normal Seattle weekend things

I’ve been wanting to post on this space more often. I regularly find myself thinking about substantive things I’d like to write about, usually at inopportune times like while I’m driving or in the shower, but then when I sit down at my computer to write all I ever think to write about is what I did this weekend. So, that’s what you’re going to get today too. Hopefully I’ll have something different soon. Or maybe I’ll just stick with my usual Dear Diary, I did these things and it was so fun approach. Who knows?

This weekend: Friday night I got home from work and I sat on my couch watching New Girl on Netflix which has been so funny and amazing and it has made me weirdly nostalgic for all the regular network TV shows to return in the fall despite the fact that I’m not a huge TV watcher. Anyway, I sat there for a good long time thinking about how delicious a drink sounded (ok maybe how delicious some friendship sounded more than anything) before I finally decided that I needed to get out of my apartment and do something about it. I text my friend Caroline and ended up meeting her and our friend Ashley for a drink on Queen Anne. Well, technically I met Caroline at her house where we found the HUGEST SPIDER EVER on her floor and trapped it under a jar and I took a picture of it but I don’t want to share it here because it was too gross and huge and I hated it. When we finally we out and met Ashley, we didn’t stay out long, but at least I got out of my apartment for a bit. Win!

Saturday I ran my errands on foot to kill two birds with one stone (exercise + get shit done). When I got back to my apartment a little later, iced coffee in hand, I cleaned for a bit before picking up Dustin and heading into to Ballard (which is currently one of my favorite Seattle neighborhoods). Side note: weekend morning cleaning is so sooo satisfying to me, anyone else? In Ballard we got pedicures (his first ever), then grabbed Happy Hour at the Ballard Annex. After that we met my friends Natalie and Kate at the Ballard Beer Co. for a beer. Saturday night was spent in, with me falling asleep early after all my plans fell through and I was too tired to make new ones.

Sunday morning I had brunch at Bastille with Natalie and Brittan before we headed outside to the farmer’s market. Brunch + farmer’s market is one of my favorite things. I bought peaches and blackberries, cheese and bread, and flowers. After the farmer’s market Dustin and I went to an open house. Guys, buying a house in Seattle is SO. EXPENSIVE. (median price = $543,500 WFT?!) and SO. STRESSFUL. I had stress dreams about it that night and it’s not even really my house to buy. Yikes!

We de-stressed by watching WWE Summer Slam since I’m very into wrestling now ;) and eating the snacks I got at the farmer’s market. After wrestling, we went across the street to grab a beer on the patio and talk about the house we looked at earlier. Dustin’s friends Ben and Greg ended up joining us at the end and it was a good end to a successful weekend.

Also I failed at taking pictures all weekend, minus the spider, so this poorly lit, straight-faced, cell phone selfie is all I have for you:

It's finally summer in Seattle 2014

Last weekend I took full advantage of the long, sunny, Seattle days. Also, it has been really hot in my tiny, second story, brick apartment so I've been looking for every excuse to spend evenings out and about. Friday night I went to a Mariner's game with some coworkers, significant others and some a bunch of friends. We ended up running into a few more friends at the game and by the end of the night there was quite a big group of us hanging out in the beer garden. (side note: I took a lot of pictures but they're on a not-yet-developed disposable camera, so here are some photos I've stolen from other people who used their phones like normal people living in 2014).

^^Me, Brittan, Danielle & Natalie (Mexican Food Club does a Mariner's game^^

 

The Mariner's won at the last minute against the Oakland A's and it was a really fun game. Afterward a few of us attempted to go out in Ballard, but we were all tired and my flip flop blew out (even though I was walking normally) as I was going into the bar, so we didn't end up staying long.

 

Saturday was Seafood Fest in Ballard. Dustin, Katie, Josh and I ran into my coworker Dave and his girlfriend immediately upon arrival. It was Dave's birthday and we ended up hanging out with them and meeting up with Art and Amy for beers in the beer garden. Eventually we got hungry and wandered into the Ballard Annex Oyster House for some happy hour and a place to sit.

 

^^Selfie during HH^^

 

 ^^Katie and I at HH^^

 

After happy hour we met up with Justin, Brittan, Natalie and Boyd for some more beers, seafood and fun.

 

Eventually Art, Amy, Dustin and I got tired and decided that we wanted to head back to Dustin's for some Rock Band and a sleepover. Adult sleepovers with your friends who are kind of like your family are totally normal, right? :)

 

Sunday I ate Mexican food with Justin and Brittan, attempted a beach day (but it was overcast and Natalie was over the elements), and ended up on a patio drinking a glass of chilled Rose with Brittan and Natalie.

 

It was a very successful weekend before a very stressful week. After receiving an e-mail from Satya Nadella (Microsoft's CEO) talking about significant changes that would be made to the company in the coming weeks, then hearing numerous news reports that Microsoft was expecting to lay off as many as 6,000 people this week, reading last night that they layoffs would happen today, freaking out last night, not really sleeping all night, then waking up this morning to e-mails from Satya and Brad Smith (the head of legal at Microsoft) saying that not 6,000 but 18,000 people would be laid off today and in the coming months. Brad's e-mail said that 10%(!!!!) of the legal department was being laid off today. I cried when I read that, first thing this morning. I cried a few times today. It was nice to know that I would know today whether or not I would be laid off, but also very stressful going to work this morning. Part of me was like, "they're not going to lay me off, they JUST hired me!" and the other part of me was like "well, they went that long without me, maybe they don't really need me after all, and I know they're expected to make cuts, and like, I get it." I, luckily, still have a job. One of my favorite coworkers, however, was laid off. My heart hurts for her. It was a really emotional day for my whole group (and probably for everyone at Microsoft). Now I'm attempting to de-stress with a glass of Rose and some blogging :)

 

This weekend I will attempt to de-stress even more (with two other Microsoft employees who are also "safe") with some camping, round 2, in the Hood Canal! Yay! 

#supersizemeweekend AKA SPRING BREAK 2015 in Canada!

A few weekends ago it was Gaby’s last ever spring break. I had been begging her to come visit me in Seattle for like a million years so she finally obliged, drove up to Seattle and insisted we go to Canada for a girls’ weekend.

She got to town on Friday evening and I had a glass of wine waiting for her when she arrived. Natalie joined us for a drink at my apartment before her date, and when Natalie was telling us she was having the worst week we INSISTED that she drop everything Saturday and come with us to Canada! She agreed and then left for her date. #success

Gaby and I then headed to Ballard where we ate seafood at the Ballard Annex and drank delicious spring break-y drinks in coconuts at Hotel Albatros and met my cousin Maegin for more drinks and funtimes.

 
^^Tropical drink in a coconut to get me in the Spring Break spirit^^

^^Coconut drink for Gaby toooo^^

The next morning I learned a valuable lesson: I am never, ever allowed to mix wine and other alcohol together or I will vomit.

Gaby and I woke up early-ish, headed to Whole Foods for snacks and coffee then headed to pick up Nat. By the time we got to Natalie’s apartment I was feeling terrible. I walked around outside for a few minutes, took some deep breaths, drank some green smoothie and felt a little better but after we scooped her up, before we were even at the freeway I announced I needed to pit stop at my apartment to vom. Oh god. We stopped, I ran inside, did my thing, and was back out in the car ready to go in about 5 minutes. I felt a million times better, but seriously, no wine mixing for me ever again!

We planned to stop at the Lululemon outlet on our way to Canada and we were all looking forward to that almost as much as Canada itself. We all found a few good things to purchase and on our way back to the freeway from the outlet we spotted a McDonalds and HAD to stop. Fun Fact: Natalie and I LOVE McDonalds. Specifically we love Filet O Fishes. A lot. We rarely let ourselves eat them, because EW, but OMG SO GOOD! So we stopped, got our fast food and we were SO happy about it:

^^Nom nom nom, Nat and her Filet O Fish + GIANT Iced Coffee that almost gave her a heart attack^^

^^Filet O Fish 4evaaaaaa^^

Natalie even doubled up and got TWO Filet O Fishes which we’ve always talked about doing but never do, because EW. I was very proud of her. We were so giddy after our fast food we couldn’t stop laughing in the car. Natalie decided that we should dub our weekend #supersizemeweekend and caption all of our weekend’s InstaGram posts exclusively w/ Taylor Swift lyrics. Done. We listened to ONLY Taylor Swift and Tove Lo the whole trip, so it seemed fitting. We also talked about ONLY eating McDonalds for the whole trip (did you know you can get poutine at McDs Canada?!?!) but that definitely didn’t happen. #hopescrushed #nexttime

When we finally arrived in Vancouver BC, our first stop was Granville Island. We decided we needed some day drinks and headed to Granville Island Brewery for a few delicious tasters. After our beers we walked around the island for a little bit until it started pouring rain at which point we headed to our hotel.

^^Gaby and I at Granville Island^^

After checking into our awesome hotel and getting settled we headed out to Robson St. to do some shopping and exploring despite the rain. Eventually we got hungry and headed to our hotel to dry off and take advantage of the free WiFi to find a place to eat. We found a Mexican joint on Granville St. that sounded awesome and walked over to find that there was about an hour wait. No. It was 9pm and we were starving. While we were regrouping outside the restaurant a super creepy man with missing teeth and meth face walked up to us:

Super Creepy Man: Hi
Natalie: Hi
SCM: What are you ladies up to tonight?
N: Trying to find something to eat.
SCM: Oh, well, my friends and I are going to get a hotel room and then go to the club, do you want to join us?
Me: NO. KTHXBYE. *grabs friends and runs away* (sooo not into sucking your dick for meth in a hotel room, EW)

We decided to get the F away from Granville St. and on our way back to the hotel saw a Joey [test] Kitchen and decided that was safe and close and we should definitely just go there to eat because we were soo hungry and cold and sooo wet too. 

After dinner we went back to the hotel to regroup and Gaby started sharing stories with us trying to convince us to go out and party time USA because SPRING BREAK! and Natalie and I would not have it because we are effectively grandmas at 28 (apparently the difference between 22 and 28 is night and day, sorry Gaby!). So we stayed in because it was rainy and cold and we wouldn’t let her have any fun and instead of doing anything fun we basically convinced her to break up with her boyfriend and took snapchats of her camel-toe (that all sounds a lot meaner than it actually way). Soooo successful spring break?

The next morning it was still fucking pouring rain and we ventured out to breakfast. The place we wanted to go had an hour and a half wait (WHAT THE FUCK?!) so we found a crepe place nearby and called it good. We ate crepes and drank coffee and then went to Lush to buy some lotions and bath bombs and things (I’m now obsessed) and then decided it was too wet for more walking around so we headed back to America.

When we got back we realized that our friends Brittan, Ambur, Adam and Rob were also in Vancouver just a mile or two away from us. WTF? Fail. We drove back to Seattle, dropped Gaby at her car and she headed back to Hood River.

It was so fun having her for the weekend. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in a really long time. We need to have another Natalie/Rebeka/Gaby trip involving McDonalds, Tay-Tay and day drinks ASAP. Spring break 2015, OVER.

FIVE things

Today I have like FIVE things for you that probably (mostly) deserve their own posts, but sometimes life gets in the way, you know? So here they all are, an update of sorts. Enjoy!

ONE.
I got sworn into the bar the other week. It felt like more of a hoop than a monuments occasion, but it was nice to get dressed up and celebrate my last law-school-ish-related-thing, nonetheless. Hello being a real lawyer.

Dustin went with me to the ceremony and acted as my cheerleader/photographer (he may have been more excited than me, considering he had to deal with my stressed out self for like three years of law school and bar studies - someone give him a high five) and afterward took me to the Ballard Annex Oyster House for seafood - I had oysters, bites of Dustin's clam chowder, and a lobster roll - and champagne to celebrate.

TWO.
That same week, I went back to White Salmon where it was beautiful and fall-like, to do some hunting. I ended up getting a deer opening morning which was so, SO exciting and after tracking it through the woods with my dad and brother Jim, I took this picture in which I was exhausted and so happy.

Note to self: it might be a bad idea (or the best idea) to spend Friday at a coffee shop working really productively (Hood River is the most magical for all things), then go get a manicure (which held up so well through my hunt) before meeting up with pretty ladies for dinner and then letting them convince you to go out for a drink or two and dancing at Jack's until like 1am. But it was really fun and I was really exhausted when I had to get up before daylight to go hunting and when my dad let me go inside and nap while he finished skinning my deer for me, you'd better bet I did just that.

 

And then, that evening, instead of hiking through the woods looking for a deer, I was able to go to dinner with Josh and Sarah, and then grab another drink with everyone in Hood River before I called it an early night because I was SO tired, you guys (spoiler alert, see: THREE below).

 



And, this last weekend, my really cool brother Jim got his deer. I wish I could have been there. Also, jeal that his was bigger than mine (it ALWAYS is).

 

THREE.

I definitely got strep throat last week, which was a total bummer. My tonsils swelled up to the size of cherries and got all white and disgusting, even the Doctor was shocked when he looked at my throat which made me LOL really hard, because you don't expect a doctor to freak out when he looks at your throat, amiright? After not getting sick at all last winter coming down with strep so early in the season was not a fun one. Hey antibiotics forever.

 

FOUR. 

Sunday someone had a birthday. We celebrated with Ba Bar for dinner followed by a drink and a shot for him thanks to our gracious bartender, then home for cake (vanilla with raspberry filling, made by yours truly) and presents.

FIVE.
This next month is going to be full of travel for me and I'm so excited. This weekend it's back to Hood River for some Halloween fun, picking up a freezer full of deer meat and getting my teeth cleaned.

Then, next week I fly to Tampa to swoop up my friend Gaby and drive with her back to the northwest. I'm really excited for our cross-country road trip. We're doing the whole thing in 5 days, Tampa to Seattle (to White Salmon for her). We're definitely stopping in Nashville, St. Louis, Cheyenne(ish) and Boise. Does anyone have any must-sees or dos along the way?

Then, right after my birthday, Natalie, Danielle, Brittan and I are going to San Francisco for a long weekend. Again, if anyone has any must-dos in San Francisco please let me know. I am just so excited about all of it (my bank account, on the other hand, is not, but YOLO, amiright? ha)!

xoxo