My Absence

Hi Friends!

It has been a year since I posted...I can't believe it. What happened to me? Well, I had a baby. As anyone who has had a baby knows, this can really turn a life around. I would like to start posting here again more often though. I still have lots of rambling to do.

Here are some steak bites I made the other day. I get most of my food ideas from Pinterest, and this is no exception. I used grass-fed beef from my parent's ranch in Montana, fresh baked baguette from a local bakery, organic/free-range goat cheese, and delicious fresh parsley for the chimichurri. In the final analysis, I should have sliced the steak way thinner, but they were tasty and photogenic.


xoxo,

Megan

Peony Love!

I just love spring. I was born in the spring. I hate being cold. Not to mention, the flowers start blooming. It has been spring in the Pacific Northwest for a while now. But cutting some peonies for my kitchen island truly gave the house that "spring vibe" that I am planning to cherish for a few more weeks. Spring is a state of mind for me. I notice it every year. 

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Natural Bling

I met an amazing woman at a networking event last week! Her name was Eliza and her company is called The Emerging Pearl (this is not a paid promotional piece, I just like her work). Eliza sells jewelry, and I bought an amazing necklace from her stash. Not only does Eliza make amazing jewelry, but she is also a abuse survivor advocate and teacher. Her jewelry making and classes come together to empower abuse survivors.  My pendant is a natural stone called a druzy, and I just love the contrast of the gray stone and its sparkle.

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Flower Tour of Vancouver Washington

It is officially spring in Vancouver Washington. Here are some sights from my after lunch walk.

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

That Was Fast!

The plum branches have bloomed and they are beauties. It sure helps to brighten this dreary day.

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Centerpiece

We pruned our plum trees this weekend. It was a little sad to have to cut branches with little buds on them, but it is for the long-term health of the tree. I saved a couple of branches from the pile. They look elegant like this on the kitchen table, but I really hope they bloom! Will keep you posted.

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Bollywood Theater in Portland OR

Oh Portland food scene.....Always exceeding my expectations. When I moved here from NYC I was a little skeptical, but every time I eat out in Portland I am blown away by the originality of the delicious restaurants (and the fact that everywhere I go has some local hard cider available). Bollywood Theater was delicious. They claim Indian street food in a relaxed setting. I would say it is like Indian Tapas in a Bohemian setting, but perhaps that is splitting hairs. It also didn't hurt that my lovely sister joined me for lunch (sisters make everything better).

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Old Town Battle Grounds - Lovely Little Coffee Date

It was so much fun to try out Old Town Battle Grounds, a local little coffee shop in small community (Battle Ground, Washington). It was worth the drive. There are many local businesses, including my hair salon, that reside in buildings that used to be churches. Maybe some day I will do a "Tour de Church" post. For now, I was content staying in one place and sipping my cappuccino on a sunny afternoon in the PNW.

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

It's All Good at Mount Hood!

With all the winter weather we have received this year, it seemed the perfect time to ski Mount Hood for the first time. It is a short drive to the big volcano, and a couple of the areas have skiing year round on limited terrain. We chose Timberline Lodge after looking at the maps of the areas. Although the parking lot was full when we arrived, and we had to wait about 20-30 minutes in the car for someone to vacate a parking spot, the lodge and the slopes were roomy. Such a beautiful day!

A roaring fire is a must with any ski day!

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Loving the PNW Climate

It has been cold (like 34 degrees F), rainy, and a little snow flurry now and then. However, the minute the rain stops and the sun comes out this is what I see:

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

Megan Hayne

Plaid in Portland

People in Portland Oregon love plaid. It is crazy popular here. No matter how formal you might think an occasion will be, there is always at least one person wearing a plaid shirt. Yesterday, I was in a coffee shop and I looked up and half the people in the place were wearing plaid shirts. In the spirit of bringing the outside in, I realized I need to incorporate a little plaid in my décor. Luckily, I had the perfect piece; a vintage wool blanket from cleaning out my grandparent's house this fall. It looks right at home on my super soft vintage chairs (I love playing with texture, but that is a post for a different day). Keeping an eye out for more plaid pieces!

xoxo,



Megan Hayne

Bringing the Outside In – Window Coverings

As someone who has lived in several different cities in different regions, I have had the chance to decorate many different spaces. Now, as a first time home owner in the Pacific Northwest, I have been enjoying this new chance. One of the things I am realizing is that rather than try to change this space, I want to work with what is already there. A second realization is that I love it when a house “brings the outside in.” The PNW is such a utopia of natural beauty. My house in particular is surrounded by large cedar and fir trees. When my husband gently reminded me that it was time to get window coverings for all the large windows in the living room, I hesitated. Why would I want to cover up the lovely trees surrounding the room? Although I still leave the curtains open most of the time, I was able to find a tree-like print on Overstock.com (in green) that still matched the room. The slight shimmer in the fabric makes sure they don't look like camouflage, and the white background gives them a lightness. I love what the curtains have done for the room.

I did the same thing for covering the French doors leading to the bedroom balcony. I wanted something even lighter here, as the trees give us a ton of privacy. I like waking up to natural light in the room. These sheer curtains from Bed, Bath, and Beyond have been perfect!

xoxo,

Megan Hayne