In the Field

One afternoon, Jimmy and I took a drive down to Seward Park to explore the old-growth forest trails. On our way there, we passed a beautiful field of tall, golden grass. I was completely enchanted-- it immediately stood out to me as a perfect setting for a photo shoot. The next day, on a whim, I called up my bestie, Jenna. I asked if she would be interested in doing an impromptu shoot-- I've taken photos of her before and I love using her as a model. We drove out of the city, that evening, with my little car packed full of make-up, hair products, and a bundle of clothes from my closet. The combination of evening light and Jenna's natural beauty made for some great photos!

   

Writing Corner

It was to my surprise to come home one day and find that my desk had a fully-equipped computer station! I shared with Jimmy, weeks prior, that I needed to keep my mind stimulated, and had the desire to continue writing as I entered my post-college life. He took it upon himself to order all the necessary parts to make this wish come to fruition. Now, I have a beautiful writing station that allows me to enjoy the view from our window-- a designated spot to think and create.

Falling for Hydrangeas

Every time I'm with Lauren, I feel so lucky to have such a brilliant sister. Living in different cities and not seeing one another for months has become the norm for us. It's so refreshing to get together and fall back into the roles of sisters-- talking openly, laughing and getting into mischief. I was thrilled to have a day with Lauren to explore my new neighborhood, visit the Volunteer Park Conservatory, and stumble upon a lush bush of hydrangeas (Lauren's favorite flower). Her excitement of our hydrangea-discovery had a disorienting effect-- posing with the hydrangeas quickly became falling into the entire bush. Never a dull moment with this one.

Birthday Cake

My close friend, Myra, recently celebrated her birthday at Liberty--a Capitol Hill bar known for their vast whiskey selection and handcrafted cocktails. I took on the task of making her birthday cake. I find that cake can be a very difficult dessert to master-- most people are very particular about their cake. I ended up referring to Smitten Kitchen's "Best Birthday Cake" recipe. I made a few adjustments by adding raspberry filling and toppings. Overall, the cake turned out great. Good ol', reliable Smitten Kitchen provided a cake recipe that I would definitely use again!

My Best Friend's Wedding

This Summer, my closest friend, Jenna, got married! She asked me to be part of the bridal party as her maid-of-honor. I was excited about my m-o-h role, as I got to organize many of the festivities leading up to the big day. Here are some photos from the Caribbean-themed bridal shower, the rehearsal dinner, and the morning of the wedding.

   

Backyard BBQ

Hands down, my favorite Summer activity is a backyard bbq. I love seizing the opportunity to get outside to enjoy the Seattle Summer, gather with friends, and eat some home-cooked food! Jimmy and I hosted a house-warming bbq-- complete with a bratwurst condiment station, quinoa super-food salad, baked beans, pavlova and a fruit tart.

 

Park(ing)

This Summer, Jimmy and I moved to the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. We were thrilled to finally live in a location where everything-- and I mean, everything-- is within walking distance. One of the first Summer events we attended was the 4-Car-Park party-- a get-together that our friends organized to increase awareness of community and city space. They created the Renegade Planners Collective with the mission to "call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat." It's inspiring to see them take action to make our city a better place to live. 

Mint Juleps and Other Signs of Spring.

The month of April flew by! It seems like the weeks of May are progressing at a similar pace. A few notable things happened, thus far into Spring:

1. I discovered mint juleps. Why have I not been drinking these?! They are the perfect warm-weather whiskey drink! Love 'em.

2. One evening, Jimmy returned from a grocery run with a surprise ranunculus/tulip bouquet and dijon mustard for my tart. So picture perfect that I had to take a picture. Swooooon.

3. I made a berry and citrus-custard tart for a friend's birthday. I cannot think of anything I love to bake more than fruit tarts. It's a dessert that maintains this perfect balance of simplicity and decadence!

Asparagus Gruyere Tart

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart and Donna Hay

Spring Break

After my very last final, marking the commencement of my undergraduate college education, Jimmy and I were able to have a little day-date in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. Jimmy isn't the biggest fan of this locale, but I am in love with all of the three-and-a-half blocks that are Georgetown. The Corson Buildling (one of Seattle's dreamiest restaurants), All City Coffee, Smarty Pants, and kitschy antique shops-- what's not to love?! 

Cherry Pie

I have never been a fan of cherry pie. To me, cherry pie always seemed too sweet and syrupy. I made this one, upon request, and discovered that I have been eating the wrong kind of cherry pie! Fresh cherries are rather scarce, this time of year, so I used frozen, pitted pie cherries. The filling tasted fantastic-- it was tangy, citrus-y, sour and sooooo good! This pie surprised me in the most pleasant of ways. Definitely will be making this again, during the Summer months!

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Wine Weekend

For Jimmy's birthday, we went to Willamette Valley to tour and taste our way through all the wonderful wineries in the area. The Willamette wine country was breathtaking and we encountered so many wonderful locals during our little trip. Highlight: Driving through the gorgeous terrain with Jimmy. Lowlight: Not utilizing the spit-bucket, thus learning its preventative purpose.

Birthday Weekend

Why my 24th birthday was so amazing:

* No class due to snow!

* James giving me a ride across town through the treacherous snow/slush, so I could nanny and hang with my favorite little kids!

* Birthday dinner with parents and James at the gorgeous Corson Buildling.

* Drinks and cake (gluten-free carrot cake!) with friends.