Summer To Do

I cannot believe it is already the last day of June - summer is already flying by and it's just barely begun!  Probably because we didn't even have a spring here in Seattle it feels extra important to make the most of the warmer weather and longer days while they are here.  Without further ado, here is my Summer 2022 To Do List filled with some easy and some aspirational goals for the season {and a few that show up year after year} - who's with me??

1. Take my workouts to the roof

2. Walk to morning donuts and evening ice cream

3. Join a yoga studio again

4. Eat dinner outside instead of in front of the tv

5. Use our Discover Pass

6. WFV {work from vacation - since vacation time is tight with the new job, I want to find an Airbnb or somewhere that feels different from home where I can still work}

7. Takeout picnics

8. Drink lots of rosé with friends

9. Kayak through the Arboretum

10. Host friends for dinner

11. Take my laptop to the roof on sunny afternoons

12. Walk to the Farmer's Market

13. Cheer on the Storm

14. Eat pan con tomate as much as humanly possible

15. Play tennis 

16. Get out for a date with my honey once a week, because summer is here and I'm ready for some adventures!

What's on your summer to do list this year??

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Midsummer at Home

This past weekend we decided to celebrate Midsummer at home and have Miriam over along with Maggie for some hot rooftop festivities.  We spent most of the day hanging out on the roof, where the sun was shining and the sunscreen flowing, and for dinner we had a buffet of yummy food, from C's famous bbq steak and onions to the traditional Swedish skagen {shrimp salad} that I could've eaten a whole bowl of.  Rounded out with some aquavit, chilled wine, and ice cream with strawberries, it was the second best way to celebrate the start of summer {nothing will compare to my first Midsummer in Sweden} with some of my favorite Swedes.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Happy Anniversary to these two cuties who are out on an east coast adventure living it up and having a wonderful time. If they’re still having this much fun 42 years in, I think they’re doing something right! I love you guys - thanks for being such fantastic role models!  Have the best time ever!!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{the mountain peaking out}

{friday demanded beer and tots}

{dinner at my fave}

{outdoor coffee season}

{a walk around queen anne - we could even see mt. baker clear as can be}

{sunday brekkie}

{more outdoor coffee}

{two new tomato plants}

{watermelon season}

{late sunsets}

{a dark cloud has been hanging over this weekend and it is not going away.  i have so much to say about the abhorrent and dangerous supreme court decision - i am scared, sad, heartbroken, and mostly enraged that anyone could think this is the right path for our country and then go and label it pro-life.  if you are so pro-life, try putting some energy and money into sex education, birth control, paid parental leave, childcare, gun reform, abolishing the death penalty, etc etc etc.  but banning abortions?  this will actually kill people. i am livid, though sadly not surprised. this has never been about valuing life - it is about control and power. abortion is healthcare and if you don’t like it, don’t have one.}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Nashville

Our last morning in Nashville we spent roaming around the city and trying to find some good souvenirs to bring home.  We started with breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe {which was good, but not nearly as good as Puckett's}, then strolled through Printer's Alley one last time for some pics.  We walked by Woolworth's which was the site of some of the first lunch counter sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, then stopped in at The Hermitage Hotel for some air conditioning and dreams of staying there one day {thanks to the Nashville episode of Master of None}.  We continued walking by the gigantic John Lewis mural and the Greyhound bus stop where he boarded a bus to Alabama with 9 other Freedom Fighters in 1961 {Nashville is full of so much history}, then went into the Ryman Auditorium gift shop but came out empty-handed {next time, we'll do the tour!}.  We headed over to the Country Music Hall of Fame which is a giant building housing not only the HOF but also other businesses and shops including the famous Hatch Show Print which has designed iconic show posters for over 140 years {I wish we would've picked up a few but couldn't figure out how to bring them home without ruining them}.  Unfortunately it was time to start heading to the airport, so we caught an uber and got there in plenty of time for one last meal of Nashville hot chicken at Party Fowl, which wasn't quite as good as Hattie B's but hit the spot for the long flight home.  Nashville - you were a surprisingly delightful trip and I can't wait to visit again soon!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Nashville {Broadway & Skull's Rainbow Room}

After dinner at Hattie B's, we wanted to spend our last night in Nashville hitting up some hot spots on Broadway but we continually struck out.  We tried AJ's rooftop bar which had a lone musician playing and zero other patrons, so we headed across the street to the world famous Tootsie's rooftop which was incredibly crowded and insanely overpriced.  Feeling a bit defeated, we decided to head back to the Bobby rooftop where we'd had great luck the night before.  On our way there walking through Printer's Alley we heard amazing music coming from inside one of the bars and since we didn't have any plans we decided to duck in and see where this voice was coming from.  Little did we know, this would become one of the best things we did the whole trip!  Skulls Rainbow Room is a jazz/burlesque club that opened in 1948 and has welcomed the likes of Elvis, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and more to its stage.  Reservations were full for the night but we patiently waited along the wall while being thoroughly entertained by the talent and shortly after we arrived two seats opened up at the bar right next to the piano and the stage.  We treated ourselves to some classic cocktails {the place was giving me martini vibes} and settled in for hours of some of the best live music and entertainment we had heard all week.  The engaging and electric performers were a delight to listen to and I kept smiling and telling Christian that this was exactly what I was hoping we'd find in Nashville.  I'm so happy we stumbled upon this gem and I cannot wait to go back next time to experience it's magic once again!

xoxo,

stephanie marie