Oh noes!

muffin says fuck your coffee shop’s 60-minute laptop rule

via

hipster puppies

I'm back!  But not really.  My computer is D.E.A.D.  It's not even a year old.  I had good things for you this week too.  I'm pretty pissed.  Hopefully I'll be back on board soon.  Have a lovely week and I'll try to visit you during my lunch break!

Be back soon...

image via here

Quick bloggy hiatus.  Bryan and I found some fantastic "can't pass it up" tickets to Paris and are jetting off for the weekend.  Just kidding.  See, that doesn't really happen to anyone outside of The Bachelor.  Although I did find some of those tickets on Travelzoo if anyone is looking to buy before September 30th and travel before October 23rd.   

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday! 

Spicy pickled green beans

Just about every year my Mom, Sister and I pickle green beans.  My family loves them and you can find them on the relish tray at every family dinner.  Each year it is the same process.  Chaos.  You'd think we'd have it down to a science by now, but we do not.  It will always require 3 trips to the store and someone yelling not to talk to them when they are counting measuring cups full of vinegar.  This year involved a few exploding jars too.

20 lbs of beans ready to be trimmed

What's the dill?

Lots of garlic please!

 

Jackson found a pearl necklace in the old dress up clothes

I somehow burnt my chest.  I was hoping it would swell but it didn't ;)

Boiling the jars

 

Beans ready to explode, or be flipped.  Whatever comes first...

Yep, he has the family nose!

36 jars, 2 casualties.  Looks like we'll be at it again next year!

Okay Fall...I guess we can be friends

Saturday was a miraculous event.  We woke up to sun!  We decided we would do a little hike.  Something with zero elevation gain for Bryan's knees.  Instead Bryan decided we should drive out to Carnation and do something out there.  He was trying to convince me that it is not as far away as I think it is and that we should move there.  We'll see.

We ended up picking a trail along the Tolt River and followed it out to a secluded beach.  When I say secluded I mean 1 fisherman and bunch of bear tracks.  Bryan said "see if we lived here I could fish!"

The Tolt River

Crossing the suspension bridge.  Charlie wasn't so sure.

His little paws slipped right through.

Check out my new hiking boots I'm breaking in!

Deep in the 100 acre woods...

Swimming in the river

Then we drove around to look at property.  It sure is beautiful out there.

I think Fall is officially here, much to my dismay.  Off to bake some glazed apple bars!

Friday night baby fix

I had some friends over for dinner friday...

Mexican dip appetizer by Carolyn

Procuitto wrapped Turkish brown figs stuffed with blue cheese

And this delectable little treat...

Photo credit goes to Carolyn on this one

Momma

Are you taking pictures of my chub?

Mom is this what you thought I'd use the spatula for?

Dori working her magic on Carolyn

Cory and Danielle

Future Ashiatsu masseuse

Bryan liked it until she dug her little toenail into his neck

Oh your hair is fabulous!  Let me run my fingers through it

Cory and Dori

Baby hog



Thanks for a fun night kids!  We should do it again real soon.

P.S.  I made dinner, and there was dessert...but Dori was dominating the lens.

P.S.S.  I made THIS, cooked it all day on low in the crockpot and served it over mashed potatoes

for all the gluten free, dairy free, nut free folks.  It was even better the next day!

P.S.S.S.  Don't skimp on the 12 cloves of garlic.  I promise you won't die, in fact you might ward off any vampires.

P.S.S.S.S.  On second thought...lose the garlic and Edward or Bill Compton might finally show up on your doorstep!

Flashback Friday: It's a blog slumber party!

I think I just watched a scary movie.  Probably with aliens. 

This may very well be a photo of the moment I started watching my back.

Diana at One Crafty Fox is hosting a virtual slumber party!  Who can resist?  Do you know how long it has been since I've been to an honest to God slumber party?  I wonder if I can find my My Little Pony sleeping bag...

Luckily this is a virtual slumber party, so I will be wearing this:

Namaste Pullover from Anthropologie

Better in Sweater Shorts from Anthropologie

And these fabulous leg warmers my Mom is going to knit for me...

image via here

Oh!  I can't show up empty handed of course.

I'll be making mudslides...just like in college ;)

recipe HERE

Thanks so much for the invite Diana! 

Want to join?  Visit One Crafty Fox and link up!

Neglected blog, neglected dog

Sorry if I didn't stop by your blog for a visit yesterday.  I was a little under the weather and stayed home to sleep it off.  All that fabulous eating has caught up to me.  Still not feeling great so I only have a photo to share with you today. 

This is what blogging looks like at my house...

She thinks she's a cat.  Or a gargoyle.

 

Hotel Carlton, San Francisco

I never got a chance to tell you where we stayed in San Francisco... because I'm sure you care.  A lot.  But I thought it was adorable, so I took pictures.  We stayed at Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre Hotel in Nob Hill.  Bryan accused me of picking it because there were a few French words splattered in the name.  He was wrong.  My requirements were as follows:  price, boutique hotel...and this one had free wine hour every night at 5:30pm.  Win!

Where the magic happens...*wink* unless you've walked 8 million miles because your Husband wanted to get off the bus. 
Wait there was free wine...magic is back baby!

I love the colorful furniture.  They described their style as international vintage. 

That's how I'll describe my next house.

Here's the international part...

They used this color for most of the furniture.  Whispery blue I call it.

And not because the dresser started talking to me after wine hour...

I will never get enough of carrera marble slabs

Target lamps?

Beautiful artwork

This was my favorite part.  Colored ceiling bleeding onto white walls.

  Especially since I'm partial to white walls these days. 

Way easier than crown moulding. 

Hallway

Lobby

International vintage indeed!


Our only complaint.  No mini fridge. 
We attempted to keep some leftover fried rice cold in the sink by utilizing the ice machine.
I pretented we were trying to keep some kidneys on ice to sell on the black market.
Not so easy when your bathroom smells like a Chinese Restaurant.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Yesterday I met up with my besties for my final birthday celebration.  I know, I've really drawn this thing out.  We headed to Ballard to a new oyster bar, The Walrus and the Carpenter.  It is the cutest restaurant I've ever seen.  They also have a progressive happy hour so we made sure to get there early for half off oysters.

Birthday Prosecco from Lauren.  They let us have it with our oysters.  Thanks Lo!

Fresh oysters on ice

 

Warm olives

 

Love this chandalier!

 

They must be talking about something good!

 

Boat load of oysters

Our tasty selection

 

Refreshing procuitto and cantalope

Everyone is decorating with canned goods.  Remember this place?

 

And after all that....we were still hungry.  Off to Señor Moose Cafe!

Pick your salsa

 

A delicious portion of guacamole

 

And tacos to share

Thanks for a great night ladies!  xoxo