Weekend update

Friday after work Nick and I headed up to my parent's cabin for the weekend. They surprised me with a birthday cake since my 25th birthday is on Wednesday. It was so good, a truffle chocolate cake, they sure know me!

On Saturday we went on a very nice hike by Mt. Rainier called the Green Lakes trail. It's funny becasue the lake I live across the street from here in Seattle is also called Greenlake. However, this one in the national park is much cleaner, crystal clear!

On Sunday, we went over to Eric and Nicole's new adorable house in Ballard for a BBQ for Carrie and Shane, who are visiting from Boston. They moved to the East Coast four months ago and we all miss them a lot, so it was great to see them.

So now we're back to Monday, but at least it's only a four day week!

Off to the weekend

Happy weekend!! What is everyone up to?

Nick and I are off to my parents' cabin for the weekend to do some hiking and relaxing with the fam. Not sure where we'll be hiking, but most likely somewhere in Mt. Rainier National Park.

We'll be back in Seattle on Sunday for a BBQ with friends who are visiting from Boston, Carrie and Shane.

Hope it's a bright and sunny weekend for everyone!

image: Flickr

Happy hour soaps

I have been so into soaps lately and I just found some more that would be a fun gift, mojito soaps!

And of course, a little recipe to go with it:

MALIN+GOETZ 10 CANE MOJITO:
8–10 MINT LEAVES
1 OZ. SIMPLE SYRUP
2 OZ. 10 CANE RUM
1 OZ. FRESH-SQUEEZED LIME JUICE
SPLASH OF CLUB SODA
GARNISH: MINT SPRIG

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in the bottom of a
tall glass. Fill with cracked ice. Add 10 Cane Rum and lime juice.
Stir gently and top off with club soda.
Garnish with mint sprig.

Is it Friday happy hour time yet?!?

image/recipe: Vogue

Danielle's bridal shower

On Saturday, I went to the bridal shower of my good friend Danielle who is getting married this summer here in Seattle. It was held at the parents home of the maid of honor, Bretta. Their house was right on Puget Sound so we got to see some beautiful views of the water.

Danielle was a year below me in my sorority and now we are on the corporation board together, so I get to see her quite a bit at our meetings!

Congrats Danielle!

Happy solstice

Happy solstice everyone! Welcome the beginning of summer!

Nick and I welcomed solstice with some of our friends at the annual Fremont Solstice Parade. It is quite an interesting parade, complete with a naked parade of bikers! Yes, naked, painted bikers...

note: I was very selective with the pictures I posted below...they are all G-rated! :)

me and Christine

drag Queens

had to blur this one out a little...haha!

Happy Father's Day!

(my dad at 17,500 feet on Mt. Everest last year)

Happy Father's Day to all dad's out there, and of course, to my wonderful dad!

Thanks for all the support over the years, paying for my education - middle school, high school, college; piano, golf, tennis and swimming lessons, ballet classes, summer camps and trips, cars, watching my t-ball games, school plays and recitals...the list goes on!!!! Yikes, I was a demanding child!

And of course, for dealing with me and my wedding next year!

I am so blessed - all my love!!!

Bunco fun

Thanks to Isaac for hosting a wonderful bunco this week and making this fun video from it!





So glad its weekend time and hope it's great for everyone!

video: Isaac N.

My blog's first birthday

It's my blog's 1st birthday today! Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting over the past year. I have loved being a part of the blogging community and can't wait for another year of writing and posting!

xoxo!
Carol

image: Flora's Box

Happy meal

These are so fun! A closer look reveals they are little cupcakes and sugar cookie fries. They look pretty tasty and would be fun for a Father's Day BBQ.

via: Bakerella

Limoncello spritzers with mint

I don't really drink much hard alcohol, but this is a drink I am so excited to try! Limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur that I first tried in Capri, where it is made) , soda water and mint. It just sounds so refreshing and perfect for a summer day. And my mint plant is looking fantastic, so I need to put it to good use!

image: Food Network

Weekend update

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine started off on Friday with a beach bonfire (complete with s'mores) with Nick and friends. The beach is called Golden Gardens and it has lovely views of the water and mountains and got to witness a beautiful sunset.

sunset at Golden Gardens

the group around the fire

me and Nicole

I spent the majority of Saturday downtown doing some shopping and had a nice lunch with Meghan, Brynn and Megan. And I'm so excited I finally got an aluminum water bottle! I've been wanting one, and this one from lululemon was only $15.


And this weekend was the big UW graduation. Luckily it was great weather and I can't believe it was 3 years ago I graduated! How time has flown...


images: personal, lululemon

Up

If you don't have any plans this weekend, put the movie Up on your list! I saw this last week with Nick and my brother Mike, and it was one of the cutest movies I've ever seen. It's not just for kids, in fact, there are a lot of emotional scenes in there and I'll admit, I almost got a little teary eyed.

And the dog, Dug, is hysterical! Nick told me Pixar made a short film just about Dug and it will be on the DVD when it gets released. So excited already for more Dug!

Have a great weekend everyone!

image: IMDB

Lovely soap

How cute is this box of soap?! Perfect hostess gift and I love the packaging.
image: Vogue

Dinner at Spinasse

More excitement to blog about from last weekend, then I'm caught up. Last Sunday Meghan, Brynn, Joleen, Ivy and myself met up for what ended up to be a great celebration dinner for all of us: Meghan and Brynn having new jobs, Ivy purchasing a house, Joleen's trip back from Cambodia and my engagement.

And Meghan and Brynn gave me the beautiful and what will be very handy Martha Stewart wedding planning book. Thank you so much girls!! Glad I have you both (and Martha) to help me plan!

We went to a super cute restaurant called Spinasse that you have to book pretty far in advance to get in, which luckily we did. They are known for their fresh homemade pasta and it was to die for! Talk about melt in your mouth. We had a couple of bottles of sparkling wine, perfect for the hot Seattle day, and I had such a wonderful time with us all back together again.

What a great group of girls and I can't wait to do it again!

love the small, intimate setting. It reminds me of Italy

images: Spinasse

Tennis club bunco

Ok, I am back down on earth and back to blogging. Obviously my engagement on Saturday was the highlight of last weekend, but the fun started out on Friday with Bunco at the Tennis Club where Megan and David were the fabulous hosts!

Apparently they all knew about the pending engagement, and they all did a great job keep it a secret.

Now it's Friday again and I'm looking forward to a hot (90 degreees today!!) weekend in Seattle. Hope it's great for everyone!

And thank you for all the sweet comments about my engagement! I'm so excited!!!

Megan and Michael (posing with the bunco glasses)

Meghan got a bunco too!

Theanne and Isaac

Brynn and I

Isaac is the next host, can't wait!

Michael and Theanna

David, Brynn and Michael