Dear Stripes - I love you!

It’s true, I love stripes. I have to fight to keep from buying every cute striped thing I see. Unless it’s pants, which I don’t want in stripes. Why do I have a sudden recollection of Duran Duran right now thinking about striped pants? I had to google it – but all I could find was this pic of Simon Le Bon in a striped shirt. I could swear he had on baggy striped pants in some 80’s video. Love the 80’s!

Ok, back to the stripes. I love them. Here are few things I’ve seen lately that of course I love. Have a stripey 4^th of July – and maybe throw on a little Duran Duran while you’re at it.... her name is Rio and she dances on the sand…..

Anthropologie T-shirt

Asos stripe with heart patches

Banana Republic

Red Valentino

Gap skirt

Kensie

Mother of Pearl Bella skirt

Miss Wu Cashmere Sweater

Rebecca Taylor dress

Sperry for J. Crew

Cheers to the Aviation

There is a little pizza place over on Bainbridge Island called Bene that we really like, and it just happens to be on our way to the farm so it's really convenient on Friday nights on the way out of town. And.....the food is really good too. The menu is just the right size, not huge, just really good pizza and sides and shared plates. 

And to top it off, they have a really good cocktail menu - lot's of cocktails from the days of GOOD OLD COCKTAILS. My favorite there is the Aviation - it's just a heavenly delight! We now make it all the time at home too - and again - I just love it. They also make a drink called the Owen, which my good friend Jim raves about, but I can't get past the Aviation to try it. I'm sure it's good too - but this is my blog - so it's all about the Aviation.

Aviation - in Esquire Magazine

Here you go - this is the old recipe. Many newer versions of the recipe leave out the Creme de Violette because it can be a pain in the ass to find. But my booze friends assure that it is available and you should get some. We have also on occasion subbed in St. Germaine as a float on the top of the drink instead of the Creme de Violette - and it's still delish.

Aviation Cocktail

2 ounces gin

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons maraschino liqueur, preferably Luxardo

1/4 ounce Crème de Violette

Lemon twist, for garnish.

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to chill well, then strain into a cocktail glass. Drizzle the Crème de Violette into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Drink up!

Oh grow up!

I was in the garden weeding for most of Saturday morning. Here are some of the things that are getting their grow on! Sorry for some grainy shots, just had the iphone and it was so bright out, I couldn't see if the pics were crisp. Forecast is great for the next week(s), so i expect everything to get enormous soon, more pics to come of the blueberries, raspberries and veggies. And one important pic that i didn't manage to get - I picked cherries off the cherry tree - it's finally big enough to give us cherries!!!! Finally! 

Dear Summer -  I love you!

Livin’ it up in Downtown Seattle

Yesterday I toured the Via 6 Apartment project at the corner of 6^th and Lenora in downtown Seattle. This project is the latest and greatest from developer Pine Street Group, well known for bringing us Pacific Place, the redevelopment of the Seaboard Building and the expansion of the Seattle Art Museum.

Already at about 70% occupancy, you need to hurry down there to get a unit before they lease up! For a downtown renter, I don’t think there is anything comparable in the downtown core as far as high quality rental space along with really modern and inviting common area amenity space. The entire first floor retail level has a groovy industrial “street” feel with coffee/juice bar, bakery, tavern, restaurant and grocery space – all part of the Tom Douglas empire. A florist, barber shop and bike shop are also on site with interior and street entrances.

The apartment towers each have separate elevator banks – and corridors that jog around a bit to keep it from looking and feeling like a huge building with long long hallways. Apartment units range from 500 square feet up to about 1,000 square feet, with pricing starting at $1,175 for the smallest unit I think.  This is not for the budget living types.  This is for downtown tech types with big paychecks and cool style. I think the tenant age range here is 25-35.

Here’s what is GREAT about this project and others coming online in the downtown core this year and next - The addition of more downtown residential units means the addition of more downtown amenities – including more service businesses, restaurants and retail in the core. Seattle is a fabulous city with plans for a really fantastic waterfront redevelopment too. Check out Friends of the Waterfront for info on that, but get ready people. Seattle is going to be world class – get downtown and be part of it! 

Here are some pics I took during the tour.

Craigslist again

Here is another installation of "Craigslist - Make your house look great for not much money"! Check out these goodies that I found today on Craigslist Seattle. Great deals if you want to spend some time being crafty. Usually one of these project's only require elbow grease, some sandpaper, paint and beeswax. You can do it. Some might require some re-upholstery - so if you're not up for that,  think about hiring a professional, and in the end you will have some really unique pieces in your home for less than it would cost to go to the shops and get the same thing everyone else has.

Vintage wood desk - $45 - repaint this sucker - the hardware will look beautiful on a lighter background.Desk, vanity, entry table?

Vintage arm chairs - $50 - great price and sort of mid-century cool look.

Vintage oak restored coffee table -$95 - someone already restored this and I'm not a big oak fan, but you could refinish again in a color and have a beautiful table in a pale green or gray

Old wooden desk, $60 - great in a small space as is or painted

Vintage Sofa - $160 - classic style, just needs new uphostery and it's a great price

Here's a project for you - Settee $40 - Go for it. So cute in your bedroom

Side table - $15 - So cute! Paint it and clean up the hardware

Antique dining buffet - $250 - this is the big splurge but worth it because it's so fantastic

I may have said this before, but I'm starting to see more and more stuff on Craigslist that someone has already gotten their mitts on - and are trying to sell for some profit on their "refurbishing". I tend to steer away from these - because I don't want to pay extra for their idea. I would rather do that myself. If you feel completely NOT CRAFTY - you might like some of the stuff you see that's been redone. You get to choose. 

Warning: Your husband will yell at you if you start picking up too much junk on Craigslist and don't ever actually turn it into anything. Try not to just buy a bunch of other people's crap. Go through this list in your head each time: 

1. Do you have time to do the project?

2. Is this a unique item and at a great price?

3. Do you have a place in your home RIGHT NOW to put this thing once you're done?

If you did make a mistake and bought someone else's crap and it's still sitting in your garage, turn it right back around and put it back up for sale on Craigslist and move on. Now you are free to buy stuff. Good luck and have fun!

Boobs are back in business

Just a quick update – Went for second mammogram and ultrasound yesterday to find that there is nothing wrong with me! All is well with the boobs! So, the high anxiety of the last 10 days is behind me and I’m going to treat this as a reminder to:

Be more empathetic to people who are sick or just worried sick.

Appreciate what I have right now.

Be better!  - ok that’s a catch-all because I’m sure I’ll think of more things but right now I’m grateful for good health and good technology. And I should stop complaining about bad drivers, etc. I’m cuttin’ everyone slack – starting now, and including me. Ahhhhhh, better already! Have a great weekend (with your boobs!)