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!

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!