TGIF

A little round-up for your Friday afternoon.

Joe and I are going as Peg and Al Bundy from Married with Children, hence the picture. (And today I wore my costume to work and was confused with Pebbles from the Flintstones. Where did I go wrong? I guess I need Al.)

Last night, Steph and I went to the Ingrid Michaelson concert and I love her even more now. I would recommend downloading all of her music if you don't already have it. That woman is hilarious too. Just ask the ladies behind us who laughed harder than I've heard anyone laugh in a long time.

I'm already thinking about Christmas cards because I didn't send them last year. Maybe I should try making some, using some fancy, artsy way?

He's adorable.

Another Halloween joke that Maddie reminded me of: What do you call a hot dog without anything in it? A hollow weiner! (hahaha, and yes, it's originally from Erin)

Have a wonderful, spooky and treat-filled Halloween weekend!

Kittens

Remember the fainting goats I shared awhile back? Well, now there are fainting cats. But they're only kittens!

The smell of flowers

My birthday was over 20 days ago and I can't seem to let go of the flowers (now drooping and dead) that Joe gave me. They still smell amazing! It's such a treat to come into your apartment to the smell of flowers, right? Even if they are no longer, well, pretty.

The bouquet in my office from Olita keeps dwindling down too. Only the long-lasting flowers still stand. The bouquet has definitely seen better days.

Or the pot of roses on my porch last year that took forever to throw away because they were CLEARLY dead. Oh wait, that pot is still out there too. Still rockin' the dead plant. I should probably do something about that too.

thxthxthx

Let me introduce you to thxthxthx. A blog of little thank you notes.

Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she does. To everything. thxthxthx is her daily exercise in gratitude.

Today I am thankful for Seattle Restaurant Week. Oh how I love to eat three courses of good food.

Do you think you could find something to thank/be grateful for daily?

Why did the vampire go to the orthodontist?

To improve his bite! [insert wailing laughter here]

In honor of my dear friend, Erin, I'm going to share a few Halloween jokes to get you into the ghoulish season. Erin is a BIG fan of (corny) seasonal or holiday jokes since she works with little ones. I have many memories of her sharing Halloween, Christmas or Valentine's jokes and then quickly snickering after delivery. It makes me smile. Straubs, feel free to use these for your classroom!

Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends?
They're so wrapped up in themselves!

How do witches keep their hair in place while flying?
With scare spray!

What type of dog do vampire's like the best?
Bloodhounds!

Why didn't the skeleton go to prom?
Because he had no body to go with!

What's a vampire's favorite fast food?
A guy with very high blood pressure!

Why did the Vampire subscribe to the Wall Street Journal?
He heard it had great circulation!

What is a vampire's favorite holiday?
Fangsgiving!

Sidenote: There are a lot of vampire jokes out there. Twilight really has done a number on our thinking these days.

Double sidenote: Do you know what you're going to be for Halloween? Here and here are still some of my fave.

TGIF

We No Speak Americano is on the UK Top 40 right now. How do I know this? Well, Joe downloaded both US and UK Top 40 for me and let me tell you, the UK list has much more of a techno vibe. Though I suppose that's not too much of a shocker.

When this song came on, I immediately started bobbing my head. Then started a little shimmy. Then I just busted a move. (Are you visualizing me busting a move now?) So when I found this video, I was completely transfixed.

So to welcome the weekend, I invite you to bust a move with me. You can even bust this move at your desk! (How many times can one say "bust a move" in a blog post? Well, I guess 5 for me.) Enjoy! TGIF.

Finally, pumpkin patch

I feel like the bunny on Alice in Wonderland because I'm in a hurry, but here goes. I have been promising you all some pumpkin patch pictures like last year. Most of these are Maddie's pictures because hers are like a bajillion times better than mine.

A few things I would like to point out:

• Hunter boots are awesome.
• Kimber is still the epitome of Fall.
• No pumpkins were harmed during the pumpkin patch extravaganza.
• I was forced into that box by Maddie. FORCED, I tell ya.
• Fall rocks.
• And so do girls who like taking rad fall photos of pumpkin patches. Like 108 on Maddie's camera. Excessive? Never!

Fifth time's a charm?

I don't know about you, but my friends and I really like photo opps. One of the "poses" we seem to try often, maybe due to the challenge, is a jumping photo.

It's a science. You all have to jump at the exact same time (which means you have to determine if you jump on "3" or right after), the person taking the picture has to figure out what kind of delay they are working with on the camera because none of us can really jump high (especially when wearing boots), and you have to resist from falling over in laughter.

In the end, you get a lot of great photos. I hope you enjoy them (at the expense of us looking ridiculous)!

We still didn't get a high jump, but it works :)

(P.S. I promise more pumpkin patch photos soon!)

He thinks he's a puppy

This weekend we pumpkin patched it up and it was glorious. (Post to follow soon!) After the various pumpkin tossing, photo opping and apple cider drinkin', we went to Erin's house for white chicken chili and a little magic. Practical Magic to be exact.

During the movie, Zeke decided he needed some girly time and jumped right up and made himself comfortable. It was the cutest thing ever. He's probably what you'd call a very large "teen" dog, but still thinks he's a puppy. It's adorable.

Husky win

It was a great game this weekend. One might call it a nail-biter, but in the end, the right team won. The Huskies, probably because they were led by this dreamboat. (Just kidding, Joe. Kind of.)

The night began with some tailgating, running into several people from college, then moved onto the big game. It went into the wee hours of the night, so I was exhausted by 4th quarter. Then came the overtime. Great. (Huskies, don't you know you're not supposed to do this to your fans? Just win in regulation time, thank you.) But it's all worth it when you look at the final score.

UW: 35 OSU: 34

Well done, Huskies. And Dubs, you're still adorable.

Some tailgating with Lizzie, Lydia, Erin and Maddie.

This lovely, Husky-colored truck next to us started booming, "Who let the dawgs out?" Then Maddie felt that the day wouldn't be complete without a picture inside. I agreed.

Game time with Straubs.

TGIF

An end-of-the-week round-up for your reading pleasure. TGIF.

You know how grass roofs are kind of popular these days? (There was a winery on our road trip that had a grass roof that was aweseome!) Well, back in Scandinavia, they have this art mastered. The history here.

What's your favorite creepy baby costume? I think I like the Prohibitionist or the Lobster are mine.

Real or fake? I don't even care, he's still adorable. (Or Olita, I'll just take yours.)

I made these sour cream, cheddar and jalepeno biscuits for a work potluck today and now I wish I had 12 more to eat. I could maybe even go for 13. Bonus: They are pretty easy to make.

Have a wonderful weekend!

pic/via

DIY: Wrapping Paper

Stephanie wrapped my birthday present with pretty (some weird) Vogue spreads - how fun! She taped it all together first and then wrapped it normally. Isn't that a great idea? Get another use out of those glossy magazines we all love to buy.

(P.S. She got me an ice cream maker! I already have my eyes set on a few recipes. Let me know if you know of any other winners.)

Rescued

I don't know about you, but this whole Chilean mine rescue has been incredible. I am completely memorized by the coverage and stories. Could you even imagine being stuck a half mile underground for over 2 months?! (If you're interested in what they ate, how they communicated or even how they stay entertained, read this article.)

It's all been a bit surreal to me and I found it hard to think past the logistics of it all, but when I saw these pictures from the Big Picture, that's when it hit home. These 33 men have family and friends eagerly waiting for them. Look at the tears of joy being reunited with their loved ones. (The little kiddo especially got to me.)

Puts things into perspective, don't you think?

(The hugger is Chile's President)

Spicy Pumpkin Enchiladas

If you want to try some of the best enchiladas of your life, try these. No worries if you aren't really a pumpkin-flavor fan because they don't have an overpowering pumpkin taste. No, just a pure goodness taste.

I would enter these puppies into a recipe contest in a heartbeat, but then Martha might get mad for snatching her recipe.

So instead, I'll share it with you. And cross my fingers that you actually take my recommendation to make these for yourself tonight. And invite me over. I'll bring the wine. Do you like Carmenere wine? I hope so, I think it will pair really nicely with this dish. What time should I be there? Can we watch Say Yes to the Dress, Project Runway or something fun that I don't have at home?! See you tonight!

Spicy Pumpkin Enchiladas

Ingredients
1 rotisserie chicken shredded (online recipe uses this chicken, but I bought a pre-cooked rotisserie - cheap and easy!)
6 scallions, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 jalapeno chile, quartered (remove ribs and seeds for less heat, if desired)
1 teaspoon chili powder (Erika's note: I used cayenne pepper - maybe a bit more spicy)
8-10 corn tortillas (6-inch)
1 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chicken and scallions. Season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.

In a blender, puree pumpkin, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, 2 1/2 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full). Pour 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square (or other shallow 2-quart) baking dish.

Lay tortillas on work surface; mound chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly (I added some cheese too). Roll up tortillas; place, seam side down, in baking dish.

Pour remaining sauce on top; sprinkle with cheese. Place dish on a baking sheet; bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Golfing in the rain

Well, not quite in the rain, but the course was a GIANT puddle and the rain returned right after we got into the car. Good thing I wore my rainboots!

The Greenlake Pitch n' Putt is such a fun, easy, cheap activity. Unfortunately it closes for the year at the end of this month. I wish I had made it out there more than once this year, but I guess there's always next year.

I guess now I should be looking forward to pumpkin patches and Husky football games!

TGIF

I'm working on a new account at work and this video is exactly what it's all about. It's nice to be working on such good issues.

On another note, Happy Friday! I'm going to see this guy tomorrow - very excited.

What are you up to?

Owls

Halloween notecard on Etsy

Owls have gained A LOT of popularity in the last few years. I've particularly noticed since the owl is one of the symbols of my sorority. I remember a time when the only owl you can find was at Goodwill or an old lady's garage sale and believe me, it was a major score if you did. Now they're everywhere. They are pretty cute little creatures if you ask me.

Little letters, getting older edition

Dear 26,
Thank you for being so good to me. You brought me this character, you completed your first marathon (top 5 in proudest moments), you danced the night away a few times, you explored new places in your city that you're ashamed you've never been before and you've experimented with so many new recipes! I will always look upon you as a great year.

It's been real. It's been good. It's been real good.
Sincerely,
Petes

Dear 27,
26 definitely set the bar high, but I have faith that you'll deliver. Already on day 2, I'm feeling good. I am completely in awe for all the birthday wishes from everyone. Man, I have phenomenal friends and family. So may you bring me plenty of ladies nights (especially more dancing), fun dates and good family time.

Sincerely,
Petes

P.S. I think 27 feels especially good because I was spoiled with BOTH Trophy cupcakes and Molly Moon's ice cream yesterday. So I leave you with some pics from the ice cream shop.

Joe got strawberry and chocolate and as you can see it made him very happy.

I got salted caramel and "scout" mint, which I later dreamt about. Aren't self-timers so nice? Especially when 70% of the shot is a lovely counter :) But look at all that ice cream behind us! I wanted to smuggle it home.

Move aside "Susan", it's Erika's turn on the chalk birthday cake. (Ok, sorry Susan. I wish you the best.)

This is Space Command to Zoom

Every year on my birthday, Captain Zoom makes an appearance in some way, shape or form - thanks to my lovely Mom. Sometimes over the phone, sometimes in person, one time it was even sent Zoom to Andy at work to have him sneakily play it in my office. I'm curious how he'll make his appearance today for the BIG 2-7!

Through a little research, I've learned that Captain Zoom visited many children of the late 70s and early 80s on their birthday. He's been visiting me almost my ENTIRE life. And I love him. He's the best. To my surprise, I found out the Zoom visited Joe when he was little too! Can you believe that?!

I'll leave you with the amazing lyrics of the Captain Zoom song, but feel free to listen to the audio here.

This is Space Command to Zoom
All systems are go for your message to Erika!
Hey, Erika! It's your birthday!
I'm in charge of the stars and I'm here to say,
Hey, Erika! You're the big star today!

My name is Zoom and I live on the moon
But I came down to earth Just to sing you this tune
‘cause Erika, it's your birthday today!
A present for you I wanted to find, an outerspace creature, a one of a kind!
A wild whop or a kukelchoo, an apple drop or a buzzardstew
Or maybe a 3-eyed tickleshay for your birthday.

Did you ask: "uh, what's a kukelchoo?"
Well, up on the moon it's nothing new but that won't do for you. On your birthday!
I searched behind the clouds and stars I even zoomed my bike to Mars
And met my friend the saucer man and he said:
"Hey Zoom I got the bestest plan! What your friend needs is something new,
So how about a song, just from YOU?"

And so tonight when you're in bed
I'll be singing to you as I zoom overhead
Singing, Erika! Happy Birthday
Singing, Erika! Happy Birthday
Singing, Erika! Happy Birthday, to you!
Happy Birthday, Erika! See you next year!

pic/via

She looked like a magazine bride

How do I keep lucking out with all of these fantastic weddings?! Saturday's was yet another one to add to the list. A few highlights that made it a blast:

• They had a bagpiper who played during the processional AND led us the few blocks to the reception location. So fun!
• Meredith looked like she was taken straight out of a bridal magazine - she was striking. Her dress was so chic and modern, her makeup was the perfect balance between natural and dramatic, her hair was sleek and she had a very radiant, I-just-got-married-to-the-man-of-my-dreams glow.
• They served gnocchi and for anyone who knows me, I love me some gnocchi.
• Molly Moon's ice cream and sticky toffee pudding cake. My first, and definitely not last, experience with the famous salted caramel ice cream. Delish.
• The party was hoppin' and even continued on for the after party at Barca.

I wish I had taken more and better pictures, but I was apparently too into dancing and celebrating!

The GMMB ladies - a little blurry

My handsome wedding date who has stuck by my side through 4 weddings this summer. One more in November!

A wedding is never complete without an Andy #1 vs. Andy #2 arm wrestle showdown. Kathryn offering encouragement... or maybe a kiss? :)

Classic winning shot.

The Scottish theme and decorations were so elegant. When the tables were set when we arrived, the glassware was sparkling out of control. Gorgeous.

The favors? Mini bottles of Scotch! How fun, right?

TGIF

It's always nice to have something to look forward to after a long week. For me, it's going to be Meredith and Angus' wedding. Knowing Meredith and her classic aesthetic, I can only imagine it will be a gorgeous and fun party.

A couple of ironic details: The reception will be at Pravda Studios in Capital Hill, which was the same place as Carol's earlier this summer AND they went to high school together! It took me some time to make the connection, but what are the odds?

Another piece of irony: At Jaison's birthday party a couple months ago, I was chattin' with someone and somehow we discovered that we were both at Meredith's bridal shower and would be at the wedding too! (She knew Angus, the future hubby.)

Small world, huh?

Well, here's the cute couple to raise a glass to this weekend. Have a wonderful weekend!

pic compliments of their wedding website