Easter Weekend 2014

This past weekend was spent with some of my favorites people Seattle. My friend Sarah came up Friday after work for the weekend and my friends Danielle and Steffen were in town for a wedding. Friday night I had nachos and ginger beer margaritas waiting at my apartment for Sarah and I to eat when she got into town. After our late dinner we grabbed an Uber downtown to meet up with Danielle and Steffen for a drink (at the weirdest bar I've ever been to in Seattle). We stayed for one $2.50 vodka soda, a few songs about marijuana and minimum wage and anal beads (WTF? Open Mic Night) before we headed back to my apartment to get some rest.

Saturday Sarah and I went to the always packed Portage Bay Café in South Lake Union for a reallllly delicious breakfast. Luckily we had a reservation so we didn't have to wait long for a table. That being said, it's totally worth the wait. Go there for breakfast if you're ever in Seattle. After breakfast I dropped Sarah off downtown for her Taxidermy class. She taxidermied (is that the right word?) a rat. It was weird and cool and totally random. I feel like she needs to forever use that fact in random icebreaker exercises.

After I dropped Sarah off at her class, I met Danielle and Steffen at Pike Place Market. It was pouring rain but it wasn't too cold so we walked around, they got some Beecher's Mac and Cheese, we looked at flowers (see above pictures) and eventually we found a covered, outside table where we got three coffees and sat catching up for a bit before they had to leave to get ready for the wedding they were attending that evening.

Saturday evening I picked up Sarah and we took forever deciding what we wanted to do for the night. We eventually settled on Indian food for dinner. We went to Taste of India which is my favorite Indian place in Seattle. It's near my house, and it's so random and amazing. The restaurant is in an old house and the outside is covered in tacky decorations and lights, but they have the best service and the food is great. We enjoyed some complimentary appetizers and chai while we waited for a table (the place was packed) and then enjoyed a really tasty meal.

After dinner we decided to go to Cinnebarre and watch The Grand Budapest Hotel while we drank an adult beverage. We both really liked the movie. In addition to being visually interesting (like all of Wes Anderson's movies) this movie seemed to really keep my attention and had more action than some of his other movies.

Sunday morning we got coffee before Sarah headed back to Hood River. I then headed to Josh and Katie's for Easter brunch. I usually spend Easter with Dustin but he was vacationing in Vegas (whhhatever Dustin haha). We had frittata, mimosas and cake. We played games and watched Now and Then. It was a relaxing, delicious Easter. And weekend in general!

update + video

life update: I went on a walk to zoka and pawned off cookies and then walked through wallingford and greenlake to the actual lake with an eggnog latte that was all watered down with nonfat milk and I saw someone skiing along the edge of the lake with roller skiis and propelling them self with ski sticks and I saw lots of un-lit Christmas decorations and beautiful houses and squirrels and my most favorite thing when I'm having a bad day: ducks. I loveee ducks. they were chilling on the lake and it was magical.

and then I came home to find this video of Danielle and Steffen's wedding highlights. and I love it. I think the video perfectly captures their day (and also almost made me cry again when it showed Steffen's surprise singing - I need to pull it together haha):

Danielle and Steffen's Wedding Highlight Video from Mat Sutor - Sutography on Vimeo.

and also Dustin asked me on a date tonight which made me happy. I of course said yes! I love dates with him.

now I'm going to make chex mix and maybe more cookies because there is more dough (and then pawn them off on Dustin) and clean our home and get ready for my date and I guess things are sort of looking up, and I think maybe I made it be that way. 

5 Random Friday Things

1. I’m going to attempt to make a whole, roasted chicken tonight. For the first time ever. It seems so grown up. You know? Roasting a whole chicken is something adults do. And I don’t often feel like an adult.

2. And I guess my grown up, chicken cooking task seems fitting seeing as I turn 25 Monday (so old). To celebrate I’m having a birthday party this weekend. Not a real birthday party (with hats and a cake and things). A hey, come to this bar and have a drink with me, kind of birthday party. And I’m excited. It’s at 9pm at Leny’s (on 56th), if you’re in Seattle (or elsewhere – my friend from Chicago will be there, so BAM) and you want to come. They serve steins (is that what they’re called? the giant mugs?) of beer. And it’s walking distance from my house. Double BAM!

2(a). I use too many parentheses.

3. It’s 11-11-11 today, in case you didn’t already know. Make a wish. I know I did.

4. My newest baby cousin, Tot (no, not his real name, even though it SHOULD be – I’m looking at you, Chip & Katie) is supposed to be born any day now. His dad, Chip (my first and favorite cousin) thought that he was going to be born today. Also Chip is a veteran, so it would have been perfect (I guess it could still happen). I think little Tot will be here on my birthday. And his actual due date is on Thursday, the 17th. No matter when he’s born, I can’t wait to meet him!

5. One more picture from Danielle’s wedding, because I’ve been sucking at posting pictures with my posts lately. Also I love this. What a perfect day!!

Headaches & Monday & Pictures

I have been all complain, complain, complain lately and I'm sorry for that. But oh my, my head still hurts from my concussion. And today my doctor told me that this headache could last for months. Um, unacceptable? Also I've been learning the hard way that it's difficult to be positive when you're physically in pain. I need to do something about this ASAP. I'm just not sure what that I should do yet... does anyone have any good headache remedies (IB proufin just isn't cutting it)?

Anyway, here are some more Danielle and Steffen Wedding pictures (because like I said before, pictures make everything better - in blog world at least):

Beautiful bride Danielle and me during bridal party picture time

Zeta Love (bride + ZTA sorority sisters)

The wedding party took golf carts to the beach for pictures. I took two glasses of champagne along for the ride.

Also, happy Monday everyone. CLICK HERE for a free music download (because free music Mondays are good). 

Wednesday Morning Thingz

Usually I love chocolate peanut butter overnight oats. But this morning, they aren't doing it for me. Maybe it's because I woke up grumpy (for no real reason) this morning? Or maybe it's because I stuffed my face at Dustin's last night with a cheese steak sandwich (he used to live in Philly so it was extra legit), and about a million french fries dipped in cheese sauce and/or gravy. Fat kid status for sure. At least I didn't like the shrimp french fry cheesy sandwich he made (it tasted only like pickles which are yuck) or I probably would have eaten all of that too. I need to learn some self control. And I need to learn that when I eat that much for dinner (at like 9:30pm), nothing is going to taste good the next day. 

Anyway, I was sitting here being all bummed because my breakfast is lame and because I'm having a grumpy morning, and then, these pictures from Danielle and Steffen's wedding photographer, posted on facebook:

 CREDIT FOR BOTH

Isn't half moon bay the prettiest?

Anyway, now I need to go get ready for class, I guess. Even though that doesn't sound like fun. Ha!

Kammerer Wedding Part Three

It has taken me about a month to tell you about Danielle and Steffen’s wedding. Ha. But here I am, at the last post. (oh and here are the links to Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them).

So after getting ready at the Ritz and having our pictures taken and all of that we headed down to Mullens where the reception would take place. We sat in this room and started to get really, really nervous. Then we listened to a little “Party Rock” on Courtney’s cell and everything got infinitely better. Then it was time to head out to the ceremony.

I walked down the isle with my man twin, Josh, waited up at the alter for Danielle while Steffen sobbed. It was so sweet. 

The ocean was in the background and although it was overcast out, it was beautiful.

The ceremony was really sweet and I was smiling the entire time in an attempt not to cry in front of 100+ people. Ha. I would!

After the ceremony, it was picture time/cocktail hour. We waited and took some pictures under the alter then headed inside real quick to get some drinks (Josh and I double fisted champagne and Kate stole a whole bottle for us to take on our picture adventure). After a slight mishap we were in our golf carts heading down to the beach to take some wedding party + bride and groom pictures. I wish I would have brought my camera to the golf cart adventure. But I didn’t. Bad blogger.

After picture time we headed back to Mullens and bustled up Danielle.

 

Right after we got back it was dinner time. I love dinner time. I was starving. I got sat next to Josh at dinner (we were at the big wedding party table in front of everyone and we felt really cool about it) and obvi we had a great time (twinz do that).

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN! Like this!

Dinner was delish. It started with a yummy salad, a piece of bread with goat cheese on it and a roll. A+:

Also I had 4 drinks… because that’s how I roll at weddings apparently (two champagnes, one red one and one water):

After that our main courses came. I ordered the chicken dish (I can’t remember what it was called now, but it was really good – it was chicken, wrapped in filo and stuffed with some mushroom amazingness).

Josh ordered the Prime Rib and I forced him to trade me a bite for a bite. His was amazing too. NOM:

We obviously finished our dinners completely, and hoarded a dish of butter too.. Fat kids FOR SURE! We also finished up Courtney’s prime rib when she couldn’t do so herself. All that standing, and picture taking and stress really made us hungry.

During dinner there were a bunch of toasts too. I had to hold back tears the entire time. Weddings are so emotional. Sigh!

But I remember sitting there during dinner thinking: I can’t believe this is it. I can’t believe they’re FINALLY married. They’ve been together the entire time I’ve known them and they are one of those couples you just know are supposed to be together. They are really really great and I am just so happy for them.

After dinner we got up to go watch Danielle and Steffen’s first dance. But first, a surprise! Whatttt?

Steffen surprised Danielle by playing/singing  a song that he had been practicing for a few months, SO SWEET!

He sang her “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry but changed some of the lyrics. If I told you I didn’t ugly sob during it I would be lying. Like really, really ugly crying.

What can I say? After having such a stressful/emotional day, where I held back tears for like, the entire day, when I was watching him play/sing her that song, it was just SO sweet. And I wept. But when I looked over I saw that Courtney was doing the same, so it was ok. (P.S. her boyfriend may be my man twin, but she is my female twin. Love.)

Ugly cry faces? Don’t say I didn’t warn you:

Then came their first dance which they had been taking dancing lessons in preparation for. It was really really good. I loved it, which is saying something because usually I hate first dances. Like how awkward, everyone standing there watching you grope each other and makeout to a song for 5 minutes? NO thank you!

After that I went to the bathroom, wiped the ugly off, went outside for a second, then got the dance party started (duh):

The DJ was really great. He didn’t just play songs iPod style, he actually mixed them it was a great dance party.

I kept taking breaks to go outside because I kept feeling super overwhelmed though. Then going back inside to dance (obvi) and take care of drunk people (oh the life of a bride’s maid).

And then near the end of the night Danielle suggested a tequila shot (which were kind of our thing in college – um, Patron, yes please). The other bride’s maids got word and it turned into a bridal party shot. And it was awesome!

We hung out until the end of the reception then helped clean up a little before Kate and I headed back to our hotel room to change and go to the house the boys had rented for a little (super mellow) after party.

That night we slept for a few hours before getting up and heading back to the airport. I sat next to the worst child ever on the flight back to Seattle. He had no sense of boundaries. I almost punched him, but I didn’t. Close call. Note: don’t ever touch me over and over again on a flight when I’m about to vom from my raging hangover. But that’s beside the point…

Danielle and Steffen had the best wedding ever. Ever ever ever. It was just so perfect and nice and fun. I loved it.

The end.