30 Before 30

I have been working on a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30 years old for about a month. I add a line here, remove one there, and switch them around or rework them. Plus, I ask for input from anyone that will listen.

I get the same answer... "It's your list do what you want!"

So I am putting my list to digital paper and making it official. My list isn't about jumping out of plane (done that) or finding my lobster (not controllable) but items I think would make me a better adult or a better version of me.

...And some are just plain fun.

1. Get a pixie haircut.
2. Go on a vacation alone.
3. Karaoke.
4. Camp.
5. Learn to longboard. Or at least attempt it.
6. Complete a catch on the flying trapeze.
7. Throw a fancy dinner party.
8. Run a marathon. (But I will settle for a half)
9. Visit Canada.
10. Travel to a country I have never been before (not Canada).
11. Revisit my best friend in Florida.
12. See a football game in the south. War Eagle.
13. Learn to grill.
14. Attempt snowboarding... again.
15. Take a cooking class.
16. Hold my future niece or nephew.
17. Treat my parents.
18. Make a pie from scratch.
19. Find the perfect swimsuit.
20. Decorate a christmas tree.
21. Ride a motorcycle.
22. Explore 5 states I have never visited before.
23. Conquer my reoccuring NYE resolution of reading 50 books in one year.
24. Learn to french braid.
25. Take a 2 week vacation: 2 consecutive weeks.
26. Build something... that doesn’t come from Ikea.
27. Do one cartwheel.
28. Matchmake a couple, successfully.
29. Wear my navy blue special occasion Florida dress.
30. Be apart of something momentous, memorable, and national. Subjective... deal with it.

BONUS: Be awesome every day.

Weekend Strolls

I love Brianna's casual outfit, in fact, I would say it is the ideal weekend outfit.

• Collared shirt
• Straight leg jeans (boyfriend jeans)
• Sperry Top Sider

Her outfit includes all classic pieces that are staples for every wardrobe.

What makes this outfit a favorite of mine is that it can work for whatever your weekend may hold. Also it is very comfortable, easy to accessories to look unique/different (in case you are like me and wear it weekend after weekend), and it is just one garment change from being night out ready.

Tips & Tricks:
Boyfriend jeans are the current rage... and they were two years ago too. Invest in a pair now because this is a piece that will keep returning. BUT to be on trend for this season, choose your more fittend boyfriend jeans and sloppily cuff your boyfriend jeans until you see at least an inch of ankle. (see Rachel Bilson on far right)

Introducing: Brianna

I met Brianna when I first moved to Portland, OR and knew immediately that I must be friends with her. It was partially because she looks like Monica Potter....


BUT it is mostly because she has a contagious smile, welcoming personality, and laughs at everything. I LOVE HAPPY PEOPLE!

Currently, Brianna is a graduate student studying to receive her Masters in the Art of Teaching. She is also a full time newlywed, proud mother of a fur baby, work out aficionado, and fro-yo addict.

Between graduate studies, observing classrooms, teaching, spending time with her husband, playing with her dog, and who knows what else may come up, her schedule is hectic. Her outfits need to be able to transition to a variety of occasions. But as the ultimate feminine girl, I have rarely seen Brianna out of dress.

My goal with Brianna is to mix and match pieces that don't traditionally belong together.

The Saint

The Saint, in Capitol Hill, has become my "go to" happy hour spot.

My first time here we came for happy hour on a Saturday at 5pm and didn't leave until well after midnight because the food, drinks, and staff were so amazing.

I love spicy food. Even more than spicy food, I love spicy drinks. The bartender took on the challenge of my satisfying my spicy taste buds and made me a jalapeno infused tequila margarita. It was very good but spice level was average for me. He disappeared for a minute and returned with two habanero chilis then whipped up a creation that was the most amazing margarita I have ever had and finally matched my level of spicy.

If you work downtown or Capitol hill stop in after work. I am quite partial to the crew on Saturday but any night of the week, this place delivers.

Also note: I am a fantastic parker.

Things to: Eat, Drink, Do

Things to do...
Places to eat...
Places to drink...

Instead of keeping a list of must try's in my head, and probably forgetting once I actually have time to do something, I put together three mason jars that have my favorite spots (or things to do) as well as a new places to try. I compiled a list based off of current places I love, Eater updates, recommendations, and yelp...and then keep adding to it!

Care to join me for a night out?

Practice Makes Perfect

Once every 6 weeks, I get together with some of my favorite women in Seattle for a book club.

Granted we have only met once, the second time coming up next week, but it could very well become one of my favorite reoccurring events.

For our first book club meeting, I was hosting at my place and our food and drinks were meant to have a spanish flare based off of our current read A Time In Between. I was a bit nervous (read: very nervous) to be cooking for 10 people, so I did a practice run the weekend before with my neighbors and flatmates as taste tasters.

Two things you should know:

• Every cooking session includes wine and oldies music
• I am starting this new "thing" of following the recipes... it is surprisingly effective

The taste test proved to successful (see below for recipe) and the dish was recreated a few days later for book club.



For book club, the other girls also brought their "A" game with tapas, plantains, churros, and tons of wine. We ate like Kings... and unfortunately, I made far too much paella which meant I ate like a king for a week.

Martha Stewart Paella (with bell peppers added)


Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (12 ounces) chicken sausage, sliced in 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed

Directions

• In a heavy 12-inch saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp until just pink on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes (do not overcook). Transfer to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil and sausage to pan; cook over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and rice; cook, stirring to coat, until rice is translucent, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in paprika, turmeric, tomatoes, and broth, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed almost all liquid, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in peas; cook 1 minute. Stir in cooked shrimp; serve immediately.

Bacon Jam

You heard me.

Bacon. Jam.

 

 

 

Or should I say, bacon jam paired with cheese on top of cheese?

Background: 
Friday night.
Met with friends and family for dinner at Skillet in Capitol Hill.

No one warned me what dinner at Skillet actually meant.

I am sure somewhere hidden on that menu is a healthy item but my focus was on any dish that used bacon jam. Burgers, grilled cheese, poutine, pork belly...

Word to the wise: Try Skillet. Wear baggy clothes.

Grims

 

Grims in Capitol Hill: Great spot / Okay brunch.

Oddfellows still has my Sunday morning breakfast heart.

Scale of 1 to 10

"On a scale of one to ten, what do you want our night to be?"

Every night out starts with that question.

The scales is based off of levels of fun and, for me, levels of funny stories the next day.

The other Saturday I left the house at 9am and returned at 3am the next morning.

I should have predicted what the night was going to hold when this happened half way though the day...

It went something like this:

9am:

Alki Beach... (FYI: not a beach)

1pm:

Antique shopping

Vintage Shopping

Stumptown Coffee

5pm:

Tavern Law

Barrio - stopped in

Canon

Quinn's - stopped in

Unicorn

The Lobby

Barca

The Saint

2am:

Helping new friend search for his car for 45 mins

Safeway

Picnic at the Palace

Goal: 6.5

Level accomplished: 7