I’m signed up for Groupon, which is a daily deal service. It’s  pretty amazing. Basically because they guarantee the business a certain number of people will sign up for the offer, those businesses will give you a screaming good deal. Caveat – the deal doesn’t go through if more than 20 people don’t sign up, but usually hundreds do, for the good stuff at least.

I scored a coupon earlier this week for Branch Whiskey Bar not to far from our house. It was $10 for a $25 gift certificate. Plus Dylan has art hanging there this month, so we like to support the businesses that  throw some love Dylan’s way. Chances are we’ll spend more than $25, but it is still a good deal.

Portland also offers this program called Free Night of Theater. Tickets are released in October for shows throughout the month. There are still a few shows left but I recommend signing up for their email list for next year because tickets do go fast. I mean, they are free after all.  So we are seeing the Tempest at the Blue Monkey Theater. I had to not tell Dylan where we were going because it’s one of those things that if I told him before hand we were going to see a Shakespeare play he would have thrown a fit and I would have had to drag him out of the house kicking and screaming. But if I just make him go, chances are he’ll probably enjoy the show.

I’ll  try and post tomorrow my review of the show and what Dylan really thought!

If you want to read this great write up on our little neighborhood from Neighborhood Notes, please do. We love our little spot in NE Portland. And the art in the pictures in the back of the Good Neighbor Pizza photos are Dylan‘s. You can mostly see John Graeter’s work who is also awesome and we have one of his pieces in my office at home.

So, I had my cut and color appointment last night, and here is why I now love Bouffant:

• My guy Nate is awesome. I think he can read my mind. Or I’m just that predictable when it comes to my hair. And he’ll do saucy things to me like this: Oh the chocolately-brown goodness. The blond highlights were fun for the summer, but it’s quickly becoming fall and I needed a change. And a bob.
• Bouffant serves wine! I was always jealous of Dylan getting to enjoy a beer while being pampered at Hair M, so I’ve finally found a place where I can have a glass of wine while reading gossip magazines waiting under those crazy heat bubble things for my color to set.
• They have great products and things to take home with you. They’re a bumble and bumble salon which I love. They also had 50% off their demalogica products which I use on a regular basis, so that was very exciting.

All in all, it was a fun little salon to go to. They offer manicures, pedicures and facials on top of all the usual hair services. And it has a great name!

They have a new cocktail menu as of a few weeks ago, so Dylan ordered an Old Fashioned due to his Mad Men obsession and I tried…dang it, I’m not going to remember what it was called. Anyway, both drinks were a little different then we expected but not bad. I really wasn’t a fan of my drink but that had a lot more to do with my ability to order things that I’m going to like than the restaurant making  a bad drink.

We started dinner off with the Bruscetta which was fantastic! I haven’t been able to get enough of tomatoes this summer, and this appetizer was covered with them! And cheese. And olive oil. It was a great summer snack, and it’s probably good I didn’t know about this earlier.

I ordered gnocchi for dinner which was simple, included a big glob of ricotta cheese in the middle and was topped with more tomatoes. Dylan had the hanger steak, which I had had before and we both agree is one of the tastiest things that is consistently on the menu. Dylan order a glass of wine to go along the steak which was quite tasty.

Throughout our meal we had great service and a chance to talk with both owners as we left. This is a a cozy neighborhood restaurant that leans towards the upscale side, while still being very reasonable (the steak was $16). They do specialize in their pizza’s which I have yet to try. They’re all cooked in a big wood oven, and looked really tasty. So did the desserts. This is a tucked away little restaurant that is definitely worth finding!

Shauna was awesome and quickly hashed out just what Dylan had in mind, and they got going. Here’s Dylan’s old tattoo, a sun he designed himself.

Sunday Dylan and Shauna got about halfway through. All the outline was done as well as one rose that covered up most of the sun.

Yesterday Dylan finished it all up. I need to get some finished pictures to post, but here are a few more along the way for now.

Everyone at 1928 is awesome. Super friendly and talented folks. I’m sure Dylan and I will both be back there. And if you’re ever on Alberta on Last Thursday, stop by 1928, pull a word out of a box and get a random-ass tattoo for the bargain price of $75!

Anyway, not the point. Because no matter how badly my seams line up, I will keep heading back to Bolt Fabric on NE Alberta St. here in our little corner of Portland. Not only do I love it because I could walk if necessary, but they have just the best fabric selections. It’s like they have tapped into my brain and bought fabric that I didn’t even realized I wanted. You walk in and are inspired to begin so many new projects its unhealthy.

Here’s a sampling of their fabric that I’m collecting. Some of it is for dedicated projects, others are just waiting for the perfect chance to shine.

This big print in the background I am in love with. I need to turn this into a pillow for our basement living room.

They also offer classes for the less than crafty out there. Having met several of the girls at Bolt, I bet they’ll even be super patient with you. I have been meaning to take one as my skills really are limited. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Oh, and they are having a sale this next weekend (Aug 22-23). All fabric will be 20% off. I’ll probably be back.

*crickets chirping*

Every major news publication and food blog in Portland has written about this fabulous taco shop, so I won’t get into too much detail here. But the food is consistently good and fresh. I crave the pescado tacos. I never thought it would be possible to sit outside on a cold spring day in Portland and feel like you were eating out of a beach front shack in Mexico, but that is what happens at Por Que No. Let a margarita warm you up, order the homemade chips and guac, finish it up with some tacos, and it’s the recession-proof trip to Mexico you’ve always wanted.

We were there this past Thursday taking a guest from out of town and I snagged a few shots of their sangria and tacos. The two on the end are the Pescado (fish) tacos and the middle was a special – sweet and spicy chipotle chicken with fresh citrus. I hope they put this one on the menu permanently.

Traditional Sangria

Pescado & Sweet and Spicy Tacos

I decided to reward myself for good behavior this evening. I have been so busy with moving and fixing up the new house and planning a wedding that I decided I was in need of a little me time, and needed a pedicure. So with the help of some trusty websites, I discovered Spa La La not too far from my house and made an appointment.

The salon includes everything I would want if I was going to run my own spa, complimentary wine and champagne, lots of pink, chandeliers and girly things to buy. I had a wonderful pedicure with a glass of wine for the bargain price of $30! Thats like half a tank of gas! So I don’t even feel the slightest bit guilty about indulging in some girly fun.

I assure you I will be taking all my girlfriends out to the east side to have girls night out and pretty-up our toes at the same time.