birthdays

They are the best.  I think everybody has had a few bummer birthdays – expectations set too high, or perhaps there wasn’t enough ice cream cake – but for the most part, they are that one day a year when everything you do or feel should be extra special.

I never work on my birthday.  When I was in school, it was during summer break, and since then I’ve just always made a point of taking the day off work.  This, along with lunch and shopping with my pops, are my lifelong traditions.

This year might be one of my favorites.  Highlights I didn’t capture on “film” include waking up to roses and treats from our local coffee shop (a mocha from Zoka – thank you for the suggestion, Teeny – Joe, you’ve been outed), Sculpt at CorePower to all my favorite Top 40 hits, a mani/pedi, blonder more sun-kissed hair, and a glass of rose with the honey in the yard before dinner.

Given that many in my life have learned to call July my birthday month, or at the least the first week my birthday week, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at this.  So, here are my top seven recs for having a great day:

1. Take some time to wash away any expectations of what will be.

2. Also take some time to decide what you can do for you.

3. Buy yourself something totally cray.  Like, I don’t know, a shimmering gold yoga warm-up jacket.

I don’t usually do true selfies, but the jacket just had to be showcased. 50% off at the studio, say whaaaat? It was meant to be.

weekend update: homebody

I admit it… I spent a lot of time at home this weekend.  But it felt so good.  Friday evening was brown sugar & honey marinated salmon and quinoa salad on the couch with one of my faves, Saturday was my inaugural visit to Flywheel Seattle (I was put in my place, to say the least) and my inaugural visit with one of the cutest 8-week(ish) old dudes around (weekend regret is not getting the camera out – I’ll snap some pics next time), and Sunday was a ridiculous amount of R&R, yoga…and House of Cards.  I also ate a whole watermelon.  To myself.  They are in season and you should get yours.

I didn’t get a picture of dinner on Friday, but I did capture my “leftover hash” in the making today.  It’s become a hobby of mine on Sunday mornings to throw whatever veggies/starch I have in the fridge into a pan, fry it up, top it off with some Herbs de Provence, and add a couple eggs.  Always different and always delicious.

Caramelized onions, mushrooms, quinoa and new potatoes. I would have loved to have had some beets laying around.

(this) weekend update

The theme of the weekend was definitely “outside”.  I came home on Friday (my first real Friday home since we moved in) and dug right into building the first of two Adirondacks (Cost Plus, $99, easy-to-build).  I’ve been waiting so long for these, I didn’t know what to do with myself when it was done.  I honestly just stood there and stared.  I still do when I catch a glimpse of it through the back door.  That I don’t have to cross my fingers on approach to the coffee shop in hopes one is a) available, and b) in the sun, feels nothing short of a miracle.

Okay, I’m dramatic.  I just love it.  So much.  If you would like to hang out with me this summer, you’ll find me here:

Loki guards the Adirondack, and my beer. He knows what’s up.

weekend update: cassava

This post is much delayed, but I have a good excuse: in the best way possible, it’s been nonstop with the house.  So many little projects filling up all those 15-45 minute chunks of time I find during the week, and in this case weekend.  And I promise to share those with you.

For now, my weekend update… from a week ago – I was in the Bay for all of 36 hours, so I stayed in the Outer Sunset with Andyman and Anne on Thursday, and with the pops on Friday night.  The kids wanted to do a fun dinner on Thursday, so Andy and Anne took me to Cassava, a small, cozy and cute little spot in the Outer Richmond I now highly recommend, to anybody and certainly those who are gluten/wheat-free. No promises to the GF, because all I am looking to eliminate is wheat, but ordering was cinch and I wasn’t very limited.

 

i think i learned this weekend that these are hydrangeas…copycat decor in the house coming on the next post.

okay, i get it.

Yes, I realize I am (very) late to the party on this one, but I learned something this weekend…

Organic produce tastes better.  Or maybe it’s organic produce from the new PCC down the street.  I’m honestly not sure, but here’s what I can say: I have spent too long looking for the deal, trying to save $0.10 on a bag of grapes.  So much so that I will on any given Sunday, visit three grocery stores for the satisfaction of having paid the least for everything we need.  This past weekend was a different story.