Giving up the Best Strawberries

I have huge passion for food. That sounds wonderful, but in other words, I love to eat. And, I eat like a vacuum. My oldest daughter had told me that in the past.

She knows my favorite food: Strawberries.

This time of the year, we have wonderful strawberries here in Oregon.

Almost every week, we buy them at farmer's market.

This one is from a Tuesday farmer's market at OHSU. I bought 3 pints at Saturday farmer's market and by Sunday morning, the three containers were empty!! So, it was unplanned, but I replenished with the ones from Tuesday farmer's market.

Knowing how much I love strawberries, I was sort of surprised to say that I hardly ate any of the strawberries from farmer's markets. The girls did! This is another sign of being a mom; give up your favorite food so your kids can have them.
Seeing the kids happy faces with red mustache is all worth of giving up the best strawberries around here :)

Eating What I Grew

My balcony has been full of spring with flowers blooming and vegetable and herb growing.

The gold medal goes to Mizuna. It has been growing like crazy!

This is from mid April about a few weeks after we planted the seeds.

Two weeks after that, it looked like this.



Now it looks even more bushy than the last photo.

Tonight, I cooked pasta with bacon and some vegetables like green pepper, tomato, onion from grocery store AND mizuna, herbs (basil, rosemary, and sage) from my garden!



Yum.....

Travel Diary - Story from my success (so far)

I have traveled with my two kids to Japan and across the US several times now.

Now I have many experiences under my belt, I am not so worried about the long trip with the kids alone.

We have scheduled the next trip in late June, and are looking forward to spending early (humid) summer in Japan... Seriously!

Here are some tips from me and why my trips have been successful so far!

1. Thanks goodness for the oldest who is a morning person.

She does not mind being woken up at the end of the long flights usually middle of the night Oregon time. With her sleepy eyes half open, she pulls her own carry-on suitcase full of toys, books, change of clothes (for accident) and blanket for herself and her little sister without much of complaining.

She is a trooper and awesome traveler.

2. Bathroom trips can be tough but can be done.

At airports, three of us all get in the wheelchair stall and take turns. "Taking turns" mean just the oldest and me. Then, we change the youngest diaper (until she is potty trained whenever that would be....)

We used to use stroller for traveling but now it is actually easier without.

On the plane, bathroom trip can be case by case. If I have to go and the kids are asleep, ask a flight attendant to watch them for a few minutes. If they are awake, we all usually end up going together or the oldest might stay at her seat entertain herself. But, the youngest has to come with me as long as she is awake. If the oldest have to go, we all go. NO QUESTION ABOUT THIS ONE.

3. Food (planning ahead for the 10+ hour trip)

I always bring some snack/fruit etc. Fruit always have to be disposed before entering another country, but still sounds healthier than junk food that comes in plastic bag. Rice balls have been very filling and good traveling food.

4. Last resort - Portable DVD player

The NW flight used to be equipped with on demand system. However, since they are aquired by Delta, the aircraft they use for the Portland-Narita does not have on demand system. We are stuck to watch the same movie at the same time with the rest of the passengers in the coach cabin. So, when the kids are just restless and bored, the portable DVD player has been a hero. It is better to have quiet kids on the plane without surrounding passengers giving you dirty looks and you are going crazy than worried about how much they are watching TV. My own sanity to last the whole trip is more important.

These are MY own secrets for success.

Soon, I think I will write funny stories from our experiences...

Expedition to Farmer's Market ALONE!

PSU farmer's market has open for this year since a few weeks ago, and I could not wait to go.

The only problem is the kids. My oldest is very helpful, but sometimes very demanding and dramatic. More problem is the youngest who has super strong will and very physical and loves to run away from me all the time. So, today was a test. How much can I handle???

First, we bought very sweet strawberries. They started eating them while we look around. That was totally fine with me, and I thought they were cute.

Then, we bought two different kinds of cheese. We love the cheese we bought last week, so we went back for more. They kept sampling, sampling, and sampling...

Here is what started to go down a little.

The youngest and I decided to eat a crape. It turned out she only wanted to eat whipped cream. I ate most of the rest. Then, the oldest want a breakfast sandwich. Pine State Biscuit has breakfast sandwich, and I could tell from the long line that they must be good. I decided to wait in line with two kids. I must have been crazy. The oldest might behave, but the youngest? Of course, she ran away from me like she always does. Did I think she would wait in line with us? Of course not. I made the oldest wait in the line as I went to grab the screaming child who wanted to run some more. Finally, we got to order, but the wait was another 5-10 min. So, the kids wondered around the trees and climbing some of them during the wait. Near the end of the wait, we went closer to Pine State Biscuit and made the oldest go up to them when they called her name. The guy refused to give her food because she was a child. She kept telling him "that is me. that is my food!" I had to yell out from 10 yard away "Yes, that is hers!!"

Finally, the oldest is somewhat happy with her breakfast sandwich, but that did not last long. After a few bites, she dropped the whole thing on the ground!! She is very upset and tears coming her cheeks saying "I wanted to have patty!" I salvaged the part that did not touch the ground; egg and bacon, and gave them to her.

Now, we want to look around some more but the youngest still refused to leave the tree area. She rather climbed the tree and fences than look around the market... I once again grab the screaming child, and when she gave up, I put her down and made her walk. Now, she was calmer and we got to see and shop some flowers. Before we left, the kids tried art booth that were there for the earth week. They got to make ladybugs using recyclable material (egg carton).

I am not traumatized from the expedition. I might give a try next week, again.

Portland Food Carts

The last three days, I have visited food carts on SW Alder and 10th. Full of great food at great price! I became a fan of Food Carts Portland on Facebook recently to get updates.

The last Tuesday, I tried Chicken and Rice from Nong's Khao Man Gai. The long line was good indication, so it must be good. $6 for that was not expensive at all. What a wonderful meal! The spicy sauce on chicken and rice.... Yum!

Yesterday, I wanted to try Thai food, so my choice was Sawasdee Thai Food. I have been a HUGE fan of green curry, so I decided to give a try here.

I must say the curry was great but it would have been even better if it was on jasmine rice instead of steamed short grain rice. Slightly on the spicy side even ordered as mild, but great flavor.

Today's choice was Vietnamese food. Forgot the name of the cart, but the line was moderate. I translate that as neither good or bad, just average maybe?

Ordered chicken noodle pho. Quantity was more than enough. Again, never been disappointed with food carts when you are only paying so little.

We walked to a new park area west of Fox Tower and ate there the last two days.

AND, we found a food cart that we should try there.

The name is Violetta; only use local (Washington and Oregon) organic food to make their things on menu! I got to try a potato chip and it was delicious.

There are countless food carts here in this city, and I am just getting started!

Avoid Handmade (for now)

I love handmade. They are unique and always have some personal touch to the products.

Living in Portland is great for handmade lovers like me. But, it certainly hits hard my bank account. I enjoy Saturday Market, and recently my friend introduced me to First Thursday in Pearl District which was almost like mini Saturday Market. We must have spent about $250 in the last month and half by going to these events. As much as we love and use the things we bought, we need to cut back and control ourselves on expenditure at these places.

But, we decided to go back last Sunday when it was nice out.

With one goal. "WE WILL NOT BUT ANYTHING"

We went there to eat the vender food, so excluding that, we did not buy ANYTHING. So, our will was strong.

Then, we went to Rose Garden where the kids can run around (for free) and then the playground (again for free).

What a great way to spend Sundays. I love it when we get to have fun and it does not cost anything!

I must avoid handmade for now, but I cannot stay away from them forever.

Out at the Tulip Festival

Tulip is one of my favorite flowers.

I have known about the tulip festival for a while and have not missed since my oldest daughter "Big H" was 1 year old.
The last year was one of the unforgettable: Visited with three old Japanese ladies (my mom and two aunts) and it was definitely a different experience than the others. More time in gift shop than out looking at flowers because 1. it was "too cold", 2. they LOVE nik-naks sold at gift shops. I know for the fact their houses are full of nik-naks.



It was a cool but the only dry day in this week. Taking advantage on weekday (less crowded and less expensive parking) and enjoyed the visit. "Little H" seemed more interested in playing in mud, and entertained us a lot. Something "Big H" would have never have done at that age.

And, only when we were leaving, we realized her favorite toy "Sponge Bob" had vanished from her hand, somewhere in the huge tulip field. I searched while "little H" was distracted by ice cream, but no luck. The Sponge Bob was long gone...

"Little H" cried herself to sleep longing for her tiny yellow friend...