face it

i'm pretty shy about having my picture taken but lorenzo took a somewhat ok photo of me at the indigo the other night so i thought i would post it just for the heck of it.

i've always been very self conscious about my skin and the fact that i have a very thin upper lip, not to mention that big nose, so i always cringe when i see a photo of myself. it's funny because i don't feel that way in reality, just when looking at photos. i hate how flat they can be. well, anyway, due to the fact that i have been burning my candle at both ends, my friend kjirsten bought me a facial today so i could get in a little pampering and relaxation and let me tell you, i'm hooked!

i went to see lenor b. over at ne 16th and broadway and it was amazing. the facial consisted of a complete cleansing, exfoliation, a rubdown of various creams, massage, aromatherapy, oxygen therapy and waxing. can i just say i feel like a new person. i hope i can stick to the things she talked to me about my skin, like using a good moisturizer and keeping hydrated. i wish i was the kind of person that made self-care more of a priority but i always thought it was so self-indulgent and expensive--but guess what, it's not. it actually was very affordable, you just have to find the right place that works within your budget and i feel lenor is very reasonable.

now i'm at home, relaxing with a glass of wine, listening to my new pete yorn/scarlett johansson cd and waiting for l. to get off of work so we can go out later.

i just love saturdays!

and thank you to kj for the fab facial.

allison, you're killing me

the allison hotel newberg


sometimes it pays to have friends in the right places and that was the case yesterday when i was invited by my friend in the hotel industry to take a personal tour of the brand spanking new allison hotel that just opened on friday in the heart of the willamette valley wine country.

this hotel and spa resort has been in the works for quite a while and let me tell you, there were no holds barred. they really went all out on this place. the austin family that owns the hotel are from the newberg area and have made their fortune in dental equipment. they have long been contributers to the library, schools and arts of the willamette valley and now they have truly made their mark with this grand hotel. you can see their love of the valley and this hotel in every corner--from the artwork that they commissioned that includes paintings of old family snapshots to the placement of rooms looking out to views that include the old school house that family members had attended as children. not to mention amazing views of the valley as well as their grove and vineyard.

while this 85 room hotel seems placed out in the middle of nowhere, as we all know, it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers what amazing wines we have coming out of the area and will want to come and visit for themselves. i think they are really on to something and i think many more places like this (well maybe not on this scale)will be opening in the future.

come on, let's take the tour!


the dining room of jory, the hotel's restaurant


dining room details


amuse bouche and champagne


the chef's table


the hotel's living room


the queen room


the living room area of the queen room


the double queen room


and it's living room area


the water feature in the entrance to the spa/salon area


the amazing swimming pool with mud art at one end that depicts millions of years of terrain in the valley.


the outdoor sitting area off the pool


the view towards the vineyard and groves

so what do you think? ready to ditch work and head out there right now? and while the rooms are a little spendy starting at around $285 per night, locals shouldn't be discouraged from taking the short drive out just to enjoy the restaurant or bar. designate a driver, start at the jory for luch and then visit a few of the closest wineries. i will definitely be getting a group of friends together for a day trip very soon. thank you, megan for the invitation. i had a wonderful time.

oh, and here's a little tidbit for you. if you book a haircut appointment for just $35.00 in their salon, you can use their swimming pool and hot tub. hello! i'm in on that one.

the allison hotel and jory restaurant are located at 2525 allison lane in newburg and the number is 503.554.2525.

happy wine tasting!