My new favorite trick: Two bags of Stash Peppermint Herbal Tea in a pitcher of water gives it a refreshing, sugar-free, taste of mint.

 I like water but occasionally I find it hard to drink enough and adding a little flavor makes it easier to drink more. Things like Crystal Lite and other products designed to add flavor to water contain sugar and chemicals -- none of which I want in my water.
Cucumber slices, lemons, and limes are great but I don't always get to the store and they are perishable so they aren't something I can keep on the shelf for just-in-case occasions. Other types of tea would work too but, I prefer caffeine-free and many herbals don't appeal to me. In the past, I used an herbal vanilla-hazelnut tea but it was a little too sweet for my taste.

No need to boil the water or even place the pitcher in the sun, just throw the tea bags into the pitcher and leave until the water has the flavor you desire. Easy!

Jam

From NW Palate...

Jams to try

King Estate Blueberry and Raspberry Pinor Noir jams

Ayers Creek Damson Plum, Loganberry, Italian Prune and Blackcap Jam available at Foster & Dobbs

Republic of Jam

Marche Berry Jams and Pear Butter

Sassafras Southern Kitchen Fig, Brandied Plum, Sunchoke, Pear and Meyer Lemon and Heirloom Beet and Fennel

Oregon Growers

Pennington Farms Strawberry/Rhubarb

Sunset Valley Organics Blueberry Jams

Leather

Who knew that one of the world's premier motorcycle jacket companies is located in Portland, Oregon?

Langlitz, for handmade leather products.

Headquartered in Oregon

Oregon, it's not just a state, it's a CHAINSAW

Blount is headquarted in Oregon, because it matters.

To view the 2010 growing list of Oregon products for the holidays and year round, go to:

The "Oregon For The Holidays" List 2010

The "Oregon For The Holidays" List 2010

FASHION

Ellington Handbag's Bella Hobo bag makes a great travel bag and can be worn cross-body or as a shoulder bag. Follow on Twitter @ms_elli

Souchi, Warm & cozy for winter, Add leggings boots & cashmere turban for a complete look. Follow on Twitter @suzisouchi

Langlitz, for custom-made motorcycle jackets and more.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Wine, Oregon produces some of the finest Pinot Noirs in the world along with other varietals. There's something for everyone.

Oregon's Choice Tuna & other products: Line caught & BPA-free

Beer, Oregon has a myriad of breweries to choose from. Pick up a few 6-packs from breweries around the state for that beer-lovin' friend this holiday season.

Harry & David, gourmet fruit, chocolate and more. Featured on Oprah's Favorite Things 2010. Follow on Twitter @HarryandDavid

MISC

Oregon Chainsaw, because you never know when you'll need one.

Square Root Industries, artist Todd Loewy, can craft you a beautiful table that's not just functional but art.

Check back, because I'll be adding to the list regularly!

Buy Oregon for the Holidays!

Oregon albacore has a lower content of mercury than other tuna and you can get it in BPA-free cans at Oregon's Choice.

Gourmet tuna and other products from Oregon's Choice make great gifts and BPA-free means they are also smart choices for your home. In addition, unlike many of the large companies, they catch their tuna using a hook and line, which means, Oregon's Choice tuna really is dolphin free.

Winter Love

LOVE this peacoat by Amai Unmei

If I can't eat bread, I'll shop online...

Here's some cute things from le Train Bleu

Botanical Gardens Bumble Bee ring on sale! I just wish it came in another color since I'm not fond of yellow...

Ilse Jacobsen Buckle Boots. I'm so loving boots lately that I can hardly wait until Fall. I'm particularly fond of these because they are flat -- always a bonus when you're near 40 and chasing after a three-year-old. I still love high heels but after years and years of thinking I'd never go back to wearing flats, I'm starting to feel the value (aka lack of pain) of wearing a more practical shoe.

Love love LOVE!

I love this look by Souchi. WANT!

Good Deed Glasses

Great local company doing a good deed.

Margie Boule's Oregonlive column about 141Eyewear

For the birds

Ever since I found this pillow online, I can't help but falling for more bird paraphernalia and today it's the Pia, Pia, Pia! bird wall decal

I don't wear shawls but I'm also loving this:

Steve Elder's work is beautiful. Buttons, pins and hair accessories, hand-carved out of some common and not-so-common types of wood.

And check out this birdhouse from S&K Creations:

Check out this cute pillow from @BranchandBirdie. Perfect to add splash of fun to bedroom or family room.

For a list of Oregon gift ideas and products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon post

Goat Cheese Cherry Appetizer

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to try a yummy new Goat Cheese Cherry Appetizer, using Blossom Vinegars. So easy to make and the Cherry Vinegar takes the edge off of the goat cheese, widening its appeal to people that don't always care for goat cheese. I was told the recipe also would work well with the Blueberry Basil flavor.

Goat Cheese Cherry Appetizer

11 oz Log of Goat Cheese Cut into ¼” slices 
3-4 Cloves of Garlic grated on microplane grater 
1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme, minced
10 Pitted Black Olives, roughly chopped (or, use the same amount of fresh cherries)
¼ Cup Blossom’s Cherry Vinegar 
½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Garnish with Fresh Cherries

Place sliced cheese on glass plate, single layer if possible. 

Mix rest of the ingredients in a bowl and pour over the cheese to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (1-2 hours). Garnish the platter with fresh cherries. The cheese is very spreadable at room temperature.

Serve with sliced and toasted baguettes with a few little knives to spread the cheese on the bread. 

Left over marinate makes a great salad dressing or drizzle over cooked vegetables. 

For a list of Oregon gift ideas see Buy Local, Buy Oregon post

Another stunning piece by Souchi

cool scoop back

There are some fantastic designers here in Oregon, offering a myriad of styles from tailored to softer, romantic and unfinished.

Emily Sunnell's designs scream femininity and what I love the most is that she can take items you once loved and reconstruct them into something fresh and new.

This skirt is fantastic.

Rain Rain Go Away

It's the season of rain here in Oregon. ~ nine long months of drizzle, sleet and an occasional monsoon. As an Oregonian, I love my rain. It keeps things clean and green. Our rain is soft, not hard and pelting. It smells good, fresh.

Generally, true Oregonians don't carry umbrellas but that's not a hard and fast rule and some of the best umbrellas you'll find are by ShedRain, an Oregon company.

For a list of Oregon gift ideas & products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon

Kate Towers

Loving the stuff I'm seeing from Kate Towers. Now that Seaplane seems to be out of business, I wonder if anyone locally will carry her clothing.

For a list of Oregon gift ideas & products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon

mmmm, cashmere...

above, cotton/cashmere batwing and bikini from Souchi

For a list of Oregon gift ideas & products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon

Check out this sexy, little jacket from Seth Aaron Henderson, one of the Project Runway, Season 7 designers, at Anne Bocci boutique. Crisp, white & figure flattering.

For a list of Oregon gift ideas & products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II commissioned a hat by Pinkham Millinery.

You can too!

For a list of Oregon gift ideas & products see Buy Local, Buy Oregon