local events

I love creating holiday traditions with my kids. One thing I try to do every year is spend one afternoon with each of them so they can pick out holiday gifts for their siblings.

Last year I took my middle daughter, Emma, shopping at our local mall for a mother daughter night out. It’s always a big treat for her to have alone time with me and have the opportunity to visit the Washington Square Mall.

This year I took my youngest, Noah to the Washington Square Mall to have a mother son afternoon. We then paid a visit to Santa at the Santa HQ, (like I did with Emma last year) which is located in the heart of the mall.

About the Santa HQ

Sometimes you just need a night out with a friend.

This last week I’ve been pretty silent on social media. I feel that everyone needs a little break from the online world to bring clarity and peace of mind. I also believe that you need to take time for yourself and make time to spend with friends. Sometimes a night out with a friend is the best therapy you could ask for.

The other night I did just that and had the opportunity to see the Broadway hit HAMILTON at the Keller Auditorium in Portland.  I didn’t know a lot about the musical other than what I had heard: that it was the story of one of America’s Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton and that it was told through rap and hip hop styled music.

We eagerly sat in our seats waiting for the lights to dim, and when they did the crowd’s excitement buzzed throughout the theatre.

HAMILTON was unlike any other Broadway performance that I have ever seen. There was some amazing choreography, and all of the lyrics were catchy and quotable. The music blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, and more.

I think the best way I’ve heard HAMILTON described is that it is the story of America then, as told by America now.

For those of you that need a brief history reminder: Alexander Hamilton was an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War, and became the first Treasury Secretary. His legacy is certainly one that I think I won’t forget after seeing this creative and catchy story unfold on stage.

“These walls were not built to shut out our problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.”

Last night I had the pleasure of taking Emma to see The Sound of Music at the Keller Auditorium in Portland. I honestly hadn’t seen the movie much less read the book since I was a kid and my children have never even seen the classic yet.

But I knew that Emma would like it.

As we took our seats I could see her eyes darting around the Keller; an auditorium that she’s grown quite familiar with over the past couple of years. She looked side to side at all of the previous spots we had sat in. Then looked up at the balconies filled with people.

Portland friends! As I mentioned on here a couple of weeks ago, Monster Jam®  is returning to the Moda Center this weekend! For all the details check out this post.

My husband will be taking the kids as I have a prior commitment, They are so excited! It’s always good when one parent can take the kids to go do something special. It makes for great memories. As we’ve all attended Monster Jam shows in the past, I’ve got a few tips for you to keep in mind prior to heading up there.

For the past few years my family has attended a show that has no other word to describe it except fun. The Monster Jam® is returning to Portland again on February 24th and 25th for the action-packed motorsport show!

What is Monster Jam®?:

If you are unfamiliar with the Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series™, it’s a live competition with motorsports, where Monster Jam trucks, Monster Jam Speedsters, and Monster Jam ATVS all battle for points in challenging races and freestyle events. It’s an event full of action including: racing, freestyle, donuts, wheelies, + more!

The Moda Center is transformed into a huge indoor dirt track that is created with the sole purpose of pushing all of these trucks to their limit. Monster Jam is one of the only sports where males and female world-class drivers (and some generational rivals) are equals competing for the same championship track.

A little over a week ago my Husband took Emma and Noah to see something that they were so excited to see: Marvel Universe Live! in Portland. It wasn’t the first time we had attended so the kids knew just how much fun the show was. In fact, they had been talking about it for weeks prior to attending. They patiently waiting with anticipation of the new show, which included all of their beloved characters plus some new Marvel characters: Guardians of the Galaxy.

Growing up, I didn’t live anywhere close to a city that had this kind of entertainment. Never in my mind would I ever have thought of seeing performances like this. Having the opportunity to let the kids see this amazing show not only let’s their childhood imaginations go wild, but it also shows them another side to life. It shows them that if you love something and are passionate about it, you can find a way to live your life sharing that passion with others. It makes me so happy that the kids enjoy the magic that these shows create.

Oh my food-loving friends. If you ever get the chance to head up to Portland do it in September when the entire town is all about Feast. I’m sure you’ve heard me talking about Feast before – after all, I’ve attended 4 out of the 6 years that it’s been around. 🙂 Feast is THE food and drink event (or events rather) in Portland where not only can you sample amazing things from chefs all over the country, but can attend fun classes, dinners, + more. Feast Portland isn’t just for fun either, it’s for a good cause. Net proceeds from this year at Feast will go to  Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

This year’s Feast was better than ever as I had an opportunity to attend #TrailstoFeast – a pre-Feast press trip down to my old stomping grounds: Southern Oregon. I’ll share lots more on that soon.!

Immediately after returning from our trip Feast began! I attended the media breakfast which is always delicious, then headed over to a class hosted by Health-Ade to learn how to make kumbucha. I left with everything I needed to try to make my own!

Grand Tasting

Following the class I attended the Grand Tasting, where I had the opportunity to sample many tasty treats. Some of my favorites included: