Shock Munch Is Moving To Portland!!!!

I have EXCITING news!!!!  Shock Munch is moving to Portland, Oregon in less than two weeks!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, I’m about to move to Portland and I think I love it!!  The food trucks, the breweries, the ability to ride my bike year-round, NO CHICAGO WINTER. The more I think about it, the giddier I become!

Kieran and I visited Portland last year and fell in love.  We love that Portland encourages things like being green, sustainable food, bicycle accessibility, allows small independent business to thrive, being extremely dog-friendly, progressive thinking, amazing beer/food culture (including food trucks), innovation, that’s creative, liberal, ect. Additionally, Portland has so many outdoor activity options, it will make your head swim.  I’m going to love being so close to both the ocean and mountains!  After living in a concrete jungle like Chicago for 11 years, I’m in desperate need of reconnecting with nature.  I can’t wait to be surrounded by stunningly beautiful scenery. I need that in my life right now 😀

Both Kieran and I were ecstatic when Kieran received a job offer from a Portland-based company. We’re still pinching ourselves that we actually get to move there!!!

Now here’s the crazy part, we have to move in less than two weeks.  LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!  That is not a lot of time to get packed, sell our condo, and relocate.  Now get this, I have to work this weekend and next weekend we’re out of town. That means all the packing and cleaning has to be done after work, during the weekday.

The month of March is going to be a whirlwind of excitement, anxiety, and exhaustion.  Kieran and I booked a cabin, near the Smokey Mountains, with some friends the weekend of March 20th, before we leave for Portland.  So, we are driving 10-11 hours to get to the cabin on Friday, hanging out on Saturday, and driving home 10-12 hours to get home on Sunday. Then on Tuesday, we start driving 9 hours a day, for 4 days, to get to Portland.  All that driving is going to suck.  Oh yeah, I almost forgot, after we arrive in Portland, we are turning around 4 days later to fly to Texas for a wedding.  Kieran and I are going to be utterly exhausted.  Ugh, I’m stressed and tired just thinking about what we have to accomplish, in the time we have to accomplish it.

But in the end we will be in Portland, starting a new life and I couldn’t be happier!

I’m thrilled to continue Shock Munch in Portland and look forward to exploring local farmer’s markets in the area for fresh ingredients for my recipes.

If you’re from the Portland area, I would love any tips or recommendations for things to do, food to taste, or things to see.

Yay!!!!!