Shhh...don't tell JCrew

I cheated on them last night with Banana Republic. Have you seen their cute spring dresses? I only have one wedding to attend this year. Them boys need to start popping the question! What else could I wear them to...am I too old for a new Easter dress?

all images via Banana Republic

Field of dreams...

And not the baseball kind...no thanks. The kind where you take an empty field and turn it into a party. Remember when I mentioned how cool a carnival wedding would be? Well I found some awesome inspiration boards depicting just that. And a few other images of things a carnival wedding couldn't leave out.

image via Snippet and Ink

image via Marry Me

image via Martha Stewart

image via Jcrew

Did you know you can rent a mini ferris wheel? If you're in the Pacific Northwest rent one from HERE

Weekend schmeekend...

Charlie disgruntled with having his photo taken for the millionth time

I don't even know what happened to my Friday post. I think I was so excited to wear jeans to work I completely forgot about it. Guess I didn't have anything to say...and I still don't...


Friday night Bryan, Kaitlyn and I went for a bite to eat and then to see I Love You, Man. HILARIOUS...I laughed so hard, I had no idea it would be so good. You must see it immediately because you will have no idea what I'm talking about when I say "I'm slapping the bass."

Saturday I made it to yoga after giving myself a week off of exercising. Came home, cleaned the house, then hit a rough patch (don't ask) and thought up these miraculous tid bits:

1. Who has the right to decide if your reaction to something is an over reaction? You are the own judge of what you think and feel. There may be layers and reasons to the situation that make you react the way you do.

2. Sometimes I hate being an adult and I only want to worry about myself. And some days I don't even want to do that.

3. I think everyone should make a list of 5 things that are important to them, and can't be compromised. It's okay if those things change from time to time as long as they are out there and understood. This goes for what makes you happy as well. I don't know what I want, and I don't know how I should expect you to either.

4. Doubt is one of the worst feelings in the world. Especially when it is about yourself.

Then all that philosophical bullshit got to me and I just about had a nervous breakdown, so I decided to go to Starbucks to read and listen to music. And of course I run into an old boyfriends parents. I smiled big and talked up my life (which is going well despite the day I was having). Then I tried to read their smiles which seemed to say one of two things... "this chick is crazy and we're so glad our son didn't end up with her" or "this chick has her shit together and it's too bad our son didn't end up with her." Although I did notice one of their facial expressions that clearly said "her red coat is fucking awesome." So I had my cup of coffee and started in on 'The Last Lecture' by Randy Pausch. But I also brought David Sedaris in case the cancer talk became too much.

Later Aunt Flo punched me in the gut and laid me out on my back for the rest of the day causing me to consume 3 glasses of wine in the bathtub, instead of having dinner.

Sunday I walked to dogs when the sun finally peeked, and went to yoga again. Then my Father-in-law brought us dinner and that brings us to right now...so I guess it's goodnight.

Hope you had a good weekend. Looking forward to hearing what you did!

French Lessons

I was lusting after these photos of a french mother and daughter duo cooking together in Traditional Home Magazine. I would love to spend the day with them eating chicken liver pate, cornichons, croque monsieur and cherry clafouti...

Then I realized I pretty much have that...only they're Swiss

Me and my Mom after a day of pickling beans

Fromage at my Grandma's house in Geneva

My Papa Jacky passing the Nutella

A beautiful dessert made by my Grandmaman

Pretty darn close huh? I'm definitely stepping back for a moment of appreciation.

Island girl...with child

Planning a possible trip to Mexico? Worried about your swimsuit body after having a baby and still looking better than you childless sister? Have no fear...I've found some goodies to make you the hottest MILF south of Cancun.

To keep your face wrinkle and burn free:

image via Jcrew

To hide your belly full of ceviche, since there are no stretch marks lucky girl!:

image via Jcrew

A beach cover up with a deep v-neck so you can pop that boob out and nurse right there on the beach:

image via Jcrew

Beautiful Capri flips to slip on for a stroll into town. What?! you already have these? Oh the person who bought them must love you:

And for the Babe..........

Reversible jersey hat to protect his fair skin and so you don't have to put him in those ugly full body swim suits, yea I get the point of them...but they're still ugly- just slather him in SPF 50 (and don't throw this back in my face when I put my baby in one of those ugly full body swim suits:

image via mini boden

Adorable plaid madras:

image via Jcrew

mini slip-ons because he'll probably be walking and flip flops would be cruel...but adorable:

image via Old Navy

And for the piece de restistance...the very reason that I may have a child and plan a trip to Mexico or Europe...or Oregon- The Globe Trotter Centenary (I WAAANNNT IT!):

Image via JCrew

If only it weren't ...cough-$1,700- cough.... yes I realize I don't need to have a child to travel, but how cute would a little guy look sitting on this while waiting around at the airport? Scratch that...for the price I wouldn't want his jam hands touching it.

Well, I hope you get to take your trip dear sister. In your honor we made fish tacos and fiesta salad for dinner:

Relax Mom...that's water not tequila. And how sad is it that the only shot glass I could scrounge up is a mini measuring cup. I'm getting so old.

Friends down south...

The other day I had my last lunch downtown with a good friend. We were chattering about work, memories and then the conversation took a turn to facebook. I'm a member, but still not in love with it the way some people seem to be. I don't find it user friendly. So we're discussing the fundamentals of facebook when my friend lowers her voice and asks "do you still get a lot of Brazilians?" and I said "you mean contacting me on facebook?" as I tried to remember if any Brazilians had asked to be my friend on facebook before. Which has actually never happened now that I think about it. Turns out she was referring to the barbaric waxing technique of which I am a fan (only for vacations and special occasions though).



I took a moment to remember my waxer...I don't even know her name although I feel I should. She was referred to me by another good friend, and she is cheap and fast. Even came in on the day they were closed once to torture me. I thought it odd that she didn't leave the room when I got undressed...even doctors leave the room before you saddle up. But I guess she's right, what's the point really? So if you're looking for a cheap thrill, let me know and I'll pass on the number.



I bet you're all looking around at each other wondering who is hair free this week huh? I thought so...

Music and Lyrics

Image and quote from HERE


When I was in college I used to play a lot of "my music" for Bryan. According to him I like a lot of heart wrenching, depressing music. For some reason anger and pain make me feel...a little morbid, I'm aware. Must be why I'm such a drama queen. I would play him songs for how I felt when we broke up (for a few months), and I'd make him cd's about how much I missed him during the week (long distance relationship). Maybe I should pay closer attention to the country songs he plays for me instead of complaining so much. Maybe he's trying to tell me something....or maybe not, but it might help me get through it if I think there is a 'love' message in it.

The longest weekend, and it's still not over!

My weekend started on Wednesday afternoon when I decided that I was officially done with work. I headed to Cupcake Royal with Kaitlyn for some sugar therapy...which seemed to continue through out the entire weekend.

Afterward I went to Zig Zag in the Market for a little 'Farewell Party' with some friends. We had a good time catching up and talking about boobs (in the form of breastfeeding). Thanks everyone for coming! A few photos, unfortunately not of everyone (please excuse the wine eyes):

Me and Angela

Does your IT guy look like this?

Me, Vanessa and Kerry

On Thursday I hung out with my sister and nephew for the afternoon and then hit the rainy trails of Cougar Mountain (please keep your old lady jokes to a minimum, do you have to have a child to be a cougar?) with the dogs and Kaitlyn and her dog Dylan. It was foggy, but very pretty.

On Friday my Mom took me to lunch for some very good sushi and to celebrate my new job. And then I treated her to dessert.

Sushi from Ginza in Bellevue

Eclairs from Belle Pastry in Bellevue

Did you guys get wind and torrential downpours on Friday afternoon? Bryan got stuck in one in Auburn and ended up with this huge branch/tree on his truck

It left a lot of damage on the hood, smashed the windshield up a bit and caused a big inconvenience. *Later when he brought the truck home we recreated THIS scene from Twilight. He stared at me intensely from under the carport and then stopped his truck in it's tracks with his super human strength. It was hot. Later I hit the ballet with Cari (see previous post for full review).

Saturday the dogs and I took a walk with my parents along the river while the sun was out. I finally got to spend a little time with my husband in the afternoon and on our drive out to dinner. We have a rule that the driver gets to choose the music. Well I never drive so I never get to pick the music. He was distracted so I turned on a cd. He immediately started harping on the song...so I switched it to the one Linkin Park song on the cd. But I couldn't fool him, he knew it was the Twilight Soundtrack and there was definitely some fist shaking and eye rolls (not in the dancing way) at me. Am I obsessed? More on that later.

We met up with Kaitlyn and her friend Rachel for dinner at The Kingfish Cafe. We waited for an hour and forty-five minutes with our expensive but excellent mojitos and beers that started with the letter H (there was a problem with their distributor). It was worth the wait for the fried chicken and collard greens...and the chocolate cake...YUM!

Sunday we went to dinner at my Mother-in-laws. Thanks for dinner Kathy! Tomorrow I will get a massage and hang with the dogs...maybe clean something and grocery shop too. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

*This did not actually happen...but if I had thought of it earlier it might have...

I'm doing this for my own good.

I have an addiction to all things Twilight. It's sick and sad and it's even starting to bother me a little. So I need your help. If you want to talk about it, I am only allowed to talk about it for 5 minutes at a time (this especially means you Mom). Now that it's out of the way I am less embarrassed to tell you about my Sunday.





A few of my old dance friends and I got together and watched Twilight...we did. I did not however buy it (yet), so don't get all in my face about it. I was reluctant at first to do this at all, as I would have been happy just watching it in the dark by myself, but I thought this was a better way to keep the addiction at arms length and not waste the entire day watching deleted scenes and directors commentary...which I will someday do. I think it helped. I do know that this will pass eventually, because I had the same obsession with The Notebook, and after Bryan bought it for me and I drooled a bit, I was done.

We also had an awesome brunch of banana stuffed french toast. Thanks Ladies!

I think I'll start the Harry Potter series next since I never got on that train and Daniel Radcliffe is less addicting than Robert Pattinson.

Ballet, boobs and bulges

image via Seattle Gay Scene

The other night my girlfriend Cari snagged tickets to Broadway Festival at Pacific Northwest Ballet and invited little ol' me. It was excellent and even better that we sat in the 2nd row of the orchestra circle. Something I've never had the pleasure of before. There were 4 suites: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Carousel (A Dance), Take Five...More or Less, and West Side Story Suite. My favorite was Carousel. I really liked the colorful costumes. Oh, the dancing was good too.

Whenever I go to the ballet, I let my mind wander with the music. I observe, criticize and idolize. I wish I could make everything look so effortless, I wish I had their arches and I wish I could make no boobs look so good. I mean seriously, these girls make no boobs so sexy. I need to remember to own it the way they do. Until I can feel that way, I'll just tell myself they're bags of fat and I'm better without. Okay yes I know they're not just bags of fat...they have glands and tissue...but whatever makes me feel better right?

Being so close to the stage I also got a closer look at the male dancers. If I were a male dancer and my costume involved 2nd skin tights, I would be sure not to bring my lady friend to watch me on my first date (that would be egotistical anyhow). I would surely wait until we had slept together as those tights leave nothing to the imagination, which sucks for a few... but kudos to them for not being self conscious. I guess they are owning it too.

(Except for you Baryshnikov, I loved you before SJP did)

There were a few downsides to being so close. First of all, I'm short...so I couldn't see their feet very well. And second, you can see all their faces, so if you don't think they look like Maria in West Side Story, or if you noticed that they made all the dark haired or slightly ethnic looking people Sharks...it can disrupt things. I happened to notice that there is a dancer that looks like Woody from Toy Story, Jason from the Bachelor, a slimmed down Kenan Thompson from SNL and Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Series. But it also had it's upsides. Like you could see every muscle in their bodies working, and of course they're using their faces which you rarely get to see. I also decided that someone should do a carnival themed wedding based off of Carousel...I have some ideas if anyone wants to head that direction.

Unfortunately this was the last weekend for Broadway Festival. But Swan Lake is coming up soon, and there are lots of tights and orchestra circle seats available ;)

Jack Attack

Auntie Nikki your purse is heavy


Hey...there's some stuff in here



Ta Da!

Baby's First Shiner





Watching the birds outside

Auntie Nikki no more pictures...

Seriously Auntie I'm exhausted!