Over the weekend, we took a nice, long walk through the West Hills, which were coated in a heavy layer of fog. The overcast skies turned out to be the perfect setting for the Munsters-style house we ended up spotting (at the top of this post). Perfect soon-to-be Halloween weather, don’t you think?! And, I have a crush on this vintage Land Rover.

My mom, Cathy was in town for Branch project management training — in between tasks, we took plenty of breaks so I could show her around to all the newest restaurants that have opened since she last visited. Her favorite of the bunch was Roman Candle Bakery. With white subway tile walls, a matching white espresso machine and some of the best baked goods in Portland, we were in heaven with every bite. For lunch, we had the Cheese Toastie with tomato soup and I highly recommend it!

When you finish lunch and Salt & Straw is only a block away, you can’t say no to homemade ice cream. I’ve taste-tested pretty much every flavor but usually revert back to the almond brittle with salted ganache. Mmm.

Of course, my mom’s mini Portland tour wasn’t complete without a stop at the Woodsman Market. All the goodies are always so photogenic.

I ended the week on a high note yesterday by spending the afternoon with my grandparents and now, I’m packing for my trip to Australia later today! EEK! Here’s to new adventures and living life to the fullest. Have a great weekend, everyone!