On the Roots and Crowns Instagram page, Turk posts large florals, big colors, and wild, witchy ideas to over 38,000 followers. What began as a “little herbalism course” when Turk first came to Portland has turned into a cross-country celebration of the bounties of the Pacific Northwest, wrapped up in Roots and Crown’s artful packaging and compelling products: skin care, natural perfumes, and other self-care goods. Even the company’s name, which Turk described as “an ode to the trees,” as well as an homage to her Jewish heritage, hints at something small in size becoming majestic.”

Running out of options (see what I did there?), I begrudgingly started looking for ways to get my cardio on at home. Though online workouts had always felt like a last resort, it became clear that the situation was calling for me to adapt. However, I have been surprised to find I really enjoy working out at home, and that there are even some advantages to online fitness.

Chicken stewardship had been on my radar for years before jumping on the bandwagon. I regularly proposed the idea to my husband, but, having grown up with hens himself, he was always less than enthusiastic. Fortunately, quarantine + kid enthusiasm + a burning need to have something joyful to focus on = weakened resolve, and he eventually agreed. That said, we did a lot of research prior to jumping in, so the decision was not one made without a solid foundation.

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to gather with family and friends… except this year. In true 2020 fashion, many of us are upending our plans and foregoing the typical Thanksgiving experience. With so much upheaval in this season, why not take one more thing off your plate (see what I did there?) by ordering your Thanksgiving meal pre-made by a local business? Support our local economy and give yourself one less item on your to-do list!

“I still haven’t nailed down my election night plans. However, I know I want to prioritize my mental health in this bulldozer of a year. As with every night of the last eight months, I can say with certainty we will be home. It will be my husband, myself, our four children, three chickens, one dog, and one bearded dragon. That sounds chaotic enough….”

“I’ve often thought that if there was more of an a-la-carte photo service, I’d be game. Book a slot, whoever shows up gets some photos taken, and you pay for whatever photos you want to keep. Done. Enter Shoott, a new-to-Portland photography service…”

Springtime distance-learning was a hot mess in our house… As the unofficial family point-person for all things education, I made the executive decision that we needed to re-think our fall strategy. First step: create a new home environment for distance-learning, in the hopes of bringing some of that back-to-school magic into our family room, in lieu of the classroom.

“Most of us have heard of The Big One, the doomsday term given to a long-overdue earthquake expected to hit the Pacific Northwest some time in the next 50 years. Those with school-age kids are likely familiar with earthquake kits, often requested by administrators at the start of the school year. But for many of us, that’s where our knowledge of earthquake preparedness ends.”