{Introducing} Theia Millie Rose

The best thing about having to drive all the way up to Bellingham to get my hair done?  Susannah and Rob live there now!  And the best part of that?  So does sweet little Theia Millie Rose!  Last Monday I got to meet 9 day old Theia and she was absolutely precious.  She slept the entire time I was there, snuggling and cuddling so perfectly in my arms.  Parenthood looks great on Susy and Rob and I'm so {selfishly} happy that they chose to spend this part of their lives in the PNW.  I'm so excited to have the best excuse to drive up north even more, and I can't wait to spend afternoons and evenings snuggling this perfect little girl.  Congrats Suze & Rob - she's amazing!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Spring Fever

Happy Friday!  The sun was out here in Seattle this week and it was much needed after the endless months of rain and cold.  I got so excited for sunshine that I pulled out my patio furniture and can't wait for weekend mornings sitting out there with my cup of coffee and a good book, just taking in the sunshine.  Even though this weekend is supposed to be rainy, I have faith after this week that the sun really does exist and will be back!

Hope you have a great weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Scandal

My Thursdays feel incomplete now without that weekly constant for the past 7 years, Scandal.  Last week was the final episode of one of my most favorite TV shows and even though the past season or two has felt a little different {dare I say more scandalous?} it still feels like the end of an era and the saying goodbye to old friends.  I snuggled up last Thursday night at home with my bowl of popcorn and red wine in my Olivia Pope approved wine glass to take in the final episode of the series, and though they wrapped it up maybe a little too neatly {and killed off the best character!} I think it was a decent ending for a groundbreaking show.  My absolute favorite line?  David finally standing up to Jake, proclaiming "I'm not your bitch, Jake Ballard.  You know what you are?  You're the bitch."  {If you know anything about this show, David saying this was momentous to say the least}.  I'm sad to not have my Thursday nights with my gladiators to look forward to, but as they say, all good things must come to an end, and if I'm ever missing them, there's always Netflix!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Birthday David

Happy Birthday David!  You've come a long way in your 24 years, and though our interactions lately consist mainly of instant messages, bitmoji's, instagram dm's, and photos of cake, I still consider you one of my most nearest and dearest and I don't know what I'd do without you.  I hope you're having a fabulous day, and if you don't have any plans yet, might I suggest a boat? {see above - still one of my best birthdays EVER}.  Happy Birthday dear David - let's celebrate soon!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Birthday Stefanie

Happy birthday to one of my favorite dancing partners!  I had to dig way back in the archives for this one {and go down a Facebook rabbit hole} but it was worth it to find one of my favorite pictures of us that really captures, well, us.  I hope you have the most fabulous birthday with your sweet family, and I'm pretty sure it's about time we get back out on that dance floor and throw our hands up in the air, eh?  Love ya Stef!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Ivar's Salmon House

How was your weekend?  Saturday afternoon, Mom came to the city to see Kiss Me Kate and to spend the weekend with me.  The show was entertaining {though not one of my faves} and afterwards we shopped a little before heading out to find dinner.  Since it would've been Nana's birthday, we decided to celebrate with something she loved - fish and chips.  I suggested Ivar's Salmon House on Northlake remembering that they had a great happy hour, and we ended up with a booth in the bar where happy hour runs 7 days a week from 3 to close - does it get any better than that?  The view was gorgeous watching boats pass by on the lake as we shared some drinks and coconut shrimp, then mom got the obligatory fish and chips while I went with the salmon sandwich {so good}.  It was a fun evening trying out somewhere new and celebrating Nana, and by the time we got home it was time to put on our jammies and watch the M's beat the Rangers - a pretty great end to the day!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Goodbye Roger

Wednesday morning we said goodbye to Grandma's cousin Roger.  Family from all over the country including his siblings from the south gathered in Conway to pay their respects to this loving, strong, family oriented man who was lost too soon.  Though it was a sad reason to get together, it was nice to see everyone, some of whom I haven't seen since I was a kiddo.  After the service, some of us headed over to the Conway Tavern for some drinks to toast Roger while we caught up on life and reminisced about our times with him.  It's never easy to say goodbye, but the silver lining was reconnecting with this awesome family of mine that I'm so grateful for.  Hopefully next time we'll be getting together under happier circumstances.

Have a great weekend - make sure to hug the ones you love extra tight!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Soul Cycle

Monday evening I headed to South Lake Union to try out the newest craze to hit Seattle - Soul Cycle.  Soul Cycle is an "inspirational, meditative fitness experience", which basically means it kicks your ass.  Set in a dark, candlelit room packed with stationary bikes and people, the instructors guide you through a 45 minute spin class to blasting upbeat music while inspiring you to dig deep and pedal faster and stronger than you ever thought possible.  After sweating profusely and bringing myself to the point of almost passing out, I can honestly say it's one of the toughest workouts I've ever done.  But also?  It was amazing.  I loved the camaraderie of the fellow cyclists {everyone was yelling and clapping and high-fiving each other} and our instructor Earl was so energetic and intense that he really made me want to give it my all.  Unfortunately, this class just 1 block away from work is way too expensive to become a regular member {but for reals, how do people afford that?} but I can see myself heading to a class every now and then on a Saturday morning or Monday afternoon to really break a sweat and push myself to the limit.  Anyone want to join me?

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Quick Black Bean Burrito Bowl

I've been working from home on Mondays for the past month or so {I'd highly recommend it} and one thing I've been loving is stopping in the afternoon to make a fresh yummy lunch to break up the day.  My favorite so far {that has also become a go to dinner on evenings when I just don't want to put forth too much energy} is this Quick Black Bean Burrito Bowl that is both delicious and fairly healthy.  It's so easy to customize with whichever veggies and toppings you have on hand, and the leftover beans and rice are so easy to heat up for lunch or dinner the next day.  If you're missing the meat, some chicken, shrimp, or ground meat would be a super delicious addition to this bowl, but I find with the seasonings and lots of veggies and beans that I don't miss it at all.  Enjoy!

Quick Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Ingredients
1/2 can black beans
1 cup cooked brown rice {I love the individual frozen packets of Brown Rice from Trader Joe's that are microwaveable - use about half the bag for 1 burrito bowl}
Dash each of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Toppings {I typically use a mexican cheese blend, salsa, radishes, green onion, lettuce, avocado, and sour cream mixed with fresh lime juice}

Instructions
1. Heat drained black beans over medium heat until heated through {use the whole can and save half for leftovers!}.  Top with spices and stir to combine.
2. Cook rice according to directions
3. Meanwhile, prep and chop veggies.
4. Once beans are warmed and flavorful, mix beans and rice together in bowl and top with favorite veggies and toppings.  Enjoy!

Serves 1

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Opening Day

It's been a few weeks, but I wanted to share this year's awesome Opening Day for the Mariner's.  In the past 10 years, I think I've only missed 1 opening day and I definitely wasn't going to miss it this year.  I took Steph from work {someone I knew would really appreciate the excitement of the day} and we got to the ballpark early to sit in the bullpen for happy hour awaiting King Felix {even the beer cups above were excited for Felix day}.  After the pregame festivities we headed up to our front row 300 level seats for the rest of the great game, where the M's came out ahead {after a nailbiter of an ending}.  It brought hope and excitement for the upcoming season, and I can't remember an Opening Day where the roof stayed open the entire game and the Mariners won {yay!}.  Is this a sign of good things to come?  Here's hoping!

 the return of ichiro

Mariner's win!!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Busy {Rainy} Weekend

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend?  The rains were absolutely insane on Saturday, but we didn't let that stop us from having a great weekend. We made it to Seattle Seed Company's Spring Open House {see pic above of us from their website} at their cutest new shop before heading out to dinner with the Novak's for some fun kiddo time.  Sunday morning we had brunch with friends and tackled both Costco & Target before my awesome parents came down to help out around the house which included fixing up my washing machine {for a few more washes at least} and Christian and Dad getting up on ladders to help me clear out the insanely full gutters {homeowner fail}.  After all that work, we headed down to an early dinner in the 'hood before it was time to finish out the weekend mindlessly staring at the tv :)  It was a great weekend filled with friends and family, and I'm so happy we got out to do fun things despite the nasty weather.  

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Going with the Flow

Last night I did something I haven't done in almost 8 months - yoga!  I was on such a roll last year of going several times a week, but when my studio closed and I couldn't find another close by, I kind of fell off the wagon.  I've been talking about it so much lately that when I heard they started back up an after work yoga class in the building on Thursday evenings, I instantly signed up.  Last night was the first class of the series, and it was such a great way to wind down after a busy day.  It felt soooooo good to move my body in those long slow poses and stretches that are so familiar and by the end of class my body {and mind} were so happy with me.  I have a feeling Thursdays are going to become my new favorite work day.

Have a great weekend!  Namaste :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

John Cleese

I had seen the ad for the Unique Lives series at McCaw Hall a long time ago and had kind of forgotten about them, but when I mentioned the series to Christian and that John Cleese was coming to speak his reaction made me realize I had to buy tickets right away.  The show, as you can imagine, was pretty hilarious, filled with stories and anecdotes about his long career in show business, but the part that surprised me the most was just how smart and knowledgeable he was about so many topics {the man reads physics books for fun}.  My favorite quote?  When asked what he would say to Donald Trump, he responded with "I would ask him to just please go away" :)  Perfectly said.  Though it wasn't an event that I would've immediately picked by myself, I'm so glad we headed out on a Monday night to hear this legend speak for a bit.  I love a good date night.

 obligatory pre-show dinner at crow

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Lemony Arugula Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

You know those days where nothing seems to go right - where you get a huge unexpected bill, a major appliance breaks, and a piece of siding falls off your house?  Just me?  Anywho, I was having one of those on Monday {ah, homeownership} so instead of freaking out too much {ok, there was a minor freak out} I decided to pour myself a glass of wine and cook a big bowl of comfort food - pasta.  Luckily, I had all the fixin's for Lemony Arugula Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe from Cravings, the hilarious and super delicious cookbook by Chrissy Teigen and a big bowl {ok, maybe two} of that delicious and simple pasta paired with a big glass of rosé made me forget my worries for another day.  Now, if only I could find a winning lottery ticket.....

Lemony Arugula Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

Ingredients
Salt
12 oz dried spaghetti
1/4 lb pancetta or bacon, finely diced
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more for topping
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
3 cups baby arugula

Instructions
1. In a large pot of heavily salted boiling water, cook spaghetti al dente according to package directions.  Save 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, in large skillet, cook bacon over medium high heat until well crisped, about 7 minutes.  Add olive oil, then garlic, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add lemon juice to skillet, then mix in the cooked pasta and toss to coat.  Add the cheese and toss, adding pasta water a few tablespoons at a time to help cheese coat pasta {you probably won't use all the water}.  Add arugula and toss until it wilts, about 1 minute.  Season to taste with additional salt, lots of black pepper, and more Parmesan.

Serves 4

adapted from Cravings

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Saturday at the Market

Saturday morning we braved the wind and rain to meet up with the Robinson's for brunch at the market.  It has been so long since I've seen this family {including cutest Ryley, above} so we decided on brunch at Honest Biscuit followed by beers next door at Old Stove Brewing.  The food was great and the company even better - especially little Annabelle who Christian fell a little bit more in love with every minute {she was the perfect baby all morning, never making a fuss}.  After beers, we decided to walk around the market looking at tulips and picking up a few snacks before it was time to part ways for the rest of the day.  It was so fun hanging out with Stef and the fam, and I love that no matter how much time passes Ryley and I pick right up where we left off :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Gettin' Together

How was your weekend?  Friday the sun came out and the afternoon was beautiful, which was a perfect setting to have drinks and dinner with the old crew - Leslie, Nicole, and Cullen, along with Mackenzie & Christian.  We started out with happy hour at Percy's where the doors were open and the sun was shining in before heading across the street for dinner at Stoneburner, where we shared plate after plate of delicious food and great wine while closing down the restaurant {unfortunately, no pictures were taken, but believe me when I say a great time was had by all}.  I love getting together with this crew even though it's been infrequent with everyone living and working all over the place, but whenever we get together, it's like we never left.  Good friends like that are the best :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy {hour} Friday

Happy Friday!  Last week since Christian was working downtown we decided to meet up for an impromptu happy hour at Elliotts for some yummy oysters and small plates.  I love any excuse for happy hour, especially when it's unexpected and delicious :)  It's been a super busy week at work and I'm excited to have a pretty low key weekend catching up with old friends and snuggling inside.  And maybe catching another impromptu happy hour on a cold and rainy day?  There's nothing better :)

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Spheres

A few weeks back my friend Vannessa invited me to visit The Spheres with her.  The Spheres are part of the ever growing Amazon campus in downtown Seattle and conveniently located just a block from my office.  You can't visit the huge glass domes unless you are with an Amazon employee, so when she offered to take me I jumped at the chance to see what this new addition to the Seattle skyline is all about.  The first thing you notice when you walk into the building is the temperature - it feels like you've walked into the rainforest!  The Spheres house more than 40,000 plants from around the world, along with drop in spaces for employees to work in and a few small restaurants that cater to the Amazon crowd. The design is remarkable, and walking up floor by floor through this man-made jungle definitely makes you feel like you've left the city.  I can imagine if you're an employee it's an amazing treat to be able to walk in with your laptop and coffee and set up shop right in the middle of this beauty, and while I have a love/hate relationship with this company in Seattle, I have to admit that seeing them add to the skyline in such a unique and interesting way is pretty awesome.  Now, if only I could get to that onsite donut shop on a daily basis.....

the climbing plant wall, which houses more than 25,000 plants!

xoxo,
stephanie marie