Monthly Archives: May 2012

Savory Seattle

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This past weekend, I headed to Seattle for the first time. Instead of planning out the weekend, the goal was to be spontaneous and talk to as many locals as possible for their ultimate recommendations. After much eating, walking, and then even more eating, here is a list of some of my favorite Seattle spots:

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream

I knew we were onto something good when we followed the smell of sweet waffle cones down Pine Street and straight to Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream. I can’t even begin to describe the creamy deliciousness of Molly Moon’s Ice Cream. Committed to using hormone-free dairy, you can choose from a selection of classic favors like Theo Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, and Strawberry, as well as creative flavors like Salted Caramel, Balsamic Strawberry, and Honey Lavender. Based on another customer’s recommendation, we went for the Affogato – a scoop of ice cream swimming in a shot of espresso. Can anyone say “yuuuuuuuum?” And now, you can take a bit of this ice cream home with you with their new cookbook. Check for upcoming book signings here. Here’s to hoping that they’ll have samples at the book signings.

Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge

Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood, Toulouse Petit’s menu is expansive, with a very generous selection of daytime cocktails. We started off with warm and fluffy beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar and chicory anglaise sauce. Based on the waitresses recommendations, we also had the Forestiere’ with Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms Omelet and Crème Caramel French Toast. And the side of potatoes was just as delicious as the main entrée. For such a decadent breakfast, we felt satiated, but light and ready to take on a day of exploration.

Macrina Bakery & Café

After hours of walking, Macrina Bakery & Café was the perfect spot for a quick pick-me up. Offering up a variety of breads, pastries, cakes and cookies, we had a hard time deciding what to order. We finally went with cappuccinos and a Roly Poly — cinnamon roll, enhanced with coconut, raisins and walnuts.

Serious Pie

It’s not very often that I crave pizza, but when the craving struck on Saturday night, you could imagine how happy I was that Serious Pie was around the corner from our hotel. Don’t be fooled by the concise menu. What they lack in options, they make up in flavor.

Top Pot Doughnuts

When we walked by this next place, I vaguely remembered seeing an episode of CNBC’s How I Made My Millions featuring a doughnut shop with a cool neon sign. The story went something like this – the founders had purchased a neon sign that used to belong to a Chinese restaurant called Topspot. At some point the center “S” fell off, leaving the words “Top Pot” behind, which then became the name of this very successful doughnut and coffee shop. I confirmed my suspicions with the man behind the counter that this was in fact the shop I had seen on TV. Although I don’t eat doughnuts, I thought this one would be well worth it. I went the classic route and indulged in a glazed doughnut and cup of coffee. Light, fluffy, perfectly glazed. Mmmm.

Barrio

For an upscale Mexican feast and some of the best cocktails, head to Barrio in Capitol Hill. Barrio’s 300 +lit candles, and the large, retractable windows opening onto the street set the scene for a very romantic, yet cool urban vibe. Oh and let’s not forget the food! We had the grilled flank steak and Tecate battered cod tacos, guacamole, and a bevy of creative cocktail concoctions prepared by our bartender. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.

Local 360

Committed to using local sourced and whole, natural foods, Local 360 was the perfect brunch spot for catching up with an old college friend now living in Seattle. The Scramble of the Day and the buttermilk pancakes I picked off of my friend’s plate tasted so clean and fresh. And as a coffee lover, I was impressed by the rich and flavorful house coffee and kept asking for mroe.

Bon Bon Confections

Tucked away on a side street on the serene Bainbridge Island, walk into Bon Bon Confections for a free sample of one of their over 20 varieties of gluten-free fudge, all made freshdaily in-store. You can indulge in flavors like dark chocolate with caramel and sea-salt, amaretto, or vanilla fudge with walnuts. If you prefer other sweets, Bon Bon has a charming array of chocolates, truffles, caramels, taffy, licorice, and other nostalgic candies.

Fireworks

Ok. Fireworks is not a restaurant, but I couldn’t blog about my favorite Seattle spots without mentioning this gift shop full of unique, playful, and fun knick-knacks. I could have spent hours in this store, exploring all the offbeat and unusual items from jewelry to books to home goods.

Made In Seattle

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While visiting Seattle this weekend, I met Alexa Allamano of Foamy Wader at the Folklife Festival. I was drawn to the beautiful displays of her exquisite handmade jewelry, inspired by playfulness like wading in the foamy sea water at the beach. A few years ago, Alexa was working for a national bank and wanted to do something to fill a creative void. She had always been crafty, so she started making and selling her own jewelry on the side. When the bank where she was working was acquired, she saw it as an opportunity to pursue her craft full time. Now you can find her designs at her Etsy shop, in stores throughout the country, or see her at a craft fair near you. For those of you in the Bay Area, Alexa will be at the Renegade Craft Fair July 21 and 22.

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As I’ve previously posted, I’m a big fan of decorating with and wearing inspirational words. So when I strolled past a table at Pike Place Market full of bracelets inscribed with inspirational quotes, I had to get one! Kathy Henning, aka the Hammering Girl, hand hammers each letter onto silver, copper, aluminum, or brass to make beautiful affirmation bracelets and earrings. You can choose from dozens of inspirational quotes including, Happiness Is a Choice, Simplicity, Clarity, and Balance, and Your Thoughts Create Your Destiny. They make such meaningful gifts for you or someone you love. I ended up getting a brass bracelet inscribed with Know In Your Heart All Is Possible– a beautiful reminder to always believe in myself.

More details about my trip to Seattle coming shortly!

Show Mo Love For Mo Sugar!

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My super talented friend Maureen of Mo Sugar Pastry Design and her super sweet daughter Callie have been nominated as finalists in the Project Nursery May Party of the Month. Please take a second to vote for them and peruse through the beautiful photo gallery for Callie’s first birthday party. Click here and scroll down to cast your vote for Baby C Turns One.

I just love all the bright and feminine colors! And see those cupcakes and cookies? They really are as good as they look! Maureen makes them from scratch and you can just taste the love in every bite!

Coffee Break With the Men of ARKA Clothing

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What do you do if you can’t find anything you want to wear? Start your own clothing line, of course. Make yourself a fresh pot of coffee and enjoy a coffee break with Shant Der Ashodian, Sevan Aliksanian, and Burag Celikian of ARKA Clothing.

What is ARKA?
ARKA is a LA based men’s graphic tee line that intends on having thought provoking tees with a artistic and playful aesthetic. We are three partners, Shant (sales and marketing), Sevan (designer) and Burag (designer).

What/who inspired you guys to start your own company?
The three of us have always talked about working together. What can be better than running a company with your best friends? We have always taken pride in our creativity and work ethic. The three of us have always been problem solvers. It was only natural that we eventually own a business. Sevan has always wanted to start a tee shirt line. He would always mention a new idea he would have for a design and doodle a little notebook that he carries in his pocket(the notebook has since been replaced by a cellphone). After having many discussions and researching the industry, we felt that we were ready. Three years ago, we decided to dive into this new venture head first and we haven’t looked back since.

What has been one of the biggest challenges about starting your own venture?
In today’s economic environment, there are a countless number of challenges. Especially if you’re a small business. Allocating our resources effectively is extremely important. You want to make sure that every dollar counts and has a positive return. With that comes many sacrifices. For example you may not be able to apply an entire marketing strategy or you may need to keep less inventory on hand. The important factor is to identify which decisions will effect your long term strategy and which will effect the short term.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own company?
Where should I start? Make sure to do at least a year of research before coming to a decision. Designing the product is only the tip of the iceberg so you must have a strategy for sales prior to launching. Learn the etiquette of any industry your in. There are always rules of conduct and by following those rules, your clients will recognize that you’re experienced in the industry.

What are some of your favorite ARKA designs/shirts?
There are too many. All the designs we release are revised a countless number of times. All three of us put forth our input. Our best selling styles have been Walking Razors, Maestro of the Universe, and our Logo tees.

Where can we buy your clothes?
Our tees can be found in over twenty Nordstrom locations and their website. Our shirts can also be purchased on Karmaloop.com along with over a hundred locations around the country. Our retailers page on our website can locate the closest boutique to your zip code.

What is your favorite coffee spot and what is your beverage of choice?
My favorite coffee spot is Gelato Bar and Espresso Caffe in Studio City, CA. Besides having the best gelato in the Valley, they also have really good coffee. I normally get regular black coffee with no cream or sugar. For long days I’ll add a shot of espresso.

Learn more about ARKA Clothing here.

Dance Like No One Is Watching

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“Dance when you’re broken open. Dance if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.”
― Rumi

I vividly remember being about five years old and how my stomach would be tied up in knots in anticipation of my Monday night ballet class. I remember putting on my pink tights and black leotard and the smell of my leather Danskin ballet shoes. As much as I loved dancing, I was always anxious about attending class because of the fear that I would be unable to perform as expected. What I didn’t realize back then, that I know now, is that that is the whole point of learning. No one expects you to know everything. The word “learn” is a verb for a reason – it requires action. It is a process. Most students don’t show up to the first grade knowing how to add and subtract or how to write in cursive (still don’t know why they teach that stuff), or understanding photosynthesis. What is more important than the acquisition of information is developing the processes to learn and having the self-assurance that you will figure it out.

A few weeks ago, I returned to the dance studio, enrolling in a Bhangra dance class at ODC in San Francisco. Bhangra is a high energy harvest dance originally from the state of Punjab in the northwest corner of India and Pakistan. I have only attempted to dance Bhangra once before at a friend’s wedding a few years back, so the steps and rhythm are completely foreign to me. Soon after the instructor began teaching, it became obvious that I was the newbie in the class. While the rest of the students were lifting their arms to the right, I was swinging mine to the left. However, something had changed in me. I was no longer that five year old girl in ballet class and perfection was not the goal. I had promised not to judge myself, but to have fun instead. And with that resolve I attacked each dance step as if I knew what I was doing and the funny thing is, I eventually caught on.

What I learned that day in that studio was not only a few dance moves I can bust out the next time I attend an Indian wedding, but I learned to trust that no matter what comes my way, I will find my rhythm.

About ODC: ODC is located in San Francisco. They offer over 200 dance classes each week for all levels. For more information, click here.

Photo courtesy of www.lakidstuff.com.

Heading to the Emerald City

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A Lawyer Walks Into A Coffee Bar is taking the show on the road and heading to the Emerald City! No, I’m not dressing up as Dorothy and skipping down the yellow brick road to the Land of Oz……well, not yet! Rather, I’m going to the other Emerald City – Seattle, WA – for a quick getaway. I’m looking forward to exploring all that city has to offer, including all it’s famous coffee shops! If you have any recommendations of things to do, see, eat, or drink while I’m in Seattle, I’d love to hear from you!

Note: Photo of the Seattle map courtesy of CoffeeShopStop.com.

Tea Time

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I love a fun craft project. So when my bestie suggested we tackle this tea kitchen wreath from Kojo designs as a gift for a mutual tea-loving friend, I was on board — with my glue gun in one hand and my tea mug in the other.

However, we wanted to customize the wreath for our animal print loving friend, Hannah. Let’s just say we added a bit of flair. We also got creative with the materials and found some substitutions that made assembly a lot easier:

What we used:
-one 12×12 silver cake board. The original instructions called for two pieces of 12×12 cardboard, which would work as well. We liked the look of the silver, but you can always cover the board with patterned paper.
- one sheet of a cool zebra and leopard print duct tape paper. They were self-adhesive and eliminated the need for us to individually glue the paper on each clothes pin. Alternatively, you can use patterned paper and glue them onto the clothespins.
- 16 clothespins.
-hot glue.
-scissors.
- furry ribbon for hanging the wreath.
- foam shaped flower and foam shaped letter H.

Tip: Check out your local 99 cent or discount store for any of the supplies above. We found the cake board and a 50 pack of clothespins there for 99 cents each!

1. Cover the clothespins with the adhesive patterned paper. Cut strips of paper about the width of the clothespin, peel the backing off, and then apply to the clothespin. You can either trim the ends or fold over the extra paper over the edge.
2. Cut a small hole at the top of the cake board (we used a screwdriver) and run your ribbon through.
3. Using your hot glue gun, glue the foam flower onto the cake board. Because our friend’s name is Hannah, we glued a foam letter H in the center of the flower, but anything can work!
4. Then glue two clothespins on each petal. We found that three clothespins on each petal looked cluttered once the tea bags were added.
5. Add an assortment of tea bags on each clothespin, and voila! Your own tea wreath!

Monday, Monday..

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It can be hard getting back into your weekly routine after a couple days off doing whatever it is you do over the weekends. But heading back to work can be a little more pleasant if you’re returning to a space that has a little personality. If you’re going to be sitting at your desk all day, why not have a little fun? Check out these fun and quirky trinkets that will turn your cubicle from drab to fab! Going clockwise from the top left:

Scented Highlighters from Paper Source

Have to get through that fifty-page legal brief or a business proposal? Why not engage your sense of smell too and use these scented highlighters? These markers come in six yummy flavors including lemon, orange and berry and remind me of those jumbo Mr. Sketch markers we used as kids. Your boss might get a kick out of them too when you hand over a lemon-scented copy of that recent Supreme Court decision. Gives a new meaning to lemon law.

Retro iPhone dock

With this retro iPhone dock, your boss will think you’re on an important business call when in fact you’re catching up with friends. The attached handset allows you to receive any call from your iPhone just like using a telephone, and has the added benefits of reducing radiation exposure and charging your phone.

Swarovski Crystal Light Rose Black Shoe Tape Dispenser from Amazon

Add a little sparkle and glamour to your desk with this high-heel tape dispenser covered with Swarovski crystals.

Work Shticks from Lola of North Beach

For those days when you just don’t have the energy to utter a word, you can break out these work shticks and have some fun. There are 20 funny and sarcastic messages including: “i quit”, “i need a raise”, “this sucks”, “get to work”, “moron”, “wrap it up”, “can i go now?”, “you’re fired”, “i need coffee” and more!

Puzzle Calendar from Paper Source

This puzzle calendar is a good excuse to keep Legos at your desk. You can rearrange the blocks to change the look of your calendar each month and use the blocks to note special days and events. Plus it gives you something to play with when you’re bored at work or on that never-ending conference call.