World of Adventure

Bagby Hot Springs & Estacada

2011-09-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend Troy and I are exploring the Estacada/Highway 224 region, west of Mount Hood. It is a new adventure for both of us!

View Estacada/Sandy Road Trip in a larger map

Some activities in the area include:

Milo McIver State Park - Day use and camping with river and disc golf
Bagby Hot Springs
Sandy Farm Loop
Geocaching - Little treasure hunting hikes!
Grind Coffee House - Morning essentials
Lots of Campgrounds
Mushroom Hunting
Memaloose Falls Hike with caves
Lots of Hiking Opportunities

Portland Food Carts

2011-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite aspects of working Downtown Portland is the vast selection of food carts! A great website to discover new food carts is: http://www.foodcartsportland.com/

My current favorite lunch is from Sonny Bowl on SW Washington and 3rd. Only $3 for a healthy, fresh "Mini Bowl" that keeps my fast metabolism satisfied until dinnertime!

Bowl #3 has bbq soy curls (surprisingly delicious texture and flavor) with crisp fresh kale tossed in a mild citrus ginger sauce and moist, short grain brown rice, topped with crispy chow mein noodles.

Birthday Freebies!

2011-08-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

August brings many delightful birthday freebies into my email and postbox!

Favorites include (click convenient links to sign up!)

Two Free Improv Theater Tickets to Comedy Sports
$10 gift certificate to Cost Plus World Market
$10 gift certificate to Victoria's Secret
Red Robin - Free Burger
Starbucks - Free Drink
Noodles & Company - Free Dinner
Ben & Jerry's - Free Ice Cream
Baskin-Robbins - Free Ice Cream
Qdoba - Buy One, Get One Free
Aveda Free Gift
Sephora Free Gift

More freebies can also be found at this link: http://thefrugalgirls.com/birthday-freebies

Counting Blessings

2011-08-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

"What are you excited about right now?"

One of my favorite questions to ask is relevant for strangers and close friends alike! Brings to the surface joy, life and blessings, even in the midst of sorrow.

I am really good at stressing out... and my body is starting to bear the scars, like food allergies, wrist surgeries and chronic upper back tension, not to mention tense personality.

At Solid Rock Church this week, Phil spoke about stress/worry and how it is the opposite of faith. Many sins/poor choices made in life start with stress/anxiety as the root. Want a couple ways to conquer stress? Do good for others - love and justice - and count your blessings. Look at situations from a big picture perspective - in light of eternity, will this matter?

Blogs can be a beautiful avenue to count blessings and share them with others, as a testimony of God's faithfulness. May this by the start of something beautiful.

Tree House 2011

2011-08-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

My husband just built me a tree house! Last night I climb up into it, clean the five windows and sweep the floor. A cozy reading perch is assembled with a soft wool rug from Grandma, matching blanket, pillow and battery-powered lantern. A few pages into reading, I hear pattering noises and discover our kitty, Aslan, vicariously climbing the closet-rod ladder! Purring loudly, Aslan relaxes in the cove behind my knees for hours.

Mid-Year Update

2010-05-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Most updates have been on Facebook lately, so find me there for more frequent posts and photos! Here's a glimpse into the silence of the last few months.

Building a new garden with 6' deer fence and other landscaping projects have kept us busy this spring! Most of the vegetables are planted and growing happily and we are eager for an abundant harvest. The friendly and ravenous neighborhood deer have not hopped the fence yet, but they have been aggressively eating other bushes, roses and flowers.

Interior remodel projects have been minimal the last six months. We built a new work bench in the garage with tool cabinets above and ripped the carpet out of the living room and painted the floor with primer. This Memorial Day weekend we will be finishing the master bedroom tile shower and hopefully making progress on the walk-in closet and bathroom flooring!

Troy and I are stoked for the opportunity to go on a second Honeymoon to Mexico this summer! Last time we stayed at the all-inclusive Iberostar Quetzal Hotel in Playa Del Carmen, this time we are staying at an all-inclusive in Bucerias, north of Puerto Vallarta. Looking forward to a new adventure, quality time together, sunshine and beaches and readily available delicious food and drinks!

Still hosting Game Night every Monday, a fantastic opportunity to spend time with a variety of friends with busy schedules! As the weather heats up, these will transform into backyard BBQs and fellowship around the firepit!

Persistent right wrist pain has motivated Jen to have many doctor appointments recently, including x-rays, an MRI and Nerve Test. Surgery to remove multiple Carpal Bosses is scheduled for July 21. New wrist braces for work and sleep have helped in the meanwhile, plus upgrading to a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid!

Troy's Grandpa passed away in May and Troy was able to spend a week in Idaho with his family, remembering good times with his Grandpa and making a memorial video. CLICK HERE to watch the video or CLICK HERE to view Jen's photos from the weekend.

Around the Yard 2-24-10

2010-02-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

Ode to Meowser

2010-02-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Meet Cranberry Meowser.

Cranberry and Cricket came to live with my family in 1994. We met the kittens while visiting YWAM friends in British Columbia, who gave the kittens to my sister and me. Beka claimed the female cuddly kitten, nicknaming Cricket “Babe” and I claimed the spunky boy kitten, nicknaming Cranberry “Meowser.” For many years the cats lived outside, running to us when we called out “kitty, kitty, kitty” while refilling their food bowls. I have many fond memories of coming home late at night after parties to find Meowser at the front of the house, running towards me meowing a welcome, his tail sticking straight up in the air, and walking me to the door, waiting patiently while I fumbled with my keys in the dark.

As he grew older, Cranberry became less likely to playfully bite and claw… and my family started letting both cats into the house. He loved to jump up onto my mom’s paperwork and keyboard while she was working in the office, purring for attention.

Meowser enjoyed a relaxing, adventurous cat life and lived to an old age. He stopped eating about two weeks ago and last night Doug and Beka took him to the vet (see farewell photo of Beka's cat ambulance) who put Meowser down and will be cremating the little kitty.

Goodbye, Cranberry Meowser.

Mr. Hall - Visiting Troy's Classroom

2010-02-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

Ben & Angelina Cohn - Wedding Pics

2010-02-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2010

Ben and I have been friends since Junior High - at this point, about 15 years. He asked me to be a bridesmaid in his wedding to Angelina from Ukraine.

Ben & Angelina Cohn - Wedding

Nong's Khao Man Gai

2010-02-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

Today I took a chance and tried a new food cart! Check out http://www.khaomangai.com/index.html

Bankok-style chicken, rice and a delicious ginger sauce are complemented by a miso-like soup. They only serve one entree, so ordering is easy - just tell them your name and how many you want!

Portion size is perfect for me, but might be a little small for somebody with a gluttonous appetite.

ESTJ

2010-01-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESTJ

ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. Being extraverted, their focus involves organization of people, which translates into supervision. While ENTJs enjoy organizing and mobilizing people according to their own theories and tactically based agendas, ESTJs are content to enforce "the rules," often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority.

ESTJs are joiners. They seek out like-minded companions in clubs, civic groups, churches and other service organizations. The need for belonging is woven into the fiber of SJs. The family likewise is a central focus for ESTJs, and attendance at such events as weddings, funerals and family reunions is obligatory.

Service, the tangible expression of responsibility, is another key focus for ESTJs. They love to provide and to receive good service. The ESTJ merchant who provides dependable service has done much to enhance her self image.

ESTJs promote the work ethic. Power, position and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is rarely viewed with ambivalence nor benevolence by this type.

The ESTJ is outspoken, a person of principles, which are readily expressed. The ESTJ is not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right even in the face of overwhelming odds. ESTJs are able to make the tough calls.

Breakfast Burritos - Big Batch!

2010-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Recently Troy and I have enjoyed making breakfast burritos for a healthy/inexpensive/filling grab-and-go meal. The whole process tends to take a couple days. This batch we bought a bunch of pork chops from Costco, stuffed them into the crockpot with onion, diced tomatoes and steak/taco seasonings. After about 8 hours of simmering, the pork chops were tender, moist, flavorful and ready to shred.

I cooked 5 cups of rice, then mixed in homemade frozen salsa, black beans, taco seasoning and corn. Troy sliced mushrooms then lightly cooked them with onion. I heated each burrito shell, Troy filled it, then I wrapped each one individually for freezing in large zip-lock bags. My cheese-free burritos have "Jen" written in Sharpie and when we ran out of pork Troy cooked a batch of egg, labeled with an "E."

Backyard Pest Control

2010-01-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Game Night - 1/11/2010

2010-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Game Night is one of the highlights of my week... an event that motivates me to keep the house clean, bake a treat to share and pursue new friendships! On the rare week that nobody comes, the week seems longer, more tedious and more lonely!

The older I get, the easier it is to be isolated... cut off from people and relationships. It is easier to not host, not make additional commitments, but the community is worth the effort. I value friendship and Game Nights are my way to commit to being AVAILABLE to friends willing to show up!

So, if I haven't seen you in the last 3 months or more, please join us on a Monday evening, between 7pm-10:30pm! Bring a friend and/or your favorite game... all are welcome!

New Work Desk

2010-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

I have worked in the same office for nearly 13 years and am stoked to finally have my desk rebuilt to a better height and layout!

Boden Family Christmas - 2009

2009-12-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Portfolio of photos can be found online: http://seekjen.winkflash.com/ or at MyFamily.com.

Grandpa Dean, Famous Author

2009-12-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

Check out his book, short stories and custom cards online at: http://www.virdean.com/

Hartzell Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

12/29/09 - Snow at Home

2009-12-30T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sneak Snow Storm

2009-12-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

2:30pm - Tuesday Afternoon, Downtown Portland. Snowflakes cascade through the sky outside my window, 12 floors above ground. I marvel at the size of the flakes and snap the photo on left, figuring the weather would quickly change to rain.

At 3:30pm the snow is still falling and the parking garages and building roofs have turned white. I search Oregon Live traffic cams for road conditions near my house in hilly NW Portland and realize I better leave early to make it home.

4pm I leave the parking garage and decide to take Highway 26 West, instead of the backroads with higher elevation and many sharp turns. The normally 5 minute drive uphill to the HWY 26 onramp takes over an hour of anxiously spinning out and sliding toward stuck cars, only to discover that the freeway home is impassable and a parking lot of stuck cars.

I drive back to the parking garage to abandon my car, run to the mall to pee, catch the densely packed MAX train to Beaverton Transit Center, then walk to Starbucks to wait for a ride home from mom... which includes dropping by her house for a boiled potato dinner.

I arrive home at 8:30pm to inches of snow.

Couple Pic

2009-12-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

Taken 12/24/09

Christmas Week at Cannon Beach

2009-12-28T14:18:00.000-08:00


Click to VIEW ALBUM

Troy's 30th Birthday Bash - Photos!

2009-12-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cookie Bouquets

2009-12-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

While waiting several hours for the icing to harden, I assembled metal vases to display the cookies on sticks. I carefully inserted the cookies into the flower foam then went to the Dollar Store for pretty red tinsel to cover the green foam (not shown in photos).

Christmas Cookies - Baking & Frosting

2009-12-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

In preparation of Troy's 30th Birthday Bash, I made Gingerbread Cookie Dough and Sugar Cookie Dough and refrigerated it overnight. I bought my first set of holiday cookie cutters and a basic cake decorating set. In small batches, I rolled out the dough, cut it into shapes and placed on parchment papered cookie sheets, placing each loaded sheet into the freezer for 10 minutes then the oven for about 10 minutes. Hours later, all the cookies were on racks and ready to cool overnight for frosting the next day. On Saturday morning, I made Royal Icing and loaded the white goo into my new icing tool. Decorating the little gingerbread boys and snowflakes was actually quite fun for about an hour... then started getting more efficient and sloppy. I added green coloring paste to the frosting for the basic sugar cookies to create a better visual contrast. Time investment at this point = over 7 hours. Next time I'll pull together some helpers!

Making Cookie Dough

2009-12-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

Beka came over to help me make a double batch of Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies. Amazing how fast baking goes with a little help!

Troy's 30th Birthday Bash

2009-12-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

Click on the invite image below to RSVP for the party this Saturday!

Justina in Malawi - December 2009

2009-12-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

Pealing a mango to share with Rebekah and Jill during their visit to Malawi, Africa in late 2009.

Thanksgiving in Idaho - Sat. (Part 2)

2009-12-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon, Ezra, Cheryl and I went for a walk in Stites, enjoying the crisp fall weather.

Thanksgiving in Idaho - Fri. & Sat.

2009-12-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

On Friday, Troy went hunting with his dad so I drove down to the Lodge to play board games with cousins. We played Agricola, Small World, Cities and Knights (Settlers), Blockus, Bananagrams and other games all day! Saturday, Troy went hunting with his dad again so I drove down to the lodge for another day of games. Most of my family had already left for home (Portland area) by the time I got there at 9:45am, so I played games with Ezra and Cheryl since the uncles were hunting for deer.

Thanksgiving in Idaho - Thurs. (Part 2)

2009-12-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Feast #2 was with my family, in the Idaho Sportsman Lodge. The grandmas worked together cooking a West Union Gardens raised turkey and other classic dishes. Troy's parents joined us for desert and coffee, chatting about local business and hunting.

Thanksgiving in Idaho - Thurs.

2009-12-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, my uncles Jeff and Dave went up into the mountain scouting for good deer hunting spots with Troy and his dad, Hal.

I slept in a little, chatted with Troy's mom Linda over breakfast, then drove down to the Lodge to play board games with my cousins. Since most of my family made the drive over to Idaho instead of gathering in a place like Sunriver as usual, I was hoping that both extended families could gather together for a big Thanksgiving meal at 6pm so that the uncles could hunt all day before feasting. Let's just say that plan didn't work for all family groups... I heard that the in-laws were celebrating together at 3pm, so when Troy showed up at the lodge to get me at noon I was very surprised. I had already made lunch and started eating it and he had come to bring me to the Thanksgiving feast with his family, which was "starting in 10 minutes." So, I wrapped up my sandwich, grabbed the camera and walked down the street to his sister Shilo's house.

I chatted with Troy's grandparents for a while as the table was being prepared, then played with the kids on the piano and pretended to be pirates with the littlest two. Everyone sat at the tables and feasted, then a massive house rules game of Rummy was started once the dishes were cleared off... after a few slow rounds I went back to the Lodge to help my family get ready for Thanksgiving dinner at 6pm.

Thanksgiving in Idaho - Weds.

2009-12-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Weds. November 25th

Sam dropped Ezra off to ride with us in my mom's CRV to Idaho. After an 8 hour drive and little traffic, we arrived in Stites, Idaho at dusk, just in time for dinner. Most of my extended family (about 14 people on my mom's side) had already arrived at the Idaho Sportsman Lodge by the time we rolled in. A tent had been setup outside for Jeff & Cheryl and everyone had claimed their beds in the 2 lodge units.

After stretching our legs for a while and saying hello, Troy and I drove up to visit his parents at their house, then joined an impromptu birthday party at Troy's sister Shilo's house, celebrating their mom's birthday.

Cell Phone Provider - SWITCH!

2009-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

T-Mobile was my cell provider of choice years ago due to their lack of roaming charges, lower priced plans and only 1-year contracts. Overall, I have been mostly content with the service I receive for the price we pay ($40+ each for 1500 minutes/month).

Since getting married, I have been considering changing to a family plan with shared minutes to save money. We do not have a home phone, so it is important to be intentional about our cell phone plans. I have been out of contract for over a year and Troy's ended on 12/7/09, conveniently in time to take advantage of holiday specials on phones.

My biggest issue with T-Mobile is lack of reception: Troy has no reception when he visits family in Idaho, making him nearly impossible to contact during his time away. We also have very weak reception at home (NW Portand hills) and frequently lose calls mid-sentence.

Both of our Blackberry Pearl phones are getting old and needing to be replaced, so I compared both the cell phone prices and the plan prices of Verizon and T-Mobile. Here is what I learned (the trick to saving money is figuring out the company's game.)

Verizon: Verizon makes money by selling mostly phones that REQUIRE paying for a data package/internet access on top of the monthly minute plan. The data package is charged per phone, even with a family plan of minutes. Neither of us use many minutes a month, so we just need the most basic family plan available of 700 shared minutes at $56.79/month (with educator discount). We do not text enough to need a monthly text plan.

We initially were looking at the Droid Eris phone ($100, Buy 1/Get 1 special), but after seeing the required $47.98/month online access fee (with educator discount), plus the basic plan price of $56.79, we would be paying $104.77 a MONTH! Too much.
The LG env Touch phone ($99, Buy 1/Get 1 special) requires a $10/month per phone data plan, so the total would be $76.79 per month.
Costco's Verizon discounts have to do with cheaper phones, plus a free accessory package. They recommended the LG enV 3 phone, which would cost $70 total for two and would NOT require paying monthly for a data package... so only $56.79 a month!
Verizon.com offers free phone activation Fri-Mon, a $75 incentive credit and free 2-day shipping on the phones. At Verizon Wireless stores, the salespeople were willing to match my printed discounts. Costco was unwilling to give me the $75 credit and said we would have to go to a Verizon store to get the educator discount. The LG enV 3 phone is $50, Buy 1/Get 1 Free (via rebates) at Verizon stores right now, so yesterday I spent about an hour switching over! My new phone is maroon and Troy's is navy.
Summary of Discounts applied at the Verizon Store: Educator Discount (use school email address for student discount), $75 credit, free activation for BOTH phones, Buy 1/Get 1 free phone.
Monthly cell phone bill has gone from over $90/month for our individual T-Mobile plans to probably about $60/month after taxes for our new Verizon plan!

Malawi 2009 - Nursery School Children!

2009-12-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

Malawi 2009 - Pre-School Children from Jennifer Hall on Vimeo.

Christmas Lights & Decorations

2009-12-06T19:54:00.001-08:00

This year I discovered motivation to install Christmas lights on the gutters. So, a few weekends ago I found a little ladder, climbed up into the attic, dug out the Christmas supply boxes and persuaded Troy to help get the boxes down without dropping the breakables onto the cement floor. He brought the supplies into the living room, where I blared Christmas music on a free promotion jukebox and dove into the hand-me-downs and 90% off after-Christmas clearance treasures of years past. Glee set in upon discovery of very pretty and long forgotten silver snowflakes! Also packed into the plastic tubs were wads of decade-old white, blue and purple strings of cheap Christmas lights that I strung all over my bedroom during high school for ambience.

I found an Ikea wire mount and hanging clips and installed it in the dining room at eye level, troubleshooting my way through a testy wire and complicated corner. Hanging the silver sparkly snowflakes from the wire revealed the need for a backdrop to create contrast. Briefly tempted to just paint the whole corner a pretty sky blue, I found a piece of navy fabric bought at a market in Burundi, Africa - complete with zebras! Again inlisting Troy's assistance, we pinned the fabric to the wall, just below the wrap-around wire. I then wrapped blue Christmas lights around the wire, then hid the ugly green electrical wire with silver sparkly garland! Using clips and hanging the snowflakes in front of the navy fabric makes them pop! I also switched out the Africa pics previously hanging in the area with family photos to complete the holiday theme. Satisfied with the dining room, I headed toward the living room window with white lights, mini suction clips and more snowflakes. Also in the plastic Christmas supply box was a wrinkled round plastic tablecloth, complete with snow scenes!

Three strings of white mini lights were set aside for the gutters, complete with a box of clearance gutter clips and an outdoor power solar switch (which I have yet to figure out how to program). I test the strings of lights and they work, even after so many years of use indoors. A few days later I convince a very unexcited grumbling Troy to assist in gutter light installation. After some trial and error, we agree on a way to make the lights stay on the gutters during stormy weather. Once all the strings are installed and drape down from the gutter toward the front & central power outlet, Troy plugs them in and.... only about 25% work. I try to fix the strings for about 30 minutes, during which time I explode a bulb trying to get it OUT and slice a wire. Very frustrated and rather pissed off, I give up and go inside to read for a while and warm up. "Forget it, all will be torn down and go into the TRASH once I calm down enough to deal with this."

Days go by... we go to Costco and use up the remaining wedding gift credit to invest in pretty LED big bulbs, hoping they will be more tough, save money and be easier to install. More days go by... Thanksgiving and Idaho... I catch the Swine Flu... sick days at home... on a very pretty sunny day, I find motivation in the midst of a sick day to deal with the ugly "Christmas light gutter situation." I carefully climb onto the roof, rip down the old lights and individually clip 100 new LED lights on the gutters before feeling faint & dizzy and going back to bed to recover. Two down, one to go! Days go by... I hunt around town for another set of gutter clips to finish the project, getting home in time to install the last string, strangely too short and only covering half of our two-car garage. Today we stopped by Costco for one more string of 50 lights. Since it is dark by the time I arrive home after work, good chance it will be 12/12/09 before all lights are installed, nearly a month after the project start date - thankfully this time the lights WORK!

After all the installation effort and frustration, I am rather competitive about my light display this year.

Leadership & Motivating Others

2009-12-06T19:46:00.001-08:00

"We Need a Ride"

2009-12-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite little videos, online again!

Clearwater Thorn

2009-12-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

I took this pic during the visit to Idaho for Thanksgiving.

Master Shower - "Fawn" Grout

2009-11-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

The weekends have been exceptionally busy this month - must be the holiday season! We have grouted most of the "Fawn" light grout in the shower, so now we just have to wipe away the dusty white grout excess and complete the dark brown grout on the floor.

Medical Issues

2009-11-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Troy has lower back problems, due to an ambitious college wrestling career. On Friday the pain flared up, crippling him to the above stance for the weekend - the blue yoga ball helps him stretch out his muscles. He is having trouble sitting, getting in/out of the car, walking, etc. On Sunday, his right eyeball impacted with my wedding ring... most likely scratching his eyeball.

Not a good week in the medical department - hoping for an appointment ASAP!

Malawi - New Partnership!

2009-11-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

Meet George Chaima, Director of New Restoration Ministries International in Southern Malawi, Africa. His evangelistic and humanitarian ministry is very similar to what we are doing in Mzuzu, Bolero and other northern Malawi areas!

We are very excited to work with George in the future, sharing connections, knowledge, resources and opportunities!

He is already teaching us how to better work with the governmental systems in place in Malawi to make a greater and more efficient impact.

Financial Priorities & Principles

2009-11-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

Financial Priorities -

I will maintain adequate cash reserves, sufficient to replace my income for 6+ months.
I will remain debt free, paying upfront for all purchases.
I will save for retirement, focusing on both pretax and after-tax accounts.
I will teach my children sound financial principles, and help them pay for college.
I will look for opportunities to bless others, both with my finances and my time.

Financial Principles -

I will live on a budget.
I will respect every dollar that I make, and the work that went in to making it.
I will look for opportunities to save more money.
I will look for opportunities to earn more money.
I will value people more than possessions.

Taken directly from the website No Credit Needed.

Breakfast Burritos - Shredded Chicken Recipe!

2009-11-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Troy is rather passionate about eating a hearty breakfast daily... and I prefer sleeping in and eating a bagel/bread with coffee at work. A great way to save time and money in the morning has been to pre-make and freeze breakfast burritos! The first time we made grilled steak burritos, but recently I used the crock pot to make flavorful shredded chicken.

Directions:
1) Fill crock pot 2/3 full with raw chicken (even frozen works)
2) Add a whole raw onion and garlic cloves, chopped up
3) Add raw pepper chopped up, considering heat preference
4) Add a couple tablespoons of taco seasoning (a packet)
5) Pour in about 2 cans of diced tomatoes, covering the raw meat
6) Turn on and let cook all day (or night)
7) Pull chicken out, shred with fork and place back into crock pot
8) Simmer shredded chicken in crock pot juices until ready to use

Easy! While the chicken was simmering, I made a big batch of white basmati rice, then stir fried it with some crock pot chicken juice, corn, black beans and egg.

We set up a breakfast burrito assembly line, heating the shell over the stove, adding rice and shredded chicken, fresh salsa and cheese for Troy. We wrapped the finished burritos in saran wrap then a gallon-size freezer bag. I wrote my name in Sharpie on the burritos without cheese, but Troy gets about 80% of the 30 burritos.

Last time we added fresh mushrooms, bell pepper and onion and that was delicious!

Vampire Baby

2009-11-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Mission & "The End of Poverty"

2009-11-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Some may consider visiting a third world country a “vacation,” but to me the experience is so much more than that. Living with the poor and experiencing their standard of living is an education, transforming my perception of life, people, relationships, family, survival, education, materialism, ownership, generosity, religion, God, hope, death and priorities. Suffering alongside them, even just in the everyday inconveniences, makes me appreciate the opportunities and wealth in my little bubble of the world (Portland, Oregon) and also humbles and inspires me to stand up for the voiceless, as an advocate for justice and hope.

We are in training. What are we training for? What do we practice daily and how do we spend much of our free time? I challenge myself – and you – to be intentional about the lessons you pursue. Some of my favorite books have changed my perception of poverty and the people who live in the midst of it:

• The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
• Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
• The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz

Who I am, and what I pursue, will affect my potential impact on the ministry I commit to. My life is a representative of what I ask you to join… if someone is unreliable or irresponsible, I do not want to invest in them or their ministry because I do not trust them to make the maximum impact. Keep in mind who/what is represented when making choices – people are watching your actions and making decisions accordingly.

On a similar note, the documentary film "The End of Poverty?" is coming to Portland on December 5th at the Living Room Theaters. It will only be playing for a short time and I am very eager to see it - anyone want to join me? Below is the movie preview.

The End Of Poverty? from Philippe Diaz on Vimeo.

Master Shower - Brown Grout

2009-11-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we grouted around the dark tiles - band, shampoo cubby and part of the floor (to use of the mix). Photo on left shows cubby tiles having gravity issues, but nothing a strong glue can't fix!

Notice how the little yellow tiles POP with the new grout installed!

Emergency Fund - Selecting a Bank

2009-10-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been re-analyzing my choice of bank for the Emergency Fund. The local credit union is convenient for checking/bill purposes, but I prefer the Emergency Fund to be less accessible and receiving a more competitive interest rate.

An up-to-date spreadsheet of FDIC-insured high interest rate banks can be found at this link: http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/rates/

There is a no-minimum balance Savings Account available online for 2.25% interest! Check it out: http://www.sfgidirect.com/Default.aspx

Anyone know of a better deal that keeps the money immediately accessible without fees?

Nov. 8th, 2-4pm: Malawi Meeting

2009-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

A team will be leaving for Malawi mid-November! Join us for a short meeting of ministry updates and ways that you can partner with us in meeting needs and preparing for the journey!

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Free Interior Design Tool

2009-10-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

Great tool for planning furniture layout:

http://roomplanner.icovia.com/findyourfurniture/resources/icovia.aspx

If you sign up for a free account, you can save your room layouts for future use.

My Job

2009-10-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

This comic is a great example of what work has been like lately:

Hulu Desktop on the Media Computer!

2009-10-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

My culture is plagued by a time consuming, distracting and frequently obnoxious backdrop – television and the commercials that accompany! Most households are in the habit of centering their living room area around that ugly black box and many households keep the shows rolling like chain smokers. Some people keep the screen on mute with subtitles (watching something like the news,) but the worst addicts keep the volume so loud that it pollutes the atmosphere of the entire house - ALL DAY LONG!

To everything there is a season… in moderation, television can be a relaxing, informational and entertaining pastime. Sometimes watching a show or two while working on a mundane project (like finances or scrapbooking) can help the work progress. After a long stressful day or week, a show can be a great escape or therapeutic release of tension.

Television should not be the standard backdrop of social interaction, because it limits conversation and relationship. The occasional movie night/television sports event is fine, but using the excuse habitually is lazy hospitality.

After a long productive day, Troy and I enjoy relaxing during occasional show, found on Hulu and displayed via projector on our bedroom wall. We have set up little speakers around the room for surround sound, amplifying favorite shows like Global Voices, Leverage, Lost, The Fringe, etc. A couple nights ago we downloaded the new Hulu Desktop program!

Staining the Baseboards & Mirror Trim

2009-10-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

Detailed wood will trim a large mirror over the sinks, basic wood will be used as baseboard in the bathroom. One coat of stain... probably going to leave it light and add the wood protection coat.

Master Bathroom Shower - Tile Progress

2009-10-20T16:49:00.001-07:00

Old Dresser = Rolling Tool Cabinet

2009-10-20T11:48:00.001-07:00

One of the home projects further down the personal "TO DO" list is cleaning out the garage, then designing a tool and work area using old cabinets and shelving. Constant remodeling has created a pile-up of reusable materials in the garage and easily lost or inaccessible tools.

Check out this great tool cabinet idea:
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/07/old-dresser-rolling-tool-cabinet/

California Adventure Photos!

2009-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

September 26-30, 2009
All Best Photos are Online! Click theme park to view:

Disneyland

California Adventure

Master Bathroom - Tile Progress

2009-10-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Stump Digger

2009-10-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Troy has been attacking this stump with shovels and a heavy-duty axe. Hoping to have it dug up soon so the soil can be prepared for next year's garden.

Disneyland 2009

2009-10-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

CLICK TEXT TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTO WEBSITE FOR MORE PICS AND VIDEO!!!

Lydia's Senior Pics!

2009-09-22T20:48:00.001-07:00

Door to the Backyard!

2009-09-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

We mostly installed a new exterior door last weekend. "Mostly" refers to cutting a hole in the wall, framing out the area, then having issues with balancing the door perfectly so that it opens smoothly... thankfully my remodeling uncle will be coming over soon to work his professional magic.

Staining Doors = Slow Progress!

2009-09-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Tiling Progress - Master Shower

2009-09-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Lumberjacks!

2009-09-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Troy and I tore out the hybrid plum/nut tree in our backyard to make a new garden area!

Swift Watch 2009

2009-09-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I went with my parents, sister, Melissa and little Ezra to watch thousands of birds fly down a chimney in NW Portland. Want to go? Info is online: http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts_landing. These pictures don't capture the flocks and flocks of birds that flew in wave-like patterns above our heads!

2009-09-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Custom Guide - Software Quick Reference

2009-09-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this website with FREE software quick reference guides! Includes Microsoft, Adobe, etc.

http://www.customguide.com/quick_references.htm

Museum Day - FREE - 9/26/09

2009-09-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Free entry to select museums all over the USA! Visit the link below to find one near you and print a free pass:

http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venue.html

Portland Area Museums include:
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
Oregon History Museum
Architectural Heritage Center
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals

Portland Center Stage - Ragtime

2009-09-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today I read about an upcoming Portland area theatrical performance that looks rather fantastic!

Click here to check out "Ragtime" by Portland Center Stage, starting on September 22nd.

Mzuzu, Malawi - Multi-Purpose Building

2009-09-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Nursery school children gather to learn at the new building, also used as a counseling office, internet cafe, community meeting place, women's/widow's group gathering place and skill training center.

Photo taken by Justina in Malawi on 9/12/2009

2009-09-08T16:58:00.001-07:00

Master Bathroom Shower - Tiling Day #2

2009-09-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

Vietnamese Cart - YUM!

2009-09-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am scarfing down a fantastic Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Bowl for lunch today! Tried out a new cart near the Galleria, Downtown Portland.

Reasonably priced with very fresh ingredients:
http://foodcartsportland.com/2009/03/05/mai-pho-vietnamese/

Master Shower - Tiling!

2009-09-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Pear Munching Deer

2009-09-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Our backyard deer are delighted for pear season. The bambi rests under the pear tree, waiting for fresh fruit to fall then bends its neck over to nibble on the fruit. Rough life being a deer!

Canning Tomatoes

2009-09-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hot Lava Monster

2009-09-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

August was my month to teach Sunday School. Each week I tried to come up with an interactive, hands on lesson. Last Sunday I told the story of Exodus 1-16, slavery in Egypt, wandering the wilderness and the provision of manna. After the lesson we played Hot Lava Monster for about 10 minutes before heading back into the adult service.

Festa Italiana

2009-09-01T10:30:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest aspects of working downtown Portland is quick access to a variety of events that occur at Pioneer Square, like Festa Italiana last weekend!

Friday after work I wandered up to Pioneer Square and watched Italian Folk Dancing!

Making Tomato Sauce

2009-09-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Peel multiple heads of garlic, chop onion and shallots.
Rinse tomatoes and remove stem. Slice in half.
Cook sliced tomatoes to soften them.
Use Victorian Strainer to process all cooked tomatoes and remove skins.
Pour tomato pulp and juice into large pot for simmering with herbs.
Pick fresh herbs and remove leaves from stems.
Persistently stir cooking tomatoes and cooking sauce to avoid burning.
Simmer sauce for hours.
Clean up the massive prep mess!

U-Pick Tomatoes!

2009-09-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ginny, Amber and I picked tomatoes last Saturday at West Union Gardens. They have a big field available for u-pick, so check them out if you enjoy flavorful vine-ripened tomatoes!

We sorted by color while picking... deep red versus slightly orange tomatoes. In the photos, the red boxes are on the green tablecloth for quick use and the orange boxes are ripening in the remodel area.

Hearth & Fireplace

2009-09-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

The fireplace is back together again and looking great with the new marble hearth! We are still brainstorming options for covering up the ugly orange bricks.

Around the Yard 8-26-09

2009-08-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Fireplace Granite Hearth - Installed!

2009-08-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I arrived home from work to a newly installed fireplace granite hearth!!! The crew will be returning today to reinstall my fireplace insert and finish the job. Love it when the house improves while I am away! Now to figure out what to do about those ugly orange bricks.

Master Bathroom - Lights Installed!

2009-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend's remodel project was installing the can lights above the sinks of the master bathroom.

We also researched tile for the shower and cabinets for the laundry room/pantry.

Ethnos Campout at Beverly Beach

2009-08-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I joined my church community for a campout at Beverly Beach, south of Lincoln City. Since Troy was out of town, Lara and I shared a ride/tent/campsite!

Highlights of the weekend include night games on the beach with glowsticks, fellowship with friends and a giant beach bonfire on Saturday night!

Link to the photo sharing site: http://ethnoscampout2009.shutterfly.com/

Portland Taiko at WA Park

2009-08-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 11th - Paul Walker joins Troy and I for a concert at the Washington Park Amphitheater. A very strange theatrical performance opens the show, then we look at roses while Portland Taiko sets up canopies and dries off the stage for their drum performance. They play yearly at the World Beat Festival in Salem, so a free Portland concert was a rare treat.

Sara Bareilles "Many the Miles"

2009-08-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Many the Miles - Sara Bareilles

Troy is in Idaho... again... and this time I feel frustrated and gloomy about the whole situation.

Music is one of the few things that really sinks in and speaks to me, smoothing away the wrinkles and expressing what I have no words for. Above is my song of the day.

The 30 second clip is not adequate - be sure to click on "Play Full Song."

First Wedding Anniversary

2009-08-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Troy and I enjoyed exploring Astoria, Oregon to celebrate our first year of marriage!

Photos can be found online: http://firstanniversaryastoriaoregon.shutterfly.com/

Party at Sunflower Gardens (47 photos), by Jennifer Hartzell

2009-08-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Jon & Laura's Wedding (25 photos), by Jennifer Hartzell

2009-08-11T10:05:00.001-07:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Sunflower Gardens

2009-08-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

A beautiful afternoon at Sunflower Gardens! Photos taken on August 5th, 2009. Looking for an inexpensive outdoor venue? Send me a message for more details! Now reserving for 2010/2011, space is limited! http://sunflowergardenwedding.com/

Lunch on a Budget

2009-08-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

Working full time downtown Portland, it is tempting to pick up lunch at one of the many food carts that feature cuisine of international inspiration. Problem is, with Troy helping me at work recently, the cost adds up quickly - $10-$12/day, or $50-$60 a week. For about the price of one day, we could eat well all week with a little planning and save the $40+! Utilities could be paid with that kind of money!

Last week we brought flat bread, hummus, chicken lime sausage and lettuce/cucumber from the garden to grill for lunch. For breakfast, we ate homemade zucchini bread (made from home grown zucchini!)

This week Troy and I went to Winco for groceries with a plan to make soft tacos for lunch. Using similar ingredients, we bought a little extra to also build and freeze breakfast burritos for Troy who prefers a more substantial breakfast then bread. Troy grilled about 5 pounds of steak seasoned carne asada and sliced it into strips. I made a big batch of seasoned basmati rice/corn/black beans/diced tomatoes. Bell peppers were grilled with fresh mushrooms for the breakfast burritos and lettuce, cilantro and lime were packed up for lunch tacos. After setting aside containers of taco makings for the week, I warmed burrito shells and melted cheese while Troy stuffed with rice, beef, salsa and the pepper/mushroom mix and then I rolled and wrapped, packing about 20 individually plastic-wrapped burritos into freezer ziplock bags.

It was alot of work but he is LOVING his breakfast and we are saving lots by eating tacos at work!

Link for more ideas of freezing food: http://www.wisebread.com/the-five-day-freeze-batch-cooking-for-the-rest-of-us

Burlap to Cashmere Concert - Aug. 14th

2009-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Anybody Out There?

Listen to Burlap to Cashmere, then order tickets to their concert on Friday, August 14th in NW Portland, Oregon!

BENEFIT CONCERT for Visible Grace, helping kids in Kenya, Africa!

$15 Preorder Tickets - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/72567

Garden Growth - Aug. 2

2009-08-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Master Bathroom - Progress

2009-08-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

Recently we have stained the bathroom and closet doors + frame, installed the second plumbing hardware for the master shower, installed concrete board in the shower, examined color choices for bathroom paint, installed the plumbing on two sinks, figured out the hanging lights for over the sinks and ordered little brown tiles for shower accent.

Survive the Heat

2009-07-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

Portland is experiencing an unusual heat wave!

Last night Troy and I worked late then ran some errands to enjoy the air conditioned stores until about 9pm, store closing time. Arriving home to a very hot house, we opened all the windows and doors, turned the fans on and hoped the house would be cool by the time we finished watering the gardens. No such luck - still >90*F in the house and outside, even at 10pm.

Wearing a bikini top and shorts, I stretch out on our King Size bed to relax while watching a show. A little fan rests on the open window ledge, with a carefully placed bottle of lotion tipping the wind downward onto the bed. STILL TOO HOT.

Troy quietly grabs a washcloth, dampens it with cold water and tosses the little rag on my bare stomach. YIKES - I jump at the unexpected icy cold rag... and then it feels FANTASTIC and makes the air temp feel at least 10*F cooler! Before falling asleep, I refresh the washcloth with cold water and lay it carefully on my torso, minimizing the hot misery!

So... tonight, if you do not have air conditioning and have trouble falling asleep in your hot house, try a damp washcloth.

Master Bathroom - Stained Wood Doors

2009-07-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we pre-treated and stained two doors (and door frame) for the master bathroom. The one with glass will be the bathroom entry door (with privacy tint stickers on the glass) and the other one will be installed as a sliding door to keep most humidity out of the walk-in closet.

The door color will match... even though it doesn't look like it in these urgently captured photos.

Master Bathroom - Granite Installed

2009-07-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

The two-sink granite countertop has been installed in the master bathroom! Yesterday we glued the sinks in place and installed most of the sink faucet hardware... drain and water hookup to be finalized after the sink glue dries. We should have two working sinks within the week, adding a functional half bath to the currently one bathroom house!

Mirror options are still being analyzed. The floral mirrors shown in these pics will be returned for something with larger glass. We might just build one extra big mirror and frame it with wood stained the same color as the cabinet and doors.

The lighter tile shown next to the granite is the main tile to be used in the walk-in shower. We are still looking for little one inch dark brown glass tiles for accent.

Master Bedroom - Progress

2009-07-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

The master bedroom has been textured and is ready for a flooring selection, wall color, window/door trim and crown molding!