A scene from our breakfast nook. (I am loving my new Skinny Laminx apron—thanks M!)

Things are moving along here after the holidays with many new opportunities for my career, for travel, for a new living space, and for self-improvement.

I am renewing my efforts to expand our culinary horizons and eat more healthfully in the new year. I have been preparing many more Chinese and Japanese influenced dishes as well as taking a few inspired pointers from Mark Bittman's article in the latest Bon Appetit (ie: quinoa pasta, flavorful soups, and vegan breakfasts).

As far as travel goes, I have exciting news! We will be touring a few cities in China in the near future with our friends J and K. With three very fluent companions, I am thrilled to navigate a new country and delve into new culinary traditions and savor new tastes, colors, and smells.


We will be flying to SF to set up our visas with the Consulate of the People's Republic of China next week so I hope to post much more about our plans and travels in the coming weeks.

[1. c. lynn]

While we're away, we were planning on having guests stay at our place. Although plans have since changed, I am very pleased having pulled together a helpful 'home manual' or 'guest information packet' after being inspired by this version by Lifehacker. I intend to leave it out (just in case) for friends who have graciously volunteered to mind our plants while we're gone.

I know it sounds a little OCD to pull one together, but it's actually very helpful. What do you do in a hotel room when you want to figure out the wireless internet password or where the hair dryer is kept or where the to find the nearest dry cleaner—you use the guest information packet of course.

Although I modified the manual to include plant care and a few other helpful insights, I can really vouch for its handiness. I remember staying at a friend's house in Tokyo, trying to figure out where she kept extra blankets, how to operate the heating/cooling system that looked like it was manufactured in the 70s (and in Japanese!), how to use the washer/dryer which was actually a dual use machine, and how to prepare the recycling as the Japanese have very strict procedures about this and incorrectly disposing of things might upset neighbors.

If you keep the guest manual in a binder, you could also use this as the perfect place to store appliance manuals, take-out menus, paint chips for each room, the business cards for handypersons, electricians, plumbers, arborists, etc. Just use tabs, label, use business card binder pages, and organize.

[1. c. lynn]

I love the beautiful wooden cutting board that R and C brought over as a gift for our housewarming last weekend. It is an exquisite piece of walnut with gorgeous natural details from the Joinery in Portland. I love furniture from the Joinery—the craftsmanship is unparalleled and they source their wood from sustainable forests. 

I have my eye on a dining room table that is absolutely divine.


[1. c. lynn]

My mother and I found a great deal on a Pfaff sewing machine this past weekend and so we've been pulling together a few unfinished projects that I had lying around—namely, some lovely linen table napkins and a few printed tea towels from Lena's workshop a year and a half ago.

We have been so busy organizing, restructuring, and rearranging things to make sure that the house runs a bit more more smoothly. She's been such a huge help, especially since M is on her way. And don't worry, we've taken her kayaking, walking, shopping, dining, and garden hopping too—she's not here to work!

[1. purlbee]

Canoe is the best place in Portland to find a well-edited selection of design products for the home as well as my secret US source for Iris Hantverk brushes, which, in my opinion, make all chores tolerable. I love the aesthetic of the shop and always find something to take home. This time, it was the well-made teak trivet from Denmark and yes, a brush or two.

[1. & 2. Canoe]