Jeannie "is that a half-price martini?!" J.'s Profile

So, during the summer Bloom ran a special for eyelash extensions through Groupon. I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Groupon and Living Social deals, and $60 for a full set I decided to give them a try. I hadn't really thought about getting them done before because of the cost and upkeep.  I didn't end up making an appointment until September. I hadn't been to Camus before except for a Leverage shoot, so I had no idea what to expect. I was in for a wonderful surprise!

Bloom is in the historic part of downtown Camus. I had no idea how cute the entire area, and the salon itself would be. Completely adorable.

Andrea is very friendly and welcoming. It took probably 45 minutes to an hour to apply the full set. They are individual lashes, and she has different lengths that she uses depending on what you like. I went for a medium length the first time. They looked completely natural.

So, here I am, months later, still driving to Camus for fills. It's totally worth the drive. Andrea has been running a special, 3 fills for $70. That is a screaming deal, if you haven't priced lash extensions before. I get them done about every 2 weeks. I just had them done yesterday, this time with her longest extensions, a 15 I think? Va-va-voom! Jessica rabbit style *batting them at you*.

Trust me, you WILL feel pretty, and you will get compliments. You don't have to wear mascara, and you roll out of bed looking good. They are a HUGE time saver.

Walk across the street to Camus Antiques to browse, and if you're like me, a trip through DQ for a dipped cone is mandatory for the drive back to Portland.

WHERE is the 6th star????? This event blew me away! One of my favorites I have EVER attended!

The staff from Moonstruck is so nice, and so enthusiastic about their products. I learned a lot, but what i didn't learn until it was almost too late, was that we could sample from the cases. WHAT?!? Seriously??? Well, i had to try the salted caramel macaron. So delicious and rich, I could hardly finish it. Did I mention that i had to try each decadent sample they brought by on the trays? Well I did. My favorite of the evening was the champagne truffle. I will waddle my ass to the 23rd location for another one of those. And the gift bag idea? Brilliant. How generous. Seriously.

Thanks again Don B., and Moonstruck for striking one out of the field, and making me feel like a kid in a candy store (with some yummy booze)!

I have been meaning to try Hala's. It's in my neighborhood, I love Lebanese food, and the reviews were all so different. I wanted to see for myself how the food is.

I had an appointment at Good Sam, and needed lunch. I checked the menu on the door, and saw a few things that looked good. The place was completely empty, but it was around 2:15, past the lunch rush. I waited a few minutes for someone to come out.

The lady that greeted me, and waited on me was very kind and friendly. I ordered the chicken shawarma, and she asked whether I preferred rice, or hummus. I took a while deciding because I love them both, so she offered to bring some of each at no additional charge. How nice!

I posted a picture of my meal. All of that for $9! The chicken was tender and well seasoned, the rice and salad were very good. I liked the tangy lemon dressing. I prefer my hummus to have more of a garlic and lemon zing to them, but it was perfectly fine. I was tempted to try the baklava for dessert that was recommended, but I needed a box for part of my lunch.

Final thoughts, I don't get the bad reviews. I thought that Hala was very sweet, the food was good, and they have parking. I can't think of any reason not to try this place. I plan to go back, and sooner than later.

This market is wonderful for finding local, handcrafted items. I brought back a beautiful handmade duvet cover, and a lovely portrait by Tania Wursig. I would highly recommend visiting if you're in the area.

I love Salt & Straw! It was so much fun to attend my first ice cream social with my Yeeps! I could have spent all night tasting the different flavors. There were so many I didn't have the chance to, but the cinnamon snickerdoodle was my favorite of the ones I tried.

Thanks again Don, and the Salt & Straw crew!

I was so happy to find that my Nurse Practitioner who I have been seeing for the last 19 years is part owner of this new clinic! Patty Brandon FNP WHCNP is fantastic! She specializes in women's health, but she is also a Family Nurse Practitioner. She truly listens, and cares. She takes her time, which is so rare in this day and age. My physicals are normally scheduled for at least a full hour. She is very thorough, and easy to talk to. There is nothing you could tell her that would make her blink an eye (I have tried, believe me).

I have sent several friends to her when their physicians couldn't solve their medical issues. She has vast experience, but will not hesitate to refer you to a specialist when she feels something is out of her scope. In a nutshell, I love her.

I found it easy to schedule my appointment. The front desk, and medical assistant were very nice, and helpful with insurance questions. This clinic has a range of specialties, from primary care, naturopathic medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic. I'm impressed. It's a very easy location to find. I found plenty of on street parking even though it's in the Pearl.

Seriously though, if you're in need of a good primary or women's health provider, I can't recommend Patty enough! Show owner comment »

$10 watch batteries while you wait! And the kid working was really nice. What more can you ask for?

Reasons not to pass up this Subway:

1) The best deal for food in the airport. Where else in the terminal will you find $7-8 foot longs? It's only something like $5 for a 6 inch. That's as good as you're going to get here. Max's further down the terminal is great, but you will pay $10 for a sandwich.

2) The staff members are friendly and polite.

3) I have tried every place in the Oakland airport, and this is the best value for a (somewhat) healthy meal.  

If you hate Subway, of course you won't like it. It's a chain, so the food is consistent.

If you go to the one in Vegas, you will find the prices to be double, and their staff isn't half as nice. I was disappointed to read the poor reviews people have given this store. I think it's one of the better airport locations.

Rip City will be closed until February 1, 2012. The owner is taking a winter vacation. Please be sure to try the sandwiches when he gets back!

This is one of my favorite brunch spots on the weekend. I've never had to wait to be seated, it's right on the streetcar line, I use my Preferred Dining card from McCormick & Schmicks Seafood for point rewards, they have $3 mimosa's until 4 Saturday & Sunday, and they have a large menu. Why 3 stars? The service is uneven.

I have been trying to hold off writing a review because sometimes it is at least a solid 4 stars, and other times it's no more than 2. I've never had an issue with the food, it's very consistent. I've had service that has been bad from the get go, and other times it has deteriorated as the visit goes on. On one occasion the waitress had the dropsy's and dropped the rolls into my friends lap, spilled the water, and spilled a mimosa. I know that isn't intentional, but you would think a comped drink or something would be appropriate after so many mishaps. Other times, there has been attitude, or inattentive service. We have had  long lapses between ordering drinks, and having our food order taken. There has also been a trend of not being checked on after the food was delivered, then having the check dropped off instead of asking if we cared for dessert or another drink. There are times we would like to order something else, but instead we sit for 30 minutes, then BOOM, check.  I worked in food service for many years, so I know when you get busy these things happen. I just wish that they didn't happen so often here.

Now on to the food and drinks. The food is reasonable priced, and I've never had a problem with the quality. It comes out fairly quickly after the order is placed. I like the grilled salmon with pesto, the fish and chips, and the split pea soup a lot. The mimosa's are a great deal at $3 on the weekend, although they are sometimes more juice than champagne. The specialty drinks on the menu are in the $8 range. Not too pricey, but I usually go to a cocktail bar if I want something more complicated than a simple mixed drink. The happy hour is a great deal, and a great way to sample the menu without spending a lot. Cool old school atmosphere.