I know The Fleet has come and gone from the East coast, but now it has made it’s way to The City of Roses (Portland, OR- my city of residence) and when my friend informed me she had won tickets to this “non-denim” (yes, the tickets specified no denim) formal affair event, we had to go - it was our patriotic duty after all.

I should take a second here to clarify a few things before I really get into this story. I would like to start out by saying I fully support the troops, after all my brother is in the Navy, and when I told him I was heading out to the annual Meet the Fleet festivities his only response was a very brotherly “Don’t hook up with sailors.” Granted, I really had no intention of hooking up with these guys, I was more seeking some attractive company who would buy me drinks and could possibly turn into a pen-pal who sends me presents.

In order to maximize my odds with nabbing me a high ranking sailor I had my brother write me out a little guide on how to separate the men from the boys. With my criteria in place I was ready to meet and greet the ocean’s finest. Read More »

I know, I know, I should eat more fruits and vegetables.

It’s not like I don’t want to be the healthiest person alive…it’s just that produce tends to be expensive in this city, and if I don’t eat all of it quickly, it goes bad and then I feel bad because I wasted money on perfectly good produce. Also, my fridge smells for days and that’s gross.

In my never ending-search to make myself healthier and waste less money, I stumbled across this little gem of a website not too long ago. NutriFruit was started in 1931 in the lovely little state of Oregon, and for years these people have been shipping quality freeze dried fruit to costumers all over the United States.

Freeze dried fruit?, you say, that sounds weird.

Well, yes, it is a little weird, but it’s also pretty healthy. Since NutriFruit takes out only the water from their berries, a canister of the stuff has almost all of the nutrients of fresh fruit — but you get a lot more bang for your buck. Sprinkle it over cereal or yogurt, add it to salads or smoothies, or simply sweeten up a slice of bread and butter! With all the options; banana, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, marion blackberry, red raspberry, and strawberry, you can fill your pantry with a virtual fruit salad — for a fraction of the cost. Plus, freeze dried stuff can’t go bad!

If you’ve ever wanted to get more viatims and minerals in your diet without stuffing yourself full of supliments, NutriFruit might just be your ticket to a healtheir bod. Just in time for summer!

Ah, Portland, Oregon: Land of the chronically hip and effortlessly cool. If you haven’t heard the buzz about Portland and its fab music scene over the last couple of years…well…then…I just don’t know where you’ve been.

Nonetheless, despite the hype, the town is home to many a talented underground band and I’m here to give some of them shout outs. Open up your myspace windows and check out this music!

“No Sh*t” ESKIMO AND SONS
“Sex by the unit” GENTRY
“Trouble from the start” DAY OF LIONS
“Demonic with horns” BOY EATS DRUM MACHINE
“Shadows” AUTOPILOT IS FOR LOVERS
“Priests of Shiloh” PORCHES
“Hey Boy” THE BLOWS
“Dragonfly Pie” STEPHEN MALKMUS
“Weightless” FLOATER
“Jumpers” SLEATER-KINNEY

Enjoy!!!