Because Fat Tastes Good, That’s Why

For some reason I have done a lot of grocery shopping in the past week. We have a lot of food, the refrigerator is packed, as is the pantry. I don't know if it's because I want the kids to have a variety to choose from for their school lunches or that I don't want …

$teak Hou$e$

Saturday night Derwood and I used one of our wedding gifts and went out to dinner at The Ringside, an old school Portland steak house which originally opened in 1944. A couple of years ago, the restaurant closed for more than a year for remodeling. I wasn't the only Portlander concerned that they would ruin …

Chef Derwood The Reblog

I'm off on the East Coast with the love of my life so I had to share a Derwood post as my last reblog. I will be back soon with stories and photos. I know you can't wait! The original post: Derwood loves grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping so it is a bonus for …

A Little Scoop of Life in Portlandia

Last night my pal Lisa and I decided to take the our girls out for an evening of bowling and camaraderie because one of my daughters was feeling down and I thought this was a good pick-me-up (pick-her-up) idea. The plan was to go bowling at Grand Central Bowl in Southeast Portland. They have food …

The Games Begin

Friday morning I went to pick up Colgate bff,  Laurie, from her hotel and we walked around downtown Portland, ate some breakfast and then went shopping. We went to Pioneer Place Mall and visited J. Crew and Victoria's Secret (ooo la la). As we were walking into the mall, I mentioned to Laurie that usually …

Costco Shopping with Derwood

Costco is a chain of warehouse stores where members can buy Easter dresses, barbecues, fresh crab, slabs of cheese, 5 dozen eggs and 50 lbs of dog food, as well as tires, cars, get their eyes checked, pictures developed, and have their house recarpeted. Just in case one of my readers doesn't have a Costco …

Dinner with Derwood

Derwood loves grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping so it is a bonus for me that I'm marrying someone who wants to buy the household provisions. He usually does the shopping on Sunday but is happy to go to the store every single day, sometimes more than once. As an example: let's say it's a …

Maggie’s End-of-Year Multi-Media Hyphenastic Extravaganza!

Hello and welcome to my 2012 end of the decade multifaceted, multifarious postapalooza! I've got it all here.... TV, movie and music reviews, literary critique, critique of my children, gourmet cooking tips; whatever you need to know in this new millennium, my blog and I are here to deliver. MUSIC I haven't listened to a …

Local Family Accidentally Celebrates Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Lake Oswego, OR -- While three members of the O'Rodrens clan are confirmed vegetarian/vegans, the seven remaining family members in attendance all identify themselves as omnivorous and thus were expecting turkey with Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. The turkey was finally ready to eat once the family had finished dessert, a delicious pumpkin cheesecake with freshly …

It’s the Most Wonderful Night of the Year!

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is my favorite night of the year. No, it wasn't when I was a kid but since I have been in college, living in Boston, working, etc... This is my favorite night of the year. It is the eve of the holiday season. I can happily start listening to Christmas …

It Was All for Nothing

As the whole world has heard, here in the U.S. we are mourning the end of Hostess and their Twinkies and Ding Dongs. Back in 1968, my brother and I risked life and limb and were caught in the act of a daring Ding Dong heist. I'm sure we paid the price back then. It …

The Dinner Party Story

Years ago, March 2001 to be exact, Mitch (my ex-husband) and I went to a dinner party. A dinner party that I will never forget. A dinner party that could have been in a movie but  I would have seen it and thought, "no one would really behave like that." Back in 2001, our girls …