BOWW LOVES PORTLAND

Nikes // Leggings // Sweater // Purse

Brace yourself, this is long...

I'm pretty sure the earth started to shake when I was running at the gym today. Yup, you can tell that I had a good time in Portland last weekend.  Portland surprised me because it wasn't what I was expecting. But really, I didn't know what to expect. A bunch of hipsters walking around drinking coffee? ...Okay, ya I saw that. I even saw a whole store just for men's underwear. A WHOLE store?! 

I did a bit of research before we arrived in Portland from friends and other bloggers so I had an idea where we wanted to go. We stayed at the Hotel Monaco which was awesome. The decor is unique, they are pet friendly, and even have a free wine hour (come to mamma). Our hotel also had a free rental bike program which helped us bop around the city. 

If you're in Portland, check these out: 

Vooodoo Doughnuts // This is a must in Portland but be ready to wait in line. Also, there is a homeless shelter near by so there are a lot of homeless people around the shop.

Bijou Cafe // This is located near Voodoo Doughnuts and it is amazing. There will be a wait on the weekends, but its worth it. Fresh ingredients & the best biscuits & gravy I've ever had.... (queue the drool from my mouth)

Imperial // Located in downtown, we stumbled in here for breakfast one day. The corn cakes were so yummy it's silly.

Salt & Straw // All I have to say is that I am very upset that there isn't a location in Arizona. --You need to try this, enough said.

Ace Hotel // Shown in the photos above. A funky boutique hotel that is a must to see. People are lounging drinking their coffee and reading the paper. Also, there is a photobooth located in the lobby of the hotel that is a perfect excuse to take funny photos.

Stumptown Coffee // Portland has great coffee but this is the signature brew that you shouldn't miss. They have locations throughout the city but we stopped by the one right next to the Ace Hotel. 

Zenny & Zuke's // This is located right down the block from the Ace Hotel. We were hangry the morning we stopped by the Ace Hotel and we picked this place on a whim. The fresh ingredients didn't disappoint and I would love to come here again. 

Portland City Grill // This has a great view of the city! We stopped in here Friday afternoon for drinks and appz.

Deschutes Brewery // My dad loves their beer so we were happy to find out that they are located in Portland. Also, their food is pretty tasty and pairs perfectly with their brews.

Yo Vintage // Just one of the cute vintage shops we stumbled upon on Burnside St.

Henry's Tavern // A perfect spot to grab great lunch and watch Sunday football.

Imogene + Willie // Denim lovers haven.

Tanner Goods // Not quite like Jimmy Fallon's leeeattthherman but it's pretty good. ;)

Also, every where we had breakfast was amazzing. I couldn't get over the food...hence the earth shaking when I got back home. I would recommend anyone to head to Portland for a weekend getaway. It's a perfect excuse to eat, drink, and create memories. 

FRIDAY FINDS // PHOENIX EVENTS

If you live in Phoenix, it is no secret that October tends to be the month that is jammed packed with events. I feel like every weekend there is something to do! I just wished there were more Saturdays in October. Pumpkin patches, weddings, festivals, and local events start to take over my calendar in the fall. However, what do you expect? The weather is finally bearable therefore, we have to take advantage!

Today, I wanted to share with you two of my favorite events coming up this weekend, the Arizona Taco Festival and Pineapple Triangles, AZ Share That You Care event.

First, let's talk tacos. I love tacos. Beef tacos, chicken tacos, pork tacos, veggies tacos... you know name it and I'll probably want it in my belly. Brandon and I make tacos at home at least once a week. They are simple and easy to throw together yet, you can get really creative with them. Full disclosure, I have never attended the festival yet, it sounds blissful. My favorite foods groups are tacos, chips, and margs so this festival just speaks to me. So if you are looking for something different and not too expensive (only $2 tacos!) than you need to head over to the Arizona Taco Festival this weekend. 

Second, another one of my favorite events is put together from the ladies of Pineapple Triangle. Remember when I went to their event earlier this year? Well, they are throwing a bigger event this Saturday. The ladies of Pineapple Triangle are committed to bring local artists and the community together in their AZ Share That You Care event. A portion of the proceeds go to the local artists choice therefore you can shop and help out some great causes! This will be a perfect October Saturday because there will be live music, a food truck, and shopping. Be sure to check out this lovely event and help support our local artists. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and thanks for reading! xxoo

THE "I'M FEELING NAUGHTY" SMOOTHIE

Behold, my favorite smoothie EVER! This puppy will put a pep in your step after you blend these goodies together. The smoothie is so bad, it's good in all of its chocolate-ty, peanut butter-ery, banana-y, and berry glory. This smoothie was born while trying to intimidate D'lish's Breakfast Buzz. Since there isn't a D'lish near our area, I needed to recreate my own.  Once you blend, double check the taste of the smoothie. I tend to add ingredients to desired taste. You'll sure feel naughty after drinking this delicious drink.

Hope you enjoy, muah!

xoxo 

FRIDAY FINDS: THE STAND

Burgers & Tacos??! Two of my favorite food groups collide in this weeks Friday Find. My brother John lives just across the street from The Stand and has been raving about it ever since he moved in. The Stand Burgers & Tacos is located near 36th St & Indian School Rd in Acardia. Don't be fooled by the Drive Thru because this isn't your ordinary take out restaurant, they don't skimp on fresh real ingredients. Eva, the owner and founder, strives to serve high quality food at a quick rate. The idea behind The Stand was Eva's heritage because she wanted to blend her Mexican and Russian Jewish backgrounds together. She created a simple and affordable menu to appeal to just about anybody. When my family and I got the chance to finally try The Stand, I must say my brother was right, the food was delicious. We ordered a burger, fries, fresh lemonade, chips & salsa, and tacos! The only items we missed were the guacamole and milkshake, but there is always next time. :)

I was lucky enough to get in contact with the owner Eva and ask her a few questions regarding The Stand. Take note, because she is right about the pickles! We didn't order extra and left with a little regret that we didn't seize the opportunity. 

Boww: What has been the biggest struggle starting your own business? What has been the biggest reward? 

Eva: It's not really a struggle if you love what you do. It's challenging but if your an entrepreneur your also an expert creative problem solver. You have no choice. The quote at the bottom by Danny Meyer really sums it up for me. I live by it and am tested to live up to it everyday I own my own business. 

"Success lies not in the elimination of problems but in the art of creative, profitable problem solving." - Danny Meyer 

The biggest reward is providing something positive to this community and the response that my little place has gotten. It's astounding to me. Everyday I'm surprised and humbled that people grace me with their patronage. I feel so lucky that this community had embraced what I have to offer. I work so hard at what I do and I hope that everyday in some way my business is a reflection of that.  

Boww: If you were to order one thing on The Stand's menu, what would it be?

Eva: If I were to order one thing it would be a Burger with extra cheese, extra pickles(because it took me forever to find the right pickles and my pickles ROCK!) thick cut bacon, caramelized onion, tomato, lettuce and Stand sauce on a gluten-free bun because I have Celiac's disease. By the way, if desired, my entire menu is available as a gluten free option. Top to bottom! 

Soo....What will you be doing this holiday weekend? They are closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day so make sure you catch them before then! Enjoy :) 

FRIDAY FINDS: SIP COFFEE & BEER HOUSE

 ^^ 90's music Bingo! ^^

^^ so cute outside ^^

What are you doing this weekend?! Nothing?? Okay great, so you can get your booty over to this hot spot in Scottsdale. 

Sip Coffee & Beer House opened in March this year and has been firing people up with coffee and beer ever since. When you travel north into Old Town Scottsdale this gem is one of the first places you see as you enter. Sip Coffee & Beer House is a dream come true for owner, Travis and his wife. I met Travis yesterday afternoon and he was nice enough to go over their concept for the place. They wanted to keep as much as the original building as possible leaving the floors and exposed ceiling. The space used to be a yarn and craft store therefore the owners left details of yarn throughout the place. Travis and his wife decorated the space with pieces from Arizona yard sales and antique shops. Their goal was to keep everything local and sustainable. 

When my girlfriend Stacey and I sat down with our Whiskey Mules (yumm) we were immediately greeted by DJ's to play music BINGO. The BINGO hosts were funny and it was a surprise to our casual Thursday happy hour. Although they do offer food, both of us ate prior to our visit so we didn't get a chance to try it out. I've tried many places for happy hour and this is by far my favorite. There are people working, catching up, or even playing with their dogs on the patio. Whether you are looking for your next coffee shop or brew house Sip is a place to come day or night. Sip is just another example why I love Arizona and supporting local business. 

Come on in & have a Sip! 

FRIDAY FINDS: THE SAGUARO

^^ Our boy Frank came to play with us ^^

A couple of weeks ago we had a staycation at The Saguaro Hotel in Old Town Scottsdale.  I have driven past this hotel multiple times and I have always wanted to step inside. The colors of the hotel are vibrant and would help put a smile on anyones face. We checked in on Saturday and hung by the pool the rest of the afternoon. 
They have a full service bar at the pool where you can order lunch and drinks. This isn't your fist pumpin', body rockin', bass jumpin' pool but there was a decent size crowd to make for a pleasant afternoon. This was a perfect balance to transition right into happy hour at the hotel's restaurant, Distrito. Distrito is a modern Mexican restaurant that serves classic Mexican but also has a full range of flavorful cuisine dishes that will surprise you. 

After happy hour we headed back to our room to get ready for a night on the town.  The location of the hotel is in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale next to the bars, clubs and fun nightlife.

I've never lived in Scottsdale but I have lived in downtown Tempe which is a short drive. I have friends who live close by and have spent many nights down in Old Town. Although I've spent time in the area, nothing beats spending the evening at The Saguaro. We didn't get a chance to enjoy the spa so I'm going to stop by to get a facial one of these days. Even if you are from the area or are from out of town, head over to The Saguaro for great amenities, a good time, and a fantastic location. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by.
xoxo  

INSTAGRAM ROUND UP

Howdy! Giddy up & welcome to the Instagram Round Up! 

I wanted to share some of my favorite snaps I've posted on Instagram. My favorite social media platform besides my blog is Instagram. It is a lot of fun to update my friends and followers with photos and clever captions. Also, I like to see what friends and other bloggers have been posting. If I don't have time to scan through some of my favorite bloggers, I scroll through my insta to get a feel for what is going on. 

Let me tell ya a little secret. I've been stressed out this week and last. I could go on and on about the little things but the thing that really has been bothering me are my blog posts. I've had some techincal difficulty with image quality and then in the middle of all that my camera battery charger broke.  

However, I am moving forward. It never helps to get too down on mistakes you've made. 

Thanks for reading & sticking with me! :) 
xoxo