Mexico

Our trip to Mexico was both relaxing and adventurous. We did plenty of lounging by the pool and beach but also explored our surroundings. It was fun to spend time with our family, read new books and soak up the sunshine. Here are some highlights from the trip: 

Ellie and Maddie dressed up for a fancy French dinner. One of our favorite part of the vacation was getting freshened up and picking out cute outfits to wear for dinner nightly. 

Maddie at the beach! Can you believe she rode a mechanical bull before this photo? 

 Ellie and Jay enjoying a drink before the Circus Show! 

Family adventure to Coba (a Mayan ruin), included repelling, zip-lining and swimming in a cenote. 

 Maddie in downtown Cancun, looking for some pottery to bring back to Oregon. 

All of our rooms were right next door! Surprise :) 

 Brandon and Maddie post climb to the top of a Mayan temple. 

 Jay and Ellie enjoying a golf cart ride around Isla Mujeres, before snorkeling. 

Brandon and Maddie looking glamorous before dinner. 

We had a blast on our trip. Surprisingly the transition back to Oregon wasn't too bad. We were greeted with 75 degree weather and sunshine, we should go to Mexico more often! 

Ellie & Maddie 

Packing: Mexico

After a rainy first day of spring, we are more than excited to jet to Mexico tomorrow. Ellie and I have been planning for the vacation for far too long and now its only hours till we board the plane. Although Ellie has been packed for weeks, I have had a harder time deciding what to bring. Tonight, I decided to use our destination as an inspiration and pack the most colorful items in my closet. If you know me well  you will understand that there are very few "colorful" items in my drawers. But hey, If I am going to wear something bright, it might as well be on the Beach in Cancun!

Bright Pedicure: Essential for a beach vacation! Bright colors will make your toes look all the better as you walk through the sand :)

Colorful Swimsuit: You can never have too many bright swimsuits. Feel free to mix and max!

Neon Athletic Wear: Perfect for sunset yoga on the beach.

New running shoes: A cute new pair always makes the run more enjoyable!

Party Dresses: It is so fun to play dress up after a long day at the beach!

Summery heels: These will spice up any outfit!

Hope you have an escape planned soon! Can't wait to share pictures from the trip :)

Maddie

Fitness: Running in Washington Park

One of the many benefits of living in Portland, Oregon is the beautiful parks and running trails just minutes away. There is something about running through the woods on a cold winter morning that can be both magical and therapeutic. My mother, Nancy, and I are training for the San Francisco Marathon this June. For the sake of a goofy blog post and because it was a Saturday, we decided to take our phone with us and take a couple of pictures mid run. Sadly, we learned that taking action shots is not as easy as advertised and we also looked like total tourists :)

One time we saw the T.V. show Grimm filming in this clearing!

Our usual 8 mile loop that we run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings begins with a 2 mile hill which brings us up to the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden. We then continue on a combination of hilly trails that run throughout Washington Park.

              

If you have any questions or need any specific running advice feel free to contact Ellie and me for tips and tricks!

Maddie

Recipes: Brussels Sprouts & Sausage

While on our family ski vacation we try and cook healthy and filling dinners after a full day of skiing.  This year, we made this dish adapted from a  New York Times recipe.  To lower the oil content and add more protein we substituted chicken sausage for pancetta and eliminated the butter and cheese.  We knew it had to be a  great dish since it included Brussels sprouts, Ellie's favorite vegetable. 

Ingredients: 

• 8 oz whole wheat pasta 
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz chicken sausage
• 1 rosemary sprig
• 8 oz Brussels sprouts thinly sliced 
• 3 oz Pesto

Directions:

• Bring pot of salted water to boil, add pasta and cook until just al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat a larger saute pan over high head and add olive oil. When hot add chicken sausage and rosemary and saute until the sausage starts to to brown slightly. Add garlic and saute for about three minutes. 
• Add Brussels sprouts, a large pinch of salt, and a splash of water, and saute until sprouts just start to soften, about two minutes. Spread the Brussels sprouts minutes to the pan and press down to flatten. Let sear for a minute, then stir and repeated. This helps brown the sprouts. 
• Drain pasta and add to Brussels sprout mixture. Add pesto cook, tossing until well mixed.  
• Serves 4 or more. 

We definitely want to make this dinner again! We ended up having lots of left overs for lunch the next day. We served this dish with a mixed green salad and Annie's great garlic dressing. Even Ellie's husband, Jay, thought the meal was hearty enough for him. We hope you enjoy!

Ellie & Maddie