October 31, 2023

Happy Halloween!


Happy Halloween!  I promise I'll get to honeymoon pics soon, but for now here's a fave neighborhood decoration from our walk this weekend.  I can't wait to head out tonight and see all the trick-or-treaters dressed up then get home to a cozy stew.  Be safe and have a great one!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 30, 2023

Urban Hiking {Fall in Fremont}


Sunday we woke up to a gorgeous yet chilly fall day, so we decided to get out and get some fresh air {who knows how long this gorgeous weather will last}.  We set out towards Fremont through the SPU campus, making our way to Fremont Brewing for a beer in the surprisingly warm sunshine.  Afterwards we perused a local record shop, then decided we were hungry so headed over to El Camino for some gigantic burritos {which were basically lunch and dinner} that fueled us for our walk back up the hill towards home.  I love a sunny fall walk and am hoping there are a few more this year before it gets too cold and rainy.






















xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 27, 2023

Happy Friday!


Happy Friday! I’m taking it easy today after getting my flu and Covid vaccines - as always, I’m so thankful for science but man, that vaccine wipes me out. Can’t wait for a slow weekend after a busy week to go enjoy some cold but sunny fall weather  - have a great one!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 26, 2023

Eddie Vedder {Date Night}


The morning of our wedding I ended up on Ticketmaster while getting my hair done to buy us tickets to see Eddie Vedder at Benaroya Hall.  The show was this week and even though we were a little wary of going out downtown to a late night concert on a Monday night I'm so glad we decided to go.  We headed downtown after work and had dinner at The Alibi Room then with an hour and a half still to spare, we headed to The Diller Room, an iconic Seattle bar since 1894, and had a yummy {though expensive} cocktail.  After drinks we headed around the corner to a sold out show and after a mediocre yet famous comedian, Eddie finally took the stage to play some of his most popular hits for almost 2 hours during this benefit show.  He has such an iconic and unique voice that I could listen to all day long {even from the second to last row of the venue}, and the stories he told in between songs were funny and endearing and reminded us just how much of a legend this guy is.  It was a late night but so much fun having a date night with my sweetie!




























xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 25, 2023

Ten


It feels crazy not to mention that today marks TEN years of homeownership at that little yellow cottage in Magnolia.  This year feels so different from the last in that I wised up and hired yard service so that I wasn't spending my weekends taking care of a lawn where I didn't live.  I haven't been to the house in so long and even though it's "mine", I'm learning that at the end of the day, a house is just a house, and a home is really where your heart and loved ones are. I'll never forget the memories I made in that house - the laughs, the tears, the dinner parties, the pests, the dog sitting, the Christmas trees, the yardwork, the sleepovers, the kitchen dance parties, the crazy neighbors, the stifling summers and the cozy winters, and so much more - but I'm so happy to be making new memories in a new-ish to me house with my new husband and that is really what makes a house a home.  We'll see what the future holds for this little cottage, but in the meantime, cheers to a decade of homeownership at the cutest yellow house I ever did see :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 24, 2023

Raspberry Ricotta Cake


Since we got home from Italy I've been craving a sweet treat {maybe it's croissant withdrawals or just the endless gray skies} so I looked to my newest cookbook from the parents, Alison Roman's Sweet Enough, for something easy and snackable.  I found this recipe for her Raspberry Ricotta Cake {which is apparently quite popular} and last Sunday afternoon I whipped it up in no time.  Note - I made this in what I thought was a 9 inch cake pan, but the batter literally runneth over in the oven {even over the cookie sheet I last minute stuck under the dish} so I'd suggest making this in a deeper pie dish or even larger baking dish.  Regardless, once cleaned up this was an insanely delicious, easy, and not too sweet cake to have on hand to go with afternoon tea or after dinner couch snuggling.  An instant hit!

Raspberry Ricotta Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tblsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick {4oz} unsalted butter, melted
12-16oz raspberries, fresh or frozen

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 9inch round cake pan {or bigger!} and line with a round of parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta, 1 cup sugar, citrus zest, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.  Whisk or gently fold into flour mixture until just blended.  Then fold in the melted butter, followed by half the raspberries, crushing them ever so slightly as you fold to get a tie-dye effect.
4. Transfer batter to prepared pan and scatter remaining raspberries and remaining 1/4 cup sugar over top.
5. Bake until golden brown and a knife or toothpick comes out clean from the center, about 65 minutes.  Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

adapted from sweet enough






xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 23, 2023

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{banana pancakes}


{so much kitchen organizing}


{dinner in our new dishes}


{breakfast}


{walking to the seattle center}


{checking out a record show}


{dinner prep + pumpkin beer}


xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 20, 2023

Happy Friday!


Happy Friday!  We've had a few nice days this week and a few of crazy rain, so I think it's safe to say that it's officially Fall in Seattle.  I'm excited for another quiet weekend coming up - I'm itching to do some organizing and cleaning and finally make use of some of those wonderful wedding gifts we received!  Cheers to the weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 19, 2023

Our Wedding {Family Day}


We stayed one more night in La Conner then decided to take our families out for lunch up in Bellingham on Sunday before saying goodbye to the valley and all of the wedding festivities.  It started getting really warm & smoky {so thankful the weather for the wedding was so perfectly PNW}, so after wandering around La Conner we headed to my parent's house where we split into two cars and drove up to Bellingham for a nice quiet lunch at Anthony's Hearthfire where we could admire the view of the water from the air conditioned dining room.  After lunch it was time to pack up our cars with all of the incredibly generous gifts and leftover food and decor and head back to the city.  It was the most wonderful weekend with the best family and friends and even though we were so sad it was over, I am so incredibly grateful that we were able to make this amazing weekend happen.  It's one I won't soon forget!




making new friends in la conner














xoxo,
stephanie marie

October 18, 2023

Our Wedding {Saturday Brunch}


Since our wedding was on a Friday, I wanted to do something on Saturday so we could hang out with guests a little longer before everyone had to head out of town.  Even though they had already done so much, Mom & Dad agreed to host a brunch for whoever could make it, setting out a gorgeous spread of food and mimosas and entertainment for the kiddos.  I didn't get a ton of pics, but it was so fun to get to actually sit down and chat with people that had come from so far away to celebrate with us, and it was one of the things that I'm so thankful we did that weekend.  After everyone left, we all rested a bit then had leftover wedding dinner with our families which was just as good as the day before.  It was a great way to spend more time with our families and let the celebration last just a little while longer!




decorating with our gorgeous leftover flowers




the cutest ring bearer


his little hand around my arm




the kids had a blast with all the toys at the house




seeing what was left of the kegs




the best leftovers




my cute husband


leftover cake flavors that i hadn't tried the night before


showing the inlaws the yard


driving back to la conner


cheersing with my husband on a successful wedding weekend!




xoxo,
stephanie marie