Birthday weekend in Seattle

And now I am 27. 

My birthday was great! I woke up and walked downstairs to a surprise from Mark-he decorated! Sneaky, sneaky.

Perhaps one of my favorite messages was this one: even Heath, Emma, and Scotty got dressed up and Scotty ate a cupcake (and the paper...) in my honor!

AND!!! I got two gift certificates to order my very first dahlias and my very. first. David Austin rose!!!!! I've been dreaming of having my own David Austin rose for years friends, years. His roses are some of the best, in my humble opinion. I love a good fragrant rose and his are scrumptious! Yesterday Mark and I strolled through the rose and dahlia gardens at the park down the street and I got some ideas for which dahlias to order and a few rose ideas. Oh this is so exciting!!!

 And Mark got me a basket for my bike!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have a bell and a basket!!! I LOVE IT! It even comes off easily so I can carry it around. Perfect for the library, farmer's markets, etc. Mark, you're good.

Then we topped off the night with ice cream from a local ice cream shop (The Scoop) in the neighborhood. We hadn't been before and it was deeeelish! We discussed that next summer we will be making frequent visits here. Mmm mm!

The rest of my present was a weekend in Seattle. Mark and I had never been so this was a treat for us both! We left Friday and got in around 1:30, got settled in to our hotel (in Bellevue), and then decided we'd explore some of Bellevue. We went and saw a movie (Maze Runner--intense and kind of odd. I feel like I need to read the book to really get it because it's pretty action packed from start to end). Then, I requested a stop at Whole Foods and the mall. Silly right? Well, there isn't a Whole Foods in Spokane and the mall had a Nordstrom (hello Jo Malone perfume!!) and Anthropologie (because I have an obsession love their bowls!). So I marched in Nordstrom hoping they would have Jo Malone IN the store (Spokane's Nordstrom does not and I can't order a perfume without smelling it!) and they did!! Except there was some party or promotion or something going on and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get in to smell the perfumes. Well, Mark told me to weasel my way in so that I did! After having 4 different associates ask if they could help, and explaining that I am familiar with Jo and traveled 5 hours for this, they ooohed and aaahed and let me sample to my heart's content. After sniffing nearly 10 perfumes, I chose one: Wood Sage and Sea Salt...mmmmmm! I love Jo Malone. I also recommend (and want to get) Peony and Blush Suede, and, Amber & Patchouli. Patchouli is a special scent to me because it always reminds me of my grandmother. 

Ok funny story. I love stationary. So naturally I had to pop into Papyrus while roaming the mall. In the window was a cute "thank you" card with a scotty dog on the cover and it reminded me of Scotty (even though he is a miniature schnauzer), so I had to have it. Well, I walked around the store looking for it and finally asked one of the associates who told me they didn't have anymore and someone had purchased the last pack without the display card (anyone else think that's kind of weird?) but they should be getting a shipment in soon...yadda yadda. I replied that we were visiting only for the weekend and I'd just have to check Spokane. Well, a few minutes later he boisterously told me that Spokane didn't even have a Papyrus. I was so suprised that I was speechless for a second and then kindly explained we had just moved so I didn't realize Spokane, with three malls, didn't have a Papyrus. Unimpressed and deflated we walked out and I looked at the thank you card one more time only to see there was INDEED the very pack I wanted underneath the display card. So I marched back in and told the associate that I was sure there was a pack left and that I would like to buy it. He looked a little perturbed but went to the display and got the pack for me. 

If ever there were a time I wanted to fold my arms, cock my eyebrow and say, "told ya so!", that would have been the moment but instead I was too happy. He apologized, I thanked him and then walked out with my prize. Score one for the determined woman after Scotty dog thank you cards!

Then we went to dinner and got sushi!!! Mark and I have decided we will try sushi at each place we visit. It was good. Miyabi's in South Carolina still reigns as our favorite place though. 

Saturday we went to Seattle!!! Our only real plans were Pike Place Market, some wandering/exploring, and the Goodwill Outlet (because apparently here you can get some pretty sweet stuff for 99cents!!!!). 

Our first task was the gum wall down Post Alley. It took us a little bit to find it but we did and we contributed!

Gross...yet awesome.

Our task was to pretty much eat our way through the market. We ate sub par chicken teriyaki, a superb nutella crepe, tried samples of smoked salmon (yum), dipping oils, peaches, apples, and chocolate pasta (Mark wouldn't let me get some because he would not eat it, darn!).

The market is HUUUUUGE! It was crazy busy but so much fun. So many cool stalls and shops! The fruit looked incredible. And the flowers. THE FLOWERS. Gorgeous, big bouquets for sale by the stem or for $5-$10. I could not believe it. If we lived in Seattle, I would buy a bouquet weekly!!

Mark bought me a beautiful bouquet of dahlias. Right now they are in a vase in our living room, still beautiful. I love flowers. 

Mark's only request was to see Safeco Field (home of the Seattle Mariners). It wasn't far from the market so we walked down there and ended up taking a REALLY cool tour of the field. Mark was very, very, very, very happy. Our tour guide was so nice and EXTREMELY knowledgeable about baseball. I never know how important the grass patterns in stadiums were until he gave us a 15 minute lecture on why the field's grass is mowed the way it is and why they chose the grass they did. Apparently it was genius because the Yankees adopted it the season after the Mariners changed their grass mowing/growing pattern. Wow. Who knew??

Visitors room 

Press room

Apparently this throne is for their mascot the moose but we got to sit in it too!

We also got to see the Diamond Club exclusive, fancy room which had huge pictures of Babe Ruth, including this one when he was still a Red Sox pitcher!

I don't know why this picture won't rotate but we had a delicious dinner at Ivar's. We tried the clam chowder and it was good, really it was, but, New England clam chowder is still better. Just my opinion. BUT the fish, shrimp, and chips were SO, SO good. Highly recommend this place (thank you Jean!!). 

 A nice view of Mt. Rainier on our way home

Superb weekend! We didn't have time to hit up the Goodwill Outlet (sorry Macklemore). It closed by the time we were walking back to our car, but we will surely be back because we still have so much to see!!! (Including a Mariners/Red Sox game and/or a Mariners/Rangers game)

On to the next quarter century!

I am now 26. Whoa.

Age has never really been a big deal to me. Well, that's a lie. 16 was pretty exciting. Age is a number and a mind set. But...26? I'm now in my upper 20s. Weird. Just weird. But anyway, it ended as a grand day. So my birthday technically was Monday. I am not going to lie, having a birthday on a Monday is kind of a bum deal. It was crazy busy and work kind of ruined my day. Until around 2pm when I got a call from one of the managers to see if I was in my office because someone was looking for me. Great. Probably a patient or their family member hunting me down. It was that kind of a day. I got to my office and there wasn't anyone there so I called the manager back and he said to stay in my office and the "visitor" was on their way. Then I became suspicious. Amy wasn't saying a thing either. Well, about 3 minutes later someone knocked on our door and there was a woman holding a beautiful bouquet of roses.

 FOR ME. 

Whaaaaat? 

So, call me cliche and old school but I have always wanted to be that girl who gets flowers at work. I don't mean that vainly. I just think it's always so sweet! Well, Monday was that day. And from Mark. I don't know how I lucked out getting such a swell guy, but I did. *sigh*  

And then I got home and had an odd-looking package outside my door. Well it was from my brother who is on a church mission in Australia!!! Now how many 19 year old boys remember their older sister's birthday and have the sense to send it so it arrives on their birthday? Apparently my brother. Totally precious! He sent me some "lollies" (candy), a beautiful anchor bracelet and the stuffed animal is a tazmania devil. My brother rocks!

Now Mark had sent me my package and it arrived the Friday before my birthday but I refused to open it until Monday. FINALLY I GOT TO OPEN IT!!!! He sent me a card that lights up. LEGIT!!!!!! And tons of candy (apparently everyone knew I was lacking in chocolate because I got a ton of it!). AND 3 of the Nancy Drew books I had been missing. I am working to have the entire Nancy Drew collection. He's so awesome! 

 Now to back track. 

I went to Dallas over Labor Day weekend to visit Mark and to take our engagement pictures. It was, as it always is, so much fun! Friday we explored downtown Dallas and went through a bunch of art museums and walked around. Friends, it's BLIMEY hot in Dallas. BLIMEY. HOT. I do not tolerate triple digits well. Whew. It was still wicked fun! We ended the day with sushi and then meeting his parents, sister, and one of his nephews for a Rangers game! My first Rangers game. I even wore blue to be supportive. But before you freak, because I am die hard, loyal Red Sox fan, Mark and I have an agreement that we will support each other's teams unless they are playing each other. 

Around the 4th inning Mark's dad told us to get our phones/cameras out and then this appeared on the scoreboard. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!???? AWESOME!!! I couldn't believe it AND it was up for, what felt like, quite a while. I was afraid they were going to pan the camera on us (again, 105 degrees makes for one sweaty, nasty, frizzy Gabe). They didn't, thankfully. But holy catscans!!!! How sweet! 

I finally got to try the infamous Rooster's Roadhouse burger and freshly made potato chips. AWESOME BURGER! AWESOME! And I got to color with Mark's niece (and I guess technically she'll be my niece too! HOOOORAY!!!!!) while we waited. She is wicked cute and I am now also wrapped around her finger! 

Saturday Mark and I took engagement pictures. It was 105 degrees at 5pm. I thought we were going to melt. Poor Mark was wearing his wool uniform while we took our formal shots at an airplane hangar. The shots look AWESOME (you'll see a sneak peek later).

Still smiling after 2 hours of picture-taking. We were waiting for Mark's best friend and his wife to join us for ice cream. The ice cream parlor is aaaaaaadorable! Can't wait to go back! 

During a discussion prior to my arrival, I found out Mark has never tried a Hostess Cupcake. So, naturally I had to bring him one to try. I am not a fan of Hostess products because they are more chemical than food and I can taste it. Gross. But I made him try it. CLEARLY he was thrilled.

 Mark's family celebrated my birthday early on Sunday. How sweet is that? I mean really! Mark's mom, whom I adore, made my favorite cake, German Chocolate Cake! It was soooooo yummy! I love my future family.

And Mark's parents got me some birthday presents. I was trying really hard to act mature but the giddy kid in me came out as I was opening the newest additions to my cookbook collection and gardening utensils to plant grape hyacinths. Mark DREW, yes DREW, the anchor. He is INCREDIBLY talented friends. I couldn't believe he drew that. :) And I always love Boston Red Sox stuff!!! My face hurt from smiling so much. It was a grand day! 

Then Mark and his dad played a bunch of songs on the piano (they are both amazing; Mark's dad can play anything) and Mark, his neice, his sister, and I danced around the living room under the direction of his niece. She is so cute I can't stand it! 

Then I caught this picture. Pardon me while I melt.

And finally. The best for last. 

I HAVE AN OFFICIAL WEDDING DATE!!!!!!!!!

December 14th!!! 

WAHOOOO!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark and I have been waiting for on a few things before we could announce the date and finally everything fell into place and it's official! We had this date in mind for a bit so, don't worry, the wedding planning was already underway but now I can REALLY get things done! 

 We won't get the rest of our engagement shots until next week but Ambyr was sweet enough to post a few sneak peeks on her blog! She was FABULOUS and so patient and fun! 

I cant' wait to see the rest of them!!!

83 days to go!

Yay it's May!

So. 

Let's recap. 

This may be a long post BUT it has lots of pictures (and yes, a lot of food pics. Don't pretend to be shocked)!!! That means it'll mostly be pictures with my commentary. Muahaha!

Ye have been warned. Birthdays are kind of A HUGE deal for me. The bigger I can make it, the better. My pal Amy had her 24th birthday on the 23rd and the day before I had brilliant ideas poppin' out of my brain cells. I couldn't wait. These are the results:

*Eh hem* FIRST of all friends, let me just say I made my own caramel...WITHOUT a candy thermometer. WHABAM! And it was great! The author of the recipe said I could do it and she was right. Boy I felt like a million bucks. Also I'm glad because otherwise I would have had to make a late night trip to Wally-world (eh...) for caramels to melt (aka the cheapo way). Well, thank goodness it worked. 

 I felt it completely necessary that I "taste test" some so I put it atop some leftover brownies I had in the freezer and then thought, "what the heck?" and topped it with some sea salt and whipped cream, or "keem" as my darling nieces used to call it. Delish friends, DEE.LISH.

Now the point of making the caramel? Well, Amy's favorite candy bar, or one of, is Twix and I had pinned (I will admit, I am a Pinterestaholic. Yup. *no shame*) a homemade Twix recipe months ago and now had a reason to make them! YES! So I made 'em, cut up in attempt to make them kinda, sorta look like Twix bars and then got all crazy (this is what happens when I am scheming, the ideas just FLOOOOOW. It's amazing) and decided to wrap them up so they looked like candies. 

AND THEN. I decided that Twix bars weren't enough, because, like I said, I like to go ALL OUT on birthdays. I decided to make some peanut butter pudding cookies. Amy and I had made these together months ago and I remember us both devouring them so I thought these would be a hit. Instead of peanut butter chips, which I didn't have because I kind of decided to make them on the fly, I just used Reeses Pieces, peanut butter M&Ms, and chocolate chips. 

SOOOO YUMMY! And you know I taste tested that dough about 5 times. I gave her 24 cookies and she was kind enough to share. Mmmmm! 

THEN. And this was the AHA! moment I had right before I left work on Monday and decided to gather all my goods to super surprise Amy on Tuesday: decorate her desk/half of our office. Oh I was bursting with excitement! I got to work super early and decorated and was so nervous she would come in extra early (she always beats me) and I would be in the middle of decorating. Well, as it turns out she was running late and ended up getting in loooong after I had finished. Thank goodness. She was surprised and I was pleased. 

Now we decided to throw a birthday bash on Saturday and I got all crazy and made spinach dip (from a packet but it was from Mark from this fabulous store in Texas!) with homemade pita chips, and, now this is a big deal, guacamole. For the first time. By myself (which means without the guidance of Mark, who showed me how to make it). Now I realize it's not rocket science but I'm a baker, ok? This means I like specific amounts with specific ingredients and clear cut instructions. Cooking is a little more lenient in amounts and ingredients so I was a little nervous making this for the first time, and for a party no less. Fortunately, Mark is amazing and walked me through about 5 times. He even Skyped with me while I made a test batch. Yes he is that awesome. And yes I am pathetic. It's the curse of perfectionism. 

THEN. In my attempts to get back into making dinners more consistently that are a little more wholesome than a PB/honey sandwich, cereal, or a Greek yogurt, I found a super easy salad recipe which involved black beans, corn, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a homemade cilantro-lime dressing. Friends, it's off the hook good. I added some spicy tilapia and whoa buddy it was good. YAY for leftovers! 

This shouldn't be anything new but I just am not feeling running as of late. I don't know why. Actually I do. April, well, after April 10th, April and I were not on good terms. No siree. Work sucked the life out of me (you work 3 weeks straight sans a day off and tell me how you feel. Yeah that's what I thought), I was recently asked to be the director of a girls camp my church does every year and usually the director is given this assignment months ago and I have kind of been thrown into the whirlwind of planning (with a mere 2 months to go until camp) while trying to get myself up to speed, plan, etc. etc. etc., while trying to maintain my personal sanity. This is no small task. I believe many of you would say, "Welcome to being an adult" or "Welcome to reality. Yeah well...fine. At least hand me some more cheese for my whining. Provolone preferably. Or sharp Havarti. 

I was talking to Amy, who is running a marathon this weekend and another in Philadelphia in November. I was telling her I didn't really want to run the Myrtle Beach mini-marathon (half marathon; I don't know why they call it a mini-marathon because there is nothing mini about 13.1 miles thankyouverymuch) in October. I didn't like the course and, I donno, just wasn't feeling it. Amy suggested I run the half marathon in Philly when she runs the full. 

DONE. I am slightly more motivated though probably not until after the chaos of June is over. But still. Now I have a goal. AND it's my first distance race. We're making a little trip out of it and driving up with a group of friends, a few others who are running the half and a few coming to cheer us on. I am pumped! And you better believe I will be running up the Rocky stairs! 

Next month this cutie will be back in NH to live with my brother and sister-in-law permanently. I'm a little heartbroken because I love him so, but I think it'll be better for him: more room to run around and two people to care for him. So I busted out his dreaded carry-on bag to get him ready for the flight home. I can already feel my stress level rising. 

Per the request of Amy, I made rolo cookies for her because this week has been a bust for us both. Like I'd turn down a request for cookies and the opportunity to bake. NEVER! 

And now for today. I had yesterday and today off. Yesterday was devoted to errands and today was my fun day. I let my mane go free--and it was windy so I looked like a human Mufasa--and busted out my mint cords and loafers, and you know that means I'm in for some serious fun. 

The fun started with Iron Man 3. Dude. First showing of the day cost me a whoppin' $4.75. That pleased me GREATLY. And hooooooly catscans it was a GREAT flick. Robert Downey Jr. is one of, if not my favorite actor. This role was made for him. Go see it. You will not be disappointed! Then I went to get froyo for lunch. It's been awhile since I had some. I got hazelnut, chocolate, and vanilla froyo and topped it with--ready for this??--chocolate chips, brownie bits, chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds, cocoa puffs (why not??) and topped it off with chocolate jimmies (or for those of you not from New England, chocolate sprinkles). Ooooooh yes I loved it! AND this makes me SO excited to go home in June to a) see Heath and Emma and my New England family and b) go to Lagos, the best ice cream place EVER. I'm drooling already. OHMYLANTUSIMSOEXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then I decided to "pop in" to Anthropologie. Right. Pop in. Ha. I don't shop at Anthro for their clothes. Not quite my style, though cute. I shop for their kitchen stuff, sometimes home stuff, and random books/literature/note pads/writing stuff. I honed in on this cup and plate (pictured left) when I walked and I ended up walking up with that plate because I have an obsession with nautical stuff and therefore I had to have it. I also loved these little ceramic sailboats (pictured right), but what would I really do with them? Eh. Not worth $24. But still cute. 

LOVED this tape dispenser.  

And my eyes popped out of my head a little when I saw these AH-dorable sticky notes. And hello! There were 480 in there! But I told myself I have enough stationary/sticky notes (For now. But that's a lie. It was a tactic to talk myself out of them and it worked...this time). 

 Then I got home and the top I had ordered for my new bathing suit had arrived!!! My new suit is ready! Now, woman to woman--or hey if you're a man, woman to man but let's face it, what I am about to tell you is probably more exciting and understood by a woman--I had to order a smaller size in my bathing suit bottom. Yeah. I almost died with happiness. You know that feeling right? Oh yes. AMAZING. 

Now. May I please just tell you how much I adore my brothers. I can't even tell you. There are no words except to say I am the luckiest sister ever. I love and adore and admire these fine men. They are some of the best friends I will ever have. 

Heath (on the left) graduated from Brigham Young University the end of April in Electrical Engineering (WAHOO!!!!!), was accepted to the University of New Hampshire's law program, and got a scholarship. I am SO freakin' proud. And I get to see him and his fabulous wife in a month. We're going to have some serious sibling time. I CANNOT wait. 

Dane (on the right) is rockin' and rollin' as a missionary for our church--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is doing very well and I am SO proud of him. You can read about his experiences and adventures here.  

Finally, OneRepublic came out with a new album in March and friends, it is AAAMAZING. I LOVE IT. Michael Buble also came out with a new album in April, but, to be honest, I like OneRepublic's better, at least right now. And I found a really cool recipe for homemade rosemary soft pretzels. I think I'll give 'em a try tonight. And I thumbed through a macaroon recipe book at Barnes and Noble today (and used my iPhone to snap some of the recipes; does that make me a bad person? I did't want the whole book!), and I think I might try to make some macaroons tonight, or tomorrow. Hmm...baking and listening to OneRepublic? Yup that sounds like a swell evening to me!