Groundbreaking

I don't talk much about work here, but since I'm coming up on my 10 {yes ten!} year anniversary, it's fun to show stuff that make you proud to be a part of something pretty special.  Last week I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for our new Research building in downtown Seattle.  They've been talking about this building since the day I got there {yes, ten years ago} and the fact that we finally broke ground last week is super exciting.  Though my job can be frustrating and stressful and overwhelming on a daily basis, the fact that our mission every day is ultimately to eliminate pediatric disease is pretty amazing, and definitely a good reason to get out of bed in the morning.  Attending events like this make me proud to say I work there and have spent almost a third of my life there {yikes} and though it drives me crazy, I can't imagine myself anywhere else at this point in my life.  And with lots of growth and exciting innovations ahead, I can't wait to see what this next chapter in our institute will bring.  If you want to see more about the day, check out the video here:

 the bus i bought way back when

the future home of building cure

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Bai Bai Bai

While there were some great Superbowl commercials this year, featuring everything from immigrants and beer to feminism and acceptance {that Audi one really got to me}, there's nothing like a funny commercial to make everyone stop and listen.  And the song?  I think it may just catch on ;)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Three Cheese Bacon Dip

I know you're just dying to find out what the 3rd place dip at DAP this year was, so here you go!  I made this Three Cheese Bacon dip, and if you're a bacon lover, this one's for you.  I found it on Lovely Little Kitchen, which is fast becoming a favorite site, and it was so quick and easy to throw together.  It's loaded with bacon and lots of cheese - how did this not win?!?!?  There definitely was not much left by the end of the game which is always a good sign, and if you're looking for a crowd-pleasing dish to make for your next get together {why is football season so far away?!?!?} look no further than right here.

Three Cheese Bacon Dip

Ingredients
8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions, sliced thinly {reserve 1 tsp for garnish}
1/4 tsp salt
Pinch of pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled {reserve 1 Tblsp for garnish}
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus 1/4 cup more for topping

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, salt, pepper, garlic, bacon, and cheeses.
3. Put in oven save baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese and bake 30 minutes.  Top with remaining bacon and green onion and serve with crackers, potato chips, etc.

adapted from lovely little kitchen

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Dip-A-Palooza 13

{most creative dip name - "i built a fence around this guac and i'm going to make you pay for it"}

This year's DAP was extra special, as it was my 10th year in attendance!  Time flies, eh?  We all met up at Holden & Lisa's new fancy digs with a quality selection of dips to sample.  Some were creative, some were generic, but all were delicious and this was one of my hardest voting years yet!  When I was called up on stage at halftime and announced as the 3rd place winner, I was pretty pleased with myself that I whipped up a top 3 finish with minimal effort :)  It was an all ladies top 4 this year, and Lisa took home the trophy with an amazing dessert dip reminiscent of Samoa Girl Scout cookies {seriously, it was delicious}. There were lots of little ones running around, and it was fun to have 2 TV's going with the game so people could walk around and have plenty of dips while not missing a bit of the action.  Like Aaron said, I've been in the top 3 or 4 for as long as we can remember, and fingers crossed that one of these years I will come out on top.  If not, at least I know I'll be well fed on Superbowl Sunday :)

my buddy for the day

a deserving win

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Surprise Snow

Happy Friday!  Last night as Kelsey was leaving after watching Scandal with me {TGIT}, we opened the front door to discover a winter wonderland had formed in the hour we'd been sitting on my couch. It hadn't even been raining when she came in, but the flakes were definitely coming down hard as she headed out.  I quickly put on some boots and a jacket and snapped a quick pic of my back patio, as the snow was so pretty hitting the lights as it came down. It's mostly gone now, and I am seriously so ready for spring, but when it decides to snow even for just a few minutes, it still makes me giddy like a little kid :)

Have a great weekend - stay warm out there!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Hear Our Voice

I've been feeling very helpless and anxious lately.  With everything that's been going on in the world, in particular our country, I think it would be hard for anyone to feel happy and calm and that things are going right {regardless of your political views, things certainly are not right these days}.  When talking to friends this past weekend, I decided I needed to do something - even if it doesn't make a huge difference {I realize I live in a very liberal bubble up here} and even if it seems silly and pointless, at least it feels like I'm contributing and not sitting back and letting things happen while I'm silent.  I signed up for 10 Actions in 100 Days - it's put on by the people who organized the hugely successful Women's March and every 10 days for the first 100 days of this new world they send you some sort of action to accomplish {and easy ways to accomplish it}.  The first was to make {or just print} postcards to send to your Senators.  They had an easy link on their site so you could see who your Senators were and send them a little note urging them to keep up the good fight or tell them your views on the issues.  Monday night, while mindlessly watching The Bachelor, I decided to make a few postcards to send to my Senators to let them know that I support them and they are doing a good job.  It took less than an hour to make some patriotic cards and write a heartfelt note on the back, and when I dropped them off in the mailbox the next day I felt a wave of calm wash over me - like I did a right and good thing.  It's so simple and I urge you to sign up to see what the next 9 actions will be.  Even if you only do a few, at least you are doing your part and participating in something you believe in.  I think we can all agree that women's rights, basic human rights, are something worth fighting for.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Grace

Meet Grace :)  She's the newest member of my little Glassybaby family and she might just be my favorite {don't tell the others}.  For Christmas this year, Grandma and Grandpa gave me the Seattle Sunset Glassybaby, but since I already have that one, I took it back and got Grace, which I've had my eye on for quite awhile.  The gold overlay on the white votive holder goes perfectly in my place, and right now it's made a home on my dresser which is full of gold trinkets and jewelry.  It makes me smile every time I look at it, and I like the sentiment that comes with "grace".  I think right now we could all use a little more grace in our lives, and this is the perfect reminder :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie