book club...er...wine club. by orange

A few co-workers put together a book club.  Over time, this book club turned into about 10 min of discussing the book and about 2 hours of catching up and wine.  This last time we ventured to a new place in the Mt. Baker area of Seattle.  Flying Squirrel Pizza.  So this book club included 10 min of discussing Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, some damn fine pizza and, of course, delicious wine.

love story meets love story - jon schmidt. by orange

in my last post I linked to a previous post and just today I thought I would listen to the song that was in the orginal post and learned the video was no longer active!  sorry about that if you tried to find it.  I found the updated video...check it out.  SO GOOD.

Portland Queso. by violet

I’m in town for a quick business trip to Portland.

View from the hotel window

Teresa has been talking about taking me to Oba for queso for some time now. As it turned out, we had something to celebrate. Tess got into medical school. And frankly what better way to celebrate than queso and margaritas with one of your best friends? I can’t think of one.

White cosmo

The queso and conversation didn’t disappoint. The queso was creamy and melty with onion and tomatoes mixed in. The cheese stayed in its creamy state.

Cheesy goodness

While it’s one of my first Portland queso experiences, I’m pretty sure it will live at the top of my list for awhile.

I’m so proud of the future Dr. Teresa. I’m so happy that I got to share this very special day with a very special friend and some really awesome queso.

Violet in Sofft Freeda Bootie – black, ankle booties

music wednesday. by orange

It's been awhile since I've posted on music.  Recently, I started trying this thing called Pandora and it just so happens it has me musically inspired.  I know...I'm way behind on the times with Pandora.  Better late than never right?

This song that popped up on my pandora reminded me of this post.  I always forget that I love instrumental pieces. 




Other music that I'm currently a bit obsessed with:

1) Broken Bells: The Ghost Inside. This sums up my feelings on this song: "I can't help but dance with myself" - stated by chaseduran on YouTube

They are coming to Seattle soon! 5/25 - Showbox at the Market




2) But of course - Greg Laswell.  His new CD hits stores and the internets on 5/4 - Take a Bow

However, right now you can listen to ALL the new tracks at http://www.greglaswell.com/.  Enjoy!!  Greg is also coming to Seattle soon.  He will be playing at Tractor Tavern in Ballard on 5/8.  Tickets are only $12!  You can enter to win to meet Greg here.

orange in Rachel Roy Jaxine Flats

Ladies who Brunch. By violet.

Sometimes getting your girls together can seem like a daunting task. Everyone seems to be going in different directions with packed schedules.

After my most recent closet meltdown J.P. suggested that I arrange a clothing swap. All it took was one e-mail and we found a date that worked for everyone, a month later.

But we quickly discovered that more than a few people had already gotten a jump on their spring cleaning and didn’t have anythingl left they wanted to part with. So we re-grouped and really just made it a brunch instead.

So that’s why we found ourselves gathered together on a beautiful Sunday morning sharing a feast.

Inspired by Portage Bay, I did my best to create a waffle bar with all the trimmings.

Each of the ladies brought another element. That’s probably why we had so much food (pretty sure that I will be eating donuts for days).

Shelby bringin' home the bacon

Yum...dooonuts

All, in all it was a lovely way to spend the morning. It also made me realize that this could easily be something that we do more often. Ladies, what do you think?

 
Violet in Frye Campus 14L boots in Saddle Montana

homeward bound. by orange

To celebrate the husband's "welcome back to your social life/tax season is done" we went out of town for the weekend with our good friends Jared, Katie & their adorable Signe (who I've raved about here).  While staying at the amazing Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort we decided to depart on a little hike. We brought our 2 dogs, Jared and Katie brought their 2 dogs and we ran into some friends of Jared and Katie, who had brought their dog.  Trekking up the mountain was literally a scene from Homeward Bound.  As I love me some doggies, I was kind of in heaven.  

the schnood on the move

Allie and Miles

Trekking up

Still going up

Payton checking up on us

still going

Meika not so much, she was ready for a nap

Signe says hi

At the top; dogs waiting patiently for a well deserved treat

View from the top

Signe and her Allie

orange wishing I was in Keen Targhee II

At the cool kids table. by violet.

Remember those girls in high school? Those girls who were older than you and seemed to have it all figured out? They had cute clothes, cute boyfriends, pretty hair and straight teeth that didn’t require braces. Then, when, by chance you sat next to these girls in 4th period English Lit it turned out that they were not only wicked smart but actually very nice and very cool to you.

You had complicated feelings towards these girls because you were insanely jealous of them and short green fire out of your eyes at them. Except for the fact that you pretty much wanted to be them. Or at least be friends with them so they could teach you the secrets to getting perfect eyeliner and have access to their fashion advice.

I have much the same feelings about my friends Katy and Erin.

Katy and Erin are entirely too cool to hang out with me. When I was first introduced to them through work, I could not image why they would even bother with me. Then they invited me out to lunch - more than once. Then they attended social functions outside of work with me. Then, I moved in with Katy and her roommates. And part of me I kept waiting for the “Mean Girls” moment when I found the whole thing was just a joke. Not that Katy and Erin would ever do that because they are really, actually, wonderful people.

While I was living with them, Katy and her now husband Danny (equally as cool) got engaged and invited me and J.P. to their incredibly, awesome wedding. Then Katy and Danny moved to London for two years. Because that’s the kind of thing that they do. Just move to London.

Katy was back in the states this week, (seriously, don’t you kind of want to be a person who can say that? “While I was back in the states…”) she, Erin, J.P. and I met up for dinner at Black Bottle.

Black Bottle is just the kind of place to take someone you want to impress. The food is excellent and it is small plates so there is something for everyone. The atmosphere is charming without being totally pretentious, most of the wait staff is dressed like hipsters, though not so much it makes you feel awkward. And on a Tuesday night there were just enough people to make it feel like a hot spot but not so many we didn’t get seated for hours or couldn’t hear each other. Though, side note, if you are going on a Friday or Saturday, this is an entirely different story.

The one dish I insisted upon getting because it’s been stuck in my brain since the first time I tried it was the broccoli blasted. It sounds really strange to rave about the restaurants broccoli but I assure you this is so delicious, you kind of forget it is vegetables. It’s covered in spices and roasted until it’s crispy and almost black.

Other highlights from the meal were the fried chicken which for me has joined the broccoli as a must order. Juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, no need to dunk in ranch or honey mustard. It whole heartedly reminds you why fried chicken is amazing.

Also delicious were the mussels. I kind of wish we would have ordered them earlier. I could have had a glass of the broth. And the hanger steak, just how I like it – red in the middle.

Not my favorite where the bacon wrapped scallops and the wild boar ribs. The ribs smelled delicious but were a little dry for my tastes. And, I know, everyone likes their BBQ different so this isn’t a judgment call. And as far as the scallops go, they just weren’t my favorite, thought other things were better.

Oh, yes and there was flatbread too.  But that's cheese, bread and meat.  You knew that was delicious right?

After dinner we headed down to Virginia Inn where Erin’s husband Dean was tending the bar. I don’t know what can make you feel cooler than knowing the bar tender. Maybe drinking port? You’ll have to ask Erin about that though.

Thanks to two lovely ladies and one wonderful boyfriend for fun evening.

Violet in Seychelles boots