Category Archive

spring

The big list of spring break trip packing essentials

The BIG list of spring break trip packing essentials

It’s the end of winter and we’re all dragging our asses trying to get through to spring break (or summer or fall or whenever you finally get that week to yourself!). If you’re planning that family trip, couples’ trip, girls’ trip, or solo adventure, this is the spring break trip packing essentials list you’ll need. From a good carry-on weekender to toiletries to packing your luggage well, bookmark this baby for later.

Then you can move on dreaming about how many beach naps you’ll get in. Or how many museums you’ll see. Or how many hiking adventures you’ll take. Or how many carbs you’ll devour. Le sigh.

What “are you ready for Spring?!” REALLY means

“Spring is coming, are you ready?” asked the pretty lady on a moped, who happened to pop up on my Facebook feed. Strangely, walking down the street, the same question was asked of me by a billboard, and then a shop window.

Well, yes, thanks for asking, I am ready. This winter has been cold and grey and devoid of snow. And I am so ready for spring.

But then I realized, what they all really meant…

The Stumptown Fizz: The perfect cocktail to celebrate the flavors of spring

As Portland melts into early summer, we’ve been looking for any excuse to celebrate the flavors of spring. The drink is fun to make, and substitutions are easy — if you can’t get Oregon-made spirits, check out your local distilleries and use some of their products instead!

Preserving cherry blossoms for fancy sparkling wine garnishes

I’ve finally made preserved cherry blossoms — both the sweet and salty cherry blossoms — to serve them with sparkling wine at a party. Here’s how I preserved the cherry blossoms…

Why I rejected the garden that I can’t wait to have

Every spring I wish for a garden of my own, on my own little plot of land. Then one year, for my birthday, that guy I married suggested that he’d get me a plot at a community garden, citing my obsession with having my own garden one day. At first my reaction was “Aw, what a thoughtful idea.” And then my reaction was that of dread. WTF, Megan?

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! Everything’s growing in this week’s reader photos

Dudes, I woke up this morning and looked out the window and the world looked SO GREEN after all the rain Iowa got this week. It’s been warm here for weeks, but it’s not spring until the plants are growing. And it looks like people in the Offbeat Home Flickr pool are feeling the same fresh verdantness. Let’s take a look at the world with fresh eyes, and enjoy the Clicky Link bounty.

Gardening preparation check in: have your garden dreams dried up yet?

Yo, hopeful gardeners! Check in! How’s everything looking with your starter seedlings?

If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to look at your babies and see who’s past the germination deadline without showing any green. Some of my seeds have a very long germination time (10-14 days) but once two weeks is up and I haven’t seen any proto-leaves, those little things are quickly replaced with new seeds.

This year I’m planting a bigger variety of plants than I ever have before. I’ve started most of them already (all that I had toilet paper rolls for!) because I have a feeling we’re in for a warm spring. I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about frost as late as I have in years past — so I’m kind of starting all my stuff at once. If I’m wrong, well…then I’ll just start again. I’ve been late in planting seeds in the past, and everything turned out all right, so if I end up starting something late because I THOUGHT it was already covered, it’s not the end of the world.

Enjoy these frozen tart cherrytinis

I recently made the Frozen Tart Cherrytini and really enjoyed its tart sweetness. I used raw sugar and skipped the frozen cherry garnish since they didn’t have any available at our local co-op. If you find cosmos too sweet but like them in theory, this is the drink for you!