Port Townsend trip

I'm back from my three day vacation and I can't wait to share photos from our trip with you. 

Mr. and Mrs. F on the ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston!

There were Tall Ships docked in Port Townsend!

Our celebratory 2003 Leonetti Cabernet and our view from the Tides Inn!

Mr. F at brunch at the adorable Courtyard Cafe in Downtown Port Townsend.

Our eight mile run on the Larry Scott Memorial Trail. (Yes, I ran with the camera!) It was so gorgeous that it was easy to run for ninety minutes straight. This is one of the longest runs I've ever done!

If you ever have the pleasure of going to Port Townsend, you can hike, run, bike, or ride your horse on this beautiful trail. It goes along Port Townsend Bay, the paper mill, and into the woods along Highway 20. It's well maintained and even wheelchair accessible. 

Saturday night, we had dinner and an amazing bottle of wine at Bella Italia in Port Angeles. (Yes, the place where Bella and Edward have dinner in Twilight! I did not get the mushroom ravioli...this time.) We scored this amazing vintage of Quilceda Creek for way below Seattle's market price! We are huge wine nerds and this was quite a steal and sooo delicious.

It was such a nice weekend, but now I need to get ready for Monday!

Cheers!

Thoughtless Thursday...

Strawberry Rhubarb Strudel at the Jolly Roger last weekend.....there are no words. It was delectable. 

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Port Townsend this weekend!

Please excuse my lack of blogging! This week has been super busy and I will also be remiss from the blogging world this weekend. Mr. F and I will be taking a three day weekend to Port Townsend! We went there for our anniversary last year and can't wait to go back! It will be a much needed vacation! Cheers!

Clownfish cupcakes and personality types

matching clownfish cupcakes
Originally uploaded by *coco cake cupcakes* -- vancouver, bc

Aren't these clownfish cupcakes so cheery and fun? They make me so happy on Monday! They remind me of a pool party or Finding Nemo.

I recently took the Myers Briggs test for my certificate class. Have you taken this test before? (Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator, if you haven't!) Here are the major dichotomies:
Extraversion Introversion
Sensing iNtuition
Thinking Feeling
Judgment Perception

I knew I was a strong extrovert, assumed I was more intuititive than sensing, but I didn't realize that I'd be split between thinking versus feeling, and I'd be strong in judging versus perceiving.

This is so true for me, "most people who prefer
Extraversion: Focus energy and attention outwardly (people & things)". As opposed to "most people who prefer
Introversion: Focus their energy and attention inwardly ( thoughts & reflections)". I gather energy interacting with people and enjoy communicating. I totally "value imagination" as an intuitional person, and not always realism, as a sensing person may prefer.

After my class I see why I'm split between the thinking versus feeling dichotomies. I want to be described as reasonable and fair (thinking side) but I also want to be compassionate and empathetic (feeling side). People who are in the judging dichotomy are scheduled and organized, and like to have things decided. Perceiving people are spontaneous and flexible. Surprises are fun and routines are limiting.

This is me, ENFJ!
Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership. (From http://www.myersbriggs.org/)

Cheers!

Arggh, allergies

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Today, I've slept most of the day because of nasal congestion, pounding headaches and itchy eyes. I feel icky. Unfortunately, Claritin didn't help and I was so foggy headed I didn't even think to take Dayquil until 6pm. (I rarely get sick and this is the first time in several years that my allergies have made me have to take more than a Claritin occasionally.)

My sweet husband took me out to breakfast and even encouraged me to run, but we were both too sore from our 8 mile run yesterday, so we turned around after one stiff block. Ick, what is in the air that's making me so crazy congested?

Sunsets and Rose in Ballard

Cupcakes and Cashmere for Coach

I'm not really a handbag girl. I admire them and covet a few special bags, but I'm always heartbroken when I get them dirty with my active lifestyle. I buy them (especially J.Crew bags) and then return them when I realize I can't fit my ENTIRE work day into them. So imagine my surprise when I checked Cupcakes and Cashmere daily post today and saw her lovely new Coach design. I normally not even a huge fan of Coach, but this simple and vintage style interests me. I love the pale pink shade too. I'm not planning on buying this bag but I like the look of it!

Do you have a favorite handbag or do you go without? What do you use to carry your daily items?

Who's watching Glee right now?

New Glee photo from What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear?! 

Dace clothing sale!

I just found my dream summer dress for 80% off!

(It's a blue chambray dress, 100% cotton with a square neckline, fitted button-up bodice with back zipper, front pockets and lining.)

This is the Martin Dress.  I've been eyeing it for over 6 months! It was 50% off on dace.ca and I found an additional 30% off coupon, on retailmenot.com!

Dace is an adorable Vancouver B.C. boutique that I've blogged about before, last August. I love their Fall 2009 line with an equestrian flair. Last time we were in Vancouver, I made my husband walk all over the downtown and international district looking for the shop, only to find the warehouse where they manufacture the clothing....not sell it.

If you love the print as much as I do, there's still a shirt with the same pattern, called the Mackie Blouse, on sale! I'm so happy I waited until it was on so much more affordable, I can't wait to receive it via Canada Post!

If you're interested in dace style, here's a Parisian inspired video of their Spring 2010 line.

Cream, pink and red colored roses...

I can think of no better place on earth
Originally uploaded by Creature Comforts

It's May and the roses are starting to bloom in Seattle. I love running by hedges of wild roses and catching a quick gust of their heady aroma. There are several rows of bushes between my house and the Ballard Locks and I always look forward to smelling them. (It also cancels out the smell of bums under the bridge, as my husband and running partner puts it.)

I've always enjoyed roses. My mom planted an Emily rose when I was born and my grandmother even transplanted it when we moved. I can still visit it to this day, over twenty five years later.

One of my favorite pictures on my desk at work, is of my husband and me in the Portland Rose Garden, when we first started dating.

Do you have any favorite flower memories?

Happy Mother's Day

When I asked my mom what she wanted to do for mother's day, she said come up to the farm. I took lots of photos of her flowers on the farm. There were bees in the quince,  colorful cosmos, and the pansies were popping. The chickens and the ponies helped out with the weeding too! After a pleasant afternoon in the sun, we had pizza at the local pizza parlor. We celebrated with a massive chocolate cake too! 

To ponder, reflect....

 Carla Korbes, Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist, perpends the air.

 It's

Word of the Day for Thursday, May 6, 2010

perpend \per-PEND\, verb:
1. To ponder; deliberate.
2. To be attentive; reflect.
noun:
1. A large stone passing through the entire thickness of a wall.

"So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits is to read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear.
-- William Shakespeare, Twelfth night, or, What you will

The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard

What dost you perpend today?

Sunset walk along Shilshole

After dinner, Mr. F and I walked along the Shilshole Bay Marina. There was a lovely sunset over the Olympics. It started getting chilly after the sun went down so we stopped into Portalis for dessert of panna cotta with mixed berries and moscato. It was delightful!  Sweet dreams!

Anne Taintor, you're so funny

I'm a huge fan of magnets, especially with witty phrases. Anne Taintor magnets are the best.My cubicle at work already has at least a dozen magnets, but after looking at these gems, I might need more...Although, these magnets are not necessarily work appropriate. Where would you hang them?

This lip balm is so fun and powerful looking! It even has 15 SPF in it too!

If you like this style, check out the website, Amazon.com for Anne Taintor products, and the Anne Taintor Facebook page. I love the quote on Facebook, "Celebrating 25 years of making smart people smile!"

Not for tonight, but perhaps in 2015...

My husband just bought his fantasy wine, from Quilceda Creek. This is one that needs to age several years to become even more amazing. It's so special that it should probably be opened at our 10 year anniversary, or even one of our 40th birthdays celebration. Mr. F's so excited about it, even if he does need to wait 10-15 years to drink it. 

If you are not familar with this winery, Quilceda Creek has been named Washington's premier Cabernet Sauvignon producer. In 2003, Wine Spectator Named Washington State's Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Top American Wine of the Year! The 2002, 2003 and 2005 vintages all scored the rare 100-point rating from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. "Two names should be at the top of your Washington list: Leonetti Cellar and Quilceda Creek. They have a lot in common. Both are limited-production (roughly 4,500 to 5,500 cases annually) red-wine specialists. Both are family-owned, started by dedicated hobbyists in the late 1970s — Gary Figgins at Leonetti and Alex Golitzin at Quilceda Creek. And both have led the way in establishing Washington state as one of the world's most blessed regions for creating long-lived, Bordeaux-style red wines." PAUL GREGUTT Seattle Times Wine Columnist


Yes, I am a self-proclaimed wine nerd. I have soft spot for Washington wine. Feel free to ask me any questions about wine! If I don't know the answer, I'm sure my husband will be able to direct me to it!

Nichole's awesome feast

Dinner at Nichole's last night was fun, festive, and phenomenal! She cooked a wonderful pot roast in a homemade onion soup. It was well cooked and especially moist with gravy. We also had two green bean casseroles, salad, mashed potatoes, and cupcakes!Murphy, Nichole's lovable Great Dane, was the perfect host. He greeted everyone warmly and made sure they were comfortable.This is Murphy and his Aunt. He's obviously a love bug, even though he's huge.Nichole in the kitchen with Mr. F. Isn't Murphy the cutest?

Things I enjoy on the weekend!

Mr. F and I had a leisurely brunch at the top of Queen Anne this morning at the 5 spot. "Seattle" is featured in their themed menu this quarter. I had the delightful Cafe Mocha French Toast. "Thick cut brioche dipped in a chocolaty-coffee custard, griddled and embraced by espresso/hazelnut syrup, whipping cream & coco nips." After brunch and grocery shopping, we wandered over to Eat Local and McCarthy & Schiering. 

My husband and I love the delicious organic and local frozen foods that you can purchase at Eat Local. When we're super busy work it's nice to have a healthier pop-in-the-oven option. My favorites are their crispbread pizzas, Walla Walla Onion Soup, and Pork Cassoulet. 

McCarthy & Schiering is recent guilt pleasure of ours. It's an amazing wine shop . They have a very healthy Washington wine selection, which we found very tempting today. 

Now we're off to buy new running shoes since we've been running at least 10-15 miles, sometimes up to 20 miles a week. I bought new running shoes in January and they are losing all their tread!

I'm also excited to go to dinner at my friend Nichole's house tonight. She's making something special and delicious for 8 to 9 of us, and we're bringing dessert wine and cupcakes! I'll make sure to take some lovely photos!

Cheers!

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