Happy Independence Day!

Feels good to celebrate it in Seattle.

First up - an Apricot Ale at the Pyramid Beer Garden. Ah, memories!

The beer reminds me of the summer I lived in Greenlake and my friend Angela suggested I try an Apricot Ale. I was like, Seriously? She said, Yes. God, I love this beer. The beer garden reminds me of many, many Seattle memories.

Also - how cute does LZ look preggers?!

Batter Up: Safeco Garlic French Fries!

Just as DELICIOUS as I remember them. I think I inhaled all them in under 10 minutes. An awesome micro Pacific Northwest brew to accompany them. If I can determine my version of heaven - both of these exist in it.

Good to See You Again Safeco:

Even Bailey had his stars on:

It's not the 4th in Seattle without Gasworks Parks Fireworks:

It was a great 4th.

Exactly What I Needed to Read

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
                                                                                                                            ― Marilyn Monroe

I feel like I learned this the hard way, this confidence that says, I'm awesome and I deserve someone who will appreciate that. Sure, I'm not perfect. I get upset and I definitely have my moments of crazy, but they pass, and I'm worth it.

                                                                                                                           - Liz Norris

Via this post from Liz Norris.

I Heart Jersey City

This Saturday I adventured out to a new, mystical place called Jersey City.

I discovered I really liked this charming and quiet mini-city away from the city.

For these reasons:
1. TARGET!
2. Beautiful day time and night time view of the Manhattan skyline.
3. Legit Mexican food @ Taqueria.
4. It's so quiet.
5. Lots of families.
6. Cheaper sales tax.
7. TARGET!

 Yup, I'll be back. . .

Out Loud Laughs

The part that made me laugh loud is bolded:

Turtle Bay Presents : THE BINGE! Every Thursday night we have a $20 Open Bar, every Friday morning wake up next to someone out of your league. (Turtle Bay Bar)

Hyrax

Look at that majestic motherfucker. Look at that nose and the little rounded ears and the fluffy blonde fur and those crazy little pudgy toes.

Fun fact about the Hyrax: it’s not a rodent.
Funner fact about the Hyrax: it’s more closely related to the rhinoceros. Oh, scientists, you crazy fuckers. (Click here for the link to the whole post with Hyrax photos via Manhattan Nest)

Ryan Gosling vs. Puppies. (Tumblr blog)

Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Take 2

Hogsmeade to Hogwarts

Lunch! Reasonably priced and the Hogs Head Ale was really good :).

Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Take 1

I spent this past weekend in Orlando. I laid out poolside, got a tan (with a little burn) and WENT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!!!!!

I have been wanting to go to WWofHP ever since I heard it was opening and I finally did. It is EVERYTHING that a HP fan could wish for. I took a ton of photos, so I'll split it up in a couple of posts.

First official Universal sign to the WWofHP spotted

Hogsmeade entrance

Close up of the Hogsmeade sign

Hogwarts!

Hagrid's Hut

Buckbeak!

Mad Hatter Tea Cup Ride in Motion

Mad Hatter Tea Cup Ride!!!

Welcome to the Magical Kingdom

Rough Day, Today

77, Sunny and Poolside.

Layaway Angels

Last year, almost to the day, I wrote about the random acts of kindness happening during the holiday season. This year, I love the story about the Layaway Angels. People calling or going to into stores and paying off other's layaway items.

Read about the first Layaway Angel.

Way to pay it forward and truly give people a great holiday gift. I LOVE these kinds of stories.

I Love My Cards!

I got my awesome holiday cards from So, There today.

I LOVE them.

Thanks Ali!

Champagne and HB!

Sounds like heaven to me :). Two of my favorite things.

Feeling At Home

I have a hard time feeling at home until things are really organized and everything has its place. Even more so until things are decorated and coordinated. Might be one of the many reasons why I didn't feel fully at home at my old place.

Usually this leads me to antsy and buy things that don't really fit well in my home/bedroom because I'm so anxious to have everything perfect. I did this at my condo in Seattle. I'm not very patient sometimes. So in my spare time I've been looking on IKEA/Target/Bed, Bath and Beyond to figure what is the best and most perfect dresser for me.

I thought it would be this:

But in person the drawers weren't very deep which I desperately need because I have a lot of clothes and a teeny, tiny Manhattan apartment. Then much to my surprise because I'm strictly a black wood furniture kind of girl and I like my furniture to match, I decided on this:

I don't even like white furniture. I loved the white wicked furniture I had when I was kid at my house I grew up in. But ya know, I decided on black wood furniture a few years ago. Probably because I love the color black. Anyhow, I'm shocked about how much I LOVE it. It's the perfect depth - on two counts a) the space I decided for it in my room and b) the drawers give me plenty room for all of my clothes, lightweight, sturdy for IKEA furniture and the biggest surprise - I LOVE the white. I thought it would just blend in with my white walls and it kind of does but well. I like it so much that when the time comes I might get the matching set:

I'm hoping that after I finally wash all of my piles of laundry, which is never ending, and get rid of some of my clothes that they might all fit in the first dresser but if not another IKEA trip to Brooklyn will be in my future.

Another Reason to Love NYC

I really need some new work clothes and I decided that H&M was the go to shop. So I was really EXCITED today to find out they are having a grand reopening with free drinks, a DJ and 25% off :). That makes my babe on a budget heart sing!

I love NYC because there are always deals to be had including free events, free booze, free music and discounts :). More info and RSVP here.

My (In My Dreams Never Going to Be Able to Afford It or Can't Justify It) Bendel Wish List

If I was rich, I would buy:

The Distrubed Stripe Wheelie Duffle - I l ove duffle bags
and the wheels are the perfect add on to making traveling that
much better and more chic.

The Disturbed Hat Box Wheelie - reminds me of a more
elegant and classic time than now. Like trains and steam trunks.

This trunk is my FAVORITE thing at HB.
There is nothing about it I don't love.
I'll never be able to rationalize buying it.

I love this train case because it, like so many of
HB travel pieces, is classic and timeless.

My (Affordable) Henri Bendel Wish List

I LOVE HENRI BENDEL.

Just ya know, I do. Before I even went into the store when I came to NYC years ago, I fell in love with it because of SMG's surreal love story movie, Simply Irresistible. Anyhow, it's been my favorite stores for years and I went in there on my lunch break as I often do to stimulate my senses and decided to publish my HB Wish List:

Girl About Town Mug - it's the perfect size - I love BIG mugs
and it has the HB store front which is one of my favorite parts
of the store.

2011 Special Edition Snow Globe - Lady with Dog.
Every winter HB designs a snow globe. I would
have 4 (including this one that I WILL buy) but
it broke when I was living in Seattle. One of
the only things I collect.

These will be my Christmas cards! I love the illustrations
HB has and it is highly possible my roommates and I
will look like this in a couple of months when we're picking
up our Christmas tree.

I'm super excited because my Mom and Dad sent me these!!!
Bendel Girl Wellies had been on my list for a long,
long time :). I can't wait to wear them.

It's pretty cool that you could win a trip to NYC and $2500 to shop at HB here. I'm entering as well. No clue if they'll award to someone living in NYC but I would LOVE to stay at the Gramercy Park Hotel and have thousands of dollars to spend at HB. It wouldn't be difficult for me to do!

Sheer Entertainment

Do you need to laugh? Do you like reading intelligent and humorous stories about someone's life?

Then get your ass over to my new favorite blog: Author: Tawna Fenske.

I got to her site via this Shark post and I couldn't stop reading. She's hilarious, insightful and tells GREAT stories. I can't wait to read more about her.

My First Trip to the Beach!

In New York that is. I've never woken up so early in my entire life to go to the beach as I did when I traveled with Leila to Long Beach. It started off foggy but turned into a beautiful day. I was a baby about getting into the water at first but it wasn't as cold as it was first (reminded of my home beaches) and I turned into a fish pretty soon. It was so great to swim in the ocean.

Sandy and windblown on my way back to
the city!