Portland has been on my list for a while, and when a trip to New Zealand was no longer possible after my ankle surgery, it seemed like a great time to go. My boyfriend and I spent a long weekend in Portland last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was quintessential fall – clouds and a slight chill in the air. It hardly rained while we were there. I left feeling ready for the holiday season (but not ready for Christmas decorations or music. It’s too soon people! Give Thanksgiving a chance!).

To be clear, this is less of a direct ‘you have to go here!’ and more of a list of the things we did and enjoyed on our long weekend in Portland. We were only able to explore Southwest Portland around the Pearl District. I know there are amazing things in the rest of Portland and outside of the city.

Also, despite spending three days in Portland, I only have four pictures to show for the trip. This is partly to blame on my inability to ever remember to take a photo, but also a conscious decision. It was important to me to really see the city and be present. While we used a phone for directions or restaurant advice, for the most part we didn’t use our phones outside of the hotel room.

I highly recommend trying this. Instead of taking photos I journaled daily about all of the things we did and ate so I can look back and remember what we did/saw/experienced.

Food

The downside of only having a long weekend in Portland is all of the food we weren’t able to eat. Our first dinner in the city was my favorite restaurant meal from the past few years. So good!

We went to the city without any plans (other than a place to stay and a general idea of how to get to our hotel), and we spent our entire time blissfully planning out our day based on where we wanted to eat. My kind of vacation.

Here’s what we ate:

Cheryl’s On 12th

Not my favorite. Our flight landed during lunch and it took us a couple hours to get off the plane and to our hotel. I had been dreaming about eating for hours by the time we got into Portland proper, so I wasn’t super picky with our first meal. I just wanted something hot and fast. Cheryl’s was a minute walk from the hotel.

The vegetarian fried rice was alright, but I left dissapointed. I saw something about complementary beignets on Yelp and was under the impression that they came with every meal. Totally not true, totally my misunderstanding. Also, turns out I’m not a fan of “cheesy” hash browns sprinkled with a sprinkling.

Imperial

I honestly would have eaten here for every meal. This was our first dinner in Portland, and we got so lucky. We found Imperial on Yelp that afternoon and ended up being able to snag a spot at their dinner service.

The restaurant was packed! They squeezed us in at their chef’s counter facing their open wood fire cooking area. It was hot and the kitchen was busy. It was like watching the Food Network while eating dinner, but way more satisfying. I loved watching the kitchen and seeing what everyone was ordering.

For dinner I had a killer kale salad that puts all tough, boring kale salads to shame. It had a citrusy goat cheese dressing that didn’t taste anything like goat cheese. The salad was topped with sunflower seed brittle (mmm, sugar) and shaved winter veggies. I paired the salad with a coal roasted sweet potato that I slathered in butter and their pepita salsa. It was flavorful, comforting, and filling.

This is killing me. I want to eat it all again.

I also snagged a couple of bites of their buttery, flakey, didn’t-leave-a-single-crumb Parker House Rolls and their house made fettuccine with yam, kabocha squash, brussels sprout leaves, chanterelles, and pepitas. (Do note that the menu changes daily and none of these may be on the menu if you visit).

Imperial had fantastic gluten free and vegetarian options, and they clearly marked everything on their menu. Yes, you should definitely go.

The Daily Feast

The Daily Feast is small and cozy with a nice mix of classic and healthy options. Our breakfast was solid, although I’m still craving their oatmeal. I made a last minute decision to go with fried eggs and hash browns instead, and I’m still not sure if it was the right call.

Food Carts

I’ve never seen so many food carts in one city. The grilled cheese was calling me, but since I can’t really eat that I went for juicy vegetable tacos. According to Yelp, there are a ton of food carts definitely worth trying.

Oven and Shaker

After multiple meals of stuffing our faces, it seemed like it was time for some vegetables. We headed to Oven and Shaker for a glass of red wine and a salad… and pizza. Unfortunately the pizza wasn’t gluten free, but I made up for it with rosemary-parmesan fried chickpeas. Yummy! They were almost as satisfying as fries.

Unfortunately my salad was disappointing – super salty and otherwise bland. Rumor has it the pizza was good.

Byways Cafe

A table of locals brought their own hot sauce and shared it. This place felt far from touristy. Byways serves classic breakfast and lunch food. It felt like a diner without the shitty menu and soggy potatoes. It’s worth the wait.

Pine Street Market

I panicked that there wouldn’t be anything for me to eat at the market and picked up a salad at a local salad chain on the way. Major regrets. I got to choose what was in my salad, but it was so under-dressed that it was a crime. Nothing will make you feel like a cow quite like eating a dry kale salad. Yum.

I had major ramen envy. And the glutenous pita bread was like tasty pillows for your mouth.

Before you feel too sorry for me, you should know that I had a mind-numbingly delicious, non-dairy strawberry soft serve. Oh man it was good. I also got the best of both worlds with a few bites of their vanilla soft serve covered in their homemade hard-shell chocolate sauce. (*insert homer noises here*) I’ll eat a dry kale salad every day if you give me a cup of soft serve from Wizbangbar. (Don’t click on that unless you are going to go there or you’ll end up depressed with a top-notch soft-serve craving. Trust me, it just happened to me.)

Bamboo

It’s a tough call between Imperial and Bamboo. This was my first time ordering sushi at a restaurant (hey, tempura is amazing). While I enjoyed the sushi, it was the rest of the meal that I really loved.

Their twist on a French 75 is possibly even better than the classic. I wanted to sip on one all night despite the fact that half a glass in I was feeling it. 

I’m still craving the sweet and sour cauliflower. I can’t tell you the last time I had sweet and sour. There was no frightening red sauce anywhere to be seen, and the flavor was impeccable. Deep, acidic, lightly sweet – I could have eaten them all night.

Also, major bonus points for being incredibly sustainable.

Final Breakfast

Our last breakfast was so bad I’m not going to include it. My steel cut oats were watery and tasted strongly of soap. This is why I ended up eating leftover sushi at the airport at 9 a.m. The restaurant we went to had okay reviews online, but it was the only place open on the way to the light rail station. It turns out most places aren’t open at 7 a.m. on a Sunday. Life lessons.

Coffee:

Case Study Coffee

You cannot go to Portland and not get coffee… or maybe you can. I might have done it.

Case Study Coffee’s homemade chai tea was spicy and creamy without being painfully sweet. I could happily drink it daily. I’m heavily considering emailing them for the recipe.

The space was perfect for hanging out and slowly sipping a hot drink. We went here twice (I got regular tea the second time), and both times we spent at least an hour writing and reading. The staff was ridiculously, genuinely nice and easy-going, and the space was both gorgeous and comfortable.

I’m so jealous this coffee shop isn’t in my neighborhood.

Stumptown

This is on the list so no one yells at me. We shamelessly went to the one in the airport. I heard that their drip is good, although I can’t taste anything for the next week after scalding myself on their chai latte (made with actual tea! Hallelujah!).

I think it was good? I’ll let you know my ultimate decision when the nickel-sized heat blister on the roof of my mouth finally heals. Seriously.

Things to Do:

There are so many things to do in Portland and it can be difficult to fit them all, especially if you are only visiting for a long weekend.

We didn’t really sight see or do any outdoor adventures. We were honestly lucky I was able to walk around at all. (We’ve been home for days and my ankle/feet are still punishing me for the amount of walking and standing we did.) For the most part we tried to keep each trip under .5 mile of walking, and we walked everywhere.

Powell’s Books

I 100 percent picked our neighborhood and our hotel based on its proximity to Powell’s. Our hotel room looked out on the sign for the famous bookstore. This was the only thing I wanted to do in Portland.

This place is stuffed with millions of books, and it felt like just as many people. Our first 15 minutes in the store were completely overwhelming. I almost asked to leave. But once we got out of the main entrance area and into the actual shelves the crowds thinned out and I was only overwhelmed by the amount of books.

The multiple floors were crammed with high shelves and more books than I have ever seen in one place. Powell’s is easily a book lover’s dream, although I had trouble figuring out their categories and as someone with decision problems, it was anxiety-inducing.

If I were to go again and I wanted to buy a book, I would go in with a few titles in mind and look them up on their handy computers. It would be a much more relaxing experience than trying to see every title in their literature and memoir section.

Ground Kontrol Arcade

This was my first time to an arcade that wasn’t attached to a pizza parlor. We went during the day before the bar was open so it was a nice mix of adults and kids. About half of the space is full of pinball machines and the rest is classic (and a couple new) arcade games. True to form, Tetris was my favorite.

Eat

A lot. Eating was our main activity. You should also definitely consider going to breweries if you visit. I’ve heard good things.

Transportation:

We took the light rail to and from the airport and walked everywhere else. It was great! Although I didn’t love clomping around Portland in the boot. Maybe don’t go until you are fully recovered from ankle surgery. It might make things easier.

Accommodations:

We originally looked into staying at an Airbnb, but there were so few listings left that we decided to go for a hotel in a great area for the same price.

The Ace Hotel felt a bit like staying at your hipster friend’s house. The decor is minimal but stylish. The design is somehow old school and modern. There are weird quirks (the glass shower enclosure was in the room proper. Highly entertaining.) and touches of home. Also, there may be scents of pot wafting through the halls and a live band in the lobby.

Overall we really enjoyed our stay. The Ace is in a great location, the staff was incredibly friendly, and the room made a good home base for an easily tired traveler. The bed and the pillows were not as comfortable as I had hoped and I wish the room had been darker, but I’m spoiled at home. The sleeping comfort is on par with most hotels I’ve stayed in.

Have you ever been to Portland? Where did you go?

These healthy cookbooks were a breath of fresh air and a fun way to try new recipes. I am on a major crusade to add more vegetables and nutritious foods of all kinds to my daily diet. To get inspiration, I have been checking out loads of cookbooks from the library after reading Skin Cleanse  – I had 10 at home at one point. From a couple of my old standbys to new goodies, I highly recommend them all.

6 Healthy Cookbooks

1. The Oh She Glows Cookbook
I loved this book. Every recipe is stuffed with vegetables and whole foods. I made the miso orange bowl that was ah-maz-ing. More please!

2. Thug Kitchen
I can’t get enough of this cookbook. It makes me laugh every time I flip through it or make a recipe out of it. Thug’s blasé approach to cooking is refreshing and makes my time in the kitchen so much less stressful. No other cookbook has ever encouraged me to take a break and check my Tumblr while I waited for something to cook. My mom gave this to me a couple Christmases ago (you heard me), and I’m still discovering new recipes out of it. I can’t recommend it enough.

3. My New Roots
The pictures in this book are stunning. It felt full of light and the seasonal recipes were a fun way to remember that nature takes care of variety for us. Some of the recipes had a few more ingredients than I usually use, but for the most part they are straight forward. I saved quite a few recipes to whip up sometime soon.

4. Superfood Smoothies
I wanted to love this book. I really did. But I just couldn’t. It was a great introduction to a lot of new ingredients and it definitely encouraged me to open my mind at least a tiny bit about what I can put in my smoothies. But a lot of the recipes just didn’t suit my taste. Totally worth a perusal regardless of how you feel about vegetables in a smoothie.

5. The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl and Spoon
I do wish these recipes had fewer ingredients and overall less sugar, but I do love me some bowls. I really enjoyed seeing so many different takes on one of my staples. Bonus, the photos are gorgeous.

6. The Homemade Pantry
Sometimes you just need to step up your snack game and kick the packaged stuff to the curb. I’ve written about this one before, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. If you want to get a little more in tune with what you are eating and you love snacks, this one is for you. It’s also great if you are hoping to be zero waste (or just have fewer chip bags in your trash).

Is anyone else hungry now?

More Books: You can see all of my recommendations here.

The Minsgame was the perfect start to the new year. I didn’t have to spend the first few weeks of January trying to clear out the clutter. Instead, I started the new year reflecting on the process and where I am now.

What I learned

1. I crave a clean, clear, organized space. I knew this already, but this project really solidified my goal.

2. It’s easy to fill a recently emptied space. Over Christmas break I really wanted to paint. When I went home for Christmas I got all of my old art supplies. And haven’t touched them since.

3. No matter how tough the decision, I haven’t regretted getting rid of a single item.

4. It’s hard to keep my dresser and book shelf tops clear, even after everything I got rid of. This clutter makes me feel unhappy and ironically spurs me to get rid of more things, never what’s piled up there.

5. Out of sight, out of mind. When I grabbed the overflowing bag of clothes I was going to sell at a local store, I couldn’t remember what was in it anymore.

6. Decluttering is time consuming! I spent hours throughout the Minsgame going through stuff, and I really only have my room, part of a bathroom, and a single kitchen cabinet. It was exhausting!

7. People are really supportive. My friends, family, and roommates were interested and encouraging. Even though they hadn’t heard of the Minsgame and they weren’t interested in doing it themselves (yet), they did what they could to help me.

8. I didn’t have to make it to the end to be successful. I heavily culled the things I owned and I transformed the game into something that challenged me while still being achievable.

9. “Decluttering” is a dangerous word. It makes me feel inadequate and like I’m not trying hard enough. Every time I hear it I think I should obviously keep getting rid of things. If other people are still removing possessions, I should be too! These 30 days really hammered home that I need to take a step back and be happy with what I have right now, even if it’s more than I absolutely need.

Stats:

I got rid of more than 268 physical items and thousands of digital files.

Moving Forward

I’m taking January off. No reading about decluttering, no daily digging through my drawers for something to rid of. Decluttering has become a type of obsession for me. It’s time to take a step back and finally reap the benefits – more room, a little extra cash, and more mental space.

I’m living with what I have this month. Nothing in, nothing out… okay, I’m not intentionally looking for things to toss out. To make this easier, no reading anything with “decluttering” or “organizing” on it. No stalking #minsgame. No Magic. Just embracing what I have and letting it be enough.

In case you missed it:

Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four

Have you tried the Minsgame or something similar? How did it go?

Every year I feel like Christmas comes out of nowhere! Since I very strongly fear malls, I prefer not to buy things people don’t need, and my timing is terrible, I have gotten pretty good at last-minute homemade gift ideas.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Cookies. Best “wrapped” in a cute jar or on a nice plate the recipient can reuse.

2. Jewelry. From friendship bracelets to trendy beads to macrame, these are my go-to.

3. Homemade hot chocolate mix. I’m a sucker for just about any food in a jar. (See also, dinner in a jar.)

4. Luxurious body butter.

5. A favorite, freezer-friendly meal. It’s hard to beat the thoughtfulness and enjoyment that comes from being able to heat up a quick, lovingly made meal in a pinch.

6. Candles. I made these last year and they were a big hit. I like unscented best, and they burn really well in a smaller jar.

7. Knit or crochet a scarf. The closer it is to Christmas, the bigger the needle/hook to finish in time.

8. A makeup bag or pouch.

9. A heat pack. Shamelessly on my wish-list for this year.

10. Custom bobby pins. Or these gemstone bobby pins.

11. Origami ornaments. I’m tempted to attempt to make these for myself… even though I don’t have a tree.

12. A modern tote.

13. Clever art! I wish I was this crafty.

14. An iPad stand. Gorgeous.

This whole holiday season is already a blur for me. Working in magazine publishing means that the entire month of October was all about Christmas thanks to finalizing the December issue and sending it to the printer. It put my whole mind into a weird twilight zone where the weather had yet to fully cool and I was prepping for Christmas trees, cookies, and resolutions. By the time it was Halloween we were well into January and I felt like the holidays were over and it was time to prep for spring.

To make things even more confusing to my already muddled mind, my family celebrated Thanksgiving two days after Halloween. Because many of my family members were invited to multiple holiday dinners, we decided to do this years feast a bit early. It turned out that the only day in November that we could all make it was Saturday, so we had a very early celebration.

We kicked off the weekend with a beautiful dinner overlooking the ocean before diving into our traditional meal on Saturday. My brother and I did our own Turkey Trot in the morning to substitute for our previous plans to run a real race. The weather was great (another bonus of having three less weeks on fall’s side) and we had a blast making jokes about what everyone else was doing on “Thanksgiving.” We withheld from running in full out costumes (or any themed attire), but I think if we should repeat the experience next year we should go all out.

For dinner we had our usual spread: salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, stuffing, and vegetables. I am not a big fan of Thanksgiving foods (mashed potatoes don’t interest me, I avoid gravy and turkey like the plague, and while I love stuffing, it makes me feel horrible). I was mostly interested in one of my favorite salads and the classic pumpkin pie, but the meat eaters were pleased that yes, you can get a turkey outside of the last week of November.

Despite being three weeks early, it was a lot of fun. There were no lines at the grocery store, no intense holiday traffic, and no painfully scripted Thanksgiving television in days preceding. It was by far the most relaxed holiday we have had.

I’m Mandy Ferreira, a journalist in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve written for Rodale’s Organic Life, Sunset, Via magazine, Healthline, Yoga Journal, and other publications. In addition to writing, I also work as a freelance editor and content producer.

I graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in Communication and Environmental Studies. Most of my work is about sustainable living, health, fitness, travel, and the outdoors, but I love to take on new challenges and projects.

If you are interested in working with me, please email me at Mandy (dot) Ferreira (dot) 1 (at) gmail (dot) com. Please note that I do not accept gifts, write sponsored posts, or otherwise promote brands, companies, or entities for payment.

Visit my LinkedIn profile to learn more about my past projects or to view my full resume.

Selected Work

Highway 1 Road Trip: San Francisco to Santa Cruz, Via

City Guides feature editor, Via

9 Things You Can Do to Stop Ocean Plastic Pollution, Sunset Magazine

10 Sunscreens That Keep You and the Coral Reefs Safe, Sunset Magazine

12 Must-Have Pieces of Hiking Gear, Sunset Magazine

The 3-Day Fix for Energy, Healthline

Clean Starts, Sunset, December/January 2018

12 Plastic-Free, Zero-Waste Holiday Decor Ideas We Love, Rodale’s Organic Life

West Coasters, Sunset, October 2017

The Best Places To Shop Online If You Want To Save Money And Live A Zero Waste Lifestyle, Rodale’s Organic Life

Exit Through The Gift Shop, Sunset, July 2017

17 Ways To Produce Less Trash And Save Money—According To Zero Wasters, Rodale’s Organic Life

6 Worthwhile Stops on the Way to Burning Man, Sunset Magazine

6 Tools Everyone Should Have To Ease Aches And Boost Flexibility, Besides A Foam Roller, Prevention.com

7 Reasons Why I Lift Heavy (And You Should Too), Healthline

Gua sha to Treat an Ankle Injury, Rodale’s Organic Life

Is #Vanlife Really Instagram Perfect?, Misadventures

11 Everyday Household Items You Aren’t Buying Organic—But Should, Rodale’s Organic Life

Writer, Creative Director with Joe Stoltz, Curious.com

Style Guide, Yoga Journal

Get the Glow, Yoga Journal

Sun Safely, Yoga Journal

Unusually Delicious, Yoga Journal

More

Sustainable Living and Environment

10 Sunscreens That Keep You and the Coral Reefs Safe, Sunset

11 Tips to Bike to Work Safely and Comfortably, Via

9 Things You Can Do to Stop Ocean Plastic Pollution, Sunset

The Best Places To Shop Online If You Want To Save Money And Live A Zero Waste Lifestyle, Good Housekeeping (originally Rodale’s Organic Life)

17 Ways To Produce Less Trash And Save Money—According To Zero Wasters, Good Housekeeping (originally Rodale’s Organic Life)

Travel and Outdoors

10 Best Trips to Take in College, Sunset

10 Best National Park Adventures in the Fall, Sunset

10 Ways to Be a Better Tourist, Sunset

Highway 1 Road Trip: San Francisco to Santa Cruz, Via

How to Travel Like a Minimalist, Sunset

Your Essential Burning Man Packing List, Sunset (I love a good packing list.)

10 Clever Camping Hacks, Sunset

17 Favorite Camping Tents, Sunset

7 Best BLM Camping Spots, Sunset (and also 32 Best Free Camping Sites.)

11 Tips to Bike to Work Safely and Comfortably, Via

10 Best Camping Cabins, Sunset

7 Small Town Escapes Just Outside the City, Via

10 Best Kids’ Hiking Shoes & Gear, Sunset

12 Must-Have Pieces of Hiking Gear, Sunset

10 Best Women’s Hiking Boots, Sunset

10 Best Hiking Boots for Men, Sunset

10 Foolproof Hiking Backpacks, Sunset

Health and Fitness

3-Day Gut Fix, Healthline

10 Cool Water Bottles to Keep You Hydrated on the Go, Sunset

Our Guide to the Best Yoga Gear, Sunset

10 Outdoors & Fitness Gifts for Dad, Sunset

10 Reasons to Ditch the New Year’s Diet, Healthline

How to Fall in Love with Yourself Again, Healthline

The Real Reason We All Get Hangry Sometimes, Healthline

No, You Don’t Have to Spend $500 a Month to Feel Healthier, Healthline

Lifestyle

My Family Stopped Giving Christmas Presents—And It Makes Our Holiday Season So Much Happier, Good Housekeeping (originally Rodale’s Organic Life)

What It’s Really Like To Be A Minimalist, Good Housekeeping (originally Rodale’s Organic Life)

What I Want You to Know About Downsizing and Mental Health, Healthline

10 Unusual Wedding Venues in the West, Sunset

7 Sensational Glamping Wedding Venues, Sunset

8 Wedding Venues with Jaw-Dropping Views, Sunset

10 Gifts for the Tech-Obsessed Dad, Sunset

10 Father’s Day Gifts for Music Lovers, Sunset

10 Gifts for Dads with Green Thumbs, Sunset

10 Great Gifts for the Handy Dad, Sunset

13 Useful Things You Can Do With Tea Tree Oil, Good Housekeeping (originally Rodale’s Organic Life)

Forget the Flowers: 19 Ways to Show Your S.O. Love Without the Gifts, Healthline

Food

The Best Restaurants for Brunch in the West, Via

10 Must-Have Wine Accessories, Sunset

10 Gourmet Gifts for Foodie Dads, Sunset

The Best Healthy Summer Dessert Recipes, Healthline

With the flu season ramping up, it seems like it’s impossible to avoid people who are sick. My roommate has been battling something for a few weeks and it seems like every time I go in to work someone else is home sick.

Between the Christmas trees, wet weather, and all of the bugs going around, I spent a few weeks suffering from allergies and/or a minor bug. I have posted about my neti habits in the past, but after seeing so many people suffer I thought it might be time to bring it up again.