the best christmas eve

This year Dustin and I stuck around Seattle for Christmas. Coincidentally, so did our friends Art and Amy, which meant that we got to spend Christmas Eve together. And I'm so glad we did because it was one of the best Christmas Eves either Dustin or I can remember.

We went ice skating and I was REALLY bad at it, but still had a total blast:

On the way home from ice skating we decided to make a pit stop to walk along the water and see the "clam lights" at Coulon Beach, on Lake Washington.
 

Then, when we were almost back to Art and Amy's, we drove by the Seattle Great Wheel which was all lit up in red and green lights for Christmas. None of us had been on the giant, waterfront Ferris wheel yet, so per Dustin's request, we decided to take pit stop #2 and ride the great wheel.

After that we were all starving, so we snacked on some cheese and crackers when we got back to Art and Amy's apartment, and played rock band while dinner cooked (I was the singer and I was maybe really bad at it). Amy made salad and a delicious Cornish Game Hen dish, and I made tiramisu for desert. Obviously we lingered after dinner (until around Midnight) to chat and enjoy a few festive drinks.

It was great! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend as well!!

(and in case you are curious, here is a recap of the other things I did on Christmas eve: stood in line for an hour to get into the seafood market to buy food for Christmas dinner, fought the insane crowds at whole foods, bought Dustin stocking stuffers (which I put off until Christmas eve, of course), and made this pasta dish for lunch with prosciutto instead of chicken (verdict: delicious)).

BELLINGHAM

This weekend I went to Bellingham (which, if you're not from Washington, is a really pretty college town about an hour and a half north of Seattle) with my oldest, bestfriend Katie, who just got engaged and asked me to be her maid of honor, whoot!, for a wedding-fun-filled weekend with her other two bride's maids.



Katie and I at Suzie's house before our night out

 



We drove up Saturday afternoon and instead of spending the night looking at wedding magazines, Katie decided we should go out. We were all onboard and spent the night acting like college kids, a la dinner at Boundary Bay Brewery, bar hopping, dancing, and eating biscuits, gravy and bacon at a diner after the bars closed. I did this all in a sweatshirt and glasses, because (a) I am super fancy, and (b) I was completely unprepared to go out. #idontcare

Needless to say, I think we're getting too old for things like that because Sunday was a complete bust. We lounged around Suzie's house, complained, watched movies, ate McDonalds, and finally made it home in the evening. And I have no desire to do that again for a long time. But, BUT! it was a really fun change of pace and I'm so glad I got to have a fun girls mini-vaca.

a few December things

A few weekends ago Dustin and I went to his co-worker's wedding. I was obviously really excited, since I love weddings. We got dressed up, got in the car and drove over to Greenlake. When we got inside the wedding venue, we signed the guest book and then were almost immediately hearded outside, through the rain, toward the lake.

 

Guys, it was an outdoor wedding ceremony. In December. In Seattle. SURPRISE!

 

Needless to say it was unexpected, freezing, the pastor took his time doing his thing, and AND to top it all off... the groom was good friends with one of my ex-boyfriends from college #soawkward  

 

After we got back inside we had some food, a few drinks, avoided my ex boyfriend at all costs, chatted with Dustin's co worker, had a generally great time, watched the bridge and groom cut the cake, and then snuck out. 

After sneaking out, we decided to head down the block and grab a drink before heading back to our neighborhood. Since we were all dressed up, you know!

When we finally got home and parked, we still weren't ready to call it a night, so we went to the little French place across the street (where I demanded Dustin take me for my 26th Birthday). I ordered mushrooms and wine. Dustin had a beer.

We got home, put on SNL and I promptly fell asleep on the couch #standard

But not before THIS happened...

 

The next day Dustin and I braved the Sunday, Christmas season crowds to get some things for our VERY FIRST Christmas tree. Never again. Target at Christmas time is a zoo. We were both exhausted by the time we got out of there.

 

After Target we went back home, took a deep breath, bundled up, and walked two blocks in the rain to the Christmas Tree Stand. We chose the smallest, cutest tree they had, sipped some cider to warm up, and then carried our perfect tree home in the rain. 

Now we're working on adding presents and avoiding Target until at least the new year. Have I mentioned that online shopping is my new best friend? I just hope all my presents get delivered before Christmas.