May 2016 Recap

I've discovered that when work gets crazy, blogging is the first thing I let go. Cleaning my shower is probably the second thing that slips (super gross, I know, but it's my least favorite chore and I'm really looking for any excuse not to do it). But I am neglecting no longer! A blog post! Of the things I've done lately! Get excited!

BOATING
Dustin bought a boat! It's very exciting stuff. I've already claimed my seat (very front of the boat, on the opposite side as the Captain's chair), decided my drink of choice (white wine for cruising, rose for sitting b/c of the splashes) and crafted a playlist (I'm on a Boat, Boats n Hoes, Party in the USA, etc.). I can't wait for it to get really hot this summer so we can the boat out all the time!

^^Dustin and I during the boat's maiden voyage^^

^^Just douching around on the boat^^

^^Dustin is great at smiling for pics while driving. Cheers to him!^^ 

 ^^View of downtown Seattle from the boat^^

 ^^Mount Rainier and Lake Washington^^

 ^^yeah, buddy!^^

OCEAN SHORES WEEKEND

Over the first weekend in May some friends and I did our second annual Ocean Shores friendship trip. This year we rented hotel rooms at the Shiloh Inn and took advantage of their 24 hour hot tub and proximity to cheesy beach town gift shops. It was really windy while we were there but we still managed to eat a pizza meant for about 50 people, go to the beach for a few minutes, ride go karts and bumper cars, and go to the bowling alley. Bonus: we all got matching Ocean Shores clothes while we were there. I've been wearing my neon yellow sweatshirt way too much since I got back.

 ^^Clockwise from top right: Dustin, me, Ambur, Paul La, Erin, Adam, Brittan and Rob^^

^^Ambur, me, Brittan and Erin on Brit and Erin's deck after we came back from the beach due to extreme winds and sand EVERYWHERE^^

^^Killing it at bumper cars lol^^

^^Ready, set, go-kart!^^

MARINERS GAME

Seattle's baseball team, the Mariners, have been doing really well this season for the first time in approximately 15 years, so when Dustin's friend Pickle came up to visit a few weekends ago we all headed to a Saturday evening baseball game. The Ms ended up losing, but it was one of the most exciting baseball games I've ever been to (at one point I even jumped out of my seat, WHO AM I?!), AND I got to eat a churro and drink beers, so I'm calling it a win regardless.

^^Me, Dustin, and the back of Pickle's head^^

^^The roof was closed on Safeco Field that night because it was rainy. Typical Seattle^^

WANDERLUST

On Sunday my friend Katie and I participated in a "mindful triathlon" put on by the people at Wanderlust. It was at Marymore Park in Redmond, Wa (about 15 minutes east of Seattle, also where Microsoft is located) and included a 5K run followed by an hour of yoga followed by an hour of meditation. Katie and I both thought it would be a really good idea to run the 5K without any sort of training (I couldn't tell you the last time I ran) but it went surprisingly well (minus the fact that I was OMG soooo sore on Monday). The yoga practice was also fairly hair but also interesting and they had a lot of pump-up music playing before the events which was fun. I would definitely do it again next year if they have it again. Plus, I got to practice headstands in between events!

^^Getting ready to start some yoga^^ 

^^headstand practice!^^

OTHER
I signed up for a Zumba instructor training and I'm hoping to sub some classes this summer. Get ready! I also booked a very spur of the moment trip to Vegas with my friend Gaby for early June. We're hoping to hike Red Rock Canyon, lay by the pool and just generally de-stress from life. And finally, Microsoft's fiscal year end is June 30th so hopefully work will slow down in about a month, until then, I might be a little more MIA than usual!

Taco Libre Truck Showdown Weekend 2016

A few weeks ago my Beth-Friend saw on Facebook that there was something called the Taco Libre  Truck Showdown happening in Seattle on May 1st. She decided she wanted to go and booked a ticket up to see me. I picked her up on Friday and we kicked off the weekend with an Indian food feast at Taste of India followed by beers and word games on the erotic photo hunt machine at Ed's Kort Haus. I did a good job SnapChatting but a terrible job saving any photos of that night. Is it too late now to say sorry?

Saturday morning (after I had slept about 100 hours, sorry Beth!) we grabbed some coffees from Starbucks where I ended up getting the worst text from Gaby re: her boyfriend. I instructed her to come to Seattle immediately. After crisis intervention concluded we headed to Beth's friend Jamie's house so Jamie and I could meet and Beth and Jamie could catch up. Jamie's house was on the way to the Seattle Premium Outlets so we headed there next to use the 30% off coupon my friend who works for Nike corporate had mailed me. Beth and I both ended up leaving with a bunch of new workout gear (+ bonus throwback slides for me). After the outlets we met Jamie at the Latona Pub for lunch and day beers (duh, is there anything better than day beers when it's sunny out and your Beth friend is in town?!) while we waited for Gaby to get to Seattle.

Dustin met us back at my apartment and shortly after Gabby arrived. I parallel parked her pink nugget for her, gave her approximately 2 minutes to get ready, we all took a necessary shot of Patron, then I forced everyone into an Uber to dinner so we could introduce Beth to our friend Rob and also get Gaby drunk (again, necessary). At the end of the night Beth, Gaby, Dustin and I had a 4-way sleepover in my 400 square foot apartment. Seems legit, right?

^^#creepin on Beth and Rob walking from dinner to the bar^^

The next morning there was more coffee, Dustin headed home, and then Gaby, Beth and I went to brunch at a place near my house that ended up being delicious.

 ^^Gaby and I brunching^^

^^Feelings^^ 

We basically begged Gaby to stay but she had to get home and take care of some shit, so we said goodbye and Beth and I got ready for the taco truck festival.

It was an awesome day for an outdoor food festival (read: sunny and warm) complete with a beer and margarita garden. We ended up having Native American inspired fry bread tacos from Off The Rez, drinking margaritas and hanging out. Jamie and her husband met us, and so did Adam, Ambur, Brittan, Natalie and Rob!

^^Natalie, me, Jamie and Beth at the beer/marg garden^^

^^The most stunning car paint job I've ever seen. Meow!^^

When we decided it was too crowded at the festival, we went across the street to a bar with a patio to share a pitcher of beer and give Beth and Rob some more time to get to know each other ;) I'd say it went pretty well. My fingers are crossed.

^^Me, Caroline, Beth, Brittan and Rob at the George and Dragon^^

After everyone else left Beth and I eventually found another restaurant with a patio, made our way to Fred Meyer, rented a movie from the RedBox and went back to my place to chill out for the rest of the evening. I had to take Beth to the airport SO early in the morning on Monday and because of Viadoom it took a million hours to get to work after that. I was exhausted but it was totes worth it for a super fun, sunshiny, Bethfriend Seattle weekend.

Dear Beth, can you please start dating Rob and move up here already?! Kthxbyeee!