Online dating.

Confession time:

Mother | Daughter | Future

As Google Reader disappeared and Feedly transferred all of my blog subscriptions, many of my previously read blogs reappeared. As I sorted through what was new and what was old, I came across these photos again.

Weekend for Two

As 2-year long-distance relationship veterans, my boyfriend Ryan and I have gotten pretty darn good at planning weekends together. With him in Los Angeles and me in Seattle, it can be tough to set out the time to fly to each other, and tough to know what to do with the limited time we have together. Since my whole family is in LA, my trips down there most likely involve a mix of family time and couple time, not to mention trying to work in friend time as well. His trips to Seattle are easier to work with: there are a smaller number of friends we want to spend time with and no family time with which to contend. I love these weekends in Seattle and see in them what life will be like in the future when we live in the same place and our patterns of life are a little more normal. In the end, I’m really complaining about a fantastic blessing- tons of family and friends and a wonderful boy that I want to spend every second with- but still, it is something that requires balance, planning, and a good dose of unselfishness.

Hotel Droog

 In all my explorations across Amsterdam, Hotel Droog was by far my favorite find.

Two Avocados

I am typically a Safeway loyalist. My uncle worked there my entire life up until he retired last year and he instilled in me that Safeway is the premier grocery store... think what you may, but it stuck with me. However, the Safeway that is 3 blocks from my house is the worst grocery in all Seattle. It is always packed, rarely with enough employees to help and the produce is often lacking.

Instead I travel all across the city to get my groceries:

Tokens of Encouragement

My friend, Lauren, has been facing some hard things lately. She's had some seemingly unsolvable health problems, and a little heartache as well. She and I are both big fans of the singer Sara Bareilles, and were both moved and inspired by the lyrics of the song "Brave". We started sending each other texts daily about being brave and working through the hard things in life. BRAVE started to become a theme for us.

Organizing Your Jewelry into the Design of Your Bedroom

Okay for those of you who do not personally know me I am a bit OCD on collecting fashion jewelry pieces. I would much rather have a new accessory than a new piece of clothing— a new accessory quickly transforms an old outfit into a completely new look. With that said my jewelry collection has grown rather out of control. And having limited closet storage I have had to improvise in storing it all so I have included it as part of the décor for our master bedroom. Here are my personal tips on what you can do:

Same Dress in June | Halfway There

We are half way through the month and still going strong with wearing the same dress every day in June.

To My Dad:

Taking a quick moment to say:

Finding Routine

As someone who is very expressive and always moving from this thing to that: I crave routine.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

For this months blog I wanted to do something that was quick and easy, and when I came across this Snickerdoodle recipe I knew I had found the right one. The recipe is pretty basic and very easy to follow, if you like Snickerdoodle cookies you will loves these bars. 

What I Read: May

(Image courtesy of Organised Housewife)

I have a vivid imagination. I remember being on the playground when I was 8 years old leading my troop of friends in a race against time to save a damsel from her captor. We always saved her but the next day she found herself captured again.

That creative spirit is what led me to my love of books. My parents often took my sister and I to the library to fill our bags with new reads and taught me very early to appreciate the story.

Now I love to read because I am not only able to read the words but create the visual in my head. All books have the potential to move you but very few have the ability to transport you into another place.

As I hold to my resolution of reading 50 books this year, I am slow to start. The year is nearly halfway over and I have only read 10.

Same Dress. Different Day.

You may have heard of 6 Items or Less or the Little Black Dress Project but if you haven't, both are variations of wearing only a minimal wardrobe for a set amount of days.

That doesn't mean a minimal amount of clothes... it means wearing the same thing or the same 6 pieces every day.

Greenwoods

My favorite restaurant in Amsterdam is probably better known as a cafe. Greenwoods has two locations and on trip advisor both are in the top 25. Seeing those numbers made me feel better about going there three times on my week long visit.