Flyin' Solo

Do you ever just feel like you need to get away and completely recharge?  Well, I've been feeling that way for awhile, so for my birthday this past summer I booked myself a solo vacay to a Costa Rica yoga retreat, and it's finally here!  I'm off for about 10 days to Nosara and Tamarindo, and if the pictures on the website are any indication, I'm going to the most beautiful place in the world.  The plan is lots of yoga, soaking up the sunshine, going on adventures, and really truly relaxing.  I can't wait to meet some incredible people and see some gorgeous sights - it's going to be spectacular, I can feel it :)  If you need me, I'll be at the beach!

All pics from Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, where I'll be staying the majority of my trip.  How amazing, right?!?!?

xoxo,
stephanie marie

I'm With Her

Not to get too political on ya, but I filled out my ballot yesterday and it felt really good.  This election is so important to our country, and while it can be frustrating and annoying and comical and downright ugly, it is also inspiring and exciting and powerful and life-changing.  It's so important that you do your part and VOTE, regardless of who it's for {though let's be honest, #imwithher and I hope you are too}.  Come November 8, I know I'll be glued to my tv just like everyone else with a bottle of wine and a box of tissues.  Let's do this, America.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

top photo via vogue

Pumpkin Patch

This year's trip to the pumpkin patch was extra special because Susannah got to join!  Being an LA-livin' gal, Suze doesn't get to experience fall quite like the rest of us, so it was extra fun to have her join us for a girls day at the patch.  We headed out to Carpinito Brother's patch in Kent on a beautiful and sunny Saturday along with half of Western Washington, but we didn't let the crowds and mud deter us from getting some great pics.  The lines were too long for us to actually purchase pumpkins {isn't that what Trader Joe's is for?} so instead we wandered around the patch setting up the little ones for pics and making lots of strangers take some group ones for us.  The littles did a great job keeping it together {that is, except when Susannah held Linnea} and indulging our need to document the occasion.  It was such a great day with my girls doing one of my most favorite fall traditions!

 linnea and her gourd

 setting up addie for the first of many pumpkin pictures

 linnea learned to say cheese for the camera

 not the happiest, but still darn cute

 linnea was not happy at all about this :)

 linnea did however love this wheelbarrow

 cuties!

 we'll just chalk this one up to her not going to the pumpkin patch very often

Love these girls!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Three

I know I say this often, but time really does fly.  Today marks 3 years since I got the keys to this little house in Magnolia and made Erika & Joe drive over with me late at night to christen it properly.  A lot has happened in this little yellow cottage that I call home in the past 3 years, and though it can sometimes be a burden, a pain, and a complete money pit, when I walk through the gate everyday to this view, I have such a sense of happiness and pride in this place - and myself.  It's not always easy, and it's incredibly humbling, but I absolutely love living here and calling it mine.  I think the cottage and I were meant for each other, and I can't imagine living anywhere else.  This place truly is home, and it's all mine :)

Happy Anniversary, little house!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

 {susannah meeting baby addie}

 {fall in the yard}

 {tacos + seahawks}

 {its for the kids, i promise}

 {i had to make a new house key, so.....yeah}

{saying goodbye to my dear friend}

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Weekend

I already know this weekend is going to be hard, saying goodbye to my dear dear friend.  But I also know that being with these girls is going to be the best distraction, and I cannot wait to spend the evening and morning with them.  No matter what, these girls are my sisters and they make me so so happy.  Hoping you can spend some time with people you love this weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Cutest Kids

A few weekends ago, I was lucky enough to hang out with two of my favorite little munchkins - I had dinner with Ryley on Friday night then coffee and playtime with Linnea on Saturday.  Even though I love catching up with their respective Mama's, I absolutely love watching these little ones grow up and learn new things and become these little people instead of babies {Linnea's pigtails!  Ryley's curls!!}.  I may be biased, but my friends make some damn cute kids :)  Here's to more adventures with these little ones real soon!  And a few cute pics to help you get through your Thursday.....

xoxo,
stephanie marie

KT Tunstall

You know those artists that whenever you listen to their music it brings you back to such a specific time and the memories and feelings just make you feel.....good?  KT Tunstall is one of those for me.  She got big when I was in college and I remember listening to her album "Eye to the Telescope" over and over in my car and just loving it.  When I saw awhile back on Nicole's calendar that she was going to see her at The Crocodile, Nicole saw how excited I got and decided to ditch her husband for the night and take me instead {Thanks Dan!}.  I mean, "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree" was one of the only songs I've karaoked {with Nicole, incidentally!} so it was basically fate.  Before the show a few weeks ago we did a little happy hour hop around Belltown, grabbing food and drinks along the way, then ended up at the Crocodile where we promptly realized that KT wasn't going on stage for several more hours - oops!  So we did what any normal people would do - ordered another drink at the bar and took pictures in the photobooth {I can't say no to a photobooth}.  When the show finally started, we couldn't stop ourselves from dancing and singing along to the songs we knew and laughing at her hilarious monologues in between songs {and her Scottish accent made it even better}.  Seeing KT live made me love her even more, and I'm so happy that I basically invited myself to this awesome show.  I still have the songs stuck in my head weeks later, and I'm not mad about it :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Bar Melusine

A few weeks back I met up with Maddie for a very belated birthday dinner for her.  Since Ash can't do shellfish, I told Mads to pick a seafood-y place that we could go to and she instantly said Bar Melusine, a new-ish Renee Erickson spot on Capitol Hill.  My pictures do not do this place justice at all.  It is an absolutely gorgeous space - bright white with lots of green accents - and it makes you want to completely redo your kitchen to look just like it.  The dinner was pretty amazing too - clams, lamb, and lots of bread :)  We caught up over glasses of wine and delicious food, and it made me miss the days when I would go out to dinner with friends much more than I do now.  I need to make a point to get out to all these awesome Seattle restaurants more often with friends like mine who enjoy some awesome cuisine :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Sleepy Weekend

How was your weekend?  I had the most relaxing one, which felt so needed and lovely.  The big storm that was supposed to hit the PNW wasn't quite what it was talked up to be, but I still used it as an excuse to lay low and be cozy.  I drove up north on Saturday to hang out with the family and celebrate Grandpa's bday, and since Shaun and Sara were also in town, we spent all day Sunday cooking, lounging, and watching football {Go Hawks!}.  I know these next few weeks are going to be crazy busy, so it was nice to have a few days to just chill.  Now, if only I could have a few more.....:)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Palm Springs {Day 4}

Tuesday morning we knew we were leaving that evening so we had a lazy morning in our hotel room which consisted of me grabbing us breakfast at the Starbucks downstairs and us eating it on our balcony overlooking the grounds.  Before we left the hotel, we stopped by the flamingo pond out front where we sat and took pictures of these funny and beautiful birds - I'm pretty sure the flamingo is my spirit animal :)  After checking out, we drove into Palm Springs and made a stop at the Avalon, which was one of my favorite hotels from my first trip.  The poolside restaurant was practically empty, and since we were wasting time we decided to grab a small second breakfast to tide us over.  Since the day was so hot {again}, mom suggested stopping off at a casino in Palm Springs {our flight wasn't until early evening} and even though casinos aren't my most fave, I ended up walking away up $32!  It was just the right amount to treat for lunch at King's Highway at the Ace Hotel, an upscale diner food spot which was the perfect stop on our way back to the airport.  This trip to the desert was one of my absolute favorites and came at the perfect time - Mom and I have already decided that it's going to be an annual trip for us :) 

 morning views

 flamingo island!

 the view of our hotel from our 8th floor hallway

 the avalon

 poolside breakfast

 kings highway

 my albacore tuna melt

 mom's grilled cheese and tomato soup

Thanks again for a fabulous trip, Mom!  Let's do it again!!

xoxo,
stephanie marie