Seattle Recap

I left Friday night to Seattle to visit my amazing friend who I hadn't seen in a little over a year. 

My view from the plane was spectacular. 

I got there late Friday and Natasha was working so I hung out with her until she closed. 

Saturday we went to eat brunch at this cute little place that was converted from a house into a restaurant. Then we went to the U-district to walk around and check out some thrift stores. 

We then went to trader joes to grab some stuff for a picnic we would be having before The National concert. 

The show was amazing. Okkervil River opened the show and they were pretty good. When The National came on we abandoned our blanket and picnic stuff to enjoy them from a much closer distance. 

Here are a bunch of pics from that night 

The next day, Sunday, her boyfriend made breakfast, we watched a little bit of football and then went to a few local places I read about. 

First stop the Fremont troll 

We went to the Fremont Marketplace after that to walk around the little booths. Nothing really fancied my liking so I didn't buy anything. We also went to Theo chocolate to pick some up since it's some of the best chocolate I've ever had. 

Then we went to Ballard to visit the Edith Macefield "Up" house. 

It's a house this woman wouldn't sell to developers and so they had to build around it. She passed away a little after she refused to sell her house, though it still remains...probably because people would object to it being torn down. 

Then we stopped at Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford. It's so pretty there. 

Natasha had to work Sunday night  :(  so we headed home so she could get ready. I walked to a local used bookstore and bought 4 books. It was a nice walk, makes me wish we had cute little stores just as close so I could walk to those. Her boyfriend made us dinner, then we headed to her bar to hang out. 

Tino's old roommate and his girlfriend happened to be visiting at the same time so they came up to hang out as well. I talked to a lot of locals that night and I think that's the night I felt like I understood a little more about people and their environment. 

 Monday was very relaxing. Natasha made a delicious breakfast, we headed to Ballard to get more cupcakes from Cupcake Royale and some Stumptown coffee. Then we went to Mr. Gyro for lunch before I left to come home and make myself snap back to reality and the responsibilities I have.

Welcome to Seattle

Tomorrow I leave for Seattle. 

I'm leaving Tino behind to visit my friend for a few days. 

I'm excited to finally see her after more than a year. 

We're going to see The National play on Saturday. 

Visit Trophy Cupcakes. 

Head to Discovery Park. 

And ride their awesome transportation system. 

Pretty new toy, pretty damn good food

The long weekend has made it hard for me to get back into the swing of things, including blogging. 

Friday Tino treated me to a nice dinner at Cheesecake Factory but not before buying me this blurry little beauty. 

It's the Nook e-reader from Barnes and Noble. I almost bought it for myself a couple months ago but decided to hold off. He bought it for no reason, and I got the pretty pink cover as well. I guess that's pretty much what I've been doing all weekend. 

Saturday the original family plans didn't happen but Tino and I ended up at my dad's for a "bbq." People brought food, there wasn't any bbq-ing going on. We both drank too much and stayed over. 

Sunday was spent completely relaxing and getting over our hang over. 

I met up with Monique and Bill after their bike ride to have lunch. We went to The Village Bakery & Cafe in Atwater Village. They have some awesome desserts there. 

our food 

  dessert: brownie and a donut muffin

 Moe (on the phone) and Bill

 Monday Tino's mom came to visit us for the first time and we took her to see Going the Distance and for lunch/dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (twice in one weekend).

Enjoying something new

I always enjoy trying something new. I decided to try a new 'wine' tonight. 

Because Tino and I are starting to actually plan our trip I got one of the wines we'll definitely be drinking. I went to 55 Degree Wine to get a bottle of Cava from Spain. It's the Vallformosa Cava Mvsa Brut. 

The man working recommended it, and it might have been the only one there, but he didn't disappoint. 

When I read about this sparkling wine I knew I would enjoy it. A wine made the way champagne is made?

Yes please! 

I'm enjoying it as I write this and plan to go back to 55 Degree to start trying some other Spanish wines so that I'll be a bit prepared when we arrive. 

 

Failed 5 Minute cake

I decided to make a 'special' dessert for my significant other, and thought this was a fantastic idea. It looked like fun to try, easy, and quick. This project was beyond deceiving. 

The 5 minute cake in a mug. 

This took me longer to mix than a regular cake would. And although the cook time was much shorter, so was the taste. I will say it looked kind of pretty but the texture wasn't appetizing at all. It was rubbery and the S.O. didn't like it either. (it's not hard to please him, so that's saying a lot) 

I followed those directions step by step but it wasn't as delicious as some of the reviews say it is. Maybe I'm just spoiled by really good cake. 

 

Face lift

I changed the URL of my blog and as you can see my title. 

Dea Loves Life 

...is definitely more suited. 

This change comes from deciding not to be in the Passenger Seat anymore and show who Dea really is. 

So here I am. 

Please change the URL address if you need to: 
dealiving.blogspot.com

Simple Dea-lite #67

Having that moment of feeling like everything around you and the whole world is at peace. 

Even if it's for just a few seconds. 

The right song is playing, the weather is perfect, there's nothing in that moment, as brief as it is, that can bring negativity. 

If I could have them everyday, I would consider myself the luckiest person ever. 

When I had that moment early this morning here's the song I was listening to, to make me feel that way. 

9.02.10 day

I remember when I was a kid and watching the original 90210 and thinking they were cool and stupid at the same time. Mainly I just always wished I had an awesome group of friends like that, sort of how Friends was also. 

In honor of 9.02.10 day (today) here are a few pictures of the ORIGINAL Beverly Hills 90210 cast. 

(I don't care for the new cast)

Oh and who wasn't in love with Dylan??? And hate Brenda???

Fave new book

"I wish I was born Mexican, but it's too late for that now." - Morissey

I just got done reading the book 'Madonnas of Echo Park' by Brando Skyhorse. I love books and movies where characters are somehow connected to each other, especially without realizing it. The book reminds me of the works Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu produced and directed: Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel. The characters of the book, telling their stories of growing up in Echo Park and where it has led them. Many in different directions but all sharing one commonality and being indirectly related to each other. I like reading stories where the characters rather than the situation stand out and that's what Skyhorse did in this book. I also enjoyed the different characters who either embraces or more commonly tried to deny their race.


I heard Brando Skyhorse has a memoir he's working on. Excited for what's in store from him.

A girly weekend

This past weekend was definitely a ladies involved one. Saturday I went to see Eat, Pray, Love with Mayra. She arrived late, so that didn't happen, but we made up for it and saw it yesterday. It's an inspiring movie and makes me want to travel even more than I want to already. We still hung out even though the movie was a bust on Friday and she convinced me to get these boots. I love them! Glad she did. 

Saturday I went down to Huntington Beach to have sangria night with Danielle and Kira.  We made a few trips first. Our first stop was Mitsuwa, then to Trader Joes, Chik-Fil-A for dinner (well for me) then to Sonic Burger for some cherry limeade! That night was about food and drinks for sure. 

I made our first batch of sangra. 

We used strawberries, oranges, green apple, and lime wedges. 

 Kira

 Danielle

We finished the night with a PB & J bar from Trader Joes...and it has potato chips in it!!!! 

Go try it! Right now! I swear you'll love it!