Tag Archives: Downtown

Monday Night Date Night!

Good evening!

Jason and I have been having some trouble getting some quality time together, so to make up for it, we decided that we would do a Monday night date, and man did we ever have fun!!

First thing we did was head over to the Wild Pear downtown to have some dinner. Jason introduced me to their French Dipped sandwich, and OOH-WEE!!! That was soooo good!! The au jus was SIMPLY LIP-SMACKINGLY GOOD!!!

Jason was patient enough to let me stop and take a bunch of pictures of this bank, which just also happens to be my favorite building downtown. I will make sure to share those pictures tomorrow. What I do want to make sure I point out today is just how LOVELY this purse is that Jason is carrying – it just brings out his eyes!! HAHAHAHA!! What a good hubbie!! 😉

There are so many beautiful little hidey-holes downtown that are absolutely PERFECT for taking a nice picture in!! Jason is standing next to a gigantic vine arbor that grows inside one of the alleyways downtown! I just LOVE how beautiful it is, and isn’t my sweetie so adorable?? Man, I really love that man!! 😉

After walking a little ways, we ran across Jason’s FAVORITE coffee shop. Unfortunately it has closed, and Jason is still really blue about it!! It really was a cool little place, it is a shame that it closed!! 🙁

Oh, but onto brighter news!!! Jason and I happened to be walking by the Pentacle Theatre’s ticket office, and we decided to go inside and see what was playing this Friday.

We saw that it was “The Underpants” written by Steve Martin, one of our favorite funny men, so Jason and I picked up tickets for this Friday night! We both are SOOOO EXCITED, and just CAN’T WAIT!! 😉

Next Jason and I stopped to get something cool to drink together and while we were just chatting it up, I realized that I had lost his attention. “UHMM… helllooooo! I am up here!”

Oh, yes! That is right Mr. Man – you have SOOOO TOTALLY been caught!! LOL!!

We had such a nice time this evening – we really needed that! We both have been spending so much time taking care of others that we somehow forgot that we both need to be tending to each other too!! So, we are making a concerted effort to make sure that we are doing just that – and man, what a GREAT TIME we are having too!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

My New Favorite Restaurant!

Good evening!

I am sorry I am posting so late! Jason and I went out with some friends tonight for dinner! I had promised that I would tell you about the new restaurant I discovered last night while I was waiting for my belly dance class to start.

This little place is called Venti’s and it is literally something like two shops down from my dance studio.

The staff there were super friendly, patient, cool, hip, artsy types, which was fun, but I am not exactly sure how to describe the food. I think this sign says it well, “Good, clean food”! I ordered a chicken teriyaki meal, which a portion of the purchase price went to help the local Boys and Girls Club, which you know I JUST LOVE!!!  I can’t remember exactly what the dish was called that I ordered, but it was just so fresh and delicious!!!

I could almost feel my body thanking me for choosing such fresh food!!

This dish had jasmine rice, chicken breast, hunks of fresh mozzarella, cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, cilantro, and ginger in it, plus a yummy sweet and sour kind of teriyaki sauce – not to mention that it was like a FREAKIN’ WORK OF ART WHEN IT WAS SERVED!!! 😉

BEAUTIFUL!!! & DELICIOUS!!!

As you might be able to see, I had a book and journal with me so I could just sit and jot some of my thoughts down! This place had the most comfortablly relaxing atmosphere. It was like my authentic self to a deep break and had finally let it all out!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! 😉

They art from various local artists displayed on the gorgeous, and historic brick walls, which Honey, you HAVE to know that I LOVE!!

There was a plethora of things to look at and keep you visually stimulated! I really LOVED these stars hanging from various parts of the ceiling.

Even the old, worn hardwood floors had me ogling them! They were rustic and yet divine all at the same time!! I could TOTALLY see these in my dream home!! You remember, my chic little farm house???) The whole place was very warm and welcoming!!

There were so many cool, and interesting characters to people watch as I sat quietly against the wall observing anything and everything going on around me. I didn’t actually take pictures of anyone, because to be honest with you, I was too chicken to ask anyone for permission, but you will have to take my word for it, the clientele there are very artsy, creative, fun, beatnik-type people. I imagined they had amassed large book collections like myself and they spend all day talking about culture, art, and interesting things they had read. Ok, so that may be going a bit too far!! but Venti’s is HANDS DOWN my new favorite place to eat in town!!! If you ever are in downtown Salem, I would highly recommend it!!! 😉

Venti’s Cafe + Basement Bar | 325 Court St NE, Salem | 503.399.8733

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

My Flexible Saturday!

Good evening!

I have had a really nice day today! If you read my post this morning, you know that I was heading out for a day downtown.

My first stop was my favorite clothing store, Torrid. I had ordered a cardigan that had come in, and I had some items that I needed to return so I was happy to oblige the need to go! Here is a pic of the cardigan that I took in the store last week.

So, of course, I just HAD to try on some clothes!!! You know, to get ready for Spring!!! 😉 This is a pic of the clothes I had picked out to try on – I had planned on taking my time and being there for quite a while!

What you may not be able to see is that these clothes are hung two levels deep! I really was determined to find the perfect somethings!!

Here is what I wore there:

This cute little top came home with me.

Cardigan, yep, that one came home too!

Another white blouse, guilty! Although, as you can see from the picture, this one is going to need some kind of undershirt. I am actually debating taking this one back, what do you think??

After I tried this shirt on, I got a call from my dad. My dad, and his wife, Trudi were in town, by my house and wanted to visit, so I cut my downtown trip short, and zipped over back to my side of town. Once I got home, we headed over to a pizza place for yummy pizza and a very nice visit. On my way, I told myself, “Self, don’t forget to take pics this time!” and of course, I did!! So, unfortunately, no pics!! Maybe next time!!! 😉

After Dad and Trudi went home, I didn’t want to go back to downtown – we are trying to conserve gas, and I was looking forward to getting a manicure, so I was going to get bummed about it, but instead of throwing a pity party for myself, I decided to step up the loveliest nail salon – the one I had created in my living room!!! You can see that they even served me a refreshing drink with cherries – YUM!! 😉

My hands were in need of some SERIOUS attention!

Here is the before shot:

Here is the after:

Of course I chose red! It is still my FAVORITE color! The color of PASSION!!! 😉

That is the end of my pictures for today, but I did get to run a couple of other errands and then spend some time hanging out with my sweetie after he got done with work today. After I am done here, I plan on snuggling with him on the couch and watch another episode of BONES!! I really do LOVE that show! Bones and Booth should just knock off all of this foolishness and just get together already!! WHEW! I am glad that is out in the open!!! 😉 We are still somewhere into season two, so it will takes a month or three more to get caught up, but slowly and surely – we will get there!!

OH, and for those who might be curious, I came home from Torrid after purchasing 3 cardigans, 2 blouses, 1 tank top and 1 blazer!! EEK!!! Maybe I had better stay away from the mall for a while, what do you think??? HEE! HEE! HEE!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunker’s: Dress for your body as it is today! Even if you are in the process of losing weight. Purchasing clothes that are too small for yourself because you may fit into them someday could backfire, and you will wind up with a closet full of a lot of somethings that make you feel bad because you can’t fit into them. (Take my word on that!) YOU CAN DO IT!!! 😉

Hanging with My Peeps!

OK, actually, I hung out with one peep, not plural – like the title of this post implies! 😉 My girlfriend, Dawn and I met this morning to get together for coffee so we can spend some time catching up! We have a lot going on right now, and we don’t always get the chance to keep in touch like we want to, so our coffee dates are IMPERATIVE to our friendship!!!

After coffee we did some walking around downtown and did some window shopping – one of our FAVORITE NATIONAL PASTIMES!!! 😉 She has THE BEST fashion sense so I always have fun perusing the latest clothing wares with her! Of the two of us, I am the decorator, and she is the fashion stylist – that just works for us! She helps me, I help her, and that makes us the most stylish girls on the block – ok, maybe in our minds, but we love each other and have a TON OF FUN!!!

I remember, when we just 12 years old, I would spend the night at her house as often as possible, and would play dress up and I would beg her to do my hair and makeup!! SHE IS JUST A NATURAL!!! 😉

We did happen to go to one of my favorite home accessories shops downtown, Olivia’s. The owner there was very gracious to let me take some pictures of her goods! I could take almost literally one of EVERYTHING and they would fit BEAUTIFULLY in our place!!! I would LOVE it, Jason might go a little into sugar-shock, but I am sure he would let me decorate however makes me happy!!! What a lucky girl I am!!! 😉

Here are those pictures I took at Olivia’s:

Isn’t her place just divine??? I really do LOVE ALL THINGS FRENCH!!! 😉

Anyway, I had so much fun going out with Dawn today, and ALWAYS look forward to the next time!!! I love you, Dawn!!! You are DA BEST!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉