Ch ch change...will do you good

 I cut my hair.  I wanted to take a shot of it in the morning before it falls flat.  The steak knives in the background are perfect don't you think?  I had to use the self timer because Bryan had already left, so excuse the blur.  You're not actually buzzed...are you?

And just for fun...can you tell what this is?

She likes to stand on the back of the chair when I'm sitting it in.  I swear she doesn't know her size. 

Bryan gets mad when the neighbor kids do it but Issy is way heavier.  She rules the roost.

I think she wanted me to move over so she could sit down...

See?  Poor Charlie never stood a chance as the alpha.

10 minutes later...role reversal.

Coconut flour pancakes

Bryan's stack...but I can eat just as many

Lately we've been eating a lot of pancakes.  For breakfast for dinner, whenever.  I'm in love with this coconut flour pancake recipe from Nourishing Days.  They are melt in your mouth good, and better for you than the average short stack.  Until they're swimming in maple syrup anyway...

Ingredients

•4 eggs, room temperature  (this doesn't seem to matter too much)
•1 cup milk (I use coconut milk)
•2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•1 tablespoon honey
•1/2 cup coconut flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon sea salt
•coconut oil or butter for frying

Directions
1.Preheat griddle over medium-low heat. In a small bowl beat eggs until frothy, about two minutes. Mix in milk, vanilla, and honey.
2.In a medium-sized bowl combine coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt and whisk together. Stir wet mixture into dry until coconut flour is incorporated.

3.Grease pan with butter or coconut oil. Ladle a few tablespoons of batter into pan for each pancake. Spread out slightly with the back of a spoon. The pancakes should be 2-3 inches in diameter and fairly thick. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until the tops dry out slightly and the bottoms start to brown. Flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.

4.Serve hot with butter, coconut oil, honey, syrup, or fruit.

Mama Melina's Seattle

Friday I had a happy hour date at Mama Melina's.  They have a newer location in University Village with an awesome happy hour.  Half off the bar menu and $6 pizzas.  Not to mention cheap wine...win!

One glass Mom, promise....she thinks I'm an alcoholic

My date in some gorgeous white leather wing backs.  I want a pair!

Margarita pizza, tasty and $6!

Calamari.  It's been awhile since I've posted some ;)

I love the decor.  The whole wall is windows, so why not put the art on the ceiling?

My one regret was not using the restroom.  According to my Mother they have heated toilet seats!

Happy hour rating?  Do it.

Welcome...Monday

I think for the first time in weeks...or years maybe, I'm sort of happy Monday is here.  I've had a headache for days and I can't figure out if it's hormones, the weather, a cold or plain stress.  So I decided to take this weekend easy.  Easy like I was SO BORED.  Now I'm ready to go back to work.

I talked myself out going to yoga, but I did make it out of the house to meet a friend for coffee and grocery shop.  That was the highlight.  Then I came home and watched 9 episodes of Dexter.  That's 9 hours of tv!  I'm all caught up and ready for season 6, but I'm also still completely depressed by season 4's ending.  If you haven't watched this series, you need to go make a few changes to your Netflix que.  Between my Dexter depression and the series finale of Big Love I'm feeling sad ;)  I need a life. 

I did get my haircut yesterday and it would count for doing something, except she came to my house to do it...and I was wearing pajamas.  Before she came over I asked Bryan do you think I look better with long hair or short hair?  He said he didn't care.  I said "you have to have an opinion on how you think I look better".  Nothing...

After she left he comes out of the back bedroom with a photo of me with long hair and says "I think I like it longer".  Nice.  I think he just liked me 19 years old.

I guess this isn't a real post, because really I want you to head over to Olive & A and read my guest post.  Thanks for having me Heather!

What are you still doing here?  Go, read.  Wait!  What did you do this weekend?  Someone please tell me they watched as much tv as I did...

Hello Friday...

I really want a sunshine and basket full of kittens kind of day...

Weekend plans? 

I'll go first.  Happy hour, hot yoga, hot coffee, haircut. 

You?

I have good news! For me anyway...

{via Clare Owen Illustration}

Yep, we finally pulled the trigger.  I bet you're thanking God right now because you're tired of hearing me whine about it huh?  It would probably make your whole year if I told you we were having a baby too?  Nothing left for me to complain about, could you imagine?  Well I'm not pregnant, but we are going to Europe in September.  I'm pretty pumped!  So far the agenda is Paris, Geneva, Basel, Luzern and maybe one little stop over in Northern Italy.  If I ever get some spare time, that's what I'll be figuring out. 

My apologies if I haven't stopped by your blog lately.  First not every blog in my reader was showing up and then things got crazy.  I'm way behind and I miss you.  I'm waiting for life to slow down a tiny bit, off course the minute it does I feel totally unproductive.  C'est la vie!

To top off the week (which is better than last week, thanks for asking) I have a bit of cold now.  Luckily I think I've staved it off going to bed early and getting a pho the minute I felt the sniffles.  Double plus that now Bryan likes pho as much as I do so I picked up one for him too.  I do hate how many different containers they put things in when you do takeout though.  Veggies, meat, noodles all separate.

Bryan:  Is this a large?  Last time there was way more stuff in it.

Me:  Yep it's a large.

Bryan:  ...eats in silence...

10 minutes later

Bryan in the fridge:  What is this container of noodles

Me:  Uh, for your soup...

Bryan:  Damn it!

It's almost Friday!  Any fun weekend plans?

Vertical herb garden

After digging around in the dirt this weekend I've been thinking about what I'm going to plant once it warms it up.  The little spot next to the patio that I tried to make my herb garden last year seems to be the dogs favorite spot.  I don't know why but they always want to hang out right there and sniff my lavender plant, which is the only surviving plant in that bed after last summer.

I saw this vertical herb garden on a site and am considering giving it a try on our shed door.  Canvas shoe holders are pretty cheap...I think.  Just for my delicate herbs since I kinda like when the dogs come in smelling like rosemary and mint ;)

Materials

- Hanging pocket shoe organizer/store.

- Pole and attachments (curtain pole or pipe fittings, screws).
- Strong metal saucepan or utensil hanging hooks.
- Compost of a good quality moisture holding type.
- Selection of plants or seeds... e.g. mixed leaf salad, herbs, sorrel, peas, mini tomatoes.
- Piece of wood 2" x 2" as long as the width of the pocket store to keep the base of pockets away from the wall.
- Trough planter to catch drips.


{via instructables, project by Pippa}

Chocolate coconut pots de creme and March birthdays

Saturday we celebrated my FIL and SIL's March birthdays.  What do you make for paleo, gluten free, dairy free and regular folks?  And then there is me who claims to be one thing one day, but seems to make quite a few exceptions for special occasions and certain times of the day.  I'm getting better ;)

Chocolate Coconut Pots de Creme

recipe below

Happy birthday Erin!  No photos of Paul pointing this time...

There were lots of beautiful fruits and veggies, some cioppino and tons of bbq.  I figured you didn't want to see photos of piles of meat, but it was so good!

Chocolate Coconut Pots de Creme

• 2 1/2 cups full fat coconut milk
• 5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/3 cup sugar (adjust depending on sweetness of chocolate)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Bring coconut milk just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain mixture into another bowl. Cool 10 minutes, skimming any foam from surface.

Divide custard mixture among six 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Cover each with foil. Place cups in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until custards are set but centers still move slightly when gently shaken, about 55-60 minutes. Remove from water. Remove foil. Chill custards until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)

Enjoy!  They were so rich and creamy!

Recipe adapted from here

When less than perfect is good enough...

**Winner of my "Favorite Things" giveaway is Vanessa!**

Vanessa please email me your address and I'll get it in the mail.

Thank you for being such a faithful follower and commenter!

This weekend started out pretty bad.  Friday morning I woke up at 5:00am to Bryan's alarm.  He turned it off but sure enough the dogs heard it and wanted to eat and go out.  When I asked Bryan what time he was getting up he said he didn't know, so I got up and fed the dogs and let them out and went back to bed.  Only I couldn't.  I could hear the neighbor trying to start his car, I could hear the birds starting to wake up.  Sleep was not coming.  Finally my alarm went off and Bryan hopped out of bed and got in the shower.  So sweet of him...now I'll be late to work. 

I was making great time and got in my car to head out and my car wouldn't start.  The battery has been acting up and I guess it was finally time for a new one.  Luckily Bryan's truck was available so I took that to work.  The day went okay.  Bryan was going to get me a new battery and trade me cars so I could go to happy hour.  When he got home we realized I had the only set of keys to my car so that wasn't going to happen.  I cancelled my happy hour and headed home. 

On the way there, Bryan's truck dies...while I was driving.  I panicked and hit the brake with both feet.  After freaking out because I couldn't find the hazards, I was able to get the truck started and make it to the dealership to drop it off.  I then confined myself to the house and watched 4 episodes of Dexter.

Saturday was beautiful.  51 degrees and Bryan pulled out his shorts and said it was shorts weather ;)  We got a lot done and decided to venture out into the yard and do some clean up.

This hellebore is the only thing blooming in my yard right now.

Most likely because Bryan wants to prune when he wants to prune...

We filled 16 of these yard waste bags with pine needles and weeds.

They were huge, I climbed in for size comparison ;)

Here's a part of the finished product. 

Last year my MIL helped me build paths and plant some things in this huge dead space of a flower bed.  I never did share pictures because I wanted to wait until the plants filled in and things were perfect.  Well, I've figured out that things will never be perfect.  Something that has always kept me from getting things like this done.  But if do them, they will be better, and sometimes better is enough to make your weekend.

What did you do this weekend?  Did you have any revelations like me?

I used to be trendy...

In effort to be a bit more presentable, I'm participating in an accessory swap over at Creative Index!  I'm so bad at accessorizing and I'm hoping my secret accessory swapper can help me over come this.  And if not, what a fun way to get a few new pieces!  So if you like jewelry, surprises and mail, stop by Jessica's blog and sign up.  It will be fun!



  I used to be trendy, I swear.   Here are my Sister and I with our back to school perms.  It was so hard to get that perm during the summer.  No showering or swimming for a few days.  Pain is beauty right? ;)  Although would we call this beautiful?  I'm not sure.

Oh the 80's...we were so hip

yes that jean jacket is acid wash

What are you up to this weekend?

I hope you're not getting a perm...

Target is the devil...so are Cadbury eggs

Thanks to all your talk about Cadbury eggs yesterday I had a craving and I'm eating my second creme egg.  Actually Bryan had the craving on Tuesday and went out and bought a dozen.  There were 3 left when I hit the snack drawer.  Basically I've just undone all the good I did last night at yoga.

Yesterday was my last day of my 20 hot yoga classes in 60 days.  Although last time I did it I made every single class ($1 a class!), this time I missed out on 2.  I think that's like $1.11 a class.  One of the classes I missed was because Bryan bought me wheels for my car and he wanted to put them on immediately.  Of course he puts them on, likes the way they look and puts them on Craigslist to see if he can make money on them.  He did.  I found myself thinking about that during the class and could not concentrate.

I've also noticed some black marks on my towel during class.  They're never in the same spot and I haven't been able to figure it out.  But tonight I did.  It seems that when I pencil in my eyebrows then sweat and put my head down I make little eyebrow stamps on my towel.  Okay maybe not that pronounced.  I've never looked in the mirror after a class but I'm thinking I might look pretty scary.  So all in all my last class wasn't the greatest. 

This post clearly has no direction so I'm going to just go with it and share a few shoe options I've had my eye on.  Definitely in my price range too.  Gotta love Target ;)

If you're a size 5.5 or 6, they babies are $9!



I'll take them in yellow too for $12.99



I've wanted a pair of these for awhile, but I'm not ready to splurge for the real thing.

But for Target, I could do $19.99

Sorry for the randomness.  I'm majorly dehydrated and full of sugar.

How many Cadbury eggs have you had so far? 

Did you enter the "Favorite Things" giveaway?

What about this one?  Today's the luck of the Irish after all!

Thank you for being a friend

{via here}

*insert Golden Girls theme song here*

Randomly I've reached 100 followers on both my blogs!  I am always amazed that people come back through my highs and lows but I really appreciate every single one of you and your comments.  You have helped me with some major decisions and some not so major ones.  If I could marry you I would, but Bryan said he wouldn't take another wife.  He also said that he hopes Nicki on Big Love dies this season.  So strange to hear him say those words.

Anyway.  In 100th follower fashion, it's giveaway time!  I haven't been crafting anything lately so you don't have to worry about getting something made with tongue depressors and Elmer's glue.  And apparently Shabby Apple doesn't think I'm cool enough to give away a dress.  Instead I'm going back to the trusty "Favorite Things Giveaway".  You can never fail with that one, and believe me with all the shopping I've been doing I've had my eye on a few things.  Small mailable things of course because 5 seasons of Dexter would be expensive.

So, thank you for being a friend...traveled down the road and back again.  Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confident.  And yes there will be a bottle of cheese whiz in that package ;)

On to the rules!

1.  Leave me a comment telling me your one of your favorite things.

2.  You must be a follower to enter.

Extra entries:

1. Blog this

2. Tweet this

3 Facebook this

Entries accepted until Sunday, March 20th at 8pm.  Winner announced Monday, March 21st!

Sister Saturday...and a neighbor

Saturday my Sister and I hit the flea market again for our monthly date.  This time my neighbor tagged along because I agreed to babysit so she wouldn't have to go to quilting class with her Grandma.  Boring!  Instead we made her go antiquing.  My Sister and I are basically a bunch of Grandmas.

When we moved in she was 4.  Now she's taller than Issy!

Issy says "I still taller"

We visited the Issaquah Coffee Company in Gilman Village

They have Stumptown Coffee and some gluten free pastries!

I fed Annabelle 2 mini donuts and hot cocoa.  She ate 2 sugar packets on her own after that.

Want me to watch your kid?  Don't worry, I cut her off after 2.

Just bunch of little old ladies

Want to see my flea market finds?

Fryes cowboy boots $8

A very heavy metal necklace $4 + $6 borrowed from my Sister

Now I should re-read that post about how I wasn't going to spend anymore money.

I'm done wine-ing...

Thanks for all your "yay! you're going to Europe" comments.  We were so close...so close to booking tickets on Thursday night and then we had that moment where you realize you actually don't have as many airline miles as it takes, and I swear it feels like the world slips through your fingers.  Okay maybe not quite like that but it was a little frustrating.  We're still figuring some stuff out so I'll keep you posted. 

Meanwhile, Nutella therapy is going very well.  And my Husband made a suggestion the other day that we redeem the wine tasting Groupon his brother got him for Christmas and have a little date.  We could have been digging a ditch in the rain, I'm just thrilled he made a suggestion for once!  But I am glad wine was involved.

Winery tour of Covington Cellars

The owner, David giving us barrel samples.

He was pretty funny, told us the whole story of how he and his wife met.

Wine flights after the tour

Rough house red was my favorite

One manual shot...2 glasses of wine in...

 

The food pairings.  No you're not a giant...they were just bites.

This one was my favorite.  Chocolate thyme cake with a balsamic glaze.

Does this burger make my head look big?

Sneak attack photo. 

One day he'll just smile and I'll never have anything to nag about ever again.

We had a great time.  The cellar where the tasting happened was FREEZING, but we met some really nice people.  While Bryan chattered away with another electrician I talked with a few ladies.  When we left one of them said "good luck having a baby and getting to Europe".  Wow...I really am an oversharer.  I'd like to say it was the 4 glasses of wine, but I know that's not true.

On the way home we hit the only thai restaurant open because we were starving.  Although adorable, mini food is not very filling.

And more wine...

What did you do this weekend?

Guess what?

I may be here again way sooner than I thought....

Like in months.

Baby Nikki, Swiss Alps 198....eeek I'm almost 30

Wait a minute my thighs look the same...how long can you claim baby fat for?

Details to come...hopefully, because it would really suck to jump the gun ;)

UPDATE:  Jumped the gun.  God forbid I should get excited about anything... grrr

Have a great weekend!

Nutella roundup

When life hands you lemons...take a spoon to a jar of Nutella. I'm having one of those "things that make you go hmm" days.  I'd like to change it to "things that make you go mmm".  Yes, cheesy I know but until I have answers I'm using Nutella as therapy.

Want to help me out?  Which should I make??

1.  Oven Crespella with Nutella Sauce

2.  Self-Frosting Nutella Cupcakes

3.  Nutella Meringues

4.  Chocolate Hazelnut Tart

Emersonmade Farmhouse

I know I'm not the only person who has a major girl crush on Emerson of Emersonmade.  If I could trade lives with anyone, I'm pretty sure she would be it.  Not only does she have amazing style and a beautiful home, her Husband poses in photos for her.  And he smiles!  What a lucky gal.

Reading her blog I was always yearning for more shots of her home.  I actually emailed once asking her to show us more, but of course she was a busy lady.  Or maybe I should take credit for the photo tour on The Nest and more recently in Boston Home Magazine.  Hmm... ;)

Gorgeous!  See Elements of Style for more photos from Boston Home Magazine,

and check out The Nest home tour.

I'm hoping someday to have a house on acreage too. 

 So it got me thinking, how could they afford a 7,000 square foot farmhouse on 100 acres?

I took to Craigslist to find one for myself.  Nothing like that in Washington State,

 I guess we're moving to New Hampshire!

This is the (still unaffordable) one I want!

White exterior, check!

Garden, check!

Mountain views and colorful foliage, check!

25 acres for the dogs to roam, check!

Curb appeal, check!

Inside in serious need of DIY, CHECK!

Anyone been to New Hampshire?  Want to come visit me?