Get Your Spook On

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Someone at my office said, "I'm going to spook on you." So, of course, in total office professionalism, we decided to go around and say this to one another. This was the inspiration behind, "Get your spook on."

To be totally honest, I don't love with scary movies. Surprised? I know, I know, I seem the type. But let me tell you, when my friend asked me to watch The Ring with her in college, I thought it would be a romantic comedy about marriage. WRONG. Or the other time when my co-workers / neighbors invited me over to watch Silent Hill. I thought it was after a video game (which it is), but what horrible video games are they playing? Gah! Where's Mario?

Needless to say, I prefer comedic scary movies or ones that are more psychological thriller than horror. So in honor of Halloween I thought I'd share some of my choice "scary" movies. 

The Sixth Sense: I will always remember my reaction at the end of the movie - shock. I can't say more since maybe you haven't seen it. Wait...did you just say you didn't see it? Heavens! Please watch this now. So anyway, this one runs more on the psychological thriller side of the spectrum. For me, some parts were scary, but it wasn't like blood and gore scary. I think you can handle it.

Ghostbusters: Okay, circle of trust, when I was little this scared the gaw-jee-bees outta me (time out: Josh says gaw-jee-bees is not a word... uhh, whatever). Then we saw this last weekend at Central Cinema and I realized it's actually a comedy. Bill Murray and marshmallows...well, you can't go wrong. 

Interview with the Vampire: I had a nightmare after watching this - so vivid, so real. In the dream, I said I didn't believe in vampires, but then one came floating outside my bedroom window to prove me wrong. Yikes! But this is one of my favorite scary movies. The history and characters really intrigue me. A good vampire flick and one without teenage angst. 

Shutter Island: Here is another one that's a thriller, but more of an atmospheric thriller. It takes place on an island and there are insane people...I'm not going to say more. Believe me, you'll enjoy it and it's higher on the scary meter for me.

Practical Magic: This has Halloween movie written all over it. It's a good mix of fun and scary with witches, curses, and true love. Not to mention Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. I honestly haven't seen it in a long time, but I'm tempted to rent it. 

The Others: I think this is one that Josh and I will watch this year. In fact, Josh owns it, and I swear I haven't seen it yet. I'll report back, but I'm pretty sure it'll be great to cozy up on the couch with candles (and most probably rain outside).

What Lies Beneath: This is a great thriller. It's not necessarily scary, but it'll certainly startle or surprise you. Isn't always the more realistic movies that are scarier? Oh, the suspense! And look at the movie cover, the hand...oh my! And who doesn't like Harrison Ford movies? 

Lady in White: This used to be THE scary movie the O'Neill family watched. It would freak me out as a kid. I went a number of years without watching it, and then one Halloween Josh and I watched it together. Well, sadly it's seeing it's age in some of the scenes (can we say greenscreen). In result, it's a bit cheesy, but I still like it. 

Hocus Pocus: Moral of this story: don't steal witches brooms. This is definitely more slap sticky and more child friendly. It's goofy and funny and all that warm fuzzy stuff. Silly witches. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Bahahaha! This is a movie Lindsay and I used to watch together. It cracks me up. And I love her name is Buffy. This is not the same of the tv series - so much "better." All the classic vampire stuff with wood stakes and whole shabang. This is just ridiculously hilarious. 

So I ask you this.....Do you like scary movies?

Have a Spook-takulor Halloween! 

Weekend Visitors

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Back in September, my in-laws visited for the weekend. It was an awesome weekend and ended with a beautiful sunset. We had a great time sharing Seattle and the surrounding areas with them. 

For starters, we took them over to West Seattle's Alki Beach. There was a blustery wind, but the sun was shining. We enjoyed a walk on the beach, breathing in the salty air. Nada, my mother in-law, loved Alki - it reminded her of Surfside where she grew up. 

Then we enjoyed lunch at Luna Park. We all split an Oreo shake (yes that was one shake split between the four of us). It was quite delicious. Fun fact: Cookies 'n Cream is my favorite ice cream. 

We also got to celebrate Nada's birthday with family friends Vince and Jonita. I picked out the restaurant, Tanglewood Supreme, which was a big hit. It's a hidden, little bistro in Magnolia. Oh yea, and then we enjoyed decant molten chocolate cakes at Hot Cakes later in the evening. BAM, that's how you celebrate.

Sunday we went northward and hit up Edmonds and then over to Snohomish. We ended the day with dinner on the patio of Little Water Cantina watching planes land on South Lake Union. BAM, that's how you have an awesome weekend with your in-laws. 

Josh's Birthday Treats

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Josh turned another year older last Sunday. The years just keep rolling by...it's scary...can we make it slow down? Just a bit? Oh the bright side, I love that birthday mean celebrations, and in our case, the chance to try another Seattle restaurant on our "to try" list. There are so many we want to go to, but they tend to be out of the everyday dinner price range. 

For this particular celebration we headed over to Stika and Spruce. Oh man, good idea. Even with a week in a half early on calling for reservations, I was only able to snag a 5pm reservation for the two of us. Come on, Josh isn't turning that old. But it worked since we needed to meet up at 7:45pm for dessert to celebrate another friend's birthday. So 5pm it is! 

But first, before dinner we sat down for a cocktail at Bar Ferdinand. Okay, yes, we were early. But it turned out to be quite enjoyable. I order a martinez, which was quite delightful. But then dinner called...

Our Order: Sourdough bread // Delicata Squash, pumpkin seeds, haloumi, whey, argan // roasted beets & apples, sunflower seeds tartar & flora's curd // half chicken, baked ham, peregion beans, einkorn & asian pear // buckwheat crunch ice cream.

Our Favorite was the delicata squash, but it was all delicious. (I forgot to take some of the photos before we started to dig in). 

We enjoyed ourselves very much, and left with full bellies. Josh also liked opening his gifts. I bought him some over-the-ear headphones so he can rock around the house. That made him pretty happy, too.

After dinner, we headed over to our friends house for a surprise dessert party for Torrey's 40th birthday. I had made some pumpkin bars (sorry, highly secret recipe). 

And our birthday food adventures didn't stop there. Oh no sir ye, we continued with breakfast the next morning (before I had to fly to Irvine for work). One of Josh's favorites is Hudson - it's where a bar meets comfort food. 

The birthday weekend with fully bellies and smiling faces.

Happy Birthday Josh!

Random Acts of the Month: September

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Oh me, oh my, I almost forgot to do my Random Acts of September. I remembered last night in the shower. Does that happen to you? Remembering things at the worst times like in the shower or right before you fall asleep. I usually end up repeating the thing I want to remember in my head over and over in hopes the next day it will re-surface from the depths of my mind. 

Anyhhooo, back to September. I can't believe how fast it went. I love the fall and I hate when my favorite months go by so fast. Fall is just too great - the best flavors (uh, hello pumpkin), awesome smells (fireplaces, cool air, pumpkin), and beautiful colors (leaves). Love it. 

At the beginning of the month, Josh and I visited my parents. {post}

While visiting my parents, we made a stop in La Jolla. It was just a beautiful day.

And I enjoyed the sunshine, which according to a stranger in Seattle stopped to tell me I needed to get more of (oh yes, that happened). 

My mom, sister, and I discovered a dog park near my parents new home.

Of course we stopped in downtown Encinitas (to get some breakfast at Honeys). FYI -This was a photo I took and then used the Waterlouge app to make it a water color.

Oh darn, another beautiful Seattle sunset. It was fun watching the sea planes take off into the sunset. 

My in-laws came to visit - yay! We ate lunch at Luna Park in West Seattle and enjoyed some delicious shakes.

My coworker got married and Josh and I got to join in on the special day. It was very pretty along a lake and in a barn (well, sorta a barn...very hard to describe actually. Trust me, it was nice).

My friend Sweta and I took a Macaron Macaroon class together. Yup, I've taken a class before but that was like 2 years ago. And this was with a new gal. I learned some new skillz. 

Hard to believe, but Josh and I have been married now for 3 years. Josh sent me these very beautiful flowers for our anniversary. Awww. {post}

We exchanged love notes for our anniversary, too. 

And little did the barista know it was our anniversary weekend, but he gave us his and her coffee (clever guy since he didn't know our names). 

And September welcomes the beginning of PUMPKIN season. We all rejoice! 

And there you have it. That was September. The end.

Some Cali Time & Parental Digs

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In September, Josh and I headed to SoCal to visit my parents. The visit was to see my parents and sister, but also to check our their new home in San Marcos. Last year my parents rented as they transitioned from my childhood home to a smaller, no-kids-at-home home. It was nice to finally see their new home. Silly me forgot to take photos, but I can try to paint a quick picture: it's a great one story home with a pleasant atrium and a nice location near a golf course. Most importantly, they seem happy. 

Funny, most of the interior was familiar. The furniture, decorations, and photos were all the same - just in different arrangements. It was that aspect that made me feel at home. Not to mention, home is where my family is (bleh, corny...but true). Like these photos on the wall, they used to be on the stairs at my childhood home.

We had a pretty chill time, which was great. Saturday we found a great dog park called Buena Visita Park, for my mom to take Keely, their golden retriever. Here's a selfie from our walk:

We had a lovely family dinner at Bleu Boheme in an area called Kensington. This is my parent's current favorite restaurant. It was really quite good. I still remember my flakey and delicious fish. We enjoyed our time together on the patio the most...

We also convinced the waitress to take our family picture. What a beautiful family! Striking I must say.

Sunday we venture out to La Jolla and enjoyed a beautiful day with the sunshine and ocean. Of course, we ate breakfast at The Cottage. 

La Jolla is such a beautiful place. It's not wonder the rich and famous chose to live there. We soaked in the sun while meandering along the water. We even spied some seals hanging out on the rocks. 

See what I mean? Beautiful. 

And then we had to fly home and back to reality. But I'm glad I got to see my parent's new digs and enjoy some Cali time with the fam. 

3 Blissful Years

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Monday marked our three year anniversary.* Boy, does time fly! To think three years ago I was on my honeymoon (oh man, what I wouldn't give to be there right now!). Our three years has been great and we're still as much in love as we were on our wedding day (and I would venture to say even more). 

*We have been together since 2003. So actually...it's been more like 11 years.

Here's a few shots of our past three years together since everyone loves a picture.

2 years. {post}

1 year. {post}

The Beginning. {post}

And for our anniversary, Josh had some beautiful flowers delivered to me at work. We also celebrated with a delicious dinner at Stoneburner. Three cheers for three years!

Summer's End Sunset

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They are saying that this weekend was the last hurrah of summer (boo). But if there was a way to end it, it would be with tonight's fabulous sunset sitting next to ones you love.

To set the scene: My in-laws were in town this weekend and we had a great time wandering Seattle & the surrounding areas (more on that later). Sunday night, to wrap up an already great weekend, we had dinner at Little Water Cantina. This is one of my favorite summer restaurants because it has a great patio on Lake Union....and it didn't disappoint today. We watched a fabulous sunset as we enjoyed each other's company, a cocktail, and delicious tacos. Can't beat that. 

And here's another. I couldn't stop taking photos!

We also saw the sea planes taking off and landing. Too cool for school.

Oh and here's us. I tried with two waiters to get us with the sunset...no luck. I desperately wanted to be a control freak and tell them exactly where to stand, how to angle the camera, etc. I thought they might spit in my food, so I ended up letting it go (queue the song).

Great end to the weekend. Thanks sunset. And goodbye summer.

Smart Dogs in Action

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Let me tell you dogs can be pretty dang smart. With just a whistle and a command, a dog can run 40 yards (come on, that's far! without glasses, I bet you have to squint) to where a small herd of sheep graze. Then this dog rounds up the sheep, brings them back down the field, circles through gates, and ends with the sheep inside a pin. Gosh, I don't even think I could manage herding sheep with such skill. These dogs just amaze me. And every year the world can see them in action at the Vashon Sheepdog Classic.

This was our second year in a row going to the sheepdog trials, and we were equally impressed. I convinced my co-worker & friend, Shweta, to join us as well. Look at those smiles. 

This year it was in August instead of late September, so we were pretty warm sitting on in the sun. But we still enjoyed walking the dogs do their thing. I caught this border collie on video for you. if you listen, you can hear the handler's whistles. Go dog go! 

You got to hand it to them, they are pretty smart. Mostly it's Border Collies and Australian Shepards out there herding. And no surprise, they are on almost any smartest dogs list you can find (like this one). 

It makes for a great day. Plus you get to take a ferry. Who doesn't like the ferry? It's Seattle, you gotta take a ferry. The way to Vashon it was sunny and blue, and on the ride back we saw a gorgeous sunset. I don't think you can end your day any better. 

13 Years Ago ... Remember 9/11

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It's hard to believe that it's been 13 years since 9/11. I was a sophomore at Santa Clara and was already at school (yearbook geek). My dad called, waking me up from my slumber, and told me "our nation was under attack." I still get chills thinking about it. 

On the busy to work today, I was scrolling through Facebook and a friend shared this photo journal from Flickr (see below). It gave me goosebumps as I scrolled through the photos and read the captions. It brought that horrendous day to live all over again. I'm sharing it now because I think this is something we need to remember. 

My heart goes out to all that were affected - to all the mom, dads, sisters, brothers, friends, and family. We will not forget. God Bless America!

Random Acts of the Month: August

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Okay, I admit it. I'm a wannabe photographer (or, let's say aspiring photographer...I like the sounds of that much better). As I've been learning, I've been told that you need to take a lot of photos to get a few goods ones. That means I whip out my camera everywhere. I'm pretty certain that this annoys the heck out of Josh. In fact, I have photos of him sticking out his tongue or frowning. But I caught him the other day looking through all my Instagrams and enjoying the memories. 

The point in telling you all this is: I have a lot of photos. And I sometimes one photo doesn't justify an entire post. That's why I'm doing these random acts of the month...because I want to share all my random photos. 

Here's my randomness for August! 

We tried a new Mexican restaurant for lunch called TNT Taqueria. And we discovered the most delicious churros. Horchata and churros on a hot August day was heavenly. 

One weekend we found ourselves in Pioneer Square around lunch time. As we figured out where to eat, I saw this "Just be your Selfie" sign. Now that definitely called for a selfie.

On that same outing, we found our lunch place, The London Plane. I fell in love with the atmosphere of this restaurant. I was wondering around as we waited for a table, and turned and smiled at myself. (Note: This restaurant was recently a nominee in Bon Appetit for American's best restaurant in 2014).

Outside of The London Plane (yes, I was picture crazy that day) was a cute, little dahlia cart. Adorbs.

Okay, last one from that afternoon (gosh, maybe this did have enough for it's own post...oh well). This was a shot as we walked in the alley. Pioneer Square has the coolest architecture!

My office participated in the Wayzgoose event again this year. We got runner up with this awesome print. But I already told you all about this awesomeness. 

We went to the Seattle Street Food Festival with our friends Aaron & Liddy. Food trucks are the hip thing now. We're so cutting edge!

We randomly stopped at Kerry Park, and it just so happened to be the day before the super moon. I didn't have my camera, but my iPhone did a pretty good job. Check out some of these super moon photos in Seattle...super moon is super cool. 

We stopped for lunch in Fremont and came across this awesome graffiti. I was feeling pretty hipster with my hat and all the graffiti. 

We meandanered over the water to Kirkland to check out Lady Yum since I go gaga over macarons. The flavors were awesome. Besides the below, here's another photo (via Instagram) with me be artsy-fartsy.

My office went out to a Sounders Game. We're such cool Katz. Read more about it.

We went out again to Vashon to see the sheepdog trials. Remember it from last year? I'll share more about this outing later. Smart dogs rule!

This was a wonderful Friday treat at the office...Yellow Leaf Cupcakes. And look at that fab view from my desk.

Look at this catch? Isn't he so handsome? I enjoyed some tapas and wine with this fine fellow at Bottle House.

Roar! Or maybe it's a meow? But meow doesn't sound so fierce. We caught a glimpse of this leopard at Point Defiance Zoo. But I'll tell you more about this day later.

And I'll end with another gorgeous Seattle sunset.

Goodbye August!

Local Spotlight: Best Pizza Places

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Happy Labor Day weekend! I hope you're out doing something totally awesome. Josh and I are having a lovely, lazy Saturday morning (with a drizzle outside). It feels awesome (even though the weather doesn't feel totally Labor Day-ish).

When I think of Labor Day food, I usually picture hamburgers & hotdogs. Bad news for you: I didn't go eat at hamburger joints and take pictures (please note: I did eat at hamburger joints, though). BUT, I did eat at pizza joints and took pictures. Pizza is in the same food family as hamburgers, right? That's a rhetorical question. Don't answer it.

That was my entirely-too-long lead in to tell you how this is list of my favorite pizza places in Seattle. Since my opinion is everything, that means this is the list of best pizza places in Seattle. You're welcome. Here we go (not in any particular order):

The Masonry

Josh and I stumbled upon the Masonry quite unexpectedly. We had just been to an event (honestly, I can't remember what event. I think maybe the winter Urban Craft Uprising). We were hungry and didn't know where we wanted to eat in Lower Queen Anne. We decided to just walk around and see what we could see...and we saw the Masonry. It was it's fourth day being open, so it was brand spanking new. We sat at the window and enjoyed a squash pizza with a spiced ricotta with a scrumptiously chewy crust. I fell in love.......with the pizza (people, duh, I'm already in love with Josh). I was thrilled to see it was featured in Sunset magazine last month. Just remember, Josh and I found it first. 

Delancey (and Essex)

This is a well-known pizzeria here, and has a rep for being one of the best already (even New York Times noticed it). So this isn't anything new. However, I'm here to tell you all the hype about it is valid. I like this pizza so much that it's where I had my birthday meal this year (it was a mid-week birthday, wahhh). They usually have seasonal toppings on the chalkboard, which you can add-on. The crust is thin, but not crunchy; a lovely chew that doesn't destroy your jaw. I love the white pie (minus garlic) with kale (when it's on the chalkboard). Yum. Better yet, Essex is next door (same owners). When you wait for your table at Delancey, just have a cocktail. Good things come in twos, eh? 

Pagliacci

This is our pizza delivery go-to, and it's delicious. It's no Round Table, or Papa Johns delivery. It belongs up in the big pizza leagues with the others on this list. It has great flavors options, and great crust, too. It's not really the wood-fired, thin crust neapolitan pizzas, but more traditional pizza with a thicker crust (but not crazy thick). I enjoy the Chicken & Spinach pie and add ricotta. The have stores all around the great Seattle area, hence why the delivery is so great. 

Veraci

You'll usually find Veraci at most of the farmer's markets here in Seattle. They bring a wood-fired oven with them and cook up pizza for all the farmer's market goers. You can purchase a whole pie, or just a slice (or two). It's very thin and sometimes has a bit of a crispiness around the edges. I love their florentine pizza Again, with ricotta (but it comes with it). I love ricotta on my pizza. If you haven't tried it, please do. Anyway, I like this for a on-the-go / quick bite since they are at the markets or have their small store-front in Ballard. (Sorry, just have this one photo).

Cornuto

Have you watched Gordon Ramsey's show Kitchen Nightmares? This restaurant was NOT on it. But when Gordon was running an episode at a nearby Greek restaurant, he apparently ate at Cornuto. According to the waitress, he said this pizza was true, Italian style and delicious. I don't think this waitress was lying; the pizza is great. And the ambiance is dark and romantic. It's a cozy place in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. Josh and I usually split a pizza and get a salad. We tend to vary it up, but the margherita is to die for. However, the gnocchi is also melt-in-your-mouth good. We haven't gone yet, but I hear the happy hour is great.

Via Tribunali

Via Trib and Cornuto are sister restaurants, so it's no surprise that we like them both. The menus are somewhat similar, but each does have something different to offer. This is also a cozy restaurant and it's just up on top of Queen Anne, but there are a few more locations around town. We love to get the Via Tribunali Specialita della Casa, which is more of a calzone pizza. Perfectly chewy, fresh and delicious toppings. It's one of those pizza where the first few slices are so hot and fresh that you usually need to fold the slice sandwich style to get it into your mouth. (Sorry, it was dark when we ate there so the pictures weren't great).

Serious Pie

If you're a foodie, then you know Tom Douglas is the chef de la chefs of Seattle (along side Ethan Stowell and Matt Dillon). Serious Pie is Douglas' answer to pizza pie and it's pretty dang good. I really enjoy the pie with yukon gold potatoes - simply delicious. There are two locations, and both mostly downtown. I prefer the Westlake restaurant, which is also a biscuit place in the mornings (Serious Biscuit). You really can't go wrong here.

Kylie's Chicago Pizza

If you know me, you know my extended family lives in Chicago (or nearby). My parents were born and raised Chicagoans. They love Lou Malnati's and Ginos East, and I was raised up eating this upside down, deep dish pizza (we'd visit Chicago most summers). If you haven't had Chicago deep dish, then let me tell you something....it's filling and delicious. It's pizza you need to eat with a fork and knife, and a slice or two will do you (oh, sure you can eat more but  you'll feel that food baby later). So, we aren't in Chicago (obviously), but let Kylie's transport you. Note: Patxis just opened in Ballard and is also a good Chicago style pizza (we first tried this in the Bay Area). 

Tutta Bella

This was the first pizza we tried in Seattle. Our good family friends, Vince and Jonita, brought us along with Josh's parents. We haven't been to it in a while because we usually end up at one of the above places, but this is solid, wood-fired pizza. It's good for kids, too. Plus some great salads. It definitely deserves a place on this list of bests. This is my parent's favorite Seattle pizza, too. (Sorry, no pictures).

That's it. There are still many places to explore and test out. In fact, here's a place I'd like try: Mio Posto. And/or eat through this list. Hungry now? Go get pizza.

PIZZA PIZZA. EAT IT. (and enjoy).

Work Break: Sounders

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Last Wednesday, a large group of my co-workers took a break from work. No we didn't play hooky and skip the workday - are you kidding? There is too much work to be done for that (oh sorry, the program manager part of me just spoke up)! But it was great to hang out with my awesome co-workers outside of the work place. 

For our big outing, we went to see the Pride of the Pacific Northwest...the Sounders. We took up a good chuck of a section - maybe 6 rows, or so. As you can see, we are a pretty rambunctious group - like Rick doing the moose ears back there. 

My immediate team, which I've decided to call "Cool Catz" (oh! maybe we should have that with a "K" instead! Now, that's what I'm talking about... "Cool Katz" - I like it!), was all there as well. We're pretty kool!

Side Note: I have no idea, seriously NO IDEA, who that crazy girl is that photo bombed our Cool Katz selfie. Crazy!  

We had a great time - even better that we weren't at work. And even better than all that...the treats! We got them from Diane's Delights booth. (Remember her? She showed me how to make cake pops).

Do you like my photo series? This is how it goes. Josh was scared, Josh took a bite, Josh loved it.  Heather got a macaron, Heather went in for mega bite,  Heather chomped it. 

That's really it. There is only so much to tell you about a work outing. Oh wait...there was soccer game. Riigggghhhttt. Too many selfies and treats distracting us. Well, the Sounders tied. We should have won, but at least we didn't lose. I stilled loved how the crowd gets into the spirit with the coordinating clapping and the cheering ("Seattle...Sounders" Or "Fight and Win"), streams, and fireworks. I went into a lot more detail on my first Sounder game post. 

Good team. Good soccer. Good treats. Well, just a good evening! 

Way to Go...Wayzgoose

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You might remember Wayzgooze from last year? Maybe not. It's not like I expect you to follow my life or anything. Or wait a minute, you do...if you read my blog that is. So you really should remember. And if you don't, then maybe you need to start reading this blog more. I mean come on people, my life rocks. At least, that's what I lead you to believe (insert Heather's evil laugh). 

Seriously now. Last Friday was the annual Wayzgooze event. This is the second year my company has entered, but this year as Oracle. It's a ton of fun, and it's so awesome to see my creative peeps at work. This year we had even more of a turn out (probably since word got out about how fun it is). Not to mention our print rocked.

This year the event was at the South Lake Union Block Party, so there were many more folks around. I wasn't sure how it'd go being at the block party, but the printing was off to the side in the parking lot and it actually turned out great (although a bit hot). 

Time out: Are you sitting there scratching your head about what the heck Wayzgoose is? Okay, I'll pause and explain. Basically, there are teams (from a company or group) and there is a theme (this year it was South Lake Union). Each team designs a poster then transfers that design onto a sheet of linoleum, crave it out, and at the end you have a huge stamp. At the event, you roll paint onto the stamp, place poster paper on top, and then a steamroller runs over it (instead of a printing press).

Let me share some photos! Here's the carving in action in the office.

And here's us painting and carefully placing the poster down and then off.

The steamroller, of course...it's cool. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo, I only took my cell phone with me).

Our beautiful poster. I was amazed at the details our team was able to pull off. We got honorable mention - basically second place. We really should have gotten first place. Not that I'm biased, but it's true! 

Here is the winner (the red one on the far right) and the other honorable mentions. They were good, I guess. Yea, okay, they were good.

The winner poster is a unicorn and was created by TenGun. The horn is the Space Needle. It says SLU (South Lake Union, or Seattle Loves Unicorns). Cute. The Otter was created by DrawSeattle (I believe). Lastly, the Octopus was created by Starbucks Creative. 

I must admit, all the posters were pretty fantastic. 

What a great event?! Our team was happy with our second year winning a trophy. Go Oracle! Yay team! Look at us...such winners.

Are you dying for more photos? Well, my co-worker, Henry, took some great shoots. I don't think he'd mind if you had a look. 

Be on the lookout for Wayzgoose again next year! I'm pretty sure we'll be in first place - third time is a charm, right? 

Summer Vacay: Utah

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At long last I'm writing about our Utah trip. I know, I know, it took me for-ev-er. But really it was only a month ago. Since returning, I had the conference and a LOT of work. Plus, I wanted to get my millions of photos cleaned up and posted. But now I'm here and ready to share.

No, I'm not Mormon. This tends to be the first question people ask (or think to themselves, at least) when I say I went to Utah. Yes, we went to Utah and no not I'm not Mormon. We chose Utah because my in-laws invited us and a good friend of theirs had lent them a great condo (Mont Cervin) in Deer Valley. Lucky us - we basically got a free place to stay, and it was killer to boot. 

I don't want to bore you with every last detail. Oh, and you know I would. Ask Josh how I detail out every thing in my day when he asks the innocent, simple question: "How was you day?" So I'm going to do my best to cover just the highlights. 

Salt Lake City 

We weren't in SLC very long--most of our time was in Deer Valley just near Park City. But we flew in/out of SLC. Our first day, we did a little touring of the city. As you probably guessed, the main attraction is the Mormon Temple. Man, it's a huge and impressive temple. It just towered into the sky. 

Flight into SLC & Mormon Temple

Fourth of July

Our first, full day on the trip was the Fourth of July. We headed down to Park City for a true blue American parade. I hadn't been to a parade since I was a little girl. It was fun to see the USA spirit and celebrate our great country. 

In the evening, we went to the Deer Valley Music Festival and saw the Texas Tenors. We had a nice picnic on the lawn and listened to them sing American, country, and other fun songs. At the end, they advertised their Valentine's Day cruise...umm, no. But it was a fun evening. 

4th of July - Parade & Texas Tenors

Heber Raft 'n Rail

This was one of my favorite days. We went on the Heber Raft 'n Rail adventure. We took a classic steam locomotive, the Heber Creeper, down Provo Canyon. Then we hopped into a raft and went down the Provo River. It was Class I rapids, so let's just call it like it is...floating. Our guide, Jessie, let me guide the raft for a few minutes. Check me out rowing (in slow motion) - look at that determination, look at that strength. 

Herber Raft 'n Rail Adventures

Sy's Ranch & Fishing

Sy Kimball is the good, family friend of the Brown's that lent us the most awesome condo for the week. He also has a ranch nearby. Josh and Don enjoyed a father-son morning fishing on the Ranch. We also visited the ranch and meet the horses. Sy's ranch encompassed all the Utah beauty - sky, mountain, lakes, horses...just beautiful. 

Kimball Ranch

Culinary Adventures

One evening, Josh and I headed to the Riverhorse on Main in downtown Park City to enjoy a fancy date night meal together. The food was delicious. I had Utah Red Trout and Josh had a Trio of Wild Game (buffalo, elk, and venison). It was deeelicious.

We also enjoyed a breakfast at one of Park City's coffee shops, Publik. We enjoyed their coffee, of course, but also some speciality toast. Did you know toast is a thing these days?

And we got several shakes - delicious ice cream shakes that were perfect for the hot Utah days. My favorite was the Banana Cream Pie shake from Hi-Mountain in Kamas. But the Oreo shake from Granny's was pretty dang good, too.

Culinary Adventures

Kamas & Oakley

One afternoon we just drove around the countryside. We ventured out to visit Kamas and Oakley. They are the quintessential small towns with diners and random shops. We just enjoyed the drive around and soaked in the beauty of the area. And just so you're clear, no Oakley isn't the hometown of the Oakley sunglasses. It is the home of the Oakley Rodeo, though.

Kamas & Oakley

Sundance & Provo

You know the Sundance Film Festival, right? Well, Sundance is in Utah. We had a lovely lunch on the patio there and then took the ski lift up to the top. We got some great views of the area and had fun on the lift.

We also explored Provo, home of Brigham Young University. I'm pretty sure it was like 10 degrees hotter in Provo. Luckily, we went to Swig for their quirky sodas and famous sugar cookies (if you're on Pinterest, you know what I'm talking about). 

Sundance, BYU, and Swig Cookie

Utah Olympic Park

You may remember that the 2002 Winter Olympics took place in SLC/Park City. Well, there is now the Utah Olympic Park which is a training center for budding Olympians, but also had fun activities for regular folks like us. Josh and I opted to go on the Alpine Slide. We also enjoyed watching the ski jumpers practice. Yes, ski jumping in the summer - you jump into a pool instead. Watch this awesome video I took of someone jumping - pretty dang amazing. Next time, I'll grab a ride on the bobsled. 

Utah Olympic Park

Relaxing & Beauty

Utah is a very pretty state. The flowers, mountains, and water are so serene. As you can tell, we did a lot and had a lot of fun. However, we did get opportunities to just relax, read, work on puzzles. 

Utah Beauty & Relaxation

See All The Photos

People. Photos take forever to touch up and post. It took me all month to get it done. Appreciate! All the beautiful photos are on my Summer 2014 album - scroll down past NYC photos and you'll find them. 

Yay Summer vacation! I wish I were back in Utah right now.

Random Acts of the Month: July

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July actually didn't seem to fly by like some recent months. I think back to the beginning of the month when I was on vacation, and it seems forever ago. But gosh, I then think about how we're already into August, and then it seems went way too fast. So I can only conclude that the month when by fast-slow. 

July started with vacation (yea yea yea, I still need to post about that). I don't want to show you a ton of vacation photos here because that would then just make this my vacation post. But this leaves me having to chose favorites, which I have a very hard time doing. I'm not a great decision maker - see above paragraph where I couldn't decide fast vs. slow. Or ask Josh...decisions for where to go to dinner last way to long (actually, don't ask Josh and let's just forget about this whole thing - nervous giggle).

Vacation was in Deer Valley, UT (right next door to Park City) and we joined my parent-in-laws. We spent some good times outdoors and also just relaxed a bunch. One of our outdoor activities was rafting/floating down the Provo River.

We also got these unbelievably good shakes at some random diner called Hi-Mountain in Kamas, UT. My mouth waters just thinking about the Banana Cream Pie shake. Dying. 

Utah is simple beautiful. We went out to Sundance (as in the film festival) and took the ski lift up for some great view. I snapped this shot while on the lift up the mountain. 

We went out to Sy's Ranch (Sy is a friend of the Browns) and meet some Utah animals.  This horse just got a kick out of my jokes. 

This is me before the Heber Train ride. Yippee! As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

The week after our Utah trip, I went down to San Fran for the Interact conference. The flight in to SF was quite beautiful (psst, here's my post about it)

Not to brag, but John Legend was one of the keynote speakers. You know the guy that sings this song. And yes, he sang All of Me plus some other hits. 

There was also the B-52s rocking out to Rock Lobster and Love Shack for the conference's evening entertainment. 

Generally at conferences / work travel, I rarely see any of the city. But I did get to see the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge since our client dinner was at The Slanted Door. Love how they added the lights to the Bay Bridge. 

I also got to see our good friends before heading back home. Miss these faces... 

Saturday morning we got brunch at Portage Bay Cafe with good family friends of the Browns, Vince and Jonita. I got to me Julie and Marshall. Apparently Julie used to babysit Josh - awww.

The last weekend of July, thanks to slightly lower temperatures and not being away, I finally got into the kitchen. Sometimes a nice blueberry galette is all you need to settle down.

I also got the "You Did It' cone award at work. Apparently, my co-workers think I did it. Let's do a little celebratory dance and sing, "Go Heather, go Heather, go go go Heather!"

Then because it was such a fast-slow month, I got a cocktail (ok, that's most weekends but this one was especially good and got a photo). We tried a new restaurant called Bell + Whete. I loved the seating which was inside, but huge windows so I felt outside - perfect for a Seattle Summer evening. 

Did I say Seattle Summers? Oh yeaaaaa. They are the BEST. We get some awesome sunsets to boot. This photo barely captures the colors and beauty. 

The very last day of July, we hit up the Queen Anne Farmer's Market. I only took one photo, and it was of my dinner which was some good Tandoozy Indian street food. Eaten by me on the grass on a lovely, warm summer evening. 

Work Life: Interact 2014

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Every year my company puts on a marketing conference called Interact. You may remember me going last year. It's a super, awesome event that's totally cool and all about marketing. This year was a bit different, though. This year was the first year not as Responsys, but as Oracle Marketing Cloud. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised to find that it was still awesomely cool. 

How can a marketing conference be cool, you might ask? Well, for starters, John Legend was a keynote speaker. You know, the guy that sings the hit song, All of Me. 

Or, the B-52s. Yes, they are the ones that sing Love Shack, Rock Lobster, and Roam. 

Besides the good music, we had some good speakers. Our very own strategist gave a presentation (bad photo on my part, but I didn't want to be that person taking a photo during a serious presentation) alongside our client, Verizon.

Another presentation I enjoyed was Jonathan Perelman, VP & GM of Video, BuzzFeed. He showed some funny videos, and some more serious ones like The Time You Have (In Jelly Beans). He also discussed engaging and shareable content. 

We also spent some quality time with clients. We went out a delicious dinner at The Slanted Door -- see that table in the photo below, well it fit roughly 40 people. We also struck some poses together in the the photo booth at the B-52s concert. 

And for just a few minutes, I got to wander out and visit beautiful San Francisco. I enjoyed coffee from Blue Bottle, got a glimpse of the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge at night, and stayed near Union Square. Not too shabby. 

And after a long week, before I headed home, I got to see our good friends for dinner. Miss these guys! 

Then I few home sweet home. A long, productive, successful week at work. 

#interact2014 #responsyslife #longweek

#tbt - Thursday, 7/24

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I've been horrible at writing lately...sorry! I have plenty to tell you and I'll get to it soon, I swear. To tie you over until then, I thought I'd do another Throwback Thursday. Who doesn't like a photo? I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one. Like...the longer, blond hair. Most of my friends in Seattle would hardly recognize me. 

This gem is from our November 2005 UK trip. We were visiting Cambridge University. Aww good memories. 

Check out my last TBT post. 

While on Vacation #2

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Today is my last day of vacation. I've been moping all day. Vacation is over. Said goodbye to my in-laws. Going back to real life. Sad face. 

We flew home early afternoon, so we have just finished unpacking and getting a few groceries to tie us over until the weekend. Now, I'm downloading my 200+ photos and reminiscing. Once I my photos in order, and I have some free time, I'll share more about this wonderful vacation with you. Until then, I thought I'd continue to share the daily collages. 

Day 6: We drove through Kamas and Oakley - great countryside and small towns. We saw a great wagon to photograph, the Rodeo sign telling us to hurry back, and got the best shakes (mine was Banana Cream Pie...drool). Then we went to the Utah Olympic Park where we saw summer ski jumpers, and we took the Alpine slide down the mountain. 

Day 7: We started the day with coffee and toast at Publik. Then we visited friends Diane and Don who have a neighbor who makes dog collars - we saw her in action. Next we had lunch and took the ski lift at Sundance. We drove out to BYU and toured the campus, with a pitstop at Swig (with their infamous sugar cookie on Pinterest). We topped the day off with dinner and drinks at Burgers & Bourbon and seeing gorgeous clouds in the sunset. 

Day 8: Today, DOM (day of moping). No collages as there was nothing to share really. Just getting back to normal, every-day life. 

More to come later, but I hope you enjoyed this preview. 

While on Vacation

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Guess who's on vacation?!  -->>This girl<<--

Oh yea, I'm currently sitting in a gorgeous condo in Deer Valley, Utah (just a few miles from Park City). Josh and I joined my awesome in-laws for a nice week long vacay. If you've been following me on Facebook, you'll know all about it. I've been posting a collage per day telling you all about what I'm up to. I thought I'd give you all the same preview of my vacation, and share the first five days of my vacation. 

Day 1: This was mostly our travel day SEA > SLC. We flew over Mt Saint Helens (luckily it didn't erupt) and saw the Great Salt Lake from up high. We spent the late afternoon checking out the Mormon Temple and Genealogy Center.

Day 2: This was our first day in Deer Valley. We stocked up on food for the week (Josh wheeled it in to the condo for us), enjoyed some time sitting in the sun, looking out at the Aspens from our window, viewing the rainbow after a brief storm, and just seeing Deer Valley for the first time.

Day 3: 4th of July! We started the day watching the Park City 4th of July Parade where there was a bi-plane flyover. In the evening, we saw the Texas Tenors at the Deer Valley Music Festival. 

Day 4: We rode the Heber Creeper train and then went rafting on the Provo river. Then we went to Kimball's Ranch, a family friend of the Browns. We petted the horses (who just happened to smile for the camera). We topped the day off with cocktails at the Stein Ericksen Lodge (next door to our condo). I also started to sport a Heather tan (aka a sunburn).

Day 5: We started the day at the Park City Silly Market. Then Nada (my mom-in-law) and I did some shopping in downtown Park City. To round off the day, Josh and I enjoyed a romantic dinner at the Riverhorse on Main. 

And the fun ain't over yet. Still a few more days to go. I'll be sure to fill you in with the rest of the collages. Then I'll up the ante and bring you more details after I've returned. 

Random Acts of the Month: June

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Another one bites the dust. June is past and we're already in July. Oh time, quit playing games with me. 

June was pretty dang good. We certainly jammed a lot into June.

For starters, we finally got to taste The Cheese Wizards. It was everything we had hoped for...cheesy goodness.

With good weather now in Seattle, I decided to buy some new shoes and start running more. Wish me luck!

I did some pampering with my friend, Tricia, to celebrate her birthday. I love the mint green color right now - so springy and summery. 

Don't I have a good hubby...getting out to pump the gas. Thanks Josh!

Ahhh, a drink to end the long work week. 

And here is me enjoying the above drink, and then noticing it decided to rain. This tasty restaurant is The Innkeeper. 

June ended Responsys' time in the Oddfellows building in Capitol Hill. It was a fun, quirky, and unique building. It fit our creative agency vibe, but we won't miss the death trap elevator, the intense heat during the summer, and the slow water dispenser. More to come about this transition in a later post.

Then there was my birthday. My birthday landed on a Wednesday, a work day. So heck no, I'm not cooking. Instead we headed to Essex and Delancey. I got lots of lovely cards and gifts. 

We celebrated again over the weekend with a fine meal at Terra Plata. Read more about how I Turned Older.

Seattle has the best summers. Part of these summers are awesome sunsets. It's hard to get a great shot from our house since there are so many wires, but this still seems to catch the essence of the colors and clouds.

Our office landed in a new location, which is right dab in the heart of Seattle. I scored a window seat, and when I look out I see the Space Needle, and if I turn my head a bit, I also see the waterfront & Elliott Bay. Not to shabby.

We went to the South Park Bridge opening festival, and tried some pupusa. 

At the same festival, we saw the luchadores. Remember them from last year?

We enjoyed a fine brunch at The Fat Hen. My favorite was the cardamon twist. Oh baby.

Aren't we adorable?

One of my favorite places for dessert is the Fainting Goat in Wallingford. This was lemon grisbi and sour cherry. Deeeliishhh.

And to end the month, a sunset on the Duwamish River.