Easter Weekend 2015

I’ve had a busy and super fun past few weekends. I definitely want to write about them all, but I figure, let’s start with this weekend and work backward. I’m not totally sure if that makes the most sense but whatever.

On Friday my coworker Candice gifted me a yoga mat I’ve been eyeing for a while that she had an extra of (I love it, its totally magical, thank you Candice!!). I put my new-to-me mat to good use this weekend during two yoga classes. The first class was a relaxing, low key class held Friday after work at my gym. The second was a super fun, energizing, Saturday morning class held at the Chihuly Glass Museum.

 
The class took place in the Chihuly Glass House which is a 40-foot tall, glass and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space. The Glasshouse is the result of Chihuly’s lifelong appreciation for conservatories and it houses a 100-foot-long glass instillation, shown in the picture above. It was a really cool setting for the class and the instructor worked a lot of visual cues into the teaching which put the focus on the beautiful glass art and the Space Needle right outside.

 
After yoga I treated myself to a coffee at my favorite coffee place in Seattle, Zoka. While I was there I ran into my outside counsel, Phong, who I joke is my spirit animal because he guides me through all difficult things in life. I love running into people I know in Seattle.

^^Pretty flowers on the sidewalk outside of Zoka on Saturday^^

With my delicious Americano in hand, I went to the grocery store to get some goodies for Easter (I made Paula Deen’s banana pudding and it was a hit!) and then walked to an appointment near my house. Afterward I took myself to lunch at the nearby Latona Pub where I ordered a Double Mountain beer and a steak and mushroom salad and while I waited for my lunch, I sipped my beer and read a book I started Friday night and couldn’t pull myself away from. I ended up starting Wreckage by Emily Bleeker on Friday and finishing it Sunday evening. I couldn’t stop! I love books that captivate you like that.

After lunch I met my friend Natalie for another beer on the patio at The Yard in Greenwood because it was sunny and beautiful out and sipping a beer while engaging in girl talk in the sunshine is one of our favorite activities. Dustin joined us at The Yard after he was finished at the gym (we NEEDED his practical, guy advice for a very urgent matter, of course) and when Natalie had to leave, Dustin and I ended up running a few errands before grabbing dinner at our favorite sushi place by his house.

On Sunday Dustin and I went to Katie and Josh’s house for a delicious Easter Brunch complete with mimosas and cards against humanity. It was a good time. I think Katie and Josh’s for Easter is my new favorite tradition (this was my second year spending the holiday with them). I spent the rest of the evening finishing my book.

It was nice to spend a weekend at home after being gone the past few weekends. Yay for relaxing, yet fun weekends in Seattle. I hope you all had a happy Easter weekend!

Weekend trip to Hood River (April 2013 edition)

Last Friday after work I hopped in the Corolla and drove myself down to Hood River for a weekend of fun with my favorites.

When I got there I immediately headed to Marissa's to spend a few minutes with her and Z before heading downtown to meet up with the rest of the crew for a few drinks.

 Me, Sarah and Beth at the Pub

 

It was so fun to be able to see so many friends so soon after I got into town. Yay for Hood River night life!

 

The next morning, after a sleepover with Beth in her tiny new apartment (which I love), she and I met up with friends (Sarah, Josh, Ashley, Phinney, Faith, Huggy, & Tonya to be exact) for breakfast at the Riverside Grill. We had bloody marys and eggs and the whole thing made my heart ridiculously happy.

 

#foodporn

 

After breakfast, Beth and chilled out at her apartment for a while. She hung some pictures on her wall while I offered moral support (best friend award, right here), we played music videos on youtube (A$AP Rocky!! #sogood), and got dressed up in our FOREVER SUMMER outfits (despite the rain... screw the rain!). Hawaiian shirts (and my new sunnies) are my new jam, by the way.

 

After we were dressed, we ventured out for fro-yo and we even dropped some off with Dana and Marissa at work. Because, I mean, just because you have to work doesn't mean you shouldn't get to enjoy some forever summer fro-yo love.

 



#FOREVER SUMMER #froyofairies
Beth and I at Parts+Labour

 

We also went to Ground to see Mo's artwork on the walls, and get some coffee from her and Calvin.

 

Mo, myself and Calvin behind the counter at Ground, where I worked on and off for 7.5 years

 

And we got a beer at Double Mountain, which I've decided is 100% the happiest place in the world. Take me back, please.

 

Beth with our beers at Double Mountain

 

Finally it was time to BBQ at Josh and Sarah's, so Beth and I went to Rosauers and got some steaks and beer to take with us.

 

We spent the evening hanging at their house, eating meat and drinking beers, chatting with some of our favorite people and having an epic all girls dance party for hours. I can honestly say it was the best night I've had in a really long time. I even got bruises on my knees from dropping it lowww. Whoops!

 

Marissa and I poppin' our Ps and droppin' it low!

 

The next morning I went to breakfast with Beth and Cole at Nora's Table (which is my new, very favorite breakfast spot in Hood River. Guys, it's soo good).

 

I got the chicken and waffles with some poached eggs. It hit the spot. And, after breakfast, when Beth and I dropped off Cole, he gave me a kiss through a parking receipt. Take that, Beth! It was magical.

 

 

 After that I hung around town for a while before finally heading back to Seattle. It was the best weekend with the best people. I love Hood River!! Take me back, please.







off day

I’ve been in such a funk lately. First it was finals, and then it was coming off of finals, and maybe that’s still what it is. Nothingness after so much. And I don’t know what to do with myself. And I feel so unsure about so many things and it’s scary and it makes me not want to get out of bed. Ever. That’s why it’s after 11am and I’m still here, in bed (well, actually I got up to get some water and yogurt because I was SO thirsty).

So after waking up and laying here for while just feeling sorry for myself, I decided to get on the internet, for distraction purposes. Because the internet is the most wonderful distraction (twitter and facebook and blogs and news and now recently pinterest, which is kind of a b-word). And I stumbled across this:

nothing is what we want it to be, but everything is what we make it

And it’s so true. And right now exactly what I needed to hear. Or read. whatever.

So now I think it’s time to end my pity party and get out of bed and take a shower and go for a bundled up walk (because holy F it’s cold outside). I will walk to Zoka to see friends (who are still studying for finals – bummer for you guys) and pawn off cookies on them (because we baked last night, me and my favorites from law school, and those skinny friends of mine wouldn’t take any cookies. SO now I’m going to force ALL the cookies on them, because no one can turn down some finals binge cookie eating). And then maybe walk to Greenlake with warm coffee. And it will be good. Exercise and fresh air and seeing things from a view other than my bed (even though my heat blanket is here, and I love my heat blanket, and there are good things on the walls in my room. It will all be here when I get back).

I don’t mean to sound all emo, friends, and I’m not trying to drag you into my pity party, I promise you that. But, I do think most of you can relate (especially if you’re a girl with SO MANY FEELINGZ). But really, it’s just that time of the year (especially when you live in Seattle and it’s rainy and SO dark all the time). And we all have our off days. So now I’m going to attempt to remedy my off day, because everything is what we make it.

XXOO

The 25the Year

Today I'm 25.

My birthday has been like this: I went to my first class, contemplated doing McDs for lunch, didn't, then went to Zoka to study. I got some free birthday coffee from the barrista. It was good. I'm skipping my last class to go to dinner with Dustin (I feel kind of bad about the skip, but I haven't missed like any class this semester, minus the missed class when I got in my car accident, so it's whatever). We're going to Tom Douglas's Palace Kitchen. I've never been and I'm excited. We're going early (hence me skipping my class) because his new mattress is being delivered between 8 & 10pm tonight. What a random, stupid delivery time, right?

Anyway, here are some pictures from my birthday party (which was on Saturday night):

Sorority Sisters + Rochelle at the prefunk 

Dustin and I 

The No Boyz Allowed Club (ha): Brittan, Natalie, Me & Lisa at Leny's

XXOO everyone
+ thank you for all the birthday love! It means so so much to me!

I Love the Coffee

This morning I got to school at 8am after fighting the #viadoom traffic. I got here early for our weekly American Indian Law Journal meeting, which I once skipped and got guilt tripped/yelled at afterward. So, I now reason that I should just suck it up and go. Every Wednesday. At 8am. Awesome. Needless to say, I got to school at 8am, proceeded to engage in a 10 minute meeting, and then I was done. Really? We couldn’t have just e-mailed this meeting? Anyway…

After my meeting I went across the street to Starbucks, because in my early morning frenzy, I didn’t, again, have time/energy/motivation to make coffee. So, across the street I went (it’s so convenient, really), camel hobo bag full of books and lap top and snacks in toe, to get some coffee and do some reading. I sat in a corner near my friend Dave with my Americano, and I was really productive. I got two classes worth of reading and briefing done for Real Estate.

And then, I started to wonder: when did I begin to need coffee to function in the morning? Because really I do. I realized as I sat there. I’m a little ashamed to admit that. But it’s true, friends. It’s so true. I guess it’s not every morning that I need it. I can go all day Saturday without coffee and it’s alright, especially if there is ample time for naps and laziness. But on a school day, when I have to be productive (read: homework, class, motivation) I need coffee.

Maybe it began back in High School when we would skip class to go sit at Holsteins and drink sugary coffee drinks that would get you super excited about life because we didn’t drink alcohol – I was SUCH a good child, but really.

Or maybe it started even before that when my mom, the queen of coffee addiction, would take my brother and I through drive-through-coffee-stands and get us Italian Sodas and hot chocolates and sometimes let us sip on her iced mocha? It was just so good. I couldn’t wait to be a grown-up and be able to drink coffee whenever I wanted. And eat ice cream for dinner (which I rarely do, BTW).

Or maybe it was when Holsteins closed on Christmas Eve 2004 and we went to mourn the loss and exchange gifts, my high school friends and I. And then Ground bought the building. And then I was hired by my beautiful, blue eyed boss. Before the shop even opened. And I got all the free coffee I wanted. And I learned the joy of “happy hour espresso shots” (which are a secrete and are magical and if you ever have one you’ll want another and then you’ll get all super jittery and productive). And maybe the addiction (or was it just the like) continued when I worked there, at Ground in Hood River, on and off for 6 1/2 years because I’m cool and sometimes, as a 3L I still work at the same job I had when I was a Senior in High School.

 

At least I can make pretty latte art, right?

But really, I think the caffeine super addiction started my 1L year. Alone. In my first ever grown up, all mine, downtown/capitol hill Seattle apartment (ohh I loved that apartment). When I learned how to drink and love straight black coffee. And then everything was downhill from there. I also learned how to drink a big glass of red wine, alone, at night, after getting humiliated during cold-calls. So, really, maybe that’s where everything started to go downhill? Who knows?

But friends, I don’t know what to do about it. My coffee need/want. I don’t know if I want to do anything about it? I almost like it. It’s comforting in a way that is familiar and reminds me of home. And I like coffee. It’s delicious (especially when it’s from somewhere other than Starbucks). And I also like the energy it gives me.

So I guess, my question to you is: do you also suffer from the addiction? Are you worried about it? Should I be worried too? Knowing other people are going through the same thing makes me feel better about my choices. Because I’m easily influenced like that. Don’t judge me!

Thermos Obsession

Guys, I have a confession. I have an obsession: thermoses. They’re amazing. True story.

I used to think thermoses were something that only old men use. Right? But they’re awesome. Maybe old men use them because old men are wise. And they know that Thermoses keep your coffee SO hot for SO long. It’s awesome. Hot coffee for a long time means that I can space out my coffee intake into a more efficient and manageable and less caffeine jittery way all day while I’m at school. It’s a law school coffee revolution. I’m convinced.

Friday morning I had to be at school early for my clinic office hours. Dustin (yeah, that’s happening again, BTW :) made me some coffee but I was in a hurry so I had to find something to take the coffee to go in. He apparently doesn’t have any travel mugs (what??), but he did have a thermos. Ok, it’ll do, right? Right. Plus I figured that Kyle (my clinic partner, who just turned 30) and I could bond over the thermos since he’s basically an old man. Fact: it worked. Kyle totally has a thermos. He loves it. I giggled about it.

But after 3+ hours and many hot hot mini cups of coffee (isn’t it so great that the thermos comes with it’s own mini mug?? right??), I was hooked. I basically shouted to Kyle that I LOVE THERMOSES! My excitement may have been partially due to the caffeine, but whatever!

I then immediately text Dustin to confess my love. He told me that I could have his. But I didn’t want to take his. Who takes someone else’s thermos? Rude!

But when I went to his house that evening for a little dinner date, I returned his thermos and guess what? He had went out and bought me my very own, amazing (old man) thermos:

I knew I kept him around for a reason. How sweet, right?

And by the way, I effing love my new Thermos! YAY!