First Few Photos...

Breaking my blog silence...to bring you some photos from our session with the totally fabulous Jenny Jimenez - she is amazing! These are just the first few but I had to share, it's our first "forealsies" photos together. Pearl was quite a ham, very photogenic, I'm sure you'll agree :)

Happy New Year :)

Well, let's just say I'm real glad the holidays this year landed in a way that gave us Monday off of work. We spent today cleaning and being happy about our party on NYE. Lots of friends came over and it was a good time. We all walked to the park before midnight (a little stumbling parade of party hats and noise makers...joined by others who were on their way!) and watched the Space Needle fireworks.

Thankfully this cool person took a pretty good video - I was a little too focused on "wooooo"-ing to document:

Some pics from the beginning of the night:

For the early arrivals we had some Chambord Champagne - a great start!

The "tablescape" all ready to get some food on it.

Many thanks to Wendi for bringing over our NYE "flair" and helping make everything look spectacular.

I had fun making our chandelier 2012-i-fied...

I staged the End-of-the-Year-CDs on our coffee table, as well as some of "Annie's International Gifts and Treasures to share" (she was the unofficial Guest of Honor - Manilla was a long way to travel from - we were stoked to have her here!). And don't worry Michigan we received your CDs and I gathered up a batch to send your way!

I made these Peanut Butter Bon Bons (thanks again to Wendi for all the help) and I think they turned out pretty tasty. They were a bit labor intensive though so I'd need some strong encouragement if I was going to do that again...

Mom - the drink tower came in handy again. I didn't think we'd have any need for ANOTHER cocktail around but this thing is endlessly popular when there's water in it. What can I say, people like water. So we had two kinds.

I felt kindof indulgent when I bought this $10 ice bucket at Fred Meyer. But it's paid for itself since we've used it at just about every party since.

Riveting discussions, I'm sure :)

An end-of-the-night arty farty photo by Paula - I like how fancy this Chambord looks :)

Y'All it was a great time. I freakin' love this holiday. To 2012, and Sober January. CHEERS! Mwah!

On to San Francisco...

Oh wait, what's that?

Peeking through the fog just as it should on a typical San Fran day...I'd seen it before but never driven across it!

Pictures from the car! Always come out professional.

Compared to Santa Rosa, this city felt like an entirely different country! And it was fabulous, because we rolled in right after the Pride Parade had ended in that fine city. All colors of stray feathers missing from boas were floating around the place!

After some Manewelry shopping (man jewelry, and yes, we found one he likes!) we hopped on a CABLE CAR. Holler! Apparently this is the only "transit system" listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See how it rolls on down here to the end of the line, then they rotate it on this wooden rotating spot? Pretty neat.

Historic Landmark although apparently not protected from billboards advertising vacation destinations. Classy!

Keene was the brave one and was a "Standee", riding on the outside of the car Like a Boss!

He said it was pretty fun. Kinda like a gentle roller coaster? I know his law brain was all "liability liability liability....but not my problem haha"...

My best attempt at a self-portrait without putting my camera in danger of falling off the cable car...

Ignore this chick who thought I was taking a picture of her. (sorry, Stranger! You're on my blog now! All 5 readers can see you!). Anyway, see the view back there? It was a pretty great way to get the feel of cool San Fransisco.

I took this video for Y'all so you could get the real experience. Also, why is it I've always got to be the one to start the "Woo"?!

And then we went to the Fisherman's Terminal (not to be confused with the Wharf - this was much cooler than that hot mess). I took a picture of this fountain because I thought it was the most heinous fountain sculpture I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of ugly sculpture.

My last day in San Fran I had big plans. But then I got back to the hotel and had this glass of Rose and ate some Ghirardelli chocolates and watched a movie instead. I'm lazy. Also it won't be my last trip to San Fran!

Indulgent: Pummelvision

Dudes, Pummelvision makes a music video of your photos! I'm sure this is easy enough to do without Pummelvision, but this thing makes a video for you in about 2 minutes. Totally satisfying. Like, the quickest easiest craft project ever :)

I made this one of our Europe Trip Photos:

Gawd, remember when we went to Europe?! That was SO EPIC. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday and sometimes it already feels like it was ages ago :( I wish we could do the whole thing again! And eat everything all over again. Maybe next year ;)

30th Birthday Re-Cap

...Oy...where to begin? I think I'm going to stay away from the ugliness that was my intolerance for alcohol on account of becoming an old lady, and just go with the highlights!

A snapshot of the night and illustration of how I wanted to be over the top with my bday costume:

Cupcakes from my favorite, Trophy, that may not make another appearance in my life until 2012. But don't they look pretty? (Snowball, Red Velvet and Samoa flavors)

There were some cute pics!

And then began the rounds of me making people take pictures with me acting like a ridiculous ham. They get much worse and unflattering than this, but it's my blog so I get to post what I want!

Lots of lessons learned by 30. Firstly: apparently I'm not old enough to resist peer pressure (jager, really, People??), but too old to handle a hangover anymore. "I'm too old for this stuff!" It was fabulous to have all my good friends there with me though and I hope they had a great time too. I'm seriously relieved to be in my 30s finally and can't wait to see what the next decade brings! :)

*2010 HIGHLIGHTS*

It was an extraordinary, magical, full year. It started in DC, detoured through the parents houses, and Europe, and ended right where we left off 2 years ago: Seattle. Looking back through these I can't even believe all this happened in one year. Remember the Bahamas? That was in 2010! And oh my gawd, we ate, SO GOOD.

1. SnOMG, 2. Bahamas, 3. I want to go back to there, 4. Return to Georgia Brown's in our Easter Best, 5. Friends visit DC, 6. Doughnuts at Tabard Inn, 7. So Squinty @Tabard, 8. Wheat beer & rose on our deck, 9. "Home of the famous chili dog", 10. Brunch at Perry's, 11. me n' Drew, 12. Loved this apartment, 13. Gradumakated!, 14. My family came to DC, 15. Return to NYC, 16. Empire State of Mind, 17. Washington Square Park, 18. Grown-up Date to PNB, 19. A goofy night with my girlfriends, 20. crazy eyes for Cher, 21. @Paris hotel, 22. Viva Las Vegas, 23. The best spag I've ever had, in Venice, 24. Fenice Opera House, 25. Burano Day, 26. MansionMogulling in Cap Ferrat, 27. Kickin' it on the French Riviera, 28. Pont du Gard Day, 29. Keene's #1 Fave Europe dish, 30. EAT PRAY LOVE in Barcelona, 31. Park Güell was amazing, 32. Sagrada Família, 33. We got Engaged!!!, 34. Went on a double date to the Nutcracker, 35. We moved and our new neighbors gave us an "oword" , 36. My sis and I on my 30th bday :)

Stuff n' Things

Yesterday was my little sister's birthday! I'm so proud of her. A few days ago we went out to dinner at Madame K's in Ballard (before it closes for good...tear!). It was sooo yummy. Thanks for being born, Courtney! I love you and am so proud of you!!!

I feel like sharing with y'all the expression that my dog has perfected:

The art of looking pathetic and sad and cute. She does this every morning until I finally break down and stop being lazy and take her for a walk.

Last Friday I managed to grab a couple of blurry-low-lighting shots of "The Diller Room" where we went to happy hour. Supercute location complete with tin ceilings and friendly Cornhusker fans. Good times! Not the cheapest happy hour around but it does have this chandelier.

Last but not least...a blurry picture of me with CHER. I cannot WAIT to see this movie!!!

Bellingham State of Mind

My lil' sis is back up at school and we had to go check out her new crib! It was fun to make a day of it and she showed us all the cool stuff and I got to take a little trip down memory lane...college!

First stop: Boundary Bay. We got that tapenade I couldn't stop thinking about from last summer, and salad and chowder and of course, oatmeal stout. Mysty waited impatiently outside for us, making friends and enemies. Obnoxious!

Next stop: Lafeen's! Court reminded me about this awesome place. Ladies, remember the pj-clad late night doughnut missions? Good times...

 

This place is friggin' classic...and they have wifi!

The classic.

Apple fritter goodness.

My raspberry jelly doughnut. SO GOOD.

Yeah.

Noshin'.

I love my sister!

Where to next? How about Whatcom Falls. And let's check out the fish hatchery while we're at it...

Fishy makin'

Fishies being fishies

Supercute bridge

Court I think you are channeling Aunt J here...

Falls. Some crazy people jump here ;)

Another fall.

Whew! Worked up an appetite. Headed over to the other other B'ham brewery...

Chuckanut...sat outside and enjoyed the view and last moments of Summer...

Cohab got the sampler, of course!

I got the Kolsch. It was Kolsch night! I like this a lot...

Chowdah. Really good.

Last stop: tower on campus. I did not even know about this when I went here. It's this really creepy tower on the top of Sehome Hill that you can climb up and see all over. That's Canada over there. I think.

Mt. Baker.

B'ham!

There ya' have it, Folks. Another day trip to B'ham to visit the sis in the books. I can't wait to go back. Maybe we'll have to make a Winter trip up there. Thanks for hosting us, Court! :) :) :)