Category Archives: Cooking

Hello seattle i’m here

September 5, 2012

I’m in Seattle now! Yesterday was such a crazy day. I woke up at 4 in the morning to get ready and head to the airport with all of my heavy bags. After 5 and a half hours of flying I arrived in Seattle where Walker sneaked up on my in the airport and gave me a big hug. We then drove to the apartment. Our friends who just moved out to Eugene, OR from Texas had been visiting Walker for the weekend. There was just enough time to have a coffee (or spiced cider in my case) and plan out Thanksgiving before they had to head off.

Back at the apartment I looked around, it being the first time I had seen it in person, and checked things out. I was also really tired from flying all day and hungry and rather overwhelmed to be now living in Seattle. Yesterday was a big day emotionally and physically (perhaps still just a little bit today), there was a lot to take it. This is the big city kids. A lot bigger than Austin and a whole heck of a lot bigger than my small town in Michigan. It’s going to take a fair amount of getting used to. I’m excited and terrified at the same time. Ha!

I would have been content to just fall asleep as soon as I got to town but instead we played frisbee in the park, had brunch at a pretty neat little restaurant (of which there are so many), went grocery shopping, stumbled upon a place that sells herbs so we got all the root herbs to make root beer, and then finally went home to make dinner together for the first time in our new place. It was a pretty fun day too and boy was I happy when I finally layed my head on the pillow to fall asleep. What will the coming days bring?

Labor day and leaving

September 3, 2012

Happy Labor Day everyone! Probably by the time you’re reading this I’ll be on my way to Seattle. The time has come for me to begin my move and separation, once again, from Michigan.

I have enjoyed my time back home so much I can barely say. I got to spend so much time with my family, so much time in the state I absolutely adore, I got to visit so many friends, and overall I just got to recharge and prepare for my next big move. In so many ways I’m so glad I was able to do this. I feel like a pretty lucky person most days and believe me I do not take it for granted. I’m thankful everyday for what I’ve achieved, for my wonderful and supportive family, and my amazing friends. Being home has made me all the more grateful and lets be honest-all the more sad to be leaving again.

I know big adventures await me in Seattle and I’ll get to be with Walker, but being the sentimental person I am, big tears well up in my eyes every time I think that tomorrow this time I’ll be 2,200 miles away from home. I’m also being pretty silly because I’ll be back for a camping vacation in 2 and a half weeks.

I just need to focus on the not so sad things. I get to decorate our new apartment, the post office is a half mile away and has regular hours, I will probably have at least 4 places to grocery shop within a 1 mile radius, there is a hardware store nearby, tons of restaurants, some nice second hand shops, and of course I’ll get to be with Walker. Who has been waiting very patiently for me to return from my “summer vacation”.

My last weekend in Michigan was perfect! My sister invited me and my dad and brother (who happened to be around at the time) to her in-laws cabin to go boating, swimming, and eat the most delicious smoked ribs. We headed out Saturday morning and let me say we all needed some relaxation time. We went out on the lake, socialized on a sandbar for the better part of the day, cooked out when we returned, and enjoyed everyone’s company in the evening. We headed home on Sunday so I could finish packing  and have a quiet last evening home. It was so nice having us all together right before I had to head out. It was pretty crazy though, looking out over the water, and thinking that the very next day I would be in Seattle. Man has the summer flown by!
It always does though when you’re having fun.

So to celebrate my big move and snick our noses up at the end of summer I’m offering free shipping in both of my shops through September 9th. Use the code FREESHIP and shop here or here.

My sister’s dog Vinny. Such a poser this one.

Friend road trip-Anna, Mike, Matt

August 30, 2012

After my time with Joe and Natalie my mom joined me on my travels. She was wanting to spend a little more time with me and I was happy to have her come along. We headed down to the city where I went to college. My friend Anna was heading into town that same night and I have not seen her since I visited her while she was living in South Korea-maybe 3 years ago? We went to college together and she became a really good friend of mine during our last year there. We met on an alternative spring break planting trees in South Carolina and bonded over being 5ft tall and having the same exact birthday one year apart! Ha!

My mom and I arrived into town and set ourselves up in an adorable bed and breakfast-one that actually serves a full breakfast in the morning. See more about there here. I have never actually stayed in a bed and breakfast and was so excited that it turned out to be less than other “budget” hotels in town that do not serve breakfast or a glass of wine upon arrival. It was so cute inside too, very cozy and not at all over done with decorations like a lot of these sorts of places.

Later that evening my mom and I met up with Anna and our friend Mike at a old haunt of ours. We enjoyed some craft beer and danced to a local band favorite. After that part of our evening my mom and I went to a 24 hour cafe for a late night snack (making weird faces).

The next day we went to the farmer’s market (yes!!) with Anna and took a tour of campus for nostalgia. Then we had lunch at a favorite restaurant of ours in town and I got the macaroni and cheese I remember being oh so good (it did not disappoint).

I also got to see another good friend of mine from college that I haven’t seen in 4 years and meet his really sweet girlfriend. Aww.