Hmmm… hummus!

Oh, Portland. Your freaky fresh, overly organic, hipster healthy ways are growing on me. Almost every restaurant offers their version of a hummus plate, and almost every one is delicious. I decided to make one for my hubby, who has an intense, spicy palate, so I went with a cilantro lime hummus recipe from twopeas&theirpod. I had to include my pig-out cutting board from Susan, my former landlord/ sweetest lady on Earth. 

I used Great Northern beans, because that’s what I had on hand, as well as cilantro, jalepenos, garlic salt, salt, and pepper. I didn’t do exact measurements of anything (typical) and threw it all in the blender… 

We decided to eat it with chips, and with the leftovers, some carrots and broccoli. It turned out a little soupy, but it still got eaten! 

I think I’ll try a more traditional recipe next time. Maybe a red pepper hummus! 

 

jobservations

After a long list of applications, a few weeks in Portland, and some interesting job prospects, I thought I’d reflect a little bit:

It seems as though the economy is picking up slightly, but many people who are looking for employment are overqualified for the jobs available, or not qualified for the large number of high-end corporate jobs. (There’s aton of ads for senior executive, company VP, etc.) I interviewed for a web content editor position, and asked about my competition in getting the job. The answer was that candidates ranged from college students all the way up to previous business owners and people with 25+ years experience at a similar job. Not very promising, eh? BUT, this company did specify that they are leaning toward younger employees with new, fresh ideas.

I have been looking at many different career websites (craigslist, indeed.com, monster, simplyhired, jobdango, careerbuilder… the list goes on) and most jobs that I end up being interested in are very specialized. Lots of product description writing– how exciting. But a promising trend is the large number of startup websites looking for help. Trapit is one site generator website that “traps” content based on an interest you have- somewhat like Stumbleupon, but different. Worth checking out.

Besides that, there are some strrrrr-rrrange postings on craigslist. It seems as though many reality TV shows are filmed here: if I look for media jobs in the category for “tv/film/video” all I find is casting calls for (many, many) adult films, or, even weirder, ads looking for people with certain characteristics: “my strange addiction,” “secretly pregnant,” “I have a secret online identity,” and “I don’t get along with my inlaws.” So, at least I have a backup option.

(kidding!!) My best backup option is writing about drinking beer. That’s what all the other struggling journalists do out here.

Sparrows, silver & stone

Here are a few more jewelry pieces I constructed the other day.

I took an old rusted necklace apart to make this sparrow bracelet. It is connected with a chain and painted with some fun green nail polish to cover up the rust. Channeling my inner Jack Sparrow.

This was half of a pair of earrings and some more chain links. I’ll have to post a picture of it on- it hangs low to cause a more dramatic, but classy effect. Now I just need an outfit to go with it!!

These are a pair of earrings that I will probably send to my momma bear– looks like more her style. Little does she know, the stones were taken off some candles I burned. She would appreciate my recycling talents.

My next crafty project will be spicing up a pair of plain flats I have. And very soon I’m making some Thai peanut pasta!

Drizzlin’ DYI

The lovely spring weather in pdx is giving me slight cabin fever… mix the rain with endless job searching and avoiding all the wonderful shopping opportunities in order to save money, and I am feeling kind of cooped up. But, hopes are high from interviews and the sun will be out soon!

I spent some time crafting some new jewelry out of old trinkets I have been hoarding. (It was worth it- HA!) I had some miscellaneous broken earrings and necklaces, some new charms and connector-things (sorry for getting so technical), and I took apart some other jewelry I owned to craft up some fun new pieces that I can’t wait to wear!

My favorite one I put together involved turning a whistle into a lighthouse in order to create– my favorite– a nautical theme!

Before: 

After: 

I think we will get out of the house tonight to celebrate another weekend in Portland, so I can show off my work. Bottoms up!