Postcards To Home ♥

Read the previous post about the Canlis Menu hunt. THIS BUDDY OF MINE FOUND THE MENU ON THE 48TH DAY!!!!! WHAT'S EVEN MORE EXCITING IS THAT I AM GOING AS HIS PLUS ONE!!!!!! WE ARE EATING AT ONE OF SEATTLE'S FINEST RESTAURANTS AT 1950's PRICES!! SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!! Jan 5th, I'm excited for you!

Canlis is taking a cue from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The Seattle restaurant is celebrating its 60th birthday on December 11th. The mark the occasion, the grandsons of the original founder are taking the idea of Willy Wonka's golden ticket and putting a high tech spin to it. "Everybody would like to find a golden ticket and win something" says Brain Canlis. He along with his brother Mark Canlis are the third generation owners of Canlis. They call it a "foodie's treasure hunt". Every day until December 11th, the brothers are hiding a specially marked Canlis menu somewhere in Seattle. This isn't their current menu, but a copy of the original menu when the restaurant first opened. If you find one, you could win dinner at 1950s prices. See the 1950s menu here . "That's the fun part, to look at the old menu and see the prices" says Mark Canlis. In 1950, a Filet Mignon was $3.85. A salmon steak was $2.75. Canlis' signature...

A few post back, I mentioned that I wanted a certain poster by one of my favorite artist who now resides in Portland. She just so happen to be at the annual URBAN CRAFT UPRISING this past weekend. 6th year its been happening and that I have been attending and this was her 1st one. Just as-if an Eagles fan would be stoked to see a player in person, I was happy to see all her work in her very own booth at the show. I bought a few gift and bought the poster I mentioned. I figured it would be easier to transport than if someone else in PA got it for me. If anyone did buy it, I'll hang the 2nd one at my desk at work. Its great to see an artist take off with a certain style and be able to make a living off of it.

So frustrated at my friends who kept talking about an iPhone game called Angry Birds. FOR MONTHS I refused to download and join the Angry Bird addicted bandwagon but Friday night after reading a book and not in the mood for a movie but more for a game, I downloaded it. Since Friday I know I have lost at least 4 hours of my time to this little fun game. Many consider gaming relaxing and good for down time but I also see it as not getting the things done that I really should be doing. Oh well, I guess having fun with the little birds is a good thing, as long as I don't spend more than 30mins a day on it!

I have traveled via many airlines and Virgin by far is the most relaxing. Here I sit checking Facebook & watching Law & Order as if I'm at home on my sofa. I wish they flew to Philly because I would fly them all the time.

8:36 Listening to Elliott Smith & nursing a nasty cold. It's still snowing! Originally uploaded by ::: a i m e e ::: Its been snowing all day and it looks amazing outside!!! BUT I can't enjoy it! I have had a cold since last Wednesday and Saturday I thought I took a turn for the better but in fact, it felt worse today, especially on my walk home. It started with a sore throat so I have been taking Dayquil during the day and Robitussin at night. It doesn't help that we are working long hours. I went to bed not long after I got home Wednesday and Thursday night. Friday night I worked until 8:30 and was in bed at 11. Saturday rested most the day until Jessica and Eric's wedding party. Sunday I had to be back in the office all day from 1 until 6. I was in bed by 9. Today was the worst because everything has loosened up and the coughs hurt. Seattle hills can't handle snow so the traffic and commutes took people hours to get home. I decided to walk the entire home. I...

I'm always up for good moments with fun company but there are also time where I have a strong desire to feel productive, where it could be making time to cook a new meal or conquer a craft project or even that book on my nightstand. I signed up to healthmonth.com to keep tabs on myself. Its not just about food or fitness but also the mind!!! Basically helping one balance a healthier lifestyle. You set new rules each month and rather than telling someone you are going to do them, you tell the site and the site keeps track of your accomplishments & outcome. I already learned a lot about myself in the last 2 months. One of my rules this month was to workout at least 3 times a week. This is going from basically zero times a week. I'm so busy doing stuff and being active that I don't feel too bad that I am not sticking to this rule but more importantly learning that I need to be more realistic with my goals. If I made it 1 day a week this month, it would have been probably e...

Jill Bliss' s line-art drawings inspire me. Something draws me to her style and color choices in her artwork. Its always great to see an artist capture a certain style. If you have ever seen the notebook I always have with me to jot down a million things, its one of the journals she had published. Her stuff is sold on Amazon and at Barnes and Nobles. My friend Jessica (Jo Jo) and I went down to Portland for a weekend and one morning a craft fair was taking place at the bottom of our hotel. Coincidently Jill Bliss was there and I was happy to meet the artist I discovered several years ago. She was sweet. I really want this posters of hers and will grab the frame from Ikea. I could buy it myself but figured it would be more sentimental if someone got it for me and well, I never need much of anything when it comes to gifts. http://shop.jillbliss.com/posters/prints/the-california-poppies-art-print/prod_1340.html She has a flickr site where you can follow her latest projects and a webs...

Originally uploaded by ::: a i m e e ::: Well I was craving warm stews and started off with a bang! I made chicken tortilla soup tonight, brownies and have a stew simmering for meals for the next few days, all in one night and finally sitting with a glass of wine. I figured since I was in the kitchen making the soup for tonight's dinner, I might as well make the stew and get all the dishes out of the way instead of spending other nights in the kitchen cleaning up. Especially since the soup and stew are great to heat up. The only thing that stinks is that I get sick of eating the same things in a row so I hope I don't waste any of the food from this little cooking frenzy. The chicken tortilla soup is really easy. I grabbed the Beef Stew from AllRecipes .com and haven't had it before so we'll see how that turns out. Another site I like is Epicurious .com which is a great food guide on top of being filled with recipes. The dishes seem a bit healthier that All Recipes which...

I love Halloween. It has always been my favorite holiday. A day to see where people's creativity can take them. BUT dressing up for several nights is not my cup of tea. Thursday night a music venue near my house had a free party & haunted house. Several friends were working the haunted house so I met up with Megan and Andy to check it out. Friday we dressed up at work. I was in my costume all day and won 2nd prize. It was more about how I acted with the tiny hands. Friday night was a friend's birthday so no costume but we all dressed up nice. Saturday Jo Jo and I got back in our costumes and went to Talcum Soul night. Tiny Hands drank way too much and got sick that night so I missed the Sunday morning annual scooter ride. Bummed since it turned out to be a nice day. Sunday , since I was hungover, there was NO WAY I was going to any more halloween parties so I was happy to hit up dinner and a movie with Joby. Its nice to be able to lay low when you know everyone else is d...

Swan's Trail Farm Corn Maze Originally uploaded by ::: a i m e e ::: Its been a fun, busy month with new adventures. Went to a corn maze this weekend that was shaped like the state of Washington. All the paths were different highways. Facts and little models of things were throughout the maze. It was raining and it was MUDDY! I was sliding all over the place and ended up belly flopping into the mud. It was a riot! I should have laid there a few extra seconds for someone to snap a photo. Oh well, I needed to get my camera out of the mud! We called the adventure to Swan's Trail farm Corn Maze " International Sexy Farm day " because Megan (with the corn here) was saying some things that sounded sexual such as "can I get a bite out of someone's husk?." We know it wasn't intended to be dirty but the joke went on from there. I decided that if I take under 15 photos, they are sticking in the monthly miscellanous sets instead of a new set. You can see the co...

Since my folks left, I've been busy but not. I wanted to finish unpacking. I would LOVE to unpack the last few boxes but the shelving unit I bought was wrong and missing an important part. Site had this photo but I ordered the "Add-On" Unit which is only one upright with shelves that get attached to this unit. SO I only had one side to the unit I ordered. Not good and a huge hassle I don't want to get into. Missing part will arrive in NOVEMBER >:( ... that's a symbol for frustrated face. So my weekends have been filled with friends stuff and some fun things line Smashputt. SMASHPUTT is an indoor miniature golf created by an art group so the holes were quarky. There is a bar and it's in a building that used to be the old immigration building so the artist have converted the 3 cells into lounging spaces and all rooms that look like classrooms into putting holes. It was fun! I have a few photos in my October FLICKr pictures. This weekend, I'm planning on...

While my colleague writes this entertaining blog. I waited like a hawk for a piece. Stuff I Didn't Eat Today: Ezell's Well actually... I just had one piece of the fried chicken. Ezell's is the BEST Fried Chicken in Seattle. I already had a small lunch but was very happy to hear we could dive into the leftovers from the meeting. Once piece of yummy Ezells was a great afternoon treat! Scott's blog is great. He sits right next to me and day after day he resist all the treats people put at the table near us or what gets put in the kitchen. Very proud of Scott.

Myrtle Edwards Park Originally uploaded by ::: a i m e e ::: I haven't had time to blog since I moved. I'm waiting for additional closet storage so I can unpack some more things. Mom and Dad came out to visit a few weekends ago and we had a nice weekend. It was raining NONSTOP prior to their arrival so I was really happy it didn't rain at all while they were here. We did a food tour, went dancing at my favorite monthly event, Emerald City Soul Club , we roamed along the Seattle waterfront, and took a drive out AND ferry to the Olympic Peninsula to the town of Port Townsend. Unfortunately I didn't take a lot of photos but have them posted on my flickr. Click on their photo to see more. It was a nice low-key time. Now they are home and I'm here and we are all back in the swing of things. Besides moving, working long hours and having the parents visit. I got a chance to go to a local fair with some of my coworkers. Photos in my flickr. We left work for 5 hours to shutt...

Two coworkers picked up several little containers of Mexican Jumping Beans. It's an experiment. I heard they only last a few days. Here is all we need to know about these little guys Day 1: Its creepy. After reading the above link, I know they are larva trying to stay cool and eventually they "may" break free as a moth. Several people have them at their desk. Since the are jumping around in a little plastic box, its a little clicking noise you hear. Alllll day.I thought I was the last one here last night and noticed that the clicking of the jumping beans sounded like others typing but when my colleague Pat stood up, he shocked me and wasn't a Mexican Jumping Bean! Day 2. Still alive. Named my 5 after some of my colleagues. The clicking sound is still annoying. Now some of those 5 colleagues have come by to check out their bean. Day 3. Still alive. The clicking sound is still annoying. We are too slammed at work to care or notice anything else about them. Day 4. Sti...

Pacific NW | Tiny apartment shows the value of a good fit | Seattle Times Newspaper Its amazing how clever this guy was with his space. He is barely home and says living in the small space allows for relaxation but gets him out more in the community. As a Boeing employee who designs the interior of airplanes, of course he is able to think about how every inch will be used.

Hi all, Nothing exciting happening this week since my free time has been spent unpacking however Saturday a few friends and I went rollerskating. A local promotion company that my friend Scottie (the blondie in the silver spandex) had a listening skate party to a band's new album. The skating rink had a bar and a bowling alley so we ended up spending most the evening there up in the suburbs. After skating and bowling, we went to get the best fried chicken in Seattle. Ezell's has two locations and one was right near the skating rink. I just so happen to be wearing my chicken hat since the skate party had a costume contest. My friend Jo, in the silver onesie and I were runners up in the costume contest and won the new CD. I learned via this video that I skate like a 5-year old when its reverse skate. You "think" skating in the opposite direction would be easy but its awkward. UPDATE: A cooler video has me tagged on Facebook.

As I mentioned before, I considered 2nd Ave. in Belltown, my main watering hole for the last 4 years. Its where we just had the festival. Looks like someone at the City Hostel captured Obama's motocade passing through Seattle right in my stomping grounds....

A year ago, I met a talented gal at a friend's birthday party. She works across the street as an art director for Seattle Weekly. She's a riot. She's sassy. She's ballsy. She just accomplished something amazing.... She published a book on non-traditional quilts. She was just featured in the NY times and I'm excited to see what comes of it. Here is a little video about it. Dare to Be Square Quilting by Boo Davis from Quiltsrÿche on Vimeo . Click here to read the article about Boo in the NY Times. Months after meeting Boo, I found out she was a part of Buster's Locavore iPhone app. She did the illustrations for the successful farmers market application that he created. Small world.

This year's Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of Aug. 12-13, and it promises to be one of the best displays of the year. If forecasters are correct, the shower should produce a peak display of at least 80 meteors per hour. A waxing crescent moon will set before the shower becomes active, setting a perfect stage for meteor watching -- weather permitting, of course! I reserved a zipcar & me and Chris (all friends call him Chrispy) headed out on I-90 in search for a dark spot to watch the show. We drove about 35 minutes out to a hick town called Fall City and drove into Carnation where we found a park with a camping area. As we entered, we noticed a bunch of cars parked in an open parking lot so we joined in. For at least 2 hours we laid on a blank and watch little stars and a few big ones fly across the sky. Cars would come and go as some people obviously didn't have the patience...it isn't like fireworks I guess but I think this was way cooler than any fireworks d...

For all you dog lovers...you will enjoy this: Now, a little Aimee update: I have been spending my evenings unpacking and organizing. I'm making a list of things I need, like more shelves in the closet, groceries and some sort of storage shelves that can sit behind the sofa as there is plenty of space. After living & moving to various apartments over the years, I learned to love 3m removable tape, hooks and mounting tools. More expensive than nails but worth it in the long run. Whatever shelving/storage I get for wall behind the sofa HAS to be able to be taken apart easily. Ikea is great but a pain in the neck to move. I'm thinking some sort of cubes or racks that don't look cheap, like they belong in a dorm room or laundry closet. I love my new place and will post photos once its cleaned up. Yesterday was the WONGDOODY company outing. We spent the afternoon in a suite at a Mariner's baseball game. Go Sports! This weekend is the Belltown festival. Initially I was...

8:36 Sweat'n like a Laker as I move a car-full of stuff into new place Originally uploaded by ::: a i m e e ::: JULY REALLY SUCKED!!! Having to leave an apartment I love, finding a new place to live and losing my amazing grandparents within 16 days of each other made July a really emotional, rough month for me. Seattle started to FINALLY have its summer weather but all my time was spent packing and traveling to PA. AND NOW I'M MOVING BUT I'M HOPEFUL! Today was a productive day to a new me. I picked up my apartment, became an investor for Letterpress Distilling and moved a car-full of stuff into the new place. I'll tell ya more about Letterpress Distilling later (or you can click the linked name) but when I got off work, I picked up a Zipcar Hybrid, loaded up with boxes and a hand-truck and started to move into my new apartment. I don't like to depend on others so I wanted to move as much as I can on my own, leaving the big stuff for the main move on Sunday when fri...

This made my day... And if that wasn't funny enough... there is a song. I was hysterical watching it this morning...

When I turned 30 over 3 years ago, this was the duo I shot the old pinup shoot with... The OldSchoolPinUp Experience from OldSchoolPinUps on Vimeo .

(11.-1. 1919 — 7.16.2010) Grandpop was is in a lot of pain the last few weeks. He had stomach cancer for 3 years, left untreated because doctors thought heart would go first. I spent 4th of July in his room with my Aunt Cathy. He was fully aware of who we were and we both had moments to speak from our hearts. When I went to leave, he gripped on to me with a scared look in his eyes. Moments before I told him that its okay grandpop. Stop fighting whomever or whatever you are fighting. Be in peac e. He didn't deserve the pain at the end of his life. Morphine and all the drugs only helped so much. Friday evening while at a garage sale with a friend my phone rang and I didn't answer because I knew exactly what it was in regards to. I felt like I could finally breathe. I can not even to begin to imagine how my mom felt all those months but I felt like I haven't had been able to breath since my Grandmom died, worrying about my Grandpop who was in a lot of pain. When he passed, ...

As mentioned in previous post , I love my apartment. I really do. Its comfy, is in a central location and has been nicknamed by friends as the Bachelorette Pad with the best view of the Space Needle. I'm trying to save money and my biggest expense is this downtown apartment. My lease is up in a few weeks and they are raising the rent. I don't want to move. Last year I was offered rent $20 cheaper a month without even asking because that was based on the current market. I asked them to lower it this year and it was a no-go. They are raising it when I already know I can find many cheaper places. I may not want to move but I need to. The hunting was stressful since it began during an emotional time for me. I was in PA for my grandmom's funeral when I started looking and there is a high a chance I will have to go back soon for grandpop within the next week. It was hard to focus on finding a home when my heart missed my grandmom and hurt for my grandpop. I don't want him to...

I went to Luke Burbanks “Too Beautiful to Live” show at Columbia City Theatre and they interviewed the local wrapper Sir Mix-A lot, best known for "Baby Got Back". They played a game where he had to try to guess the 2nd line in the Insane Clown Posse's video “Miracles”. Have you seen this video? Its this HORRIBLE rap group’s deep thoughts on life and its sooo bad that its amazing. Seeing Sir Mix-a-lot’s reaction and trying to make sense of it was my favorite part of the show. Insane Clown Posse’s “Miracles” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-agl0pOQfs Now SNL’s awesome spoof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGbdomlBnJM

(11.19. 1919 — 6.29.2010) Prior to leaving for Colorado, my grandmom had a major stroke. She had been sick for several years and a year ago I flew home to say a final goodbye since her doctors gave her a few weeks to live. She held on for a year and I had a chance to visit her several times since. I went to Vail packed for my friend's wedding and the possibility that I would have to re-route to Philly for her funeral. Turns out, I didn't have to and was able to enjoy a relaxing mini-vacation with friends. I returned to work Monday and had a weird feeling all day. Something felt off. While walking home from work, I talked to my mom and could tell in her voice that the time has come. Grandmom passed shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 29th. My work was amazingly supportive and my team gave me a beautiful plant. I'm going to do my best to keep it healthy. :) I flew a red-eye out Wednesday night where my friend Ryan retrieved me from the airport and took me to h...

Had an amazing time at Katie and Eric's wedding weekend in Vail Colorado. They got married there because family is spread out all over the U.S. Highlights were: Scenic roadtripping with Hema to and from Vail. Being alone at the wedding spot setting up the music when a storm rolled in and I pulled a Marilyn Monroe with my dress ending up over my head! (No one witnessed this!) The AMAZING afternoon at the spa with several gals. Lounging, massage, lunch and bottles of wine. Shooting a shotgun for the first time. Here are my photos from the fun and relaxing weekend...

I'm leaving work a little after 4 today to head to the airport with my friend Hema, the lady of Leisure. (That's what some call her because she works for the school district and has off for the entire summer. She loves to brag on facebook what the lady of leisure is doing on a relaxing summer day.) We are flying into Denver tonight. I'm really looking forward to our 2-hr drive tomorrow morning to Vail to start the wedding celebrations for Katie and Eric. Itinerary as planned: Thursday: • Scenic drive to Vail • Brunch with bachelorette party • Afternoon @Spa – getting the rain forrest massage – a massage that incportates multiple shower heads into the treatment. • Dinner and drinks with everyone at a pizza place in the village Friday: • Morning: maybe a short hike or something outdoors • Setting up dinner part of celebration • Taking a gondola up up to the top of Vail mountain for Katie and Eric's sunset wedding Saturday: plans still in the works Hoping to spend a lot of...

After many years in Seattle, my friend Kindra and her boyfriend are going to rent out their house and move to either Amsterdam, London, San Francisco or New York, depending on where she lands a job. I have been fortunate to be friends with such a great, genuine gal who has throw the best parties I have ever been to. Bunny Love - where I dressed up like a little chick, Birthday party at the Zoo - where we all dressed like animals (Little Chick was back by popular demand), Her boyfriend Mike's plaid party tour bus, Labyrinth New Years Eve and now the recent Twin Party on a train. (the name was a little more raunchier) This past Saturday she threw a party for her and 3 friends' birthdays at the Orient Express. This place is comprised of several cabooses. It was epic. You were encouraged to be a twin with someone. Not sure what to wear, my friend Scottie and I decided to be twins. We wore our awesome never-owned 1980's Catholic Seamen's Club Sweatshirts. We decided to go fo...