Trying to pace myself with work and outings because the near future of September beholds a whole assortment of happenings, visits, and general busyness…all good though!  The weather has still been pleasant and we are now at 35 days without rain of any kind.   I call that a miracle, my garden calls that (and me) a misery.  At least I have now had a good bowlful of pole beans and a handful of deliciously sweet cherry tomatoes to not call it a complete failure.  Failure, no.  Lesson learned, absolutely.  I don’t know if it is real or just the foreboding anticipation of college football season that just seems like it has already turned to fall here.

NEW DRESSES:

I did get out this week on Tuesday to go see friend Marieke perform with the Roy Kay Trio at the fun and dingy Little Red Hen in Green Lake.  We listened to her Patsy Cline-esque swinging tunes and we got a few drinks.  Wednesday I scored big with four pretty dresses from Express, which at first I figured I would return two (they were having a buy one get one 50% on top of another coupon deal I had), but now don’t see that happening.  Woops.  I have been feeding myself and others leftover delicious ribs like it is my job, along with corn muffins, corn on the cob and coleslaw all week from the company picnic so the Japonessa sushi lunch my coworker Andy treated Amy and myself to for all of our dedicated work on the QC process was a great treat on Thursday.  Hadn’t been to Japonessa in a while and forgot how busy they get for their all day happy hour.  I stuck with their tried and true miso soup, green salad, and the Super Bad Boy Roll (sans cream cheese).  It was all delicious but I am still thinking about the meal I had at Maru a few months back.  I guess Japonessa gets bonus points for their prices on all happy hour items.

I am packed and ready for my trip to Denver.  Bryan and I leave work early to fly into the Denver airport, where we will spend a night at his friend’s Kim and Mark in the city before driving out to Breckenridge to stay in a condo with four of his other friends for the wedding on Sunday.  From the sound of it the wedding will be intimate, the location will be beautiful, and the game against Alabama will be watched (it better be).  I’m looking forward to it!!

Chelsea

Reunited at last…with Amy that is.  It seems like she has been MIA for so long with busy work on her end and then her vacation.  But she is back!  Tuesday night I had her and Bryan over for grilled Pacific salmon using a balsamic rosemary glaze, grilled balsamic mushrooms, a Caesar salad, Macrina herbed baguette and a bottle of a Piety Chenin from Bryan and my Piety Flats case of wine.  It was a sweeter white wine that I really liked.  I have never heard of the grape/wine “Chenin”.  Similar to a Riesling, in my opinion.  After dinner we talked on the couch the three of us listening to records and catching up.

Thursday Amy and I then went to a free advanced screening of For a Good Time, Call…  Definite chick flick but kind of cute and light-hearted humor that was good for both of us.  Friday night the whole crew finally got out to Skymania! in Kirkland to use the jump time coupons that were purchased back for Bryan’s birthday.  We had two hours of hilarity and jumping on trampolines, playing volleyball, dodgeball, and just messing around.  We then went to Milagro Cantina in Kirkland for their late night happy hour and I tried their $3 chile relleno stuffed with a seafood and potato mixture and topped with a spicy sauce, chips and salsa, and the smallest $3 ceviche tostada ever, and great margaritas.

We went bar hopping afterwards but let me just say that Kirkland nightlife is horrendously boring.  Amy, Bryan and I had our JA picnic in Bellevue at Newcastle Beach Park the next morning.  From noon until 4pm we hung out at the park, eating great and plentiful barbecue (ribs, chicken, corn, cornbread, coleslaw, fruit, and Cupcake Royal cupcakes oh my), playing yard games, walking around and on the dock and just chatting casually with the coworkers.  It was a gorgeous day, perfect for a picnic.  Amy and I had plans for girl night following the BBQ.  I tried on her dresses for the wedding and talked for hours.

 

 

Sunday was the usual yoga (but just on my balcony this time in the sun), then church, then chill out time at Gasworks with Amy, then shopping at Northgate, and then the boy and I went to Tutta Bella to try their new fall pizza that I had been wanting to try and use a BOGO coupon.  We dined at the one in Wallingford with a GREAT Oompa Loompa band playing right next to us.  I ordered the Calabrese that came topped with EVOO, black mission figs, prosciutto di Parma, chevre, rosemary, balsamic reduction, and grana padano.  The free pizza he got was the Diavala, which I also really like with marinara, Isello’s chicken sausage, mama lil’s peppers, and onions.  We both proclaimed that it was the best pizza we had in Seattle yet and the music was great and we will definitely be returning.  It was the best pizza maybe I have ever had.  We also split a wonderful Insalata Mista which I actually really liked the olives, cannelini beans, and light dressing throughout.  It was a great meal and a good weekend and week all around seeing many friends I have not had much time to spend with.

I also finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which was such a phenomenal book and I don’t just say that because it takes place and is all over Seattle and the International District.  The story is awesome, I knew nothing of Seattle’s history (1940s) with Asian immigrants, Japanese internment camps, and the general makeup of the city I now call home.  Read it NOW!

Chelsea

I have been reading the book You Are Made for More that my aunt and mom so generously let me borrow and there is some good insight there.  Two weeks ago I was feeling particularly ho-hum about my job, friends, feelings, emotions, etc. that only seemed to snowball into all areas of my life.  From the weekend spent breathing in fresh air and absorbing plenty of Vitamin D and spending time with someone I truly care about, I have been able to rejuvenate myself and have a more positive outlook on most all things around me as well as ample motivation to be “MORE“.  It’s no breaking news that I am encouraged and driven through accomplishments and affirmations.  At times a bad trait, but when used wisely, an advantageous trait.

Last week I was able to find balance between work, independent time, and meaningful social contact.  I had an actual task list at work that always provided me with something to do and not the horrendous idle time.  I picked up EIGHT books from the library that I had on hold for weeks and jumped right into Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.  I made more delicious muffins (this time apple cinnamon with white chocolate chips…the banana peanut butter ones still reign supreme though) to take to work for my eating enjoyment.

I embarked on SEAW happy hour for the first time in a few months at Pnk Ultra Lounge where Wasabi restaurant just took root.  I caught up with my friend, Paul, as we tried their sushi rolls, shrimp shumai, edamame, veggie tempura, calamari, and a glass of house Cab.  I treated Marika and David to dinner with Bryan and I at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant to enjoy their company and the live Wednesday night jazz.  My plate of eggplant lafitite (eggplant stuffed with shrimp, crab and crawfish with a spicy Creole sauce) was okay but the wine and music and conversation were what made the night for sure…still don’t know how I truly feel about New Orleans cooking.

I went for Yogurtland deliciousness and McD’s softserve deliciousness this weekend for the hot 90 degrees in Seattle.  My company field-tripped to the U District for the Roosevelt Station Groundbreaking event on Friday afternoon.  It was hot but there were ample vendors giving away iced coffee and tea, cookies, mini gold shovels, live music, and ice cream from Peaks.  We all ventured to Pike Street Fish Fry for their free Friday fries and fish tacos.  Yum!!  I beat Bryan again in tennis and then had to tow along on a midnight bike ride.

 

 

Saturday we got our usual pregame meal of fish tacos at El Camion before the Sounders 1-0 win against Vancouver. After the game we chilled and played cards at my place.  I made a great dinner of a new chicken schwarama recipe with hummus, pita, and veggies (just like Sultans) with glasses of Working Girl red wine and then we picked up a Red Box movie I don’t even recall the name with Will Ferrell in it and got softserve from McD’s which was a chaotic freak show that night.

Sunday I made this new to me dessert which was a hit at the BBQ I went to at Bellevue’s Newcastle Beach State Park.  It was a BBQ competition but I was glad to have brought a dessert because it was the only dessert there.  On the other hand, I got to try some great BBQ chicken, pulled chicken sammies, grilled asparagus, a zucchini salad, a pickled Japanese salad, BBQ eel, BBQ bacon wrapped scallops and all were delish!  The sun even came out just in time for the BBQ.

I feel really good about the place I’m at and where I am going again.  And I have a holiday weekend approaching, another boating weekend that I’m waiting to confirm, and a great friend and my dad’s visits to look forward to.  Einstein Bros. Bagels just opened two blocks from work and I was able to score a free bagel (tried the pumpernickel with their honey almond cream cheese and may have a new favorite) on my way to my early morning appointment.  And Amy is back in town!!

Chelsea

This weekend I did something that I have been avoiding for some time now…I promised to go on a backpacking trip with the boy and stuck to my word.  On Saturday morning we embarked on our weekend getaway.  After packing our packs Friday night all that was left to do was enjoy a fueling breakfast at the Marysville IHOP (it was the perfect hiking fuel) and grab a few odds and ends at Walmart.  Our luxuriously long breakfast and errands didn’t get us to our destination until around 12:30 pm with the sun already high and strong in the sky.

With my ~30lb backpack on we set forth on the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead in Mt. Baker National Forest (my first national forest ever??).  The first 2.0 miles are steep but shaded. At this point I wasn’t sure I could make the full 3.4 miles to our destination.  I was sweating a good bit (though the boy sweats a whole lot more than me) and the pack was feeling heavier.  But after 2.0 miles you reach a Y in the trail and the trail levels off most of the rest of the way and opens up so that you are literally walking along the edge of the mountain, with wide open views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding North Cascade mountain range, while having tall and beautiful mountain grass and flowers completely surrounding you.  There was not a cloud in the sky but crystal blue skies and a gentle breeze that made it very pleasant.  There were portions of snow caps that we walked over fairly easily with our trekking poles and cooled us down just slightly.  It was beautiful.  We rested at the top to take in the breathtaking views and snack before heading down a short way into the valley where we were to set up our camp for the night.

I immediately kicked off the hiking boots and my pack, got out my sleeping pad and laid in the sun, drinking a ton of water and snacks for a good hour or two.  The boy set up the tent.  I got water from the glacial creek in his water filter system to ensure us a steady clean water supply.  He got out his campfire stove.  I was enthralled with his campfire stove with the little fuel tank, heating coils and metal windbreak.  He heated up the water for the mac and cheese.  I brought the mac and cheese.  We added cut up summer sausage and dehydrated milk powder and finished off two boxes between us.  He cleaned up after dinner.  I set up our sleeping bags.  He strung up our food in a bear hang.  I made us peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate (still love how he loves this but never had it before he met me).  We both drank hot chocolate on our pads to watch the coincidental meteor shower and I saw my first ever shooting star (multiple ones).  We both slept hard.

Sunday morning we woke up to bright sunshine and sore backs.  We took our time eating a shared bowl of oatmeal and coffee and then broke down the tent and repacked our packs.  The only challenge for the hike that day was climbing out of the valley.  Even Bryan said that he was a little worried about that trail because it was very steep, narrow, and windy.  I guess I just refused to think about that on the way out.  The rest was all downhill, fun and much faster than our way in.  We were filthy back in the car and it was hot!!!  We stopped at Nooksack Falls to see the beautiful waterfall and then booked it to Everett to have a great recovery lunch at Baja Fresh (baja burrito for him, baja bowl for me with all of the good stuff).

I can tell you that this was quite the experience for me.  I really enjoyed the time spent with Bryan and how excited it got him.  We had a lot of time to just talk and marvel at nature’s beauty.  A shower never felt as good as when I got back.  It would be something I would do again, but I have also stressed that this is not something I will be doing every weekend.  I had a blast though!!

Chelsea

I had been in a very grumpy mood all last week but now the mood is much improved.  Monday night I made Bryan and I red chicken enchiladas for his return to Seattle and we dined al fresco on the deck with “Foreclosure” drinks (coined name by the house) made graciously by Polly.  Her drinks are killer with grapefruit vodka, dash of juice, ice and crushed fresh mint.  Yummo!  My enchiladas thrown together weren’t half bad either.

Tuesday night I went to a showing of Dirty Dancing at Pacific Place sponsored by Skinny Cow with all kinds of giveaways, goodies, samples, ice cream snacks, and of course the movie.  Wednesday night I headed over to the eastside for a Google Local happy hour event at Suite Restaurant and Lounge in Bellevue.  There were complimentary drinks and I tried a delicious Suite Suzy (Grey Goose, basil, simple syrup, and lime), delicious savory snacks of tempura vegetables, flatbread, shrimp tacos (great!), popcorn rock shrimp, caprese salad bruschetta, and chicken quesadillas, and more Google swag giveaways.  Thursday I visited the dentist.  Exciting!!!

Google Event Link Here

Friday I took the “Michigan Boyfriend” and Luis to a UM alumni/intern social BBQ in Capital Hill.  Hosted through the UM Seattle Alumni network.  It was fun, good BBQ, good drinks, good conversation and the t-shirt was definitely the highlight of the party.  I drove Amy to the airport at 11pm before heading to bed to wake early for my first backpacking trip to Yellow Aster Butte in the North Cascades around Mt. Baker National Park.  More on that to come…

Chelsea

Seattle in the summertime is just spectacular.  And it is August…the best month of the summer.  Can you even believe it?  The past week was a good one with allowing me to really get things that need to be done, done, and things that are good for me, in.  Work had slowed wayyyyyyy down to the point that I was practically begging for odd tasks to do in the office.  This was supposed to be an unusually slow week in that regards and then our Roosevelt Station will be picking back up with more work, suppposedly.  In the meantime I have dabbled more with construction specs, connection design details, and miscellaneous Excel tasks, and just messing around with Google Sketchup.

After the camping trip I had the largest urge to get mani/pedis with Amy to pamper ourselves with massage chairs on our sore post-skiing muscles, fix up our nasty looking nails, get Amy ready for her trip to Belize, and finally, FINALLY catch up with her since it has been far too long.  It was marvelous and Pro Nails at the bottom of the hill might be my new go-to in emergency situations.  Love my colors too!

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Wednesday night Bryan and I dressed up to dine out at the nearby Emmer & Rye restaurant to somewhat celebrate what has now been nearly a year.  A year?!?!?  How did that happen so soon?  It was a nice evening for a walk to the restaurant (in high heels though, ugh) and a previously purchased Livingsocial coupon scored us a bottle of organic (?) Cabernet, two delectable dishes, and a shared dessert.  Perfecto!!  The wine was delicious, as we are both big fans of full-bodied Cabs, and the menu at this restaurant is locally sourced and changes monthly.  Bryan left for Arizona on Thursday for a few days so it was also a nice good-bye dinner.

Tuesday and Thursday I spent much needed time for me.  It was good to sit down, focus, and orient myself.  Friday I met up with a friend for a great downtown summer concert of smooth jazz in the sun and heat at the Columbia Center plaza. The Ben and Jerry’s truck has been driving all over the city giving away sample scoops of their delicious new Greek frozen yogurt (I highly recommend the banana peanut butter swirl flavor).  And Sound Transit had a HUGE progressive potluck on all four floors on Thursday to fill my tummy and fill me up of Korean BBQed pork for a year.  I had a pleasant weekend with a few social gatherings and weather in the 90s!!!  Seafair Weekend again lucked out.

Saturday I watched the Blue Angels (sans Bryan) at a Meetup BBQ at the gorgeous Madrona Park.  I actually was grill master for a portion of the day…too hot though.  The show was loud great!  Saturday night I saw my ex-roommate Marieke sing with her rockabilly band the Roy Kay Trio at the Ballard Salmon Eagles Club.  It was so much fun but again I was missing Bryan because I really wanted to dance some country.  Marieke was absolutely phenomenal.  Sunday consisted of a great Lulu yoga class, followed by a great brunch on the deck with roommates, then some reading time at Gasworks (to also see the planes again from the distance), and then a tromping on the LA Galaxy as the Sounders put a beating on Beckham 4-0.  It was definitely a great weekend!!

Chelsea

Bryan and I had a wonderful one year anniversary dinner at the top of Queen Anne restaurant called Emmer&Rye.  It was both of our first time there and we dined al fresco on their fabulous patio on a gorgeous night with people watching on Queen Anne Ave. below.  We had a great meal with good conversation and we both got all glammed up.  I left tipsy and happy and can’t honestly believe that one year has already passed so quickly.

 

 

Chelsea