Flashback Friday

Half Moon Bay in front of the Mango Cafe, which apparently is no longer there

In December 2006, Bryan's family decided to take a little Christmas trip to Akumal, Mexico. Akumal is a small town south of Cancun between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Sure we bought a house that year, but I told Bryan WE HAVE TO GO. This would probably be the only trip of its kind, getting as much of the family as we could to go. Little did I know we would do it again in 2008 for our wedding and then EVERYONE would be there. But without this trip, there would have been no beach wedding...gasp!

This was the winter that the Pacific Northwest was hit with wicked windstorms causing everyone to lose power. I think our power came back on the day before we flew out. Christmas in Mexico was a blast, not something I would do every year as I love the traditions that Christmas brings. But I think everyone should try it just once.

Here is Bryan attempting to recreate a Corona advertisement in Soliman Bay, where an actual Corona commercial was filmed.

Here my love for ceviche and pico de gallo developed, and life would never be the same

Lunch at Oscar y Lalo's at Soliman Bay with the whole crew, minus the Iowans (family from Iowa)

I just asked Bryan what you call "people who live in Iowa." Iowonians? He said "I don't know, look it up. I'm going to laugh if it says inbred." Sorry Karen if you read this one day. Keep in mind he'd move to Iowa in a heartbeat.

Pelican friends on the beach, waiting for the fisherman to return

We joked that we would get married in Mexico

We even had Bryan's cousin Sarah take a 'Save the Date' photo for us to use when we got married. But I thought I looked like Britney Spears in the picture (stubby legs) so it was never used.

I hope to visit again someday, reminded of the good times we had after reading about Matt Logelin's first trip back after losing his wife. If you don't read this blog, you should. It's inspirational.

So many places to visit, and revisit. For those of you who were with us in Isla Mujeres last April, I enjoy checking in on Gringo in Paradise who made me laugh out loud the other day with his photos and captions from the Carnival on Isla. What a life!

Happy Friday!

Trip to Greece? Yes please!

Enter for a chance to win a 5-star honeymoon to Greece and a beach wardrobe HERE. If you win, bring me back a bottle of ouzo!

You're welcome!

Recently laid off?

Craigslist

Open position in the model/events/body double category. I'm looking for a surrogate husband to stand in for photos. This is a part time position with a flexible schedule. Looking for a blonde hair, blue eyed, fun man in his mid 20's with a great smile. If you think this is you, please come to the interview dressed as you would for a dinner out with friends or a holiday with family. Must be comfortable as a third wheel. Salary is DOE. Actually it's really per photo, and if you don't smile or your eyes are closed it's on the house. Times are tough...

*Bryan doesn't want to be on my blog anymore...he says he doesn't want to be on the internet. It's hard to get him in a picture and even harder to get him to smile. Doesn't he see he is ruining my future family photos? I have this idea of looking back at photos of us getting our Christmas tree and I expect it to look like a JCrew photo shoot. I blame Martha Stewart for my unrealistic ideas of life and photography. Not to mention the fact that I can't even put photos into frames in the first place...

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag...

Actually you're not supposed to feed the birds at this particular park. Here is a little photo montage from our day at the park last week. We met up with Grammy Chou, Katia and Jackson for a little lunch and Jackson's first ride on the swings...

Lunch at Ivar's

Uncle Bryan throwing baby overboard...or chasing seagulls

Grammy Chou, Jack look at the camera

Here I was trying to recreate 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' with baby Depp.

Bryan and Jackson duck hunting, we are constantly pushing an empty stroller

and....he likes it. Success!

Flats are phat!

I have a big toe problem, as in my big toe hurts. Probably from stomping around work all day in heels and breaking out into song and dance occasionally. I only recently realized that the security camera behind my station covers more area than I thought, which means the security guards have seen a lot of Britney Spears "I'm a slave for you" moves lately, and a series of leaps on my way back from the bathroom. What else are long hallways for? So because of my toe, I'm working on building my flats collection, which in turn I will have to work on building my pants that go with said flats collection. I'm cheap, so here are my cheap flats collection for your viewing pleasure:




These shoes are my Moroccan beauties. I got them for $14.50 from Old Navy. Someone asked me once if they were Coach, in which I cackled and said "yeah right!"

These patten leather/suede/leather (a little of everything for the girl who can't make up her mind) flats were purchased in effort to find something suitable to wear with an ugly Christmas sweater for a party. I headed to the Gap outlet looking for something cheap...well they were $24.50 and they hurt like a bitch. So I only wear them when I'm going to be carried somewhere. Gap is not a good place for shoes, unless they are converse.

These are my most recent purchase, and my proudest. I got them at Old Navy for $5.97! I intended on telling people they were from JCrew, but I'm just too damn proud, what a deal!

I'm on the hunt for something even cheaper. Think I can do it? I may have to buy some Jellies to top it, but they're making a comeback right?

Weekend Update

Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon will be giving this week's weekend update....





bum bum bum bum bum da duh, Duh dA





This weekend was a flash from the past for me. I tried to see how many different groups of friends I could hang out with in one day. Turns out the # is 3. Friday Bryan and I went out to dinner with his Dad at Jayberry's Cafe in Renton. Nothing specatular, however they had a wide selection on the menu. And wouldn't you know it, but they wouldn't give me a to-go cup for my "Nutty Irish" coffee because it had alcohol in it...come on, it's Renton!





Saturday we walked the dogs in the A.M., then I met up with some friends from highschool, Danielle and Stefanie, for sushi and an afternoon movie. We saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was cute. I like Isla Fisher. It was different from the book, as all book to movies are. But they did a good job. Then I headed home for a 30 minutes nap and took off to meet up with my old dance crew, as one of them has just returned from the peace corp. I said hello, slurped down a soda and 30 minutes later I left to meet up with my friends from college to go to a baby shower. One of my old roomates is about to have a baby girl any minute. This was the first baby shower I've been to that served alcohol, and let me tell you, that makes baby shower games even better. Please consider it the next time you are hosting a shower. I did end up skipping my final event of the night which would have been a "bring back the grunge" party at my friend Jeff's house, but I was spent.





*You're right mom, I do sound like an alcoholic. But really people, I'm not. In fact my nickname is 'two drink Tina' because I'm a light weight. And sadly, I'm just as brutally honest when I'm sober, so really what's the point?





Sunday, I somehow slept in until 11am, which doesn't count waking up twice before that to let the dogs out. It was gorgeous out, so I took the dogs for a nice long walk, and enjoyed Pandora Radio on my iphone. Then I went to yoga for some more "me" time, and it kicked my butt. While I was gone Bryan did some housework and yardwork (excellent), and now this is what he and dogs look like.

We're a tired bunch. Not ready for another week, but oh well. Hope you had a good weekend.

I'm Tina Fey, and I'm Jimmy Fallon. Goodnight everyone.

Sing me a song...

image from Le Love

The other night Bryan was watching Desperate Housewives of Orange County, a favorite show of his although I don't get why. One of the couples on the show were staying at a hotel and the crew was filming them having dinner. In the scene they were having a discussion about their children and Bryan turned to me and said "they're spending $2K a night at this hotel and they're talking about their kids." Later as we lay in bed discussing the funny things our dogs do, I turned to him and said "we're spending $2K a night on this and we're talking about our dogs!" Then we hummed some tunes to see if the other could guess what song we were humming.

Isn't married life great?

Have a good weekend.

I'll have the poo please...

There are a great number of restaurants in Seattle that I'd like to try, however we seem to go to the same places over and over. It's a vicious cycle, and hard to break. There are really only so many days in a weekend and dollars in the wallet. Here are some things involving food I like or things I would like to try someday. Sure some our touristy, but there is nothing better than doing touristy things in your own city.

Me (looking like a man) and Mikaela enjoying an order of Poo in Sunset Magazine. That's right people, we are famous.

Skillet Street Food

You've never eaten lunch out of silver airstream trailer? Well it's time to try. I can not say enough about this traveling establishment, except that I hope you get a chance to dine with them. Check the schedule, arrive early, bring cash and get dessert. And no matter what make sure you get an order of poo (poutine). Trust me, you'll never eat any other shit again!

The Corson Building

Local star chef Matt Dillon (Sitka & Spruce) and partner Wylie Bush opened The Corson Building in none other than the historic Corson Building. The building features cozy communal seating; everybody eats the same multi course meal, family-style and the menus aren't pre-planned. It's not a meal, it's an experience. Plus there are chickens and doves outside of the building.

Wait, there are chickens outside of my house too, we eat family style, and the menu is never pre-planned. Anyone want to come to my house for dinner? $60 a plate...2 buck chuck wine pairings....I smell a money making opportunity.

Taste Pike Place Market

1-2 hour walking tours of Pike Place Market. Choose from breakfast, lunch or food and wine and taste some of Seattle's best secrets. We all know about the fresh donuts, but I haven't tried the crumpets yet, and I've seriously seen that crumpet shop all my life. I'm so sheltered.

image via Wrights Eats

Frank's Oyster House and Champagne Parlor

Goat cheese deviled eggs. Need I say more? Beautiful decor, makes me want to go on a date with John Hamm. You don't watch Mad Men? Shut up. 2nd restaurant for owners Sarah and Felix Penn who own Pair, another beautiful looking place I haven't tried...Jeez, I feel deprived. I think I'm going to put my foot down the next time someone sings "Let's go Outback tonight"...

Name that movie!

Person #1: What could I possibly give you that you don't already have?

Person #2: A little girl...

I am a planner. I have an entire "I love file" for my next house. I have a file for windows (Bryan just demonstrated how to bend moulding around an arched window using a pepperoni stick, love him). I even save photos for my kids rooms, even though I'm not completely sold on the idea of kids yet. I've managed to keep two dogs alive but I truly believe it's because they make noise when they need something. If they didn't, well then I probably would forget to feed them. Good thing plants don't make noise though because if they did, my entire yard would be screaming. The first year I planted a vegetable garden, I forgot to turn off the sprinkler and I watered my tomatoes for 9 hours. Juiciest tomatoes ever!

So anyhoo, during a discussion about things we probably will never do now that we're married (we're a very realistic couple), I shared that I will probably never have a pink living room. You know how you always see those soft pink ultra chic living rooms in Domino Magazine (R.I.P), that most likely belong to single girls. Well, I'll never have one. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with that, it's just a fact. But then I remembered if I had a baby I could...see why I'm not ready to have kids. At the moment I only want one so I could paint a room pink! Sickening. But, I'm not deterred because I have a lot of photos that could work for nieces and nephews...and hey, I can have a pink guest room! So, here are some of baby room ideas:

grey crib? love it! doesn't need to be the $600 Oeuf crib...

Bird mobile...although the bird on the bottom looks like he hung himself after all that crying

Jonathan Adler Lamp (retails for $450)

or I could get a cheaper similar lamp at urban outfitters for $42

I had a cute ferris wheel lamp as a child...it played music and stuff, but I never heard it. You see I was child #2, and child #1 broke it! Maybe my inner child deserves a $450 lamp? No, you're right, unrealistic. (no hard feelings Kat!)

via pottery barn kids

or a tree like this?

Alphabet poster via Creative Neesh at Etsy

a shadow box with a baby outfit?

So that is what my hypothetical baby's room looks like thus far... Although Bryan just busted my baby interior designing bubble tonight while watching Desperate Housewifes when he said "See! Kids ruin everything!" Thanks Bry. Siblings...let me know what you want your kids rooms at our house to look like.

But just for fun...a little hypothetical baby we birthed at the VW website. I don't think it really looks like us. It took me a couple times to make the baby not look so Egyptian. I squint when I smile...

The effects of nitrous oxide on a 6 year old

The first made me laugh, the 2nd made me cry. You have to watch them in order.

David After Dentist




Chad After Dentist - a response to David After Dentist

Happy President's Day

President's Day and Valentine's Day. So much to celebrate this weekend. That's right...this week my weekend includes Monday. It can't get better than that. What did we do? Good question. Not too much. Friday we went out for Thai food, mainly because cooking wasn't happening. Saturday, we hit Starbucks bright and early and headed out to the dog park. Not your idea of a good Valentine's day? Well two very tired dogs is exactly what I wanted!

Afterwards we hit the market for a very expensive piece of meat for dinner. Even the butcher was in the mood for love. That looks kinda gross...

We ended up making a roast with cream sauce and morel mushrooms. I've been saving these expensive little morels for a few years now. My parents brought them back for me from Switzerland and I wanted to save them for a special occasion..but special occasions also mean sharing, and we weren't willing to do that. Even though we don't celebrate the Hallmark Holiday, we still decided to make a nice dinner.

And wouldn't you know it, we even received some Valentine's goodies. My parents gave us some cookies from our family friend Jean Claude's patisserie, Belle Pastry (It wouldn't be Valentine's Day with out some), and our neighbors left a lovely surprise on our doorstep. A cute ipod (a box of conversation hearts with Hershey kiss earbuds) complete with a playlist, a handmade knit washcloth and heart artwork. Thanks everyone!

Sunday we hit the dog park again since Bryan was impressed with how Issy acted the day before. We met up with Bryan's brother Andrew and his dog Buster. The dogs ran, Buster swam while Issy watched. I tried to push both the dogs in the water but they were acting like weenies. Issy played with a golden retriever wearing a coat, and the woman accused her of putting a hole in her dog's jacket the other day. She said it was a dog that looked like ours. Bryan said, lady a lot of dogs look like ours. I've seen 3 ridgebacks there in two days...not to mention the 50 other tan labs or vislavs. It was unlikely it was her, but I still felt bad.

Then we went to yoga and made dinner. The end. Hope you had a good weekend and Valentine's Day!

WTF!

image found on Le Love

I'm in mourning for my friend little Suze... so angry I had to skip flashback friday.



Blog hiatus, be back next week!



*Hope you have a Happy VD! (and hope that you don't get one either)

I want to know what love is...

The best thing about having a blog, is you can voice your opinion without anyone arguing back. And if you don't like a comment...you can delete it. Isn't technology great?

If this video doesn't break your heart, you're beyond help anyway. Please sign the pledge to repeal Proposition 8. If it doesn't affect you, then do it for someone else. Let's quit talking about equality and do something about it!





Now go sign the petition at the Courage Campaign. GO!

I promise to support your petition when someone tries to take your gun away...I'm just sayin'.

Taco, burrito...what's that coming out of your speedo?

Last night my friend Kleinsaucer and I got together to contemplate important life questions and wedding details. For those of you who stuck with me through my 'what will my bridesmaids' wear, while I attempted to match their dresses to the inside color of an orchid that did not exist, you know how seriously I take this stuff. We gathered at a great little restaurant in downtown Bellevue, La Cocina Del Puerco, on Old Main. Small menu, great Mexican food. It wasn't really happy hour considering we paid full price and they only have beer, but it's good and a nice change of pace from the swanky "what do you mean $10 is the happy hour price?" We did both enjoy a Corona light however.

Mine is the wee one, I've always been fascinated by small beverages. I also have a low tolerance for alcohol. If you take my advice and visit this fabulous establishment, make sure you finish off your taquitos with a burnt creme. It's not like a creme brulee as it does not have a cracked sugar layer on top, but it is exceptional.

The rest of the evening was spent watching American Idol, of which I am not a fan. But Bryan seemed to be into it tonight. He made a comment about the guy who was trying to be "Emu." I'm pretty sure he meant "Emo." You can't teach those country fans anything....

36" cattle prod

A cattle prod would use up half my gift certificate. For the holidays, my work gave out $100 gift certificates to amazon.com. I love the idea, I'm excited to use it, but I just can't decide what to buy. I always want gift certificates, but I have a habit of hanging on to them forever. Here are a few items I'm contemplating. If I could donate it to a charity people, I would. But unfortunately this has to be spent on myself. I know, I did try believe me. I considered even buying a book about charities. This one seemed like a particularly good read...
Remember these guys? My favorite was when Sister got stagefright, or the terrible case of the gimmies. Anyway, back to the task at hand. I still haven't decided on anything, so I need your help. Here are a few of the things I'm thinking of.

#1. a beautiful, but expensive pair of red wellies (I would pay about $15 of my own dough on these)

#2. A docking station for my iphone so me and the dogs can dance to Madonna while making dinner.

#3. A new pair of sneakers to kick around in on the weekend

#4. a black coat, because I don't have one

I should probably bite the bullet and buy something soon before I lose the thing. Thanks in advance for your help. I love opinions! Especially my own!