bounty

ok, i know your kitchen counters probably looked like this too, but i couldn't resist capturing their beauty. with the late dry sun, for once, our normally wet climate allowed the tomatoes to ripen. favorite tomato varieties? Black Krim (a gift from my dad), Cherokee Purple and Sweet 100. Yours?

bakery noveau in west seattle

Bakery Noveau

While their acclaim is widely known via Sunset Magazine, Seattle Magazine, and many more, their delicacies still wow me every time I enter through their narrow doors. There is such an offering of goodies for your eyes to feast on; from pastel colored Macarons, an array of savory & succulent sandwiches, little cakes and tarts fit for a queen or Alice in Wonderland, and lastly, flaky croissants and pastries reminiscent of Paris' specialties. You must go and love it. Even my kids clamor to line up and drool over little treats and they devoured the Niçoise olive tuna sandwich and pizza by the slice.

I am hungry just describing it!

Vehrs Wine Tasting

hosted Monday at Palisade Restaurant in Magnolia, I had a wonderful time trying over 20 different wines. a few that stood out to me were:

                                    

                       

• Tagaris' - Soaring Rooster Syrah '09 & Soaring Rooster Mourvedre '09
• Wines Unlimited- Montepulciano Chronicon '08and 642 Riserva del Canapone Maremma IGT Tuscany '09- this one was a blend with bright sangiovese, earth & jammy
• Casa Ventura's- Belezos Reserva Rioja '04 tempranillo grapes
• Terra Blanca's- Onyx Red Wine '07
• Rombauer Vineyards's- Diamond Selection Cabernet Sav. '06 single vineyard, 100% cab
• Woodward Canyon's- Artist Cabernet Sauvignon '08 earth, subtle oak, cocoa. grown primarily in the Champoux Vineyard
• Miner Family Vineyards'- The Oracle '06 a Bordeaux style blend from Stagecoach vineyard. cocoa, spicy oak, lush blackberry

the gentleman from Storybrook Mountain Wines (CA) & Miner Family Vineyards (CA) and me

H&M online

fun news you won't find on FOX or MSNBC: H&M can now be shopped online. and some of the random obscure pieces I can never figure out at the store how to pair with another piece actually make sense when they put it together for you- like the look above. it's menswear inspired, but i think its extremely feminine. since i won't be wearing this outfit to the park, grocery store or beach with the kids, someone out there must get it so i can live fashionably vicariously through you. best of shopping luck.

valentine's weekend

sleepover!

thanks to the wonderful folks at Hotel Max, we will have an awesome little getaway across the water in Seattle- just the two of us. my mind is spinning of all the things i want to do and not do. (no diaper chgs., no dinners to make, baths to give, dishes to clean... all for a glorious 24hrs.) basically i plan to not think too much about anything. i hear its supposed to be a cozy 49degrees out, so we might be able to hike around to the diff. neighborhoods. then again, why go out when we can stay in? i love their cozy beds, Aveda toiletries and art filled rooms.

on the food front i recently found out about this restaurant called Lecosho on the Harbor Steps. happy hour appetizers look perfect. but then again, our old standby of Maximillen in the market is always very romantic, very french and very cheap (always a plus!)                                                  

music maestro... lastly, i just was thinking about a good music playlist... any ideas?

i know the video looks sad, but has anyone else thought this song was very... well, kinda sexy?