Que sera sera!

Dumpling House

2012-02-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

There's a new steamed dumpling house in Bellevue called Din Tai Fung and the other night we met some friends there for dinner. The wait was long, 2 hours for a table, and we were hangry (hungry and angry). In fact before the 2 hour wait had even started Bryan yelled at a valet guy for kindly telling us if we parked there we would get towed. I had to call out my window thank you to the guy as we sped away...possibly running over his toe. It's amazing how fast low blood sugar can turn you into a monster.

The wait was worth it, we were in steamed dumpling heaven and may have eaten 30 plus between us. If you go, make sure you get the shrimp and pork dumplings!

Steamed goodness

A Yangria

(sake, ginger infused vodka and fruit nectars)

Alecia conquers slippery dumplings with chopsticks

Spicy braised beef stew

Have you been? If you're looking to go...9pm seems to be a less busy hour ;)

White stuff falls from the sky...world shuts down

2012-01-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

Hi there, so sorry to leave you hanging. We had a lovely snow and ice storm a few weeks ago that left us without power for 4 days so our world shut down. No cable or internet either...and we've just discovered the power surge blew out the HDMI ports on our tv and of course it's 2 weeks outside the warranty.

*shakes fist at the heavens*

But we're alive and well. Minus about 5 trees because the ice encased them and snapped them like toothpicks. It was the strangest thing to stand outside and listen to branches and trees falling all around you. Well that and generators. Of course I wouldn't let Bryan buy one during the last week long power outage (5 years ago) so we sat in the dark receiving text messages from friends thanking Bryan for hooking up their generators. He just sat there giving me the stink eye the whole time...luckily it was dark so I couldn't see it.

The first half of our snow adventure was lovely though. Fire crackling, dogs playing in the snow, a good book and a marathon of Burn Notice. Then one of our trees fell on the transformer in front of our house and it sparked and shot flames until we lost power. Game over.

The fun:

Charlie the snow plow

Yay! Snow day!

Rolo comes to play

He liked to lay on top of Issy's ball and roll around

Dumbo

Issy loves to ruin pictures

The beauty:

My Mom took these, I was too cold to venture outside ;)

The destruction:

Blurry tree branch after Bryan drug it out of the driveway

Bye bye apple tree...lilac, fir x 2 and cedars

These are the tree tops that fell into our yard

Thanks for sticking through my little break. Back to regularly scheduled programming...

Speaking of that, anyone not have cable and watch all their shows on the internet?

Ain't nothing but the real thing baby...

2012-01-18T05:01:00.000-08:00

Trader Joe's hooked me with their pretty labeling and great prices...but you can't beat Nutella. You can't. And yet somehow Nutella has 10 less calories per serving and 20 less calories from fat. A few grams less sugar too...no idea how because it tastes sweeter than the imposter on the left. I wanted to love it, almonds are good for you... and that would give me an excuse to eat it regularly ;)

Oh well, at least I can buy 2 bottles of wine for the price of one cocoa almond spread.

Saturday mornings

2012-01-17T05:09:00.000-08:00

Saturday after my dentist appointment (no cavities!) I stopped by my Sister's to see the kiddos and bum a cup of coffee (and cookies!). Everyone was still jammied up and alternating between Elmo and showing me all their new Christmas goodies.

Get out of my picture Jackson!

He either adores his Sister or misses the spotlight

Hope for baby blues in my own child(less) future

Perching

Mmmm...spotlight I suppose ;)

Did Spider Man have reindeer slippers?

The golden rule of winter

2012-01-16T05:07:00.000-08:00

When it snows, you bake.

Yesterday we woke up to some snowflakes falling from the sky. I cursed a little because no matter what I will have to go to work today. It's payroll and people don't understand not getting paid because of that one time I was stuck on a hill sliding backwards with my car door open. I'm one of those people you don't want to drive in the snow and I'll admit it.

But yesterday it wasn't sticking much so we went grocery shopping. Of course while we were in the store it really came down and the roads were covered. When we got home it looked like this...

Do you like our winter fencing? We live downhill from our neighbor and get a lot of water runoff in the winter...the fence is to keep the dogs out of that side of the yard.

Issy loves jumping back an forth over it. Pointless

This looks like a dumb idea no?

Whenever Bryan builds a rip roaring fire the dogs camp out in front of it

I baked these nutty molasses cookies because it was snowing...and that's what you do when it snows

You must make them...the sweeteners are 2 dates and a 2 tablespoons honey

I did add these crystallized ginger chips left over from Christmas...I love crystallized ginger

Cookies, tea and....Pawn Stars

It was almost a perfect day ;)

How was your weekend?

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T05:09:00.000-08:00

I'm blaming this odd week on Friday the 13th, sorry for my lack of enthusiasm. I was thinking I was going to do something really exciting this weekend so I could report back on Monday. I wanted to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...Bryan wants to see Beauty and the Beast 3D. No joke. Guess we'll just stay home and hang out. I did manage to weasel the pilot first few episodes of Dawson's Creek into his Netflix queue though, he did not like that ;)

What are you up to this weekend?

Mind games

2012-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Oh it has been a loooong week for sure, but just stopping in to say hi. I've been getting up early for my 2nd week of P90x and working late. This is one of those times I wish there were an extra day in the week and not just the weekend.

Yep you heard me right, I started P90x last week. Even though I didn't make it through my 30 days unlimited Bikram yoga challenge...I made it 14 days on that one...I've decided to push even further and try for 90 days. Ha! I'm laughing at myself too. I know, it's rare to make it past a month, but that would be a month more of exercise than I would have done otherwise.

So far so good, once I decided to suck it up and press play. I tried to make excuses like...I really don't want huge muscular thighs like the people in the video, and I don't want to bulk up my arms, yada yada. But after some googling I've decided that these people work out for a living, and I would have to do a heck of a lot of squats to get thighs like that. Then I broke down the days of arms (with weights) in the P90X lean routine and it is really only like 8 days out of 90. So I upped the weight this morning because Michelle Obama did not get those arms by lounging around the White House.

Mind games, that is what I have to do to get myself motivated. Especially because I want to punch Tony Horton in the face and not because of the routine, but because he is so obnoxious. Working out and eating well seem to go hand in hand for me. As long as I've made an effort to move my body that day, I'm more conscious of what I'm eating. Why erase all the good work you just did?

What sort of things do you threaten yourself with for follow through? Motivate me!

grain free granola

2012-01-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

{via A Foothill Home Companion}

Bryan found some unopened cereal in the cupboard from 2010. We gave it to the chickens next door. Lately I've been making a batch of grain free granola using nuts and seeds and it is so much better than a banana in the morning. I eat it over vanilla coconut milk from TJ's.

Here's my latest mix but you can do whatever you want because its a free country. I forgot coconut flakes this time around.

Grain Free Granola

1 cups raw almonds

1 cup pecans or walnuts

1 cup each sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds (raw and unsalted)

3/4 cup each raisins and orange flavored dried cranberries

1/2 cup flax seeds

2 scoops protein powder (mine is pumpkin seed protein powder from PCC)

1/4 cup each maple syrup and coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

1 small container of cinnamon apple sauce

Any spices you'd like (cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin pie spice)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor pulse larger nuts a few times. Combine everything in a large bowl. Pour melted coconut oil, maple syrup and apple sauce over the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Spread granola onto a large baking sheet and cook for 30-40 minutes. Mixing around occasionally. Let the granola cool, then break into small clusters (if yours clusters..mine doesn't). Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Don't make this mistake

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

How was your weekend? Mine was lazy. Friday I had a nice dinner with my dance friends and the rest of the weekend was spent snuggling with a sick dog (he's better now, no clue what was wrong) and packing up Christmas stuff. I didn't take any pictures.

I was cleaning up my inbox and came across an email I saved from Mark's Daily Apple. I meant to share it a long time ago and forgot about it. It reminded me a little of my new years resolution so I thought I'd finally post it. Long, but worth the read if you have some time.

This week a friend of mine lost her mother. A year and a half ago she’d been diagnosed with bone cancer. Despite numerous surgeries and treatments, the cancer continued to spread widely and was found in her brain two months ago. After accepting hospice a week ago, she died at home with her family. She was 57. By all accounts my friend’s mother was an active, youthful, gentle woman. “She lived quietly, with meaning and purpose, and loved deeply,” a close relative shared at the funeral. Her death got me thinking, as these events will, about the relative shortness of life – even for those who live to a ripe old age far beyond this woman’s years. How will any of us feel about how we’ve lived our lives when our own time comes? Have we taken ownership of every moment and accepted our choices – compromises, triumphs, screw-ups, and all? Will we feel like we’ve lived life on our own terms? Or, more tragically, will we realize we’ve wasted precious time always blaming others, blaming circumstances while we put off creating the healthy and fulfilling life we’d always wanted?

We all know people who have relegated themselves to living some half-developed life, meanwhile nursing a long-past resentment or irrational choice that continually holds them back. As a health coach and trainer, I see it all the time. Maybe they blame their upbringing – the habits they feel are too ingrained or what they see as the insurmountable challenge of getting beyond obesity and/or health conditions they’ve accepted over the years. Some people feel they’re too far gone to get up again.

Others blame their uncooperative spouses or their kids and the chaos of family life. Still other people tell themselves progress just isn’t possible given their financial situation, work schedule, or aggregate life demands. They’re already juggling too much and can’t give up any part of the routine. They can’t find it in themselves to simplify their act, so to speak, or just renounce it entirely to search for a better way. In other words, some folks can’t find their way out of the box because they refuse to visualize anything but the enclosure around them.

Maybe it’s unconscious irrationality, as Albert Ellis suggested most of us possess in some regard, or maybe it’s a more intentional, embittered blame. Either way, it’s passing the buck. It’s giving up on your own life, health, and chance at happiness. How is this gratifying?

Blame admittedly allows us to languish in the presumed comfort of bad habits. It allows us to wallow in laziness, to accept inertia for the sake of ongoing bitterness. Yet, blame always betrays us in the end. Behind the resignation is painful longing, the essential, enduring instinct to live fully. Whatever excuses we tell ourselves day after day, the sense of loss – of being locked out of our own lives – is still there. It’s a grief that leaves us hollowed out and estranged from life in general.

Occasionally, there are legitimate circumstances that can intuitively call us to slow down, to turn inward, to stop on the side of the road for a time. We lose a spouse or a parent or a child. We face a severe illness or injury that imposes extensive and sometimes grueling treatments. These events can leave us physically detached and emotionally disoriented. It’s a natural, albeit individual, response. When we’ve allowed ourselves the time and space to get our bearings again, we’re likely faced with an equally difficult task – reinventing our lives and well-being in a new and challenging context. Some things in life we can change and some we can’t, but with time we can forge a way again.

In finally giving up the blame game, I think we make peace with the complexity and difficulty of life. We shake off the last of our excuses and let go of the martyr role. The fact is, every one of us works around day-to-day chaos and frustration. We will all face desperation and grief of some sort in our lifetime. No one here promised anything different. It’s the rest of life – the chance to live fully and gratifyingly in our bodies, in our relationships, in our vocations (whether it’s what we get paid for or not), in our explorations within this lifetime – that we get to grab hold of and find joy in – for everything it’s worth.

Life isn’t always fair (my friend’s mother being one example of this). We don’t get to choose every circumstance. We don’t get to control the people around us. Likewise, we don’t get all the time in the world to wait for the ideal circumstances to come around.

Life, as we will eventually come to understand (hopefully before it’s too late), will never be perfect. It will never be easy. There will always be obstacles, annoyances, and limitations to contend with on the path to health and well-being. Regardless of what our lives look like next to someone else’s, ours is still the one we go home with at the end of the day. Ours is the one we get to live – for all its possibility as well as challenge. What will you make of it today?

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-blame-game/#ixzz1ivt2gwPn

We're pretty much still like this...

2012-01-06T05:08:00.000-08:00

Especially when Genesis is playing. I think Katia still wears velour suits too...

Phil Collins was our first concert actually, we're long time fans. Have a great weekend!

Move to Bremerton we'll hang out

2012-01-05T05:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday was my Grandma Grace's 92nd birthday. I went to church with her and bought her tulips. She was mad because I was late picking her up...but I was buying her tulips!

Afterward we met up with rest of the family (minus my Sister's fam, we missed you guys!) and rode the ferry to Bremerton for lunch. It was a beautiful, beautiful day.

All aboard!

Grandmaman and my Mom

The local dinosaurs

I learned Bryan has climbed them before

Bye bye Seattle

Hipster Grandmas

The Olympics

We could use some snow...

Enjoying the sun

A bowl of chowder

My steak oscar

Happy Birthday Grammy!

Let it be

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Dog hair on the couch...let it be. Love them more...is it possible?

While I desperately want to get a hot beach bod before I turn 30, I've decided my resolution for this year is to just "let it be". I don't mean I'm giving up, but I am giving up on the things that I can not control.

I worry too much (shocker) about decisions other people are making, and not enough about my own. I bite off more than I can chew and become overwhelmed and paralyzed in laziness. I try to mold myself into what I think others want me to be, instead of what I want for myself...and I do the same to my Husband. I need to learn to let it all go...to let it be.

I think I have my feelers out most of the time, trying to absorb all the information around me (pinterest, blogs, facebook), be up to date on what's going on. This year I want to live in my head, digest some of that wonderful information I've come across and enjoy the year. I want to investigate and learn instead of allowing images to flit past my eyes, projects that if there were only time to do them would bring me joy for much, much longer. But there isn't time for everything, so I want to pick a few moments and let the rest be.

I also want to love more this year, with my whole heart....even if it's a little silly ;)

Oh yes, last years resolution was off to a strong start but waned toward the end of the year. It will be reinstated immediately

2012-01-03T05:07:00.000-08:00

How's 2012 treating you so far? Mine is okay, off to slow start but what do you expect 3 days into a year? I have 362 days to make up for it.

We had a fun New Years Eve with Danielle and Stephen. We went to Chandler's Crabhouse on Lake Union (I had the lobster ;) and then watched the fireworks off the Space Needle. We felt like adults. Then they passed out some NYE accessories at the restaurant, we drank some cheap mini champagne in the parking lot and I felt like a teenager again.

I forgot my camera so these are all bad camera photos...

gin and tonic and sad crabs

Cheers!

That phone flash makes us look like vamps

The camera flash was also so bright we (I) look blitzed in all the photos

I assure you we are not...

Thanks for a fun night D&S!

Haaaappy New Year!

2011-12-30T05:06:00.000-08:00

Source: etsy.com via Erin on Pinterest

Catching up on some blog reading and thinking of things that seem really important to me right now for the new year. Must write them down immediately so I can laugh at myself next year...

*For crying out loud...wear more lipstick please. Every day you look at that plain face and intend to put lipstick on. Work on follow through... (you have two lovely shades of red rolling around at the bottom of your purse you know)

*Quit pinning and start doing. You even pinned a poster that said just that. DO it.

*If you ever make it on House Hunters....do not ad lib. Later you will want to smack yourself in the face, stick to the script

*Find shoes that you can wear with socks for work. You figured out that you lose more heat from your feet than your head, now stop buying flats you idiot!

*Get more pedicures/manicures...and for goodness sake, brush your hair more than once a day.

*Figure out where those lines around your eyes keep coming from...stop smiling because they're showing up around your mouth too...

*Buy a proper laundry basket...piles hide spiders

*Don't feel sorry for that daddy long legs in the corner. You give them a pass once and they procreate all over your house.

*You must garden in the rain, or you will never find time to garden. And plant some veggies this year lazy.

*Roadtrip and go camping.

*Buy some bright colored pumps and skinny jeans and wear them. Don't give me that look, black is wonderful but you've reached your limit.

*New running shoes too...you needed them 10 years ago.

*Return your Netflix and use your Groupons. They are winning and you are not.

*Shop local

*Paint that back step, it is hideous and you can't ignore it any longer. Same with your bedroom...don't listen to Bryan, you're not moving any time soon.

Any fun plans for Saturday night? This could be the last one if the Mayans are right ;) Have a wonderful, safe and fun long weekend. Happy New Year! XOXO

Those aren't resolutions, be back next week to share...

House guest

2011-12-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

We have a house guest this week. Her name is Bella and she likes to sleep under the Christmas tree. She is an attention hog just like our dogs and Charlie is insanely jealous whenever I ask her if she wants kisses. Yesterday he was sitting on the other side of the laptop from me and when I gave Bella a little love Charlie jumped over the laptop into my lap.

Bella look at the camera

I'm done

Bryan spends his time getting her howl. It's very confusing to our dogs

(sorry Alecia ;)

Here comes trouble...

Chuck Norris....

2011-12-28T05:04:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we got effectively schnockered with friends, in which Bryan can not remember a thing. Lucky for me I was chasing wine with water and I do....mostly. I gave him a pass because he is light years behind the rest of us in embarrassing nights "like that".

The next morning he asked me a lot of questions...

Bryan: Did I deliver any Chuck Norris quotes last night?

Me: Uh no, thank God....why?

Bryan: Shoot! All night I was trying to work in "a giraffe was just a horse until Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked it in the neck"

Me:..... yea, guess there was never a good break in the convo for that one

Okay then...back to work!

2011-12-27T05:06:00.000-08:00

Well, it's all over...back to work! Unless you're lucky enough to have this whole week off, color me jealous.

We had a wonderful, low key Christmas this year. Low key in that we had two less places to run off to and you know what? I sort of missed the chaos. I am one of those cram it all in sort of people because why the neck not? It's only two days a year and we can handle it. But alas, traditions are changing with age and I should probably learn to accept it rather than fight it.

Although I really did miss the lack of yorkshire pudding...

Christmas Eve we hung with Bryan's family, clam dip (which is basically a guest on its own) and orange cranberry vodka tonics. Then we went home and watched A Christmas Story...and ate more clam dip!!

Bryan and Jim, and Kathy's gingerbread cake

One of those new traditions I will now refuse to let go...

See? Embracing!

Christmas morning I enjoyed a PW Cinnamon Roll my SIL made

and finally started reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I read all day Monday too...never got dressed,

and wished I had more cinnamon rolls ;)

Then we went to Bryan's Dad's for seafood and presents!

We had mulled wine, crab and steamers

Sufficiently stuffed and spoiled before taking off

for dinner at my parents

(undid one button on my pants right about here...)

Guess who's back in town!

My Grandmaman...don't you know her by now?

Opening the last of the gifts

Jackson couldn't decide what to play with

Ava finally gives her Uncle Bryan the time of day...and likewise

Snuggling her new baby

Great, Grand and Parents and their Grandchildren

How was your Christmas?

Silent night (blog)

2011-12-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Sorry for the lack of posting this week (yep it is only Tuesday) but I think I'm going to call it quits for this week. I haven't recovered from the septic saga, and I managed to jam pack my week with very selfish things like 6am yoga and dinner with friends. Feeling lucky to have Bryan to take care of the snow bunnies. Not to mention I promised myself I would have everything wrapped before the 23rd...and well I haven't wrapped a thing yet!

I hope you have a fantastic week and holiday weekend. I'll see you next week!

Merry Christmas!

a very shitty weekend

2011-12-19T13:08:00.000-08:00

Whelp, we had the weekend from hell...how was yours? ;)

It started out with the toilet not flushing correctly and evolved into a getting our septic pumped, our lines augured, then crossing our fingers we wouldn't have to have our drain field replaced. That's exactly what happened to our neighbor who then couldn't pay the contractor and had to foreclose. Luckily I live with a handy man and he was able to troubleshoot the strangest things and figure out that our problem was electrical. Whoo hoo! I had to man the electrical panel flipping the breakers on and off on command. It felt much like Christmas Vacation when they're trying to get the Christmas lights to work, only with a less exciting outcome. I still did sing Hallelujah the first 5 times...

We still had to dish out some cash, but not as much as we feared. Thank God for Christmas bonuses...even if that's not what I had planned for it.

We were without a toilet for Friday and Saturday, then we bought a new toilet (kinda exciting), but the lid was missing parts...so we had a toilet but no lid, which is very confusing in the middle of the night.

Bryan was in such a lovely mood dealing with all this shit (that's what the house smelled like), I got out on Saturday to do some Christmas shopping...and I lost my cell phone. I never found it, but on the bright side it was giving me "no sim card" errors the day before and not working so I might have had to replace it anyhow.

I went to a family cookie exchange on Saturday but skipped out on photos because I was in a foul mood. I made a batch of gluten free samoas that failed and had to be thrown away. Then I had to bake my gluten free ginger molasses cookies at my neighbors because I couldn't run the water at my house.

Merry Christmas to us...a new toilet, empty septic tank and a cell phone. I feel truly blessed...no really ;)

Christmas 1983

2011-12-16T05:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! I am so happy to see it...even if today is going to be a long one. You guys were so excited by my Dad's flowing Jesus locks last week that I thought I'd share a little video from our Christmas collection...in 1983. If this isn't vintage I don't know what it is.

By the way...are you surprised at all that I am stuffing my face with candy canes?

If there were a Santa

2011-12-15T05:03:00.000-08:00

I remember when Northface fleeces became popular. Bryan and I had been dating for a year and he bought me one for our anniversary. We had matching black ones ;) Nerd alert! We picked it up from Nordstrom and headed down to the beach, where I was pooped on by a seagull. Christened if you will. I've had that fleece for 9 years now and Bryan has had his for much much longer.

If Santa were doling out gifts at our house this year...Bryan would be getting one of these. They have hoods...finally!

Really it's just the colorful embroidery that reeled me in

What are you getting your partner??

The tree

2011-12-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

Bryan finally committed to a tree and it is lovely...I think. One of the best ones we've ever had! When we talked about getting a tree this year he said "do we even have lights for one?" Uh, yes...what do you think I've been decorating with for the past 6 years? This year however the top strand stops working occasionally. Sort of like those blinking tree lights but in half hour intervals.

We don't have an angel either...we have a peacock!

Next house I'm picking based on where the Christmas tree will go...hindsight!

Can you believe we're almost a week away from Christmas?

I'm not even close to being done with my shopping. How about you?

Through the eyes of a cashier

2011-12-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a rowdy Saturday night...grocery shopping. Then we swung by Home Depot to get some insulation for our pipes and a quick stop by Fred Meyer for ceaser salad dressing, because Bryan is a ceasar salad dressing snob.

When we got to Fred Meyer he remembered he forgot to buy a hatchet at the hardware store...

Me: I'm sure they have one here, why don't you go look

Bryan: Okay

Me: I'm going to see if they have any Captain America underwear for Jackson

Bryan: Yea that won't look bad...let's buy little boys underwear and a hatchet!

The boots wit da fur

2011-12-12T05:07:00.000-08:00

Saturday we had a little girl's day and hit the 2nd Saturdayz Flea Market with my Sister, Mom and Ava. First stop, Flying Apron for gluten free goodies, coffee and girl talk. Well baby talk really...

Pumpkin muffin

Ginger molasses and lots of baby love

Apricot shortbread

Shorty had those cheetah print fleece, boots wit da fuuuurrrr

Look what I bought Mom!

What did you do this weekend?

The reason for the season

2011-12-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

I was looking for some great ghosts of Christmas past to share with you today, but really Jesus is the reason for the season right?

Or my Dad, circa "blast from the past"

Jesus or Sons of Anarchy?

Want: color block coat

2011-12-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your support in banning Santa hats for non mall employees. Did you sign my petition? I should start one ;)

In other festive news, I am currently coveting this adorable coat from Old Navy. It's on sale...but it's still $65! That's crazy. It's cute though right? I want it.

{Old Navy}

Santa hat rant

2011-12-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

I haven't told you guys yet, but I'm making use of my neighbors 30 day unlimited bikram yoga Groupon she passed on to me. I'm going 5 days a week at 6am before work..I've made it a week and half so far! Feeling pretty confident I can make it to December 28th.

Anyway, the past few mornings I have seen a woman heading to the studio wearing a Santa hat. The first time I just thought it was a random thing...like she found it in her car or something. Every day now I see her...in her Santa hat. I don't like it. For some reason it makes me angry. Maybe because in College there were far too many sexy Santas at the sororities, or that year I really hated my job and they wanted us to wear Santa hats to deliver gifts (we refused...). I don't know what it is that I dislike so much, but I feel strongly Santa hats are not for every day wear. I'm tempted to leave a hat on her car so she stops wearing that thing!

I think I'm dehydrated...

Catalina vs. Rolo

2011-12-06T05:05:00.000-08:00

Our neighbors got a puppy for Christmas. A beagle named Rolo. I've warned you guys about this...a long long time ago, remember? He is adorable though, and the cat is pretty happy to have someone to play with too.

I apologize for the obnoxious music....it was either that or our squeals of delight. This is better, I promise.

Finding a Christmas tree is serious business

2011-12-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend we went to a Christmas Tree farm with Lauren and Josh. Of course Bryan had watched Earth 2100 before we left so I was feeling guilty about cutting down a tree (yes I know it's from a farm and they replant). I may have even practiced seeing how quiet the dogs and I could walk through the woods to see if we would be able to travel by foot without looters and gangs noticing us. Looks like if it comes to that we might have to eat the dogs. They are not quiet at all!

Anyway, we went searching for our Christmas tree at a sustainable tree farm in Carnation ;)

If I had to have a farm...I think a tree farm would be it.

There was no tree poop to be scooped and you can leave the trees while you go on vacation.

Checking out the legs

These parents were genius...make them carry their own damn tree!

Bryan contemplating children for this reason.

Lots of trees bundled and ready to live a short life in captivity.

Lauren and Josh's tree

We marveled at all the plaid and then went to find a cookies and coffee.

Oh look, I wore plaid too ;)

We didn't find a tree. Bryan didn't want to commit until we found one we really liked.

So we went Sunday to another farm where we killed a nice one.

What did you do this weekend?

I want to be a cheerleader

2011-12-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

19 years later I would be. Well dance team, but we still got poms. I wonder if my Sister knew when she was singing "go banana" over and over and over... so young and impressionable those babies. I wonder if they knew my head would stop growing that year too ;)

I like to look back at moments in my life and think "oh, that's why that happened", because I swear there is a traceable path. Like why you met a certain person, or took a certain job. So strange. Do you notice patterns like that? Or do I just over think everything?

Obnoxiousness that is my life..

2011-12-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

There are certain words you know you can't use around your dog...or this will happen. Our words include: walk, hike, beach, grandma and grandpa, treat, cookie, bird, cat. Issy has quite the vocabulary. Words she pays no attention to include: sit, stay, no, come, stop...

Man or Woman?

2011-11-30T05:06:00.000-08:00

Do you find that you identify more with songs sung by a woman or a man? I seem to be more on board with the men folk. I think its because they have this desperate passion where they are usually begging you to stay and that they can't live without you. I like that, the fight for love. Woman tend to sing about how men can't live without them and if they want to try...then go ahead. Just take the boxes to the left and get the hell out!

Anyway...I have a slight infatuation with the song Turning Page by Sleeping at Last. Thank you Breaking Dawn soundtrack...and my Sister ;) I've been singing it for a week now (well the parts I know) and the other day I stopped and thought "is this a man or a woman?" What do you think? No Googling!

Turkeys have what in them?

2011-11-29T05:04:00.000-08:00

We had two dinners on Thanksgiving, and I didn't take food pictures because I think turkey dinners look gross. Every dish is either mushy or covered in gravy...now I'm hungry. After turkey dinner number one we headed to my parents house where I fell asleep on the couch while my Grandma told me about her leg cramps.

Mom: Why are you so tired?

Me: I don't know...food, alcohol, talking

Mom: Is it the paraphernalia in the turkey?

Me: Uhhhh

Dad: You mean tryptophan right?

Mom: Oh...yea.

A PNW Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T05:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there. How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was good. Low key long weekend, lots of raking leaves (again) and sleeping in. I could use a few more days ;)

This is pretty much what our Thanksgiving looked like. Pacific Northwest Style....

Hot men lifting a turkeys

Mixing Apple Cobblers in a Nalgene bottle

Who needs a shaker? Now we can mix cocktails on our backpacking trips!

Oh and vampires...they always come during the holidays.

And birthdays, happy birthday Mom!

No kiddos this Thanksgiving, poor things were sick!

The master thankful list

2011-11-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

This time of year always fills me with gratitude, which I suppose is good because no one likes an ungrateful bitch...am I right? Here are some things I've been feeling particularly thankful for lately (in no particular order). In case you were wondering of course...

1. My dogs. Although not right at this moment because they are wrestling while Bryan is trying to sleep. Then he knocks on the wall indicating to shut it...they think someone is at the door and freak. It makes for a very unproductive evening. But when they are quiet and cuddly and they warm my feet.

2. A roof over my head. This time of year my heart hurts for those without homes. Especially when the temperature drops. Although I love to sit inside and watch the rain or snow fall, I can't help but worry about them out there. I don't wish for snow anymore.

3. The New Girl...are you guys watching that show? I freakin' love it! I laugh out loud the whole time.

4. Bryan. I'm starting to appreciate his quirks in my old age, and man he can build a kick ass fire. If we were cave men he'd be the most eligible bachelor! Plus I'm confident if we have a zombie Apocalypse he will the Shane to my Lori. Only because I think Rick is a little soft.

5. Family. They are like my Cheers. I always feel welcome and that I have a place even if I haven't seen them in awhile. Plus they crack me up...Did I tell you that my Grandma went to see Breaking Dawn on the opening day? And that my Mom accused me of seeing it without her. I should've clarified. Family of crazy twihards.

6. Friends. I have a lot of them and good ones at that. I'm lucky I get to spend quality time with them and that they let me ramble about my paranoia without committing me.

7. Good books, good music...and the free time to enjoy them.

8. My health. I have it right now, it is a glorious thing. I bet it would like if I stopped feeding it Nutella.

9. mmm...that's all for now

10. Just kidding! You guys, I'm thankful for you guys too. Because you're like my family and friends. I feel like I have an odd little place, and you talk me out of my crazy. That's priceless, so thank you ;)

What are you thankful for? Give me some good, I know you love your family and friends...you do right?

Happy Thanksgiving! (Oh and its a wrap this week, Remember those good books and the time to enjoy them?...yea it is coming from blogging time)

Thursday night with BB King

2011-11-22T05:05:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when I wanted to see Jimmy Eat World in concert and Danielle was the only one that would go with me? Well last week she called in a favor, and lucky for me it was cooler than my own bucket list concert. BB King was playing in Shelton and she had an extra ticket. At first I wasn't sure about driving an hour and a half South in traffic...on a Thursday, but that's what friends are for right?

It was definitely worth the drive. The show was at a small venue at the local casino and we had front row tickets. The highlight for me was when he played "Merry Christmas, baby". Danielle was giddier than her wedding day (okay maybe not that giddy) and was one of 4 people to get an autograph. It pays to be cute and persistent!

86 years old with his guitar, Lucille

That's Danielle, trying to get her autograph

A very gracious and talented man

D and her autographed (sealed) vinyl

Since it was a casino we had a prime rib dinner after ;)

Drummer Tony Coleman sat with us while he waited for his friend for dinner

It was an awesome night!

Breaking Dawn love

2011-11-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

where'd the hair go?

Ya ya ya...I know you don't all love the Twilight Saga and why do Vampires sparkle? Blah blah. But I do. I felt like my Twilight love had gone dormant for awhile there. In fact I was excited to see this movie, but not as excited as I used to be. But I made a date with my Mom and MIL to go yesterday and I must say, this was the best one yet! I do miss the real Edward hair, but I smiled through the whole thing. It somehow felt less cheesy than the others, or else I've just gotten used to the cheese and can sit back and enjoy the story. Who doesn't love love?

The effects have gotten better, the story line was more interesting. And there was a little bit more blood (and sex) to shake things up. Plus the cast just seems so much less awkward....finally.

Did you see it?

Yesterday morning I totally had a dream that Robert Pattinson and I kissed. Turns out Bryan kissed me when he woke up and it triggered that somehow. Oh subconscious...you're too kind ;)

It wasn't all teen love this weekend. I raked leaves...only to have them all over the lawn again the next day. Boo! What did you do?

Oh hey! The winner of the Seamingly Sweet Giveaway is #16 Bryn! Bryn measure your pup's neck, email me your address and pick a color!

Last day to enter!

2011-11-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of post today. I was out late late late last night, but it was worth it. I'll fill you in next week. Today is the last day to enter the giveaway from Seamingly Sweet for your pooch. Something free to put in their stocking with the normal milkbone. Promise they'll be surprised!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend. Any plans?

yikes, stripes

2011-11-17T05:07:00.000-08:00

giveaway giveaway...did you enter?

It's so pretty....I want it. Oh JCrew, how you toy with my emotions...

$398...that's like 2 weeks of groceries. I could skip it, lose a few and get the jacket!

Phone clips are for doctors and nerds

2011-11-16T05:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know when it happened, but Bryan is one of those guys who wears his cell phone on his belt. I hate it. I tell him all the time it is for doctors only, but he doesn't care. That and he tucks in his shirt a lot. He's a 60 year old man basically. The other day he got a new work cell phone, but hasn't cancelled his old one...now he has two phones on his belt. NERD ALERT!

Me: I guess it's a good thing you don't put your phone in your pocket

Bryan: Why?

Me: Because it could make you sterile and then we can't have kids

Bryan: Nice try on the reverse psychology, but it won't work

Bryan turns 29...finally

2011-11-15T05:01:00.000-08:00

Saturday we went wine tasting at the Washington Public Market to celebrate Bryan and Alecia's birthdays. Snohomish has a new indoor weekend market with wine tasting on the top level. There were lots of small Washington wineries to taste, but it was pretty crowded for opening weekend! I didn't get very many pictures...I miss summer and natural lighting...

The swirl and sniff...

The guy in the background on this one just cracked me up...

Alecia and I

Later we had Bryan's Mom over for dinner. I made smothered pork chops in the crockpot...they were super good. Great for company and only a few things to do after they cook. We had them with mashed potatoes. I also made pumpkin gooey butter cake which I highly recommend if you don't like pumpkin pie crust. I made it gluten free by subbing the yellow cake mix for 'this' cake. Just bake it for less and watch that the cake part doesn't burn. Mine was a little over done.

We ate the whole thing....

Then I disappointed him by buying a pair of "slim" jeans...oops!

We barely got them over his calves

Happy 29th Birthday my Love...welcome to the club!

Do you have a dog? Did you enter my giveaway yesterday?

Giveaway by Seamingly Sweet

2011-11-14T05:09:00.000-08:00

My coworker has this awesome little side biz, Seamingly Sweet, where she takes your Husband's/Boyfriend's/Father's army shirt and turns it into a tote bag. You can check them out here. The other day she brought in these cute dog collars for the holidays and I was feeling extra thankful for all of you so I'm giving one away!

You guys always listen when I complain about my dogs, even though I can hear you quietly judging me for being a softy. That's okay, my Mom tells me out loud all the time.

You can pick between a black or pink collar,

Just send me your dogs neck size!

Charlie's a little chunk and needs a size larger.

He's on a diet...quit judging me!

You know the drill! Leave a comment by Friday, November 18th at 8:00pm for a chance to win. Extra entries...tell me how you chose your pets name. I always find those reasons amusing. Happy Monday!

Laaaazy

2011-11-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

I'm too lazy to find a flashback photo. I'm too lazy (and cheap) to even decorate our bedroom. Every time I start to get gung-ho about starting something in the house we talk about moving and then I think "why bother".

If I'm reincarnated...I hope I come back as a well loved dog. Then I can hang out in my bed all day and not give a crap about whether or not there are photos hanging on the wall.

Worry flashcards...

2011-11-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

Okay...meteorite almost hits earth, crazy snow storms, haven't had a pedicure in a year...haven't gone to hot yoga because I don't want to bare my unpedicured toes = fine lines and wrinkles from worrying. Not even the Fred Meyer under eye cream I bought seems to be working.

I'm a worrier. I saved this post from Make Under My Life eons ago, but I think it's time to pull it out, put my mind at ease. Time to stop picking at my cuticles, exercising and getting things done!

Check out the full post here. I'll let you know how it works for me ;) How do you combat your worry? Do you have an eye twitch?

Gluten Free ramen

2011-11-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, well it's not really ramen... I found these little packs at PCC the other day for $.73 each and bought them for Bryan to try. He says "they're not pho". Can't be pleased that one...but he didn't say he hated them so I consider them a good buy! I've tried the ones from Trader Joes, but I can't stand the little bowls they come in and garlic is their only flavor. Plus if the power goes out (or the Apocalypse happens) we'll be set on ramen noodles and alcohol!

Goodbye Edward, hello Peeta!

2011-11-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

Juuuust kidding. I don't give up on loved ones that easy ;) I finished The Hunger Games series this weekend on recommendation of my MIL. She also introduced me to the Twilight series and probably regrets it to this day.

It's still haunting me a bit and I've spent a fair amount of time googling characters for the movie and questions that remain. I was happy with the ending, but a bit torn on the direction I wanted it to take.

But it did give me some insight on the effects of war on people, which is the idea behind Suzanne Collins' story. Not to mention a world post apocalypse where people turn on each other and the need to survive is your primary instinct. There is no one to turn to for help but your neighbors and it is hard to figure out who is friend or foe. You turn a blind eye on unjust behavior because you have no voice, so the problem continues to fester becoming larger and more powerful. I already see this in our world, so it wasn't hard to swallow.

I say often that I'm a hypocrite for various reasons, but I felt like one reading this book. I'll admit that during a lot of our current natural disasters it doesn't feel real, I'm so far removed and don't help as much as I could or should. If you don't catch the news that day, or you skip straight to your email you don't see the bad stuff. Essentially turning my back on people.

We turn our backs on those who can't care for themselves, can't find jobs, secure health care. We say that they should join society and work for it just like everyone else. But sometimes you just can't get ahead, and a lot of us aren't willing to help. I'm scared for that time in our lives (the Hurricane Katrina, tornadoes, earthquakes), what we will do to destroy each other. Will our entitlement get the best of us? I hope we can all remember to "walk a mile in their shoes".

I think I'm going to take a cue from my ultra religious coworker and start hoarding alcohol...

Have you read it yet? How did it leave you feeling? *try to avoid spoilers if possible!*

Shopping with Dori

2011-11-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

Saturday we had a girls night in with some good friends from High School. We headed up to Danielle's house and made dinner together (although I hardly helped ;) and chattered until the wee hours of the morning. I can't get enough of Dori, she is such a lover it makes my cold empty uterus turn somersaults.

Doing the grocery shopping for dinner

Quinoa pasta anyone?

I may look like I just got my wisdom teeth out...but I didn't

Cheese in the cart

Then we played Project Runway

This season's accessories are binkies and wedges

Tim Gunn says "make it work"

Earlier in the day I cleaned my whole house, bathed the dogs (even blow dried Charlie because he was shivering) and then let them out one more time before I sat down to read. Of course they came back in smelling like shit because...well they rolled in some. So I bathed them both again.

And so the uterus stays empty...

How was your weekend?

Everyone needs a tree house

2011-11-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

Even if you only play in it 10 times and sleep in it 2. My Dad built us one and it was awesome. It had a pulley off the balcony and a trap door, but it also had bugs...tree houses in the movies don't have bugs, and they almost always have gingham curtains. It's too wet here for gingham curtains I think.

The other day Vanessa reminded me about Spumoni sweatshirts...I had tons. The one in this photos had snowflakes and bears. Sometimes when my Mom and Sister would go shopping I would come home and find a new Spumoni outfit on my bed, complete with a hair clip for that awesome spiral perm. Those were my favorite days.

Spumoni shirt, Keds, spiral perm...must be the 90's

What are you up to this weekend? I'm getting some major girl time and it will be lovely.

What are those holes in your face for?

2011-11-03T05:03:00.000-07:00

Me: I can tell you're frustrated because you're making that sound like little puffs of air

Bryan: I'm breathing

Me: Well it sounds condescending, please stop

The perfect Fall day...

2011-11-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday we had a perfect Fall day. It poured buckets the day before so we really lucked out. Especially since we scheduled a fly fishing casting class, a gift for Kathy's birthday. The sun was out and the colors were their brightest. The only thing slightly off was the smell of dead spawned salmon washing up on the banks of the river...

The guide in his getup

Nice cast Kathy!

The class was 2 hours...only Bryan made it that long

It was about this time we started debating sparkly vampires

The guide became exasperated and went back to Bryan...

I should have reminded him he was wearing a jumper

I thought we looked like ribbon dancers

Later we headed downtown to meet friends for dinner at SMITH

Regular fries, sweet potatoe fries

Poutine with short ribs...

I know...looks nasty but it was delicious!

As if that wasn't enough we went for ice cream at Molly Moon's too

Me, my lazy ice cream eye, and Alecia

We had the Viaduct Crunch (coffee ice cream with cornflake toffee crunchies)

We also people watched because it was Halloween weekend on Capitol Hill

Very entertaining!

Jeremy finds something else to lick ;)

Quick, what flavor would you have picked?

I know it sounds strange, but the earl grey was amazing!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Did you get any trick or treaters? We didn't, yet somehow all the Take 5's are gone...my thighs were hungry. I headed up to my Sister's house to trick or treat with Jackson. He made it to about 5 houses.

Can you guess what he was?

Spider Man!

But next year he wants to be Captain America okay?...

He also said we should buy him some Captain America underwear

We had chili...and rice cereal

Some of us were drinking...but not these two ;)

A Spider Man and a Lady Bug

This one totally reminds me of the catapillar from Alice and Wonderland

Couples costumes are hard...

2011-10-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

I feel for Charlie today, he has one of those partners that never wants to dress up. Just says "I'll be a construction worker", basically goes as themselves for Halloween. So we learn to work with that partner, compromise.

Charlie thrifted his equestrian costume. So proud.

Issy went as his horse.

Happy Halloween! Hope you have fun tonight!

Get your poodle skirt out

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Are you doing anything Halloweeny this weekend? I'm not. I don't know why, Halloween just isn't my holiday. My teeth hurt just thinking out it. I did buy a pumpkin, but I'm going to roast it and make some baked goods instead. I'm ready for Thanksgiving...

Have a fun size Snickers for me!

Paper or plastic?

2011-10-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

Bryan and I had a conversation the other night that ended with him calling me Al Gore, and me saying that I hate big trucks. Hurtful words to a man who loves his truck. We were discussing the environment and how much I worry about it. I feel like I try to do my part, and he cancels it out by not doing his.

For example...did you know that even though you recycle plastic water bottles, the cap and little white ring left around the top are not recyclable? After you recycle that water bottle, they ship it to China and run them on a conveyor belt where a man with a machete chops the tops off the water bottle so the rest can be recycled. I'm pretty sure that when you're wielding a machete...you're not trying to take off as little waste as possible. I'm pretty sure you're chopping that thing in half and saving your fingers. Not to mention the fumes from the melting plastic that these workers are exposed to. Check out this article on Mindfully.org.

But do you know where I am falling short lately? I don't bring my own bags to the grocery store, even though I have a million of them. We always ask for paper and we use them as our garbage bags. This is what we did growing up too. Since then my parents have switched to compostable bags and I'm feeling like I should also. It's tough to know what is BEST when there are so many options.

The other day my coworker (our green guy, no really that's his job title) sent me this recycling calculator to see where I stacked up. I did pretty well, mostly because we don't get the newspaper!

Check it out for yourself, click 'here'.

Do you still use plastic bags? I've been hearing a lot of commercials on the radio about what they do with recycled bags (trex decking, playground equipment). You can drop them off at your local grocery or hardware store, which we've been doing lately. Just make sure to take your receipts out first!

Pumpkin Patch!

2011-10-26T05:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday we had a break in the weather so I tagged along with my Sister's family to go to the pumpkin patch. My dogs don't appreciate pumpkins...and neither do my Niece and Nephew. But Jackson appreciated the old cars and tractors at this pumpkin patch so it made it all worth it.

The highlight...

Obviously Auntie needs to buy this girl some shoes!

I took a million of them on this tractor...Jackson starts out smiling and loses interest when his sister is on his lap.

Ava was thrilled though and wanted to play with the steering wheel.

This was my favorite part. Jackson walked in to the barn and said "where are the horses?"

There were none, but there was a German Shepard in the hay loft

Once upon a time

2011-10-25T05:04:00.000-07:00

Did anyone catch this show on Sunday night? I half watched while we chatted with my parents who came over for dinner. There was a scene where the Prince sword fights while holding a newborn...both my Mom and I thought that was pretty hot ;) Of course there were other conversations about that scene too...

Mom: Oh my gosh! What is he doing with that sword, is he going to kill the baby?

Dad: No, he's going to circumcise him.

My Dad has really been watching his tongue lately and following up his jokes with "don't blog that". Luckily he forgot to throw in the disclaimer on this one ;)

everyone's favorite redhead

2011-10-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

Did you have a good weekend? We did too. Friday night we headed to our friend's house for dinner and to see little Dori who hasn't really gotten any bigger, but is quite a ham these days.

Playing with Bryan

Magic tricks...where did it go?

Danielle's pretty appetizer

Baci doesn't care much for our game

Baci in her bed...

I wonder if this is what Ikea had in mind when they built this shelf

Hangin with the boys

Cuddling with Bryan

Hey, don't pick the dog over the baby!

Danielle and moi and our froyo

Perfect end to a wonderful night!

Thanks D &S for dinner!

Halloween in rainy Seattle

2011-10-21T05:02:00.000-07:00

My coworker and I were talking the other day about trick or treating in malls. It has become pretty popular here because Halloween is always wet and cold. Plus tolling around in the dark isn't always the safest. Growing up we had to be creative with our costumes to keep warm, and then they were usually covered up with a coat anyway. I think the genius year was when my Sister and neighbor went as dead skiiers. They were toasty!

This particular year we went as Victorian Ladies, the key accessory being the lacey umbrellas. But...we still ended up looking like drowned rats.

What do you think of our Cindy Crawford moles and turtlenecks?

Happy weekend. What do you have planned?

Now that's a good reason to have kids

2011-10-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

Growing up we never bought costumes. We used what we had, or went to the Goodwill and put something together, which is why we were usually hobos. I prefer the thoughtful costumes though...I'd totally have a kid so I could do some of these. Darn free will and kids picking their own costumes.

Source: None via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Toby on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Christian on Pinterest

Source: thespottedfox.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Want

2011-10-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guess what? It's Wednesday and we have a winner! #5 GringationCancun! Congrats Laura, email me Grandma's address and I will send you your petite package de Paris! Thanks everyone for entering, I wish I could send you all Swiss chocolate but...we ate it all!

I really want this... is $110 too much to spend on a sweater? A really cozy striped one?

{via Madewell}

Check out some cozy Fall food over here

Roasted pears with coconut butterscotch sauce

2011-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway! Click 'here' for some European goodies!

Whelp, if you come over for dinner at my house this Fall this is what we'll be having ... What are your favorite desserts of the season? I just bought a pumpkin to make some crustless pumpkin pie and roast the seeds. Last year Bryan ate all the roasted seeds before I even got a chance to have any. I roast them with a little butter and soy sauce, so good.

{via The NY Times}

4 Bosc pears, peeled, cored and quartered lengthwise
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
Fine sea salt
Black pepper
1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
2 cups coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Dark chocolate squares, for serving.

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. In a bowl, toss together the pears, butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, pinch salt and pepper. Roast on baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until pears are tender and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

2. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the coconut until golden.

3. In a separate skillet, combine 1 cup brown sugar and 6 tablespoons water. Cook over medium heat until sugar melts and loses its sandlike consistency (there can still be a few sugar granules). Whisk in the coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer until sauce reaches a consistency between that of heavy cream and butterscotch sauce; this could take 10 minutes or longer. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and lemon zest. Spoon sauce over pears and garnish with toasted coconut. Serve with the chocolate on the side.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

have I told you...

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

About my love for Nutella? Oh I have? The other day I was thinking about having babies (because I swear the world has made a pregnancy pact and forgot to include me), and I thought...if I have a little girl I'm going to name her Hazel so I can call her my little hazelnut. Which has evolved from my previous baby name of Nella, also close to Nutella.

{via planet do & undo}

I have discovered another chocolate hazelnutty goodness product this weekend. I bought Luna & Larry’s Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge Coconut Bliss ice cream (made with coconut milk), and it is seriously my new favorite thing in the whole world. I had it for dinner.

But enough about me...or actually more about me really. I did a little interview over at The Girl with the Blue Bow today. Stop by and find out more than you ever wanted to know. But I think you probably already know way too much about me ;) Thanks for the interview Christianna!

So tell me about you, what did you do this weekend??

Okay now back to me. Click "here" for the interview.

Grand St. Bernard Pass: 28 years earlier

2011-10-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

Do you live in Seattle? Swing by my other blog Perpetually Engaged for a fun giveaway, today only! What are you still doing here?

Remember our little trip to Grand St. Bernard? Well my Mom sent me this picture of us there...28 years ago. Looks pretty much the same don't you think?

We couldn't even afford hats or shoes

we had to wear socks with our sandals...sorry I made you freeze Bryan!

Salmon Days 2011

2011-10-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, in all my jet lag glory, I hit the Salmon Days parade with my Mom and Sister. It was Jackson's 2nd Salmon Days and Ava's first! I couldn't miss it. She watched the whole parade, which is awesome because I hate to admit it but...we're a parade family. We clap with the marching bands, we wave at the princesses, we stay until the pooper scoopers go by.

Ava, 5 months old

Sammy the Salmon

Last year he hitched a ride, this year he walked

Must be a younger Salmon this year

Jackson eating caramel corn for breakfast

Ava talking to her mouse

This boy loves the fire trucks!

Auntie Nikki you are so funny!

And you have crows feet

Ogopogo of Lake Okanagon

We used to camp on this lake and I was pretty worried about the monster for awhile there

Shiska-berries

This year he got to ride the train

I sat with the stroller and pointed out missing children to frantic parents

No really, I did

He seriously needs a bouncy house for his 4th birthday

I can't believe he'll be 4 soon!

Convo of the day:

Background- we parked at my Father in Law's house and there is a basketball hoop in his driveway from when the kids were younger, and a crate of basketballs that belong to the neighbors who now use the hoop.

Jackson: Are those basketballs Papa Paul's?

Me: No, they belong to the neighbor's, but the basketball hoop is Papa Paul's

Jackson: Are those baketballs Papa Paul's?

Me: Yes....

Jackson (to my Sister): Why did Auntie call it basketball 'poop'?

European vacation giveaway

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Uh no, you read that wrong...I'm not giving away a European vacation, but I am giving away some goodies I packed all the way home from France and Switzerland. You made it through my week + of photos and to reward you for sticking around I hid some Swiss chocolate from Bryan and picked up a few other fun favorites during our travels! Some are edible, some smell good, some were just necessary. Thank you thank you for all your wonderful trip planning advice and comments, you always know just how to make my day!

You know the drill...leave me a comment below before Wednesday, October 19th for a chance to win! Extra entries? Tell me a joke in a separate comment, I'm tired this week and need a laugh ;)

Some randoms I remembered from our trip:

*In Paris at 6pm everyone buys a baguette on their way home from work. One day Bryan was on the hunt for a good baguette and everyone was munching on some walking the streets. We finally found a darling Boulangerie and got one too.

*French men with messy hair wearing chinos are hot. I finally get the Docker's commercial "beau pantalon". Now if only they would wear more deodorant on the metro.

*Bryan was very particular about where I pulled out the map because he didn't want to look like tourists and get mugged. Yet he was wearing a backpack, Keen sandals and would count his money out in the open.

*He only brought his frickin Keens and wanted to wear socks with them at one point to control the smell. Instead he used my entire bottle of hand sanitizer to 'neutralize' them. He also wore my pink toe socks in Luzern...not in public though!

*No one seems to worry about lung cancer in Europe.

Happy Humpday!

D'Day Landing Beaches with Victory Tours

2011-10-11T05:08:00.000-07:00

When I asked Bryan what he wanted to do in Europe he said he wanted to visit the Normandy landing beaches and because that was his only request I knew I had to make it happen. At first we thought we might do a little research and tour them on our own but I'm so glad we didn't. Instead we booked a full day with Roel of Victory Tours. His slogan was "one man, one van" and he had wonderful reviews on Trip Advisor.

The sites are pretty far away from each other so you'd have to rent a car to visit them and then you have to know what you're looking at. I can't recommend Victory Tours enough. Roel has so many personal stories from Veterans he knows, it is a completely different experience and we would have missed out on so many sights without him. I didn't think this would be a higlight for me, but it was.

We took the train from Paris to Bayeux, and met the rest of the group in town. There were 8 of us, a father/son duo from Denver, and a family of Aussies who really didn't like Americans. I had to give Bryan the stare a few times to keep him from reciprocating the woman's comments. It was pretty funny.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux

Arromanches D'Day artificial port, Gold Beach

Those are piers left over from the floating roads used to bring trucks ashore

Port-en-Bessin between Gold Beach and Omaha Beach

The Port name was changed on the side of the building for a movie filmed there

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

It was a beautiful cemetery, but heartbreaking to see so many crosses

172 acres and 9,387 American Military Dead

All the crosses face west toward America

A soldier from Washington State

Most were from the Midwest and East Coast

At the base of the cross is their dog tag numbers

No birth dates as they didn't want people to focus on how young these men were

I've seen many photos of the cemetery but never have noticed the Stars of David. There were lots.

The Niland brothers crosses

Saving Private Ryan was based on these brothers

The chapel on the grounds

Roel said 1,500 Veterans die a day, soon there will be none left

An amazing mosaic on the ceiling. It was gorgeous

The crosses are made of Italian marble

The memorial

Names of the fallen

Omaha Beach

Bryan brought home some sand

It was an eerie feeling there. No sea shells, no swimmers, it is sacred

It is also referred to as Bloody Omaha

Lunch in the sun, which we hear is rare in Normandy

Local cider, a little too sour for me

I think Martinelli's has ruined me ;)

Pointe du Hoc

Underground tunnels

Casemate built to house guns

The bluffs the soldiers had to scale

What it looks like today

{via Veterans Community Education Partnership}

I did not take this photo, just for reference

Do you see the bomb pock marks

Bryan standing in a bomb indentation

Cement bags that turned into, well...cement

Pointe du Hoc

Apparently it has been blown up a few times since the war for movie remakes

A look out, just enough room for eyes and a gun barrel

Inside the lookout

Utah beach

That red roofed house was left untouched in the war because it is a historical site

Sainte-Mère-Église where paratrooper John Steele landed and

played dead for 2 hours before taken prisoner.

He escaped.

Thanks Roel for a wonderful tour!

I hope I got my facts straight, there were quizzes in the van ;)

If you're considering a trip to Normandy you should check out Victory Tours

One of the best decisions of our trip. Oh and it was my decision too ;)

I should go make Bryan tell me I'm right...

That's all folks!

Je t'aime Paris...mostly

2011-10-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

How was your weekend? Mine was not long enough, they never are.

Finally nearing the end of our trip with a little alone time in Paris. So romantic right? Well sort of. I booked us a little apartment with airbnb We went cheap $70 a night (the issue I'm sure) with the idea that we weren't going to be in it that much and it had its own bathroom. Well, it was not up to par with my low expectations. There was an issue with the shower leaking so they visquined and duct taped the walls of the shower. Because of those issues there was also quite a bit of mildew and mold. Luckily there was still hot water but I was a bit disgusted that it wasn't disclosed before we arrived. During the tour of the place their only response to the shower was "this is why the place is so cheap". Psssh! We called it the Dexter shower. I gave it a bad review...now I feel a bit guilty.

So we arrived in Paris, and I wanted to cry a little, but then I remembered we were in Paris and I pushed it all aside and moved on with our vacation taking note to not be so cheap in the future.

The view from our apartment in the 9th arrondissment

We were starving so we got kebabs because Bryan had a really good one in Basel and was trying to find a replacement

We had our first meal in Paris on the lawn in front of Sacré-Cœur

With everyone else ;)

But the view was beautiful

Bryan reading on our little balcony and enjoying wine from...a mug

The charcuterie plate he put together for dinner since our kebabs filled us up

The next day we hit the Tour de Eiffel

Ewwwww!

French kids are adorable!

Watching some dogs swim in the fountains and missing our pooches

The Seine

Moi

Right after we almost were scammed by a Gypsy who found a gold band and wanted Bryan to have it

Oh but then she wanted some money and when we wouldn't oblige she wanted the ring back

25 feet later another one tried the same thing

People must be losing gold bands all over the city ;)

The Louvre

We had some sandwiches and people watched

Bryan did not want to take picures of my legs ;)

We didn't go in...

I've already been and Bryan didn't care to, he doesn't like lines

Notre Dame

We didn't go up...

I've already been and Bryan doesn't like lines!

He had no idea what Notre Dame looked like from the outside

I asked "haven't you ever seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

He says no

Ahhh, there it is..my Nutella crepe

And then my battery died

We crossed the Seine and shopped at some adorable consignment shops on Rue de Rosiers

and found a cute little shirt for Ava at the neighborhood flea market

Then back to the apartment

Did I mention it was one block from The Moulin Rouge?

Pretty lively...all night long. I should've known better

We were eating at all odd hours with crepes and snacks so we drank more wine and had another charcuterie plate for dinner

My new favorite thing...buy a box of camambert cheese, cut off the top and nuke in the microwave.

Dip your bread in it, it's like a mini fondue!

We even had a house guest...he was warned about the apartment

Bryan's brother Andrew had a layover on his way home from Istanbul

I don't know if those are lights from the Moulin Rouge or what

I think it looks like The Ghostbusters

The next day we hit the Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt

Paris's most famous flea market

I asked for a petite cafe to go with my pain au chocolat

petite indeed!

I also wore my stripes and some punchy lipstick

Although it seems only tourists wear stripes and punchy lipstick

Actually...and men. I saw a lot of men in stripes

I didn't care I worked it anyway

Monmartre

The flea market was AMAZING

Like little pockets of interior design

So much beautiful furniture to be had

I want to own a stall in this flea market

All the owners were dining on their vintage furniture together

Oblivious to the bargain hunters

Gelato in Montmartre

Pistache and Toblerone

Croque Monsieur

Then all that bread and cheese caught up with us...and we both got very sick

But I somehow talked Bryan into going to the top of Eiffel Tower anyway

The two couples ahead of us in line were from Whidbey Island in Washington

Neighbors!

Blurry and beautiful

Day 4:

Normandy...tomorrow ;)

Moules frites after our trip to Normandy...so good!

Last day:

Arc de Triomphe

Bryan waiting for a car accident

I don't know what this is...but I think there was a wedding happening there

Adorable restaurant with a grapevine fence

Then we went to the Catacombs of Paris

It says that anxious people should not take the tour

I'm an anxious person

I walked so fast because being underground and those low ceilings made me nervous

Bones? What bones?

It was dark and we weren't allowed to use flash but we did anyway

We both look suprised

Is Bryan stealing that skull?

The remains of 6 million people

And do you see those water droplets above me? Yea...gross.

Finally, our last supper

Bryan's shrimp and citrus salad

My foie gras

I know, I feel badly...but it was so good

My duck

eehhh, it was okay

I don't even know what this was...but it was delicious!

I loved Paris. It was charming and beautiful but...it also smelled strongly of urine, was crowded and dirtier than I remember. Perhaps it just needed a good rain. I wanted to love it more, I wanted better meals, but after bread and cheese turned against us I was scared to eat anything. I had pages of pages of things to do and places to eat but things just never worked out as planned. And you really do need to make reservations for some places. But that's okay, we discovered lots of things on our own, and had some wonderful food.

What I did love was the metro. I want a metro in Seattle, it is so easy to use and I'm glad we just went for it. We ended up buying a book of tickets, but FYI...they can't be near any metal (keys, cell phone, Euros) or the deactivate. We learned that the hard way and had to keep exchanging tickets.

Grand St. Bernard Pass: Switzerland to Italy

2011-10-07T05:06:00.000-07:00

6 years ago Bryan wanted to get a St. Bernard and I did not. We compromised and got a Puggle ;) 2 years later he wanted to get a St. Bernard and we got a Ridgeback mix. Last month I wanted to go to Switzerland and Italy but we compromised and just went to the border of Italy ;)

Grand St. Bernard is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. It connects Martigny to Aosta, Italy with evidence of use as far back as the Bronze Age. However we went to Grand St. Bernard Pass specifically to see the St. Bernards. The Grand St. Bernard hospice was founded in 1049 where they began cross-breeding dogs creating St. Bernards as guard dogs and then as mountain rescue dogs.

Arriving by train in Martigny

The scariest bus ride on earth

Somehow we survived...I'm still not sure how

The air is thin and freezing at 8114 feet!

Happiest moment of the trip I think

Turns out this dog is from America...ha!

They were quite the cuddlers. Too bad I don't like dog hair.

I forgot to take photos of our lunch that day. Most likely because we were drinking wine and my Grandma ended up spilling her coffee all over the table...probably because of the wine ;)

It snowed earlier in the week....brrrr!

A Swiss mechanic and ....a bee keeper?

It was a full day trip but I'm so glad we went. Bryan was starting to think Switzerland

was all cities and this was a definite taste of the Alps.

Have a lovely weekend. Next week a quick stop by Paris and Normandy and we're through!

Geneva with my Grandmaman

2011-10-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

Are you tired yet? Phew, I am. It's hard to remember all the details, and all the funny reactions Bryan had. Like he never once rode the lift in at my Grandma's apartment building because it pretty much only holds 1.5 people. Or how he didn't want to check any bags, but ended up doing a load of laundry in the first 4 days. I on the other hand made it 14 days before I did any laundry *gloating*

Although I loved the German parts of Switzerland, I was excited to get to Geneva to see my Grandma. I was also excited because I understand more French than German. German is a freakin' hard language. Since my Grandma refuses to speak English, I went into full survival French mode. I probably sounded like a caveman but we were able to have full conversations, make jokes, I was pretty proud of myself. We only had to pull out the dictionary a few times.

The first evening we arrived we took Bryan to the little zoo near her house. No joke it is over the river and through the woods ;)

We also went to visit my Papa Jacky's grave because I haven't been there since he passed. When I was little and we used to visit Geneva my Mom would say "we're going to see relatives" and we'd end up in cemeteries. Now I know why she always wanted to go.

Then we had a lovely dinner of ratatouille

The next day we headed to Lac Léman to see the Jet d'Eau and walk around the lake

Oh but first we had a little breakfast, the first pain au chocolat of the trip!

And we rode the boat across the lake

229 feet of water

It was windy and what happened when we walked out there? They shut it off..of course

Life size chess game at Bastion Park

A cafe at La Clemence in the old town

Reformation Wall with statues of (L-R) William (Guillaume) Farel, John (Jean) Calvin, Theodore de Beze, and John Knox

St. Pierre Cathedral

We took a tour of the old churches excavated beneath the church

This was part of an amazing mosaic floor from the 8th-10th century

Day 2 we went to the flea market! Bryan is really into the reality shows American Pickers and Storage Wars so he can finally appreciate junk with me.

I should've snatched this up, but I'm not sure how I would've got it home

Still looking for that watch!

The Jardin Botanique of Geneve

Natalie?

More animals

Ice cream by the lake

I believe mine was scoops of pistachio, chocolate and banana ice cream with chantilly cream

The last day we went to Cern-the European Organization for Nuculer Research

if you'd like to know more about it...click here

Basically they currently have a large hadron collider underground and spanning miles wide (under homes and everything) where they collide beams head on recreating the conditions just after the big bang theory. I was a little nervous standing above it all.

Learning all about physics. Pretty interesting stuff ;) No really it was.

Nerd alert!

Then we went for fillet de perche

Tiny fried fillets of perch. So good!

And that was Geneva

Merci de nous avoir Grandmaman!

World record blogger meetup in Luzern

2011-10-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

Do you guys know Krystal from Village? We had a little blogger meetup in Luzern where she lives with her Husband and adorable pup Bama. Of course it turned out to be the rainiest, coldest 24 hours of the whole trip but we still had a blast. It was like hanging out with old friends and I have serious life envy over their gorgeous apartment and non shedding dog. I sure wish we lived closer!

Krystal getting the spread ready

Then you have to photograph it like a good blogger...right?

Wild boar salami and mountain cheese. So good!

Bama wanted to try it too

Foggy and cold but the rain stopped!

Part of Luzern's original wall...and..well...I have no idea. A church perhaps?

Swiss dogs drink straight from the fountains

Chapel bridge

The boys

The girls

Lion of Lucerne, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, France.

Blurry Mark and Bama climbing the wall towers

Then we stopped for hot chocolates

And roasted chestnuts

Swiss transplants

Bryan desperately searches for a Breitling watch knockoff

Then we biked to dinner

The clouds parted and we saw sun!

Yummy Lebanese sandwiches

biker chick

Mount Pilatus

And some chocolate for dessert

That little fish in the front was caramel and my favorite!

Family photo attempt

Cuddlebug

Thank you so much Krystal and Mark for having us!

We've decided we're going back to mountain bike with them ;)