portland inspiration

here's the run down of the highlights:

*Stumptown Coffee (OMG)



*the Southeast Clinton neighborhood:

*Limbo Inc. (wall of herbs)

*Press Club Cafe (lunch - prosciutto, egg and brie croissandwich)

*Broder Cafe (breakfast - aebelskiver!)




*Savoy Tavern & Bistro (dinner) - same owner as Cafe Broder

*Detour Cafe (brunch - cardamom french toast!)




*the Pearl District (Downtown)

*Ace Hotel (lobby hang out)

*Clyde Common (Ace Hotel restaurant - lunch!)


must do on my next trip:

*Selby (antique district)

*Living Room Lounge Cinema (have your cocktail or coffee in the theater tableside)

*Stay at the Ace Hotel


great finds:

*Eat Shop Guides (awesomely presented little books on the most important information one needs to know when traveling: food and shopping!)

polaroid mania

more pics from my walk in Portland! finally, I figured out how to use this super rad polaroid image maker and I am obsessed (thanks again Jamila for your awesome tips)! not to mention that I am about to venture off to Downey (where I was born), to pick up a Vintage 1974 (year I was born!) Polaroid SX-70 SLR, the same model that Jenifer Altman uses to create her dreamy shots. for now, here are simulated versions. once I learn how to use the real deal, I'll get down to business...

in limbo

my first moments in Portland were incredible, starting with the amazing lunch I had at the Press Club Cafe - a simple croissant that was way too perfectly flaky and golden and crispy on the outside and pure buttery goodness on the inside, with a perfectly fried egg, prosciutto di parma and brie. who would've thought brie with that combo would work? it did, and it was heavenly. the egg yolk was just runny enough to make you want to die and go to heaven and the whole sandwich held together magically. i love breakfast sandwiches, any time of day. this one must be one of the best I've EVER had. plus, the ambiance, selection of magazines to chose from and the beats were sublime. it's located at 2621 SE Clinton St., fyi.



the next adventure was to the "wall of herbs' at a place called Limbo. but first, the walk there was enough to hold me in limbo - I was transported to another plane as I walked the neighborhood streets and stopped at almost every house to be completely enchanted by the landscaping, the color schemes, the wind chimes. it was pure bliss. every moment was perfect. I was completely mesmerized.



the park on the way. you could see and feel the trees breathing. splendid.




kissing cars








flower power












feng shui








color theory








herbal heaven

land of portals

I got back a little over a week ago from my journey to the Pacific Northwest and it has taken me this long to process what I saw, felt, and lived. So much was compressed into a few days in sensory stimulation that I need to break up my experiences into different topics with so many photos to share! It seems as though the theme of the trip was stepping through portals, and what a better place to start than "Portland"....

morning inspiration

I just found this awesomeness while looking up the store hours of Reform School- a super cute craft & design boutique in Silver Lake: Year of Mornings 3191 miles apart. It has tickled me pink for a few reasons. For one, I was just recently inspired to do a photo series on my morning walk to yoga, as well as of random things in my great studio. Then, it's a collaboration of two women that are from Portland! One is from Portland, Oregon and the other is in Portland, Maine. What are the odds? I am beyond excited for my upcoming vacation to the Northwest and I have never been to Portland. Mostly, I am excited about this concept because despite their distance (3191 miles apart), they seem to be in sync on any given day with the subject matter they are inspired to shoot. I LOVE it. And I can't wait to buy this book immediately, as well as register for Photography 101 at the Art Center and buy my new camera.

prosperity

alchemy union

Infinite 8

The number eight turned to one side is the symbol for infinity. There are also eight limbs of yoga, which are practical guides from Patanjali (a saint who is considered the father of yoga), to a person’s personal development to achieve the harmony of the mind, body and spirit. The number 8 is also considered a very lucky number for prosperity and everlasting abundance. The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.

Peacock

Peacocks are revered around the world as a symbol of wisdom, love and luck. The Tibetans consider the peacock to have alchemical powers due to its ability to literally eat and be nourished by poisonous plants. Because of this the peacock is a powerful symbol to help us transform the poison in our lives into something beautiful.

Lotus flower

The Lotus flower symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and enlightenment. The Lotus is also associated with the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, who brings prosperity, purity and generosity. The Lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. Om Mani Padme Hum, meaning, “Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus” is the sacred mantra of the Tibetans..

Lady Bug

Ladybugs, or Ladybirds as they are also known, are best known as emblems of luck and overall good omens. They are considered symbols of protection in Ireland as well as a harbinger of true love. It is said when a Ladybug lands on you, that your wish will come true.

White Elephant

White elephants are revered symbols of power, prosperity and good fortune.

A white elephant also appears as a guardian of temples and of the Buddha. The white elephant is also considered to belong to the Hindu god Indra. He leads the Devas (the gods who form and maintain Heaven) and the elements such as fire and water.

Horseshoes

The horseshoe invokes the crescent moon, the sacred shape of the moon goddesses Artemis and Diana and so invites their protection. The Moon is a female shape for receiving blessings. It is a fertility sign (for the wealth of your wallet!). The seven nail holes in a horseshoe invoke the traditionally lucky number 7. The Horseshoe is also positioned facing up the gather the luck from the heavens.

Evil Eye

This nazar or “evil eye” is a powerful symbol of protection common in Turkey. It offers the power to shield the wearer from negativity by stopping and reflecting the energy back to the source.

Dragonfly

Native American’s believe that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship. They are a sign of prosperity. In Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness. The dragonfly symbolizes change ..They are fantastic flyers, streaming light, turning and changing direction always heading somewhere better.. Their colors are a result of reflecting and refracting the power of light. Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways. How we see the world is a reflection of how we think. Shine your light in all the corners you encounter for life illumination.

music of the spheres

I am so excited- coming back from yoga this morning, I had a feeling I should check the mailbox. I ordered a demo CD last week from Music of the Spheres, Inc., "the Stradivarius of Windchimes" and sure enough, there it was in a beautiful glossy black CD cover envelope. I want to add chimes to the blog so that one can drift off further into the ether as one steps into the mineral forest. Hooray!