Poco-Cocoa

Things & Stuff

  • And so…

    I’ve had the same blogging style for so long that sometimes I forget I can change things. Recently Justin reminded me to Break The Rules. And so! Here is a post WITHOUT A PHOTO! (gasp)

    I keep meaning to carry my camera with me, because I really enjoyed the daily posts I did from Portland. But somehow in Austin, things don’t seem as photogenic, and it’s harder for me to see new things to photograph. How many times can I photograph our cats, and my desk, and my lunch? I feel like I do the same things most days. Surely that should be inspiring for me to get out and DO things! Maybe tomorrow (yawn).


    Sometimes I remember tiny moments and images, and just sit and think about them and relive them. Recently, I thought of the fried fluke bones that we ate in NYC, and how they were crispy and delicate and somehow reminded me of chicharrones, and weren’t fishy at all, and seemed both frugal and luxurious all at once. It’s not something I want to cook, or look for here in Austin – it’s something that belongs to that night in NYC, at that table with my love.


    We just watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which was fun and cute and charming. Most importantly, it has my beloved fairy godmother, Judi Dench in it. (And Bill Nighy, who I’d like to adopt as my uncle.) It reminded me of this lovely story, written nearly two years ago when the film was being made in Jaipur. Judi Dench is my hero.


    I am thinking a lot about this list. I think I have number 1 down, but numbers 2 – 5 are proving to be more difficult than I had imagined. I do think it’s time to revisit the simple living movement. It may just be nostalgia, but I feel like I was happier and life was easier when we lived more simply, cooked at home, didn’t eat meat, didn’t drink, didn’t read a bajillion blogs, didn’t have phones with cameras and games and social networks and newspapers embedded in them, didn’t have super-tiny-mobile laptops to carry everywhere, and went outside and walked around the city nearly every day. That could very well be nostalgia. And also, a violation of number 5, as I am expecting quite a bit from myself. (sigh)


    I hope you’re all having a great weekend!

    September 22, 2012
    Random Thoughts
  • Monday Shenanigans

    I spent the afternoon with Rachel.

    We decided to lunch at Chen’s. I put Rachel in the corner.

    I love that we both do this – before we eat, we inhale the wonderful smells. Also, this veggie noodle soup was so fresh and delicious.

    We stopped at Dream Bakery for some treats – rugelach, Persian walnut cookies, apple turnover, and this ginormous chocolate raspberry kolache-thingy. Rachel thought my bite was tiny and cute.

    We shopped and shopped, and I found some jeans that fit! It’s a miracle. I now officially love Madewell.

    When I took Rachel back home, Fatty and Stinky were slightly interested in us. But not really.

    Also:

    •  If I had all the monies, I would buy these and these.
    • I’m totally going to make this and this.
    • This is my new favorite cocktail. Thanks, Portland!
    • I’m still brainstorming my autumn list.
    • I watched this and liked it, and I read this and loved it.
    • This is my new favorite type of puzzle.
    • This is my new favorite app.

    I hope you all have a great week!

    September 17, 2012
    Everyday Life
  • Monday in Portland

    Monday was our last full day in Portland. It was busy and awesome.

    we had a fantastic lunch at little bird for justin’s birthday

    i fell in love with this place :: amazing chalkboard art (look at that negative space!) :: beautiful decor

    romantic balcony :: wonderful bar

    roasted marrow bones with flatbread :: black garlic crepe

    fried cod on brioche :: zucchini-almond soup

    more chalkboard art (those little ice cubes!)

    my love on his birthday

    i’m not so sure about this place

    we spent a while at the lan su chinese garden :: possibly my favorite place in all of portland

    most of the materials used to build this place came from china

    it is considered the most authentic chinese garden outside of china

    the “knowing the fish” pavilion is named for this story:

    walking along a stream and looking at the fish in it, one philosopher tells the other how happy he finds the fish to be.

    the other replies, “you are not a fish. how can you know that the fish are happy?”

    the first responds, “you are not me. how do you know i don’t know the fish are happy?”

    we stopped to have tea on the terrace

    pu-er tuocha for justin :: dragonwell for me

    we found our fortunes :: mine is on top

    i could have stayed here forever

     After the garden, there was much clothes shopping (no sales tax!) and a visit to Bluehour for dinner at the bar. Then pack, pack, packing.

    September 12, 2012
    Travel
  • Sunday in Portland

    Today we meant to get up early and have breakfast. Instead we got up late and had brunch.

    good morning from zell’s cafe

    we got lovely scones and jam with our coffee at the counter

    i had coffee and corned beef hash with over easy eggs :: justin had a reuben scramble with sauerkraut and potatoes

    hellooooooo portland! :: our first cloudy, 68-degree day

    forest park :: when i finally fell in love with portland

    tall, tall trees

    apparently it’s my turn to be photographed

    a flight of thick, decadent drinking chocolates at cacao

    i love this building

    we decided on dinner at clyde common :: olives and almonds, beets with cashew butter and goat yogurt, tagliatelle with burst cherry tomatoes and orange breadcrumbs, local peaches/tomatoes/padron peppers, broccoli soup

    “i see you taking a photo of me.”

    then music and work, word puzzles and talking, love and happiness

    good night!

    September 9, 2012
    Travel
  • Saturday in Portland

    Today it was slightly cooler out, though the locals still thought it was too hot. At 84 degrees. (Sigh. I wish we had 84 degree summers in Austin!)

    i hid the bat in justin’s pants pocket as i was putting away laundry last week :: he made his way to portland!

    in the 2nd floor lobby of our hotel, a pop-up concert :: her voice was a trumpet, a heartbreak, a memory

    espresso con panna from stumptown

    it looked so pretty on the lobby table

    after some walking around town, we headed to the portland saturday market :: these flowers were so pretty

    being on the willamette reminded me of new orleans somehow :: except with jet skis

    this is my “don’t take my photo” face

    i think it’s time to dye my hair :: and get a tattoo

    cutest sign at the market

    my love

    kalua pig plate lunch :: poke :: kimchi :: mai tai :: dark and stormy :: we love this place

    look, dad! they still have arco here!

    the locals

    gorgeous display outside the supercute woodsman market

    adding to my collection

    justin’s birthday present :: i don’t know what this is but he loved it

    dinner at grüner :: potato croquettes stuffed with raclette :: tomatoes with freekeh, kale chiffonade and creme fraiche :: liptauer with radishes and pretzel croutons :: ricotta zucchini dumplings :: maultaschen :: fantastic

    after dinner we headed back to powell’s for more book shopping

    of note: restaurants don’t put ice in their water here

    good night!

    September 9, 2012
    Travel
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