me to support and uplift my fellow pageant sisters... and I hope that if I am not crowned the next Mrs Oregon, I will be gracious, understanding and ready to celebrate my new friend's success. Looks like humility is yet another quality offered through pageantry.

The Choices of a Mom

It is already August, and I count almost 2 months since I finished my externship at Ten01. Since then, I've applied for several pastry kitchen positions, getting a couple of call backs but nothing that has manifested into anything. It seems like Portland is turning out a lot more culinary graduates then there are positions available. Initially, this didn't really bother me. I was excited to be home with Ryker again, (I feel like caring for him is my first calling), and to be out of the craziness of the workplace. I have been spending some of the most beautiful days Portland has to offer roaming the streets of the city with my little man, taking in the sites, farmer's markets and playgrounds. Heaven! This could go on forever, as far as I'm concerned.

Then, reality set in and the fact that we could really use my help, financially, could no longer be ignored. So what did I do? I fell back on the one skill I seem to always fall back on when I'm in a crunch for employment... cake decorating. Once again, you can find me in the bakery playing with cake and frosting, and piping my day away. I suppose this is an acceptable vocation... it pays well, it offers a flexible schedule and I do enjoy it. till, I can't seem to shake a certain feeling... like maybe I've sold out. I worked really hard in culinary school & thought I had found my calling in the restaurant biz. So why am I spinning a turn table again? I think I need to take some time to look at what I'm really trying to get out of life. I know I chose to decorate again because it was something I'm comfortable with and it allows me to stay home with Ryker. These desires seem to over shadow my desire to get into the pastry industry right now. My question for myself is- am I ok with that? Do I mind putting that desire on the back burner while I pursue other goals (ie. being a stay at home mom)? It's a tough call, and you can bet my natural tendency towards guilt of under achieving is kicking in big time!

Summer time, and the living is easy...

Yay!!! It's finally summer here is Portland! Officially (says so on the calender) and physical- the sun is out and is beautiful outside. Not a day too soon, I have to say. If we had one more weekend of horrible weather, I was going to file an official complaint with... well, I'm not exactly sure with whom, but you can bet I would have found someone. No need, though, because it's gorgeous out there. :D

So much has been going on, I feel like I left this blog behind a little bit. No worries, I'm here now to catch it up. I have finished my time at Ten01 and am back to being a full time mommy to Ryker. I have to say, I'm loving it! I haven't been home with him since early December, and I was really missing it. My little man is growing up so quickly and learns new things almost instantly. I do not want to miss a single second of that. To prove my point, he managed to learn a new word yesterday- "Crappy". Yes, you read that right. It was all mommy's fault too! He seriously learns new words from hearing them one time... a lesson I'm learning the hard way. From now on, everyone has to be VERY carefully what we say around him. At least when he says things like that, it's super cute!

I have been busy as Mrs Portland as well. I'm still training with the amazing Zach and Marie as Saturn Styles Studio, and it's still kicking my bum. But in the best way possible. I have definition in my legs and arms that I've never seen before! It's awesome and totally inspiring. I'm also coming along with my self-confidence. I actually told my husband I thought I looked pretty good in a pair of pants yesterday. That's a HUGE step for me! They work miracles, let me tell you.

This past weekend I was able to make 2 appearances. The first one was in Lincoln City at the Summer Kite Festival. If you are in Oregon and you haven't gone to the event yet, you have got to make time. It was a beautiful day at the beach and there are hundreds of kites flying in the sky. Huge kites mounted in the sand, trick kites that are flown to music and hand made kites made by the little tikes and yours truly. I joined my fellow Mrs Washington Co contestant, Jen Moser and Amy Pluedeman, Oregon's 30's Beauty of America at the kite making table. We spent the afternoon helping the little ones color and make kites to fly in the festival. I was overwhelmed with the reception we got from Lincoln city! They introduced us to the crowd, the kids and parents were excited to see us, taking pics and wanting autographs... it was wonderful. We even raced in a "celebrity" bowl kite race (think strapping on a parachute in the wind and running across the sand.) We had such a great time and I really want to thank Maggie for allowing us to come and share in their community fun.

That same evening I joined the Oaky Doaks Square Dancing Club at the OC Relay for Life at Clackamas Community College. This relay is a fundraiser for cancer treatment through the American Cancer Association. This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, as you have seen in my previous post about Sallie, my niece. Also, my grandfather on my dad's side past away from cancer, my grandfather on my mom's side has been treated for cancer, and my husband's mother passed 2 years ago from cancer. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't been effected somehow by this disease. I enjoyed hearing the stories of the survivors and watching the determination of the families who were remembering lost loved ones. It is a heartwarming event and one that I hope to be able to be involved in for many years to come.

Well, I think you can consider yourself officially up-to-date on what's happening here. Just to let you know, upcoming events include the Mrs Portland Garage Sale and Bake Sale on July 9-10th. Have a great weekend and get out their and get some sun!

Closing Up Rose Festival

This last week found me at 2 events for the Rose Festival: The Fred Meyer Junior Parade and the Grand Floral Parade. I got to see both sides of a parade this week, being behind the scenes for one and as a participant of the other. Both were awesome, but boy oh boy does Portland weather know how to throw a curve ball. It's the middle of June so one should be able to count on tepid weather at the very least. However, Wednesday, June 9th was no such day.

I was a judge for the Fred Meyer Junior Parade that took place down Sandy Blvd on June 9th. This is a parade that requires all their participants be under the age 18 (with adult chaperons, of course!) Pretty much, it's a parade for kids by kids. What a great idea! As I headed down to the staging area in my white pants, shoes and no umbrella, a monsoon hits NE Portland. I wish I was joking! Sideways rain fell in bucket loads, winds howled... I thought for sure that I'd make it to the starting line tent only to be told that the parade was off. When I did arrive, I was the spitting image of a drowned rat. Very queen-like, I can assure you. But God had blessings arranged for us, for that was the only downpour for the rest of the parade. I shock off the best I could, got my clipboard and judging partner and headed to my area "Major Floats". After going over 8 or 9 entries, we awarded a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize, followed by a Sweepstakes winner that won the privilege of leading out the floats.

This years winner was the 4th grade class from Beverly Clearly Elementary school. They had spent 6 weeks learning about the Oregon Trail, then separated into "families", each building a wagon and filling it with things they had learned the settlers used on their journey. Not only were the details just amazing, but this had to have been the most well-behaved group of 30+ children I've ever seen. Congratulations to the students and teachers for this wonderful project.

These boys look less then thrilled to be having their picture taken with me. :D

After the awards were given out, I worked with several volunteers and our coordinator, Sallie, to get the parade in order and on the road. NOT and easy task, I assure you. Thankfully, all we saw was a little drizzle here and there, allowing for another successful Junior Parade.

Parade 2 of the week: The Grand Floral Parade.

A reunion of the Starlight Parade, if you will. Once again, Joy and I, along with Miss Multnomah Co and Portland's Outstanding Teen were the banner holders for the One More Time Around Again Marching Band. We arrive early to the staging area, so we were able to check out the beautiful vehicles in the "Convertible Club", and were lucky enough to get some pictures with a few of them. Between the spirit of the day and the bright, warm sunshine... I don't know. People just seemed really happy to be together. We met so many new people and were met with smile after smile. The parade route was absolutely packed with waving spectators. Cameras were flashing, hands were waving, cheers were going off left and right. Again, if I ever need a reminder of how lucky I am to be able to be a part of this celebration, I get them in days like today. We march with the most beloved band in the parade- and these people know how to have a good time.

We are saying goodbye to our Rose Festival for the year. I am thankful for all the fun and great memories it provided me and I hope I am able to return next year to add to the scrapbook. Maybe with a different title??? :D We'll see.

Mrs Portland at Full Speed!

It was the first SUNNY day in June, and what better way to spend it then with my pageant family. Beautiful weather, beautiful ladies and beautiful memories. The following may sound like a whirlwind of activity and WAY too much to pack into one day, but I am being honest when I say it was truly the best day of appearances I have ever experienced.

We started at Oaks Park. They were celebrating their 105th birthday, and to commemorate the day they had renovated their original carousel. We joined Drew Craney from channel 8 to reveal the new animals on the carousel and ride with the birthday kids at the park. The crowd was so receptive and cheered for us as we were introduced. Then, the kids rode the animals with us and had a GREAT time. Last, but not least, we handed out hundreds of balloons... and I'm not exaggerating. Hundreds... A BIG thanks to Marybeth, our outstanding coordinator. She is an amazing lady.

Next, Joy (Mrs Oregon 2010) and I took off to the Canadian Naval Ship- The Vancouver- to help with the private reception they were hosting. We spent the beginning checking in the guests, then we were able to go on board and mingle. Our gracious hosts took us on a private tour- a perk of being part of the pageant family! What great guys! Thank you, Gentlemen, for all your hospitality, but more importantly... thank you so much for all you have done for our country.

Around 7:15, we walked up to 9th and Burnside to meet our friends, the "One More Time Around Again Band". Joy and I were the banner holders for them in the Starlight Parade. They always show us a good time, and this was no exception. At one point, 2 trumpet players ran up and handed us their trumpets so they could dance around with the banner. The firemen who were placed in front of us tossed us around in the rescue net! We waved to the excited crowd and just smiled from ear to ear. How could we not... we were part of an amazing day here in Portland.

Again, I am reminded of just how truly blessed I am. I am part of a loving family that supports me on days like this... when I'm gone from 1:00pm to 11:00pm...when my husband has to meet me somewhere randomly downtown to pick up my purse so I don't have to carry it during the parade... when my fellow pageant sister lets me use her cell phone 20 times because my phone was in my purse...when my parents bring my son down to the parade at 9pm to see his mommy marching...I have a sweet, sweet life!

It's Rose Festival Time

If the rain didn't tip you off... it's Rose Festival time here in Portland!!! One of the great times of the year when our city unites to put on parades, river events and great family fun. Despite the liquid sunshine, there is so much to do during the next month- you don't have an excuse to be bored. :)

To kick off this year's festivities with my fellow Mrs Oregon contestants, we spent last night at the Wardroom Reception at Venue 126. This was an event for the Naval Officers who come in each year on their ships up the Willamette. We all met for dinner before hand at Bistro Montage (and yes, we indulged in the Mac & Cheese!), which I would almost be willing to put out there as my favorite part of the evening. As we are all scattered across Oregon, events like these are the only times we have to get to know each other. being surrounded by the great ambiance of Montage, the delicious food and the beautiful women... it was a recipe for good times. After dinner, we drove over to the reception where we got to mingle with the officers and tell them all about the virtues of our gorgeous state. We were part conversationalist and part city maps! It was great to hear where all of them are from and to be able to thank them for their service to our country.

Like I said, this month is just brimming with activities around town. I will keep you posted about where to find us. Here's a little rundown so far:

Saturday, June 5th- 2pm: Oaks Park 105th Birthday and Carousal Revealing
                              4pm: Greeting on the Naval Ships Downtown
                              7pm: Starlight Parade- Carrying the One More Time Around Again Banner

Wednesday, June 9th- 11am: Judging the Fred Meyer Junior Parade

Saturday, June 12th- 8am: The Rose Festival Parade

And YES! That's all in just the next 2 weeks. : D

Ready, Set, Cook!

Today was an exciting culinary AND pageant day for me. That's right, I managed to find a way to combine 2 of my favorite interests, and let me tell you- it was great! I volunteered at the "Ready, Set, Cook" competition in Lincoln City, OR and represented my title of Mrs. Portland. It was an afternoon of yummy food, awesome cooking and friendly conversation. Just how I like to spend my time.

"Ready, Set, Cook" is a fundraising event that benefits the N. Lincoln Hospital Foundation Samaritan Early Learning Center Fund. Samaritan Early Learning Center currently provides day care for 53 children ages 6 weeks to 8 years and is the only state registered child care center in Lincoln City. With plans to expand in the near future the center will eventual accommodate 100 children.

The event featured 2 rounds of cooking competition- The first round set Chef Neuman from Portland's OBA and Chef Sean McCart from The Bay House in Lincoln City against each other in a 30 min heat to create a dish using salmon and shrimp. The second round found Chef Justin Wills and a guest chef from Maui making dishes with Morels and lamb. Each chef received a sous chef who won their position through an auction. They were then judged by 3 guests who also won their positions through an auction. All the proceeds went to the Learning Center. At the end of the day, we managed to raise over $3000 in auction bids alone! Talk about supporting the community. :D

To my surprise, I was introduced on stage and given time to talk about the pageant and my platform. What an opportunity! I got to brag about our outstanding pageant family, then get the word out about Sallie's Faith Foundation. I felt honored to be allowed that time and hope I did both organizations proud. Another great moment was when I met Chef Neuman. I love OBA's atmosphere and food, but I am always ready to sing the praises of their happy hour. You better believe I got a picture with him! That one's going in the scrapbook.

All in all, an outstanding day! Once again, being a part of the Mrs Oregon family has given me an opportunity to reach out into the community and meet some wonderful people while pursuing a passion. If you haven't considered joining us, you might want to.

Training Sessions: Day 1

Oh my! That's about all I can muster at this point. I had my first day of training with Zach and Marie at Saturn Styles Studios last night, and as I feared... I can barely move today. I don't remember the last time my muscles have been this fatigued! I knew I was pretty weak, but today I KNOW. This realization makes me a little sad, because I remember the days I use to hit the gym everyday and really loved working out. Where have those days gone?

Before I had Ryker, I use to pride myself in my level of physical fitness. I was no body builder, but I was a distance runner, ate really well and enjoyed light weight lifting. Enter the little baby in my tummy- and exit all physical activity. I used  my pregnancy as an excuse to pretty much drop all my workouts and eat things I had long banished from my diet- Fast food, fried food, super high calorie food. I am fortunate that my pregnancy weight dropped off, but with it went my muscle. I keep telling myself I will dedicate more time to taking care of myself, but I can always find something else that needs attending too. Well, the excuses ended yesterday.

Zach and Marie are not only physical trainers of the body, but they are wonderful coaches of self confidence. They take the time to go over your personal, fitness and professional goals, look at your eating habits and talk to you about how your life is run. They take all of this into consideration when designing a workout program for you. Then, if that personal attention isn't enough, they are your one-on-one cheerleaders the whole time. Yes, they are making you sweat and groan in pain, but they tell you how awesome you are while they do it. They remind you what you are trying to accomplish, and assure you that you are VERY capable of reaching your goal. It is exciting to have that kind of support behind you.

I have specific physical goals I'm trying to reach for the Mrs Oregon pageant in Nov, and I am assured they are completely reachable, but I have a feeling I'm going to walk away with more then a sexy stomach. I'm going to have self confidence, satisfaction of achieving goals, and best of all- 2 wonderful friends. The gifts I'm receiving from joining the Mrs Oregon family just keep on coming!

1 year and going strong

Two exciting events came together this past weekend that warrented a celebration slightly more epic then dinner at Outback. I finished my classroom portion of culinary school and Lenny and I had our 1 year anniversary! That's right, we survived the first year of marriage, which I've always been warned is the toughest year- however I don't really seem to remember it being difficult at all. That is a good sign, right?

We chose a long weekend in Seattle as a way to celebrate both occasions- We had our first kiss on top of the Space Needle way back when, and Seattle has some awesome food places for us to try. Seemed like a natural fit for us. So, bags packed and tears drying on our cheeks as we dropped Ryker off at Gramma and Grandpa's for his first long weekend away from us, we hit I5 like 2 teenagers on our first date. Giddy, excited and carefree. It felt great. We spent 3 days in the Emerald City and ate so much food. Luckily, we chose to walk everywhere (well, the $5 hourly parking fee really made that decision for us), so I think we negated all the calories, but I will cherish every single one of them.

If you have the opportunity to eat in Seattle, I suggest you try Serious Pie- a pizza place by Tom Douglas. As a Beard Award winner and all around amazing chef, this guy knows how to make a pizza. Andaluca gave me my first experience with ground duck- and it's an experience I won't soon forget! I could name all the places we went, but I want to let you discover the culinary treasures on your own. What a wonderful way for us to commemerate our love for each other & our love for food.

While we thoroughly enjoyed our time together sans child & still had many more places we wanted to try, we were happy to return home to our little tornado of distruction. It's fun to spend adult time together, but at the end of the day we are a family unit, and when a piece is missing... things just aren't quite right. Thank you, Seattle, for the beautiful weather, the outstanding food and the romantic memories. Oh, and if Chef Douglas would like to open up a Serious Pie here in Portland, I'd be willing to help him out.

And that's a wrap...

If you had asked me 8 hours ago if I thought I was going to make it through the end of this day, I would have slowly lowered my head and meekly shook it "no". The idea of accomplishing everything that I needed to accomplish today was enough to drive me to insomia this weekend. Visions of sugarplums NOTHING! Try nightmares of tarts, caramels, nougate, cookies, chocolate tortes... and this list goes on and on. Before I was a culinary student, baking a cake was quite the daily accomplishment, so it's easy to understand my nerves as I sketched out my plan to bake and finish my 27 piece buffet.

All the intimidating (yet incredibly scrumptious) images aside... I'M FINISHED! I have offically finished all grade work for my Baking and Pastry Program at OCI! I am in disbelief just typing that. Enrolling in culinary school has been such a lofty, dream-like goal in my life for a very long time. The fact that I have completed it is mind-blowing! I have to tell you, it is an amazing feeling to pursue one's personal goals and see them come to life. Now, as I am about to start an intership at Ten01 with their fabulous pastry chef, Jeff McCarthy, I am beside myself. I am getting the chance to experience something I use to daydream about. Am I a blessed little lady or what???

Now to enjoy a little R&R the next couple of days. Hey, pursuing your goals is exciting... but it's hard work too!

Greetings from Mrs. Portland 2011

Today was the first "Meet & Greet" for the contestants of the Mrs Oregon pageant & as the newly crowned Mrs. Portland, I was on pins and needles. Libby, our director, graciously held a workshop for us in her gorgeous home, allowing us all to meet each other in person and start creating those amazing bonds that come with participating in a pageant together.

I went, knowing only one of the contestants (thanks to the wonderful world of Facebook). My emotions were a mix of excitement and nervousness. This workshop marked the beginning of the pageant season for me, which is always fun and adventurous. However, not knowing the ladies I am about to embark on this journey with put me a little on the defense. I'm not sure what it is about my personality that makes me think like that, but anyhoo- there it is. As usual, I'm not sure what I was worried about. The ladies are fantastic! I don't know how Libby does it, but she seems to attract the most beautiful, caring and professional women you will ever meet. We range from stay-at-home moms to business owners, yet this pageant is bringing us all together on common ground. We are passionate about our families, our communities and about setting a positive, inspiring example for all married women.

Pop your head in from time to time to follow me as I begin the process of preparing myself for the pageant. The next several months will be filled with community service, new friendships and a lot of smiles. I simply can not wait!

Sallie's Faith Foundation

For anyone with a young child, this will probably touch your heart.

In December 2008, my 2 year old niece, Sallie Gilmer, was diagnosed with Leukemia. The roller coaster that her family has been on since then is unbelievable, from steroids, chemotherapy to one near death experience. To see such a small child have to deal with these severe health problems is really a heart wrenching experience. Luckily, Sallie is a true warrior. She prays, she battles and she refuses to let anything rob her of her spunky attitude. Now, at 3 years old, she continues to battle her ups and downs, but she is also a shining example of the positive attitude and beautiful smile children can have in the face of such adversity.

Together, her family and friends are creating "Sallie's Faith Foundation". We are working with Emmanuel Hospital in their development of their new Pediatric Oncology wing, hoping to implement some "well being" programs such as gas cards for families who have to travel to and from the hospital for treatment and during hospital stays. Along with the local work with Emmanuel, we are hoping to raise money for research grants aimed at finding advances in treatments for childhood cancers.

This foundation is just getting itself off the ground, but I am sure that only positive and exciting things are on the horizon. I am currently the secretary on the board for the foundation, as well as an artistic/image voice, and I am also hoping to contribute heavily in the planning, managing and the execution of our fundraisers.

Look for updates as we continue to fine tune our work and start to get ourselves out in the community!

I'm taking another shot at the crown...

Well, it's official- As of this evening, I've decided that I am going to take another shot at the Mrs. Oregon America crown. I can't tell you how giddy and absolutely frantic that makes me feel at this moment!

I had a sneaking suspision, after last year's pageant, that I would be making a 2nd appearance, but I have to say that what pushed me over the edge from 'tossing the idea around' to 'YES, I'm in and I can't wait to get my gown!' was a phone call I got on Monday. Though, thanks to my persnickity phone, I didn't get the message until Tueday. It was from Libby, the pageant's director. She called to make sure I knew that the discount for the previous year's contestants was closing in and that she didn't want me to miss out on the discount, should I want to enter. When I called her back, we talked about my decision to re-enter and what I should think about as far as preparing this year. She told me she was very happy that I was returning and I told her I was just as excited. And you know what... I genuinely believe her. That is what has cemented my decision to support her program. Not because I am a crown chaser that lives for the day that my name will be called and I will have that shiny, sparkly crown placed on my head, but because I feel good being involved with a person such as Libby. Her integrity is impeccible. When she talks to you, you can feel her sincerity and you know that she is being true to herself and to you. This is a lost quality in today's lifestyle, where everyone seems to be trying to sell you something to make themselves some money. Libby represents her program as a program that supports, lifts up and honors married women of Oregon, and her only objective in this pageant is to make sure every participant is able to walk away having gained something.

I only met Libby last year through participating in the 2010 pageant, but since then I have been invited to her home, I have met her family and I feel like she has honestly tried to make our friendship extend beyond the pageant world. She is interested in my son, my home life... she honestly cares about me as a person, not as a contestant. I challenge anyone who complains about the materialistic qualities of pageants to enter the Mrs. Oregon America pageant, and see for yourself just how fulfilling the experience can be. I can not speak for other pageant systems, but I know that as long as Libby is running Mrs Oregon America, this program will be a stand out from the rest.

Thank you so much, Libby!

A new outlet for my adrenaline addiction

For those who know me fairly well, calling me an adrenaline junky is no stretch of the imagination. I've never met a roller coaster I didn't love, I've gone skydiving 3 or 4 times, I own a motorcycle (though I haven't ridden since my son was born0, I've run 2 marathons and several half marathons... anything that makes my stomach drop a little- I'm up for it. The pursuit for that light headed, twisted stomach feeling also translates into a passion for challenging myself mentally. Translation: I am obsessed with multi-tasking. Pile on a load of responsibilities combined with an impending deadline and watch me giggle like a school girl. :D Nothing is as satisfying as finding myself in the thick of the weeds, only to climb out victoriously. I have found my new multi-tasking haven... the restaurant.

While in my 2nd term at culinary school, we are assigned a couple evenings a week to work in "Service"- work in the school's restaurant. There, we have 4 dessert stations where we prep and plate all desserts for our customers. If you've worked in the food industry, you know things have to happen fast to make the meal experience come together for the customer. So, as tickets pile in and the words "Fire ticket__
are flying through the air, I find myself in the zone and loving every minute of it. Not only must we get our desserts out on time, but they must be beautiful and delicious. Attention to details is crucial. And for an added bonus- try being expo. You are the go-between for the servers and platers. You keep the flow going and make sure everyone is on top of what is expected of them. Yeah, it sounds perfect for me, doesn't it.

Now that I have a son, I have toned down a lot of my death defying stunts. He needs me to be around. Thanks to this new discovery of restaurant furry, I can still get my kicks while making it home safely. Yay for finding your outlet!!!

Someone Needs a Time Out! Oh wait, it's me...

Lately, I’ve been a little stressed out with all that is going on in my life… so I thought it might be wise to take pause and try to put things into perspective. The days are flying by in a blur of diapers, baking and homework, but I am almost sure I CHOSE all of this. So let’s break it down:

1) My 16 month old son, Ryker, does not have an off switch!
Since my exercise regime consistents exclusively of running after him and saving him from cracking his head open like an egg, I suppose I should be grateful that he’s constantly on the go. I haven’t had to do any crazy dieting, obsessive exercising or anything and I’m able to maintain my slender figure. Plus, those smiles, giggles, hugs and kisses make the 4-6 hours of sleep I get at night worth it.

2) I’m spending 8 hours of my day at school instead of at home with my family.
School is tough, I won’t down play that. But, hello! I’m in culinary school. Has this NOT been my dream since highschool? Haven’t I thought to myself more then once “In a dream world, I would go to culinary school” ? This means that I am living my dream! No one said that persuing one’s dreams is easy, but if I’m lucky enough to be persuing them before retirement… maybe I should just shut my mouth, smile and thank God for the blessing he’s given to me. Besides, after school I am going to be able to spend more time with my guys again, PLUS we will have a little more fun because we won't be worried about finances as much.

3) I am extremely torn between getting pregnant and persuing some other things that would work best if I wait until year or so to have another child.
I am nearing the age I had always considered to be the cut off for having children, but maybe I just need to rethink that deadline. There is no magical age at which I will no longer produce strong, healthy, happy babies... right? This sounds like something I need to release to God. I am a superstar at worrying about things beyond my control, and I'll throw it out there that this is one of them. His plan for me is really what I should focus on, and what comes next will be wonderful and blessed. So, pry my white knuckled hands off this issue and have a little pow wow with the Lord.

Wow, when I just lay it out on the table, I can see that things aren't quite as dark as I once thought. Maybe I am not in love with every aspect of my life at this moment, but I am always working for the greater good. I just need to remember that there are ups and downs in this journey and I will survive them all.