Halloween Around the House

I didn't go all out like I had wanted {maybe next year I'll make a real haunted house} but I've definitely gotten in the spirit this year and added a few "spooky" touches to the house.  Hope you have a Haunting Halloween!

the perfect white pumpkin and a card that shows up at my house every year :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Rainy Day Clearing

Sunday afternoon, after the Seahawks win, we took a drive up to Queen Anne to grab some lunch.  On our drive back, the rain suddenly stopped and the clouds parted, so we parked at the top of the hill and took a stroll through the huge mansions and gorgeous view {of Magnolia!}.  I found more than one house that I would gladly move into, but my favorite thing was a tiny little public park we stumbled upon that must have been part of one of the houses back in the day.  It would be perfect for a small little picnic, a game of croquet, or just to sit and read a book on a warm sunny day.  I will definitely be heading back to this spot {if I can ever find it again!} when the weather gets warm next spring.  It was a gorgeous afternoon, discovering hidden gems in this wonderful city.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Toast

Sunday morning I met up with Ashley at Toast in Ballard for brunch to catch up and celebrate her and Sam's engagement!  Toast is a super cute little spot off 24th that specializes in, you guessed it, toast, and some pretty delicious waffles.  Since I can never resist anything pumpkin flavored, Ashley and I both tried their pumpkin spice waffles - with mimosas, of course :)  The waffles were amazing {this coming from someone who almost always picks savory breakfast over sweet} and the company was even better.  We got all caught up and I got to hear all of the exciting wedding details that are well underway.  I can't wait to celebrate this lady throughout the next year and know there are many more brunches like this in our future :)  Congrats Ash - and thanks for introducing me to a new favorite spot!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Go Sounders!

Saturday morning, we headed down to Pioneer Square bright and early for the Sounders final game of the regular season against the LA Galaxy.  After a quick breakfast and some pre-game beers, we headed into the stadium to cheer on the team in the off and on rain.  Though a tie would've sealed the deal for the Sounders, I kept hoping for at least a goal or two, and finally got my wish towards the very end when Pappa scored not one but two goals to ensure the Sounders victory and the bringing home of the "Shield".  It's been several years since I've been to a game, and while it was a bit cold and wet, I loved the energy in the stadium and the excitement of every single fan there.  It made me excited for the Hawks games I have coming up soon :)  Thanks to my date for a fun game!

 the march to the match from our perch at quality athletics

 selfie before the rain

 siggy thanking the crowd after the game

On to the playoffs!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Eva Restaurant

While perusing Eater Seattle recently, my favorite source for all things food and drink in the city, I read that Eva Restaurant in Greenlake was closing this week.  It has always been on my list of places I wanted to try, so I figured now was as good a time as any to check it out.  We headed over to the Tangletown side of Greenlake last week on one of the rainiest days on record, and were immediately greeted with a warm and soothing space at Eva, along with a quiet table by the window to watch the rain dumping outside.  We started with a bottle of Rioja and the steamed mussels to share {yum!}, then followed that up with the hanger steak and the pork loin.  The food was delicious, but even more than that, I fell in love with this cozy little restaurant and am sad that I didn't find it sooner.  Hopefully it will reopen somewhere even better in the future {fingers crossed!} but for now I'll just have to live with the memory of that lovely date night :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

One

Tomorrow marks one year from the day that I got the keys to this precious little house of mine.  I know time flies, but I seriously cannot believe it has been a year since I moved in here.  So much has happened, yet it feels like it was just yesterday we were hauling box after box over from Greenlake to the cute yellow cottage in Magnolia.  This past year has definitely been one of growth and settling in, and now that I really feel comfortable in this place, I want to make this next year about making it home.  For me, that means putting more pictures on the walls, cooking more meals in the kitchen, having more friends over for dinners, and finally doing something with that guest room.  I truly feel blessed that I found this little space in the world to call my own, and I cannot wait for what the future has in store for me and my tiny spot on 23rd Avenue West.  I know it's going to be a crazy busy weekend, but I hope to carve out an hour or two to break out the champs and toast my first year of homeownership :)

Thanks, little cottage, for being my home this past year.  I couldn't imagine life anywhere else :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pic from the house inspection last year

Field of Screams

After the pumpkin patch, we headed to dinner, then back to Stocker Farms for the "Field of Screams" - a haunted corn maze that was seriously the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced.  I thought it was going to be funny-scary - witches, ghosts, and maybe a few zombies.  But no - this was masked men chasing us with chain saws and axes and fake slaughterhouses and people jumping out at us at every turn.  I'm pretty sure I broke my date's hand from squeezing so hard, and when we got out it took forever for me to finally catch my breath {I'm pretty sure I held it the entire time}.  I'm fairly certain I will never do anything like this again {I kind of wanted to cry at the end :)} but it definitely was a rush to the senses and the biggest surge of adrenaline I've probably ever experienced.  I guess it's the season for scary!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Pumpkin Patch

It was beginning to look like I wasn't going to make it to a pumpkin patch this year, but when I saw the forecast for this past Sunday {70 and sunny!}, we decided to make an impromptu trip to find the perfect pumpkins.  We headed up to Stocker Farms {where pretty much everyone else in the area headed after the Seahawk game} and wandered through the fields searching for the best ones to take home.  After much debating, we settled on a small wheelbarrow full of colorful pumpkins to adorn my front steps.  It was a gorgeous day in the fields, reminding me why I love fall so much :)

 these guys fit perfectly together - even though the bottom one kind of looks like a brain :)

 checking our stash

success!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Lasagna Rollups

This past weekend I signed up to bring meals to both the Newsome family and my friend John from work.  I wanted to make something that everyone would enjoy, but wouldn't take forever making for everyone.  Since mom was in town, we set out Sunday morning during the {awful} Seahawk game to make The Pioneer Woman's Lasagna Rollups.  The recipe makes 5 pans of 4 rolls each and was perfect to deliver to my friends - and keep some for my parents and myself too :)  It was super easy to put together - and that sauce was amazing!  I couldn't stop testing it all morning long :)  If you're looking for a delicious and easy recipe to stick in the freezer for meals all through the winter, I'd highly suggest making these.  The Pioneer Woman does it again!

Lasagna Rollups

Ingredients
20 whole lasagna noodles

Sauce
2 tblsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground italian sausage
28oz canned diced tomatoes
6oz tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
3 tblsp minced fresh parsley
3 tblsp minced fresh basil

Filling
30oz Ricotta or cottage cheese
2 whole eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tblsp minced fresh parsley
1 tblsp minced fresh basil

1 lb grated Mozarella

Instructions
1. Boil lasagna noodles.  Drain and lay flat on a piece of foil to cool.
2. In large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Add onions and garlic and cook several minutes.  Add ground beef and sausage and stir, cooking until totally browned.  Drain excess fat, then add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, parsley and basil.  Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
3. For filling, stir together ricotta {or cottage cheese}, eggs, parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil.
4. To assemble, spoon a small amount of sauce into bottom of individual loaf pans.  Spread spoonful of cheese filling on each noodle, then roll up.  Place 4 rolls into each pan.  Top with remaining sauce, mozzarella, and a sprinkling of parmesan.  
5. If baking immediately, bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.
6. If baking from frozen, bake at 350 covered with foil for 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake 15 to 30 minutes more, or until done.

1 pan serves 2-3 people

adapted from The Pioneer Woman

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Weekend {in pictures}

 {sweet baby ryley}

 {one of the best and funniest shows i've seen in a long time}

{dinner at the new oliver's twist in magnolia}

{our haul from the pumpkin patch}

Hope you had a great weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Fall Weekend

It's really starting to feel like fall around here, and it has me dreaming of weekends filled with pumpkin spice lattes, homemade soups, trips to the pumpkin patch, football watching, and cozying up in lots of blankets.  This weekend I'm excited to spend some time with my mama and to see two of the cutest little babies I know.  Hope your weekend is warm and cozy!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Sunset at Alki

Last Thursday, which was probably our last real warm day for the year, we headed out to Alki Beach for a surprise {to me} fire on the beach to watch the sunset.  We got to the beach to catch the last of the gorgeous October sunset, then proceeded to sit around the fire laughing, snacking, and taking in the gorgeous view.  It was one of those perfect fall/summer nights that make me love this city so much :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Roaming the Garden {Yard Art}

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I bought this house.  It definitely has it's quirks, but some of the craziest things I've found so far are the little pieces of "yard art" placed throughout the garden.  Some are cute, some are useful, and some totally freak me out.  But I guess it's all part of the charm, eh? :)

 mom uncovered this cool lantern while clearing out some ivy

 scary half head amongst the bricks

 not sure what this is, but it provides extra seating on the back patio

 vincenzo is buried {i assume} under my maple by the front door

 a rusted lantern in my rhododendron out front

 this cracked mirror in the back yard reflects the sun in the morning

 a hidden mailbox by the front gate

the scariest thing - this old blue doll head out back.  took me months to find it, but I feel like I shouldn't disturb whatever spirits it possesses :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie