Lucha Libre in the Park

To me, "lucha libre" sounds like free lunch. I know it's not (I didn't take Spanish for six years for nothing!). In fact, it's far from it. It's wrestling, but an entirely different kind of wrestling. I had actually never heard of it before, so this was an entire world of sports I did not know existed before August.  

I learned that lucha libre means free wrestling. It's a type of wrestling that's much, much more than just arm strength and  grappling on the floor. It's gymnastics meets wrestling - it's jumping, and acrobats. It originated in Mexico, and is second to soccer in popularity. And not only that, but they wear awesome costumes and masks...at least the luchadores in Mexico do - some other luchadores skip that part (lame).

As it so happens, there was going to be lucha libre right here in Seattle. Honestly, I didn't really want to go (side note: I don't think I really understood what it was until after I witnessed it). Our friend Aaron and Josh talked about it, and how awesome it sounded, and for me...meh. But being a good sport, I decided to give it a whirl. What else was I doing that afternoon anyways? Plus, Josh is patient with my TV shows and frozen yogurt needs, so I figured I could do this for him. 

The event was down at Duwamish Waterway Park - near West Seattle. It was a nice, sunny day. A perfect day for some lucha libre. They had two guys introduce the wrestling match. The first match was the Mexican luchadores. There was Sonic and Blue Steel. I gave them those names...but they did have names, I just don't remember.

Then came the couples match (note: that's not a technical luchador term). One was wearing a crazy tiger costume and the other a red, white, and blue eagle costume. Then there was a girl in black & yellow, and a guy dressed like a girl with a wig and all.

Tiger Luchadore

It was quite hilarious. The luchadores would taunt each other - like "I will crush you" and then they'd involve the crowd to cheer or boo. The kiddos loved it, and there was quite a bit of cheering. 

The one girl (the real girl) was crazy. She'd climb up on the side and then jump.

Flying Girl Luchador

Then there were a few matches with American luchadores that didn't wear masks. Booo. The masks are way cooler. There was one guy that was like Mr. Machismo. He basically wore a speedo with a bow tie. No pictures of that one for you - this is a family blog people!  

I probably should have bought a mask for Halloween. Dang it! 

Luchador Masks

And that is Lucha Libre.  

Oh, and if you're here in Seattle, you can train to become a luchado. That's right; the people that brought the event are Lucha Libre Volcanica, and they're waiting for you to sign-up!

Hanging the Jewels: DIY

I don't actually do that many DIY projects. I would like to, but I never seem to just hunker down and do them. The last real project was last year (remember this)! Usually it's because I'm slightly intimidated by them.

I go on Pinterest, and see all these folks pinning awesome DIY projects. Do people actually do those projects? I wonder. Am I the only gal that's looks at something and thinks it just too much work?

When I came across this jewelry board on Jones Design, I thought that this might actually be one I could take on. Not too complicated, and the materials & tools seemed simple enough. Although the post didn't actually explain the project step by step, I though I could swing it. Plus, I had the cork board just sitting here - it has been in our office since we moved here (so for 3 years).

Not to mention, I've been wanting to organize my jewelry for ages. I've been eyeing cute organizers on Etsy. Like this one, and this one. Oh, and then there is this DIY project, too, but the wood and knobs ... yikes! 

I decided why spend so much, when this one could actually created, by me, on the cheap... challenge accepted.

And guess what? I DID IT. It was pretty easy, too. Let me tell you how this is done...

First, you need supplies. Here's what I got:

• Cork board - IKEA for $5.99
• Burlap Fabric - Joanns for $3.99/yard (like 2-3 yards)
• Decorative Nails - Joanns for $2.99
• Ribbon or Lace - Joanns (can't remember)

As for tools, well, I thought I didn't have a staple gun, but I did. Woohoo! Otherwise, I was planning on glue - like the glue gun. I bet it would work, too. And that's the only tool you need. 

Lay the fabric on the floor, and place the board cork down. Then, staple on the back. I got the staples as close to the wood frame as possible. Make sure to tug the fabric to make sure it's all snug. 

When you get to a corner, just put in lots of staples. I tried to be tidy, so I folded the fabric - just like you would like when wrapping a gift - at the corners. Go all the way around. Remember to keep pulling to ensure it's tight.

Then I placed the ribbon in diagonal stripes across the board. And staple some more. Lastly, put in the decorative pins all around. I tried to visualize the board as a grid to make it even spacing, but I didn't go crazy. Just eye ball it. Nobody will judge. 

That's pretty  much it. I had a fabric flower thing on my dresser that I never use, so I put it in the corner. Then just grab some push pins and hang those necklaces! Voila! 

After I made this board, but before I wrote this post, I noticed Jones Design came out with her own step by step instructions. You can check it out, if you think my instructions aren't good enough (which would make me sad). But I like the fabric option she shows, so you can check it out for idea purposes (and that would be okay; my feelings won't be hurt). 

It took my like an hour, or less, and now my necklaces are on display. Benefits of this board:

• I can quickly access which one I want to wear.
• They are kept from getting tangled up.
• They make the room dazzle. 

I think you can totally do it. Totally!

Or, if you're nice enough, and you really want one, I might just make it for you for a birthday or Christmas. 

Fight & Win, Go Sounders!

After living in Seattle for 3 years, Josh and I decided it was about time we go to a Sounder's game. We heard that the games were a lot of fun, and we definitely found out why! 

We went to our first game on Saturday, 8/3. I was excited to see what all the hub-bub was all about with the Sounders. Generally speaking, I'd rather play the game, than watch it. Although I do remember enjoying the Real Madrid game I went to Madrid (which I later learned had some very famous player involved - ha, I just went to be social - sorry soccer fans). But I was curious if I might enjoy watching soccer since I did play it competitively during my younger years. 

We parked in Pioneer Square, which is apparently the "thing" to do. Everyone that walked beside us to the stadium was geared up in their Sounder's paraphernalia - all pretty much green.

Then we arrived.

I could feel the excitement buzzing around me. There was a band playing, people were crowding around drinking and eating, and just a overall all cheery jive. 

We found our seats, and we were very impressed with how close we were to the field (section 105, row U). I almost felt VIP. Almost.

Once seated, the real excitement began. Now, let me tell you, there is a ritual to being a Sounder's fan. And somehow everyone knows about it. Josh and I just rolled with the punches and followed the fans around us.

First, the clapping. Suddenly people raised their hands up. Just raised them, and after about a minute, the hands all slowly started to come together. Slowly the clapping began - the whole stadium coordinated, mind you. Then it grew faster and faster, until it began a wild, rage of claps.  

Next, the announcing began. Players from the other team were announced. And after each name of our opponents, there was a big "boo" from the crowd (aren't we good sports?! ha). Then our team was announced. Again there was a ritual...the announcer would say the players first name, and the crowd would follow by shouting of the last name.

Time out: okay, and this might be the exact order of events, but you get the general idea.

Then, came the fire from the goal posts - yes fire. There were two blow torch type things on the end of each goal post, and those fired off at the very same time that the field (and I learned later that both the goal post fire & fireworks boomed when the Sounder's scored). 

Oh, and the fun doesn't stop there. 

One thing that the fans loved to do was hold up their Sounder scarves with "Sounders FC" facing the field. My favorite was the scarf that said, "Pride of the Northwest." Guess I need a scarf now. 

Of course, there was all the National anthem. They brought out a flag and everyone. I love that!  

More cheering. There was also a moment when they let off a bunch of green streamers. 

Now, here's the kicker.... Little did we know, we chose THE game as our first. The latest Sounder player was announced before the game. The new guy came out with a announcer wearing a hoodie. Funny thing: Before I caught on to what was happening, I thought he must be some famous rapper because they played this video. But this was an incorrect assumption.

The announcer dude said, "So Dempsey, we hear you've been touring the West coast looking for a new home. Did you find anywhere you like?" Then Dempsey unzipps his hoodie to reveal the green Sounder's jersey. The crowd went completely wild. Even a flag that said "Keep Calm and Dempsey Watch" was raised. (This guys must be good. I bet he probably has a pretty big ego, too. I would too if people held up signs and cheered for me like that - ha!)

After all that, the game started.  And we stood the whole time. Everybody stood the whole time. I felt I might be shunned if I sat. That, and I wouldn't be able to see anything. But it all added to the fun & excitement. Look at us having a good time:

Heather & Josh - Sounder's Newest Fans

In my opinion, we owned the game. We had control most of the time. We saw some penalties, some yellow cards, some corner kicks, and some good passing.

Sorry, here's Soccer for Dummies if you don't know what I'm talking about. 

The cheering kept up throughout the game. There was one section at the end of the field, which I believe is called "the nest" that cheers the whole time. You look over there and the fans are bouncing up & down the entire game. They hold up flags, and then did some crazy arm "wave" thing where they held up their arms to the left, and then to the right. It was like a sea of arms waving. Pretty wild stuff. 

At the end, we beat Dallas FC (btw, we played Dallas), 3-0. Booya! There was even a great penalty kick at the end.  

Playing the Game

We left the game as Sounder's newest fans. I definitely want to go again this season. It was a fantastic time (probably helped that we won, but hey). I even have a Sounder t-shirt that I wear proudly. 

Gooooooo Sounders!!!!! 

Farms, Barns, and Root beer in Snohomish

First and foremost, let's get this pronunciation correct...it's snow-hoh-mish. Or, at least that's how I think you pronounce it. HA! I'm not a Seattle native, so I'm still learning. But I'm pretty dang sure that's how you say it (not to mentioned, I looked it up). 

I'm glad we got that covered. I feel like I can tell you about Snohomish, now we both know how to say it.

The other weekend (to be exact, I'm talking about July 27th), Josh and I adventured up to Snohomish. We didn't go out with the plan of exploring Snohomish, but that's the beauty of it, we just sort of ended up there. Here's how...

We started off just going to taste some root beer. Now this, we had every intention of visiting. It's a root beer store in Lynnwood (which happens to be in Snohomish County) that has over 100 different types of bottled root beer. Yes, over 100 brands of root beer exist in this world. The store is called (believe it or not) The Root Beer Store. Clever, eh? We learned of this awesome store from a show in the evenings here called Evening Magazine (yet, another clever name) where they featured the store. Maybe it was hot when we watched the clip, but that root beer looked delicious. 

We discovered they were not joking about the 100 brands of root beer. There were rows upon rows of root beers. The staff really knew their root beer too. We'd both never really thought about there being different root beers, and the differing tastes. It was quite entertaining. The main differentiator seemed to be strong versus sweet. The two they steered us towards were the Dang! Butterscotch and Frostie Vanilla root beers. So we bought those and a few others. Before we left, we shared a tasty root beer float in a frosty mug. Slurrrrrppp!

Slurp...The Root Beer Store

100s of Root Beers

And the root beer is where the afternoon plans ended. Yet, it was still around 3pm, and weren't ready to go back home. Josh realized we were in Snohomish, and suggested we go visit a veggie stand. I was doubtful - a veggie stand? Really? We want to visit a veggie stand? Alllrighhhty then. So Josh plugged it into the GPS and off we went.

I drove doubtfully still unconvinced of Josh's veggie stand plan. But I drove onward trusting him and my GPS. 

We reached a road that winded down and then suddenly before us was open farmland. The sun was shining down, and my doubtfulness vanished. I secretly smiled to myself at the beautiful scenery (I say "secretly" because I was not quite ready to tell Josh he was right about this adventure to a veggie stand). 

Soon after reaching the farmland area, I saw a super-cool barn. I thought to myself, "oh man, I bet that'd be a great photo." But I whizzed right by in the car. Then another thought came to me, "what would Don Brown do?" And I knew the answer immediately without question: I had to pull over. 

Now pulling was another thing. It was a single road with barely space on either side. But I wasn't going to let this opportunity slip. I found an open driveway, and pulled in. I turned around, and managed to finagle my car in a small dirt spot along the road just down from the super-cool barn. 

Before reaching the barn, I was greeted by some calves. Hello Norman! I started to snap some photos, and Norman made his way towards me to say hello (or maybe in hopes of more food). Norman #296 was licking his chops in this photo (or was he picking his nose...hmm). 

Norman, the cow

After the cows got boring, I moved on to the main event, the super-cool barn.  I really don't know why I think this barn is super-cool. I think it's just that it's old, and has a cool picture on it (dude, that's deep).

Super-Cool Barn

As I was snapping shots of the super-cool barn, a  lady started yelling at us from a window of the house across the street. I thought for sure she was mad that we were taking photos of her property, and was going to tell us to leave (sad that I jump to that conclusion). To our surprise, we weren't getting shoo-ed off at all. Instead, she was directing us to go down the road further by the wheat for the best shot. Still shouting over the road, she explained that the wheat with the field and barn made a perfect shot. What do you think? A perfect shot?

As were were by the wheat, the lady came over to chat (whose name we learned was Barbara). We learned that the barn has been in her family for over 100 years, and the farm homes (e.g. the one she was shouting from) were built in 1910. The farm had cows (as we saw), sheep, and pigs. The two farmhouses were also hers and she rented them out for long stays (through VBRO). The one house, the one she shouted from, was her "White House" and was so cute & quaint. 

We chit-chatted for a bit, and since we had never been to the area before, she steered us to downtown Snohomish where there was a river and nice boutiques and pubs. So the adventure continued onward. 

Following her directions, we landed in the downtown area - it was cute as a button. Antique shops, boutiques, and pubs (just as she said) lined the main street. The buildings were older, and had so much character.sd

Josh and I roamed the town, and enjoyed the evening. We stopped in a few shops like the Uppercase Bookshop and Faded Elegance (those were my two favorite shops of the day). Then, we wrapped up the evening with dinner at Fred's Alehouse. Before heading home, we took a peek at the river. 

And that was our unexpected adventure. Who would have thought at a random idea to go to a veggie stand, would lead to a barn, that would lead to a nice lady, and would land us in a new part of Washington. Oh life, you're crazy! But I do love these life surprises. It's just nice to come across such unexpected treasures. 

I urge you to jump in the car, and see where it takes you! 

A Lovely Day: Kirkland Uncorked

How the heck is it already August? Holy moly! I think I say this every month, but seriously, how is it already August? Summer is going way too fast. And it also makes me feel somewhat guilty that I'm only just now writing about something we did in mid-July. I feel like such a slacker. Ugh. I swear, I've been busy. That and generally after being on a computer for 8-10 hours a day, I really don't want to spend more time in the evenings at the computer. It's for my eyes, they need to look beyond the screen. 

Okay, no excuses. And I'm here now. That has to count for something. Right?

Let me transport you back a few weekends to Saturday, July 20th when Josh and I went across the bridge (here in Seattle that means we went to the East side - Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, etc). Okay, joke:

Why did Heather and Josh cross the bridge? 

To get to the other side. (Hmm, that was so much funnier when I was 8 yrs old...)

Sorry, I won't use that joke again. Lame. Let's be adults again. We went to go to Kirkland Uncorked. Kirkland Uncorked is basically a food and wine festival where local wineries and restaurants come and you can sample all their stuff. 

Kirkland Uncorked

To my dad's disgrace, I'm not a huge wine fan. So I'm not sure why this festival appealed to me so much. Maybe it was because I saw that Diane's Delights would be there with Lemon Riesling cake pops. Yea, most probably that. But I did see that there would be quite a few rieslings. And sometimes those can be sweet, and I do like myself a sweet wine. So we decided it would be fun.

We went on Saturday around noon with the plan of eating the restaurants samples for lunch. Good plan. There were about 10 different restaurants sampling out pulled pork sammies, grilled salmon, chicken kabobs, shrimp salad, etc. And it was all quite delicious. And to finish it all off, I did get a Diane's Delights cake pop. It really did make the whole visit to the even worth it. Those cake pops are just too good (Diane is the gal that taught me to take cake pop, so in my mind she's the cake pop master). 

Diane's Cake Pops (photo credit: Diane's Delights Facebook page)

Food Sampling

Although the day started out gray, the clouds burned off and we had a very sunny, nice afternoon. We watched a cooking class, but by then it was too hot to sit in the direct sun (and surprise, Josh and I got burnt). It's okay, we'll tan (bahahaha, me tan? That'll be the day). The cooking class was a calamari salad. Given that I don't like calamari - it's the tentacles; they scare me - it haven't tried to make the dish at home. But I sense I might be boring you with the details now. Let's move on. 

We did sit and enjoy the festival.  See our smiling faces...(notice Josh wearing sunglasses? They're new. This is the first pair of sunglasses he's owned since I've known him - so that's like 10 years. Isn't he hot in those glasses?)

Enjoying Kirkland Uncorked

Really the rest of the story is that we went from booth to booth tasting different wines. My favorite was Silver Lake Winery's 2012 Roza Riesling. It was nice and sweet, but not dessert wine sweet. Just something nice for a warm, summer day. 

Runner's up include: 

• Sky River Meadery: Sky River Solas mead *
• OS Winery: 2012 Riesling

* Funny story about my mom and mead at Bunratty Castle. Ask me about it someday. 

Wines of Kirkland Uncorked

We ended the day at the Boat Show and touring some cool boats. Wish list: a yacht. Please Santa?

So that's that. A nice day in Kirkland eating, drinking, and looking at boats. Can't get much better than that. 

Captain Heather on her future yacht

A Spot of Tea: Cederberg

New idea! New idea! (oh alright, give credit where credit is due...Josh came up with the idea). But I'm adding on a new category on my blog called Local Spotlight. If I encounter an awesome place / activity / person in Seattle, or the nearby area, I'm going to share it. This will mostly be for my Seattlelite friends, however, it could also serve as a way to convince friends & family that read this to come visit me. Excited? I am! 

Local Spotlight: Cederberg Tea House 

As some of you may know, Josh and I enjoy a good cup of tea. Remember my Tale of Teas, or Tea for Two posts? Well, if you didn't know, you know now: Josh and I like tea. Oh sure, you think because we are in Seattle we should only like coffee. Well, phooey!! You know we do like other beverages besides coffee. Tea being one of the top! In fact, I liked tea before I liked coffee (insert gasp!). 

Let's take a moment down memory lane, shall we? I'll always remember when I realized I liked tea. It's actually the perfect tea-spirational story. I was in London visiting my sister, and we stopped for an afternoon tea. We didn't stop because we were trying to be all British and have a "spot of tea," but because it was cold, dreary, and we were tired. I ordered tea since that seemed like the right thing to do. Then, I noticed my sister adding milk and sugar to her tea. I shrugged to myself and followed suit. Boy was I glad I did that! I finally discovered the trick to making that tea "oh so good" (in my humble opinion). 

Anyway, tea is good. I like tea. You get the idea. Now to Cederberg...

The other day, when I was looking through my blog reader, I came across an article on Serious Eats about a new tea shop in town - right in my very own neighborhood, Queen Anne. Tea, you say? In Queen Anne? I must read on! My interest was sparked even further when I learned it was South African. Say what? Tea from South Africa? This crazy cool. I need to try this place pronto. (Not to mention, the lack of tea shops near home ever since our dear Tea Cup left town...that definitely upped the ante).

After reading a bit more, I learned it was roobios tea. I had chai roobios before, and really liked it. But Cederberg does something very unique - shots of roobios. Yes, you heard me...shots of roobios. Apparently they grind the roobios so that it's super fine, then they pull a shot through an espresso machine just like you would a coffee espresso shot. 

Extremely curious, I sent the article to Josh with the intent of taking us there over the weekend. And that's exactly what we did.

When we walked in, we were greeted with friendly welcomes. It was a warm day, so we both opted to try something iced. Natasha, who we learned was one of the owners (alongside her mother, Cecile), kindly walked us through our options. Of course we got the roobios. I ordered an iced roobios latte, while Josh picked the Rooios Fresh (roobios shot + apple juice). 

Roobios Fresh (left) and Roobios Latte (right), and Malva Pudding (underneath).

After picking our beverages, we decided we should fill our bellies with something sweet. I was thrilled to hear South Africans have a sweet tooth (if you know me, you'll know that I have a big sweet tooth, so big as to say I have sweet teeth even). But looking in the case, there we so many decisions! And I didn't know a single one of them (ok, except maybe the tart), but Natasha patiently explained each one to us. We ended up with the malva pudding.

Pastry Case at Cederberg

So this malva pudding, it looks like just a plain old loaf cake. But wait until you taste it. It's magical. Suddenly your taste buds are melting in pleasure. After Josh took a bite, he looked at me with his eyes wide open and pointing at the cake. Being that l've known him for 10 years, I knew this was the "This is so good, I can't wait to finish my bite to tell you" signal. I agreed; this cake was mighty fine. (Note: Malva pudding is int he bottom left of the pastry case photo).

As we finished up, Natasha came out and asked how we were doing. The answer: super, great, & awesome!  

One trip wasn't enough for us, though. We returned for breakfast the next weekend. This time, I tried out the hot roobios latte. Josh got the same. Another winner! They are so cute when you dine in. They bring your tea on a little tray. Isn't that nice? Along with a little cookie - yum! 

I love the look of the teas with the layers. (Josh wants you to know that the sausage roll is also quite delicious.) The roobios tea is hard to describe. It reminds me of a Thai Iced Tea in a way, but the taste is obviously somewhat different. It's sweet, but not crazy sweet (they do add honey & cinnamon, mind you), somewhat earthy, but totally smooth. Not sure if that does it justice, so why don't you just try it?

Breakfast at Cederberg

Roobios Latte

Did I mention yet how nice they are? Oh? I did, did I? Well, they are! Look at their smiling faces (below). Oh, and here's a peek inside. (Sorry for the blurry pictures, I forgot my camera and just had a iPhone). Oh yea, they are indeed both from South Africa, so you can't get any more authentic. Okay, maybe you can...the ground roobios tea is from Cederberg, the region in South Africa where the roobios tea is grown.

Cecile (left) and Natasha (right)

A look inside Cederberg

You know when you hear of something, how it then just starts coming up? That's what happened here. After our first visit, Josh came across an article. Then I saw more articles. So popular, check them out in the news:

• Seattle Coffee Works: A Tea Lover in a Coffee World
• Serious Eats: First Look Cederberg
• Seattleite: In the Know: Cederberg Tea House Brings a Taste of South Africa to Queen Anne
• Daily Candy: We're All Steamed Up Over the Cederberg

Something Fishy

Something is fishy, something is very fishy... 

That something fishy would be the Ballard Seafood Fest. Surprise! It's supposed to be fishy; it's a seafood fest. The very name has fish in it

That's where we spent our Saturday afternoon this weekend with my friend Beth. We all went together last year, too, but oddly enough we didn't do anything seafood related. In fact, the post was called Fried Goodness because Josh got a fried Twinkie. (Side note: did you know Twinkies are back?). This year we went with the purpose in partaking in the festival's name: seafood fest.

Our first seafood experience was to eat it. Beth and I got halibut tacos, while Josh got oyster sliders. We all gave it two thumbs up...or would this we six thumbs up? 

After lunch, we went to the lutefisk eating contest. Maybe not such a great idea after eating, but it all ended up okay.  

Okay, lutfisk. Now this is interesting. I know about it from my Swedish heritage. I'm 25% Swedish - on my mom's side, and more specially my grandmother. I grew up hearing the tales of lutfisk (I guess Swedish spell it without the "e"). My mom always brings up her Uncle George and how grandma would make it at Christmas for him. Uncle George apparently liked to let it slither down his throat. Ick! Let me tell you, it doesn't sound pleasant to let something "slither down your throat," does it? Lutefisk is basically a white fish that's dried, and then reconstituted in lye. I'm sure you're springing off your chair to go try some. ; ) 

Anyway, we decided to watch a lutefisk eating contest at the Seafood fest. There were three rounds where each contestant was given a portion of lutefisk. The person that ate it the fastest, wins. I know you're dying to see the video, so I capture it for you (this was the final round)..

I knew you'd enjoy that video. The grey haired guy won. He engulfed that fish. I think the trick was to not breath in the lutefisk fumes and just open your throat, and let it slither down. Hee hee. 

The rest is less exciting. We roamed around the booths, which had all sorts of goodies. Basically more like a regular festival or fair. But we got our fish experience, and now I feel complete with my Seafood Fest experience.  

On an ending note, here's a close up look at lutefisk along with the O'Lutefisk Christmas song we listened to when I was growing up - enjoy!

Lutefisk, want a taste? 

Into the Wild

Elf, Bison, and Bears! Oh my!  

That's right, Josh and I had a wildlife encounter the other weekend (yes, I'm a bit behind on my posts - deal with it). There is a wildlife park (or is it a wilderness preserve?) about an hour and half away from Seattle called Northwest Trek. We decided to leave the urban life behind for the day, and get up close to nature and animals. 

I think the best way to describe this place is to say it's like the Pacific Northwest's answer to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego.

Wait. Whoa whoa whoa. Time out people. This is serious. The Wild Animal Park is now called the Safari Park? What? I was just about to hyperlink that for you, and found this out. My childhood. My memories crushed. How could they? Why would they? They should have called me first before making such big decisions. Tear. Okay, back to the post...

It's like the Pacific Northwest's answer to Safari Park (just doesn't feel the same). If you don't know what that is, then I just don't know what to say to you. Oh alright, for your sake, I'll give is a whirl. It's basically animals in a huge enclosure where animals roam freely. Then they put people in a tram and bring you though for a look at animals in their natural habitat. 

Josh enjoying a sammie

Now, the Northwest Trek doesn't have quite the diversity of animals as the Wild Animal Park (I'm sticking to it), but you do get to see some pretty cool animals.

Before Josh and I went into the wild, we had a nice picnic lunch. We picked up sandwiches in Columbia City on our way down to the park . I got my sandwich from the Columbia City Bakery, and Josh got his at the Jus Bar. I thought mine was better, and he thought his was better. That's how we are. 

We took the 2pm tram and Sadie was our guide. The tram was a bus (I tell you this because I had envisioned a train type of tram). Josh and I were second in line, so we got prime seats in the first car on the left (note: if you go, sit on the left, better viewing on the ride). The tram ride was an hour long, and I never once got bored.  

The tram doesn't just go around the perimeter, but takes you though the enclosure. At one point, the Roosevelt Elf were right next to the tram, and crossing the road in front of the tram. I could have reached out and petted the darn thing. I decided not to since Sadie said not to, and I didn't watch to get a elk bite. But, it was pretty cool. 

When you go on tram rides such as this, rarely do you get to see all the animals in the enclosure. Uh hello, they are supposed to be in their natural habitat, so it should somewhat be like real life, right? I don't see you walking by a bison everyday...

Well, lucky us, we got to see every animal on the tram ride. That means we saw: Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Blacktailed Deer, Mountain Goats, Moose, Roosevelt Elk, Woodland Caribou, and Trumpeter Swans. Bam! All the animals. 

After the tram ride, there were still plenty of animals to check out on the walking tour. Although we had luck with the tram ride, we must have caught animal nap time. We didn't get to see the cougar, lynx, or wolves. Although, we did see the beaver & otter swimming, the porcupine & badger sitting, some owls perching, and the wolverine & fisher sleeping (we saw some others sleeping & sitting animals, too). 

All in all, a fun day, in nice weather, looking at cute (and sometimes interesting) animals. Can't beat that! To round out a great day, Ion the way home, I got a taste of a new frozen yogurt shop, Black Bear. It was like froyo Pacific NW style (in that the decor had a wooden bear, antler chandelier, etc) . Oh, I loved it. Yum! And Josh was happy with a Sonic limeade. 

Then, on the way home, we stopped for a sunny view of Mount Rainier at Clear Lake. That was that.

Rewind to the Fourth

Obviously since I blogged early on the actual Fourth of July, I didn't get to tell you anything about my day. Obviously. No, that doesn't mean that what I shared that day wasn't important (and if you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? READ IT). But I know what you really wanted was to hear about me. I mean, isn't that what everyone wants? To know what I'm up to? (Hmm maybe that's just me that thinks that....) Well, you're wish is my command.

Josh and I didn't do all that much in the beginning of the day. We were invited to our friends house for dinner and fireworks, so I decided to bring dessert. As you know from Baker's Corner, I love to bake and I seize any opportunity to try out a new recipe. However, I'm going to save the details for my next Baker's Corner post (oh, the suspense!). I will tell you what I made, though, and that's a peach galette. 

Our friends, Tricia, Torrey, and Kaia, invited us for dinner. Actually, they invited us to a BBQ to be more precise, which is a very important detail since this is a Fourth of July post, and what's Fourth of July without a BBQ really. I'll tell you...just a plain old BBQ. So we enjoyed some burgers, hot dogs, and sausages. Oh, and corn on the cob, broccoli salad, and baked beans. Can't get any more American than that! Nom nom nom. 

Then there was dessert. Tricia made a very cute, and patriotic flag cake with the most delectable frosting (I like that word, delectable). How to describe it...hmm....oh, I got it, like marshmallows & buttercream frosting's baby! HA! On top of that, we had the peach galette. Needless to say, we were not lacking in the sugar arena (no complaints here says my sweet tooth).

After food came fireworks. As you can see, we had some of our own to play with (thanks Tricia & Torrey). Kaia, however, did not like the loud cracks from the fireworks. She was too cute covering her ears! But the big show came later at 10:20pm. Yes, it stays light out late up at this latitude! I tried to take some fabulous pictures, but it just didn't work out. The best I got was with my phone, believe it or not. I know someday I'll be able to capture those fireworks for you like a pro. But this time, I just sat back and enjoyed them.

And that there was a true blue Fourth of July holiday. I even work red, white, and blue. Go America! 

America the Brave

I'm feeling extra patriotic this year. I think this is due to a direct correlation to the amount of U.S. History I've been reading and watching lately. This sprung up a few months ago after I finished reading my third-something World World novel. I realized I'm always reading about the history of other countries, but I never really read much of things closer to home. This moved me to start reading about my country. 

Motivated by my new mission, I started asking for recommendations on Civil War books. My family, being history buffs, had a bunch of recommendations. I landed with Confederates in the Attic because both my mom and a co-worker mentioned it. So that's where I started.

If you don't know anything about this book, let me lend some insight. The author, Tony Horwitz, is a war correspondent who is back living at home in Virginia. He wakes up one morning to find a reenactment happening in his backyard. 

This triggers his boyhood passion about the Civil War, and he embarks on a trip throughout the South. He visits battle sites, participates in reenactments, and makes conversations with all sorts of folks on his way. The funniest part is when he goes on a Civil wargasm -- Tony and a diehard enactor follow the war in a week dressed the part.

While reading,  Josh and I started watching the Ken Burn's series The Civil War.  This series is jammed packed with facts and stories. Although, I have to admit, it's pretty slow. And they do play a lot of images with music and quotes. Not quite action-packed, but interesting nonetheless.

Oh, and we also watch Lincoln recently, too. I thought the movie was very good, but should have been called the Thirteenth Amendment instead. Daniel Day-Lewis does a great job, too. As a kid Lincoln was my favorite president. I don't think much has changed. 

Side Note: Doesn't that man look angry on the cover? Geez. 

About a week or two ago, Josh and I finished Mad Men, and were in a TV dry-spell. Did I ever tell you we don't have cable? Well, now you know.

Josh mentioned John Adams, and after watching a preview, I was onboard with the idea. We watched the first episode on Sunday. I was hooked.

Wow, I never KNEW all this about John Adams. What an amazing man. And I'm learning so much. I can't believe how much I have not retained from my education. It's sad. Luckily, I have great parents that took me to historical places on trips, so I remember more from those experiences than anything. But, still, I have a lot to re-learn! 

I keep thinking about how brave our founding fathers must have been. Think about it - Britain versus the 13 colonies. Holy cr*p. That's like a chihuahua going up to a great dane (or Josh's analogy - David & Goliath). It's like rebelling against your parents. They protected and financed you, but they punished you as well (ha!). It must have taken a lot of guts to declare our independence. 

I really thought that there was just a bunch of patriotic guys running around deciding to go to war. But in reality, they tried to be peaceful and the decision weighed heavily on them. It also makes me realize how glad I am that I live in present time - can you imagine!?

Anyway, I won't go on much more about it. I love how when I watch or read history it inspires me to go online and learn more. It's like a learning domino effect. You should try it! 

So, as I said before, I'm feeling very patriotic. The lengths our ancestors went through to give us the country we live in today. I'm so proud of our country and what we have built. 

God bless America! And Happy 4th of July! 

Goodbye Reader

Warning! Google Reader is going away. Why Google why? So if you follow a bunch of blogs on Google reader, be sure to get a new system rolling. But fear not, there are a bunch of options out there. I've already started using FeedBin, which is not free but not expensive either. So far, so good. But if you'd rather try something else out, here's some options:

• Blog Lovin
• Newsblur
• Digg
• Feedly 

I'm also using Readkit along with my FeedBin. This way I don't have to use a webpage, but can have an app to read my blogs on my desktop. Then for my iPad, I'm considering getting Mr. Reader. FeedBin should be getting it's own for both eventually, but it's still being developed.

I can't vouch for the above, except for Feedly which I used briefly a few months ago for work - pretty good. But I'm preferring FeedBin so far. Good luck, and let me know what you find works for best you! Whatever you choice, be sure to add my blog back to whatever reader you choose (wink wink) . 

Or, if you don't have a reader yet, and you follow blogs, you should get with the times my friend. And I think you'll appreciate the convenience of them. 

P.S. The cute picture was on a Feedly email I received the other day. I thought I should give them credit. 

Summer Jamming

I think it's here.

By golly, I think it's here.

That's right, SUMMER.

And I'm really to roll down my windows, put on my sunglasses, and start to jam to some hit summer songs. Yeehaa!

Let me share some of my latest jams with you. I know you want to hear since everyone knows my taste is music is spot on. Eh hem, except for that phase I went through in my younger years l when I listened to Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys...ummm yea, that happened. But I've grown in my music tastes, and I think you'll like my Summer Jams. 

Let's do this! 

Imagine Dragon - It rarely happens that I like every song on an album, so this is pretty big folks. Big. I'm having a hard time telling you my favorite songs. It started with Radioactive (which I heard on the radio, which prompted me to buy the album). Then On Top of the World, and Demons. Or maybe It's Time. You get it; this is a awesome album.

OneRepublic - Again, this caught my attention with a song on the radio, Feel Again. But when I checked it out on iTunes, I thought I might like the whole album. I am very selective when I buy songs. Sure, it's only $0.99 or $1.29 a song, but it generally takes me a few days to decide if I should buy or not. Silly me! Anyway, I took a dive and bought the whole album. And I'm enjoying it, especially Counting Stars and If I Lose Myself.

Alt-J - You probably have heard Breezeblocks on the radio. First, I liked the song, then I thought it was okay, and now I like it again. It's definitely a different sound. Josh bought the album this time. I really enjoy this one while I'm working since it's so chill. And my favorite song is Taro. 

What do you think the album cover is? It looks like the inside of an eye to me. That's weird. 

Daft Punk - I haven't bought this album, but I still might. I actually need to go preview all the songs. But I like the one song so much I thought I'd share it with you, and I did buy this one song off the album. It's Get Lucky. 

Mackelmore - Seattle in the house!!!! Guess what, this is a Seattle band. I probably should buy the latest album, Heist. I did buy the song Can't Hold Us. I'm grooving to it in my car (nah nah nah nah). You might have also heard of Thrift Shop or Same Love. Pretty catchy.

Put down that sunroof, and get jammin' (or groovin' if that's how you roll).  

Annual Celebration of ME

Tuesday was the annual celebration of ME - also known as my birthday. I can't believe it's already June this year - where is the time going? Ugh! So now I officially can't say I'm borderline 30; I'm now truly in my 30's. Sigh. Oh well, let's go 31!  

Some people try to hide from their birthdays, but I'm completely opposite. I fully embrace my birthday. I raise my arms up, and say "It's my birthday - yay!" There is nothing you can do about getting older, so you might as well take the day that's all about you. Heck, take the whole week and make it about you. (I swear, I'm not conceited). 

I would like to say I have a list of things to share with you on my 31 years of wisdom. But, eh, that takes too long. Instead, read Joy the Baker's list. I think it about covers it. (Note: I don't actually know Joy the Baker. However, I feel we have a connection with my middle name being Joy, and we both like to bake). 

Okay, back to my birthday celebration. Sadly, it fell on a Tuesday which means it was a work day. I would be silly to take the day off. What would I do, just hang around the house while Josh and friends work? Nah. So off to work I went.  

My work gift was that my laptop decided to poop out on me (meaning it didn't want to turn on; basically died). So while I waited for the IT guy, I got myself a birthday latte. Once I got a loaner laptop, it was basically a normal work day. Except for the fact that I got a card with all my co-workers notes, and better yet, beautiful flowers from my in-laws (they're the best in-laws a girl could ask for). I mean, look at the flowers....gorgeous! And they smell just as good. 

Birthday Girl & Dessert

Work Birthday Surprises

The real celebration came after work. Josh came out to Capitol Hill (where my office is), and we headed to a birthday celebration dinner at Poppy.  This was our first time at this restaurant, but it got rave reviews. I was a bit dubious since I didn't know all of the foods and flavors, but I decided to be daring. 

We sat out in the herb garden patio - yes, it was sunny. I brought the sun for my birthday this year. Woot woot! Anyway, back to the restaurant. It serves Pacific Northwest food in a “thali” style - a platter with a bunch of small dishes.  I got the braised chicken with leeks, caraway and morels. Josh got the alaskan octopus, merguez sausage and  fava beans. And each came with a bunch of small sides - just check out the menu. Oh, and we got an extra dish (just the dish, not the whole thali), yarmuth goat cheese ravioli because I couldn't decide. Oh my gosh, this stuff is delicious.

Oh wait, back track, we began with a starter, which I think might have been my favorite: eggplant fries with sea salt & honey. I know what you're thinking, "oh, eh, eggplant." But let me tell you, when eggplant is done right, it's soooo good. And these were excellent with the honey and salt. Ahhhh, I want them NOW.

But dessert might have been the best. Too. much. good. food. Dessert was a sage custard with goat cheese ice cream, port cherries, and cookie crumbles. I even ate the flower (on the waiter's recommendation), and that was surprisingly good, too! 

Don't forget the cocktails. Those were good as well. I won't go on about those since I imagine you're tried of my describing my food (and I bet getting jealous). 

Birthday Dinner at Poppy

And that was my birthday day. I'm sure we'll do some more fun things this weekend! After all, it's my birthday week...

Baker's Corner

Oh boy, oh boy! Have I got some goodies to share with you. A LOT of goodies, actually. Since I haven't written a Baker's Corner post in a while, I've got a pile of recipes and photos to share. Time to get excited...it's baking time!

First, take a look at these treats: 

Drooling? I am. ;) Now, let me tell you about these treats. Starting with the top left...

1. Whole Wheat Banana Spice Muffins. If you know anything about me, know this....I love muffins. It's my favorite breakfast. I especially like them with crumble or glaze toppings. It's *almost* eating a cupcake for breakfast - how naughty?! But I also like to balance naughty with nice, and in this case, that's where the whole wheat comes in. But seriously, the glaze is what makes these muffins. Do NOT attempt to make these without the glaze. The glaze is heavenly. Enough said.

2. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. These cookies were a hit. I brought half to work, and half to my church group. Both groups loved them. I mean it's peanut butter and chocolate, the perfect match. Then pair that with milk....wow. You know, I learned to dip my cookies into milk from my husband, Josh. I remember dipping Pepperidge Farm chessmen cookies in milk as a kid, but that's it (not sure why those specific cookies either). Anyway, Josh introduced me to the concept of dipping every cookie in milk, and I think he's on to something. So this is what you do: (1) heat the cookie, (2) pour yourself some milk, (3) dip cookie into milk, and (4) eat it. Milk & Cookies - it does a body good.

3. Lemon Lavender Macarons. I'm going to be completely honest & up front with you. These macarons failed. I was devastated. Oh sure, the picture looks good, but those were like the only pieces that didn't crack. My baker's guess is that I over beat the egg whites. I saw it coming too when I was mixing it together - too many air bubbles. That that be a lesson for you; learn from my mistakes. The good news, however, is they still tasted awesome. I used this recipe, but added a teaspoon of lavender extract to the "cookie" and lemon extract and lemon peel in the cream (used the vanilla buttercream recipe). When making the buttercream, and it looks grainy, just keep whipping. It comes together at the end. Trust me. These are quite the effort, so make sure you give yourself time and don't rush it. The end.

4. Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake with Strawberries. When I walk into the grocery store, and I see the glistening strawberries on display, I'm done for - I. Must. Buy. I just picture sweet, juicy strawberries on top of buttery pound cake and topped with creamy whipped cream. When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to make it. And I was not disappointed. If you're looking for a pound cake, try this one. It's lighter and the hint of lemon makes this cake sing. 

5. Meyer Lemon - Brown Butter Cookies. These were so, so good; like taking a bite of sunshine. Browning the butter is totally worth it. I feel like I've told you this before, but whatever, I'll repeat it: brown butter is the bomb. It just adds a little something to your baked goods. Here's a tutorial on how to do it. Then add meyer lemon, and this is just the perfect spring/summer treat.

6. Peach Cherry Galette. I'm going to admit something...pies intimidate me. Yes they do! I've made a few of them pretty successfully, but it's a goal of mine to make more. (Gosh, my list of things I want to make just grows and grows). Are you intimidated, too? If so, I think a galette (aka crostata) is a like a beginners pie. Give this a whirl. When I shared this picture with my mom, she thought I bought the galette. So be like me, and look professional, and make this thing. Oh, and I just used 3 peaches and about 1/2 cup pitted & halved cherries (original recipe is just peach). Tip! Put the peach in boiling water for about 45 seconds to make it super easy to peel. Go for it!

I'm pinning sweet treats daily, so feel free to follow me on Pinterest. 

Check out my other Baker's Corner posts for other inspirations.  

Back Looking at Glass

We were back looking at glass. And why not? We enjoyed our visit to Chihuly Glass Exhibit earlier in the year (see post). This time we looked at glass at the Museam of Glass in Tacoma. We went down there on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend. Forget Sunday laundry and groeries, it's a 3-day weekend...be crazy. We're rebels like that.

So we headed to Tacoma for the afternoon. Want to hear something else crazy? Josh and I have not been to Tacoma yet. We've lived in Seattle for just about three years now, and have only driven through Tacoma. Sorry Tacoma, but you have an aroma (I kid, I kid). Oh, wait, I lied. I was there before we lived here. I stopped with my mom for dinner as we took at break from traffic to go look at apartments in Seattle. But still, not a real visit.

Sorry, I went on a tangent there - back to our recent visit. We started our visit to Tacoma with lunch at the Art House Cafe. Or should I say brunch (oh yea, it's Sunday). It was a cute, artsy restaurant (ha, Art House is artsy; had to). I enjoyed pumpkin panckes (yes, pumpkin in May, totally acceptable) and orange creamsiscle tea. {Time out} The tea. Now, that was something different, yet tasty. I discovered it was from the Mad Hat Tea in Tacoma. But, sadly, it was closed (oh Sundays).

Lastly, before heading to the museum, the drug store next to the resturant caught our eye. It was very retro-cool. I snapped a shot for you to enjoy. However, it was closed (oh come on Sunday, catch us a break).

Cool Tacoma Drug Store

Museum of Glass

Now onto the Museam of Glass, the main reason for our visit. Unlike Chihuly in Seattle, this museam was a collection of different glass artists. I do not know why, but the Pacific Northwest is a pretty big center for glass making. There is even a school in the area, Pilchuck Glass School. This museam features 92 works, which were all pretty amazing. And for reasons unknown to me, there is a big link to Austrialia. So the Pacific NW and Austrialians know their glass. This article talks more about it.

The coolest part, however, was the Hot Shop where they blow glass live for visitors. We watched as they created cool glass creations. For a kid, one of the guys made a little horse figurine in under five minutes - get outta here.

Another cool part was the Bridge of Glass. It was basically an exhibit on the bridge outide the museum with cubbies of glass creations. The setup was snazzy. Oh, and I bet the fountain out front is awesome at night.

Bridge of Glass

Outside the Museum of Glass

The last thing I want to share about the museum is the structure of the museum itself. It's shaped like a big cone. When you're watching the glass live in the Hot Shop, you look up through the top of the structure. I think it's supposed to be shaped like a kiln. Either way, another very cool thing about this museum. {Side Note} How many times have I said cool in this post? Quite a few...it's a good word. Cool.

Museum of Glass

I do have to say, though, having to decide between Chihuly Exhibit or Museum of Glass better, I'd say Chihuly. But, this was a very neat museum and a fun Sunday afternoon.

And Tacoma was nice, too. And thanks Memorial Day for giving us Monday off so we could enjoy Sunday sans-chores.

Prost! Cheers! Slainte! Živjeli!

Okay, I admit it: I like foofy drinks. Beer, yuck. Wine, meh. Cockails, oh yeah!

​Josh and I have been pub crawling around Seattle. Okay, pub crawling might be an exaggeration. Now in days we really only make it to one bar on a given evening; maybe two if we're feeling crazy. So, this list was a long time coming. But, let me tell you, it's a good list. A very good list indeed.

I decided to write about my favorite bars when I discovered a drink that I really enjoyed one night at Re:public - it was the Corpse Reviver #2. Finally, a drink that wasn't a lemon drop or a cosmo. This is a drink that's more hip and sophisticated (not to say lemon drops or cosmos are bad, they are perfectly good girly drinks, too). but Corpose Reviver just seemed less girly, and had more umph. A serious cocktail, if you will. 

At first, I was just going to get Corpse Revivers at every bar, until Josh convinced me that I might find another drink while I'm at it. 

Please keep in mind that this is mainly a list for places was great cocktails; not necessarily a place with a huge wine or beer selection. Here goes nothing...

​Voltare at Leary Traveler

​Maylie at Oliver's Twist

The Leary Traveler (Ballard) not only has good cocktails, but it is a place for beer lovers, too. The drink pictures is the Voltare, which was the drink special for the day. Honestly, I don't remember everything in it. However,  recall it definitely had mint. The important part was that it was oh-so-tasty. But my favorite thing about this place is the yam fries. Died and gone to heaven yam fries. A cocktail with yam fries...classy.

The cocktail on the right is from Oliver's Twist (Phinney Ridge). I think this place has the best cocktail list - big selection! So big that there are several drinks that I like on it. The one I've featured here is the Maylie - vodka, lemon, pear nectar, absinthe, and rosemary. Besides the selection, the other great thing about this place is that happy hour goes until 7pm. Can't beat that!

​Ruby Slipper at The Gerald

Tasty Drink at ​Tavern Law

When I'm at The Gerald (Ballard), I feel like I could be Don Draper, and the Seattle Met feels the same - read on. However, I don't think Don Draper would choose the same drink as me. I went with the Ruby Slipper. I was unsure about this one with since it had  pink peppercorns, but the bartender said if I liked Corpse Revivers, I would like this...and I certainly did. Another plus is that this place is also a great dining option.

One of the more popular bars for a cocktail in Capital Hill is the Tavern Law. We got there before the major crowds, so it's hard to know if you'll always be able to find a seat. The cocktail list here is quite extensive - as in pages of drinks. I actually don't remember the drink I had. I thought they would have the menu online, but they don't. If they had, I would be able to tell you since it had many ingredients that I enjoy. Nonetheless, you'll be sure find something you like here. 

​Corpse Reviver #2 at Re:public

​Corpse Reviver #2 at Essex

Okay, so Re:public (South Lake Union), was where I discovered the Corpse Reviver #2. I'm hesitant to say, but darn it, I will. I think they have the best Corpse Reviver #2. Hands down. Not to mention the delicious cherry at the bottom. Yum! I also enjoy the chicken dish they serve - it has spätzle (shout out to my German friends).

Now Essex (Ballard) is just a great bar. First off, their wallpaper is fantastic. It has whales on it. You heard me, whales. Their website has the whales on it, if you're curious. Oh come on, I know you're curious - check it out. There drinks are great, it's a fun place, and better yet....the pizza next door is the best. 

​Corn n' Oil at The Innkeeper

​Limoncello Cocktail at Cornuto

We went to the Innkeeper (Belltown) for dinner one Friday afternoon since we wanted to unwind from a long week with a beverage. I tried something totally wild (for me) called Corn n' Oil. Since it has blackstrap rum and something called falernum which separate from each other to give a layered look. It was very refreshing on that rainy day. ;)

​I wouldn't necessarily called Cornuto (Phinney Ridge) a bar, but more of a pizzeria with some good drinks. When I saw it had limoncello, I had to get it. Limoncello just draws up great memories of traveling to Sorrento in Italy...ohh Italy... This was like a done up lemon drop. 

​Wandering Monk at Revel

​This drink, the Wandering Monk, at Revel (Fremont) was super good. Actually, I guess I should say it's from Quoin, which is the restaurant's bar next door. However, I drank it at Revel while eating a delicious dinner. Seriously, delicious dinner. Anyway, back to the drink. It was like a mojito, but with a twist. I believe their drink list changes seasonally, so if this looks appealing you better get going. 

Well, this does it for my drink tour with you. This doesn't mean I'm done exploring, though. The next up will probably be the Sitting Room , and/or the Clever Bottle.

Also, not featured, but still top notch: Zig Zag Cafe and Local 360.​

So....chug chug chug.​ Oh, eh hem, what was I thinking; I mean  cheers my friends! Or, Prost! Cheers! Slainte! Živjeli!

Work, Learn, Play

​Well, I'm pooped. I'm so glad it's a three day weekend. This was a long week, and I was super-duper busy (yes, super duper). My company puts on an annual conference called Interact, so this year it was Responsys Interact 2013 (bet you couldn't have guessed that one). And guess who was selected to head to San Francisco to participate...me!  

I packed my bags, and business casual clothes, and headed down to San Francisco on Tuesday morning. The conference was at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, which also happened to be where I was going to stay the night. So needless to say, I only saw the light of day once (for dinner just around the corner at Bluestem) between Tuesday and Thursday night. ​In fact, I didn't once step outside on Wednesday. Now that I think about it, that's sad. But that just goes to show how busy I was that week. I bounced between attending presentations, doing actual work, and talking with clients or co-workers.

​Responsys Interact 2013 Signage

​Interact

​Although I was busy, I'm glad I went. Not to toot my company's own horn, but we really pulled off quite a professional and well-run conference. We had some great speakers, shared some important industry trends and best practices, and had fun. 

There were some great speakers at the conference. The first being Burt Jacobs, the co-founder of Life is Good. His message was: Optimism Can Take You Anywhere. His positive attitude, and free spirit, was very inspiring. I also enjoyed learning about the company, and the positive impact is has on community.

Another inspiration was Captain “Sully” Sullenberger's speech, Inspiration in the Face of a Crisis. Yes, that's right, we had Captain Sully at our conference. I was shocked and amazed at his story of landing the plane, flight 1549, on the frigid Hudson River. At the end, the last passenger to get off the plane stood up and also spoke. Simply incredible. I get goosebumps thinking about it. He left us all with a important message about passion for your work, trust, and commit to always reaching for the highest standards. 

Another fun thing about the conference was the concert on Wednesday night. Honestly, at first I was ​unimpressed with who they decided to play. Who is this Michael Franti guy? Eh, a one hit wonder...but he turned out great. He came out on the floor with everyone and danced with us, and really got us jumping, dancing, and putting our hands in the air. You probably know him from the song, Say Hey (I Love You).

Check out all of us dancing and singing along with Michael Franti in my iPhone video to the right.  >>​

Another cool thing, was the guy that was drawing caricatures of folks at the reception - check mine out, or his blog.

After all this learning and entertainment, I was bushed. I returned home late on Thursday night. But I'm very glad I got to attend this awesome event. ​Go Responsys!

Goodbye Home

I say this way too often, but it's true: time flies. At the end of each month, I'm always surprised that we're headed into the next month. I act as though I'm totally taken by surprise..."Whoa, it's May...wait, what? No way!" I really ought to get over it and accept the time moves fast. And I've noticed things change with time. Speaking of which, my family just had a big change. My parents moved from my childhood home. 

​This is where I lived since I was eight years old. Or at least, I think I was about eight. When you're young, you don't really file away what age you were when things happened. Actually, I still have a hard time remembering what age I was in certain events of my life. Is that weird? I feel like my parents always remember..."well we moved to San Diego when we were X years old." Guess I have a age memory deficiency. But I digress...the important part was that I've lived in this house a very long time. ​

See...Look...Isn't it a great home?​

​My Childhood Home

The good news is, I got to say goodbye. So...remember when I wrote about the MS Walk a few weeks ago? That was when I was home for the weekend (shush, I know, it's taken me this long to write this post). Before I left that weekend, I went into each room and said "goodbye room." (yes, nerdy, I did it though...for reals)

​A look inside my childhood home

I think the move was harder on my parents than it was for me. They lived there much longer. I left for college, and have moved every few years. But, they remained there. What was nice, though, was that whenever I returned, it was always the same home sweet home. 

My parents didn't move far. In fact, only about a mile away. The big move was over this past weekend, and they are starting to settle into their new home. If you're lucky, when I go visit the new place, I'll write you another post and share some photos.

And to end on a cheesy note...home is where the heart is. Goodbye childhood home! ​

Oh wait, one last thing (thinking of childhood)...look at all those My Little Ponies we found while packing! Dang! Okay, that's a wrap...

​Look at all those My Little Ponies!

East Olympic Getaway

​Last weekend Josh and I took a much needed getaway to the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. We started Saturday and went to Sequim to Port Ludlow to Port Townsend and back - see our route. 

For starters, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The skies were clear, the sun was out, and we were enjoying it all. Saturday we were joined by our friends Aaron and Liddy. We caravanned ​out to Sequim and enjoyed some time on the Edmonds ferry planning what exactly we were going to do in Sequim (yes, it was that last-minute). We were debating snow shoeing one last time in the Olympics, or going hiking. Hiking won, and we headed to the Dungeness Spit trail.

Let me tell you...this hike was a TEASE. A serious tease. By the end, I was literally mad (okay, "mad" is a bit of an exaggeration; I did have a good time). But the whole time I felt we must have gotten closer to the lighthouse. But no. The lighthouse remained this tiny spot in the distance. However, before you start the trek, you lookout to the lighthouse and think, "oh, we can totally get there, no problem." That's a tease.

You might be confused because I haven't explained this trail, yet. So, the Dungeness Spit ​is a five mile, narrow stretch of land that had a lighthouse at the very end. Here's the website, check it out. It's very pleasant on a nice day - the ocean, the mountains, a lighthouse. I wouldn't want to get stuck on it with a high tide, though - yikes! 

​Dungeness Spit Lighthouse...Easy?

Hiking Dungeness Spit

Although all my whining about not getting to the lighthouse, I still enjoyed myself. Next time, though, we WILL get there. We'll just have to leave earlier, and maybe bring a picnic (wouldn't that be nice). Even better...I'll start a business where I can taxi people to and from the lighthouse on a boat. I will let people walk one way, and then I can bring them back. Too bad it's a wildlife refuge - that spoils my new business venture. Dang it! 

​I took a bunch of pictures, but I don't want to bore you with them all on this blog. Plus I have more to tell you about regarding our weekend. So check out a few of my photos - such as the interesting logs on the split, Aaron's balanced rock tower (talent, huh?), Liddy on a log (ha!), the never-ending spit, oh and so many more (see weekend album).

After our Spit trek, we ​all headed our own ways. Aaron and Liddy headed home to Seattle, and Josh and I headed to Port Ludlow were we were staying the night. Port Ludlow was such a charming place. It's pretty secluded, but so beautiful. It didn't hurt that when we arrived, the evening sun was shining down on the resort, the marina was glowing, and a warm breeze was blowing. After our Seattle winter, this could have been mistaken as heaven. I mean look at this place - gorgeous! 

​Port Ludlow Resort

We got a bang up deal on the night at the Port Ludlow Resort. Our room was facing the marina, a jacuzzi tub, a comfy king bed, and on top of that we had $50 credit to the Fireside restaurant included in our package. That night, we sat out on the patio overlooking the marina eating a delicious meal. 

There isn't a whole lot near the resort, but if you're looking for a relaxing stay with beauty all around, this is it. When I was sleeping in Sunday morning, Josh took a walk and saw a bald eagle (I'm jealous). Speaking of Sunday, we started it off with breakfast on the patio, then we headed out to part 2 of our weekend getaway.​

Sunday we headed out to the Finnriver Farm for some cider tasting. ​Now, I don't like beer, but cider can sometimes be acceptable. Josh is on a mission to get me to like at least cider (since beer seems out of the question. What can I say, I'm a cocktail girl). Finnriver Ciders are pretty dry for my taste (there is a reason I like to bake sweets - SWEET!), but the farm/cidery was fun to visit. We did a cider tasting, which was quite lovely on the farm.

They had us taste most of their cider products alongside a plate of cheese. My favorite was the Spirited Apple Wine (wait, that's not cider!). ​I also liked the berry cordials that they poured over fromage blanc. 

​Finnriver Cider Tasting

We hit up another cidery after Finnriver called Eaglemont. ​They seemed to have more selection than just cider, but meads and wines. They had a few ciders that were slightly sweeter (yay!). And their ginger cider made it into Sunset magazine, too. Check out what we tasted: Homestead cider, Ginger cider, Quince mead, Apple dessert wine, and Malbec port (my favorite there).

To wrap up the weekend, we visited Port Townsend for lunch. I was impressed with the cuteness of this town. I always love brick buildings with old paintings (this is sorta hipster of me, I know). 

​Port Townsend Buildings

We ate lunch at a tasty placed called Fountain Cafe.​ Then we walked around town a bit - looked out at the port, the mountains, and ended it all with a nice iced tea at Pippa's Tea. That was it - we had to head home to do laundry, groceries, and the usual Sunday-before-work chores. Sigh. But it was a great weekend getaway. Yay for fun weekends!

​Port Townsend

​Looking out from Port Townsend

Walking with Legos

It really worked out for me to make it down to Encinitas last weekend. I had a client meeting in Irvine on Tuesday, so I just left early and got to spend the weekend with my parents and sister. As luck has it, it was the weekend of the MS Walk. This couldn't have made my parents any happier.

If you didn't know, my mom has MS (Muliple Sclerosis). We found out about it about ten years ago after my mom felt numbness and tingling in her legs. One memory sticks in my mind of us taking walks after dinner as a family, and her talking about this feeling in her legs. Interesting the things you remember. She described it as if your socks were lose and scrunching down, but they were actually perfectly fine.

Well, after lots of doctors visits, it was determined she had MS. ​But my mom is a fighter, and has a strong spirit and soul. She really is a trooper. And in recent years, she has been tackling the MS Walk. This was the first year that I got to join, and I'm so glad I did. 

​Yay Team O'Neill

The MS Walk was at Legoland on Sunday morning. {By morning, I mean early morning - way too freakishly early for me on a Sunday. Be there at 7:15am...gross.} Everyone met up in the Legoland parking lot. We had so many supporters for my mom. My dad's company, Vanorsdale, even sponsored it. Friends, old co-workers from my mom's teaching days, and Vanorsdale co-workers all showed up. There were about 25 of us in total, and all of for Team Purple Moo-vers and wearing our purple cow t-shirts.

Speaking of the t-shirts, my mom was very proud of these. She designed them. She submitted it to Custom Ink to run for best t-shirt - vote for it! The purple cow idea came from a conference my dad attended where the purple cow was a way to show that you need to stand out from the crowd. 

The walk was a big success. We got to walk around Legoland for 1.5 miles, and see the lego structures and whatnot (sadly, we weren't allowed on the rides, though). As we walked volunteers cheered us onward - mostly with moo's because of our shirts. ​We made it to the finish, and celebrated. 

What a great day (oh, did I mention the fabulous weather?) with friends and family supporting the MS cause! Go team Purple Moo-vers.​

​MS Walk Legoland