Rainy Day Ideas: Oscar Movie Night

When we moved here several years ago, we didn't quite understand when our neighbors bid farewell in late September. We hadn't seen a moving sign so we weren't quit sure where they were headed. Then October arrived and with it some of the rainest days on record. Our vibrant neighborhood became a ghost town and we too found ourselves spending more and more time nesting inside.

I'm a true nester- easily entertained by crafty little projects that warm my home. J on the other hand...well, in his own words, he's an 'outside dog.' So what's an outside dog to do when he's pent up inside? He goes stir crazy! Cabin fever sets in and even the largest of rooms starts to feel like a cage.

Over the years we've become more and more creative as we've sought out ways to fight the itch for spring. This year I'm super excited about one thing we've cooked up with a few of our friends. We've decided to do a bi-weekly movie/dinner night.

What's so special about a movie night you ask? Well, this isn't just a movie night. It's an Oscar through the ages night. We are going to work our way through the winners decade by decade and challenge ourselves to cook meals that are inspired by the film in one way or another. The first flick we are watching is "It Happened One Night."



Two weeks later we'll be watching Casablanca and J has promised to finally use that Tangine I bought him last Christmas. I'm so excited!



We'll have to keep you posted as things unfold but I'm curious...how do you pass the rainy days? Any creative ideas? I'd love to hear more about how the rest of Seattle fills those darker days.

Photography: Birth Stories

Of all the investments I've made in life the one that I would go back and pay for ten times over is my son's birth story.

Those precious hours changed my life more than any others have, and while each and every moment is forever engraved into my heart there is something truely priceless to me about having photos that catpure the gravity of the moment too. I have no doubt that the photos taken that day will become treasured family heirlooms, just as much as the handmade quilts and other items handed down from one generation to the next.

Choosing someone to capture this once in a lifetime event was hard. As a photographer myself, I am beyond blessed to know some of the best and most talented individuals in the area. In the end, two friends agreed to step up to the challenge and be on call for the big event- Kristi Lloyd and Crystal Veroff. These ladies are amazing; I can't say enough good things about them both.

We'd spoken about the type of photos I was looking for, but in the end...as with most birth stories, little is scripted. On the big day, a text went out and Kristi quickly joined us for the hours and moments leading up to Finley's birth. She was there through the laughter, tears, and at times pain that I endured. The way Kristi captured each little tiny detail from the clock hands at the minute of Finley's birth to our hands clutched together as we prayed for a safe delivery is nothing short of amazing. Each frame she took is so beautiful, but the way she wove them together into this amazing slideshow still moves me to tears.

Finley turned six months old yesterday. He's a far cry from the tiny, quiet bundle that came home. He's growing, changing, and laughing his way through the days and weeks; each day is full of true wonder! I LOVE being his mom! I will confess though...there is part of me that already miss my tiny newborn. ;) Good news though is that thanks to Kristi's gift, I can sit down and quietly watch and relive the joy of those first precious moments. The way it moved me will NEVER cease to take my breathe away.



Kristi, thank you so much for sharing your talents with us. You'll forever be a part of our family and of course Finley's special friend.

Appendix or Bust!

OK, so after a good start I was totally bummed to fall off the posting wagon so soon. I do have a stellar excuse though.

So how does a beautiful sunny weekend go way wrong? Appendicitis!

Friday I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a mack truck. I struggled through the day until about 3:30 when I relented to call into the doc. We went through the list of questions and they too agreed it was probably a bug until I hit the last symptom- lower right quadrant pain. Apparently that's a red flag. So we scheduled an appointment and agreed that if anything changed before morning I'd head to the ER. Boo!

I made it until morning and was actually feeling a little better. I got up, took a shower, and even drove myself to my appointment. I totally expected a clean bill of health, but much to my dismay the doc said she thought it was appendicitis. "You'll need to go to the E.R. for a scan to confirm, but I'm 80% sure" she said. That was the beginning of the end of my beautiful sunny weekend.

I headed into the E.R. around noon, was diagnosed around 3, admitted around 3:15, and had surgery around 9. The whole thing was a bummer that's left me a little worn down and more than a little sore. Good news though is I'm on the mend.

I'm laying low for a few days, but i couldn't let another day pass without giving a huge shout out to everyone who helped J and I this weekend. Amanda, Julia, Kristi, Jo, and Lia...you all are rockstars; we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so much for giving up part of your weekend to help us in a pinch.

AND Erin...I'm bummed I missed your birthday but I promise I'll make it up to you very soon! Happy Birthday!

Out an About: Lunch at Marination Mobile

So today Finley and I decided to hit the road for a little picnic lunch. Now to most people the word picnic implies a home cooked lunch packed in a nice basket, lunch box, or paper bag. Me...I'm a nursing mom so my son's food is 'packed' and on the ready. And for me...well, as much as I like to cook when I get a free moment sometimes cooking is just not high on my list. Fortunately, Seattle is rich with mobile food possibilities.

Today I took full advantage of one of these offerings- The Marination Mobile. This was my second Marination Mobile experience and I have to say, it just keeps getting better. The people are so friendly and the food is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

For those of you unfortunate enough to have missed out on The Marination Mobile, fear not, you'll have ample opportunity to scout out this mobile gourmet. Today I'll give you a sneak peak at the fabulous munching experience that awaits you.

Small bites make it easy to get a taste for what this self described 'Hawaiian/Korean curb cuisine' has to offer. For $6 I had a spicy pork taco, a miso chicken taco, and an Aloha slider. They handed me my cardboard plate of goodness and I headed off to the shady trail for my picnic.

Dotted along the waterfront was a scene of contented lunchgoers all picnicing on tasty treats just like me. It was so yummy; the perfect way to spice up a cool fall day while taking in a little of the outdoors. I savored my plate, people watching while I munched, then headed out for a nice walk along the water. It was the perfect picnic and best part...no preparation and minimal clean-up. I highly recommend it!

If I've tempted you enough to want to have your own Marination Mobile experience, you can find where they'll be on their blog. I'm including a link with hopes that many of you will follow my happy lead. Marination Mobile

My First Post: The Adventure Begins!

Journaling once was the norm for me. Words- verbal, scribbled, instant messaged, or otherwise expressed, were not just a means to an end; they were my way of capturing and sharing all the good, bad, and in between that I encountered. I never thought too much about what I said, instead I just embraced my curiosities and let them take me where they would.

Fast forward a blossoming business, a wonderful husband, an adorable baby boy and now words are something different. The demands on my time have drawn me to be much more deliberate with the choices I make, and in doing so I've convinced myself that I will be more productive, happy, and creatively fulfilled if I plan first, write later. LOL

The trouble is my tangents, my musings...my much more natural rhythm are where I draw my energy from. They truly are the root of my creative being. AND so, after near a year of scheduling, planning, and conceiving what this blog would be I'm throwing it all out the window. No more pouring over the 'look' of the banner, the 'image' and the 'message' that I hope to convey to you. Instead I offer you this- a promise of sorts.

I promise that each day will be a little different. I promise to seek out new adventures and to take you with me along the way. I promise to plan a little less, and post a little more. ;) I promise to try to inspire and amuse you along the way.

My postings will be a sampling of where the days lead me. A cool fall day might be spent out strolling the streets of a new neighborhood, popping into stores along the way. I might introduce you to a toy my son couldn't live without or the cup of coffee that warmed me up along the way. The next day, I might teach you about a rose I'm planning to plant in my garden and ways I'm daydreaming of using it for an event I'm planning. And then the next day might just be about the fabulous dinner my husband cooked with the bounty from our local farmer's market. A natural rhythm may develop along the way, but the days will be the driving force, not my planner.

I hope you'll join me as the days unfold! I can't tell you how relieved I am to be making my first post; it's so exciting! Have a great one!