Emily's Seattle Bucket List

I recently learned that I will be moving back to Southern California January 1^st. This is what I have been fighting for for months and I’m so relieved that my period of uncertainty is over and that I will finally be back home with my great company, my family, and my main man in LA. However excited I am, I will certainly miss Seattle and I am so grateful for my time there and all I’ve experienced and learned. With three months remaining in the city I’ve got plenty I want to accomplish to give the city the farewell it deserves.

Serafina o Bar Sajor o Delancey Pizza o Herbfarm o Altura o Sushi Kappo Tamura o Metropolitan Grill o Elliot’s Oyster House o Walrus and the Carpenter o Il Corvo Pasta o Paseo o Lloyd Martin o Macrina Bakery o Toulouse

Pike's Place Market
Clean and feast on whole dungeness crab o Buy halibut cheeks and learn to prepare them o Filet and prepare a whole salmon for friends o Eat geoduck o Shuck a dozen oysters without cutting myself o Buy the craziest mushrooms I can from the produce guy. o Visit the Wine Shop at DeLaurenti’s and say goodbye to my favorite wine steward, Kurt o Get a croissant and cappuccino at Le Panier bakery and enjoy breakfast in the midst of the market o Create a bouquet from flowers bought at the market o Get a piroshky from Piroshky Piroshky and some mini doughnuts from Mighty O

Queen Anne, my neighborhood in Seattle
Spend an evening sitting in Kerry Park reading a book and drinking some wine. o Buy something I’ve never cooked before at A&J Meats in Queen Anne and learn to prepare it from my butcher. o Go to a wine tasting at McCarthy and Schiering Wine Shop o Run the Queen Anne “Crown” o Barbeque dinner and eat it on my building’s rooftop deck o Visit the Queen Anne Farmers Market o Get a scoop of lemon lavender ice cream at Molly Moon’s

Order a vegetarian tasting menu/go to a vegetarian restaurant o Go to one of the fancy cocktail bars (Tavern Law, Bathtub Gin, Canon, ZigZag) and give the bartender complete control over my order o Take a run along the waterfront of Elliot Bay. o Run the Green Lake loop with the Seattle Green Lake Running Group o Visit the Ballard Farmers Market o Go to a musical performance o Drink only Washington and Oregon Wine o Go Oysterfishing (Oystering?) o Buy a vegetable I’ve never heard of and a whole duck to roast at Uwajimaya

Visit SAM (Seattle Art Museum) o Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and dine at Hitchcock o Visit the Ballard Locks and say hi to the salmon in the fish ladder o Buy a “Seattle Rain Festival: January 1st to December 31st” shopping bag o Buy a Sleepless in Seattle nightshirt o Go to the first Starbucks for a “You are here” mug o Dine at Sky City Restaurant on top of the Space Needle


Just writing this list I’m reminded of how quirky, unique, beautiful, and delicious Seattle is. I’m thinking of all the friends I’ve made along my journey here and the things I’ve discovered. If you’re feeling bored by your city, just imagine leaving it and you’ll see it in a whole new light. If you’ve recently moved to a new city, don’t wait for friends to come along before you start your exploration. Be a shameless tourist, treat yourself to Friday night drinks out, find your own special spots. You never know who you might meet or what you might discover. Thank you to my Seattle friends for making it “home.” I hope you’ll join me in my adventures.

And finally, a tribute to Holly, who was bold enough to go out on her own in Seattle and happened to find her husband (married this month!), and who, as my first friend in Seattle, taught me in many ways how to love this city. Thanks for all of it, sis.

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Reading List: Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell, is easily one of the best books that I read this year.

It is a story of an outcast and a boy barely in the popular group who find themselves slowly becoming friends during their short bus ride to school each morning.

This book felt very real. I understand how cruel kids can be and how little grace they can exhibit just because they are unaware of their actions. In this story we meet a girl who has a terrible home situation that has made her an outcast in school and a boy who against his will shares a seat with her (jeopardizing his popularity). That first step and subsequent sharing of a bus seat everyday starts a friendship that ultimately makes them better people. It shows that although kids can be oblivious, they have the ability to do the right thing and be kind to those less fortunate.

This book will teach you to pay attention to those around you and not be so quick to judge.

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Sara Bareilles & The Relationship Lifecycle

Months ago my brother in law surprised my sister and I with tickets to see Sara Bareilles (& One Republic) at Chateau Ste. Michelle. He also took into consideration that my sister would be 8 months pregnant by then and paid extra for seats. Talk about big brother of the year, right?

The concert happened on Labor Day and after a weekend in Portland, we barely made it to the concert in time. But soon enough I had a bottle of wine in hand and Sara B was front and center performing.

I first discovered Sara Bareilles nearly 10 years ago. I was going to college in Southern California and she was a regular at Hotel Cafe which was a local music spot for indie artists. It was love at first sight.

Over the past 8 or 9 years, she has become my musical best friend; her songs are my constant companion through life's relationships. She is a singer that can get you through the highs and lows just like a best girl friend.

These are just a few of my favorite songs...

When your story involves Mr. Wrong:

For when you are heartbroken....



For when you are ticked off...


For when you are ready to move on....




When it's Right:

For when it is still nerves and sideways glances


For when you realize it's for keeps...

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A simple reminder

Today is one of those rare Seattle evenings that nothing could keep me in the office after 5:30. It is so stunning that even with an injured foot, I would still rather walk home then get on a bus. 

And after my slow walk home, I sat down in the park outside my house on a washed up log and couldn't help but take in the wonder and awe.

I am not sure what is going on in your world right now but I needed this moment. I need to take a moment to watch the sunset and reset. 

Lest you forget, life is beautiful. 

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30 Before 30: Flying Trapeze

When I lived in San Francisco, I happened upon an aerial arts school that taught flying trapeze but I never had the chance to go. I kept this wish in the back of my mind after I moved from SF and continued to look for similar schools with each city I moved to. Seattle did not disappoint.

I finally took the leap... no pun intended... on Tuesday with Emily and Amy. Amy had been a few times before and was on to more challenging tricks. She was gracefully from get go. Emily, who was just as green as I was, picked up the tricks without a second thought.

Me? Well, I was a bit awkward... but we knew that would happen before I even started. It's my brand. And yet - I jumped off, did a trick, and made a catch.

When I first made my 30 before 30 list, people were encouraging but they also thought it was a little silly. What is does a catch on a flying trapeze accomplish? This, and the other 30 before 30 items, put me out of my comfort zone. They force me to try something new and risk failing.

I am not going to lie... I have watched the videos from last night over and over again. I am not ashamed to say I am so proud of myself. I was really scared and I didn't think I could do it. But I still tried, risked failing, and was rewarded with a catch.

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1. Get a pixie haircut.
Completed Dec 12, 2012
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.
Completed Sept 24, 2013


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).
          Completed May 9, 2013 with Amsterdam

11. Revisit my best friend in Florida.


12. See a football game in the south. War Eagle.


13. Learn to grill.
Completed April 2013
14. Attempt snowboarding... again.


15. Take a cooking class. 
Completed Nov 11, 2012 at Pantry at Delancy
Pie Ninja
16. Hold my future niece or nephew.


17. Treat my parents.


18. Make a pie from scratch.
Completed Nov 21, 2012 with a Ginger Apple Streusel "Pie"
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.

How to be a Garage Sale Ninja

Oh, garage sales.

They’re so fun to visit, so not fun to plan and execute. First off, I will give credit to my wonderful Mother, who is the Queen of Garage Sales. Anything I put forth in this post is wisdom from my mom. 

And so, How to be a Garage Sale Ninja:

8 Minutes

8 Minutes.

The exact amount of time it took me to

powder my nose,
reapply lipstick,
fluff my hair,
order a rooibos tea,
pick a seat,
adjust my outfit,
change seating positions... twice,
clean my glasses,
pull out a book,
pretend to read,
take a sip of tea,
re-adjust my seat again,
and tuck my hair behind my ear.