Edgar

Last night was pretty awesome.  I went to happy hour at Barolo with two lovely Bar friends, and as we were sitting in the bar I noticed a Seattle icon, Edgar Martinez, walk through the door.  I was mesmerized to the point where the girls asked "who are you staring at?" and when I tried to explain, my sweet friend who isn't super sports savvy asked "the guy who that street's named after?".  Yes, that's him.  I immediately had to "use the restroom" and as I walked by I tried to snap a few discreet pics.  This was the best I could get :(  I had pretty much convinced a friend we had to go back and get our picture taken with him when I saw him leaving the restaurant.  Next time, I suppose.  I love that living in the city lends itself to chance encounters with local celebrities like this.  It made my day - along with hanging out with 2 fabulous ladies :)

Happy weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

My First BBQ

Ok - so I guess technically this is not my first BBQ.  My first was a small portable thing I had in college that got stolen at a football game when dad and I set it under my car to cool off after a tailgate.  Whoops!  But this is my first Big Girl BBQ, and I am so excited.  I've always said that when I bought a house I wanted to get a bbq - I feel like it opens up a whole new world of cooking opportunities that my little ol' oven just can't compete with.  I finally found "the one" at Home Depot a few weeks back, and after enlisting some help to put it together {I see why they say it's a two person job on the instructions}, I finally have my very own BBQ for my home.  I had to go big for my first meal, so of course I made a steak on Memorial Day to test it out.  With just a little pepper and garlic salt {and a few pointers from my bro}, the steaks were ready in no time, and they were perfectly pink and juicy.  Pretty sure that will never happen again, but at least I can say I did good the first time!  I can't wait to try out new things on the grill throughout the summer {kebabs! burgers! pizza!} while relaxing on the chairs with a cold beer.  It's going to be fabulous :)

 i learned from my dad that a beer is essential in the grilling process

 

 dinner!

xoxo,
stephanie ,marie

Book Larder {Molly Wizenberg & Delancey}

For Stefanie's birthday, I wanted to get her an experience that was fun and unique.  When the monthly Book Larder newsletter popped up in my inbox a few months back and I saw that Molly Wizenberg was coming to speak about her new book Delancey, a restaurant Stefanie and I have talked about going to for years, I knew that was the perfect gift.  Last week was the talk, and after a yummy dinner and catch up at Uneeda Burger, we walked down to Book Larder {remember our last trip there?} to purchase our copies of Delancey and listen to the author.  Molly is hands down one of the cutest people ever,and after reading from the intro to her book, she took questions and chatted with the packed house for about an hour.  Unfortunately, it was getting a bit claustrophobic {and hot!} in there for me so we didn't get to stay long after the chat, but we did manage to get our books personally signed by the author and restauranteur, and it made me even more excited to someday make our way to Delancey, perhaps with Baby Robinson in tow :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Memorial Day {Ladies Who Brunch}

Sunday morning, Mom brought Julie, Patti, and Mary down to finally see my home and to have a ladies day in Ballard.  After a quick tour {and some lovely housewarming gifts!} we headed down to Ballard for brunch at one of my absolutely faves, Volterra.  We cheers'd with festive drinks and had practically the entire restaurant to ourselves for brunch and chatting.  Afterwards, we braved the rain drops and walked around the Ballard Farmer's Market, checking out the booths and picking out beautiful bouquets of flowers {no matter how many times I go there, I can never get over how cheap the bouquets are!}.  When the rain got more intense, we headed back to my house for some homemade lemon meringue pie before the ladies ventured back north.  It was a great way to spend the day - and hopefully next time it won't rain! :)

 brunch drinks

 yum

a new pitcher/vase i picked up in ballard, and a gorgeous bouquet from mary

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Long Weekend!

I am so excited for the 3 day weekend!  It's been a long few weeks, and I think that extra day off is exactly what I need to recharge.  I'm excited to not have too many plans this weekend {besides hosting some lovely ladies from up north on Sunday} so my plan is to catch up on some shows and magazines, pick out some new yummy meals to make, weed the garden {again}, and do some home organization.  Here's to a low stress and easy weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pic of the pretty pink roses growing outside my front door

Roaming the Garden {Snowball Tree}

In the back corner of my property, there's a huge snowball tree with the prettiest white flowers.  When dad and I were walking around the garden a few weeks ago, he pointed it out and I immediately thought "that's gonna get messy".  Boy was I right :)  The flowers have really bloomed in the last week and up close, they are absolutely gorgeous.  But we've had a few windy days, and Monday afternoon I walked out to see the whole corner of the yard covered in white petals.  It literally looks like it snowed in May!  It's still one of the prettiest trees in my yard, but it just reminds me how much work this yard is becoming.  At least it looks good! :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Pasta Puttanesca

The other day I had Maddie over for dinner and wanted to make something super simple, as the point of the get together was to actually catch up, not watch me cook :)  Luckily, The Pioneer Woman had recently posted her favorite quick and easy dinners, so after scrolling through all of them {and some I've already made}, I decided to give Pasta Puttanesca a go.  Confession - I've never cooked with anchovies and have been slightly put off by the little fishies packed in oil.  In reality, I'm not sure what I was so afraid of.  The pasta didn't taste fishy at all - the anchovies and olives just made it extra salty, which was perfect with the slightly sweet wine Mads brought over.  I feel like I've opened a whole new door of cooking possibilities!  I had dinner ready in less than 20 minutes and served with the wine and some warm bread, it was the perfect meal to chat over for hours :)  I'm already planning on making this one again later this week!

Pasta Puttanesca

Ingredients
8oz spaghetti {or bucatini}
2 tblsp olive oil
1/2 whole red onion, sliced
1-1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic
4 whole anchovy filets
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
12 whole basil leaves
4oz Parmesan, crumbled

Instructions
1. Cook pasta to al dente.
2. Mash {in order} garlic, anchovy, and olives using mortar and pestle {or finely chop}.
3. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion until slightly carmelized.  Add tomatoes and cook several minutes.  Pour in wine and cook about 2 more minutes.  Pour in anchovy mixture, stir, and cook several more minutes, until sauce is reduced.  Add salt and pepper if needed.
 4. Add drained pasta to skillet.   Stir in Parmesan and basil and toss to coat with sauce.  Serve topped with more Parmesan if desired.

Serves 4

adapted from The Pioneer Woman

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Whim W'him

Friday night, after what seems like years of saying we were going to go see some live dance, my friend Cullen {of Drinks on the Links fame} and I finally made it happen.  We bought tickets to see Whim W'Him, a contemporary dance company on Capitol Hill, and after dinner at Momiji, we headed to the theater, where we promptly took seats in the very first row {practically on the stage}.  I had absolutely no idea what to expect, as I'm not super versed in contemporary dance, but I knew it would be out of my norm.  I didn't realize, however, how much I would actually enjoy it.  Yes, the stories are a little different than, say, the Nutcracker, and the costumes and music are a little out there {for one dance, the girls had red plastic straw "claws" glued to their fingers}, but the movements were still amazing.  I was completely mesmerized by the fluid motions and strong bodies, and while I didn't quite understand everything that was going on, I could appreciate that these were some very talented dancers.  I left the theater feeling inspired and energized, and I can't wait to go back for more.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Hours with Kelli

A few weeks ago, Kelli came home to spend the weekend with friends and family.  I had her meet me downtown after her flight {in Nordstrom, of course}, then took her to my house so she could see where I live.  After spending some time walking around the garden and showing off my little cottage, I decided to take her on a happy hour tour of Ballard since it was only 4PM.  First stop was The Walrus & The Carpenter, which typically has wait times that can be hours, but since we got there right when they opened, we were seated immediately on the outside patio.  We each had a glass of rosé, then ordered two of my favorite things on the menu - fried oysters and smoked trout.  After that, we strolled down Ballard Ave to Bastille, where we shared a little carafe of wine with moules frites.  It was such a delicious afternoon {and Kelli got her seafood fix} and I love that these yummy restaurants are just minutes from my home.  Thanks for the excuse to try out some great food, Kel!

 our spread at w&c

mussels and fries at bastille

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Emerald Downs {Mothers Day}

For Mother's Day, Mom kept mentioning how much she wanted to go to Emerald Downs and watch the horse races, so on Sunday after brunch, Dad and I took her down to watch the ponies in action.  I had never been to the races before, but I am now obsessed - it was so much fun!  I didn't realize I had to bring cash to bet on the ponies {duh} but I had $2 in my wallet which apparently is enough for 1 bet.  After a quick tutorial from my dad and a look through the racing book {to find out the coolest horse names, of course} I put my $2 on the #6 horse, and miraculously it won!  After that, I kept betting with my winnings, and by the end of the day I had turned $2 into $15.  We spent the day checking out different parts of the stadium, eating corn dogs, and betting on the underdogs, and it was one of my most favorite days in a long time.  I cannot wait to go back to the track, and I'm so glad my mom chose this for her Mother's Day outing. 

 in the paddocks

 my first winner

 my first winning ticket

 apparently our first cat Trooper was named after this hall of fame horse - who knew?!?

 my parents recognized this jockey - gallyn mitchell - from back in the day.  and he was a winner!

 how to place a bet

 mom and dad

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Roaming the Garden {Potted Plants}

A few weeks ago while roaming around Fred Meyer on a sunny Friday evening {yes, that's what I do on a Friday night - don't judge} I was drawn to the garden center and the pretty potted displays.  I started walking down each aisle, and before I knew it, my cart was overflowing with annuals, herbs, potting soil, and clay pots.  While it was not quite what I had planned for my weekend, I was excited to get to work the next day making my front porch a welcoming oasis of color.  Now, when you walk up to my house you are greeted with pots of dahlias, marigolds, petunias, and begonias {like this house needed any more plants} and I think it makes the patio feel so much more homey.  I also decided to try my hand at some herbs, and planted basil, cilantro, thyme, oregano, parsley, and chives.  So far, everything is thriving {minus the basil, but I still have hope} and I can't wait to start using these in the kitchen very soon.  Come on over - it's looking quite spring-y over here!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

A Reunion {of sorts}

A few years ago I was part of a committee at work called the RSDC.  We worked on employee engagement and development, which for me was a great way to meet people when I was first starting out at my job.  Those few years I was on the committee I developed some strong and lasting friendships with several other members, and some of my most favorite memories of the past 6 or 7 years {dinners, dancing, trivia, talking until 6am} include these people.  When one of my colleagues suggested an "RSDC Alumni Happy Hour", I was quickly on board, and last night we all got together at Kickin' Boot for drinks, dinner, and A LOT of catching up.  About half of us still work in the same place and half have moved on, and it was so refreshing and insightful to reconnect with these people and remember how much fun we used to have.  I am so grateful we decided to get together and hope we continue to do so {trivia night, anyone?}.  It just reminds me that sometimes friendships come in the most unlikely of places.

i never order bourbon, but this blackberry lemonade was amazing

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Loungin' Around

It all started last year when Dad found some plans online for making adirondack chairs and had his wood shop students test them out.  I saw the samples and mentioned that they would go really nicely on my back patio.  Well, after months of prodding, these babies finally made it to my house this past weekend and I couldn't be more excited.  In just 1 weekend, Dad was able to make these for me {plus a one of a kind table!} in his makeshift wood shop at home and last weekend I helped him stain them "Summer Oak" {after staring at the staining section of Home Depot forever - who knew there were so many stain colors??}.  They are so comfy and well made, and I'm so excited that they're finally here to stay!  I envision many summer evenings hanging out on these chairs, beer and book in hand, just like I did last night:) 

before and after

Thanks Dad!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche {Mother's Day Brunch}

We started off an awesome Mother's Day with brunch at my house.  I wanted to make something yummy but quick, and when mom suggested broccoli cheddar quiche, I was sold.  I found this recipe from Martha Stewart and it was so simple to put together Sunday morning, especially with a premade pie crust.  Next time you're having people for brunch, or heck, just yourself for a long weekend, I'd suggest whipping this up.  We served ours with banana muffins, bacon, and fruit, and it was the perfect way to start a fabulous day.

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Ingredients
1 premade pie crust
1 tblsp unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
salt and pepper
6 large eggs
3/4 cup heavy cream
about 1 lb broccoli florets, steamed until just tender
1 cup grated cheddar

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375.  Precook pie crust about 15 minutes and set aside.
2. In large skillet, melt butter over medium high heat.  Add onion and cook about 10 minutes.
3. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs and cream.  Add onions, broccoli, cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Whisk to combine, pour into pie crust, and cook until center of quiche is set, about 45 minutes.

Serves 6

adapted from Martha Stewart 

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mom in the entire world {and I'm not just saying that because you're my mom}!  Mom - you truly are the most amazing person I know.  Through the good times and hard times, you are there through it all - with a joke, a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or just a smile.  Thanks for being my travel buddy, my confidante, my role model, and my best friend.  I'm so grateful to call you Mom :)  Love ya!

xoxo,
stephanie marie