TGIV

Thank God its Vacation!

We're hittin' the open road at 7am tomorrow morning. First stop: Visit Lizzie in Redding, Ca. Yay! It was her birthday a few days ago, so we'll even be able to celebrate that.

We're fully prepared for long hours on the road - The iPod is loaded with music, audio books and comedian's stand-up. I'm most excited for the audio book Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (I remember it being hysterical when I read it 10 years ago), tons of stand-up of Jim Gaffigan, and the USA Top 40 playlist that Joe just downloaded for me. Oh, and the Glee soundtrack that he also downloaded. (For me? Probably. But I like to pretend he's a closet Gleek and actually rocks out to Don't Stop Believin' all the time.)

I'll miss you dearly, but I'll be back and probably with purple-stained teeth. Ciao!

pic via

What time is it? Dubs time.

Dubs, the husky mascot, leads a good life. Look how much he's grown!

This commercial promoting Husky football is a little bittersweet. Bitter because it means summer is almost over, but sweet because the huskies are going to dominate this year. That's right, you heard me.

(I talk a big game. I actually only go to one football game a year, but it's kind of fun to have school pride, right?)

Road Trip: Wineries

My road trip previews have fallen by the wayside, but I had to squeeze at least one more out. Because it's a biggie.

Wine tasting in Sonoma Valley.
Yum.
I'm going to have a perma-purple mouth.
But it's worth every sip.

Since I have one Sonoma wine tasting experience under my belt, there are a couple places I know I'd like to return to.

First, Peterson Winery. Not only is it the coolest name ever, their zinfandel rocks my world.

Second, Ledson Winery. Mostly because it's just a really, really awesome castle. My mom, grandma and I made sure to get our picture in front of it.

I'd also like to go back to Ferrari-Carano because they had beautiful gardens to just wander through. That's where we took this little gem.

Maybe we'll schmooze with a winemaker and get invited to do some barrel tasting? Here's to wishful thinking.

[all pictures courtesy of my dad]

Countdown

It's crazy at work, so all I can think about is getting past this week and beyond.

According to the countdowns on my iGoogle page, I have:
4 days until vacation!
42 days until my birthday (Speaking of birthdays, it's my Dad's today - Happy Birthday, Dad!)
91 days until the cute fella and my 1 year anniversary
123 days until Christmas

I know I should be "living in the now", but I can't help but think about all that is to come. Especially when I wish the havoc that is "now" was Saturday, so I can drive down to the great state of California.

I can't wait.

Egg-in-a-hole

Per Stephanie's suggestion again, I tried another recipe in Martha's crackbook, I mean, cookbook (her recipes are addicting). The egg-in-a-hole. Funny concept, huh? But easy as pie.

Let me tell you, cracking an egg was never so fun! And the way the egg slightly soaks into the bread and then when the yolk breaks and the bread absorbs it...yum. Basically, it's delicious.

I'd recommend it on one of those lazy Sunday afternoons when you don't feel like leaving the house, looking like you just woke up, just to get that final ingredient for breakfast. The ingredients in this recipe are staples that most of us probably have on hand. (However, I admit, I sometimes don't have bread or at least not bread that I would eat due to a bluish hue. What can I say? It's hard to get through an entire loaf living alone!)

Egg-in-a-hole

Ingredients
2 whole wheat slices of bread
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
A dash of shredded cheddar (optional)

Directions
Cut a 2-inch circle from the center of each bread slice; discard circles or keep them to toast in the pan as well. Warm olive oil in pan, and heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Lay bread slices in skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low until bread is slightly toasted. (Note: Not too toasted because they'll continue to toast when you put in the eggs.)

Crack an egg into the hole of each slice of bread, and sprinkle each with salt and pepper. Cook until bottom of eggs are set and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip; cook 2 minutes more for soft-cooked eggs, or 3 minutes more for slightly firmer.

Sprinkle with a dash of cheddar cheese and enjoy.

picture from fancier recipe, but still the same concept

TGIF

Happy Weekend!

I don't know about you, but it's been a busy week. I'm excited for the weekend, even though it will be equally as busy.

To start it off, Joe and I are going to go play some tennis. Our last match was very close (unlike the match before that in which I played like 4-year-old), but he won so I'm hoping to turn things around this time. It's all about the serve. And not showing him my weakness, my backhand groundstroke. It's always giving me trouble.

What the best/worst part of your tennis game?

Oh, and don't you wish tennis attire was still this chic? This puts my Nike tempo shorts to shame.

via flickr

Fax and Mills

Dear Susannah,
Thank you for coming down to visit Stephanie and I in Seattle the other night. After you left, Stephanie and I voted and it's unanimous, you must move back to Washington.

So go ahead and get your masters as Stanford (we'll let you do that), but then make your way north again. We agree that L.A. isn't really your style. Seattle, on the other had, has Susannah written all over it. See (below)?

At any rate, the Green Lake picnic was wonderful. Next time you should bring an extra bottle of wine since you spilled not 1, but 2 (!!) glasses of wine. And Stephanie, the salad was delicious. Although I'm sure our friend, the "vegetarian" Susannah, would have preferred a plate of bacon. Or a hot dog. Next time :)

You ladies make me happy.

Love,
Petes

P.S. Remember when Josh thought your last name was Fax and Mills instead of Faxon-Mills UNTIL OUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL? Yeah, that was funny.

via, but altered :)

Samish Island + Crabbing + Sunset + Dad = Pretty rad.

See you later, alligator

Our picnic at Golden Gardens to see off Karen was perfect, well except for the whole "seeing her off" part. We'd all like her to stay, but duty calls and she's been given a great opportunity to shine! Other than that, the weather, the sunset, the meteor shower and the company were all just lovely.

The guest of honor and me.

James and Mads.

RyRy manning the grill.

The ladies

Not sure what's going on in this picture - between Maddie discovering something and me apparently eyeing the chips and salsa, it's funny.

Reason #692 of why I love Seattle.

TGIF

My weekend will be starting with a little Golden Gardens picnic to officially say goodbye to Karen, who is moving to North Carolina. (She's taken the position of Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at East Carolina University and while I'm SUPER proud of her, it'll be sad to see another friend move away.) After the picnic, we'll likely go out somewhere in Ballard, maybe the Loft?

Then tomorrow morning, the view below will be waiting for me at home. I'm very excited for the rest of the weekend to be kick-back- sitting on the deck, BBQing, watching the sunset, drinking some good wine with my parents on Samish Island. It's one of my happy places.

Do you have any fun weekend plans?

Baby Orin

Last night I met my cousin Lynnette's new baby, Orin Saylor. He is absolutely adorable and I'm not just saying that because we're related. He really is! I got him to smile and he even had a tiny little giggle, which I'm sure is only going to get bigger.

After changing him, she put him in his crib and said, "wanna see the best thing $7 can buy?" And no kidding, he was in an instant trance with his little fish mobile, cracking a smile every so often. It's amazing what babies are entertained by.

Lynnette went the au natural route for his birth. You can read the birth story, but only if you can handle description.

Cousin, I'm so happy for you and Paul! Orin is such a great addition to the family.

(Note: I stole the pics below from FB, but the little man likes to yawn. Isn't it cute?)

End of summer to-do list

It's sad that we're nearing the end of summer, so in the name of sun, popsicles, outdoor picnics and boating, I have compiled a list of things I have to do before summer ends.

1. Outdoor movie, perhaps at Redhook?
2. More Yahtzee picnics at Greenlake
3. Go out on a boat at least one more time. Maybe a Duffy boat on Lake Union?
4. Happy hour on the deck at Maximilien
5. A traditional BBQ on a deck
6. Vacation :)
7. A nice, long bike ride
8. Greenlake Pitch n' Putt

Anything special on your summer to-do list? Or any idea of things I should add?!

Doesn't this picture seem summery?

via

Road Trip: Sonoma Wine Country

It's no surprise that I love wine. So where better to stop than California wine country? Even better, where better to stay then an adorable, romantic little cottage, smack dab in the middle of wine country?

I think I'm most excited about this leg of our trip. We found the place on Homeaway and immediately emailed them. Lucky for us, it was open on the days we needed it. Score!

At the cottage, they have a cheese and fruit platter waiting for your arrival AND ingredients to make homemade waffles the next morning in the full-size kitchen. Since road trips generally mean you eat out a lot, we're going to take full advantage of the kitchen and make some tasty grub. Obviously pairing it with wonderful local wines.

We also have a hot tub time machine! Err, hot tub.

Next up, wineries!

cottage pics via

Note: I can't pull pics from their site, so the last two are pictures from another unit via Homeaway, but you get the whole vibe.

Road Trip: Crater Lake

We're in the process of planning our road trip down the west coast at the end of the month, which is quickly approaching. What? I haven't told you about our road trip? Forgive me, I've been too busy daydreaming at my desk about it.

I've done similar trips before - once with Stephanie as our high school graduation trip. Our parents weren't keen on the whole Mexico trip that everyone else went on, so we made our own fun and had a blast. A second time as a Spring Break trip in college with Mads, Autumn and Lizzie. It too, was a blast, even if I cringe at the pictures of us in sweats and no make-up for the entire trip. We took camping grunge to the max.

For sake of not boring you with every little detail of my latest road trip endeavor at once, I'll give you little insights about a couple stops along the way.

One stop: Camping at Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. (Which would mean that we will have gone to 2 of the 3 deepest lakes in the US, Chelan and Crater. I guess Tahoe (#2) will have to wait.)

From all the pictures I've seen, it looks gorgeous! Impeccably blue and almost like a mirror to the landscape. Any recommendations on hikes or particular places to see at Crater Lake?

both pics by my masterful dad

Little letters, Friday edition

Dear 4 day week,
I wish you happened more often.

Dear Karen,
I loved our lunch date today! I can't believe you're leaving me for (North) Carolina. What does she have that I don't?

Dear Blue Angels,
You’re quite distracting out my office window. I’m excited for my actual first non-practice show tomorrow!

Dear Mariners,
0-6 last night? Really? I’m sorry you’re the second to worst AL baseball team this year. The only redeeming part of a game these days is the beer garden.

Dear Baltimore Orioles,
Thank you for giving the M’s some cushion from the bottom of the league.

Dear Husky football,
Your season is nearing. I am getting excited. For this guy and for winning. Please make it to a bowl game this year, so I can win my bet with Joe. I would like for him to take me to a nice dinner. Thank you.

Dear Olita,
If you find me creepily looking at you, it’s only because I can’t help looking at how sparkly it is. Congrats again!

Dear Bianka Blouse,
Please magically appear in my closet. Now.

Dear flowers,

You're so pretty. Why do girls like you so much?

via

Sweet dreams

I know, I know. I'm being completely unoriginal by posting this video because it seems to be all over the web, but can you blame me? Adorable. This baby dreams BIG.

(I'm also posting this in the spirit of the latest announcement of the 4th pregnancy my office has seen in the last year! What's in the water?)

via

Peninsula fun.

My mom has told me I've been to the peninsula before, but it was YEARS ago, so I don't quite remember it. And since that's where Joe is from and he hasn't been back for over a YEAR, we decided to make the journey over yonder.

First stop: A picnic at Dungeness Spit. A 5.5. mile sand spit, jetting out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

I'm a tree hugger. For some reason, there is one log standing up straight and I liked it.

Can I take your order?

Then, we did a little driving tour of Sequim. Then, his hometown, Port Angeles, which was sprinkled with Twilight, including a Dazzled by Twilight store and latte stand featuring a "Vampire Kiss Latte". At night, we even went to Bella Italia for a glass of wine - the very same place Edward and Bella had their first date. Jealous? (Yes, I'm looking at you Kimber.)

The first night we did a little BBQ with his parents on their deck with a wonderful view of the water. Very relaxing.

On Monday (I took a day off for the trip!), we all hiked Hurricane Ridge. Oh my gosh, I didn't realize it would be so beautiful! I felt like I was in a different country, not my home state of Washington. The views were amazing. If you've never done it, I would definitely put it on your to-do list.

Final verdict on peninsula fun: Fantastic.
(I think his mom is pulling for me to convince him to go home more than once a year. I don't blame her.)

Don't we look painted on the background?

A bit cloudy, but still amazing.

Carol got hitched.

Another rockin' wedding to add to my list of amazing weddings this summer. I've seriously been blown away!

Carol looked gorgeous and every little detail was so classic and very Carol-like. The ceremony was at Holy Names Academy, which is beautiful. Not to mention the priest who was actually pretty funny - there were mentions of a genie in a lamp and gin and tonics in his homily. He definitely kept the crowd's attention.

For the reception, we moved onto Pravda Studios in Capitol Hill. The venue was great, the food was delicious, the toasts were extremely thoughtful, yet entertaining, but the best part: EVERYONE was dancing. In my opinion, the dancing makes the party a true party.

Congrats to Carol and Nick!

I wish I had taken more pictures of the venue, but here's what the tables looked like.

And the beautiful bride and me.