For my husband’s 40th birthday party, I decided to have a little fun with a press-on tattoo. I ordered temporary ink to wear the night of his party. Easily applied with a wet wash cloth {just like the tattoos you put on little kids}, it was a fun way to celebrate his big day. Aaron was completely surprised and not-so-secretly loved it! That makes me smile.
It is a great gift for your significant other on his or her birthday or your anniversary. Also, wouldn’t it be so sweet for a bride and groom to wear one on their wedding day that only their new spouse will see?
A recent trip to the Pike Place Market marked our first visit to Seattle’s Gum Wall. It is located in Post Alley under Pike Place Market. [Find Rachel the Pig and go down a short flight of stairs. Turn right at the bottom and you are there.]
Visually, it is striking. Colorful and textured. Standing back from it you almost forget it is chewed gum. Almost. The boys couldn’t visit without leaving their mark. Will jumped right in and stretched his gum long and left it dangling from a pipe. Little Man was apprehensive, but eventually went for it. He really wanted to shape his gum into the letter H because he had noticed that some visitors had spelled out their name or messages and left them on the wall. When it proved to be a tedious job he just stuck his next to his big brother’s. I delicately stuck my piece to a very small empty space on the wall.
Being a tourist in your own city is a great way to spend a summer’s day.
I have just started a two week intensive boot camp. It includes giving up caffeine, alcohol, dairy, sugar, and no refined white flour or white rice. It sounds torturous, and at times it feels like it, but it is an amazing group of women. Over 30 of us committed to health and supporting one another. There will be a lot of sweat, some grunting, a ton of laughing [and hopefully no puking!]
It means adding tons of veggies, healthy fats, balanced portions, and glasses and glasses of water. Our trainer suggests consuming half your body weight in ounces. I will admit it-I am the worst about drinking water. This will be one of my greatest challenges in the days to come. To stay the course, I am going to have to jazz my water up! Mixed fruit with ice may just do the trick. Lemons with raspberries or oranges with blueberries sound delicious and interesting. Plus, I am a sucker for mason jars and paper straws.
How much water do you drink a day? Are you a purest or do you jazz it up?
I am so happy to be able to share the rest of our favorites from our trip to Salt Spring Island and our travel tips. [Read my first post here.]
1. The food! We ate WAY too much on this trip and enjoyed every minute it. As you may know, my husband has Celiac Disease and eats gluten free. And this island was a gluten free haven. Every restaurant we ate at offered gluten free options, including gluten free breads, beer, pizza crusts, and buns. Most importantly, the food was amazingly fresh. Farms are abundant on the island and the cuisine is truly farm to table.
Our favorites: The Treehouse Cafe– Delicious breakfast. They even had gluten free french toast on the menu. I am sure lunch or dinner would be just as great! The cafe is built around a tree and is open air. Heaters at your feet and blankets keep you warm if there is a chill. My kids loved this place. [more on why in a bit.]
Burger Bar 537– Seriously one of the BEST burger I have ever had. Gluten free buns and beer for my man!
The Harbour House – The freshest meals are prepared using much of the bounty from the 15-acre farm that sits behind the hotel/restaurant.
2. The Elves A small door at the front of The Treehouse Cafe made this trip for the boys. Elves live on the island. There were pictures, in the treasure box, of small doors at the base of trees all over the island. Little Man spent a great deal of time searching for a door on our hikes! If you leave a note-they will send a reply. My kids were eager to write the elves questions and anxiously await their response.
3. Tsawaout First Nation Reserve A hidden gem!! A waitress gave us the lead on this amazing place. At the very end of Bridgman Road [on the way to Ruckle park], you find a simple marker and a narrow trail. It was the most beautiful place we visited. We did not see a single person on our hike and had the entire beach to ourselves! Simply breathtaking.
You may not go this summer or this year, but I highly suggest you put Salt Spring Island on your “must visit” list. I was not disappointed.
Travel Tips if traveling to Salt Spring Island:
Getting there: BC Ferries Crossing times vary depending on which ferry you catch. The crossing is beautiful, with amazing scenery and lovely views.
Stay: We stayed at Harbour House Hotel. It was not fancy, but it was very clean and the staff was incredibly friendly. You can visit the farm and the restaurant was amazing. Located in Ganges-the heart of the island.
My family packed it up and headed north to Canada over Memorial Day weekend. Our destination was Salt Spring Island, part of Canada’s Southern Gulf Islands. The island has been featured in Sunset Magazine [ here , here and here]. It has been on my “must visit” list for quite some time. We actually planned our trip last minute and I am so happy we did. It was the perfect place for our little family. Our trip was remarkable.
[a sunny ferry ride]
Here are our highlights and must-sees for Salt Spring Island:
1. Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market Each Saturday, from Easter weekend (or first Saturday in April) through the last Saturday in October. From about 8:30am – 4pm, rain or shine. More than 140 artisans and food producers gather in Centennial Park in the heart of Ganges.
[Big W was drawn to the booth with rocks from all over the world.]
The road is narrow and bumpy, but this was chosen as the favorite outdoor activity by all three Thomas boys. It was pretty spectacular and well worth the drive. The morning we visited was especially misty. It blocked the spectacular view, but made the forest seem magical!
There are on-your-honor farm stands all over the island. Usually at the end of a long drive way, we saw stands offering baked goods, eggs, flowers, preserves, and coffee. Our favorite was the farm stand at the 15-acre farm run by the Harbour House Hotel.
Summer tanks and maxi dresses are calling out to be accessorized. There is nothing better than wearing simple earrings and a stacked wrist! I love that you can layer many kinds of bracelets together. Mix and match. The more the better. Scrounge around in your drawers and jewelry boxes and find bracelets that you haven’t worn in a long time. Play with different combinations until you find one you like. The stack can change with your mood or your outfit. It is all about having fun. Go for it.
Feeling inspired? Snap a pic and Instagram your stacked wrist. [Tag me. @seattlejune]
edgy stack from Target feminine stack from Biscuit boho stack [Pura Vida] from Metropark statement stack is [one fabulous, over-the-top piece] the Hermes Alchimie Bracelet
Road tripping this weekend? Me too! Comfort is key, but you need to look presentable once you arrive at your destination. Easy, cozy pieces [like yogo studio pants and a tissue tee] are essential for comfort. Throw on a few accessories and a jean jacket and you are good to go! Classic Chuck Taylors are casual cool and practical.
Team Thomas is headed to the Canadian Gulf Islands. I can’t wait! [Look for out and about posts next week.]
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Joy Cho, from Oh Joy! I read her blog every day and I am blown away by her creativity and talent. Not surprisingly, she was warm, kind, and damn right cute! Her blog represents her perfectly.
Joy was hosting an event at the Seattle [Downtown] Anthropologie to celebrate the opening of their one and only, brick-and-mortar Petites Shop. Petite sections are usually miniscule. Anthropologie went all out. Jeans, dresses, tops, jackets! The choices are endless. [This girl has found her home away from home!] Champagne cocktails, shopping, and treats from Ballard’s Hot Cakes made for a great night out.
PS. Petite girls can rule the world!
I didn’t pack along my big girl camera, so the three images above were snapped with my iPhone. The beautiful images below were taken by Phil Chester Photography.
A Seattle spring day. We can have rain, hail, gloom, and glorious sunbreaks all within the matter of a few hours. Dressing for this unpredictable weather is a bear. Layers remain the key, but the fleece and down give way to lighter pieces.
I am totally crushing on the idea of a bright [and not too expensive] raincoat. The hood is key for school runs, errands and baseball games. It is a total bummer to get caught in a downpour with no coverage. Around here, I could wear this outfit everyday.
We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek [and taste] at Radiator Whiskey Monday night. There were thoughtful details, in every corner, that give this new space charm [and a little grit]. The staff is amazingly talented and welcoming. The spirits plentiful. And the food is fantastic. Let it be said that the 1/2 smoked chicken and potato salad is to die for good! On any given night out, I am certain this is going to be the place we end up over and over again.
The doors to Radiator Whiskey opened to the public yesterday at 4pm! Go get some.
Check out RW @ 94 Pike Street | Seattle, WA
Radiator Whiskey: A whiskey and cocktail bar brought to you by Dan Bugge of Matt’s in the Market, featuring custom and barrel-aged cocktails mixed using craft-distilled spirits, including local labels and a house-branded whiskey by Seattle’s 2bar Spirits.
{cool, old wood crates hold an endless selection of whiskey}
{the bar. built from salvaged high school football bleachers}
{vintage post office mail slots used as wine storage}
{Radiator’s 2bar Moonshine}
{Radiator Whiskey is just up the stairs from the heart of the market.}
