Category Archives: Musings

Musings

so long, 2016

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As the end of 2016 approaches, I am feeling like it can’t come soon enough. I am ready to say goodbye and face the new year (and all of its challenges) head on.

I started this blog with the intention of getting my creative juices flowing in the kitchen, and sharing the many recipes that mean a lot to me. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the last six months have been busy for me professionally, leaving me not as much time as I’d like to dedicate to the blog.

New Year’s resolutions are the worst, but the idea behind them is great. I resolve to do better about setting aside time to continue building and sharing what I love to create in the kitchen.

What I really want to do is say thank you. Thank you for reading, commenting, and for giving me a reason to continue Planks and Sticks.

snow-written-thank-you

 

 

 

 

Musings

farewell to coffee people

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Today is a day of mourning for me. The last two remaining Coffee People locations will shutter permanently today at Portland International Airport. At the top of their game, circa late 1990s, there were about 40 Coffee People stores and Motor Mokas in the Portland area. The owners slid from the top of their game in 1997 when they sold Coffee People to two large chains in 1997 and again in 1998. The final sale was to Starbucks in 2006. The coffee behemoth dismantled all of the Coffee People and Motor Moka locations, save for the final two airport kiosks.

Continue reading farewell to coffee people →

Musings

thank you

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Wow, it’s been another year since I began this thing in March 2014. A lot happened in 2015, more so than in a typical year for me. The year started with a move from the San Francisco Bay Area to Portland Oregon, which was bittersweet, but turned out to be a really good decision. Mid year a dear friend of mine passed away, which I continue to try and make sense of, and deal with the feelings evoked in me by her death. The year ended with a three-week trip to Asia, from which I just returned. I feel recharged and ready to share many of the recipes I learned to make while traveling.  Continue reading thank you →

Musings, SF Bay Area Eats, Travel and Eating Guides

a love letter to SF

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Leaving is hard to do. I think as I get older, saying goodbye to a familiar place feels more challenging than it used to. I left Portland 12 years ago and barely looked back. I was too busy looking forward to a new adventure in California. In the 12 years since I left my home state, I’ve lived in Southern and Northern California, and have fallen in love with life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today my husband and I are embarking on a new adventure in Portland. I’m excited at the prospect of living as a fully formed adult in Portland, being geographically closer to my dad and reuniting with my friends.  Continue reading a love letter to SF →

Musings

done is better than perfect

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Post number three and I’m already diverging from the overarching food-centric nature that I envisioned for this blog. But I can’t help myself, I have success on the brain. Last night I went with my friend Kerri to a Commonwealth Club presentation hosted by Arianna Huffington and Sheryl Sandberg. The two women spoke about how to redefine what we think of as success. Arianna Huffington has written a book about the subject called Thrive. Part of me thinks that it’s easy (ok, not easy, but easier) to write about redefining something you have already, by our society, achieved. Yes, I’m a cynic.

Cynicism aside, overall the subject matter was aspirational, and the women went into detail about the book. The gist? Remember that there is more to life than wealth and power. Arianna provided practical tips on now to have a more meaningful life, how to be less stressed, have a better balance, sleep more, meditate and give to others. Sounds obvious, right? But the reminder to thrive is exactly what I need right now.

My favorite takeaway of the evening: done is better than perfect. I know I get caught up in the endless cycle of tinkering with something until I’ve taken so much time with it that I no longer see straight and end up not finishing, making mistakes and jumping to another project. In fact, last night I was telling Kerri about my blog and I started over explaining that it was a work in progress, I haven’t set up and organized everything the way I want yet, and so on. She replied with, “done is better than perfect.” Thank you, Kerri for putting things into perspective.

And now, back to food.

 

 

 

Musings

sometimes it’s necessary

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Many cliched phrases have been running through my head in the last week. Everything happens for a reason; when one door closes, another opens; change is scary, but good; and so on. I’ve decided to pack away the cliches and create my own mantra: you’ll feel better when you finally start a blog and make cookies. And that, my friends, is exactly what I’m going to do.