I'm here.

a sweet short film by Spike Jonze.

I have to admit,,,

I cried...

you can watch a full version here.

my kind of drink

since we got in Portland, my husband and I've been drinking this tea called "kombucha".

we had been a regular drinker of it until we moved back to Canada two years ago,

but the price in Canada was so much higher and there was only one kind sold at the organic grocery store we used to go to...

now, we're back in the States and definitely enjoying the variety and the cost that they offer here!

yesterday, I discovered another favorite one!

SYNERGY Guava Goddess

sorry it is an empty bottle :P

sometimes you can't taste the 'flavors' because Kombucha is so strong,

which kind of tastes like carbonated apple cider vinegar.

but this one was really fruity and very yummy :)

just in case you've never heard of kombucha...

KOMBUCHA (kom-BOO-cha)

is a handmade Chinese tea that is delicately cultured for 30 days. During this time, essential nutrients from like: Active Enzymes, Viable Probiotics, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, and Polyphenols. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.

KOMBUCHA SUPPORTS:

digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control,

liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair.

(description/info from the SYNERGY bottle,

and here is their website.)

okay, there has been a little question on my mind...

I am a little confused and wondering why it is Chinese tea, but the name is Japanese?

is this one of those thing that got all mixed up and thrown together just because it is close enough in region,

or is the name really chinese??

does anyone know????

it seems like there are a quite few Portlanders who brew their own Kombucha!

I'd love to try brewing my own, too, once we settle in!!

happy birthday to..

me :)!

today was my birthday!!

it was rather mellow and quiet.

my hubby went back to Canada last Sunday for a week worth of work left up there.

so, I am all by myself here in Portland on my birthday :(

well,,, at least my little girl is with me!

I got a lot of messages from family and friends.

so that was very sweet.

oh, and I got an unexpected raspberry tart and card from our friend's family who we're staying with right now.

it was very sweet of them.

I was going to share the raspberries with little L, but she didn't really dig and tried a little bite on one.

and,,,

we're still 'home' hunting in Portland...

it's been pretty hard to find a family/kid-friendly place for rent that suites us.

although, this family is really nice to us and offering a place to crash,

it been pretty stressful(for me anyway)...

trying to stay positive!

here we come!

our lives have been kind of crazy and very exhausting...

hard to live in an 'up-in-the-air' lifestyle with full on unknowns.

my creativity pretty much doesn't exist when things are chaotic like this,

and I get unmotivated and a bit depressed.

I know that it takes sometime to make a transition from one life/place to next,

and it doesn't always happen in the way and timing that you want.

but, it's been a quit challenge for my patience, that is for sure!

well, I hope it is ending soon, and I just can't wait to get on with my life soon...!

anyhow, we're going down to Portland, Oregon!!

and then to Ashland in a few days.

I have been to Portland a few times on a quick trip, but never explored much around the city.

do you have any suggestions on where to go, eat, and shop(maybe?)??

and that actually is the place we're thinking of moving!

we'll be checking out different neighborhoods around the city as well.

I'd love to hear your recommendations on safe good inspiring (and somewhat family oriented) neighborhood that might suite for our family!

(image)

ah I can't wait!!

what we've been up to...

so, I guess I can sort of tell you what we've been up to.

we have been trying to make a move to somewhere inspiring that we'd love to live!

I won't tell you where we're thinking of moving just yet,

just because it may not work out...

currently we're in a transitional phase.

I and my little girl are staying at my husband's sister's place while my husband keeps working out of town.

his sister and her family had been gone for a couple weeks to Japan to visit family.

(yes, his sis is married to a Japanese guy. two Japanese people in the family! interesting, eh?)

while they were gone, I had an animal care taking job at their place.

they have a cat and a bunch of chickens.

I feed them, collect the eggs twice a day and tuck them in at night.

sure chickens taste good and I certainly love eggs, but oh man, I can't stand them...

they kind of creep me out - how them move is very weired and I can't figure out what they're thinking(if not at all)...

I even chopped some wood yesterday! it was a lot of work!!!

I don't think I've ever used an ax before.

what a way of life!

it is very inspiring to be living off grid and be self-sustainable,

but I think I'm going to wait another ten fifteen ears before I get into a country living!

changes are happening...

sorry for not blogging often lately...
some changes are coming upon us,
well, maybe they are happening as I speak.
I can't quite tell you what the changes are...
well, I, myself, can't even keep up with them, nor am I entirely sure how they will play out.
so, I will post about that later when things are more clear and sure.


anyhow, I finally watched this movie, called New York, I love You.
I had been wanting to watch this for a long time.

it is constructed from a bunch of different short stories, which are also interwoven together somehow.
each short story is written and directed by different play writer and director.

the main reason why I wanted to watch it was because I like the similar movie called, Paris je t'aime.
I guess, it is the same production...

here are the little youtube trailers.

I loved them both movies, but I think it would be much more fun watching it if you know(have visited or lived)those cities.
recognizing so many places and land marks in the movies would have made it much more real.

anyhow they are both good :)


I am trying to keep up with reading everyone else's blog even though I may not leave a comment.
I promise, I will write about what's going on as soon as it becomes more clear!