Saving Aimee @ 5th Avenue

Today I got to treat two of my favorite people in the whole wide world to a theatre date. My beau got me season tickets to 5th Avenue Theatre for my birthday. The best part is he got me four tickets so I can take all my friends to shows. :) Today's play is 'Saving Aimee.' I didn't know a lot about the play... I basically knew that Kathie Lee Gifford produced and wrote it so I figured it would be funny. My beautiful dates were Kristin, Sarah and the boy.

Here is the synopsis before Bakker, before Swaggart, before Robertson, there was Aimee Semple McPherson, the first media superstar evangelist. Her spectacular fall from grace is a real-life story tangled with scandalous love affairs and a tabloid-frenzied trial.

I really liked the play! The lead actress is really talented, the stage is beautiful and the entire play was thoroughly entertaining. :) The best part of the night was our 'Kathie Lee' sighting when we were grabbing our intermission drinks. Here is what happened:

Sarah: I think that is Kathie Lee's sister behind us...

Lindsay: No, Sarah that is the REAL Kathie Lee

Sarah: I want to go talk to her and tell her I watch her all the time.

Lindsay: I don't think we should let's just snap a picture of her from here

Sarah: No, I'm going to go over there.

Lindsay: Okay, I want my picture with her too.

Sarah: Hi, can we get you to sign these

Kathie Lee: Sure

Sarah (after a few drinks): I just wanted to tell you that I do my physical therapy to you every morning because I am unemployed!

Lindsay: (Thinking WTF Sarah... seriously)

Kathie Lee (awkwardly): Feel better sweetie!

Yep that is my amazing friend Sarah... she was starstruck and just couldn't really contain herself. I wouldn't say I was mortified but I was definitely in shock and awe of my bestie. After we snapped a picture with Kathie Lee, I couldn't stop laughing... I was basically crying! But Sarah thank you because now I have Kathie Lee Giffords autograph a photo with her and the memory of you making an @$& of yourself. Thank you!

Yep... Kristin and I are laughing really hard because of Sarah being amazing!

Everything about tonight was fun! I have the best friends in the whole world and I am so glad we could enjoy Saving Aimee, meeting Kathie Lee Gifford and laughing at Sarah all night long. What a wonderful day at the theatre. Check out the ridic shirt that was purchased and the amazing autograph I got because of my wonderful friend Sarah.

You can almost see Kathie Lee behind us.... :)

REVIEW: Steelhead Diner

Tonight's dinner choice was the Steelhead Diner. I have never eaten there before but everyone Seattlite I talk to says "You have to try Steelhead Diner." So tonight was the night. :)

Steelhead Diner is located in the heart of Pike Place Market, it is a prime location. I didn't know exactly what to expect but I knew the food was going to be great. As we sat down, the atomosphere was really unique. Mainly because it is set-up like a diner with booths and being able to see the kitchen but it was a nice restaurant too. It was just really unique. :) As I was looking over the menu, I saw a little bit of everything. Apparently the Chef is from the South, so you see alot of that mirrored in the menu such as a Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich and Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. The menu was very interesting had had something for everyone.

Before making any decision about food we decided that we must try a cocktail. I went with 'The New New Irresistible.' It had pear vodka in it and the waitress promised me that it wasn't to sweet. And she was right... dinner started off with a bang.

We ordered the Steamed Totten Inlet Mediterranean Mussels for an appetizer and they were beautiful and quite tasty. And we ordered their Crabcakes... that are the best in Seattle. :) No picture because we ate them to quick.

For dinner I ordered the a vegetarian pasta that was topped with perfectly cooked butternut squash, sundried tomatoes and a dollops of goat cheese. Yummy. I love squash and carbs so this meal was a no brainer for me. The dish was beautiful, full of flavor and massive... I only ate half of it.

I know I said I was full and had to take half of my dinner home... but I of course still had room for a little dessert. And by a little dessert I mean an entire serving. I ordered the 'Theo's Chocolate Pecan Pie' and the beau ordered the 'Flourless Chocolate Cake.' Both were quite delicious but I think the Pecan Pie won out... because of Theo's chocolate. :)

I would definitely recommend Steelhead Diner to everyone because of how unique the place is. The menu and atmosphere are just so fun. And the food is beautiful and above all else really delicious. I hear that this is a great spot for brunch so I will be back to enjoy that for sure. Check out the Steelhead Diner if you want something different than just a typical restaurant in Seattle.

REVIEW: Seattle Restaurant Week - The Georgian

My favorite week of dining is finally here again. Yep that's right, Seattle Restaurant Week is back and I have been looking forward to it for weeks. Check out my experience last year at the expensive restaurant The Barking Frog for Dine Around Seattle, which is pretty much the same as Seattle Restaurant Week. Tonight's dinner choice is the Georgian at the Olympic Fairmont Hotel in Seattle. Tassoula my fellow foodie and I decided that we would be meet at The Georgian for a formal feast.

As we walked into The Georgian it was very elegant and regal. I almost felt under dressed and was feeling a little self consicious but it subsided once the waiter came to our table... because he was so nice. In fact all the wait staff was friendly and helpful. Tassoula and I were looking over our options and finally decided to order our three courses with wine pairings. :)

After we placed our order and were talking a mile a minute we paused as our bread was presented to us with 5 different butters to choose from... check out how perfect the arrangement was. So PRETTY and tasty too!

After loving the bread... the real fun began. Both Tassoula and I ordered the Sugar Pie Pumpkin Bisque with Sage Truffle Dumplings and Brown Butter Froth. And believe me it was fantastic. The soup was perfect and I recommend it to everyone. I may just go back for lunch and order it with the bread basket. :) The picture below just doesn't do it justice. It was paired with a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc.

For my main course I ordered Organic Free-Range Chicken Wrapped in Spanish Chorizo with Balsamic Onion, Red Wine Risotto. And it was paired with Cabernet Sauvignon that was AMAZING. The chicken was delish especially when you ate a bite of chicken and risotto at the same time. :) Plus is was beautiful.

My last course... which is of course my favorite, I ordered Caramel Fleur de sel Beignets with Spiced Hot Chocolate. The moment I saw beignets on the menu I was sold! I was so excited when they were placed in front of me because there were three beignets served over chocolate and topped with strawberry sorbet! Mouthwatering good and beautiful too.

My three couse dinner was perfect and delicious. The company was AMAZING, the service was impeccable, the food was delicious, the wine was tasty and the price didn't break the bank. Seattle Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to try fancy places on a budget. I am so glad I tried The Georgian... I think I will be back for the holidays because the decor, atmosphere are so elegant and perfect for that time of year.

Another successful date with the beautiful Tassoula, I can't wait until our next adventure. :)

NIKE Women's Marathon 2011

I was lucky enough this year to win the lottery to enter the San Francisco Nike's Women Marathon. This was my first year entering and I am so glad that I did. It was nice to train for such a well-known half marathon. I trained pretty hard for this race because I set a very ambitious goal of running it in under two hours... which is five minutes better than my personal best. I had heard this half marathon was very difficult because of those famous San Francisco hills... the night before the race I was starting to get nervous on whether I could actually run the hills without walking.

Race day quickly approached and as I was walking to the starting line the streets were crammed with people, you could barely move... finding the bag drop and appropriate corel was nearly impossible. And if you wanted to use the bathroom it was about a 30 minute wait. :( I decided to hold it and spend my time finding the correct corel which I never found.

The starting gun finally went off and Beyonce's "Who Runs the World (Girls)" song was playing blasting. The energy was electric, I have never seen this many women (and a few men) come together to run! Over 22,000 people were at the starting line and it was pure insanity!
As I finally passed the starting line I was a bit frustrated because it was obvious that people didn't stick to the corel assignments, because people were walking and jamming up the streets. I just wanted to start with a decent pace but I was unable to until mile 4 or so. As I was running I was taking in the beautiful wharf area, Alcatrez and as we approached the Golden Gate Bridge the views were breathtaking and the weather was fabulous.

But as the views got better the race got more challenging... starting at mile 6 it was all about the hills. I don't know which mile was the hardest but miles 6 -11 definitely blended together for me because a hill of some sort was involved in every mile. I was did pretty well on the hills and controlled my breathing so it was mainly a mental battle. :) I chose not to run with headphones so controlling my breathing was easier and my run was more peaceful!

I actually smiled through this race but as I neared mile 11 I didn't know if I could keep my pace... but somehow the crowd support got me through it. And as I neared the finish line I saw men in tuxedos and that was enough motivations. :) The half marathon had everything a great goodie, a bra exchange station, Giradelli chocalate station, photographer at the Golden Gate bridge, hot firemen in tuxedos at the finish line presenting all finishers with Tiffany's necklaces. I mean I think the last line is a big enough perk to enter this half marathon. :) 

I ran into some girlfriends at the finishline... what a small world.

Check out the loot from the race... okay I bought two of the shirts but oh well! :) Best part of the race was doing my personal best 2:00:24. Most challenging part pushing myself to do my best at miles 9, 10 and 11.

 I recommend this half marathon to everyone who loves to smile through a challenging race and get pampered at the end! My tips train hard, hit up the expo and NikeTown, buy finisher gear and wear your Tiffany's necklace with pride. I Run to Be... Stonger and Better. :) I am definitely entering the lottery next year because this was one of the most amazing events I have ever been a part of.

New Review: Sweet Iron Waffles

Today's breakfast splurge was Sweet Iron Liege Waffles in Seattle. I pass this little place everytime I go to work and decided today was the day to give it a try. I walked in and immediately fell in love with this little boutique restaurant. The atmosphere was so relaxing, there was no rush to make decisions and the staff was very welcoming. I had no idea what a 'Liege' waffle was... so I was excited to try one.

As I looked over the menu I was in heaven. I decided to go with the safe choice... a waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream with a drizzle of aged balsalmic vinegar. I really wanted to try their special 'Elvis Waffles,' that had peanut butter, bacon and bananas. Another waffle that really caught my eye was the Brie and Basil waffle. I loved everything about this place especially the price. I paid a total of $6 for an Americano and waffle. That is a screaming deal.

Finally it was time to eat my first 'Liege' Waffle... and believe me I wasn't disappointed. The waffle resembled a Belgian waffle but had delicious sugar pearls throughout each bite. Check it out!

I totally recommend Sweet Iron to all breakfast lovers. The atmosphere, uniqueness, price, service and overall tastiness exceeded my expectations. If you want a low-key waffle breakfast check it out.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

I had woke up today with no motivation to workout so I just vegged for a few hours. I had to do a mandatory run today, because my half marathon is next weekend in San Francisco. So I got in a 6 mile run that was no fun... at all. But I do have to admit I did feel better.

After showering up the beau and I headed to Kent to go to the Carpinito Pumpkin Patch with two of his nieces and nephews. I can't remember the last time I went to the pumpkin patch, but when we got there I was so happy. All the fall colors were so beautiful, the pumpkin patch was full, the corn maze was bright and all the pumpkins were an excellent price.

It was the perfect fall day to go to the pumpkin patch! The actual pumpkins were pretty reasonably priced. But the gourds and squash were steals of a deal... $1 for a butternut squash... yes please. :) The corn maze and caramel corn however were insane... $8 to go through the corn maze and $5 for caramel corn. I just have to go on record saying I absolutely can't stand corn mazes... my sense of direction is horrible and I find them so frustrating. The picture below is at the beginning of the corn maze, believe me you don't want to see my face at the end of the maze. :)

My tips for the pumpkin patch experience are as follows:

1. Wear rainboots (they always look super cute in pics)
2. Try and get to the patch early in October because there are so many pumpkins
3. Stock up on decorative gourds and squash because the prices can't be beat
4. Usually a farmers market is attached so bring a bag to stock up fresh produce
5. Roam through the actual pumpkin patch and find the perfect pumpkin
6. And ride the hayride if you have kids!

My pumpkin patch adventure was the perfect way to kick out the fall season. Now the house is decorated with pumpkins of all sizes. The only thing missing from my adventure was a nice warm cup of homemade apple cider... but I'm not going to complain about a beautiful day at the pumpkin patch. I recommend the Carpinito Patch in Kent for all ages, it has something for everyone!

Blast from the Past Workout

This morning I got up early and headed to the gym to get in some strength training. I try to do at least one session a week but it is hard to schedule into my training regime. Last week I found an issue of So Be Fit Magazine in an old box... and I was wondering why I kept this magazine. As I was flipping through the pages I found a workout that I was obsessed with almost two years ago. I love how balanced the workout below is. The best part is that you can choose the workout that works best with your schedule.

After a tough workout I headed home to shower up before work. I was torn on what to have for breakfast... such a big decision. Oatmeal, eggs, breakfast sandwich or a yogurt parfait??? I decided on making myself a delicious yogurt parfait made with plain greek yogurt topped with chopped strawberries, bananas, granola and a drizzle of agave. I was super careful about portion control because I tend to go overboard with the granola. This was parfait was the perfect way to start my Tuesday morning. :)

Sounders Date Night

After a busy day at work I was super excited to meet up with one of my bestie's Sarah! I haven't seen in a couple of months. She offered me a ticket to escort her to the Sounders Championship game and I was like hells to the yeah!

I meet her for a quick drink before the game at the always classy Owl N Thistle. I mean you just can't beat $3.00 Hefs. After catching up for a bit we headed to the game... and oh my gosh it was crazy busy. We finally got through the lines and headed to our seats that were awesome. Can you tell which of us is a real fan?

 

Yep that's right I am a follower... that gear is expensive. :)

We got there at the perfect time... right in time for the player introductions and national anthem. The crowd just had a buzz about it from the start. Check out the opening of the game and all the crazy fans... there were barely an empty seats.

From the opening whistle the crowd was pumped up singing chants  and standing the entire game. I mean the crowd is really instense chanting "Let Him Die" and "You Suck Asshole." I mean it is pretty funny if you aren't an opposing player or fan. The game was really exciting and the Sounders freaking dominated the first half and hit almost every single post but still no goal. As half time approached I was as hungry as a hippo... so I decided to try the Kung Pao chicken. And it was delicious and just the right amount of spice. I mean it did cost over $9 but oh well. :)

It was a nice and somewhat healthy dinner, I didn't eat all the rice... phew! Sarah and I chatted through halftime, let me tell you its so good to have her back in town. The second half started and it was more Sounder domination but no goals until the 70th minute and YES the Sounders scored! The game was super exciting and then the Sounders scored again in extra stoppage time. The Sounders also set an attendence record of over 36,000 and won the tournament for the third straight year. Who said Seattle sports suck! :)

The game was so much fun and I recommend going to one if you haven't already because the energy is amazing. Going to a Sounders game can actually be affordable if you follow my tips:

1) Ride the bus to avoid parking fees

2) Eat before you get to the game

3) Grab a drink at a local bar or pub before the game, so you don't waste money on beer inside the stadium (most bars surrounding the stadiums have sports specials such as $2 beers etc.)

If you follow the tips above you can easily pay less than or around $50 for a great sporting experience. Thanks again Sarah for the ticket!

South Beach Take Two

After a really stressful day... wink wink, we decided to head to South Beach for dinner. We didn't have a restaurant picked out, we just wanted to walk the strip and see what looked good.

The weather was perfect tonight, no storm clouds or sweaters needed. I just love enjoying the weather while drinking and eating great food. After walking for a bit we decided on Caffe Milano, mainly because we both liked the hostesses gladiator sandals. :)

We sat on the patio and sipped on a glass of wine while looking over the menu and specials. I absolutely love Italian food mainly because carbs are pretty much my favorite thing to eat. :) I decided to order the broccoli and chicken sausage pasta special! The beau ordered the shrimp jambalaya and the crab meat gnocchi. This made my heart so happy because I wanted to order the gnocchi too... I mean we are on vacation and as an aspiring Vacationer it was the right decision.

When the food arrived we looked liked pigs because the servings were HUGE. My broccoli and chicken sausage pasta was super tasty and pretty light compared to the amazing crab meat gnocchi. The gnocchi was delicious! The jambalaya was tasty a littler sweeter than I had anticipated.

I would say that Cafe Milano is definitely worth trying. The service was great, the menu selection was huge, price was reasonable and most importantly the food was tasty. I wasn't feeling their desserts so we decided to go grab a dessert somewhere else... why? Because I am on vacation!

For dessert I decided to indulge in a pure chocolate cake with a pistachio sauce! The beau decided to try the apple tart and we both made really great decisions. The chocolate cake was like a mousse that made my heart melt and the apple tart was the perfect way to warm my belly and get me ready for bed.

My day 2 in Miami was fantastic, I am just sad that my vacation is almost over.

Professional Vacationer

I have discovered my new profession... I am now an aspiring Vacationer! What does that mean? That means that I take amazing vacations, stay at nice hotels, relax, eat, enjoy the hot spots and then tell my blog viewers if they should consider similar destinations/trips. I feel like I am really good at all the things I mentioned above, I just need someone to help me fund this amazing profession. :)

Day 2 of Miami included getting room service before heading to the pool. The room service was an hour late which was disappointing but when it did come... my order made me happy. I ordered homemade mango granola w/ skim milk and fresh fruit... and of course coffee! The serving size was ginormous so I didn't feel so guilty about the insane price. :) Being able to enjoy breakfast on a patio overlooking the beach and ocean is pretty much heaven, and having the boy with me makes it even better.

After enjoying breakfast, it was pool time! After finding the perfect spot, we headed done to the beach for a nice and sweaty walk. :) I am just not used to the humidity... my goodness I was dripping sweat. The great thing is that the ocean was a nice way to cool down. One of my favorite parts about walking the beach is finding shells and today I found a shell with an 'L' engraved in it!

After getting my sun on for about 4 hours, I wanted to hit the gym for a quick workout. My workout of choice on vacation is pretty much always riding the bike. Today I rode it for 45 minutes on a random hill course on level 8. It did feel great to get in a workout... now I don't have to worry about stuffing my face later at dinner.

We are planning on hitting South Beach for dinner again, keeping out fingers crossed for no stormy weather.