Happiest Moments of 2011

2011 isn't quite over yet, so I know there will be more in store, but I wanted to share my Happiest Moments of 2011 and ask you to share with me yours as well in the comments (it makes me smile hearing your stories too!).

1. Palo Alto.
I got to tag along on K's business trip to Palo and I got high off the sunshine - it was glorious weather in the dead of January! Something this sun-starved Seattleite was dying for.

2. When we got Pearl.
Oh happy day when we added that quirky mutt to our family!

3. Cali for my cousin's wedding.
I hadn't seen my cousins for almost a decade, it was so fantastic to see them and it felt like no time had passed at all. They had a beautiful, romantic fun wedding too.

4. Seeing my sister graduate college.
Duh, this was awesome. So proud of her!

5. 4th of July.
I don't have documentation of it, but this year we got to watch the 4th of July fireworks from a houseboat on Lake Union. It was the best 4th we've had in years!!!

5. When Keene won his first big case.
He worked really hard for months and it was so exciting when all that hard work paid off :)

6. Pittsburgh.
So cool to see my friend in her new city! P'burgh was such a fun town to explore and it was fabulous to hang with my friend.

7. I got a job!
Woo! Goes without saying, this came out of left field and I couldn't be happier. I'm so lucky.

8. I hit my weight-loss goal!
This one was less luck and more time and dedication. Lots of time, and some dedication ;)

Fun looking back at my 2010, 2009, and 2008 Highlights....what are YOUR happiest moments of 2011? Let me know if the comments!

Hi Again

Wow so I guess I needed a little blog break! Hiatus = sometimes necessary. Lots of moving parts and pieces around our life lately, and I just really needed to step away from the internet and focus last week. A few things got accomplished that were on my to-do list forever!

1. Save-the-Dates are printed, and almost 100% addressed.
2. DJ has been booked.
3. Laundry, finally got done.
4. Scored some majorly overdue wardrobe staples just in time to get Macy's sale prices.
5. We found and bought some early Christmas gifts! (my goal is to be done by Thanksgiving - lofty, I know, it just makes December so much more enjoyable when that's done ahead of time).

Don't know about You Guys, but I'm really loving this time of year. I'm finding it hard not to get excited for Christmas too. Don't worry, I'll be over it by December and lusting for Summer by then. I'm just so good at living in the moment! (subtle sarcasm.) Anyway, how about some more fun Fall things?

How amazing does this Pull-Apart Cinnamon Pumpkin Bread look? {from Sunny-Side Up in SD}

I'm thinking about making this Honeycrisp Apple Sangria for my next shindig. {from Nutmeg Nanny}

Must make this Pumpkin Roll! {from Sprinkle Bakes - she has some amazing baking stuff on here}

Love this Apple Rose Pie. Utterly time-consuming, I'm sure. But what if you took each rosette and made little mini-pies instead? How adorable would that be?

You Guys, I LOVE acorns! They're a bit harder to find in the NW than they were on the East Coast, but if you start looking you can find acorn hot-spots :)

Check out how pretty this effect is - probably a bit messy, but great results! {via myblessedlife}

Later Dudes!

AOTD: One Question

"Fifty People, One Question" is a short film by social media firm Brand Nua where fifty Chicagoans are asked what their favorite memory is. Some awesome spontaneous answers from lots of people! Made me think of my 2009 and 2010 Year-End Fave Memories re-caps. Who doesn't love reminiscing on great times? It's funny how it's not even the "big" moments necessarily that are our happiest.

For Ole Times Sake...

List and Comment Friday!!!
So you know those things, that sometimes you adore, and then other times they make you nutzo? Well, I have quite a few of them. I'll keep them to 6 for now...

A Few Things I Love/Hate:
1. Whole Foods.
I know I can't be the only one annoyed by this place. All their holier-than-thouness and super expensive hippie food just makes me think "First World Problems" over and over again! But then...you guys they have this awesome salad bar. And jeez I am a huge fan of good salad bars! I go there at least once a week to load up on spinach and veggies and tofu (what?! it's pretty good there) and occasionally some of the healthy junk food stuff :)

2. Volkswagen.
Oy. I love my car. And I mean LOVE it. There is no other way to explain why I wouldn't have broken up with it by now. I love driving it - it's worlds more fun than a Honda. And when it works, it works beautifully. But my gawd is it a lot of maintenance! Almost like having a sports car without having a sports car. But I guess that's what it is going for, in-between a sports car and your everyday wheels. I'll probably keep it until it comes time to put it down, many, many years from now!

3. Cafe Fiore.
Ugh. This place. Snottiest baristas EVER. Consistently. Every time I think about going there I'm like, "ugh, but I have to deal with them". They NEVER make eye contact, and are super aloof and RUDE. I have no idea why! But guess what? They have really damn good coffee. It's annoyingly much better than other coffee. Also they have awesome adirondak chairs and free wifi for sitting outside and chillin. And they have dog treats that Pearl loves. But seriously, so unpleasant to interact with them!

4. Public Transportation.
Self-explanatory if you've ever spent time commuting. I'd say DC's metro was definitely less frustrating than Seattle's Bus system, efficiency-wise. But the metro could also be a little bit medieval as far as the people go. You had to be very, VERY alert. I'm so happy that Seattle has buses. But oh my gah they take SO long to get you anywhere and they're never ever on time unless you're late. Amiright?

5. Oprah.
She's so annoying. She's out of touch. She's obsessed with her celebrity "good friends" and thinness and forgets that her audience can't afford what she can and you can't relate to her. But then...she'll go and be super relate-able, having something on her show that makes me cry, she'll be all inspiring, she'll have great articles in her magazine, and I'm all, "Oh Oprah, I forgive you"...can't live with her, can't live without her!

6. The Cast of Jersey Shore.
Heh. Yeah. These assholes went to Italy. They make 100k an episode now (I heard). But this show is compelling in a sick way. I know that it's probably just me being a reality-show-lover but watching them be idiots in Italy is kinda funny. And I keep watching it and thinking, "sigh, oh Italy!" even though they're spending 90% of their time there trying to find tanning booths and going to clubs. Sooo not as cool as our trip :)

Ok You Guys: what are some of your Love/Hates?

Blog Haitus & Europe Checklist

This time next week we'll be driving through Southern German countryside on our way to Neuschwanstein. I can't wait! And this girl won't have international bloggin' technology, so y'all are gonna have to take up watching General Hospital or (a-hem) working while I'm on a blog break. And then prepare yourselves for the epic post when we get back :) I'm gonna make sure you are sick of me again, promise!

My Europe Checklist:

1. Oktoberfest
2. See the Glockenspiel do it's thang
3. Eat donner kebab
4. BMW factory
5. Castles and mansions, oh my!
6. Gondola?
7. Opera
8. Pasta
9. Vino
10. Pastries
11. Sunrise in the South of France
12. More mansions
13. Some historical stuff
14. ART
15. Sangria and paella
15. Architecture

The end. I can't wait!!! What would be on your hypothetical Europe Checklist, y'all?

List and Comm: if I had the time...

You Guys, do you ever get inspired and think of all the things you could do and try and see? I have to make lists, because I can't always get to this stuff in a timely manner. Some day, sigh!

Things I Really Want to Do Right Now:

1. Learn to can and pickle, take a class
2. Assemble mini pies and freeze to enjoy this winter
3. Get out my sewing machine and experiment with altering my clothes
4. Make more jewelry
5. Make chili
6. Work on my halloween costume (high stakes among my pals)
7. Learn to golf
8. Take tennis lessons
9. Go to a First Thursday Artwalk
10. Go get a pumpkin spice latte (this one I can actually do today!)

What are y'all inspired to do this Fall?

{image via WeHeartIt}

List & Comm: Favorite Things

I think we're due for another "Favorite Things" List, aren't we?

1. Speaking of favorite things, and The Sound of Music, how about we start with my favorite: Captain Von Trapp! MEOW.
2. Good News. Who doesn't love being surprised with good news? I hope good news comes in threes also!
3. Prickly Pear Mojitos.
4. The Party Store.
5. My freshly re-strung tennis racket. Now it makes that "pop" sound again. Finally :)
6. Pizza. I can't get enough.
7. That one last grill of the the summer. With a beer.
8. Cohab wants me to list: "College effing Football" and "Not taking the bar". Word.
9. Crisp Fall-is-coming air
10. Pumpkin Spice Lattes! (countdown is on)

Ok now you go: tell me some more of your favorite things, y'all! :)

List & Comment Friday: VIVA LAS DEJAVU

You Guys - how crazy is it that this time last year I was planning a trip to Vegas to visit my good friend and her new baby...and this year I'm doing the same thing!? Weird coincidence? Or does Vegas just make people want to make babies? I dunno - I better not drink the water while I'm there ;)

My list of things I want to do in Vegas this year:
1. Meet my friend's new baby! (obvs)
2. Sip mai tais poolside with my gal pals
3. Laugh at the "volcano" erupting at the Mirage
4. See the Mirage Tigers
5. Hopefully make it out to the Neon Graveyard
6. See old Vegas?
7. Paris Buffet
8. Dare we go to the NYNY again? I still haven't done the roller coaster there.
9. SEE CHER - duh!

Do y'all have any must-do ideas for Vegas? What's your fave thing about Vegas?

List & Comm Friday

Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball...so today I've decided to make my own...UNIVERSE, Listen Up!

List of where I will be in ten years:

* Happily married to my favorite person
* We'll have a little family
* In a comfy cottage-esqe house all our own
* I'll be fully immersed in a career the energizes me and that impacts others in a meaningful way
* Life will be full of friends, art, food, family, nature, holidays, and sipping wine under wisteria
* Bonus points: travel :)

And that's it. That's all I want, I swear!!! Your turn.  
Where will you be in ten years?
*ok if that house happened to have a walk-in closet that would accommodate a chandelier that would be the cherry on top...

Arlington: the hippest place on Earth

Happy Friday, y'all! So recently I was struggling to describe the city that I work in, Arlington, VA. It was tricky. I think it's a bit like if Bellevue and the Northgate Mall had a baby. So yeah, I commute out to Arlington every day from DC. It is such a joy! SARCASM. Anyway, here is a "rap" that might help illustrate what Arlington is like:

LIST FRIDAY: the Places I've Worked, in order from "Best" to "Worst" in my opinion based on geographical proximity to cool stuff:
1. Fremont, Seattle
2. Downtown Seattle (right by Benihana!)
3. Belltown (Seattle)
4. Pioneer Square (Seattle)
5. Everett, WA (duh)
6. Arlington, VA
7. Lynw(h)ood, WA
8. Georgetown, DC

You may be surprised to see that Georgetown is #8. I worked WAY OUT in GT, no where near the fancy shopping center of it all, and had to take an hour and a half bus to get there. Fremont is of course at the top because it's got the cutest lunch spots. Downtown Seattle beats Belltown and Pioneer square for it's convenience. Arlington rolls in there around #6 because there's at least a Macy's and a CVS.

Now you go. Favorite spot you've worked?

Yo: Where You AT?

Question Friday: Where do you live? I wanna know! One of my favorite things about reading blogs is connecting with people all over the world. It's so exciting to find a fun new blog and then realize that blogger is from...the Netherlands! Or Asia! Or Casablanca!

So I'm wondering...
where in the world are you reading from right now?

Holi, Hindu Festival of Colors

So my coworkers were telling me about Holi, a "festival of colors" and it sounded totally amazing and like something I'd never seen or heard of before. In India this is a Hindu tradition where people throw powder colors at each other to welcome Spring. I LOVE all the colors. Now I want to have a color-theme party! {see the entire slideshow here}

image courtesy Babu / Reuters

image courtesy Krishnendu Halder / Reuters

What kinds of things will you do to celebrate Spring?
I'm going to the Bahamas(!), gonna do a good clean/purge of the apartment, and we'll go out for Easter brunch which always makes me feel like Spring is really here...

List & Comment Friday: Old Loves

There's something special about being twelve years old. I am not really a "kid person" but one of my favorite experiences was being a camp counselor for fifth graders. Fifth graders are just old enough to get that they are funny but not too old to enjoy the best things in life.

Things I love love loved when I was twelve:
(ok so I still love all these things)
*Lisa Frank stickers (also "fuzzies", "scratch n' sniff", and "sparkly")

*Disney preview channel week
*Pentels

*Labyrinth

*Troll dolls

*Uno
*Stretch pants
*Headbands, Perms
*My teachers
*My cul-de-sac, my neighbors
*Waterballoon fights
*Summer
*Back to the Future

*My unicorn pencil box (still have it!)
*"Shoop" by Salt n' Pepa
--
Now it's your turn, guys. What were some of your faves at twelve?

What Motivates You?

Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan and Simon Bruyn on Vimeo.

Winter Blues have got me down but not completely! I'm cooking up new goals and am motivated since Spring is on the horizon. The days can only get longer and warmer from here on out, People!

A Few of My Big Motivators:
*Family
*Friends
*Money
*Results
*Connections/Collaboration
*Beauty/Nature
*Fear (working on making this not true)
*Freedom (working on making this more true)
*Quiet time, a bit o' solitude now and then
*Artists of all kinds
*Music (preferably with a booty shaking beat)
*A good THEME (ok, doesn't even have to be a good one, I'll pretty much go with it)

Now: with imminent snow apparently on the way in oh...about 4 hours, my plan is to stay home and stay warm! I'm actually really looking forward to being cooped up...I have so many projects! Snow Weekend Agenda: sleep, craft, clean, snuggle, catch up, call some peeps, tivo, pretend to watch the superbowl but really read blogs on my laptop.

I wanna know: what are your big motivators, and what are your weekend plans?

List/Comment Friday: Beat the Winter Blues

I've been whining about it forever...it's the ole familiar Winter "slump" I get. Do y'all get this way too? Ok probs not if you live somewhere without seasons (Luh-key!). But every January I start to fantasize about what it feels like to have sun on my face again and go out without a jacket (ok in Seattle: go out with a "light jacket").


photo by Nicole Herriott via Epicute.

A few ways I get through January/February/March:
1. Hot chocolate, lattes, coffee, irish coffee, peppermint schnapps (that went from wholesome to not-so-much)
2. TV. It's true, gotta have the tivo this time of year. I'm starting to miss my Netflix subscription too.
3. Over dressing to stay warm. I just hate being cold so I've been overbundlin' to avoid hearing myself complain about the weather.
4. Sleep a lot, sleep in, try and sleep away all these dark winter hours.
5. Concentrate on the owl who "hoot"s in our neighborhood. He's back, he's hootin' every morning and it makes waking up to no sun a little easier.
6. Shop and buy things. Need I say more?
7. Read. I have so many books to get through!

Ok now I'm stumped. Do you guys have any good ideas? How do you get through this yucky Winter time?

List & Comment Friday: House Hunters

As I was saying, watching shows where people look for homes and then "hating" on them is one of our favorite pass times. CLEARLY it is just jealously but still, the cohab and I are really convinced we are smarter than the average buyer, even though we have no experience with real estate and have never owned a home. STILL! These dumb dumbs that go house shopping...yikes. I thought I'd compile a list of the top mistakes I think these people make when they're "house hunting" and that I would (of course) have the logical mind to never do (ha, I know I'll be laughing at this post later in life).

1. Shopping out of their price range (and inevitably falling in love with their "dream home" that they don't need) and then selling their souls to get that home.

2. Being turned off by carpet, paint, clutter, decorations. DUH! This is the #1 rule of house hunting! Don't let minor cosmetic changes mask what might really be there! Add the cost of the improvements onto the price tag. I would expect with a first home that you may have a little work ahead of you (not a lot, but some, imo).

3. Thinking they need their first home to be their dream home. Granted, I want my starter home to be one that I love, but I don't expect it to be my dream home right out the gate.

4. Compromising on pretty much everything to get MORE SPACE. What. Is. Up. With. That. I mean, we live in about 8-900 glorious square feet, and I want a walk-in closet more than anyone. BUT - why do people always sacrifice everything they want once they get a taste of a giant bathroom?

5. Compromising on the location. Same thing. It seems like a mistake to move further away from public transportation just to "get more for your money". I see how that seems logical, getting more square feet per dollar, but your property is instantly less desirable if it's in the boonies! (maybe that's just me though).

I admit that when the day comes that we are ready to house hunt, we'll have a budget and that budget is going to dictate most of our decisions, and I'm sure compromising on this and that to not live in a run-down shack is going to make total sense. But more often than not we're just yelling at the TV watching people get all excited over GRANITE and turned off by a 70's light fixture. Drives me crazy!

What mistakes have YOU made, or do you think other people make when they buy?

List & Comm: BRUNCH

Frigid, frosty, cruel ole *January* has got me thinking about...breakfast. Ok more like it's Friday and I'm already thinking about how great my Saturday sleep-in is going to be. But I just love me some brunch. Who doesn't?


photo by treborinato via Epicute.

My list of favorite things to have for breakfast:
1. Mimosas
1. A good ole Denver omelet
2. BACON
3. Anything that incorporates cheese and eggs into a casserole
4. Croissants
5. Bloody Marys
6. Cinnamon rolls
7. Coffee (good coffee)
8. Bagels, w/lox and cr. cheese
9. Crab cake eggs benedict (when done right, obvs)
10. Crepes
11. Berries
12. French toast
13. Monte Cristo sandwiches
14. Things with gravy

What's your favorite thing to have for breakfast?

Party in the U.S.A.!!!!

Gawd dammit I love NEW YEARS!!! Fresh slate. Completion of a whole year. We made it! Time for a brand new start! I know it's just a date on a calendar but it still feels good. I also like that New Years can be classy and I like dressy winterwear and glitter and fireworks and indulgent food. And counting down. And champagne.

Here we go with the 2010 Resolutions:
* Lose 20 (more!) lbs.
* Work on being happy and at peace with where I am in the moment. Work on having a more positive attitude.
* Give more compliments.
* Take more photos with MY NEW NIKON!!!

Here's how I did with 2009:
* No more seconds for dinner - slowed that down a bit, with a 3-month Summer slip off the wagon.
* Live more freely and relax - still need to work on this, A LOT.
* Get a job - got one! (with a 3-month Summer hiatus)

How'd you guys do in 2009 and what are your new goals for '10?

List & Comm: My Best of 2009

pic from flickr user LeArmoire.

LOVE New Years. It's tied with the 4th of July for my favorite holiday. But I think New Years is a smidge in the lead. Just a smidge!

My best times of 2009:
* Inauguration. Coldest, most exciting moment of the year.
* Going home for the Logan's wedding.
* Making and eating this bread pudding, it was a great Valentine's Day.
* Going to Easter Brunch at B. Smith's.
* VEGAS! Visiting my favorite babe and going to Cirque and dinner at Lawry's (limo ride!).
* When Keene & I watched Wall-E and had popcorn.
* Got my MacBook.
* Portland trip.
* Kayaking around Bainbridge.
* Visiting Court in B'ham.
* Going to Big Sky Country.
* Dinner on the deck.
* Going to NY: the dinner we had Itzocan, and seeing Shannon's play.
* Baltimore Visit.
* Thanksgiving weekend.
* Decorating our tree, the success of this pork tenderloin, and Christmas visit home!

What were some of your favorite moments of 2009?

List & Comm: Things I'm excited for this week!

Goin' to Seattle for Christmas week, people! Maybe I'll see you there? Hope so!

Just a few of the things I'm looking forward to...
1. Petting my dog, Mysty. Perhaps she will allow me a cuddle.
2. Celebrating STILL BEING IN MY 20s!!!
3. Being reunited with my car and freedom of transportation
4. Having a drink IN A BAR with my little sister
5. Holiday FOOD (tapas, xmas ham, breakfast casserole, DIP)
6. Holiday cocktails!
7. Hanging out with my friends (can't wait to see you guys!!!)
8. Ocean air, evergreen trees
9. Couch time at the parents' house
10. Not working - !!!

Aight kiddos, what are you excited about this coming week?

Gumdrop Garland, via Craft.