living-in.

Tyson and I recently decided to move in together!

We decided to celebrate with a bottle of Prosecco and fresh cut strawberries with homemade whipped cream.



We're totally excited and geeky about it!

Mama.

My mama was in town visiting for eight days last week+. We really had a good time. The I picked her up on a Thursday night and we immediately headed out on the town for red wine and Via Tribunali pizza. We gabbed and we gabbed and it was just so great to sit and catch up like two little chirping birdies.

Unfortunately somehow - and I really have no idea how its possible that I didn't snap 100 photos - I didn't take very many pictures! A small sampling below.

Mama was VERY productive! Over the course of her visit we were able to tackle: Painting the entire condo, finishing the tile backsplash, hanging some photos, combing Re-Store for light fixtures, cleaning out my closet and getting things to Goodwill, consuming wine on a daily basis (yum), finishing a puzzle and creating the perfect lasagna.

And what was really fun was when Tyson joined us after moving back to Seattle after his summer on the Olympic Peninsula came to an end. The three of us were like a dream team. We made each other laugh. We had fun conversations. I really felt that we all had a good time together. And it was comfy and not forced. And I loved it.





At one point we called Kesney while in the car driving, and within seconds we were all laughing. Kesney immediately expressed how much she wished she was with us, riding in the back seat, laughing along. My mom has such a great spirit. She's fresh and she's open. People who meet her, love her. I had so much fun during her visit, and I was really sad to see her go. I know, surprising considering EIGHT days really is a long time for anyone to visit. But I think her visit was just easy. Easy for me. Easy for Tyson. Easy. And Fun. Hmm, I guess I have one of those fun moms. And though it may have taken me a few years to figure that out, I really am so happy she's my mama.

Thanks for the visit, lovely Debbie! Looking forward to the holiday!

Oh and Tyson is really into baking bread. Its not only delicious, but very cute. Here is a yummy ricotta fennel skillet bread. And last night a loaf of wheat came out of the oven piping hot. Have I mentioned I love him?

loving.

I'm loving these beautiful pieces below. The hanging plant above the nightstand - CUTE idea. The map on the wall - I'm looking into some interesting topo and population maps for MY walls! And lastly, those glasses. I recently picked up new glasses in an attempt to use my insurance and I'm a little skeptical of them. I took a risk. Lets hope it pans out, otherwise there's always this site selling super cheap glasses with prescriptions. Wish I'd discovered it before I'd ordered mine!

Grams.

The sweetest grandma of all time so graciously made the journey west to visit me a few weekends ago. Lucky me! Though her trip was cut short on BOTH ends - secret hatred for the airlines - we managed to make the most of our time, and have a blast catching up and connecting.

Let's see, hours and hours of brunch + coffee...


a stop in to Volunteer Park and their Conservatory...




and to the market to pick up fresh seafood for dinner.


Grandma P also had a chance to spend some time with my sweet Tyson. Being the bakers they both are, they made bread together, and she passed on some fabulous tips! We are both looking so forward to staying with her on Christmas Eve and hopefully stealing some secrets on her famous cinnamon rolls.



So much of Grandma P makes me happy and proud to know her. She is so sweet, and such a wonderfully caring and supportive person. She is insightful, and helps me see things from different perspectives. She's open and honest and I appreciate her so much!

Grams is also a savvy text messager:

As she waited in the airport for her flight to Seattle:
Me: "Gram, I love that you text!"
Grams: "Is it not marvelous?"

After she arrived back in Minneapolis:
"Good flight! Good sleep! Great memories of Seattle! Tyson is a keeper - has a good heart. Love both of you! -Gram"

Lastly, Grandma P was convinced that no "old people" live in Seattle. No "gray hairs". And days after she left when I happened to see a gray-haired woman at the coffee shop in my building I immediately notified her of the sighting. Her response, "No way, just sea salt showing up as her hair dries after the weekend monsoon!"

Umm, adorable.
Love her.

Thanks for visiting, Gram! See you soon!

posts coming!

I have good things to write and reflect on. With both the visit of my grandma, Peg, and also the current visit by my mother in full swing, as well as the ability to FINALLY shout to the rooftops the decision to head off on an adventure to New Zealand with Tyson, I feel excited to post on this blog. Unfortunately, work and life has been pretty intense for the past two weeks. I hope to post this weekend!

Hugs to you all who read my blog!

pure joy.

Last night, I arrived home from work heavy. For weeks I've felt as though a 500lb weight has been sitting on my chest. The stress and anxiety of my workload and my new role in the agency has been intense. Coupled with the fact that after my marathon I haven't really worked out in three weeks - I think my body misses its almost daily destressing through some sort of workout.

I walked in the door to home, and it took nearly everything in me to put on my running clothes, grab my headphones and head out into the crisp, early evening. Off in the distance dark clouds loomed. I pushed play and with the first few sounds of Belle and Sebastian I was off. I whizzed by people and cars, down the sidewalk, crunching over leaves, and I felt really alive. I started laughing to myself at the joy I was experiencing. The joy of running. I rounded a corner into unknown territory thinking if possible I'd make the intended course a bit longer. When I came out the other side, much to my surprise I landed on a route facing all of downtown, Puget Sound and Lake Union. I watched the sunset as I ran along and when I finished I couldn't believe I'd neglected such a vital piece of happiness. No more! Back on the wagon I go. Running.

Similarly, several days a week I choose to forgo already delicious black coffee for something sweeter and indulge in a "skinny easy mocha, extra hot" from Vivace. The way I feel in the process of going to get the coffee and then subsequently consuming it is a coveted window in time of pure joy. There's just something so fun about treating yourself to coffee. Like when you know its going to be a rough day, somehow, getting coffee prepares you in a way nothing else can. I love coffee. And I'm not alone. Co-workers too feel this same joy. And I spoke to Birdy this morning as she waited in line at Caribou in MN - her only piece of sanity in an already stressful morning of chaos with two young kiddies at home. She too feels this love. Coffee = Joy. Thank you, coffee.

I will see you tomorrow, running & coffee. And you will make me happy!

rainy weekend.

My wonderful grandmother, Peg, is flying in for the weekend. Its supposed to be rainy. I guess we'll just have to huddle in and catch up on life.

Lights and Water from James Adamson on Vimeo.