Baking Soda, Sunday Potluck, and the Pacific Northwest

Currently obsessing over

Baking soda: I’ve long heard it’s magical properties, but it was reading Ashley’s post about using baking soda instead of shampoo for a more natural, eco-friendly, less expensive form of hair cleaning, that made me start really testing things out. Follow that up with discovering a recipe for a carpet cleaner that includes baking soda, and now I’m Googling all the ways to use it to clean.

Suggestions? How do you use baking soda in lieu of cleaners, detergents, etc.?

Lissie. I’d heard her here and there before, but Chelsea recently turned me on to a bunch of her YouTube videos and first album (which I promptly bought from iTunes). Check out her Kid Cudi cover here.

Any new music blowing you away lately?

Sunday Potluck. Jodi started this routine within our little crew here, and I have to say – it’s probably the highlight of my week’s lately. We hosted a Dip Potluck at our place this last weekend, and have previously enjoyed a Sunday Brunch potluck, a couple over at Grace and a couple great ones at JR’s place. It is the perfect way to end the weekend and start the week – with food and conversation with the people who have made this town a home for me.

What traditions do you share with your crew?

Rediscovering balance. I recently switched job directions and left the start-up I was working at here in Boulder in favor of going back to contract work, seeking further yoga teacher training, and anticipating some bigger changes towards the end of the year. I’ve started mentally reorganizing the way I’m approaching my own business, and am a super-productive machine in the morning, and am making time for workouts and errands and input in the evenings. I’m finding a routine that works for me, that allows me to work when I’m most efficient and recharge when I need to step away.

Etsy Giveaways. I found this site (which I debated sharing with you…) to a listing of A TON of Etsy Giveaways, and so far I’ve won a vintage teacup (!!!) and am hoping for a couple of handmade pieces of jewelry.

Inspiring Women. I’ve known since I moved here that I was immediately blessed with great girlfriends. Over the summer, and in the past few weeks I’ve come to realize just how brilliant, strong, intelligent, beautiful, and inspiring this group of women really is. I am inspired daily by this group that holds me accountable, that encourages my own brightness, and that celebrates each other’s differences in such a strong way. You girls are diamonds.

Me, Elsewhere

If you want to stalk me at my various haunts online, this week I wrote:

• Collision Course, Stratejoy.com – my take on love’s role in my quarter-life crisis
• Appolicious New Site Launch, FRWD – quick review on the new Android and Yahoo! sites launched by Appolicious
• I was interviewed by Kristen about my first job. You can read about how I started at Target corporate offices advising in-store HR reps on how to administer benefits, payroll, etc. A far cry from where I am now

Up and Coming

As this posts, Boyfriend and I are on a flight, taking a little trip out to the Pacific North West this weekend, set out to enjoy and explore Portland, a city we’ve both fallen in love with in the past. I went this last April for the first time, and have been so excited to get back. While we’re there, I hope to check out a class at CorePower Yoga, spend some serious time in Powell’s Book Store, and use a Groupon I bought for a cute little thrift store.

What’d you do this week? What are you doing this weekend?

Tagged as: Etsy, Girlfriends, lissie, oregon, Portland, potluck, stratejoy